THE RACING WORLD

Dominion, Volume 20, Issue 75, 22 December 1926, Page 16

THE RACING WORLD

NOTES AND COMMENTS

(By

“The Watcher.”)

Acceptances for the first day of the Stratford Racing Club’s annual meeting will close to-night at 9 o’clock. The Stratford telegraph office closes at 8 jp.m. C. Davies has been engaged to ride 'Antrim Boy, Archeen, Diogenes, Flying Tresses and Chaniour at the Auckland meeting. Diogenes will leave Palmerston North sor Auckland to-morrow. A rumour is going the rounds that JH. Hickey has purchased Merry Day. Vaward and Arpent are galloping jwell in their work at Dunedin and (Corn Money was responsible for a tnnart sprint on Saturday morning. J. H. Jefferd’s horses at Ellerslie are Rapine, Star Stranger, Mimetic, Decoy Rird and Joy King. F. Tilley originally intended to take tonly Mandame, Limited and Ruanui to Auckland, but he added Ruakura on the day of departure. Baby Bun,,, Arch Arrow and White Rird are due to leave Ellerslie to-mor-tow for the Taranaki meetings. Rapier and Fresco are due from the fcouth to-morrow morning en route to Awapuni. Rapier is now a prime fancy for the Manawatu Cup. . Plain Sailing has a host of friends for the open sprint at Awapuni. It is f> considerable advance in company compared with what she has hitherto disposed of, and she does, ( not look to have the wonderful chance her admirers claim, although, of course, she canpot be disregarded. That the concentration of yearling tales at Trentham for the future is likely to attract a number of overseas Visitors is apparent from the announcement that a party of 12 well-known Melbourne sportsmen have made arrangements for the trip next month. Amongst them will be Cecil Godby, W. Reardon, H. Lebranski and other prominent Victorians associated with the Lady Cavendish and . Seatown left Hawera yesterday and joined the boat fct New Plymouth for Onehunga. Te Monanui and the other New Plymouth horses engaged at were also •hipped. A special horse tram will leave tfhorndon to-day with trotters for Auckland. The southern contingent {will arrive by the Wahine.

Capain J. Gage Williams will leave Trenham to-day with his team for Awapuni. Mask has a good following for the Auckland Cup, but a critical examination of his performances last year hardly justifies his supporters in their sanguine' expectations. He beat Star Stranger at level weights in the Great Northern-St. Leger, in a slow-run race, which caused a good deal of discussion at the time, but a week later he failed to give Desert Glow 3|lb. in the Foley Memorial Handicap, of ten furlongs, at the Avondale meeting. He did not start in the New Zealand St. Leger which was won by Star Stranger from the only other starter, Cat Call, but he took on Rapine in the Trentham Gold Cup. Rapine (9.4) beat Gold Light (9.2) by three lengths, with Mask (8.2) another four lengths away in third place. Gold Light, it will be remembered, pulled up lame in this race, and. Mask’s performance fell short of what one would have expected of a horse who had previously beaten Star Stranger. This year Mask’s only winning form was at ‘Auckland in the King Edward Memorial Handicap, ten furlongs, run on the second dav’ of the Auckland spring meeting, when, carrying 8.4, he -beat Gold jacket (7.3 J and Te Monanui ; (9.12), the distances being half a length and a neck. If Mask (8.0) has a chance in the Auckland Cup, two miles, what of the prospects of Te Monanui (9.1)' and Rapine (9.9) ?

Roseday was allowed to drop out of his engagements in the Otago Handicap because it was thought that he was a bit flattered in the figures for a horse that has not shown winning form for over two seasons.

A considerable amount of interest centred in a nine furlong gallop on the outside of the Southland Racing Club’s course proper on Saturday morning, in which Set Sail, Full Swing, and Geranial participated. Jumping out smartly, Set Sail always had the best of the deal, although her opponents were almost on terms running down the back stretch and galloping to the home turn. In the run home Set Sail stalled off a challenge by Full Swing and beat her to the finishing line by a length and a half, with Geranial three or four lengths away. The full distance was run in

2min. 3 2-ssec., and the last mile in Imin. 47sec. It was a useful test, in which Full Swing was giving away weight, but all carried lightweight horsemen.

