THE RACING WORLD

Dominion, Volume 23, Issue 55, 28 November 1929, Page 18

THE RACING WORLD

NOTES AND COMMENTS

(By “The Watcher.”)

“Hack and Hunter,” Wanganui.—No, but she ran third in the A.R.C. Handicap at the Cup meeting at Ellerslie in 191 S.

“Interested."—Goshawk, 4.30 p.m. Friday ; Merry Mint, 1.50 p.m. Saturday.

Nominations for the Summer meeting of the Eginont Racing Club, to be held on December IS and 10, will close on Friday at 8.30 p.m.

Paquito is looking well (says a Christchurch writer), and is striding along freely in his work, but the. tasks allotted him ! are not of a severe nature. From his remarks F. D. Jones is not at all anxious to tackle Nightmareh and Chide in the Aucklland Cup, or in any other, race with the .Thurnham gelding. If they don’t go to Ellerslie he will. If they go he will probably stay at Pplmerston North, or race in Otago and Southland.

Reasonable, a stable mate to the dual Derby (winner, Phar Lap, who was bought cheaply as a yearling last autumn for 105 guineas, scored a victory in the Stansmore Two-year-old Stokes, rnn at Caulfield on November 10. Reasonable is a chestnut gelding by Treclare out of the New Zea-land-bred mare Reason, who is by Absurd. The trip to Te Rapa for the recent Waikato meeting proved anything but a fortunate venture for Avondale trainer 11. Weston. Subsequent to the second day’s racing the hurdler Bob Amans contracted blood poisoning and died shortly after.

In all probability Pangolin will be taken ,to the Auckland summer meeting to congest the hurdle races, provided the handi.capper does not assess him too highly. He will have stronger company to meet at Ellerslie than was the case at Riccarton. but his performances stamped him more than useful, and he should be able to hold his own with the northerners.

The Invercargill owner Mr. E. M. Russell lias n promising colt foal this season, in the shape of a brother to his smart two-year-old filly Tea Party, by Tea Trajfrom Eager Eyes.

For the benefit of trainers who contemplate a trip to Auckland, the Riccarton tracks are available for the first half-hour in the morning for reverse work. P. V. Mason and G. Murray-Aynsley availed themselves of the opportunity provided them on Tuesday morning, but their horses were given only useful tasks, none of them being galloped seriously.

It is now reported that T. Green did not break a collarbone at Levin, but escaped with a bruised shoulder. W. Broughton also escaped with slight injuries.' and it is considered likely that both'will be fit enough to ride at Feilding. >

Praise is said to have improved greatly as the result of her two races at tlie New Zealand Cup meeting.

Maidens In the Takapuna Plate are all allowed 71b., and as Duellona got out of maiden class at Otakl, her weight in Saturday’s race automatically went up 71b., from 7.7 to 8.0.

Mr. G. Gould’s two-year-old Pharaoh, by Shambles from Palestrina, 1 was operated on this week, and when next he races it will be as a gelding. He will have n spell for a couple of months, but he may be got ready after that for autumn engagements.

D. Campbell’s latest acquisition, Tcheka, is settling down ip ,his new home very • nicely. He is still on the light side, but every day he is ’improving in appearance. At present he is the only horse Campbell has in work. He may go south for’the holiday meetings.

The Invercargill trainer, F. W. Ellis, has returned from .Melbourne, -where he had charge of Gold Cup and The Graphic. Ellis saw the race for the Melbourne Cup, and is of opinion that had Caradale not run off the course, he would have been in the money. He was going particularly well at the time, and appeared to be holding Phar Lap, who finished in third place.

