THE RACING WORLD

Dominion, Volume 23, Issue 8, 4 October 1929, Page 18

THE RACING WORLD

NOTES AND COMMENTS

(By

"The Watcher.”)

Nominations for all events at the spring meeting of the Wellington Racing Clnb to be held on Saturday and Monday, October 26 and 28, will close at. 9 o’clock tonight, when forfeit (1 sov.) is also due for the Wellesley Stakes!

First acceptances for the New Zealand Cup and nominations for the Stewards’ and other principal handicaps at the Canterbury Jockey Club's Metropolitan meeting are due to-night at 8 o'clock.

Best Friend ran well enough at Hastings to suggest that he will soon be a winner.

Phar Lap’s brilliant finishing run in the Rosehill Guineas is said to have been reminiscent of the win of Nigger Minstrel in the same race.

. Stealth’s weight in the Electric Handicap, at the Dunedin Jockey Club’s meeting, is 7st. 31b., and not 7st. 21b. as originally published. 0

The Napier Park Racing Club purposes altering the position of the mile start, so as to give a straight run down. At present the start is just on a bend. The entrance to the car paddock will also bo altered. These improvements will be carried out as soon as the spring meeting is over.

The Taranaki-traiued Potency showed all his old speed in the Flaxmere Hack last Saturday and when apparently beaten by Sylvan Dell ’ ran out gamely to draw away again to win in the last few yards. Potency will be a runner at Napier Park and will agiffn be hard to beat.

Although Ex Dono has been paid up for in the Great Northern Guineas, he will not be a competitor, as with his stable comrades, Tresham, Tourist and Shot Silk, he has returned to Trentham,

Mr. Frank Armstrong has selected the name of Duckland for the yearling sister to Admiral Drake.

Psychology, sire of Perception, Simba and Chrvsology, was imported in 1924 by Mr. T. S. Lowry, who made use of him at his Okawa stud up to this season. He is now leased to two Poverty Bay residents.

J. Pike is to ride Phar Lap in the A.J.C. Derby. The Night Raid gelding is owned by Mr. A. J. Davis and is raced on lease by H. R. Telford. He has won £1295 in stakes.

In addition to being favourite for the A.J.C. Metropolitan Handicap there has been very heavy backing for Nightmarch in the Epsom Handicap, and he is one of the favourites for the mile race also. It is reported that the backing for this particular race was done so quietly and cleverly that several of the bookmakers are uneasy, as they now find themselves with huge sums at stake in both events.

Gascony will probably be kept to weight for age sprint races this season.

Simba’s next appearance will be in the Wellesley Stakes on the first day of the Wellington spring meeting.

The light-weight jockey, A. G. Murray, who went to Auckland with J. H. Jefferd s team, is not remaining for the meeting. He has accepted several mounts at the Napier Park fixture.

At Menangle on September 24 the Three Hundred Cup race, one mile, was won by the Romeo—Piraeus gelding Teri. He won by a head in Imin. 40}sec.

The Tea Tray filly Pure Blend, regarded as the fastest sprinter in West Australia at present, started a warm favourite in a ten-furlong race on September 21, and failed. Piiar Lap's Sister.

Phar Lap has a full-sister in work at Hastings. She was purchased at the last Trentham sales by Mr. J. J. Gatenby for GO guineas, and as a result of Phar Lap’s good form there have been inquiries recently for the Night Raid filly. At present her owner is in Tasmania on business, but it is understood that negotiations for the purchase of the two-year-old filly were proceeding by cablegram during the weekend. For the Metropolitan.

Only one of H. B. Lorigan’s pair (Oratrix and Concentrate) is likely to start in the Metropolitan (says a Sydney writer). A final decision was to have been reached after last Saturday’s Hawkebury meeting, at which Oratrix was a runner in the Spring Handicap. Last year the mare finished second in that race, prior to occupying a similar position behind Jocelyn in the Metropolitan. No details were cabled as to how Oratrix fared or as to which one will be the stable representative in the big handicap. Mitchelson Cup Riders.