It was rumoured that Mr. L. C. Hazj lett intended nominating five of his team for the Invercargill Cup, but lie weakened and engaged only four horses. —“Only four.” Andy looks sure to win a good steeplechase remarks a southern writer. Answering a question as to how many Auckland Cup winners had not previously contested a two-mile race, “Phaeton” writes: Leopold, who led the field home in the Auckland Cup of 1889—the second year from which the altered distance dates —had never previously contested a two-mile race. The other ’ horses returned winners of the Ellerslie race who were previously unknown in two-mile company were:— Pinfire (1891), Pegasus (1893), Anita (1895), Nestor (1896), Antares (1897), Uhlan (1898), St. Michael (1901), Putty (1905), Master Delaval (1906), All Red (1908), Santa Rosa (1911), Sir Solo (1913), Depredation (1916), Fiery Cross (1917), Karo (lf'l9), Malaga (1921), and Te Kara (dead-heater in 1923). The horses engaged in this year’s Auckland Cup that have not so far contested a two-mile race include: Mandane, Footfall, Diogenes, Town Bank, Piuthair, Nippy, and Lord Star. The other day owing to heart trouble, Mr. George McCabe, acting upon medical advice, relinquished the position of caretaker of the Rangitikei Racing Club’s course, and in response to advertisement, 102 applications for the position were received from all parts of the Dominion. Mr. G. H. Cooper, of Palmerston North, was the successful applicant The Te Rapa trainer, J. F. Tutchen, will be represented in the hurdle events at the coming meeting at Ellerslie bv Peter Maxwell, Rangatahi, and Kawa, and he may obtain some success with such a capable trio. Peter Maxwell had his first start since racing at Riccarton in August in the Paterangi Welter Handicap at the Waipa meeting, and ran a creditable fourth. R. E. Thomson has been engaged to do the riding of the trio. S. Henderson, who rode Tanadees when he finished second in the Avondale Cup; will steer that horse in the Auckland Cup. R. McTavish will have the mount on Laughing Prince in the Great Northern Foal Stakes. White Fang is apparently not to be brought back from Australia for a while yet, for he has been allowed to drop out of the Railway Handicap. The best sprinting effort of Saturday morning on the S outhland Ramng Club’s tracks was that accomplished by Baldowa, the veteran gelding runring half a mile on the plough m 49sec. under a featherweight. Mr J. O’Driscoll’s promising hurdler, Tawehi, went amiss after schoolin" last week, and has been turned out for a long spell. This was hard luck for his owner-trainer, as the Kubronev gelding was galloping well and looked sure to pick up a race or two in the holidays. . A few years ago, Irish Elegance (Sir Archibald-Sweet Clorane) was the most brilliant sprinter in England, his wins including the Royal Hunt Cup at Ascot with 9.11. He was ineligible for admission to the "Stud Book, but when be finished racing lie commenced at the stud at a fee of £2OO. He was in demand, but, though lie sired winners, none approached his own class He is now rising twelve, and, though that means nianv more vears of stucl usefulness, he only realised 200 guineas when-sold at auction at New warket a few weeks ago. Up to l-l-a hi. fee was still £2OO. He was a magnificent tvpe of horse, and although he is a “half-bred” he would be a cheap horse at 200 guineas as a station sire.

ELLERSLIE TRACK NOTES Dominion Special. Auckland, December 26. Limited, who is one of those fancied for tlie Railway Handicap, ran five furlongs /ell at Ellerslie this morning. The brother to Absurduni has some Princess Ronnie won well at the Takapuna meeting and she has gone on the right way since then. Ibis morning she went over seven furlongs nicelv, and with 8.3 she will have some’ friends in the .Christmas Handicap if started. Highway was given long work on No. 3 grass track at Ellerslie tins morning and strode out nicelv. He is engaged in hurdle events at the forthcoming meeting, and may make lus presence felt. Te Kara was worked in company with Papatu on the course proper tins morning, but the big fellow was not after time, his rider being content to

let him run along. He looks pretty well.

Battlement was worked in company with Town Bank over a roupd, and though the time was not as good as some of the other efforts over a similar distance, he moved freely enough. Ballvmoy appears to be going along all right with her work, and she went nicely over six furlongs this morning. She is in the Railway Handicap with the minimum. She has started three times this season for one win Clarinda ran a good race in the New Zealand Cup, and in the Auckland Cup she is in at the minimum. This morning she finished in front ..of Mask and Piufhair over a round of the course proper, and was going very nicely at the finish. Commendation and Lysander are engaged in the King’s Plate on the second dav of the Auckland meeting, and they 'will be able to have their Avondale Guineas battle over again. There are several other useful ones engaged in the same event. Tanadees w'as sent over a round of the tan this morning, in company with Lomint, the pair finishing on terms. Tanadees lias shown to advantage in his efforts this season, and, even if he does not annex the big event, he may be prominent before the fixture concludes. Chamour went well over seven furlongs. He is among those engaged in the Christmas Handicap, and, with 7.4, may be prominent at the finish. He has not been further back than fourth this season in five starts, while lie has won three events.

