WANGANUI RIDERS

Dominion, Volume 29, Issue 223, 17 June 1936, Page 8

WANGANUI RIDERS

A. E. Ellis on One Whetu

NOTES AND COMMENTS

Century Hurdlers School

(By

The Watcher.)

A. iE. Ellis will be al the Wanganui meeting this week-end, and has been engaged for Lo Grand, One Whetu and Bantry.

Schooling at New Plymouth. At New Plymouth on Saturday morning Silk Sox (L. Dulieu) and Sporting Song (I. Rohloff) schooled over six hurdles, giving a polished display of fencing. Silk Sox worked more generously on the flat than his companion, and has made n complete recovery from the slight injuries he received when he fell at Auckland. After galloping on the flat Glenvane jumped four hurdles well.

Riders for Saturday. L. Dulieu at Wanganui on Saturday will ride Silk Sox, Gold Mission and Mustang. I*. Burgess will 'be on Chile, Ilazoor and Night Spi. Wanganui Fields. The acceptances for the first day of the Wanganui meeting on Saturday are satisfactory, though the class of steeplechase leaves something to be desired. M anganui track, however, provides much better racing when fields are of the proportions oi Saturday’s acceptances, and there should be some keen contests.

Hard on Umtali. Umtali did not accept for the Otago Steeplechase, which is not surprising. He finished last in the Great Northern, which Royal Limond would probably have won had be stood up, and they met there with Royal Limond conceding 211 b. At Dunedin the difference was only Tib. Maybe Umtali is a belter horse in the south than elsewhere, but this entire disregard of the most recent form is astounding.

Won Last Lear. Cotsfield won the Grandstand Steeplechase on the fust day at Wnnganui last winter, beating Riotous 'and. Royal Limond. 'He carried 9.0, and this year s 10.1 in the class should' sec him run well again.

Won a Double Last Tear. Another 'Wanganui winner of twelve months ago engaged in the same race is West Tor in the Empire Handicap. On that occasion lie carried 7.6, as against 8.3 this year. West Tor also won the Connolly Handicap on the second day.

Jumping at Riccarton. A few jumpers provided some interes, at Riccarton on Monday. Heather Glow (G. IL .Murlitt) jumped a hurdle twice. It was his first experience since the spring, and he should 'he useful for hack events later on, probably commencing in August. Sisterina GA. Stove) went well over four hurdles. Courtyard (W. Rainbow) started off with her, but ran off ah the first flight. He repeated the fault when he was sent at it again at the completion ot the circuit, but eventually jumped it twice. Noeturnus (A. S. Ellis) antTHigh Speed (A. Stove) gave a good display over eight steeplechase fences, with a solid pace all the way.

The Smuggler. The .Smuggler may be allowed to miss the Dunedin meeting, and be given a chance to freshen up for the Wellington and Grand National fixtures.

Addition to Team. A. S. Ellig has received a well-grown six-year-old gelding by The Ace from Mr. L. J. Fechney, who had Lord Ranald as a good steeplechaser a few years ago. The newcomer has done a little hunting, and lie will be tried out for cross-country racing. The Groundwork.

According to a southern writer, the Sapling Stakes winner Parisieunc, who is trained by R. B. Berry, was broken in and gaited when a yearling by Hector Gray.

Improving. Royal Limond has made good progress since he returned from Auckland, his knee being nearly all right again. He is an acceptor for the Dunedin meeting, but a final decision about the trip will be reserved till later iu the week. R. Beale will ride him iu his engagements during the remainder of the winter campaign.

Pasturage. It has been said that "man is what he cats.” This applies still more to the thoroughbred horse. Many-years ago it was recognised that one simply cannot raise good horses, sound in limb, wind, and constitution, on bad country. In discussing the vital importance of pasturage, a London writer says:—-“It is the stuff iu the grass which matters, not the juggling with systems of breeding, which is ever a bit of a toss-up, aud even Something more if Lord Raglan i§ right. His lordship said that most pedigrees are fakes, but,-fakes or not, where the thoroughbred horse is concerned, it is the phosphates in the grass which count. The grazing iu this country (England) and Ireland is superior to that ip France or in other Continental countries, and the fact that; we produce a fiuer stamp of auiinal than they do is-. traceable to this fact and most probably to no other.”

Sprinters as Sires. According to some opinions, breeding from sprinters must lead to the undermining of the constitution of the thoroughbred. “Mankato,” the well-known English breeding export, recently wrote as follows in the Louden "Sporting Life’’:—ln man and, to an even greater degree, in the racehorse, lite sprinter is usually very robust in physique and sound in constitution. Running short distances does not make him less sound. In short, there is no correlation between speed and constitutional weakness. Many horses have won the Grand National which were sprinters on tile flat, and not high-class ones at that. And horses which could not offer to stay a mile have gfred the best steeplechasers in history. Again, scores and scores of thoroughbreds used as hunter sires and of halfbreds generally have not been gifted with sufficient stamina to win any sort of a race, but there was nothing lacking in the constitution of their halfbred stock from the commonest of nigres. It cannot be too widely known (hat various qualities ami constitutional disabilities have independent transmission. Roaring, blood-vessel breaking, string-halt, shivering, defect in one or other of the Important: ductless

glands, are just: as likelj to appear in a slayer as a sprinter. The Shire, Clydesdale and Suffolk Bunch are not furnished with the physiological trails which govern racing stamina. The fittest Shire’s muscle fibre loaded with fatigue products after he has been made to gallop about a quarter of n mile at his best pace. Bui: the same horse lias, a line constitution, and will work daily. lor years in a coal cart or as a railway shunt horse."

Wellington Nominations. Nominations for all events, including the Trial Blate, at the winter meeting of the Wellington Racing Club, to be held on Tuesday Thursday and Saturday, July 7, 11. and .13, will close at 8 p.m. on Fridax with the secretary, Miss D. E. Bray.

Answers to Correspondents. "Bones," Hastings.—(l) £l/1/0. (.2) £l/14/6. "R.D.,” Rata.— <ll £l/7/. (2) 11 1/6. (3) £l/19/-. "C.M.D.,” Wellington.—£l/1/6. “Billy Boy,” Danncvirke. —No bet.