THE RACING WORLD

Dominion, Volume 23, Issue 221, 14 June 1930, Page 16

THE RACING WORLD

(By

“The Watcher.”)

Various correspondents have inquired certain scratching times at Taumarunui last mouth. They arc now to baud, and are as follow:—Maori .Boy, 9 a.m., and Prince Vai, 10.5 a.m.

Nominations for the winter meeting of the Wellington Racing Club, to be held on. Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday, July 8. JO, and 12, will close on Monday at 9 p.m.

Mr. C. Boyle’s Conjuror IT was given 9.4 in the Victorian Grand National Hurdle Race, to be run on Saturday, July 5. The distance is three miles.

Glare was engaged at Flemington last Saturday in the Sandringham Handicap, one mile and a quarter, but it is not known how he fared, or if he started. He was handicapped at 9.0, another New Zealander, Second Wind, being top with 9.7 King Mart had 8.8, and Sir Roy 7.13, so it will be seen Glare is not badly treated by the handicappers in the Melbourne area.

Mistaken ideas have cropped up in regard to the cablegram from England which stated that a winning horse was recently examined to find out if it had been doped. There was no suspicion that the horse had been doped, but the test was made in order to demonstrate that winners are liable to examination. IJrevention is better than cure. H. Goldfinch was anxious to ride at the Ellerslie meeting, but medical advice prevented him. The Wellington meeting in July should see him again in tho saddle.

Included in the entries for the Ladies’ Bracelet at the Egmont-Wanganui Hunt meeting is the aged gelding Coma, by Day Comet from The Boyne, who is under J. Fryer’s care at Hawera. Although related to those good performers Rcwi Poto, Prince Rufus, and Paraoa, Coma has not been a success on the turf.

R. E. Co'yeny was a visitor to the Riccartou track on Thursday morning. He has made a good recovery from his accident on the West Coast, but does not intend to resume race riding until August.

D. O’Connor, who has taken up his residence at Riccarton, will ride Lancer, Guy Jim and Sweet Refrain in their engagements at the South Canterbury, meeting next week.

The Night Raid and Chief Ruler juveniles that form a portion of the team owned by Mr. T. H. Lowry, under his private trainer, R. Alexander, at Greenmeadows, are being ridden about at present. '

M. Thomas has leased Tawhairoa to Mr. C. A. Bull. He is a rising four-year-old gelding by Our King from a mare by Lupin, the last-named being an English-bred stallion by Peter Flower — Lunette, and was one of the sires imported by the Government twenty-eight vears ago. One of Lupin’s sons. Master Lupin, won the Great Northern Steeplechase in 1919 for Mr. J. BullAnother Hurdle Record.

In winning the Federal Hurdle Race at Moonee Valley on May 31 Dookie covered the distance, two miles and 50 yards, in 3min. 4-lJsec., thus creating a course record. It was on the same course recently that the gelding established world’s figures. In many of his races Dookie has hung out badly when he has entered the straight, and his trainer, J. J. Roche, came to the conclusion that this might be caused by the use of spurs at the end of a race. He decided to adopt new tactics in the Federal Hurdle Race, and instructed the rider, Don Wraight, not to wear spurs. It cannot be said that the alteration made any great difference to Dookie, who, from the turn home, gradually hung out. Apparently about two miles is as far as he cares to go. Havering.

“After Havering’s sterling win at Ellerslie,” says the Auckland “Sun,” “many would fancy the four-year-old’s chance in the big mile at Trentha'tn next month, but the connections have decided to forgo this meeting in favour of Riccarton, where an attempt will be made to carry off the Winter Cup.” Havering’s connections, however, have often availed themselves of the female privilege of changing their minds. Plunge on Habit Fails.

The New Zealand' filly Habit was a warm favourite in the Qasula Handicap at Warwick Farm on May 31, when she was beaten by a long head. A man who recently raced one of Sydney’s most prolific winners invested £5OO on her chances, but his efforts were quickly shaded by Sydney’s foremost woman backer, who in four wagers invested £l2OO. After being seven lengths from the leader at the half-mile, Habit looked a winner in tho straight, but Cool Ban finished just too well for her and won by the narrowest of margins. Still, it was a good performance for a tbrec-year-old filly under Ost.

