A BARGAIN

Dominion, Volume 30, Issue 45, 17 November 1936, Page 15

A BARGAIN

Royal Chief Cost Only 160 Guineas NOTES AND COMMENTS Gay Boy Changes Stables (By The Watches.) Royal Chief, winner of the two-year-old race at Riccartou ou Saturday-, was a cheap yearling, fetching only 16Ogns. at the last National Sales, after the bidding had started at lOOgns. He is the first living foal of his dam, Modiste 11, who is by Franklin from Vogue, by Tracery— Charmeuse, by St. Frusquin—Fairy Martin, by Martagon, Another Franklin mare, Ebba, left a very speedy two-year-old in the Paper Money colt Dole. Royal Chief should go on improving into good class. Change of Stables. The Colossus—. Lady Limond horse Gay Boy, owned by Mr. R.. E. Heppner, Foxton, will go into J. Coyle’s stable at Awapuni when he returns from tie New Zealand Cup meeting, where he was under the care of A. McCormac. Gay Boy was formerly trained by J. Proctor, at Foxton, but it is understod that Proctor is taking up some other line of business. Floodtide. The Mitchelson Cup winner Flood tide is working along well on 'the tracks at Takanini in new of engagements ahead. Congratulations From Breeder. Mrs. W. D. Graham, New Plymouth, received a cablegram from Mr. S. Green, Melbourne, congratulating her on Fersen’s success in the New Zealand Cup. Mr. Green bred Fersen, and raced him in Victoria before O. Cox purchased him for Mrs. Graham for 275 guineas at the end of 1934. Winnings on Wotan. Mlebourne bookmakers say that the Smith brothers, owners of Wotan, missed a golden opportunity of doubling their Melbourne Cup winnings on Wotan. The brothers, they say, could have added another £5OOO or £lO,OOO to their winnings by launching a commission at the overnight call of the card instead of waiting for course wagers. On the course they had great difficulty in obtaining the odds they desired—2oo to I—the majority of bookmakers being loath to accept such big odds. Many preferred the outsiders running for themselves, instead of against their books. Mr. William Smith said on Cup night that their winnings were “a little bit more than £25,000.” He added that they had collected £6OOO from, the totalisator alone, £3OOO being paid out bycheque when the tickets were presented at the totalizator offices in town. In placing their commission all in cash the brothers were assisted by a friend. Money collected on the course -was placed in a canvas bag, and left for safe keeping at the course office of the V.R.C. Next day it was transferred to a city bank, Members of the Victorian club next morning were surprised to see at the settling a man with a bundle of Wotan tickets resembling, in the words of one bookmaker, a pack of cards. Usually, of course, wagers involving big amounts are booked. This man, acting for the brothers, left for a -bank with £7OOO and a police escort, and he still has a pile of unpaid tickets.

For the Jumping Season. •Spearmarch, who won the Port Cooper Brush Hurdles at Ricearton on Wednesday, was bred by Mr. J. Clothier, who raced Royal Dance at Matainata. Mr. Clothier gave the gelding a good education before disposing of him to Mr. H. Elworthy. lYhile at Matamata, Spearmarch showed no brilliancy on the fiat, but he gave promise us a jumper. It is interesting to note that with the exception of a maiden now in hand, Mr. Clothier has never yet raced a horse who has not won. Sipearmarch, who was purchased by D. O’Connor for Mr. Elworthy to replace Raspuli, will be spelled till the autumn, and then prepared for the jumping season.

Won in His Absence. The Auckland owner-trainer, Mr. W. H, Maria, was unable to be present to

see Triune run at Ricearton, as he is an inmate of a private hospital, and is to undergo an operation.

C’.J.C. Winnings. The following are the principal winning owners at the New Zealand Cup meeting: Sir Charles Clifford, £3275; Mrs. W. D. Graham, £1075; Mr. W. II .Maria, £505; Miss M. C. Wilson, £525; Mr. J. P. Herlihy, £5OO.

Wotan Won the Cup on One Race. Wotan, who had a rough trip over to Australia, had only one race prior to winning the Melbourne Cup. He ran in the W. S. Cox Plate at Moonee Valley, but petered out after going seven furlongs. He had had plenty of striding work prior to that, hut had done little against the watch, i rely sprinting three furlongs in 40J, two days before the Valley race. The week before the Cup he was at the track every day, but was restricted to long striding work, with a sprint home. On one morning he bowled over a mile and a quarter ou the tan, and dashed home the last half-mile in 54 with One Whetu. On such a preparation he did not impress the track watchers at Caulfield, says an exchange, and then to think that he should grab the Melbourne Cup from the second favourite almost in the last stride. You cannot deny that that is Luck, with a capital L.

Air Travel for Racehorse. Mrs. J. Shand, who purposes sending Thankerton to America for the Santa Anita Handicap at Los Angeles, was at latest reports trying to book a passage for him from New York to England on th.e airship Hindenburg. If she succeeds, Thankerton will be the first racehorse to travel in a traus-Atlantic airship, though others have travelled in that fashion in America. Thankerton was to have left for America by steamer on October 16, and, after a peek’s exercise at Belmont Park, ■was to lave been conveyed by a special train to California. The desire to hustle him back from America by air naturally caused surprise, but it is stated it was to avoid loss of time in starting him upon his preparation for important English races.