The following riders will be associated with Mitchelson Cup candidates at Ellerslie on Saturday:—R. S. Bagby, Star Stranger; B. H. Morris, Historic; H. Goldfinch, Prince Humphrey; A. E. Ellis, Prodice; W. H. Jones, Barometer; K. Voitre, Piuthair; H. N. Wiggins, Transformer; E. Ludlow, High Pitch; O. Mclnally, Desert Glow; E. A, Keesing, Singleton; N. Voitre, Talisker.

Too Many Geldings. “Those connected with racing in Australia,” said Brigadier-General W. H. Anderson, who is representing Indian Army headquarters in a visit to the Antipodes, in Adelaide last week, “apparently do not realise their responsibility in regard to thoroughbred sires. It is to the racecourse where the eyes are turned for thoroughbred sires to produce utility horses. More than SO per cent, of horses racing were now geldings,” he added. “Allowing for a proportion of marcs, it was evident that the number of entires available for stud purposes was negligible. A few highclass horses went to the stud after their racing davs had finished, but they were not available for utility breeding owing to high covering fees. Many of the best racehorses running now are geldings,” continued General Anderson, “and the policy of allowing them a 31b. allowance appears to be an anomaly. The reason given is that geldings are easier to train and handle, and last longer for racing purposes. If this.,is correct, surely it would be more logical to give any allowance that was considered necessary to entire horses, rather than to encourage geldings. The policy of permitting geldings to compete in many of the most important classics in Australia appears to be contrary to the best interests of racing or breeding.” On Hawera Tracks.

Conditions were good on Hawera tracks oil Tuesday morning. Two Waverlcy Cup candidates in Mendip and Orazone, with Banbridge, broke away at the six furlongs post, the three running together to the halfmile in 52sec. Orazone was first into the straight, and beat Mendip home by the best part of a length, with Banbridge two lengths back, in Imin, IPsec. This was Orazone’s first gallop this season, and was a very satisfactory effort. Animated and Golden Flower were to have gone together, but the former broke'away before reaching the half-mile post and ran her half in ol 3-sscc„ this time being equalled by Golden Flower in her attempt. Guard of Honour ran six furlongs by himself without pressure in Imin. 21 l-ssec. An interesting gallop was that of the two-year-olds Double Bed, Salon, and Awaken over a couple of furlongs on the trial grass. The trio broke away well together; Awaken, on the outside, covered most ground, and Double Red, finishing in fine style, was in front at the finish by about half a length in 25 l-ssec. Vivo and .Tust So finished together a good length In front of I’aitonu over four furlongs, run in 51 2-sscc. This was Vivo's first fast work, and the Polydamon mare displayed all her old track pace. Valpre, Llanore, and Bisox were given routine work. According to the Scientists.

The Eugenic Research Association, backed by the Carnegie Institution, lias been

conducting a research into the thoroughbred horses at Cold Spring Harbour, New York. The savants have studied blood strains and breeding, have delved into the family trees of hundreds of horses, and have charted the performances of them and their offspring. Such factors as weight, age, and speed have been charted, and a formula worked out, it is claimed, by which all horses may be judged. The scientists at Cold Spring Harbour have found that Man-o'-War was the greatest American racehorse of all time. Also that mares reach their pinnacle at two and a half years, a horse at three and a half, geldings at five and a half. The present system of handicapping By weight is all wrong, they declare. The average racehorse, they maintain, runs better with 110 pounds on its back than 90; to decrease the weight is to decrease the speed. Some horses are best at as high a weight as 120 or 122 pounds, but the average Is about 112. Trainers whose horses are occasionally allotted a great deal more weight than they expect are bound to appreciate this finding. English Statistics.

