ORATORY LAME

Dominion, Volume 29, Issue 5, 1 October 1935, Page 15

ORATORY LAME

Non-appearance at Otaki NOTES AND COMMENTS New Zealand Cup Weights

(Bt

The Watcher.)

Mr. T. A. Duncan's three-year-oid filly Oratory did not race at Otaki owing to the fact that during the past few days she has been suffering from slight shoulder lameness. The trouble, while it prevented her from racing on Saturday, is not regarded as serious, and it is hoped that she will be able to take her place in the field for the Great Northern Guineas.

The New Zealand Cup. The weights for the New Zealand Cup are not flattering to the class of handicap horse at present in commission. Vintage, top-weight with 9.5, is put in a class by himself, and has to give 61b. to the nearest to him in the handicap, while the bulk of the candidates are on or rear the minimum. No fewer than 28 are on the latter mark, while twenty more range from 7.0 up to 7.7. Six more are under 8.0, and another six under 9.0.

Placed Horses last Year. Last year’s winner, Steeton, has 101 b. more than she carried on that occasion, while tbe second horse, Gold Trail, is up 151 b., and Might, third, is up 71b. In the interval Steeton has done nothing, but Gold Trail won the Auckland Cup. and is up 111 b. on her winning weight at Ellerslie, meeting King March, second on that occasion, only 31b. worse.

Vintage v. Cuddie. Vintage has 41b. less than his winning weight in the Wellington Cup, and he meets Cuddle actually lib. better. Cuddle, however, improved after that effort, while Vintage unsuccessfully tripped to Australia. Vintage, at bis best, is by no means bady treated in the cup. He was easily the best handicap horse on performances last season, although he was beaten in the Auckland Cup. He wop the Fendalton Handicap, Metropclitan Handicap, A.R.C. Handicap, Clifford Plate and Wellington Cup, and while with 9.5 he has practically to equal Nightmarch’s weight-carrying cup record of 9.6, it should not be beyond him at his best. However, he has had no recent racing, and unsoundness kept him quiet for a long time, so it is doubtful if he will be at his best for the cup.

May Be a Guide. The Islington Handicap, rpn at the Grand National meeting, is often a good pointer to the cup. In this race, wuii by Korero, Tuirau was second, Royal Banquet third, and Arctic King unplaced. Arctic King won on tbe third day, and it is interesting to observe that he is treated as the most likely candidate of tbe cup lot. He meets Tuirau on 71b. less favourable terms, Korero 31b., and Royal Banquet 51b. Horses Overseas.

A number of the horses engaged are in Australia, notably Sporting Blood, Silver Ring, Gold Trail and Tauramai. /The former pair are well in the spring markets, and the form of all of them within the next week or two should indicate their prospects if they return for the Riceartpn carnival. More than one Rapuwick failure has benefited sufficiently by racing in Sydney to return to win the New Zealand Cup. Naturally, with so many horses in at light weights, the pro-.pects among this division are numerous. First acceptances are due on Friday. Riding at Napier.

H. Goldfinch will ride for J. H. Jefferd’s stable at Napier on Saturday. Jefferd has several young horses ip his team that have had no racing experience yet. Bred to Stay.

The Image, the winner of the ..maiden event at Otaki, is a five-year-bld'"Austra-lian-bred marc by Spearhead from Afterglow 11, a mare now at the Westmere stud, where, in fact, The Image was foaled. Afterglow II is by Sunstar from Marie Legrange by Diamond Jubilee, so The Image is a particularly well-bred mare who should be able to stay. She has done very little racing, aud more should be heard of her.

Promising Form. While it was Entheos who monopolised th© limelight in the mniden race at Otaki, the fact should not be overlooked that Middle, from the same stable, also ran a very good race. It was interesting to observe the difference in the support accorded the pair, Entbeos carrying £209 10/- while Middle was an outsider with only £l6/10/- ou his chance. Both showed improvement on recent efforts, and they should not be long in getting out of the maiden class. Entheos is a three-year-old by Gainscourt from Enthusiasm, and Middle is a four-year-old by Centrepiece from Sea Battery. Sea Battery is a half-sister to the dam of Seatown and Sea fox. Ran Well.

Myriam, a three-year-old filly by Lord Warden from Alyson, ran a creditable race in the maiden at Otaki, this being her first appearance in public. This is a good winning family for Mr. Corry, Alyson being a sister to Rachel, the dam of Rabbi, and a half-sister- to High Finance and Midian. Improved Jumping.

A feature of Red Sun’s performance in the hurdle race at Otaki was his muchimproved jumping display. He was quicker, and more confident at bis fences than in any of his races hitherto over obstacles. Grand Jury.

Grand Jury looked burly when paraded for bis first race since last January at Otaki on Saturday, but for a fresh horse he ran very well.

Silver Ring. Sydney reports indicate that Silver

Ring is fancied for the Epsom Handicap again. He will be riddeu hy J. Fike.

Midian, Midian had a Ict-up after his tiouble win at Wanganui. He £ill race next either at Waverley or Treniham.

For Auckland. Mr. G. M. Currie will be represented at the Auckland meeting by a loam of four —Spiral, Rust, Entail, and Moquette. W. Rayner intends leaving Wanganui for Ellerslie on Friday. The team have all done well in light tasks since racing at the Wanganui meeting.

