THE RACING WORLD.

Dominion, Volume 18, Issue 193, 10 May 1924, Page 19

THE RACING WORLD.

(By “The Watcher.”)

•' J. T. Jamieson, who recently Rayo up the position of private Mr. A. McDonald, and shifted fiom Woodville to Te Awamutu bought five yearlings at the Sydney Easter sales, and they will no doubt form the nucleus of a team upon which he will start on his return to New, Zealand. Jamieson is known as a fairly Rood judge of horse-fiesh, as well as a capable trainer, and m no case did no have to go to a very high price, as prices ruled at the sale, to what be wanted. His first. P urc J’ as ,° ■was 100 guineas for a colt (fiist foal) by Bardolph (son of Bay Ronald) from Carminetta. bv Bernard from Carmania, by Bright Steel—Caibina, by Carbine. CaVoina is a three-quarter ■ister to the great Stonyhurst matron Madowla. For 110 guineas. Jamieson secured a colt by imported Eaton Lad (grandson of Bend Or). from Persianello by Persian Knight—Aello. » New Zealand-bred mare by, Clanranald from Iris, one of the late Mr. G. G. Stead’s brood mares. A Demosthenes colt, from Drtgon Queen, was secured for 150 guineas. Queen is an imported mare by llie Wag, sire of the successful stallion Kilbroney, A gelding by Lilyveil (by Martagon, sire of Martian) out ot Coolan Dim, -bv Kenilworth, was ■ecured for 210 guineas j I’oi doO guineas Jamieson purchasedla geld£g -oy Trillion (by The Welkin) from Pretty Nell, dam of Cetinge, a firstclass performer a few seasons ago, and a winner of the A.J.C. Derby. A Mountain King colt, .which cost 95 guineas, is from Lais an imported mare bv Ladas. A colt by Magpie, 860 guineas, is from Kiki, an imported mare by Matchmaker—Reverend Mother, a member of the 'Agnes family, whoso descendants include such great horses as Ormonde, Martagon and Sceptre. One of Jamieson’s patrons, Mr. J. C- Gleeson, of Auckland, purchased a couple of yearlings. For a colt by Linacre from Aureity, by Grafton Aurous by Wallace from Aura he paid 250gns. This colt is a brother to Tangalooma, a weight-for-ago Jenner in Victoria. His dam is a half-sister to Aurarius. dam of Desert Gold and Nigger Minstrel. Mr. Gleeson s other purchase was a colt bv Comedy King—Bervliuni, an imported mare- J?e cost 475gns. Another Auckland owner. Mr. W. J.. Wilson, was a good buyer. He paid 52agns. for a. filly by' Westcourt (son of. Bright Steel) from Wolaroi Lass, a sister to Wolaroi by Kenilworth —Widden Lass, by Maltster— Chutney, by Gossoon from a sister to Abercorn. A colt, secured for 210gns., is by Ciceroi (son ot Cicero), from Elsie Hart, by GoyaElsie 11. A filly, who cost 210gns., is by Flying King (son of Desmond), fiom Vanga, an imported mare by Cvlgad—Vain Chick, by Pride from Silver Wing, a half-sister to Gallmule. International matches do not appear io find favour with some of the English racing men of standing, who regard them as little more than money making exhibitions. “Vigilant ’ recently wrote in the London Sportsman” :— “Little notice need be taken of most of the clap-trap about international racing that is .written and doubtless will he written in the course of the next few months- If we accepted as facts what has already appeared in print we should be convinced that Zev, besides coptunng all the big plums in America, is to make short work of all our best horses and win our Ascot Gold Cup before taking on Epinard and any animal we dare to put m the field. The lay Press is no doubt responsible to a great extent for this state of things, for its gives publicity to these idiotic statements; nevertheless, I have no doubt tlaat attempts will be made by promoters in thieir greed for gold to turn our best racehorses into machines for money-making. Fortunately, most of our owners are too good sportsmen to aid any such mercenary plans, and the Jockey Club will not sit tamely by and permit the prostitution of that noblest of animals—the thoroughbred horse. We have seen what the once noble sport of boxing has been reduced to by the professional promoter; do not, for Heaven s sake, let racing come within their evil influence. If Zev is sent across the Atlantic to be trained for the Gold Cup well and good—it will be the act of a sportsman—but ‘international matches’ for fabulous prizes are an entirely different matter,”

