RACING NEWS

Evening Post, Volume CIX, Issue 115, 19 May 1925, Page 10

RACING NEWS

(BY "VEDETTE-

ANSWERS 10 CORRESPONDENTS,

'J.D.," Johnsonvillc—Winning Hit, at Eiccarton, 2min 3 l-ssec.

Acceptances for the first day of the Great Northern Meeting, and also for the Great Northern Steeplechase, are due on Friday, at 5 p.m.

There were no really surprising defections from the- Wanganui Steeplechase when acceptances were taken last night; Omahu has been kept in the Century Hurdles in preference, while Glenotus, Mahuru, Erie, and Charlatan were all expected absentees. The eleven left in the race will- provide a contest wel! worth going to see. There has been a rather heavier weeding-out in the Century Hurdles, Lochson, 'Frisco Mail, Brigadier Bill, and Savory, being the notable absentees. Again, this race promises well, for the nine left with an engagement in the main represent recent form. The Connolly and Borough Handicaps have not suffered, while'the minor events are all up to the average, hoth in class and quantity. The latter is so much in evidence in the Purua Hack Handicap that divisions have been found, necessary. ' Mr. G. Gerard has secured the property now occupied by Mr. Pratt at Upper.Riccarton, and G. 3. Pine will set up with the team there next week. The stables were originally held by, the late J. Taggart, who had Slow Tom and others in his charge, but the residence was erected for Pine when he had control of Mr. P. Herman's horses some' years ago. .' ;' '

Malaga and Eoyal Despatch are to be handed over hy G. J. Pine to W. Holmes, and Windshield will go into F. Christmas's stable. Christmas will also take? in hand the yearling gelding ■by Paper Money—Equitasj who was broken in a few weeks ago and has since been running in the paddock. Charlatan appears to Jiave lost confidence as the Tesult of his fall at Timaru,: and on Saturday, with W. Scobje up, gave a display of fencing much below his usual form, states the, Christchurch "Press." In company with Whipcord (I.' Tilson) he set out from the brush-in front of the stand, and, taking on the hurdle in preference ,tb the double along the back, began to diift back, and finished some lengths behind his mate at the end of the round. Charlatan will not go to Wanganui. Whipcord fenced, cleanly throughout. ' The following further interesting com ment'on the Grand National Steeplechase is from the pen of "Robin Good fellow," of'the'London "Daily Mail" :— Nat, in all its long' history of nearly 90 years has there been a more entertaining contest for/the Grand National Steeplechase than that won in such gallan* style by-Double. Chance. No small part of the treat .were the delightful condi lions. .'. The course was in perfect trim and sunshine emblazoned the colours of the riders throughout the great race. The salient features of the struggle were the promineht'-gosition' occupied, by .Double Chance fronr beginning to end • the bold show made by- Fly Mask-in getting to the front some sis furlongs from home, where he looked like the probable victor; their the supersession of/Mr.'Laidlaw's horse,by Silvo,: his defeat by Old Tay Bridge immediately ', afterwards, and the ultimate' trouncing given to the last-named by Double -Chance -in the last two hundred yards in the decisive run in on the flat. : If was a really'fine display of horsemanship, a great personal triumph for Major ,T. P. Wilson. Major Wilson had the distinction of doing great work in the war as an officer' in the Flying Corps. He'is still a young man, and his hair, now quite white, turned grey in a single night after a crash "in which he had a marvellous escape. Neither he nor his horse had done the course before. ■ .'..■.■ •

