TURF NOTES

Evening Post, Volume CVI, Issue 30, 4 August 1923, Page 17

TURF NOTES

IVY "SIR LANCELOV'3

FIXTURES.

August 13—Egmont-Wanganui Hunt Club. August 14, 10, 18^Canterbury J.C. August 25—Pakuranga Hunt Club. September I—North Tarnnaki Hunt Club. September s—Marton J.C. September G—Kangitikei Hunt Club. September B—Otago Hunt Club. September 13, 15— \Van(?anui J.C. September 21, 25-Ashburton County E.C. September 22, 21—Avondale J.C. September 22, 2-i—Otaki-Maori II.C. September 27, 2S—Geraldine R.C. September 20—Jtanawatu Hunt Club. September 29—Napier Park R.C.

NOTES AND COMMENTS

It is reported that Bon Spec, who won the Winter Cup last August, will be ridden in the forthcoming race by B. Deeley. The Auckland horseman won the Riccarton race two years in succession, on Chortle and Banksia.

Referring to A.J.C. Derby possibilities, "Pilot" writes in the Sydney ."Referee" :—Liiscelles (Martian —Mary of Argyle) and- Golden Tresses (Tressady— Lady Grafton) are not in Randwick stables, but they work at that course in charge of their New Zealand trainer, R. J. .Mason. Neither has yet started anywhere, but that fact will*, not cause books or backers to lose sight of them. Gloaming and Cupidon did not race before coming to Sydney, and each won our Derby. It is possible for Lascelles or Golden Tresses to repeat the dose. The latter is a half-brother to Sweet Lady, and, as a stayer, his pedigree does not appeal as much as that of Lascelles,' whose brother, Ardcnvhor, won the 1916 New Zealand Cup, and his sister, Mascot, the 191S Auckland Cup, each run at two miles. Golden Tresses and Lasceiles are geldings. The former is the heavierbuilt of the two, but possesses plenty of pace. Both have been shaping fairly over short distances, and, as their trainer is not one who believes horses can win races without work, it should not be long before their track deeds give us an idea as to which is likely to have the better Derby chance. I incline to Lascelles.

Carmelite is the name claimed for the imported filly by Friar Marcus—Sweet Alysium, which is to. be shipped to Sydney with Mr. J. Williamson's horses about the 10th instant.

Uncle Alex, a New Zealand horse, won the Flying Welter Handicap, of four furlongs, at the Moorefield (N.S.W.) Meeting, yesterday. Good Hope, who must be about the first of the progeny of de Gama (Vasco— lea Cup) to win a race, was successful in the Novice at Eudunda (S.A.) recently. At the same meeting Hoenlow, by the Soult horse Shuja, was amoii"- the winners.

V. Colello, with Black Art, and P. Smith, with Arataura, left for South last night. Rorke's Drift pulled up lame a few mornings ago at Riccarton, and is considered a doubtful starter in the Grand National Hurdles.

From Dunedm the death is announced ot JMeus, by Elysian—Kov.-erewere, who met with injuries through a collision with a tramcar. Eleus was a useful performer a couple of seasons back After running second to Maioha in the Wellington Cup, he won the Racing Club Handicap at Trentham. tou- W2"- s Alllll' 6 the mount on Whipcord m the Grand National Steeplechase. *

Mr. H. Coyle, the well-known handicapper, who has been attending the Gisborne meetings, returned to Wellington yesterday. i a

A recent addition to C. Pritchard's Trentham team is a three-yeav-old filly by Kilboy-Bronze Queen (King Kufus—Enlolo)} owned by Mr. H P F Blundell. ' '

The publication of the weights during the winter months of the big spring handicaps in Australia caused "Touchstone," of the "Australasian." a man of the ripest experience of racing and one who has figured as an owner, stipendiary steward, and handicapper, to writeThe fickle goddess who deals so capriciously with the votaries of the Turf must shriek with laughter as she watches us poor mortals groping in these dark winter days for Cup winners, when we have not yet disposed of the Grand Nationals. It really is amusing. There is little use delving further into the matter at this juncture. I do not intend to select more than three 'possibles' just now. These are the two proved stayers David and The Cypher, and the rising three-year-old, Rahiri." i'Beacon," of the Melbourne "Leader," thinks the weights are issued too early. He adds: "Apart from the morality of it all, it is folly to espect the handicappers to gauge the form of horses months ahead. The crack performers of the autumn might easily be the duffers of the spring, and vice versa. That was emphasised by the Cup results last year. There was nothing in the two-year-old form of Whittier to suggest that he was a possible Caulfield Cup winner, and he was handicapped as a colt of poor class. By no stretch of imagination could King Ingoda be regarded as a likely winner of the last Melbourne Cup at the time the weights were declared last year. He was not even regarded as a Cup horse by his trainer until a comparatively short time before the race."