After full consideration had been given to the matter, the Taranaki Jockey Club decided at their last meeting to retain the weight-for-age race (Taranaki Stakes) on the autumn programme. Seeing that the club, are the metropolitan body for the province, and looking at the matter from a sportsman’s point of view, the decision is a wise one (says the Herald h although by retaining the classical race tlTo Taranaki Club is undoubtedly making a big monetary sacrifice. In the past many owners of horses eligible to compete in this class of race, ana who are wealthy enough to race horses for tho sport alone, have purposely side-tracked such races, even when good “place” money was assured. Ihen there are the breeders who race horses also, who in the past have been the worst offenders in refraining from keeping faith with clubs that cater for the best class of horses by refusing to compete in. races that keep the pnee of the thoroughbred to a proper or payable standard. If owner-breeders do not encourage clubs like the laranaki Jockey Club by racing horses in classical races, even allowing that a Gloaming is competing, then the owners who are in the racing game for what they can make out of it cannot be expected to run horses in such events. A good performer is always assured of a good prize by running second or third in a weigh race, and, as proved by Razzle Dazzle defeating Gloaming in the Challenge Stakes, one always has a. “sporting chance,” that being one of the glorious uncertainties or racing. However, it must be admitted that the Taranaki Jockey Club have exhibited an excellent sporting spirit, and let us hope that those who owe a debt to this enterprising club will in future do their utmost to make such events worthy of the club and occasion, for, as stated above, owners who in fairness to a club, and the sport of racing, have in tne past neglected to do their part (this particularly applies to ownerbreeders) should rise above a certain level and support such races, even at a temporary loss. Asrit was generally understood that the Taranaki Jockey Club would .delete weight-for-age races, the latest decision of the club will be well received by those who like to see a metropolitan club’s programme kept up to the highest possible standard, also the many who dearly love to see a Gloaming or n Glentruin in action. The retaining of such races is largely in the hands of owners themselves. Will they give the necessary support? In the meantime the Taranaki Jockey Club are to be congratulated on rteir enterprise. New Zealanders bought fairly freely at the yearling sales in Sydney at Easter, the total number, according to cablegrams received, being 13 colts and one filly. The list is as follows: — Gns.

Colt by Comedy King (son of Persimon—Joyeuse, by Bayardo .. 2000 Colt by Westcourt (son of Bright Steel) —Wolarof Lass, by Kenilworth 525 Colt by Comedy King (son of Persimmon) —Berylium,-by Berrill 475 Colt by Demosthenes (son of Desmond)—Dragon Queen, by The Wag 450 Filly by Demosthenes (son of Desniond)—Doux Vcrre, by St. Martin 120 Colt by Cicerio (son of Cicero) — Elsie Hart, by Goya 240 Colt by Mountain King (son of Wallace)—Lais, by Ladas 95 Colt by Magpie (son of Bay Ronald) —Mystic Light, by White Star 160 Gelding, by Trillion (son of The Welkin) —Pretty Nell, by Padlock 350 Colt by Bardolph (son of Bay Ronald) —Carmetta, by Bernard 100 Colt by Eston Lad (son of Orvieto) —Pesianello, by Persian Knight ..... 110 Colt by Tressady (son of Persimmon) —Charlene, by Charlemagne 70 Colt by Linacre (son of Wolf’s Crag)—Aureity. by Grafton .. 250 Colt by Comedy King (son of Persimmon) —Ohu San, by Santoi 850 The match between the two French champions Epinard and Sir Gallahad 111 over six and a half furlongs, which the cablegram states is to take place on Saturday next, is probably the outcome of friendly argument between the respective owners concerning the capabilities of the two horses. It is all the more interesting in view of the