It was only last year that the skull cap -was introduced into. England, but already it has proved its worth. The ' 'Daily Mail: comments as follows :—lf ever a rider was saved from death by using the steel skull-cap it was seen in the Lammas Hurdle Race: at Sandown Park, when Warwick fell under George Duller, .The old horse took off .yards too soon—prompted to jump simultaneously with Brownstown, a competitor nearer to' the hurdle. '. Duller pitched on his headand lay for some minutes as if fatally injured. But the rider recovered, though the angle of the hit and thts shock must, have been most serious to a man even of Duller's superb physique and fitness. Under medical treatment on the spot he was able to return to the weighing-room, with no more obvious injury than a cut nose. ".•Indeed, Duller was desirous of ..riding again later, but the stewards would not allow him. ' Although Passin' Through injured a tendon when contesting the Autumn Steeplechase at Ellerslie, he has been kept to steady work. ' It will be noted that lie has been paid up for in the Wanganui Steeplechase. ..'. - Young Thurnham is causing his trainer some anxiety at EUerslie, and Jt is doubtful if this good jumper will stand a preparation. He was relieved of' his Wanganui engagements last night. , Still, another Riccarton . trainer contemplates taking a team to Australia, for, according to the "Press," J. B. Paarson expects to leave in July with Bed Wink and Clareina. F. E. Jones will ride Pilliewinkie and Many Kittle in their Australian engagements, and possibly will also ride Red Wink in his races.' Jones leaves for Australia immediately after the Dunedin. Winter "Meeting, but will return to the Dominion for Grand National Week. He ■ may.,-;.then go back to Australia for the spring meetings. ; „ . .. Prior to the running of the North Canterbury Handicap at Rangiora on Saturday, an inquiry, was held into the training of Prosperity, the position being that the horse appeared as being trained by his owner, P. Stephens, who had beun absent for some days, during which time Prosperity. had been left :n charge of an' unlicensed man. No action was. taken, the horse, being allowed to start at the owner's risk.

_ J. R. Kaan had recovered sufficiently from his accident at the South Canterbury Autumn Meeting to be able to return to the North Island last week. Two apprentices divided the riding honours at the North Canterbury Meeting on Saturday, 'C. ' Eastwood and A. E. Messervey each piloting two winners, while the other galloping event was won l)y W. Scobie, writes "Argus." Though ho was twice successful, Eastwood's efforts on Rapier and Ferino were decidedly inartistic;. In each case his mount was out with a good lead at the entrance to the straight, and the use of the whip from that point seemed neither necessary nor. advantageous. Bonomel put up an attractive performance when he won the Oxford Highweight Handicap at Rangiora on Saturday,' taking the lead early, and never looking in serious danger of being caught, states a Southern exchange. :

Rapipr showed a good turn of speed whcm he wen the TOul Kuk-ts at Rangl«r», *ad nwis successes should be in

NOTES AND COMMENTS

store for him. He is a thrie-year-old | by the Spearmint horse Greyspear, who as yet has not been much heard of as a sire. Rapier carries the colours of .Mr. O. G. Holmes, who is making a slow but steady recovery from a serious motor accident that occurred to him about two months ago. Ferino ran her best race when she won the North Canterbury Handicap on Saturday. Her speed enabled her to take the lead soon after the start; and though most people expected her to stop after going a mile, she ran out the mile and a quarter in really/ good stylo. Tile Solferino mare should gain further distinction, as she is steadily on the improve, and is a credit' 16 E. Scoullar, who has had her in his stable for some time past. . It is stated that Jubilant was unlucky at Rangiora on Saturday. She was well back at the turn, but galloping over everything in second place at the finish. Listening Post was backed down to odds-on in the Riverton Handicap on Satnrday, but led all the way to win easily from San Salvador.

Paul Pry is coming to hand nicely at RiccartonJ and should do good service for his owner-trainer, F. G. Hanlon, during the jumping seasort. Panache, who formerly raced in this part of the island, is now trained at Ellerslie. He was tried over two of the pony hurdles on Thursday morning, and shaped fairly well.

Llewellyn won a double at the last Pakuranga Hunt Club Meeting, and on appearances this season he should do equally well for his trainer (P. Conway). Llewellyn was put over a few hurdles at Ellerslie on Thursday, and negotiated them well. . .

Tuki, who won : the Egmont Steeplechase, will be best recollected by Aucklanders as the winner of the Tamaki Steeplechase at EUerslie last June, when General Rose and Ditto filled the places, writes "Whalebone." Subsequently he was placed at the Taranaki Hunt Club's Meeting, arid filled third place in> the Thames Valley Steeplechase, which was won by No Surrender. Tuki is engaged at the Great' Northern Meeting, and is sure to run well if he fulfils his engagements. However, it must be stated that Mr. F. M'Manemin, the handicapper, was not impressed with'his performance at Hawera, for he has decided not to increase his. impost in the Great Northern Steeplechase. -