THE RACING WORLD

Dominion, Volume 25, Issue 275, 16 August 1932, Page 13

THE RACING WORLD

FORM OF PADDON Below Best at Riccarton NATIONAL AND AFTER Some Horses Worth Watching (By “The Watcher.”) Paddon, winner of the Trentham and Winter Hurdle races at the Wellington winter meeting, was the outstanding disappointment of the Grand National meeting. In neither /he Grand National nor the Sydenham Hurdles did he run in anything like his best form, and it is now quite plain that he was well off form. He went back to Avondale after the Wellington meeting and before racing at Riccarton did no schooling down there. It was extremely cold in Christchurch this month, perishingly so on some days, and the chances are that Paddon’s condition met a severe, set-back as a result. He certainly looked a very faded picture on Saturday compared with the dashing gelding we saw at Wellington. Paddon is good, and when he comes right again his National showings can be dismissed in summing up prospects. In Good Form. t Hr. T. H. Lowry’s cast-off, Niggerhead, ran good races at the National meeting. He is racing a lot more solidly than hitherto and he should win a race very soon in the south. Back to Form. Compris is back to form, having shown steady improvement since be recommenced racing here at the Wellington winter meeting last month. When he came with his characteristic run in the straight on Saturday he overhauled Rational 11 at a great rate, and looked like winning, but he just weakened again at the last. Compris is likely to be in first-class order again for some of the big spring handicaps. Takes Time to Get Going. Retract, who won so well at Trentham and beat all but Minerval at Riccarton on the second day, drew No. 1 at the post in the Heathcote Handicap on Saturday. B. H. Morris got him out first, but, having to ride him hard in the first half-mile to keep a position, he faded to run on. It would seem that the only way to get the best out of Retract is to let'him take his time to settle down and then unwind his run over the concluding stages. Feels Racing. . , Winter Cup form pointed very strongly to Red Heckle in the Heathcote Handicap at Riccarton on Saturday, but despite a much better run than he received in the big mile on the first day he was unable to do better than a close fourth. He never really looked a winner. Red Heckle does not stapd up well to racing, though he has lately shown signs of improvement in this direction, and it would seem that he is always likely to run his best races first start. At the present time he is in good order. Class Horses Reappear. The good-class horses are now beginning to appear in Sydney, and a pleasing feature of Saturday’s racing at Rosehill was the win of the New Zealand colt Inflation. Inflation last season was in the top flight of our two-year-olds, and his early win as a three-year-old is a fair indication that he has retained his form and is well forward. One of his races in Sydney this spring will be the A. J.C. Derby. He is a solid colt, and although Raper Money on the average has endowed his stock more with speed than stamina. several of them have been first-class middle-distance horses, and Inflation has the added recommendation of being out of a Boniform mare. Veilmond’s win at what was, so far as is known here, his first start, shows that the Limond horse will egain be a force to be reckoned with, and Chide, beaten a head, is another New Zealand-bred horse who has struck form early. This Week’s Racing. The Pakuranga Hunt Clubs meeting next Saturday at Ellerslie is the only racing fixture on the calendar this week. 'Answers to Correspondents. “J. 8. Woburn: 13/6. “A.W.8.,” Otaki: £7/16/-. “Milker,” Dannevirke: £G/S/-. A Good Performance. Mr. J. Clothier’s oversight in not accepting for Lord Vai in the Winter Cup mgy well have cost him that race, though his fine winning achievement on Saturdaj' was undoubtedly assisted by the race he had on Thursday. Well as he runs first up, Lord Vai is always the better for a race, and his performance on Saturday was first class, for he was there with his 9.8 all the way, and just wore down Fair Weather. There were many who thought Fair Weather was home, but it was a finish so close that only the judge could tell, and be is borne out in his judgment by K. Voitre, rider of Fair

