AUSTRALIAN RACING

Dominion, Volume 25, Issue 260, 29 July 1932, Page 17

AUSTRALIAN RACING

Prospects of New Zealanders AUTHORITY’S VIEWS The arrival and expected arrival of the large contingent of New Zealand horses in Australia has prompted the well-known Sydney. writer “Pilot” to discuss their prospects. He does not hold out great hopes for the majority, and Incidentally he has some interesting comment on Historic. In Sydney and Melbourne races are always hard to win from the .beginning' of September until well in November, he says, and they will be specially so this season. Stakes have been reduced In New Zealand, but it is the same in Sydney. A win at Randwick still gives a fair return in prize money, but it-is not so at proprietary courses. The- comparatively small amount now attached to almost any race at those fixtures will not do much toward making a trip from New Zealand profitable. Visitors will, to a great extent, have to look ,to the betting market to pull them through at the suburban tracks, and as bookmakers are Hkelv to treat all horses from New Zealand with respect, their owners will not . be afforded opportunities of raiding the ring at long; prices. I am afraid some owners will return to New Zealand regretful they left it, but “distant hills look green,” and Australia’s betting possibilities appeal to owners in the Dominion. If the Racing Conference can prevent it, the reinstatement of bookmakers on New Zealand courses is as far off as ever. Recent Arrivals. Last week’s arrivals from New Zealand included two stayers in Concentrate and Historic. C. Emerson, who has charge of the former, told me last week that he was quite right up to the present, but he had scarcely done enough with him to be able to form a definite idea whether he would stand. . As Concentrate inclines, to grossness he has to get plenty of work to fit hijiJ, for racing, apd at this juncture.it would be difficult for his trainer to say how he will fare when he starts to thoroughly wind him up. Historic is one I did not think would come over. He has won handicaps under big weights up to a mile and a half, and was giving Vertlgern 91b. when he beat him at the Autumn Handicap, one mile and three furlongs, at Wellington last year, Although his wins include the Harcourt Cup, one mile and a quarter, at w.f.a., at Wellington, I doubt whether he will have much chance in welght-for-age races at Randwick in the spring. For. that matter it is improbable his owner is 'hopeful in that respect. Weighted to His Best. In the Metropolitan he has 9.6, and, even on his best form, that ifj his full share, if not more. Therefore, unless he is more kindly treated in minor handicaps, there is little, likelihood of Mr. Riddiford being rewarded for sending him to Sydney. Historic raced in Auckland last month, scoring a second with 9110 in the King George Handicap, seven furlongs, won by Sunny Sky, and a third with 10.13 in the York Handicap, one mile, which Manawhenua (9.1) won from Sunny Sky (10.3). The minimum was 8.0. . There was only a head between Sunny Sky and Historic. One thing in the latter’s favour is that, he has .arrived in Sydney well forward in condition, but, as he is rising eight, he cannot well be expected to improve upon his previous deeds. ; „ .' . ■