Goldfinch Returns North. H. Goldfinch, who was riding at the Geraldine meeting, has returned north. Nothing definite was decided about his staying in the south, but he will endeavour to do as much riding there as possible while still domiciled in the North Island. He will be at Napier on Saturday, and will then go to Pacroa for the second day, followed by Auckland.

Foor Frospect. Reports of the recent Rosehill meeting show that Debut finished second last in the hurdle race, while Princess Doreen and Le Grand were last home in their respective races. "Pilot” says “it is improbable that T. R. George is looking forward to the A.J.C. meeting with pleasurable anticipation. Some of our New Zealand visitors may have a profitable trip, but it is certain others will not. There is money in winning in Sydney or Melbourne at this time of tbe yeay, but, in the shape of strong opposition, there are obstacles in the way.”

Gay Blonde. Gay Blonde ran a bad race in the Camellia Stakes at Rosebill, but her trainer, E. Pope, is still hopeful that she will strike her best form before the Epsom Handicap. She has run bad races previously, he said, only to win at her next start.

New Zealand Blood. At the Goodwood (Perth) meeting last month the hurdle race was won by Garvary, a ten-year-old gelding bred here by Mr. J. Munro, being py Sutala from the Winkle mare Eyelid. Agrion continues to eire winners in the west, and on the same day the Breeders’ Handicap was won hy one of his stock, Agucnor.

It is Not So Easy. The win of Mr. W. Kirkland's fihy Link Divine in Melbourne on Saturday was freely anticipated, but it is an indication of what one has to own to win with in Australia nowadays that she had to run a course record to win by half a head. The days when the Australian turf could be freely exploited by New Zealanders are gone, despite what some people would have us believe. With a first-class horse it is of course a different matter, but those of that calibre are not numerous.

Unusual Treble. Gordon Richards made another record in England during August. An hour and a half before he rode Fairbairn in the Great National Breeders’ Plate at Redcar ou August 19 he received word that his wife had given birth to twins —a boy and a girl. Richards’s comment was: “I must cake this as a good omen for my race on Fairbairn.” Backers agreed with him, and laid odds ou Fairbairn, who won easily. The regrettable part was the twin son lived only a couple of days. Richards was riding the day the baby died, and, increased bis total wins for the season to 147, only 28 of these being for F. Darling’s stable, from which he receives a big retainer. Darling’s luck has been out. When Richards made bis record of 259 wins for one season in 1933 he had ridden 150 winners up to August 21, and on the same date this jrear he was only three behind that total. _ . His Best Purchase. ,

In discussing the late Lord Wooiavington's horses, the “Sporting Chronicle” said : “Lord Woolavington was always a most lavish buyer of bloodstock, and at times gave large sums for horses which proved very disappointing. He, however, got his greatest bargain in 1914 when, on the advice of Fred Darling, who was thin training for him at Beekhampton, he gave 500gns. for a yearling by Marcovil —Tout Suite, who was named Hurry On. Owing to unsoundnees Hurry On could not be trained as a two-year-old, but the eolt went through his three-year-old season without defeat, winning six races, including the St. Leger substitute at Newmarket, and proved himself the best of his year. Hurry On was not only Lord Woo’avington’s first classic winner but he sired for him two Derby winners. Captain Cuttie and Coronach."

Napier Acceptances. Acceptances for the spring meeting <-f -.he Napier Park Racing Club to be held on Saturday will close to-morrow at S p.m.

Mastertoii Nominations. Nominations for the spring meeting of the Masterton Racing Club to be held on Friday and Saturday, October IS and 19. will clrwje on Friday at 9 p.m. The programme caters for all clashes of hoiwes. t wo-year-olde. maidens, hurdlers, hacks and open class, and provides a final trial for Wellington a week later. A splendid trophy of a silver cup valued at £lOO, presented by Mrs. Vivian Riddiford, accompanies the stake for the principal event, the Vivian Riddiford Memorial Handicap.

Answers to Correspondents. “Punter,” Plimmerlon: (1) £4/3/-. (2) £5/12/6. (3) £3/5/6. “Pat,” Palmerston North : (1) £l/18/-. <2) £3/9/-. (3) £2/3/-, "R.F.W.,” Wellington: Surprise Item is by Lord Quex from a mare by Nassau. “Laddie,” Wellington: (1) £4. (2) £6/14/6. (3) £l/10/-. “Punter,” Wellington: £l/3/6.

FIXTURES. Oct. 5, 7 —Taumarunui R.C. (at Paeroa), postoned meeting. Oct. 5 -Napier Park K.C. Oct. o—Kurow J.C. Oct. 10. 12—Dunedin J.C. Oct. 12—Dannevirke R.C. (at Waipukurau). Oct. 12. 14—Auckland R.C. Oct. 18. 19—Mastertoil R.C. Oct. 19—South Canterbury J.C. Oct. 20, 28—Wellington R.C. Oct. 28—North Canterbury J.C., Oct. 28—Waikato H.C. Oct. 28—Walpawa County RC. Oct. 28—Waveriey R.C. Oct. 28, 29—Gore R.C. Oct. 31, Nov. 2—Poverty Bay T.C.