fact that the latest French papers contain definite announcements that Epinard is almost certain to go to the United States about June or July and try conclusions with Zev, who beat the English Derby winner, Papyrus, the race to take place some time in September. It may be. that it has been decided that the winner of next Saturday’s match will be the one to represent Franco across the Atlantio. Matches between good horses are always interesting, and in the two at present under review France has perhaps the best pair in commission either in England or the Continent. Epinard has been given top weight in the best English handicap company, while Sir Gallahad HI has won the Lincolnshire this season. Sir Gallahad lll.’s performances have been recorded in The Dominion during the week. Epinard has, so far as is ascertainable, not started this season. Last year he established a record for a three-year-old by carry ing Bst. 61b. to victory in the Stewards’ Cup at Ascot, and his only defeat for two seasons was when he failed by a narrow margin to win the Cambridgeshire under 9st. 21b. That he is one of tho best of his age there is no doubt, and he would appear to he much more reliable than Sir Gallahad. who was beaten into third place in a race in France soon after his win in England in the Lincolnshire. Epinard’s feet are his only weak point, and. according to an English writer, he i.i raced in aluminium shoes, which have to be placed on his feet fully a week before a race, so shelly are his hoofs. New Zealand-bred horses have played an attractive part in . weight-for-age races in Australia this season. The Hawk accounted for the opposition in the Hill Stakes, St. George Stakes, Caulfield Futurity Stakes. Fssendon Stakes and O. M. Lloyd Stakes; and Rapine captured the Chelmsford Stakes, Autumn Stakes, and Cumberland Stakes. Then there is Ballymena’s success in the A.J.C. Derby. Tho winners’ portion of the stakes in the races, enumerated amounts to something like £17,200. The ram (5100 guineas) paid for the English-Lred mare Chersonese, when sold at auction in New South Wales recently, almost doubles the previous Australian record for a brood mare. At the sale of the Noorilum Stud in February Joyeuse realised 2800 guineas. The fact of Chersonese having a colt foal at foot bv Valais. full brother, to the champion Herioc. when she went into the ring, and that she is believed to be again in foal to the same horse,, no doubt played a strong part in. bringing the big price. Chersonese is a daughter of the Cyllene horse Cylgad, and the Goldfinch mare Chelandry. She is therefore strongly in-bred to the Doncaster line through Bend Or. In referring to the necessary destruction of Polymelus an exchange says he was purchased in 1906 for 4410gn5., and proved a veritable gold mine to Mr. S. B. Joel, as he won £16,804 in stakes, including the Cambridgeshire of 1906. wherein Mr. Joel is credited ■with -winning £lOO,OOO in bets. At the stud Polymelus was a notable success, and was five times leading sire—l9l4 to 1916 and 1920-21. He was by Cyllene (9) from Maid Marian (3), by Hampton (10) from Quiver, by Toxophilite (3) from a daughter of Young Thurnham (25) and Brown Bess. Foaled in 1902, Polymelus stood at the Maiden Erlegh Stud Farm at a fee of 400 guineas, and his list was always full years in advance. At the 4410 guineas Mr. Joel paid for him the horse must, therefore, have been one of the best bargains of the sale ring. His greatest year was 1920, when his progeny won £39,704 in stakes; but his first three seasons of supremacy were when the Great War was raging, and racing in consequence was greatly restricted. Though he did.not win any of the classics,. his progeny were several times successful in them.' Pommern won the Triple Crown (Two Thousand Guineas, Derby, and St. Leger), Cinna the One Thousand, Fifinella the Derby and Oaks, Humorist the Derby, and Black Jester the St. Leger. Humorist, considered, the best colt in England in 1921, died just after the Derby, and consequently was not a starter tor the St. I«ger, which was won by Polemarch, a son of The Tetrarch.

FIXTURES. May 9, 10—Marlborough R.O. May 15, 17—Wanganui J.O. May 16, 17— Oamaru J.C. June 3, 4—Otaki-Maori R.O. June 3,5, 7—Dunedin J.O. June 3,6, 7—Auckland R.O. June 20. 21—Napier Park R.O. June 21—Brackenfield Runt Club June 25, 26 —Hawke's Bay J.O. June 23—Hawke's Bay Hunt Olub. July 2—Dannevlrke Hunt Olub. July 9. 12-Wellineton R.O.