TO RACE IN PERTH

Dominion, Volume 26, Issue 280, 22 August 1933, Page 13

TO RACE IN PERTH

Sale of • Huntingdon I

NOTES AND COMMENTS

Rebel Song Resumes Work

(By "The Watcher.”)

The Hunting Song gelding Huntingdon L to be shipped to his new owner in Australia to-day by tlie Marama, proceeding via Auckland. It is understood that his destination is Perth, where so many New Zealand-bred horses have found new owners.

Rebel Song in Work. Riceartoh track reports show that Rebel Song has again been put into active commission by 11. and A. Cutts. The tendon which caused- th'e recent trouble is apparently all right. Rebel Song, Fast Passage, and Cricket Bat have been withdrawn from all their Australian engagements.

Dates Changed. The dates sub-committee of the New Zealand Racing Conference has granted the Avondale Jockey Club October 7 and 9 in lieu of October.l4 and 16 as the dates for its spring meeting. At the annual meeting of the conference last month the report of the dates committee granting October 14 and 16 was referred back ,to the committee on account of the ob- • jection by the Waikato Trotting Club. The Foxton Racing Club has been allotted September 30 in lieu of their former decision to race on December 16. Dicense for Goldfinch.

Jockey 11. E. Goldfinch has been granted a three-months’ conditional riding license by the licensing sub-commit-tee of the New Zealand Racing Conference. Goldfinch’s term of 12 months’ disqualification in connection with the Royal Survey case expired last October.

Change of Venue. The Racing Conference has approved of October 26 and 28 for the Taumarunui Racing Club’s meeting at Paeroa.

Two Steeplechases in One Day. It is remarkable how oftei) a record is equalled or beaten soon after being established. At the recent special meeting held at Ellerslie Snow Prince performed the unusual feat of winning two steeplechases in the afternoon, and on Saturday at the Pakuranga Hunt meeting Valpeen did the same thing.

A Good Day. The Takanini trainer, E. Popo, had a good day on Saturday at Ellerslie, saddling up two winners, in Gay Sheila ajid Speedmint, in succession. These two horses are owned by brothers—Gay Sheila by Mr. G. Courtney and Speedmint by Mr. A. Courtney.

From Jumping Strain. Valpeen, the winner of two steeplechases at Ellerslie on Saturday, was bred and is owned and trained by Mr. G. Campbell, of Okoroire. He is the first horse raced by Mr. Campbell, and these wins marked his first successes on the turf. Valpeen is a six-year-old gelding by Valkyrian, and his dam is returned as “unknown.” She is understood, however, to be by Spalpeen, the sire of many good jumpers. Spalpeen himself was an outstanding hurdler in his day, and won numerous races under big weights, but on the flat, though he had a fine burst of speed, he was successful in but one race, a two-year-old event. He was trained by the late Mr. J. B. Williamson, ■and ridden in most of his races by Frank Burns, more prominent nowadays as the referee at boxing tournaments in Auckland. Prior to Saturday, Valpeen had raced only once over the big country, so more should be heard of him in this particular department. Grandson ot Advance.

Coachman, who scored a surprise win in the Harris Memorial Hurdles at Ellerslie on Saturday, is an aged gelding by Postillion, an Advance horse that posisessed brilliant speed but rather a wild disposition. Charlie Price will remember the day at Ellerslie when Postillion 'got rid of him in the preliminaries to an Auckland Railway Handicap. Started Season Well.

Gay Sheila, the unexpected winner of the Sylvia Park Handicap at the Pakuranga Hunt meeting, raced consistently among the 2-year-olds last season, but Fhe was not quite equal to the best class. Apparently she hag done well in between seasons, and her early win suggests that she may reach better company before Jong; Her success is a reminder of the fact that her sire, Gay Shield (by GayCrusader) died last year. Gay Sheila’s dam, Lady Marie, is by Romeo from the imported mare Marie Odile, by St. Amant. Lady Marie is a half-sister to Hukapapa, dam of Catkin and Sargon. Has Seen Them All.