Deeds, Not Words. Thus the “Southland Times”:—“The attention of the solemn gentleman who declaimed against sport and racing and art unions in particular on Tuesday last in Invercargill is directed to the fact that the Forbury Park Trotting Club last week conducted a racing fixture to realise a profit of £5OOO for the immediate relief of the unemployed. When the objectors referred to can show similar results as the outcome of any organisation with which tliey are personally connected they will then be in a position to win favourable recognition from the large section of the community addicted to sport.”

The Task of Sisyphus. According to well-informed people, the bookmakers now have Sydney’s big pouters “on the run,” so to speak. During the past couple of seasons the members of the ring had to withstand severe onslaughts, but, they have emerged triumphant from these clashes. On one or two occasions reports of the stupendous wins of certain punters made it appear as if the Sydney betting ring was in danger of being wiped out of existence; but, though “losing” days were admitted from time to time, the bookmakers’ ranks were not seriously thinned. True, one or two of the Sydney bookmakers have gone for trips abroad, but they will be back again. Backers who operate on a big scale have been feeling the financial depression, and the huge wagers of 12 months ago are not so numerous to-day. Some of those who have been able to carry on big punting during the autumn are known to have sustained substantial losses of late, and it is not likely that they now entertain any dream of breaking the ring.

..“Johnnie” at the Races. Under date May 31 a Brisbane writer says: Miss Amy Johnson made some money to-day—made it easily and without effort —at the Queensland Turf Club races, where she was a guest, with the Governor and Lady Goodwin, of the president and committee. She backed several winners and one placed horse. The last was her only choice—its naine was Aero Force and it came second in the St. Leger Stakes. The others she backed on the advice of friends. Sir. I’at backed Lady Bine for her in the King’s Plate. He also backed the second horse — Marclla —for her. She backed the winner of the first race—at least, it was backed for her, and she could hardly help winning, since all the committee backed the various horses in the race on her behalf. That is the sort of chivalry for which Queensland is noted. In the St. Lcger, in which she backed Aero Force, she became so engrossed in the race that she did not even look up at an aeroplane that flew over. The winner of this race was Rube Paddington, owned by Mrs. D. A. Winten. “Pray that Rube Paddington wins, Miss Johnson !” implored Mrs. Winten. Whether “Johnnie” was able to divide her prayers between Hubs Paddington «nd Amo

NOTES AND COMMENTS

Force is not known—but Mrs. Winten’s horse won easily. “Johunie” visited Ascot in teeming rain in the Governor’s closed car, and was driven up the straight, but no one recognised her. It was not till later, when she walked under Sir John Goodwin’s umbrella to the Vice-Regal box, that the crowd recognised and cheered lustily. The committee gave her a life member’s gold badge and special souvenir leather-covered racebooks, inscribed “Complimentary to Miss Amy Johnson,” were given to the Viceregal party. The Ban on Geldings. At one time geldings were allowed to start in the English Derby, but when Curzon ran Sir Visto to less than a length in the Derby of 1895 there was a sudden awakening to the fact that there was, under existing conditions, a possibility of the world’s greatest race being won by an animal incapable of propagating his species. Curzon, in addition to being a gelding, was also designated a half bred horse. It was in consequence of the flood of criticism which followed that the Jockey Club decided to bar geldings from the classic races. The view taken by the stewards of the Jockey Club was that the classic races exist for the purpose of improving the breed of horses and not to encourage the production of purely racing machines. Races like the Two Thousand Guineas, Derby and St. Leger provide the supreme test for English three-year-blds each season, and the colt that emerges triumphant from these tests acquires a prestige which winners of other races cannot attain. That prestige makes him a fashionable sire, and as a rule the services of a Derby winner are booked up for several seasons ahead at a fee ranging from 300 guineas to 400 guineas. The Derby has never been won by a bad horse, though he may not have proved the actual best of the season. The question of allowing geldings to compete in the Derby was the subject of a lengthy correspondence in England some years ago. One writer accurately summed up the position when he wrote : “A gelding has no business in any race of the first class. - If the object of racing is the improvement of the breed of horses the only way to discourage the practice of unsexing thoroughbreds, which nine times out of 10 is done for commercial reasons—experience having taught that the gelding is easier to train and manage than a stallion, and is. accordingly a more dependable money-making and betting machine—is to limit the number of races in which geldings may take part.”

THE COUNT’S BROTHER

Likely Derby Candidate

RIDER FOR KING’S JEST

Dominion Special Service.

Christchurch, June 13. Red Heckle has rejoined F. Christmas’ team after a two months’ spell. He is to be kept in easy work through the winter in view of racing in the early spring.