At the end of August the leading individual winner in England was Royal Minstrel (Tetratenia —Harpsichord), with a little over £16,0.00. Mr. Jinks was second, and Trigo third. The wins of Trigo in the English and Irish Legers, however, placed the Derby hero at the top. The best winner among the two-year-olds was Queen of the Nore, a full-sister to Fourth Hand, by Tetratema from Queen’s Double. She was fifth on the winning list with nearly £6OOO. Quarrat-al-Ain (a halfsister by Buchan to Royal Minstrel) was well up among the two-year-olds. The position of Tetratema among the sires was unassailable. His progeny had won over £48,000. Tetratema is by The 'Petrarch from Scotch Gift. He was bred in 1917. The nearest of the others was Blandford (Swynford—Blanche), with £22,000. Son-in-Law (Dark Ronald—Mother-in-Law) was third with £19,000. Then came Hurry On, Phalarls, Stratford (also by Swynford), Diligence (by Hurry On), Abbots Trace, Lemberg, Buchan, Friar Marcus, Craig an Eran, Grand Parade, Papyrus, and Gainsborough, in that order. H. H. Aga Khan headed the list of winning owners with £27,000, Major D. McCalmont being second with £21,000. R. C. Dawson led the trainers with 29 wins by 18 horses, the total value of the stakes won being £42,629. F. Darling and H. S. Persse were next with £29,000 each. Mr. J. J. Maher headed the breeders’ list with £22,000, followed by Major McCalmont, the Aga Khan, Lord Derby, and Lord Astor, in that order. Among the jockeys, Gordon Richards was 11 wins ahead of his nearest rival. Famous Rider Suspended.

“No person can hope to violate the rules of racing and expect to get away with it, be he power itself. The recent suspension of Laverne Fator, America’s leading rider, at Aqueduct, serves to bring this point again to’ the attention of turf fans all over America. Fator, now the ace among jockeys that Earl Sande Is in semiretirement, was ‘given the meeting at Aqueduct for what was termed as a bus-plcious-looking ride on Folking. It is said that one prominent bookmaker at the course was laying much higher odds on Folking than his mates, and was taking in plenty. The stewards took action in quick order (says the U.S.A. ‘Turf Dl-. gest’). To their everlasting credit, they did not dally, but told Fator to say on the ground as an exemplary lesson. The Pinkertons' soon thereafter Informed a bookmaker to make himself scarce at the track. The bookmaker did. Fator has gained wealth and fame on the turf. The public idolises him, and demands that he keep unsoiled and away from the sordid operations of those who may be classed as crooks. Fator has made far more from honest riding ability than he could ever hope to make with shady tactics. He has everything in the world to make him happy, success, money, a fine family, and a reputation. That he should take any chances with the latter is strange. High-Priced Horses.

The offer of 10,000 gns. for Phar Lap recalls that Australia has always been a good market for thoroughbred stock. When Rossendale was sold for 9500 gns. at the Kingsfield stud dispersal, one of the highest prices for a thoroughbred in Australia was realised in recent years. Pantheon brought 7250 gns. at the same sale. While prices in Australia have never reached the high totals realised in Great Britain and other parts of the world, some excellent totals have been recorded in Australia. The highest price given for a thoroughbred in Australia was 16,000 gns. This amount was paid for Heroic by Mr. C. B. Kellow at auction at Newmarket on January 11, 1925. The late Mr. A. Yuille was the auctioneer and the sale of Heroic was accomplished in seven minutes. Valais, the celebrated thoroughbred sire, was purchased for 14,400 gns. by Messrs. H. S., A. W. and A. E. Thompson. Carbine was sold for 13,000 gns in the autumn of 1895 to the Duke of Portland, and was shipped to England by the R.M.S. Oziraba on April 13, 1895. Carnage, a half-brother to Carbine, realised 10,000 gns., in the early nineties. He was bought by a German breeder, and was taken to Europe. The Night Patrol was sold in March, 1926, on behalf of the Earl of Stradbroke to Mr. Gerald Buckley for 10,000 gns. The Night Patrol is now at that owner’s Rockhouse Stud, near Kyneton. Other high-priced sales in Australia in recent years were Trafalgar (11 years old), 7500 gns.; Comedy King, bought at 10 vears old, by Mr. Norman Falkiner, 7300 gns.; Dominant, a colt by Saltash—Weltea, sold at the Randwick yearling sales in 1928 for 6750 gns.; Tressady, sold at 10 years for 6000 gns.; Avant Courier (yearling). 5500 gns.: and Gilt Edge (yearling), 5000 gns In England the record priced thoroughbred sale was £60.000 for the Derby winner. Call Boy. The next highest price was £53,000 for Tracery (sire of Gothic). The highest price for a yearling was 17,000 gns.. given by the Aga Khan for Feridoon, a liurrv On colt, bred at the National stud at Tully, County Kildare, Ireland.

