FOR AUSTRALIA

Dominion, Volume 29, Issue 204, 26 May 1936, Page 15

FOR AUSTRALIA

More Horses Leaving NOTES AND COMMENTS Death of Courtega

(By

The Watcher.)

Mr. G. -L Barton is sending over three young horses to Melbourne by the U aitaki leaving Bluff to-day They are all rising two-year-olds—Sir Ken. a bay colt by Night Raid—Lady Violet, Silver Bond, a brown dolt by Pink-Coat -Victoi.v Bond, and Flying Trapeze, a bay liny by Posterity—lnlaid. Return Trip. Silver Jubilee and Raepata are to leate Auckland for Sydney this week. Courtega Destroyed. On her way by road from the Manawatu meeting in March Courtega was seriously injured, but an attempt was made to save her for the stud. However, she did not respond to treatment and she was destroyed. Sale of Silver Jest. Dr. M. G. Louisson has sold Silver Jest to Mr. R. Mee, the owner of Dodge. In Form Again. Diamond comes to hand quickly as he showed by bis winning form after one race at Manawatu in March, and with one race into him at Te Rapa on Saturday he was able to win yesterday. Diamond was badly knocked about by a horse jumping on him at Ellerslie at Easter and be missed a good ileal of work, but apparently he is a type that does not require much solid galloping, and his winning display yesterday suggests that he is just about back to his best again. Rasouli Was Good. , . A promising career as a steeplechase, was cut short by the death of Rasouli at Te Rapa on Saturday. He hail niade good as a hurdler and this was his first season over the big fences. He won at his first start at Egmont. and was thus having only his second race as a steeplechaser when be met his end. It is divulging no secret to say that his trainer, D. O’Connor, regarded him as something exceptional in the way of cross-country horses. A Habit. . n „ ~ According to reports ol Jolly beggar s running at Te Rapa on Saturday be has not lost that habit, of screwing at Ins fences. He did this when he won the Grand National last year, and apparently it is a natural habit, which, however, does not prevent him from being a successful jumper.

Bred for Jumping. Modern Maid, the winner of the hurdles at Te Rapa yesterday, is not in thc Great Northern field. She does not do much racing, and so far as can be gathered from the records is still a maiden on the flat, but she is bred for jumping, being a six-year-old by Little England from Glenopal. Last month at Avondale she ran second in the hurdle race the first day to King Mcstor, She is a half-sister to Quinopal and Star Stranger IT. Their dam is by Glengowric from Opal.

A Good Hack. First Chapter has created a favourable impression bv his recent form, and be looks likely to earn further money during the winter. Being by Hunting Song he can handle winter going, and he should not experience much difficulty in holding his own in better company than be has yet met. Epistle, the dam of. First Chapter, was a useful mare, and it is a solid family, Epistle being by I’olydamon from Communique, by Finland—War Talk, by Martian —Gossip, by Wallace.

Kinnoull. Although Kinnoull did not fulfil engagements last week there is nothing amiss with him, and he will probably be nominated for spring handicaps in Australia.

Jumpers at Ellerslie. At Ellerslie on Saturday morning Clarion Call (A. Jenkins), Wee Pat (T. Willianw) and King Mcstor (F. Baker) were associated in a school over four hurdles on the course proper. They gave a fast display of jumping until the last fence, where King Mestor fell. Contact (L. Butterworth) waa jumped late in the morning, and was sent over four hurdles in the centre. He did not have much pace on, but jumped safely, although he dwelt at the first two fences. Tahakua.

Takakua was unable to run at Carterton for the same reason that kept him from competing at Nelson and Marlborough. He was returned to New Zealand from Melbourne without his certificate of registration, and it lias not yet arrived, though advice has been received that it is on the way. Takakua will be tried as a hurdler this winter.

i\ Shoi’t Visit. Mr. W. T. Hazlett is on :i brief trip to bis home in Invercargill, but he will leave again to-day on his way back to Melbourne. Though he has not been prominent in important events, he has won a few small races in Victoria lately. Two of bis team, Chief Light and Frenchie, have been shaping well in tbeir education as hurdlers.

Liked the Ijook of New Zealand. Mr. G. J. Barton has disposed of bis business by lease to old employees who have been with him for many years, while another shop will be run by Mr. Duncan Barton. It is interesting to learn that Mr. Barton became a resident of New Zealand almost by accident, lyhen he arrived here in 1904 he was on his way from Australia to America, but the favourable impression of the country which he received in Invercargill was so strengthened after hia arrival in Dunedin, which he thought was the prettiest place he had ever seen, that he went no further.

Owners and Trainers. The meeting of owners, trainers and breeders to have been held at Auckland on June 1 to discuss matters relative to their interests has been postponed till the following day, June 2.

In Work. Cyclonic became unsound as soon as he arrived at Riccnrton and he was given away, being considered unlikely to stand a preparation. Rest and treatment have worked wonders, and he is again in work, with W. McDonald as his trainer. Most of the progeny of Hunting Song do well on a light preparation, and Cyclonic may be ready to show good form again by August.

The “Electric Eye.” The “New York Herald-Tribune” in an article under the heading ‘Judging Camera to See Service on All New York Racetracks,” says: “Herbert Bayard Swope, chairman of the New York State Racing Commission, is authority for the statement that the judging camera, called by some the ‘electric eye,’ will be used on all tracks in the metropolitan district this year. This device, which has proved of high value at Santa Anita (Eos Angeles) and Miami (Florida) this winter, will serve as a cheek on the placing judges following all close finishes. Science has established the fact that the human eye has its limitations when viewing moving objects at close range. Numberless tests have proved that two horses, one close to the rails and another 35 feet out from the rail, are not scant heads apart as the human eye sees them, but actually four feet, apart in favour of the outside horse. On the New York tracks this

summer pictures of close finishes will be posted iu various places at the track so that the backers can see for themselves what the camera discloses. This will serve to establish confidence and to avoid protests and criticism.” “The judging camera,” said Jim Fitzsimmons, one ot America’s greatest trainers, “is a great advance in racing. It settles all controversies over close finishes and serves to protect those who wager on horses. It makes for greater confidence, and that means much.” Winter Minimum. So many changes have been made in New Zealand in recent years relating to the minimum weight to be carrier! in flat races during tl;e winter months that the change in the Rules of Racing which was adopted by the delegates to the Racing Conference lust July has passed the notice of some club executives when framing their programmes for coming meetings. For the two previous winters the minimum weight was 7st., though many clubs framed their races for Bst. The Bst. minimum was reintroduced last July, to operate from the commencement of this season, but it is subject to a qualification not previously included. Rule 26.> (3) now reads: “At. any meeting held on any day from June 1 to August 31, the lowest weight to be carried in any flat race, other than the principal flat race on each day, shall not be less than S»t.” Under this rule the principal flat race on each day may have a 7st. minimum in the winter months. The Wellintgon Racing Club has fixed the minimum at 7st. 71b. for the three principal flat races at the July meeting at Trentham.

Answers to Correspondents. “5.0.5.,” Palmerston North: (1) £4 7/6: £2/4/-. (21 £l/18/0. _ _ , “Trots.” Palmerston North: £7/5/0; “L 8.. Lower Hutt: (1) £l/15/6; £1 7/6. (2) £3/0/6.