THE RACING WORLD

Dominion, Volume 22, Issue 136, 5 March 1929, Page 16

THE RACING WORLD

AND COMMENTS

Napier Park acceptances close at 8 p.m. to-day.

Wellington acceptances are due on Friday, and Opunake acceptances on Saturday.

Horses engaged in the North Island Challenge Stakes and the Thompson Handicap, both of which are to be run at Trentham on March IC, are Bright Glow, Gascony, Paganelli, Rcremoana, and J. he Hawk.

The scratching of Ridgemount, Bonogne, Anold and The Swell for them Bulls engagements probably means that R. Johnson is taking his teani to Napici Park.

Nedda’s next appearance is expected to be in the Ascot Vale Stakes on Thursday. The distance is six furlongs and her weight will be 9.0.

The Rangitikei Cup to-morrow should be a good race. After his Woodville and Wanganui running Imperial Spark is sure to be in demand, but he might encounter trouble from Star Area. Another expected to run well is Orazone.

With Ridgemount and Bonogne out of'the way the strength of the field for the Scott Memorial, which is to be run at Bulls to-morrow, has been appreciably weakened. Cimabue is a class above the others, is sure to be well backed, and should take a lot of beating. Hacks that should run good races at Bulls this week are Acred, Thrift. Elyianor and Gasnapper.

The fact that not a single three-year-old is engaged in this year's Australian Cup (to be run to-morrow) demonstrates once again that horse owners are not prepared in these days to test that particular division in the long-distance race. In the old days many noteworthy three-year-olds were tried out in the two miles and a quarter race at Flemington, and Carbine was among the number. In the last 19 contests for the Australian Cup a three-year-old has only scored a victory on one occasion, and that was in 1922, when Harvest King led the field home.

The Waipa Racing Club has passed the following, resolution“ That the committee of the Waipa. Racing Club offer its hearty congratulations to Mr. Geo. Paul on the occasion of the win of his horse Aussie, in the James Hazlett Gold Cup, especially in view ot the fact that Aussie was trained on the club’s course.

It is likely that A. Tinker will be represented at the Wellington autum meeting at Trentham, where he has Mervette, Valuation. Gala Day, and Asmodeus engaged. No doubt much will depend on the progress made by Ins; charges in the next week, and the weights they are allotted. If Tinker makes the trip, he will also have charge of Archieval, who is working along satisfactorily under the care of A. Rhodes, with a view to competing at the southern meeting.

Although beaten into third place when produced in the novice class at Rotorua, Hiata created a very favourable impression by his fast finishing run. The three-year-old (writes “Archer,’ in the New Zealand Herald”) has the coming country meetings, and should be worth keeping in mind,, as he seems likely to improve with racing. Hiata is a member of J. Cathro’s team at Avondale.

Remarking that J. H. Wallace expects to take Tea Time and Flying Tresses, to the Franklin meeting, the Auckland “Sun’s” Te Aroha correspondent says that Tea Time prefers a firm, track, and is ready to cut out a .fast six furlongs if the conditions are right.

Celerity II continues to train on the right way, and in a seven-furlong scamper over the grass last week, she easdy de feated Sparkling Eyes. At the same time (says an Invercargill writer) Snarklin" Eyes is improving, and growingvery like her full brother, Listening Post, in many respects. The daughter of Solferino— Eager Eyes (•)> almost certain to race well in the south during the autumn circut.

Ono nf thp unlucky horses of the current sc ?“on Ls been Hyde Park, who has run lome good races for no better reward than several minor placlngs. He nas rexi.nLi.v been tried at distailces beyond a mile and has shaped well enough to Indicate that a winning turn in a decent handicap will Shortly come his way (according to the “New Zealand Herald”). Hyde Park will nrobablv have opportunities at Pukekohe and Paeroa in the next couple of weeks mid is llkelv to give a good account of himself in his engagements at those meetings.

Star Area looks none the worse for bls recent racing. He has been given a short let-up and should strip well at Bulls.

Lvsander Is being kept going, and as he fl'-urcs among the entrants for several events at the Wellington autumn meeting he Is likely to be a competitor at Trentham next month.

Master Clarence has been exercised in the schooling ring at Klccarton this week, and will be tried out as a hurdler later.