Song and Laughter. While I was chatting with Roley Hatch and Maurice McCarten in the birdcage at Flemington on Derby Day (says R. J. Daldy in the ‘‘Sporting Globe”), Mr. “Put” Hogan, owner of Queen of Song, and, according to Hatch, “the greatest character that had ever crossed the Tasman,” came along, and I was introduced. The tag they gave him fitted, as he caused much merriment. I can quite understand why he named his mare Queen of Song. Song and Laughter would possibly have been a name that would have fitted owner and horse. Mr. Hogan is a past master with jumpers, and many good leppers have been trained at his Washdyke stables at Timaru. For years he has wondered why racing men have left the Dominion for the Commonwealth never to return. He told his old pals on Saturday that be was sorry he did not come to Melbourne 40 years ago. With a twinkle in his eye he told Hatch and McCarten that he could still go back to New Zealand and claim an old pension, whereas they were disowned. The owner of Queen of Song has already made many friends here, and there are more unlikely things than his making a permanent abode in our midst.

This Week’s Racing. Racing this week will be held on Saturday, at Levin, Invercargill, and Te Rapa. The latter meeting will be concluded on Monday.

Answers to Correspondents. "Curious,” Marton: (1) £3/9/-. (2) £2/14/-. (3) £l/12/-; £l/7/6. . “Lucky Jim,” Wanganui: (1) £l3/9/-; £5/7/6. (2) £l2/4/6; £2/19/-. (3) £ll 19/-. “C.N.,” Paraparaumu: (1) Card not in yet. (2) £l/15/6. (2) £l/18/-. (3) £1 13/-. (4) £l/18/-. “A.R.K.,” Plimmerton: (1) £l/13/-. (2) £l/15/-. (3) £ll/9/6; £3/6/-. (4) £3/11/6. “First Up,” Carterton: (1) £l/15/-. (2) £2/16/6. “Punter,” Pahautanui: (1) £l2/4/6. (2) £3/1/-; £l/8/6. (3) £l/8/6. (4) £2/18/6. (5) £5/10/-. “A.A.K.,” No. 2: (1) £2/18/6; £1 14/6. (2) £4/1/6; £l/15/6. (3) £l/11/-. (4) £2/14/6; £l/12/6. (5) £3/11/-; £1 8/6. “R.D.,” Rata : Cards not in yet. "F.L.” Berhampore: (1) £l2/4/6. (2) £l2/8/-. “Jacko,” Wellington: £l2/8/-. “Doubtful,” Eketaiiuna: (1) £l/2/6. (2) £2/7/-. (3) £l/11/ “Daily Reader,” Wanganui: (1) £3 2/6. (2) £2/4/6. (3) £2/0/6. (4) £l/9/6. “E.M..” Wellington: (1) £2/19/-; £1 11/6. “Bunny,” Palmerston North: (1) £1 16/-. (2) £3/0/6; £l/10/-. (3) £2/19/-. “W.E.C.,” Napier : (1) There does not appear to be any record, officially, but am continuing inquiries. (2) Songbird raced in the seasons 1920-21, 1921-22, 1922-23, 1924-25, and 1925-26. (3) Queen of Song is by Songbird from Differential, by Tractor —Fabia, by Light Artillery—Perhaps, by Gang Forward—Peradventure (imp.)..

GREAT PERFORMANCES The Clifford Team MR. G. G. STEAD’S RECORD Sir Charles Clifford had a great innings at the spring meeting of the Canterbury Jockey Club, which concluded at Rieearton on Saturday, for he won eight races, including the New Zealand Derby, Oaks, Canterbury Cup, Stewards’ Handicap and Jockey Club Handicap, the earnings of his team amounting to £3275 out of a total of £13,425 given in stakes. However, this does not come up to the record of Mr. George G. Stead at the corresponding meeting in 1904, when he accounted for 12 events and dead-heated in another for first, winning £5595 out of the £II,(MX) offered in prize money. His successes included the New Zealand Cup, New Zealand .Derby, Oaks, Canterbury Cup and Jubilee Cup. The lists are as follows: — Sir Charles Clifford. £ Won Spring Plate —Trench Fight 210 Second Welcome Stakes—Counterblast 120 Won Apprentices’ Plate —Top Notch 175 Won Stewards’ Handicap—Paper Slipper ... 490 Won Rieearton Handicap—W’ild Chase 210 Won N.Z. Derby—Wild Chase .... 700 Second N.Z. Derby—Trench Fight 2(H) Won N.Z. Oaks—Top Notch .... 350 Won Jockey Club Handicap—Trench Fight 350 Won Canterbury Cup—Wild Chase 350 Third Aron Handicap—Paper Slipper 30 Second Pioneer—Counterblast . . 90 Total £3275 Mr. G. G. Stead. £ Won Maiden Plate—Golden Knight 200 Won N.Z. Cup—Grand Rapids .. 1500 Won Welcome Stakes—Munjeet .. 430 Second Welcome Stakes —Sungod . 50 Third Stewards’ lldcp.—Machine Gun 30 Third Rieearton Handicap—Rubin 15 Won N.Z. Derby—Nightfall SOO Won Juvenile Handicap—Sungod . 240 Second Juvenile Handicap—-Rubia 40 Won Spring Nursery—Delaware . 240 Won Canterbury Cup—Martian .. 400 Dead-heat first Jockey Club Hdcp.— Savoury 235 Won Oaks—Nightfall 350 Second Ashley Handicap—Lady Lyoners 20 Won Electric Plate—Machine Gun 200 Won Members’ Handicap—Savoury 330 Won Jubilee Cup—Cruciform .... 350 Won. Randolph Hdcp.—Machine

Gun 365 Total £5595 It is interesting to add that L. H. Hewitt, who was first horseman for Mr. Stead, rode 14 winners at the meeting, including a dead-heat. 10 for Mr. Stead and four for Sir George Clifford.