NO OFFICIAL MOVE

Press, Volume LXXXII, Issue 25061, 18 December 1946, Page 4

NO OFFICIAL MOVE

RACING

TROTTING AT RICCARTON “No official approach has been made by the Metropolitan Trotting Club officials, nor has the matter been discussed by the committee,’’ said the chairman of the Canterbury Jockey Club (Mr A. S. .Elworthy) yesterday, when referring to the persistent rumours that trotting club officials have been negotiating for permission to hold their trotting meetings at Ricca r ton. For some time past a rumour has been circulating throughout the country that there was a move for the Canterbury Jockey Club and the New Zealand Metropolitan Trotting Club to join forces and construct a trotting track on the inside of the course proper. A similar suggestion was made some years ago, but it went no further.

Nominated for Trentham Riccarton-trained horses nominated for the Wellington Racing Club's summer meeting are Thornbridge, Bridge Acre, Double Cross, Bruce, Golden Souvenir, Foxhaven, Nightchild, Derene, Lord Advocate, Whitley, Montezuma, Al-Sirat, Lord Elgin, Leigh Barton, Rahine, Privilege, Lovemorn, Brigg Fair, Palm Bearer, Lincoln Fair, Revolte, Cipher, Peculate, Beautiful, Kirkella, Duncan’s Quib, Precipitate, All Quality, Beau Ideal, Indian Dawn, Ruling Moment, Diameter, Renowned, Battle Abbey, Kartikeya, Sea Flower, Helio, Zorro, Royal Tan, Hart Royal, Battle Chief, Robingay, Bitter Sweet, Armont, Grande Melee, Lady Welbeck, Pandemonium, Tweedside, and Tomahawk.

May Attempt Two Miles It is not often that three-year-olds attempt two-mile races ifi New Zealand these days, but Lord Barwon, Howe, Regal Praise, and Keening have been nominated for the Wellington Cup. The last three-year-old to figure prominently in a two-mile race in New Zealand was Battledress, which was beaten by a head by Happy Ending in the Wellington Cup in 1942. That was the first occasion on which the distance of the race had been restored to two miles (the original distance of the race), the change to one mile and a half being made in 1890.

Majesty Creates Record The crack three-year-old Majesty, prepost favourite for the Great Northern Derby on Boxing Day, covered seven furlongs at Takanini to-day in Imin 25 3-ssec—easily a course record. Majesty was under* a strong hold throughout.— (P.A.) Knee Filled Slightly Ruling Moment did not accept for the Manawatu meeting, and is to race at Wingatui. He has had a slight filling in his off knee the last few days, though the trouble does not appear to be serious. Ruling Moment has always raced well on the Wingatui track, and with 9-8 in the Warrington Hurdles he may be hard to head off.

Training Well Foxhaven was travelling well at the end of his seven-furlong gallop with Golden Souvenir at Riccarton on Saturday. He has got through a fair amount of work recently, and with a race in the Kurow Cup on Saturday he should be well forward for his Dunedin Cup engagement. Foxhaven is now seven years old, but he appears to be wearing well, and is likely to more than pay his way again this season. Track Did Not Sult

The hard track was not In Verdant’s favour on Saturday, and he did not race up to his Stewards’ Handicap form. Verdant has invariably done best on easy tracks, and the first time he strikes one to his liking he should make a return for his new owner. He has been handicapped at 9-6 in the Publicans’ Handicap at Wingatui, 41b more than he carried on Saturday. Galloped On in Running Wild Ribbon was galloped on during the running of the Sandown Hack Handicap at Riccarton last Saturday, and as a result her racing programme over the holiday period may be restricted. Wild Ribbon is carrying much more condition than she did last season. May Race at Trentham Kirkella suffered a pricked foot after the New Zealand Cup meeting, and is not to race over the holidays. He is being kept in easy work, and the intention is to prepare him for his hack engagements at the Wellington meeting.

Fairway’s Fresh Honours Fairway was the leading sire of the dams of winners, for the season just concluded in England. His daughters produced 34 winners of £32,586. Fairway went to the stud in 1931, and has 77 mares in the General Stud Book. Fairway is 21 years old, and in addition to his success as a sire of brood mares he finished third on the winning sires’ list, his progeny winning 44 races and £28,636. Next to Fairway is the French horse Asterus, which has 19 mares in the General Stud Book which were represented by 12 winners of £29,284 10s. As only a small number of mares sired by Asterus have had progeny to race in England, critics consider him the most successful sire of brood mares for the season. Next in order are Buchan, the sire of the dam of Airborne, Solario, and Papyrus. These four are all represented by the dams of winners of more than £20.000. They are followed by Sansovino, Blandford, Hurry On, Tetratema, and Beresford. Italian Sire for England

Another foreign sire has been purchased by English breeders. Torbido, a five-year-old Italian-bred horse by Ortello has arrived in England, and will stand next season at a fee of 300gns. Torbido won the Italian Derby and the Grand Premio Italia. The great Nearco, which has been a very successful sire in England, was also bred in Italy. Ortello, the sire of Torbido, has been one of the leading sires in Italy for many years, and was recently sold to go to California.

Heavy Nominations The Wellington Racing Club received 1632 nominations for its four-day summer meeting to be held at Trentham in January. The largest entry is in the Kaitoke Hack Handicap on the concluding day, the total being 99.

May Meet Majesty The Gloaming Stakes, the Wellington Racing Club’s newly-instituted race for three-year-olds, to be run over a mile and a half on the third day of the meeting in January, may produce a clash between Majesty and the New Zealand Derby winner Royal Tan. The Oaks winner Sakuntala has also been nominated; but she is not in the Desert Gold Stakes, a mile race for three-year-old fillies, to be run on the second day. With Privilege, Rahine, Lovemorn, and Palm Bearer engaged, Riccarton stables may hold a strong hand in the race. Well Treated

With 9-2, Lord Advocate looks particularly well handicapped in the Lewis Pass Handicap at the Reefton Jockey Club’s meeting on December 28, and H. Nurse may elect to race him on the West Coast circuit to fit him for his engagements in the open sprints at Trentham in January. With the benefit of an apprentice allowance. Lord Advocate will have a handy weight to carry for a sprinter of his class.

Manawatu Cup Fancies Saludos’s success in the Huia Handicap at Otaki last Saturday is likely to bring him into favour for the Manawatu Cup on Saturday. He won the same race last year, and followed up by winning the Marton Cup. A few weeks later he ran a good third to Golden Souvenir and Langue d'Or in the Wellington Cup, and this was ample proof of his stamina. Saludos has only 7-12 in the Manawatu Cup, which is run over a mile and five furlongs, and should have no difficulty in seeing out the journey. His most difficult opponents may be his stablemate Arco and Hakim. Arco gave promise of developing good staying form last season. Hakim won the Wellington Handicap run over the same distance as the Manawatu Cup, at the Wellington Racing Club’s meeting at Awapuni on October 26, and came on to Riccarton and ran a good fourth in the New Zealand Cup. Like the other pair, he will be racing on his home track, and if the going is not too hard he should be prominent at the finish. Arrived in Good Order

The Auckland Cup candidates Thornbridge and Signal Officer are reported to have arrived at Ellerslie in good order after their journey from Riccarton. The New Zealand Cup winner, Catterick Bridge, impressed by a solid effort over seven furlongs in lmin 31sec last Saturday morning.