Auckland Cup Weights. The main topic of discussion in racing circles at present is what weight Nightmarch and Chide will get in the Auckland Cup. It seems to be the general impression that the Melbourne Cup winner will be called upon to concede a few pounds to his rival, and on performances Mr. MeManemin will likely decide that iway, but opinions are well divided on the subject. There is an impression about that a bid may be made to get both these good horses ‘to Ellerslie by a handicap starting on a scale sufficiently low to tempt Mr. Louisson and his trainer to run. There are other horses to be considered, however, and speculation in this case is rather fruitless. The connections of Nightmarch are not communicative. They do not definitely deny a trip if conditions prove favourable, and it would be no surprise If they eventually ran him. The Nightraid four-year-old is every bit as good as Wairiki, who won as a four-year-old with 9.8 in the 6.7 minimum, and also Rapine, who won four years ago with 9.8. Nightmareh carried 9.12 into second place in the A.J.C. Metropolitan in the early spring, and he is a better horse now, and still has another month to improve. Mr. Henrys raised Chide 221 b. from his New Zealand Cup weight to the Metropolitan Handicap, but the scale was 71b. higher. Still it was 8.12 in an unrestricted handicap, and as he has since won the Canterbury and Stead Cups, Chide can scarcely get under his weigh tfoNage, which is 9.0. It is said that Chide will not go to Auckland if he gets much more than this. Horses like Star Stranger, Historic, Paquito, Concentrate, In the Shade, and Goshawk, are going to benefit through the presence of the two cracks in the handicap, and the actual weights, which are due on. December 4, are being eagerly awaited. An idea of the non-com-mittal policy of the connections of Niglitraarch can be gained from the following: In the course of an interview shortly after iris return to Christchurch, the owner of Nightmarch, Mr. A. Louisson, was plied with the question: “Will Nightmareh run in the Auckland Cup?” to which he replied: “I am not certain. The weights are not out yet.” “You may meet Chide up there,” said the interviewer. “That will be a great draw for the crowd,” was the reply of Mr. Louisson.

Wanganui Cup Programme. The committee of the Wanganui Jockey Club met on Monday to consider the recommendations of the programme committee, and after considerable discussion had taken place concerning several alterations which had been proposed the programme for the summer meeting next February was passed. Owners and trainers will be pleased to learn what these alterations arc. Naturally, the first that meets the eye is the £lOOO Cup, the added money being £lOO more than was given last February. It Is also very pleasing to note that the committee has decided to maintain the distance of . the. race at a mile and threequarters. An alteration has been made in the Flying Handicap, the stake for the winner of the open sprint being increased to £275. The Juvenile Handicap, which previously has been solely for two-year-olds, will be open to horses either two or three years old. This event has usually been run directly after the Wanganui Cup, making it the sixth race on the opening day, but next February the Victory Hack Handicap, usually the fourth event, will change places with the Juvenile Handicap This should enable owners to consider starting their horses in the Malden Race- and the Victory Hack also. The remainder of the events on the opening day will not be altered from the conditions regarding stakes and distances ruling at the 1929 meeting. On the second day of the meeting the most notable alteration is in the conditions governing the Autumn Hack Handicap, the name of which has been changed to the Autumn Handicap, horses two or three years old being the only ones ‘eligible. The distance has been reduced to five furlongs, and in addition the race has been set down as the opening event on the second day, whereas it has hitherto been the fifth. Its place will be taken by the Okoia Hack Handicap, which formerly opened the day’s proceedings.

Rays to Follow. “I can name several men w-ho are making a living out of Duncan,” remarked a paddock bookmaker of long experience when discussing with a Melbourne Pressman that jockey’s success this season. It is a fact, too. Duncan lias a larger following this year than ever before,' and his followers are showing a good profit to date. At all meetings the' demand for horses ridden by him is such that the bookmakers know it is the jockey more than the horse that is being supported. Anything Duncan rides is assured of backing, even it the stable has no particular fancy for the horse or for the work it has done.This season Duncan has had 92 mounts, of which 27 have been winners, and £1 invested on each would have returned the investors £9l/10/-. Losing mounts num-, her 65, at £1 each. Thus there is a clear profit of £29/10/ —a very good return for such a small unit of investment. Yearlings for the Sales.