Lorna Doon contracted a cold and that was the reason for her withdrawal from all events at the Auckland Racing Club’s summer meeting. This is a great pity, for on Takapuna form she looked as .'though she would be very hard to dispose of in two-year-old events at Ellerslie next week. The Thorn usually races well at Ellerslie, and by the way he skipped over four furlongs with Lysander this morning, he shoul dbe in the limelight before the meeting concludes. He has a couple of engagements on the first day, the Christmas Handicap and the Railway Handicap. Ruanui won at his first start when brought to Auckland for the spring meeting, but he was subsequently beaten into second place by Silvermine in a Nursery Handicap at Feilding. Ruanui is one of Tilly’s team for the Auckland Racing Club’s summer meeting, and he went very well over half a mile this morning. He is worth keeping in mind. Mandane was given a round on the course prope, and accomplished it in 2min. 3sec. She does not like heavy going, and that had a great deal to do with her being beaten in the Mitchelson Cup when last brought north. If the ground is firm for the forthcoming meeting, Mandane, even if she is not successful in the Cup, should be in the money in some of the shorter distance events, "j Grand Knight bears a bright appearance, and despite his weight may run a good race if started in the Railway Handicap When he won the Easter Handicap, seven furlongs, at Christchurch, he had 9.3, and 11b. more when he won the Autumn Handicap, one mile and a half, on the second day. He is in the King’s Plate and the Sunjmer Cup on the second day, the Auckland Racing Club • Handicap and the Nqwmarket Handicap on the third day, and the Grandstand Handicap and the Clifford Plate on the concluding dav.

Rapine put up a good performance this morning, ■when he went a round outside three trestles on the course proper, in 2min. Isec. He started off bv himself and was picked up at the seven-furlong post by Star Stranger, and he finished his task well. Rapine won the Auckland Cup last year with 9,8, and h e has only lib more this tinie. He has only got to go on the right way to be very difficult to dispose of. Star Stranger also moved well, the last seven furlongs of the round being covered in Imin. 33sec., which was a good effort. MONOXIDE SOLD BRINGS TWO HUNDRED GUINEAS. BY Telegraph.—Press association. Dunedin, December 21. At a sale of Mr. A. S.. Cambridge’s blood stock Monoxide brought 200 guineas and all engagements. It is understood she was purchased on behalf of Mr. George A. Kain. There was no bid for Rosenor, who it is understood, carried a fairly large reserve. fixtures. December 27-Walpukurau J.C. December 27. 28-Westland RD. December 27. 23— Tnranakl J.C. December 27. 28—Du 'din J.C. December 27. 28, SO-Manawatu R C. December 27, 28— Wairarapa Trotting meeting. . December 27. 29. January L 3-AUeklapd December 3L January 1 4—Greymoutb JO. I1927. January 1-Waikouaiti R.O. January l-Wyndhain R.O. January I, 3-Hawke'e Ba}’ J-O-January t. 3—Stratford R-0. January t. 3- Marton JOJanuary 1. 3- Wairarapa RO. January 3. 4—Southland R.O. January 7. 5 Reeftorj J.C January 8 or 15-Waipanahauri R.O. January 8 10- Vincent J.O. January 15— Wnirio JO. January 18. 20- Wairna R.O. January 20. 22 24 Wellington R.O. January 21. 22--Roxton R.O. January 26. 27 Pahiatua R.O. January 29 31 TakuP'ma 8.0. January 22 Bay of Island? R.O. TROTTING WAIRAIIAI’A MEETING. The two-day meeting of the Wairarapa Trotting Club lias come into favour in recent years as a popular fixture and tins year's meeting on Boxing Day and the day following promises to attract a large number of local race goers. \\ itli the increasing interest in trotting in Web lington and district, the club lias been enabled to expend considerable amounts in catering for the convenience of visiors to Clareville during the holidays will, it is stated, be agreeably surprised at the improvements effected since last meeting. Among these is a very fine tofalisator house, providing facilities for ten-shilling tickets, which follows the practice of nearly every racing and trotting club throughout the Dominion. Many of the horses competing at the Wellington Club’s meeting recently will be seen in action at Clareville and patrons of the sport who witnessed their running at the Hutt Park should be in a position to size up their prospects on the form then shown. Of the acceptances for the first, day the lowest in any face is seven, while the highest is ’twenty, with an average for the eighf races of twelve and this should provide some excellent sport. The train leaving Lambton each morning at 7.50 arrives on the course in ample time, while those proceeding to the meeting by car will find the roads in excellent condition. ASHBURTON ACCEPTANCES BY TEbEGBAPn - I’KESS ASSOCIATION Ashburton, December 21, The following are tpe acceptances for the Ashburton Trotting Club's sunuiier uieeting on December 27 ADVANCE HANDICAP harness), of 150 sovs. Ope mile and a half. Mavis Wood . scr. Wcnlo 12 Bell Somerton ser. Mips Dorothy 12 Direct Wave ... set. Direct Chimes 24 Star Ladv scr.. Surfboard ... 24 Sadie Huon .... scr. Locanda GenDenver’s Doll scr. era! 48 Boldena scr. Maud Logan .. 84 Electric Huon scr. . _Jar.kic Audu- "*■ bon scr.

