STRETTO ON TOP

Dominion, Volume 31, Issue 272, 13 August 1938, Page 19

STRETTO ON TOP

Leading Stake Winners

(By Carbine.) Ti e grip which the turf leaders have retained on their positions in New Zealand racing in recent years is remarkable; „ _ It is known already that L. J. Ellis secured the jockeys’ premiership, that. 1. R. George and F. A. Roberts tied for training honours and that Hunting Song is again the leading sire. It will be found, too, that Sir Charles Clifford has retained his place as lending owner. The principal winner among the galUopers was Stretto, . Mr. J. McGovern s good mare who i<s now in Australia . being trained by J. T. Jamieson for spring engagements. ~, , ,i This is the fifth occasion and the fourth in succession on which Sir Charles Clifford has led the large field of owners, although the season just closed does not strike one as having been a particularly lucrative period for him. Mr. 1. A. Duncan pressed Sir Charles closely and iw an easy second. The leader among the sires.. Hunting Song, has held his position for six consecutive seasons. L. J. Ellis, the leading jockey, has won the premiership in his class foui' t imßB in live years; and T. It. George, one of the dead-heaters for training honours, has been on the top rung five times iu the last seven yearn. These facts stamp certain of the leaders as the headliners of a period rather thiln the victors in a more season. On the other hand, not since Gloaming have we had a horse who showed any likelihood of dominating the'stake-win-ning position. The best winner, in the racing year just closed was Strett.o, and the biggest winner among the younger horses was Royal Chief, with Defaulter close up. The leading stake winners were :•

Stretto', by Hunting Song—-The 3040 Roval Chief, by Chief Ruler— 2780 Defaulter, by Defoe—Expense .. 2al0 Cerne Abbas, by Lord Warden — . 2395 Monoxide Round Up, by Lord Quex—Nuku2070 Catalogue, by Lord Quex—Cata2060 The Buzzer, by The Buzzard— 2015 Eastern Belle Erination, by Illumination—Erin1930 King Rey. by Raceful—1 Ulman . 1695 Valamito, by Vaals—Merry Cat1680 All Irish, by illumination —Kiki . 1675 Smoke Screen, by Limond —Cur1660 Siegmund, by Siegfried— Lilimund 1650 Dictate, by Chief Ruler—Kirima . 1620 Gay Rose, by Gay Shield—Autumn 1590 Francis Drake, by Chief Ruler — Tame Duck 15S0