On the members’ stand at Ellerslie on Saturday for the Pakuranga Hunt Clud meeting was the veteran Mr. E. J. Rae, who can claim a remarkable record :n connection with the Pakuranga Huni. Club. From its inception 51 years ago, Mr. Rae has been a member, and the committee long ago paid him the highest compliment by making him a life member (says the “Star.”) As a trainer and rider of jumpers, Mr. Rae has an all round record, extending over a long period of years, which is Unequalled by any other in the Dominion. He won the first Pakuranga Hunt Cup, contested on the Auckland Racing Club's present property, 50 years ago, with a horse called Chandler, who carried 13.0 to victory. Later in the afternoon Chandler won the Hunt Cup Purdies with 12.7 in tlie saddle, but as the conditions provided for amateur riders, Mr. Rae did not ride Chandler himself, he being the trainer. Mr. Rae is one of the genuine veterans of the turf in New Zealand, and will be 77 years of age In November next.

Has Wintered Well. Fracas, one of the stars of the 2-yenr-old brigade’last season, has wintered well, and she will be prepared for the Dunedin Guineas early in October, while it is quite on the cards she may form one of a small team that Sir Charles Clifford may send to Wanganui.

Likely Sorts;" R. Brough, the Hawcra trainer, has taken charge of 0. Cox’s pair, Round Table and Friesland, while Cox is in Australia. Round Table is looking bright and well, and is to be given a run in the maiden at the Taranaki Hunt meeting. Friesland has been slightly sore for the last couple of days. It is nothing serious, however, and does not hinder his work. In addition to the above-named pair. Brough is handling a good-looking Colossus colt. .He is out of Lady Egletine, and therefore a half-brother to Green Linnet and Head Lady.

Waverley Stakes Increase. A decision to increase the stake-money for their Labour Day meeting -was made jasft week bga-th® commijftee. the -.Waver-

ley Racing Club, the amount to be offered being £755, compared with £6OO last year. An alteration is to be made in the conditions for the maiden race, the minimum weight for which will be Sst., with no allowances. The recommendation for the annual meeting that a trotting event be included on jhe programme was unanimously rejected by the committee.

Big Events Pending. Interest is beginning to quicken in spring racing in Australia, and next Saturday’s moating at Warwick Farm really commences the long campaign on the other side. Two important events next Saturday are the Hobartville Stakes for three year olds, in which Derby aspirants will run, and the Warwick Stakes, a mile weight-for-age race, in which it is expected Silver Scorn will make her first appearance in Australia. The fact that Peter Pan will also be a likely runner adds interest to the meeting. Following Warwick Earm is the Memsie Stakes, nine furlongs lit weight-for-age, at Caulfield, form in which generally has an important bearing on the fixture. Then interest returns to Sydney with the Chelmsford Stakes nt Tattersail’s meeting at Randwick, followed by the Rosehill Guineas. With the exception of Moonee Valley in Melbourne and Hawkesbury bi Sydney this clears the decks for the big of the A.J.C., V.A.T.C. and V.R.C. Peter Pan.

Frank McGrath, on his return from a Jioliday for two months' in Queensland, was well satisfied with the appearance and condition of Peter Pan when he returned to Sydney recently. McGrath, nt this stage, is. inclined to consider that three-year-olds will present the most dangerous opposition to Peter Pan in the Melbourne Cup."

Not to be Persevered With. Currajong has been a great disappointment, and L. Knapp has decided not- to further persevere with the son of Lucullus. His full relationship to Carinthia appears to be his only recommendation.

French Cliallenger. Thor, winner of the French Derby and runner-up in the Grand Prix de Paris to Capiello, is undergoing a special preparation for the St. Leger, to be run at Doncaster on September 13. He is owned by M. Marcel Boussac, whose colours are well known in England. Thor is by Ksar, son of Bruleur. Ksar won up to two miles and a quarter, and Bruleur up to two miles and a half.