A youngster who is likely to attract a lot of attention at the National yearling sales, to be held at Trentham in January, is a colt by' Shambles from Sleepy Head, included in Mr. H. M. Beeves’* draft from

the Hororata Stud. Like most of the progeny of Shambles, he is well grown and shows fine quality. His dam is by Birkenhead from Soninlform, by Bonlform from Dreamer, by Mostyn from Moorooroo, by Trenton from Nightmare. This is a great Australian family, Wakeful being among its notable representatives in the Commonwealth, while in the Dominion it has been kept before the public by many high-class performers, ineluding Noctuiform, Nightfall, Bon Ton, Bon Reve, Midnight Sun, and Eligible. On breeding lines the colt has great prospects as a stayer. His brother was purchased last January by the Auckland trainer J. T. Jamieson, and he is regarded as a promising sort.

Included ’in Mr. I. G. Duncan’s draft of yearlings from the Elderslle Stud, to be disposed of at the National Sales, is a chestnut filly by Tea Tray from Fulsome, by Absurd, from Mr. G. M. Currie’s great imported mare Eulogy. This youngster should attract a lot of attention from racing men in search of an early two-year-old winner, as it would bo difficult to find a greater combination of speed lines in any stud in the Dominion. Another youngster with speed in his pedigree, from the same stud, is the Weathervane colt from Victory Bond, whose present two-year-old, Tray Bond, by Tea Tray, is evidence th,at this brilliant Paper Money, mare is transmitting her great pace to her progeny.

Pink Coat u Top-liner. Pink Coat made such an exhibition of Seatown, Concentrate, Hoylake, Silver Paper, Eaglet, Admiral Drake, Hunting Cry, and others in the Harcourt Cup, that it. would have been very interesting to have seen him saddle up fit and well in the Stead Gold Cup and New Zealand Derby (says a southern writer). He is a better colt tliat Honour, and would stay better than the latter. It has to be remembered that Pink Coat won the Harcourt Cup on three legs, after breaking down two furlongs from home. Until the mishap occurred, he was rgally making an exhibition of the opposition, and as Honour had Chide fully extended at the end of the Stead Gold Cup, the Tatter was lucky that Pink Coat was off the scene at Rieearton. Pink Coat is one of the best three-year-olds seen out since the days of Noctuiform, and it will be a matter of deep regret if he does not stand another preparation.

Can Hold Their Own. In a reference to the successes of New Zealand-bred horses in the Commonwealth, and to the fact that jockeys from this Dominion have played their part well, a Melbourne writer remarks: —“New Zealand continues to produce high-class horses, and the men to ride them. We were forcibly reminded of this by the recent victories of Nightmarch, steered by Roy Reed. For more than half a century riders have been coming to Australia from the Dominion and showing that they have nothing to learn from our experts. Several of then: decided to make Australia their home, and they have been welcome. The New* Zealanders seem to be at home either on the flat or over jumps. R. Cameron and the late Hugh Cairns were fine all-round horsemen in their day, and across country we have seen few more capable jockeys than 8. Reid and H. Thompson, to mention ■only two of many. Among the flat race jockeys from across the Tasman are M. McCarten, Ashley Reed, George Young and many others that could be quoted. R. Derrett should be given a place among the earlier visitors from New’ Zealand, although he did not have much luck in this country.” ’ Chinaman’s Luck.