AUCKLAND TRACK NOTES -

HUNTING CRY’S FINE EFFORT' Dominion Special Service, Auckland, October 3. Fine weather and a perfect track made the final gallops very interesting at Ellerslie this morning. Thursby just beat Kawainga over six furlongs in Imin. 21 3-ssec. Brampton pleased in beating War Officer decisively over live furlongs in Imin. 3 1-5 S °Havering, looking very fit, worked easily on the tan. Alloy was finishing solidly alongside Bombarder at the end of four furlongs in 51 l-ssec.

King Emerald gave Eager Rose a start and finished with her at the end of five furlongs in Imin. 4sec., that being Eager Rose’s time, King Emerald recording Imin. 3 l-ssec.~a first-class gallop. Gold Money and Respirator were in this gallop, but both were well beaten. Great Emblem and Running Over sprinted three furlongs in 39sec. The Lover gave Palmares a sound beating over five furlongs in Imin. 4 3-ssec. Cylinder was a shade better than Chief Link over four furlongs in 50 3-ssec. Both youngsters moved pleasingly. Sea Comet and Adjuster ran a circuit in 2min. 15 2-sscc.

Talisker, without doing his best, recorded 2min. 12 l-ssec. for the same distance.

Isa sprinted from the four to the two, but was not timed. She made a good impression. Slngletont. who appears to be feeling the ground, took Imin. 37 2-ssec. to run seven furlongs.

Lineage, going easily, beat Appeal over five furlongs in Imin. 11 2-ssec. She was under a pull all the way. Corinax easily ran a circuit in 2min. 15sec.

Tancriri was better than Red Lion, with Hannibal iin the rear, over five furlongs, in Imin. ssec.

Lady’s Boy eased up at the finish to just beat Beunle and Mountain Guide over three furlongs, in 38 4-ssee. He is a fit horse.

Reremoana gave Te Atiawa and Benzora a start and beat them easily over five furlongs in Imin. 5 3-ssec. The old horse would have run n good gallop had he been allowed.

Rof De Vai nnd Knightlike were doing their best over five furlongs in Imin. 4sec. —a useful effort.

Standfast and Merry Mint were on terms over six furlongs in Imin. 20sec., with Merry Mint going strongly at the end. Golden Wedding recorded Imin. 18 4-5 see. for six furlongs—a fine effort for a hurdler.

Oil King was a shade better than Trickle over a half-mile, smartly run In 5(1 4.5 Man.'iwhcnua was too good for Wild Country over four furlongs In 53sec,

Hunting Cry beat False Scent over a m jle in Imin. 46 3-ssec. It was a very attractive effort and may result in Hunting Crv being favourite for the Guineas. False Scent galloped well, but his mate always held him nicely.

Amor ran away from Leader and, easing up at the end, ran a mile in Imin. 4Ssec. He did his work very well. Vertlgern had an easy sprint on No. 3 grass.

Historic wag always a little better than Star Stranger, both lightly weighted, in a sterling gallop over a round in 3mln. ssec. It was a fine effort by both horses and compares favourably with former good gallops, the round now being about seventy yards longer than when Highland set a main by just breaking two minutes. The flags were thirty-five feet out on the course proper so it will be seen It was a great gallop. The last half mile was solidly run in 52 3-ssec.