MITCHAM HANDICAP (harness), of 150 6ovs.; 3.50 class. Oue mile and a halt. Lord Tracey .. ecr. Tamerlane ... 36 Homeleigh Girl scr. Brent Bov 36 Kenwood scr. Mat Audubon 48 Molly Molloy ecr. Nelson Wood .. 48 Peter Fashion scr. Evansdale ... 48 Tiaki scr. Sarsaparilla ..- 60 Mickey Audu- Beta Vivian ... 72 bon scr. Keiuptou 84 Oarclo ._ 36 ASHBURTON TROTTING CUP (harness), of 500 sovs.; 4.38 class. Two miles. Rufine scr. Master Audo . 24 General Bingen scr. 5 oung Blake . -.4 Shine Soon ... scr. William the Avr scr. Great 24 Lord Bingen ... scr Stormy 24 Pan Yau 12 John Mauritius 06 Macanda 12 Harold BurStunt Artist;.. 12 wood 72 Lady Embrace 12 Trenind 72 Direct Wood .. 12 Bing Boy 72 McLEAN HANDICAP (saddle), of 175 sovs.; 257 class. One mile and a quarter. St Bridget scr. Pretty Pointer 12 Gibraltar scr. Grey Cloud .... 12 Auto scr. Harley Dillon 24 Minto ®cr. Doris Dillon .. 24 WastovooJ scr. King Sandy .. 24 Tahoe scr. Killincliy 24 Nepia scr. Honour Bright 36 Auto 12 Winter Audubon 12 MIDSUMMER HANDICAP (harness), of 200 sovs.: 4.52 class. Two miles. Colene Pointer scr. Fluid 12 Scottish Maid., scr. Lynnwood ... 12 ,illlon Gold .. scr. ITuou Denver . 72 Polo Jim 12 Holly B"ll .... 72 St. Bridget ... 12 Airman <2 Logan Lily ... 12 Great Event.... 72 BOXING DAY HANDICAP (harness), of 250 sovs.; 2.52 class. One mile and a quarter. Pan Van scr. Lord Bingen .. 12 jjyfiae scr. Harold Burwood 24 Harold Thorpe scr. General Bingen 24 Pinal McKinney scr. Pnrkwoo® .... 24 Granite City .. scr. Nantwicli .... 24 Macanda .... scr. Lady Embrace <>6 Thea scr. Bing Boy 36 Logan Holme.. 12 Roicole 48 WINSLOW HANDICAP (harness), of 175 sovs.: 4.57 class. Two miles. Lord Tracey .. scr. Little Johnnie 12 Carclo scr. Brent Boy .... 12 Sarsaparilla ... scr. Silurian 24 Kempton scr. Wee Olea .... 24 Peter Felix ... 12 Nourmahal ... 48 Bon Wood .... 12 PINAL HANDICAP (saddle), of 175 sots.; 2.20 class. Oue mile. Auto scr. Harley Dillon.. 12 Albert Logan., scr. Bingen Lad ... 12 Winter Edith Locanda 24 Audubon ser. ’lonoui Bright 24 Wastewood .. scr. Winnie Dillon . 24 Grer Cloud ... scr. Thea 24 Whakuku .... scr.