SINGLE POOL

Dominion, Volume 27, Issue 149, 21 March 1934, Page 15

SINGLE POOL

■ LrnBetting at Awapuni NOTES AND COMMENTS Success of Champion Hack Race (By “The Watcher.”) The Manawatu club to-day will revert to the single pool system of betting with three dividends in fields of nine or over. A Progressive Step. The Champion Hack Cup, run at’Trentham on Saturday, was from all points of view a successful event. It was profitable to the club, as, apart from the 53 nominations and 17 acceptors, it attracted the largest totalisator pool of the day. Then, as a contest, it was one of the best middle-distance races seen for a long time past, the finish arousing great enthusiasm. The policy of putting on the race and also of extending the distance to eleven furlongs was fully justified. Big courses like Trentham call for longer races, and there can be very littile attraction for the public in races run over the sprint course, though, of course, their provision on programmes is necessary. On all sides on Saturday could be heard praise for the club’s enterprise, and the opinion was freely expressed that such races will do much to popularise racing. The policy also of putting on a mile race each day to complete the programme is adding to the attractions of racing at Wellington headquarters.

Five on End. Silver Ring has now won five races in succession, and he looks like making it six in rl.he Awapuni Cup to-day, though ten furlongs is further than he has yet tackled successfully. As he is at present at the top of his form, the extra distance docs not look like presenting any difficulty.

An Untimely End. ■White Fang, who came to an unfortunate end by being destroyed, together with Mana Gift, by fire last week, was an cleven-year-old gelding by Polydamon from Natalite. He was to have raced at Hastings at Easter and then wouiil have been retired, so his death was very untimely. He had had a long turf career, and also raced in Australia. The highlight of his record was his win in the O.J.C. Stewards’ Handicap of 1929. He was a ’half-brother to Hunting Song and was owned, at the time of his death, and also for some time past, by his trainer, W. C. Griffith. Mana Gift, the other horse destroyed, was owned by Mr. E. L. Little, of Hastings. He was a three-year-old gelding by Hunting Song from Sungift, and was the first foal of his dam, an Aus-tralian-bred mare by Australian Sun from Bunce, purchased by Mr. C. Boyle as a yearling, and.now at the Mana Stud of Mr. R. Holden. Mana Gift had recently been showing much improved form. The cause of the 11 .e is not definitely known, but it may possibly be attributable to the fact that Mr. Griffith, while treating one oi the horses for a cold, had been burning sulphur in the stables.

Raced Well. Might raced well last week and has improved. He should be worth following at the Easter meetings.

Led to I,lie Straight. Gay Seton showed a lot of pace in his only race at the Wellington meeting. This Gay Shield three-year-old, who is trained by F. Higgott at Otaki, should soon get some money.

Easter in Sydney. Word was received last week that A. E. Ellis will be in ‘Sydney for the Easter meetings, and in addition to riding Peter Jackson and Golden IVings in their engagements, he has been offered several other promising mounts. Ellis intends to return to New Zealand at the conclusion of the Randwick programme.

Form of Custodian. “So far as future prospects are concerned' I would not exchange Custodian for any other two-year-old I have seen tin's season,” remarked F. D. Jones to the Christchurch writer “Vigilant” on the way home from Wellington. In the Pacific Handicap on the first day. Custodian was slow to find his legs. He was last to reach the straight, and then just as he was beginning that run of his he was stopped almost completely.

A Disappointment. When Red Sun led into the straight in the concluding event at Trentham on Saturday his supporters had visions of collecting a substantial return, but he faded out over the final stages. Red Sun is a disappointing horse, for his track work is equal to the best.

Maribyrnong Mares. At the dispersal sale of the Maribyrnong Stud in Melbourne last week, on behalf of Mr. L. K. S. Mackinnon, the top price was 400 guineas for the 1921 mare Susie Pye (Wallace Isinglass— Radesia), with a filly foal by Windbag and served by Ronsard. She was purchased by Mr. A. G. Hunter. The Martian mare To Arms (1920), a sister to Martarma, was sold for 140 guineas. She had a colt b.v Ronsard, and was served by the same horse. War, a 1929 daughter of To Arms, by Comedy King, served by Ronsard, also fetched 140 'guineas, being bought for the Kia Ora Stud.

Worth Following. Cherry. Queen has abundance of pace, and on her Trentham form should soon win another race in the South Island.

The Sydney Double. At the departure of the last mail from Sydney, Rogilla and Silver Scorn were favourites for the Doncaster Handicap, two points ahead of Chatham and Rapsonia. Golden Wings was only model; ately fancied. Limarch is a clear-cut favourite for the' Sydney Cup. four points clear of the Australian Cup winner, Heroic Prince, who was on the same quote as Lough Neagh, Oro, and Peter Jackson. Hack No Longer. By his success in the Belmont Handicap at Trentham on Saturday. Royal Amphora made himself ineligible for further racing in hack class. He has earned £652/10/- in prize money, of which £587/10/- has been obtained in his winning races. This six-year-old Tea Tray gelding has not done a great deal of racing. He did not race at two or five years, while as a three-year-old two unplaced runs comprised his public performances. In all. he has now started twenty-one times for seven wins, three seconds, and eleven times unplaced.

English Season Opens. The English flat racing season opens this week. The Lincolnshire Handicap will be run to-dav. and the Liverpool Spring Cup on Thursday. The Grand National Steeplechase will be run on Friday. The Lincolnshire, which is run over a mile, saw Solenoid (9.7) topweight for the second year in succession. According to latest reports, he was not to run.

Famous Horse Breeder. Acknowledged as one of the finest judges of horseflesh in Europe, Mr. J. Simons Harrison, has died at Beverley (England), at the age of 80. As a judge and breeder of racehorses he was known throughout the world. He bred Merry Ilampton, who won the 1887 Derby, and was second to Kilwarlin in the St. Leger. Substantial Damages.

In England Inst month Sir Alfred Butt was awarded £1155 damages and costs for injuries caused by a motor horse-box to his horse I.argition. After running fourth in the Stewards’ Cup at Goodwood, Largition, when being taken away from the course, was led down a

lane. A motor horse-box was coining tm opposite way. and it was alleged the driver neither went to the off-side, nor stopped, when the lad leading Largition signalled him to do so. The defence was that the horse lashed out when passing the horse-box. and. in striking it, caused tlie injury to its off hind leg. Sir Alfred Butt’s legal representative, when addressing the court, said that though h:s client gave £l5OO for Lnrgition, mid had won about £3OOO in stakes with him. the horse's value was so affected b.v the iniurv he had received, he was for sale for £lOO.