The three-year-old filly Sarnia, who has lust been brought in from a three months’ spell, did not rejoin E. Seoullar's team at Biccarton. but is now attached to F. Christmas's stable.

It Is reported from Wanganui that Mask will not be seen out again this season. It was hoped the son of Llmond would be ready to make a trip north at Easter, but the injured leg kept him out of action longer than expected, aud he will not race again until next season.

The transfer of Raffles, Indolent, and Orchus to Te Rapa stables has left A. E. Cox with a smaller team than usual. Two maidens are to arrive from Mr. J. McNicol's Wairakau Estate this week, however, and will probably go to work shortly.

The three-year-old Bulolo has not been called upon to race during the past few months, but he Is working freely and may make an appearance at an early date. In his few starts this season he has raced consistently well, and it should not be long before he extends his record. Ability to begin smartly will always be a factor in his favour, and possibly he may be all the better for not having been overtaxed. —“New Zealand Herald.”

A fellow who wished to buy a cheap hunter attended a horse sale and saw an animal which, he thought, would suit his purpose. “How much?” he asked. The dealer, with a shrewd look at the prospective purchaser, said glibly, “A hundred guineas, sir.” ‘‘Pooh, rot, man; I’ll give you thirty.” The dealer scratched his head. “Well, sir,” he said, “I’m not going to let a little matter of seventy guineas stand between me and a sale. He’s yours.

F. Rees, the cross-country jockey, is telling a good story about a recent race he won at Hurst Park, England, Harpist beat Kinnaird by a neck in a thrilling finish. Rees used to ride Kinnaird when he was attached to Poole’s stable, and, although Kinnaird has always possessed a cunning disposition, there was a perfect understanding between horse and jockey. In the dosing stages of the Hurst Park race Rees had to drive Harpist up to Kinnaird, and in urging him he shouted repeatedly, “Go on, or man; go on, ol’ man.” Harpist answered well, but Rees suddenly noticed that Kinnaird pricked up his ears and put renewed vigour into his finishing efforts. The artful old horse recognised his voice, and was responding to it as of yore. Realising this Rees became silent iind Kinnaird Immediately slackened, to be beaten in the last few strides.

As a jockey S. Donoghue received a lot of money, but failed to keep it. His business ventures were failures. Last month a meeting of his creditors was held at the London Bankruptcy Court to consider a proposal lodged by Donoghue for the payment of a composition of os. in the pound. Donoghue failed last September with total liabilities of £33,2G5 and a deficiency of £16,819. He attributed his position to his liability under guarantees and on promissory notes signed jointly with another person for advances, of which he only received a portion ;to interest on borrowed money; and to having been assessed for income tax on a larger amount than the income- earned by him. The creditors accepted the proposal.

Mention of Machine Gun reminds me of an amusing episode which happened when the New Zealander, in charge of D. J. Price, was located at the Royal Hotel, Lower Randwick, during an A.J.C. spring meeting, says a writer in the Australasian. Now, like many other racehorses, Machine Gun detested music, and on this occasion he had a stable companion of similar antipathies In Medallist, a horse trained by “Bill” Gerrard. Consequently, when an itinerant German band made Its appearance in front of the hotel one day. Price and Gerrard were greatly perturbed to find their horsea prancing around their looseboxes in great excitement. Rising to the occasion, Gerrard, with solemn mien and a catch in his voice that would have softened the heart of Hindenburg, informed the bandmaster that he had been requested by the landlady to ask the musicians to refrain from playing in the vicinity of the hotel that day as a dear friend of hers was lying inside dead. The tender-hearted bandsmen were greatly concerned at the sad news, and Gerard had hard work to prevent him rushing into the hotel to personally condole with the landlady. As the bandsmen were moving off curious neighbours asked them why they had so suddenly discontinued playing and, of course were greatly astonished on hearing the reason. But not half as surprised as the landlady when later in the day a continuOUS stream of acquaintances called to offer condolences and learn the identity of the dead friend. By some means the bandsmen discovered they had been spoofed, and When they, paid the hote a visit several days later the “brasses’ blew their loudest and tlio man with the big drum banged away as if it were Gerrard s head he was hammering. Machine Gun and Medallist were excitedly walking around their boxes in lathers of sweat, so, making the best of a bad job, Gerrard .and Price offered the bandsmen 10s. to- cry quits,” and close the performance, an offer they accepted rather ungraciously.