HERE AND THERE

Evening Post, Volume CXI, Issue 142, 18 June 1931, Page 8

HERE AND THERE

Three-Year-Old Hurdler.

The appearance of Okopua's name among the entries for the Moteo Hack Hurdles at the Napier Park Meeting next week is v, reminder that a three-year-old may compete over the battens. The rule reads: "No horse under three years and six months of age shall run in a hurdle race." However, very rarely does a horse of such age take his place in a hurdle field. Disappointment to Date. Okopua, who is the three-yeapold fullbrother to defunct Paiko, and is a> halfbrother, (by Chief Ruler) to other/, good performers in Euchre, Bissae^ and Orcades, and also to Ici, (dam of Mehdip), hasbeen a; rank disappointment to date^ not baving'-been. in a place in .fifteen ■ starts. Many times, too, he has been freely fancied by his connections. Perhaps the idea is to run him once or twice over fences in order to see if this will convince him that he must settle down to more honest work in races on the flat. ' Other Newcomers. Besides Okopua, there are several other newcomers listed in the entries for the Moteo Hack Hurdles at Napier Park. The number includes Panther, White Fang, Pat's Boy, Cook, Battlement, King's Folly, Goshawk, Soviet, ' and Leyland. If the acceptance at the recent Waikato Meeting can be regarded ,as a criterion, the owners of some of these horses may' find .the change-over quite a profitable one. Change of Stables. - Valmarie and Coolmint,-who were taken to Te Rapa- by the Takanini trainer E. Pope, were left in M. J. Carroll's charge, where they will remain until after the Wellington Winter Meeting, for which they are to be entered. Apprentice Injured. .. ~ B. Stewart,, an apprentice attached to J. T. Jamieson's stable, was thrown from Pateena while exercising the filly on Monday. He received a severe kick on the head which required medical attention, but at latest advice he was progressing favourably! ■ Master Clarence Back. Riccarton trainer S. Barr ; has recomroissioned Master, Clarence. This aged son iof Clarenceux and Red Queen has been put aside for some considerable time, his last race being his . successful effort in the Peninsula Cup 15 months ago. Last season he. won six races and was once second in eleven starts. Longer Distances. ■ ■ ( <■ An exchange states that Manifesto will probably be tried shortly over distances longer than sprints. He has finished on well at the end of most of his recent races, and it is believed that he will run out a good mile. He has been entered for the Stewards'■ Stakes, one mile, at Napier Park, and the theory will probably ■be put to the test next week. About Chief Savage. Although Chief Savage ran, disappointingly at Otaki at the beginning of the month, he is to be taken to _ the Napier' Park and Hawkes Bay Meetings. He is stated to have freshened up, and on the different going may show that his form at the Otaki Meeting was wrong. It .is.! likely,.that S. Wilson will be on him at Greenmeaclows next week. F. Ormond's Horses. The two horses that W. M'Kinnon has in active training at present for Mr. Frank Ormond are Pewa- and Curie, but he has just had sent to him three rising; two-year-olds. These « are a chestnut ■gelding by Arausio—Conchita, and "fillies by the same;sjre from Waterlea and Matty, and respectively named Marais and Martur. The Conchita youngster was brought in while M'Kinnon was at Auckland, and has already been handled, but the other two have yet to receive their first lessons. Meeting Shows Profit. , A Hokitika report states that a small profit of about £100 to "each of the clubs is anticipated from the combined West-land-Greymouth Meeting at the beginning of the month. When the financial result is known definitely, the committee of the Westland Club is to meet to consider the financial position in relation to rebuilding appointment^. : ■ , . VVell-bred 'Chaser. Among the entries for the Petatie Hack Steeplechase at Napier Park is the name of Rigolctto, a six-year-old son of King Mark and the Birkenhead mare Hoy, and hence full-brother to Anomaly (who had a short but successful career at the stud), Snatcher, King's Folly, King's Jest, and Last Mark, and half-brother to that brilliant Absurd mare Shirley. Rigoletto was taken down to the last Grand Natiqnal Meeting by W. M'Kinnon, and was raced in the Trial Hurdles on the opening day, 'but bis exhibition of jumping was almost ludicrously bad. He will need to have improved a' lot since. then to have much chance even in the company lie may be meeting next week. Back to the Game. • Bon Aryan., another entrant for the Petane Steeplechase, atod also for vthe Napier Steeplechase, has been off the scene for a long time, but he is by no means new to the game. In the Petanc Steeplechase two years ago he ran second to Crishna at bis first start, and subsequently big things were expected_ from, him. Ho whs taken to the 'Wellington Meeting, and then down to the Grand National Meeting, but ,he failed to materialise. Last winter he was produced once, in a gentleman riders' event at the Hawkes Bay Meeting, but since he has not been raced. He is a ten-year-old brown, gelding by Boniform from Arion, a marc apparently by. Mcrmvce and bred at Porangahau by Mr. E. J. Watt. Presentation to Rider. R. Lyall, who rode Grakle to victory in the Aintree Grand National in April, was the guest of the evening at a dinner of sportsmen of Lincoln, his native city, recently. He was presented with a magnificent cocktail cabinet and other gifts, more than a hundred, citizens subscribing. Mr. Cecil Taylor, _ Graldo's owner, making the presentation, said success iittended the combination of a great horse, a great trainer, and a great jockey. Lyall, in reply, said he won the National for one, of the best owners a man could ride for. Credit Betting. The British Government has decided to give no facilities for the discussion of the Racecourse Betting Act (1028) Amendment Bill, which seeks to prohibit credit bet-

