NOTES AND COMMENTS

Evening Post, Volume XCVI, Issue 40, 15 August 1918, Page 5

NOTES AND COMMENTS

11l "SIR LANCBLOT.")

The Marton Jockey Club's Spring Meeting, to be held on 4th September, will be the first totalisator fixture of the new season in this island. The open events are the Marton Handicap, of 230 soys, one mile and a-quarter, and the Railway Handican, of 180 soys, six furlongs. The Rangitikei Steeplechase is worth 260 soys, and the Hack Steeplechase 150 soys. Nominations for all events close with Secretary Arthur Way to-morrow, at 9 p.m.

In a big field Margalo (King Rufus— Bronze) was successful in the Nursery Handicap, four furlongs, at Menangle Park, on 31st July.

Mr. E. G. Robertson, caretaker of the Tauherenikau Racecourse, is on a business visit to Wellington. He goes into camp next week.

F. Davis is arranging to leave for Sydney by next week's boat with Desert Gold and Estland, who will compete in the weight-for-age events, and the three- ) ear-old colts Killowen and Finmark. The last-named will probably run in the A.J.C. Derby. The Masterton Racing 1 Club has elected Mr. Frank Dorset a life honorary members.

Concerning the success of the progeny of Carbine in Australia, the following remarks by a Sydney writer make interesting reading:—Though stakes have, been doubled, and, in a number of cases —the Sydney Cup, for instance, and the A.J.C. Derby— more than quadrupled, old Carbine's figures as stake-winner are still the highest by over £7000; and what they would have been had prizes been equal in his day to what they are now, would have made our other champions look very small fry. Any horse of the present day that puts up Carbine's record would win over £50,000; yet the nearest to him is his grandson, Trafalgar, with, £22,111. It is at once conceded that Carbine's Melbourne Cup was richer by £4000-than it is to-day, but if one takes his two Sydney Cups and compares them with the prizes given now, it will have to bo admitted that a horse of the present day who could win two Sydney Cups and a Melbourne Cup would have afar larger sum io his credit than Carbine had for those three races. For the le&sons given in the preceding para graphs, the careers of. Wallace Isinglass, Patrobas and Wolawa at the stud are being anxiously watched by students of bloodstock breeding. In such a fashionable stud as that owned by "Mr. Baron,' 1 the first-named will have every opportunity; and so will Patrobas, though in a slightly less degree ; while Wolawa will get plenty of chances to prove his worth. The hope of the Musket tribe, therefore, is centred round these three young stallions

The -Aucklandl Racing Club has granted B. Deeley a temporary license, which will have to be renewed to enable him to ride in Australia.

At the Wagga Hospital Benefit Meeting this month the Trial Stakes was won by Chiu-ninon (Crarlemagne ll.— Kinon). A half-brother by Varco was purchased for the Dominion at the laet Sydney yearling sales.

'Mi:,. Walter,, Dobson,-. secretary .of. the. Dannevirke Racing Club, recently underwent'an operation in a. private hospital. A Melbourne turf wsiter makes the statement that Frank Dempsey has accepted the. mount on Arch Marella- in the Melbourne Cup, on the understanding that he sha-11 receive £250 if the horse loses and £1250 if he wins. The retainer is probably the biggest ever received by an Australian jockey. The losing fee is particularly large, and it emphasises the great de.iri'r.nd there is for Dcmpsey's services. There are nearly three montlis to go before the Melbourne Cup, but the owners of Arch Marella doubtless realised that in another month or two others would be bidding for the champion lightweight, and they consequently decided to get in.early with their big offer. Arch Marella is already a very popular choice for the Cup, and it will be gratifying to those who picked him out early to learn that Dempsey will ride him.

Mr. Lan Duncan, of the Wa-ikanae Stud, has sold two two-year-old fillies by Bezom'an to Mr., W. E. Ke.mball, of Mastei'ton. One is -from Aloha and the other from Portland Lass.

British Arch (Marble Arch—Sawdust) ran third in a hurdle race at Moorefield this month.

Sons of Musket have done well as the sires of winners of important jumping races bnt-Ii in New Zealand and Australia. Probably the reason why Musket himself did not sire many jumpers was that few of his progeny were put to the business. Catcsby [brother to Trenton) was tried ;is a hurdler in the Auckland district, but proved a failure. At the stud he sired Tresham, a. Grand National Hurdles winner.- Belle, a- mare by Musket, won the Great Northern Steejjlechase. She was a half-sister to Bombardier, winner of the same event. The latter was sired by Brigadier (son of Musket).

The Avondale Cup Stake has been increased in value to 800 soys, and the Avondale Stakes to 500 soys.

King Curio (by King Hufajs—Marsala) was among the winners at the Rosebery Meeting this month. King Curio is the first progeny of Marsala (Field Battery—Holyrood). The stock of King Rufus has done well in New South Wales and Queensland. That sire recently returned to Sydney, and is to do stud duty in the Bat hurst district during the coming season. i A Wairarapa paper states tha,t J. Campbell has accepted a retainer to ride for Mr. W. E. Kemball's stable during the present season. That horseman's name does_ not appear among the list of licenses issued by the Canterbury Jockey Club recently. Imported Jack Rogers (Fontainbleau —Ethel Rogers) won the Flying Welter at the Menangle Park Meeting on 31st July. ■ Master Strowan cost his present owner £40. The programme drawn up for the Masterton Racing Club's Spring Meeting, on 17th and 18th October, provides for .stake money amounting to £2555, an increase of £65 on that of last season. Most of the additional prizes money has been given to the Juvenile Handicap, which has gone up from £130 to £170 (first horse £130, second £25, and third £15). Fifteen pounds have been added to the Trial Stakes, making its value £115. and £10 to the Masterton Hack Handicap, which will be worth £140. All. the other events remain the same as last year. As usual, the winner of the Masterton Cup will not. be liable for any penalty in the New Zealand Cup.