Weather. Voitre says he was afraid Lord Vai just got up, and so it proved. Worth 'Watching. . P. T. Hogan; showed good judgment in reserving Water Power on Thursday and starting her on Saturday. This mare went off her form at Trentham, but she was only a nose and a head away from the winner of the last race at Riccarton, after being prominent throughout. V'ater Power is worth watching for some of the early spring meetings in the south, especially as the going is usually on the heavy side there at those fixtures. Retiring Stipendiary. Before dispersing at Riccarton on Saturday the Press gallery bade farewell to the retiring stipendiary steward, Mr. G. E. Curry. The chairman, Mr. A, Dickson, in referring to Mr. Curry’s 17 years association with the sport in the position of stipendiary steward, paid a tribute to his sterling qualities, and stressed particularly Mr. Curry’s valuable assistance to the Press, which was at all times available. Mr. Dickson wished Mr. Curry health and happiness in his retirement, his remarks being received with applause. Mr. Curry suitably responded, and said that although the Press had not always seen eye to eye with him, he fully realised their responsibilities, and at no time had he lost their friendship, which he valued highly. Makings of Fine Sprinter. , . . Keep an eye on Worship for future reference; This three-year-old gelding bv Pombal from Homage, is coming to form which may eventually be really good. He showed a lot of speed at the National meeting, which is not surprising, for he is out of the well-known Eulogy family, and he is a half-brother to Episode and Honour. Later on he will be disputing the issue in sprint events. No Sale. . ™ , The chestnut gelding Topthorn, winner of the Cashmere Plate, was offered for sale at Christchurch last week on behalf or his owner-breeder. Mr. G. F. Moore, but was passed at 300 guineas. His. elder brother, Belvoir, was sore after his race the first day, and was withdrawn from the sale. Hounslow. Don Jose nnd Rameses also failed to change hands.

In Again. . Sargon is an interesting acceptor for the Jellicoe Handicap and the Dunedin Handicap at the Pakuranga meeting., iae Catmint —Hukapapa colt is trained in the country, but according to reports he is making sufficient favourable progress to warrant undertaking further racing. Before he broke down Sargon was regarded by his trainer, J. T. Jamieson, as good class.

Admiral Drake Sore. Admiral Drake has developed leg trouble, and from present indications it looks doubtful if he will be able to fulfil spring engagements, even if his case is not more serious. It is bad luck for Mr. J. M. Samson to lose the services of his crack at this stage, just when it was thought he was going to prove a better horse than at any previous stage of his career. If Mr. Samson goes, on with his plans for a spring campaign in Australia, it is probable that his team will consist of the imported horse Colonel Cygnus, and the Jwo-year-old colts, Garter Knight, by Limond from Anklet, and Southdown, by Rampion from Down South. C. Gieseler has not make any arrangements for leaving, but if the trip is undertaken, the constitution of the team makes Melbourne look a better place to race than Sydney, as there would be numerous chances to race the two-year-olds at Caulfield and Flemington. Singleton to be Tried Again. Twelve horses arrived at Auckland from Gisborne by the coastal steamer Pukeko, last week. Neil, Good Idea, Hawthorn, Reviver, St..Ames, Helium, Lady Vane, Cat-i-mes, ’ Princess Star, and Monetize returned after racing at the Gisborne meeting, where five of them succeeded in winning races. The other two were Singleton and a three-year-old gelding by Colossus from Mandoline. Singleton is in charge of W. Goseombe. He is to be fired by Dr. W. C. Ring, and after a spell will be given another trial to see if he will stand a preparation. The Colossus gelding, who is a half-brother to The Harp and Love Song, has been secured by the Ellerslie trainer, J, M. Buchanan, who will put him in work in the near future.

Costly Purchases. Water Polo, whose dividend when he won the Sumner Handicap at Riccarton on Thursday exceeded the half-century mark, was one of three lots purchased by Sir. A. Louisson, of Christchurch, owner of Nightmarch, at the Trentham yearling sales in 1930. Mr. Louisson gave 1500 guineas for Phar Lhp’s brother Nightguard, 700 guineas for a colt by Hunting Song—Erie, and 600 guineas for Water Polo. A year before Mr. A. Riddiford paid 2400 guineas for Zetes, halfbrother to Water Polo, and full-brother to Agriou. Zetes never raced. Mr. Louisson has also proved very unlucky with his three purchases, but there was undoubted merit in Wafer Polo's performance on Thursday. The seven of Waterwings’ progeny sold_ as yearlings have realised a total of 6370 guineas, as follows: —1926, Agriou, 875gns.; 1927, White Wings, 725gn5.; 1928, chestnut filly by Limond, 420gns.; 1929, Zetes, 2400gn5.; 1930, Water Polo, 60Ogns.; 1931, brown colt by Limond, 600gns.; 1932, bay colt by Limond, 650gns.