Silvermine had Pink Coat scratching all the way over six furlongs in Imin. ISsec.— the best of the morning—but the Guineas candidate was battling on gamely at Silvermine’s girths at the end of the journey. Sleepy Sol and Chesterman jumped several hurdles. Roman Pearl was too good for Mon Star and Catoma over six furlongs in Imin. 213-ssec. Diamond Queen pleased more than Blzzaro over six furlongs in Imin. 21 l-ssec. Chrysology, with a fair weight up, easily ran half a mile in 50 4-Ssec. He Is an attractive goer and looks likely to figure In the Welcome Stakes finish. Great Charter moved at his leisure over half a mile just under a minute. Sir Archie covered a circuit in fine style in 2min. 9sec. —rather good for a maiden hurdler. Gemlight, Tremetus and Thespis were on terms over three furlongs in 39see. Prodice and Desert Glow were together over a mile in Imin. 45 3-ssec. Prodice went particularly well. Spring Song beat Speak Out and Tinker Belle over four furlongs in 514-ssee. Flying Prince shaded Arikitoa, with Cybele several lengths behind, over seven furlongs in imin. S 3 2-ssec. Value and Valmarie sprinted three furlongs in 37sec. Elysianor, Askari, Atarerla and Otalri are the latest arrivals. Piuthair worked at Avondale. Frank Loomb hns Prodice and Desert Glow In the Mitchelson Cup and It is understood that unless rain falls to ease the track Prodlce will not start. Great Charter was again sore after working this morning.

SENSATIONAL BACKING NIGHTMARCH FOR EPSOM The sensational backing of the New Zealand horse Nightmarch for the Epsom Handicap yesterday was the topic of conversation in sporting circles, says the Sydney “Herald” of Wednesday week. It is computed in a reliable quarter that the horse was backed to win £15,000, and he now figures as favourite with Paqulto for the race. The move was made early in the morning, and was not confined to Sydney; but pre-post operators in Melbourne and Brisbane received inquiries almost simultaneously. It was not until interstate bookmakers attempted to hedge their transactions that the full extent of the commission became apparent, and for the next hour or two the "market” was greatly excited, and the quotation against the horse toppled to a quarter of that which ruled yesterday. It was an opportunity of a lifetime, of which the commissioners took full advantage. Since Nightmarch was brought from New Zealand he has been regarded solely as a candidate for the Metropolitan and for weight-for-age races. As a three-year-old last season he won six races, the last four, including the New Zealand Derby Stakes, being over distances of a mile and a quarter or longer. Caught Napping. This In itself was sufficient to confirm the belief that the Metropolitan would be the principal mission. Too much importance could not be attached to the fact that so far in his preparation Nightmarch has not been asked to gallop over any distance in excess of one mile. With a stayer it is but necessary to have the horse fit, and if it can be done by sprinting alone the object is served. Nightmarch had his first serious race in the Spring Handicap, one mile and a quarter, at Randwick on Saturday. A sensational pluhge was not associated with the event, for he started at not much less than double figures, and administered a troucing to the field, beating the Epsom favourite, Paquito, comfortably. That was sufficient for most people, and on Monday backers sought for nothing else but Nightmarch for the Metropolitan, and he became a hot favourite for the race. Owner a Small Bettor. In the brisk business that resulted the extent of the move so far as it affected the stable passed unnoticed. The owmer of the horse, Mr. A. Louisson, is not a bettor on a large scale. It is known that his support was trifling, and in the light of yesterday's move It would appear that followers of the stable were disappointed In their efforts. What would be more natural than to turn to the Epsom Handicap, with its open market in which Nightmarch figured nominally at a long quotation? One operator’admitted yesterday that when overtures were first made to him he considered that he was accepting a very “soft,” even though substantial, bet. “I was soon to be disillusioned,” he added, "especially as I found others had been approached also.” Although Nightmareh has won more in distance races than in sprints, he was asked to mix the two last season. His first start was in a mile race at hack conditions, and he Was beaten into second place, Then he won over seven furlongs with 8.7. and over a similar distance with 8.10 at the Canterbury .T.C. meeting. His next start was the Derby, which be won, and a month later he was asked to concede Buoyant, a good winner, 181 b. over six furlongs, and he failed by a head in Imin. 12 4-ssee. In successive races he was placed at six furlongs and a mile and a furlong, and then he won over a mile and a quarter at Marton. Two more races in sprints followed, and ho concluded the season with efforts over distances. On his Randwick display he should run a good mile. Certainly those who have supported him for the Metropolitan have cause for some alarm, tor if he wins the Epsom Handicap his penalty will bring his weight for the longer race to 9.12. Not a horse has yet won the double in the one year, and none has carried 9.12 into