Writing a few clays prior to the V.R.C. G.N. Hurdle Race, won by Berrinbo, a Melbourne resident chronicled the misfortune that happened to a wellknown New Zealander: "The Grand Nattional Hurdles has no further interest for tsainer D. Price. For weeks and weeks he had thought of little else than the preparation of Royal Guardian, and was happy in the belief that he had a chance of pulling off the big prize. The gelding had been doing well in his work, and rendered a very good account of himself in his races—so good, in fact, that people had begun to talk about him for the big race. But all Dave's hopes and aspirations went up in smoke on Saturday, when Royal Guardian broke down while running in the Marne Jumpers' Flat Race at Moonee Valley. Royal Guardian must have been born under an unlucky star. His owner and trainer possibly thought they would take as little risk as possible by giving him a run on the flat instead of over the sticks. He had run well throughout, and wa3 one of the first six finishing, when within 20 yards of the post lie was seen to rim off on three legs. Royal Guardian will probably never race again." A week after his defeat by Papyrus in the English Derby the Phalaris colt Pharos was favourite at 11 to 10 for the Royal Stakes, of £2015, one milo and a quarter, at Newbury. There were seven runners, and after a great race Pharos (8.6) beat Kelvin (7.1), another three-year-old, by a head, with the four year-old Puttenden (a son of The Tetrarch) three lengths further off. The time was 4min 4 4-ssec, which was only a second worse than the best for the distance named at Newbury last vcar. The best horse in -America this year up to a mile and a quarter is the five-year-old chestnut stallion Grey Lag, whoso latest great performance was winning the famous Suburban Handicap, one mile and a-quarter. at Belmont Park (New York) on Ist June. The added money wan £1500, and thore w«rci nix runners. Grey Ujr is own« 4by Mr. R. F, Sinclair, and, as he »lso ttutei Fly,

ing Cloud and Mad Hatter, it is not surprising that backers who wished to invest on the Rancocas Stable nomination were asked to lay 3 to 1 on. Grey Lag made light of his 9.9, winning easily as he pleased in 2min 3sec. A week earlier Grey Lag, with 9.7, easily won the Metropolitan Handicap in lmin 38sec for the mile at Belmont Park, and in handicaps up to a mile and a half he would now have to give Exterminator a few pounds. Grey Lag is by Star Shoot from- Miss Minnie, by Meddler.

A Sydney Bcribe has the following concerning Gloaming :—Taking advantage of the fine ■weather, R. J. Mason has given Gloaming a fair amount of sprinting during the past week, and naturally the New Zealand crack has lightened up a bit. Mason has no intention of Gloaming being backward in condition at his first meeting with Beauford, and if he gets him well forward at an early stage of the proceedings he will have less cause for anxiety if wet weather interferes with training operations. Gloaming takes a deal of work to bring him to his best.

Mr. 11. F. Sinclair is also the owner of the crack three-year-old Zev, who, subsequent to his Kentucky Derby win, easily pulled, off the Withers Stakes at Belmont Park, running the mile in lmin 37 3-osec with 8.6. Zev's earnings this season up to the beginning of June totalled £16,000, which, with the addition of his two-yeai--old winnings, would send him up to about £21,000. Grey Lag's 22 wins and 10 minor plapings during his career have given his owner nearly £26,000. A few weeks ago I mentioned that Mr. Sinclair last two valuable stallions and a number of brood mares in a fire at the Rancocas Stud Farm in April, but since then his racing luck has been wonderful, his horses seeming- almost unbeatable. At various meetings in Kentucky Derby Week, Mr. Sinclair's horses won nearly £14,000, and American papers are already discussing the possibility of his horse putting together £80,000 (not dollars) this year. The "Thoroughbred Record" says the American—and world's record—is Mr. Keene's £79,500 in 1907.

Returning to Grey Lag, ho has only twice missed a place in four season's racing, a remarkable record, seeing he has competed in so many handicaps. Mr. J. E. Madden, America's famed studmaster, says that Grey Lag, Sir Martin, and Sir Burton are the three best horses he eve? bred.

A cable message from London states that Triumph won the Goodwood Cup by twenty lengths. Ranms, ridden by Donoghue, the other starter, behaved badly at the post, and was left. Mr. Ben Ling, president of the Otaki Maori Racing Club, who has been laid up with an attack of influenza, has quite recovered, and is able to attend to his duties again. Uncle Alex (Bezonian—Bonny Helen), winner of the Welter Handicap at Moorefield, was a successful two-year-old when racing in Mr B. L. Jill's colours in the Dominion. '

Local owners were not so successful during the season just closed as in some previous ones. Thanks to the dual Cup successes of. Scion, Mr. E. Riddiford has had his best season and easily heads the list with £7123. Then follow Mr. W. Higgins £2630, Mr. X: D. Duncan £1835, Mr. A. Goodman £1214, Mr. C Boyle £958, Mr. W. H. Ballinger £903, Mr. \V. J. Lowe £900, Mr. J. O'Brien £6iO, Mr. F. R. Pierce £63i are those that have won over £500. Mr. W. R. Kemball heads the Wairarapa list with £8785, followed by Mr. C. E. Elcar £2919, Mr. A. M'Donald £2735, Mr. R Knox £1982, Mr. C. F. Vallance £1977 Messrs. Davis and Till £1135, Mr W E. Bidwill £865, Mr. D. Donald £810 Mr.. W, M. Fenwick £771, Mr. F. A Jensen £7i5, and Mr. D. Hands £551 10s. > .<Ai Corapany °^ newspaper men who do the Flemington tracks in the mornings, states the "Sporting Globe," profited by the victory of Kunjolio in the National in an unusual way. During the present winter these reporters have been making a. fire in an oil drum to combat the cold. Seeing this, E. Whiley promised that if either of his horses, Kunjolio or Wooloo, • won the great -crosscountry event he would send along enough wood to keep the fire going for the remainder of the winter. True to hisword, Whiley recently had the wood delivered, and anyone visiting the training ground on galloping mornings will see a cosy fire in the centre of the ground, with a team of grateful watchholders around it.