THE ENGLISH DERBY Melbourne Man’s Luck ORWELL BADLY RIDDEN Apparently it is within the powers of Australian racing men to make betting pay when they visit England. Bringing wide experience of gallopers to bear, some of them can gauge the form of horses and select the winners of important contests. Writing from London on June 7, Mr. Jack Russell, the Melbourne bookmaker, gleefully relates that he won £4OO over the English Derby. "I attended a meeting at Gatwick on the day after my arrival in London, he says, "and saw April the Fifth win very easily. He defeated only a small field, but scored on the bit. At Lingfield on the following Saturday there was a race for three-year-olds called the Derby Trial. He also won that easily, beating two rivals who were fancied at the time for the Derby. ‘•This form of April the Fifth’s impressed Die very much. At the settling on the Monday I took £2OO to £8 about him, and at the calling of the card at Victoria Club I had another £2OO to £8 from Leon Vandenberg, a Sydney bookmaker who is operating in London. Jack Roles, Lionel Bloom, and Bill Alldritt (also of Sydney) are in London as well. , “I -was the guest ot Lord w oolavington at the Derby and had a wonderful time. I went all over the course and saw the outside public’s view, with sideshows. gipsy camps, and men selling tips from 3d to 1/-I it was amazing. After spending an hour on the flat I returned to the stand to view the races. Epsom on Derby Day is not a good place to view a race. You cannot discern the horses in the Derby after they leave the machine until they- come down the hi.l toward Tattenham Corner. The view at the back of the course is obstructed by marquees and buses. “Jones rode a shocking race on Orwell He had that colt on the outside of the field and covered an enormous lot of extra ground. Orwell came from eighth to fourth near Tattenham Corner afid appeared to have n chance, but he stopped very quickly and .finished a long way behind the placed horses. Ido not think that he is a stayer.

WOODVILLE CLUB Last Year’s Financial Result Dominion Special Service Woodville, August 15. “The past year has been a difficult one for racing clubs.” states the annual report of the Woodville Jockey Club. “The financial depression has made itself felt in reduced attendances and totalisator investments. as well as reduced entry fees, and the club has done well to bring its income and expenditure so closely together. The totalisator turnover at the club s February meeting was £9731/10/-, and for the December meeting £12.967. a total of £22,698/10/-, as compared with £38.641 for the previous year’s meetings. Ihe club paid the Government £2312/2/- in taxation during the year, and received refunds amounting to £5OO. “The track was in good order for the year’s race meetings, while the training tracks have been satisfactorily maintained throughout the year,” the.report states. BROTHER TO RED HECKLE Mr. D. H. Roberts has placed one of his young horses with T. H. Gillett to be trained at Riccarton. He is a two-year-old brother to Red. Heckle, by Warplane from the Gienapp mare Glcnluce. The youngster has been broken in. but has been turned out again for a spell. Mr. Roberts is not keen on early two-year-old racing, and Gillett will concentrate on preparing ■his charge for next season’s engagements. Red Heckle is trained by F. Christmas. FIXTURES. August HO —Pakuranga Hunt Club. August 27—Taranaki Hunt Club. August 27 —Otago Hunt Club. September 10 —Marton J.C. September 17—Ashburton County R.C. September 22. 24—Wanganui J.C. .September 22, 24—Geraldine R.C. October I—Napier Park R.C. October I—Kurow J.C, October 7. B—Otaki-Maorl8 —Otaki-Maorl R.C. October 6, B—Dunedin J.C. October 15—South Canterbury J.C. October 15—Mastertoil R.C. October 15. 17—Avondale J.C. October 22. 24—Wellington R.C. October 22. 24—Gore R.C. October 24—Waverley R.C. October 24—Waikato Hunt Club. October 24— Walpawa County R.C. October 24—North Canterbury R.C. October 27. 29—Poverty Ray Turf Club. October 29 —Banks Peninsula R.C. October 20—Carterton R.C.