Christmas is at present handling a yearling brother to Red Heckle, the property of the breeder, Mr. D. H. Roberts. Solgele has been placed in commission again by W. McDonald, and that trainer has recently taken over the Australianbrefl mare Miss Mercia, owned by Mr. P. Thorpie, of Greymouth. The Viscount has resumed work with T. H. Gillett’s string at Riccarton, looking well after his recent spell. Radiate has given every satisfaction since returning from Dunedin, and is to fulfil engagements at the South Canterbury meeting, at which he will be ridden by A. E. Ellis. He will be schooled at Riccarton to-morrow morning. Promising Three-year-old. Of the rising three-year-olds in work at Riccarton Gustavo is entitled to be labelled as the most promising, and certainly makes marked appeal as a likely Derby candidate. He has furnished into a handsome colt and shows every indication of enjoying even a more successful career than his brother, Count Cavour. Gay Jim (D. O’Connor) and Marco Polo (I. Tilson) were associated in a found of the country to-day. The latter gave a good display and had too much pace for Gay Jim, who, however, was responsible for a promising effort. Pangolin has been doing satisfactory work since the Dunedin meeting, and is to race at Timaru. He will be ridden in his two engagements by F. Thompson, who had tho mounts on him at Wiugatui. J. B. Pearson is keeping his two-year-old colt Gasrange in steady work until the spring meetings come round. It is interesting to note' that Gasrange is a half-brother to the Great Northern Steeplechase winner, Aurora Borealis, three years older, the pair figuring as the only progeny to race of their dam, Raugiata. Ellis to Ride King’s Jest at Trentham. A. E. Ellis has been engaged to ride King’s Jest in his engagements at the Wellington meeting.

The yearling gelding by Polyerates from Black Tea, purchased in Sydney for Mr. M. O’Brien, and now attached to R. W. King’s stable, can be described as a most attractive youngster, and if looks are to be treated as an indication of prowess as a galloper he should prove to be one of the many bargains which are repeatedly recorded in connection with yearling sales. The youngster has been ridden, but, beiug of a type suggesting time, is, not to be hurried, and will probably not be asked to race until the new season is well advanced.

PHAR LAP’S RECORD One Win as Two-year-old Stakes £ Unplaced first division Roseliill Nursery, 6.11, 51 furlongs. Unplaced Hawkesbury Two-year-old Handicap. 7.3, 5 furlongs. Unplaced first division Roseliill Nursery Handicap, 6.7, 6 furlongs. Unplaced A..T.C. Easter Stakes, 7.6, 7 furlongs. Won Roseliill Maiden Juvenile Handicap. 7.9, 6 furlongs .... 182 THREE YEARS. Unplaced Warwick Farm Denham Point Handicap, 7.2, 0 furlongs. y Unplaced Rosobill Three-year-old Handicap, 7.13, 7 furlongs. Unplaced Rosehlll Three and Four-year-old Handicap, 7.6, 7 furlongs. „ „ „ Unplaced Warwick Stakes, 7.6, 8 furlongs. Second Chelmsford Stakes, 7.6, 9 furlongs 200 Won Rosehill Guineas, 8.5, 9 furlongs 913 Won A.J.C. Derby, 8.10, 12 furlongs 7,135 Won Craven Plate. 7.8, 10 furlongs 2.205 Won Victoria Derby, 8.10, 12 furlongs 4,456 Third Melbourne Cup, 7.6, 16 furlongs 1,000 Third V.A.T.C. St. George Stakes, 8.10, 9 furlongfl <o Won V.11.C. St. Leger Stakes, 8.10, 14 furlongs '1.691 Won Governor’s Plate, 7.13. 12 furlongs ‘l® Won King's Plate, 7.11, 16 furlongs LIL. Won Chipping Norton Stakes, 10 furlongs ■••• < 47 Won A.J.C. St. Leger Stakes, 8.10, 14 furlongs 2.3-53 Won A.J.C. Cumberland Stakes, 8.1, 14 furlongs 13-) 7 Won A.J.C. Plate. 7.13, 18 furlongs 1,451 Won S.A.J.C. Elder Stakes, 8.4, 9 furlongs 345 Won King's Cup, 9.5, 12 furlongs i 5 " O 14 firsts. 1 second, 2 thirds, and 8 Umes unplaced »••«•••••>»•■ £26,871