This is supposed to be an enlightened age and free from superstition, but superstition seems to be Inherent in us. For some extraordinary reason a Chinese is associated in some minds with good luck, aud one frequently hears of a man "having •the luck of a,Chinaman." Why a Chinese should be endowed with more luck than anybody else nobody seems to know. On the morning of the Victorian Derby a bookmaker was standing in a street in Melbourne, when a Chinese passed wearing a none too clean Panama hat. The bookmaker startled the Celestial by dashing over, removing the Panama hat, placing it on his own head, and dumping his own on the head of the Chinese. “Now,” he said, “I am going to have some luck today.” 1 It, however, did not work out as he anticipated, as four first favourites and two .second favourites won, consequently the bookmakers had a bad day. I did meet a backer who was lucky, states a Melbourne writer. Before the first race the bookmakers were operating on the Cantala Stakes, and a friend of mine backed Amounts at 7 to 2, which w;as an extraordinarily good price. /Later in the day he found his pockets overcrowded with betting tickets, and decided to get rid of them. He had forgotten about the Amounis ticket, and discarded it with- the others. A couple of hours later he realised what he bad done, and having a hazy recollection of the spot where he had had the cleaning out of his pockets, he strolled across in the hope of being able to locate it. It was adjacent to the stand of one of tlie biggest operators in the ring x and by that time there must have been a couple of thousand tickets strewn on the ground. The first ticket ho picked up was the missing one on Amounis. Luck was with him, but not with the bookmaker who had swapped hats with the Chinese.

Off the Black List. For some time now—since the last summer meeting at Ellerslie —Golden Wedding’s activities have been coniined to hurdle racing, due to the fact that her vagaries at the barrier necessitated her being placed on the schooling list. With every effort over hurdles improvement has been noticeable in the chestnut’s behaviour, aud the officiating body of the Racing Conference recently notified Mr. W. Taylor that his representative was again eligible for flat events. At the time of her dismissal from the flat ranks. Golden Wedding was performing with distinction, and as there is reason to believe the daughter of Kenilworth is still capable, she may not' compete in hurdle races for the next few months. Golden Wedding has an engagement in the Alison Cup on Saturday, and is to have the sea-vices of W. H. Jones, who piloted Hipo to victory In the Tc Kulti Cup Handicap. THE BENDIGO CUP (Rec. November 27, 10.20 p.m.) Melbourne, November 27. The following was the result of the Bendigo Cup, of 650 sovs. One'mile and three furlongs:— Master Lunette, 7.1 (Phillips) .... 1 Opera Queen, 7.7 2 Lucky Card, 7.2 3 Eight started. Won by a length. FIXTURES. ' Nov. 30, Dec. 2—Takapuna J.C. Nov. 30, Dec. 2—Feilding J.C. Dec. 7-r-Ashburton County R.C. Dec. 6, 7—Taumarunui R.C. Dec. 11, 12—Woodville District J.C. Dec. 14 —Waipa R.C. Dec. 18, 19—Egmont R.C. Dec. 26—Waipukurau J.C. Dec. 26—Westland R.C. Dec. 26, 27—Taranaki J.C. Dec. 26/28 —Dunedin J.C. Dec. 26, 27, 28— Manawatu R.C. Dec. 26, 30, Jan. 1, 2—Auckland R.C. Dec. 28, Jan. I—Greymouth J.C. Jan. I—Waikouaiti R.C. Jan. I—Wyndham R.C. Jan. 1. 2—Wairarapa R.C. Jan. 1, 2—Hawke's Bay J.C. Jan. 1, 2—Stratford R.C. Jan. 1, 2—Marton J.C. Jan. 2, 3—Southland R.C. Jan. 7, B—Reefton J.C. Jan. 9, 11—Thames J.C. Jan. 11, 13—Vincent J.C. Jan. 15, 16—Foxton R.C. Jan. 17, 18—Oamaru J.C. Jan. 18—Bav of Islands R.C. Jan. 18, 20, 22—Wellington R.C. Jan. 22—Ashburst-Pohangina R.C. Jan. 25—Wairio J.C. Jan. 25—Waipapakauri J.C. Jan. 28, 30— Wairoa R.C. Jan. 29—Clifden R.C. .Tan. 29, 30—Pahiatua R.C. Jan. 29, Feb. I—Takapuna J.C.