Who Lays the Odds. Whom do you bet with when you invest on a totalisator? Lord Hunter, one of the seven judges hearing a case\in the Appeal Court at Edenburgh last month, laid it down that “a bet made -by means of a totalis'ator was a bet made with the owners or managers of a.totalisator.” N.Z.-Bred Winners.

At Gawler (Adelaide), on August 5, Two For Tea, a five-year-old mare by Tea Tray from Margarethe, won the Trial Stakes. She was bred by Mr. I. G. Duncan and her dam is by Birkenhead from Chant by The Officer. On the same day at Warwick Farm, Samdver, a five-year-old gelding by Tea Tray from Gazeworthy, won the Farm Novice Handicap. He also was bred by Mr. I. G. Duncan, and is a half-brother to Noteworthy. Gazeworthy, an Australian-bred mare, carried Mr. E. L. Riddiford’s colours during her racing career. '

Auckland Goes Canny. In the annual report of the Auckland Racing Club it was stated that racing in the Dominion was still severely handicapped by heavy taxation. Some concession was made in respect of totalisator taxation during the last year, and it was confidently expected that' a like concession would be made for the coming year. It was, perhaps, unreasonable to expect that the Government would, apart from this concession, be in a position further to reduce the taxation now imposed. Racing was not singular in this respect, as all taxpayers in the Dominion were called upon to bear their share of the excessive taxation requisite to meet the Dominion’s necessities under existing conditions. The taxation for the four race meetings held by the club during the year amounted to £38,302. During the latter half of the season the system of win and place betting was introduced, and had proved a success in the direction of increasing totalisator investments. However, the system was still in an experimental stage, and accordingly the committee had made temporary arrangements only to give effect to the change. No large capital expenditure would be incurred in altering the existing totalisator facilities until the present or some alternative method was assured as a permanency in.respect of totalisator investments. Ythan in Form.

Ythan, who scored a mild surprise at Wanganui on Saturday, ran an excellent race last start at Foxton on July 29 in the mile race won by Wasteland, finishing fifth. On that occasion he carried 21b. overweight, and was within 21b. of the winner. Her form at the meeting made a difference of 151 b. when they met again on Saturday, and while Ythan's win over Midian was possibly lucky, he was a runner not to be despised. Ythan has taken some time to develop, but he is likely to improve still further. He is a four-year-old by Colossus from Waikohu, by Finland from la, by Torpedo— Rivulet, tracing back to the Mermaid taproot which has provided us with so many good horses. It is a branch of the family that has not been much in evidence in recent years, but The Boyne out of a sister to la, and in turn left a good class horse in Rewi Poto. Saturday’s success marked Ythan’s only win since he won his first and only previous stake at Dannevirke as a two-year-old. Running at a Loss.

It is mentioned by an Americnn exchange that in connection with its big meeting a few months ago Agua Caliente lost 100,900 dollars. At the old rate of exchange that would represent. £20,000, but very much more now. It is said that the Agua Caliente management was quite satisfied, expecting a much greater loss, but perhaps it was heavy enough to necessitate further reduction in the value of next year's big handicap.

N.Z. Cup. Nominations for the New Zealand Cup will close on Friday at 8 p.m.

August 26—Hawke's Bay Hunt Club. September 2—Taranaki Hunt Club. September 2—Otago Hunt Club. September 13—Marton J.C. September 16—Ashburton C.R.C. September 21, 23—Wanganui J.C. September 21, 23—Geraldine R.C. September 30—Kurow J.C. September 30—Napier Park R.C. October 5, 7—Dunedin J.C. October G, 7—Otaki M.R.C. October 14—Masterton R.C. October 14 —South Canterbury J.C. October 14, 16—Avondale J.C. October 21, 23—Wellington R.C. October 21, 23—Gore R.C. October 23—Waverley R.C. October 23—Waikato Hunt Club. " October 23—Waipawa C.R.C. October 23—North Canterbury R.C. October 26, 28—Poverty Bay T.C. October 28-—Banks Peninsula R.C. November 4, 6—Auckland R.C. November 4,6, 8, 11—Canterbury J.C. November 9, 11 —Wangarei R.C.