SYDNEY TURF NOTES

Evening Post, Volume CXI, Issue 36, 12 February 1931, Page 10

SYDNEY TURF NOTES

foPPOSITION MEETINGS SUFFER

(From "Vedette.") SYDNEY, sth 'February. For the third time since depression and JEhe betting tax hit Sydney folk, horse and £>ony -meetings, were hold in -opposition t>ii! Saturday. ■. Both clubs concerned, Sttborefield and Ascot, suffered ' considerably, the pony meeting in particular. The

experience showed that the racing fraternity at'present is not strong enough to sustain both. / The Moorefield meeting was a typical, suburban affair, with few horses of any class. •■■ The. two two-year-old winners, Ptolemy'and Chieftain, were the exceptions. Chieftain, a Caravel—Andesine gelding, won v^lfy comfortably for the studmaster/Mn1: H. A. Taylor, who arrived home ' a day "earlier from New Zealand1 after attending the yearling sales at Trentham, where he gold some youngsters at auction. , ■:'-■,■■ Ptolemy, the winner of the first division, a smart: youngster, has a double interest for? New' Zealand. He is raced by Mrs. E.;J: Watty and is by Mpabite from Shepherd/ Princess, the mare who originally figur^d'as the dam of Prince Humphrey. Later .developments and investigations proved-ilhat'Prince: Humphrey's dam was another mare altogether. Anyway, Ptolemy'is'agbbd advertisement for, his dam, and' should soon rise above the suburbs. ■ The ' ex-Aucklander, Vallar, has been profitable on unregistered tracks since changing'over, < He is able, to carry good weights, and win '.up. to six furlongs.. That distance appeared :to be slightly beyond him on ihelhorse courses; but from the way-he is winning it looks as if he will goion yet tb more successes amongst the ponies; although handicapped at 9.8 for his next .start. :