NOTES AND COMMENTS

Dominion, Volume 31, Issue 104, 27 January 1938, Page 15

NOTES AND COMMENTS

Spell For Wild Chase Buster Brown, who was comparatively neglected in .the betting when he won the Hack Cup at Ashhurst, was not nominated for' the Pahiatua Cup to-morrow, but has accepted in the Ballance Highweigiit, run over a mile, and 110 yards. His recent successes have raised him to topweight with 10.13, but as he won a double at the Hawke’s Bay races his two last starts before Ashhurst, he may be a firm ite. Buster Brown was bred in 1928. being by Weathervane from Zia, by Rokeby from Stepka, by St. Leger. He was produced three times as a two-year-old and did not appear on a racecourse again until the end of last season, when he won on his first two appearances. He has won four times this season. A inost extraordinary fact about hi,s family is that his granddam was bred in 1599 and his dam in 1915, so that, the third generation, still active on the turf, bridges a period in three generations of nearly 40 years. A Best. Wild Chase was not nominated for the Canterbury Jockey Club’s summer meeting, to be held next week, and apparently he is to have a rest before he is required to race again. He failed to run up to his best form in either of his starts at Trcntham last week. Likely Two-year-old. W. McLaughlin has started work at Ellerslie with a likely-looking two-year-old by Vaals from Thurence. The newcomer is a half-brother to Measurer and Full Measure. Down in the Weights. Recent loss of form has brought Galilee' down in the weights and the Chief Ruler mare, has been allotted 7.3 in the Wallaroo Handicap, six furlongs, at Matamata, and 7.1 in the "Walton Handicap, 7J furlongs. One who might trouble Tosh, topweight with 9.0 in the sprint, is Marie’s Acre, 8.6, who has been unlucky lately. English Mares for Italy. Italy was well represented at the Newmarket December sales in England. Italians paid particular attention to brood mares. Captain Tesio’s purchases include Lord Astor’s seven-year-old marc, Gerrard’s Cross, at 3500 guineas, and Milldoria at 2300 guineas. Wagner. The Siegfried gelding Wagner is to be trained nt Riccarton by A, J. Martin for Mr. D. O. Rutherford. Lacked Recent Racing. Johnny had not raced during the holidays because of the firm tracks, but he was solidly supported in the Wairio Cup, and had he not been chopped out at the start he would have caused Paladino more concern. Johnny came with a great run from the back to cut down Ardchoille and Last Post and as he lacked recent racing his condition said a good deal for his trainer. The Last Dart gelding is troubled with his feet and has been required to do a good amount of work on the roads. Perth Cup Winner.

Mitikai, who won the Perth Cup on New roar’s Day, is being sent to Sydney, where he is to be trained by F. McGrath. If he should succeed in the Sydney Cup on Easter Monday he will be the fourth horse to complete that double. Eurythmic (who dead-heated with Rivose in the 1919 Perth Cup), Lilypond (1923), and The Dimmer (1930) each won a Sydney Cup later.

Back in Work. Recent additions to the ranks of active workers at Ellerslie are Ohmaha and Simint. Ohmaha has a splint, but it is well forward on the leg, and not expected to cause any trouble. Simint, who won three hurdle races in the spring, has had a good let-up and may be some weeks in getting back to racing condition. Kinnoull.

KinUoull is among the nominations for the Dunedin mid-summer meeting, and the fact suggests that he may be seen out at the Dunedin Cup meeting. Should Win Again. The victory of Rona Bay in the Goldfields Cup showed her to be right back to her best form and she won on. her merits, just outstaying Grateful at the end of a fine contest. A rise of 101 b. steadied Rona Bay on the second day, but she ran another good race for fourth, and her form has been very consistent since she joined R. H. Martin’s team at Matamata.

Unusual Presents to Jockeys. A London writer says presente to jockeys have included some very« strange things. John Singleton, one of the earliest of successful jockeys in the north, used to get a ewe each time he won for a Yorkshire farmer. George Fordham once rode a brilliant race, whereby the owner netted £lO,OOO. His reward was a pat on the back, and a packet of Everton toffee. Fred Archer’s assortment of presents ranged from a cheque for £5OO from one successful follower to a pair of worn-out boots from another less fortunate fan who had to walk home to London from a north-country meeting where Archer had failed. One owner had a very bad taste in the matter of “rewarding” jockeys who had ridden unsuccessfully for him. He would offer, in full view of onlookers, his snuffbox to the unfortunate rider, with a loud request that he would take an extra good pinch so as to blow the sleep out of his eyes.

Won Three Cups. Paladino was backed as a certainty for the Wairio Cup and he was all that for he ran to the front in the middle stages of the race and won very easily, states a southern writer. The Paladin gelding is a stablemate of Milford (Invereargill Cup) and Trebleack (Wyndham Cup) and so his trainer, R. E. McLellan, has now the distinction of having xvon the cup events decided in Southland this year. Paladino was also the third horse to win the Wairio Cup for R. E. McLellan, whose previous successes were recorded with First Song (1935), and Honest Maid (1936). Paladino was ridden by the stable jockey, G. Barclay, who was also successful on Ohai in the same event in 1933.

Profitable Brood Mare. Verdict, who rates as half-bred in England and is, therefore, ineligible for the Stud Book, has a splendid stud record. She threw six winners in succession but, the sequence has been broken. A four-year-old son, Arthingworth, is a non-winner up to the present, and her three-year-old son, Guilty, did not race last year. At the stud Verdict has given Lady Barbara Smith a wonderful return.

It has been her custom to lease Verdict’s fillies for racing, and, between them, Dictum, Vereicle, and Quashed won £26,11— Verdict’s colts were sold as yearlings, anu five realised 20,800gns. T/ie last sold was a colt by Cameronian, for whom Lord Glanely gave 4200gns. last year. Verdict has thrown ten foals, being barren only once in eleven years.

Racecourse to Law. „ At a meeting which was held at nay Meadows, California, in November, a jockey was suspended on a charge or using a battery. Apparently the evidence forthcoming was not convincing, and the jockey took the case to court. Before it came on for hearing the California Horse Racing Board, on the recommendation of the stewards at Bay Meadows, removed the suspension.

Famous Trainer. . The death of Frank Carter in France a few weeks ago, at the age of a 7 years, from heart disease, has given the racing world, both in France and England, a severe blow. Described as the most famous trainer in France, and one of the leading trainers oE the world, bis death wm leave a gap in the ranks that will be hard to fill, it great sportsman, he was held in the highest esteem, and evidence of this can be obtained from the fact that he was awarded the Legion of Honour two years ago, being the first member ot his profession to have this honour conferred upon him. Frank Carter headed the list of winning trainers in France <>« many occasions, and frequently * (, nt horses across the Channel to race m England. He sent Brulette over to win the Oaks of 1931, Kandy the One Thousand Guineas, and Le Kpar the Two Thousand Guineas. He was not well enough to visit England last year to see Le Ksar win. A member of a family which has made racing history in France during the last 100 years, the late Frank Carter will be sadly missed.

Answers to Correspondents. “Constant Reader," Wanganui East. £l4/10/- and £3/5/6. . . “Punter,” Fcilding: Information sent for. > “Review,’’ Mokan Falls: (1) and £l/13/6; (2) £l/1/-; (31 £l/U/(third day). J. 8., Petone: £2/3/-. N. 8., T'ctonc: £l/16/6. “Shot.” Marton: (1) £2/2/6. (2) L--10/-. (3) £2/3/-.