LIMERICK AMISS RETURNING TO NEW ZEALAND Australian Press Association. Sydney, October 3. Limerick has been withdrawn from all his spring engagements, and will be sent back to New Zealand as early as possible, to be treated to a long spell. Limerick’s withdrawal has been a great disappointment. The newspapers are featuring the incident, and express the hope that the last has not been seen of the champion. A.J.C. SPRING MEETING FURTHER SHOCKS FOR BACKERS Australian Press Association. .(Rec. October 3, 8.30 p.ra.) "• x i . Sydney, October 3. Racing circles had another shock to-day, when Mid Kent was withdrawn from the Metropolitan owing to a burst heel. . The newspapers give prominence to the great Jjorni .being shown by .New Zealand horses, notably Nightmarcb, Paquito, Au|sie, and'pomp. * The Randwick course looks a picture after the recent rains. Large crowds are present from other States for the opening of the carnival on Saturday. Z- ■' METROPOLITAN, EPSOM, 4AND DERBY FINAL ACCEPTANCES. Australian Press Association. (Rec. October 3, 7.15 p.m.) Sydney, October 3. The "following are the final acceptances for the A.J.C. spring meeting, opening on Saturday EPSOM HANDICAP. One mile. Aussie Royal Flavour Fujisan Lord Eudorus Sion Coercion Nightmarch Perception Reonui Sir Chr.vstopher Kiilarney Habashon Loquacious Adrian’s March Bright Glow Racksa Figure Royal Duke Paquito . Raisin Gilt Edge King’s Arms Don Moon Vertoy Venetian Lady A.J.C. DERBY. One mile and a half. Sir Blbble Toper Comanche Carradale Cathmar Honour Pbar Lap Queen Nassau Lorason Ncdda Pentheus THE METROPOLITAN. Oue mile and five furlongs. Nightmarch Valparaiso Loquacious Lcadliglit Concentrate " Inducement ' The Banker Royal Flavour Paquito Kavalli Kidaldes Spearman Bright Glow .Tidal Oratrix Tarapunga FINAL GALLOPS AT RANDWICK (United Press Association.—By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright.) Sydney, October 3. The Epsom final gallops were staged at Randwick this morning. The going was perfect. On the grass Nigbtmarch caused a sensation by covering six furlongs in Imin. 13sec. He beat Kidaldes by several lengths, and Trueshaft, who brought him home over the' last three, comfortably. Gesto beat Magdaffi over six furlongs in Imin. 15sec. Tidal covered four furlongs in 58sec„ but showed slight signs of lameness. Ceremony sprinted three furlongs In Ilsec. Perception did four furlongs in 49Jsec. Honour led Jaledx- over four furlongs in 49jsec. nicely, Stormy and Dalston covered six furlongs in imin. 17jsec. Oratrix did a working gallop. Gilt Edge, hard held, registered Imiu. 80}sec. for seven furlongs. On the tan Paquito and Limerick finished on tends at the end of eight furlongs in Imin. 44scc. Limerick was decidedly lame in the off foreleg after the gallop. The New Zealand mare Belcaire, a recent winner in Sydney, is to be retired to the stud.