[linn on the totalisalor. hi the House of Commons recently the Prime Minister was questioned by Mr. Philip Oliver (Labour, Klackley) on the subject. Mr. Oliver asked if Mr. Mac Dona Id had considered the memorial submitted liy the Bishops and others appealing to the Government to provide facilities for the passage of the Hill into law. Mr. MacDouald replied that ho had given very careful consideration to the memorial, "but in view of the present state of Parlhimo-itary business 1 can hold out no hope that opportunity will be found for discussion of this Bill. 'Chasing Days Over. Melleray's Belle, who had run so consistently well in recent Grand Nationals that she had become a great favourite with the English racing public, broke down badly at a meeting last month, and her aimer (Mr. W. Wilson) has now decided to send her to the Tara Stud in Ireland, where she "will be mated with Culzeau. Culzean ran second in the Lincolnshire Handicap of 1030, and belongs to Mr. James M'Lean, the well-known Glasgow commission agent. Wellington Classics. Entries for future classic events throughout New Zealand, closed last .Friday, and universal satisfaction is expressed by clubs at the response of owners. So far as Wellington is concerned, the following figures for this season and next show the satisfactory position:— Wclleslcy Stakes .... 108 103 Wellington Stakes IH3 l.<ii> N.I. Challenge Stakes . 20S ISO N.Z. St. Leger 17U in The figures for the Wellesley Stakes are for 1930 and 1931 respectively, for the Wellington and North Island Challenge Stakes for 1031 and 1932, and for the St. Leger for 1032 and 1933. r Kidaides Again. ' Kidaides won his second Adelaide Birthday Cup when he defeated the bottom weight, St. Frederick, by a length and a quarter at the South Australian J.C. Meeting on 6th June. The top weight, Suzunii, was three-ijuarters of a length away third. Kidaides won his previous Birthday Cup in ,1929. On both occasions he van ridden by N. Percival. Since he won the Sydney Handicap at Kandwick in' 1929 Kidaides bad not shown good form, but he was sent out a hot favourite for the Birthday Cup, with Suzuini, St. Frederick, and White Nose next in demand in that order. -*After the race Percival said that ho was well back in the early stages,, but got to the rails at about the mile post, and stayed there. He added that Kidaides had never performed so well before. Record Stake-winner. ' In'• a recent issue of .the Lexington "Thoroughbred Record". the following fetter /appeared:—"Contrary to the popular" notion, and despite the accepted Turf ■records;. 'Gallant Fox is not the greatest ■money winner in Turf history-. Goldsmith'■ Maid, probably the greatest horse ever foaled, won during her lifetime 364,200 dollars (£72,840), a record tor all time. Her stupendous earnings probably were only half the amount she would have won in modern racing, for this superhorse raced in the '60's and 70's, when prizes and purse offerings were a mere pittance compared with the lavish prices paid to-day to winners. This queen ot trotters ■ spent the first six years of her life, as a farm horse, and did- not start racing until eight years old. At twenty Goldsmith Maid was still winning races, closing her brilliant career by winning several stake events at Toledo, Ohio. Inscribed on a monument over the grave of Goldsmith Maid, in the Fashion Stud Farm, of Trenton, N.J., are these words: Here lies Goldsmith Maid, Queen ■'■ of Trotters for Seven Years. Born in / Sussex County, 1857, died here 23rd September, 1885. Best record, 2.14, made at Boston in 1874. Earned 364,200 dollars, ■ the world's record. ' ' Driven by Budd Doble, owned by Henry N. Smith. Catkin Disappoints. Those who ■ expected ' the Maryborough Hurdle Race; 2Vt miles, on the. second day (Bth June) of the recent V.R.C. Birthday Meeting' to provide a '.reliable guide to the" Grand National Hurdle Race must have been disappointed. The betting indicated that the former New Zealander, ■ Catkin; i who is one of the most discussed horses for the three miles event, on 4th July, was expected to ont-class those opposed to him. In the Banya Hurdle Race at Moonee Valley some weeks ago Catkin came from a long way back to win narrowly from Arcadhis, and that form suggested that he would be well suited by the ' extra distance. Backers also realised that the' going should assist' Catkin, but the best he could do was to run fourth, after having been second last going round the back. Commenting on the race, a Melbourne writer states that Catkin certainly made a final attempt to overhaul the leaders in the straight, but he appeared to be sore and could not sustain the effort. The exhibition would hardly enhance his prospects for the Grand National. Odds and Ends. Nominations for all events at the, Wei-' lington Racing Club's Winter Meeting are due at 9 o'clock on Monday evening: As a result of the further heavy rain there was no •work .at Trentham this. morn-, ing, trainers having to be content with'j giving-., their, charges road and hill work. The; apprentice jockey,'S. Gerrand, has had his licence withdrawn for a' month, from 12th June, by the Licensing Committee of the New Zealand Racing Conference.:" . * ■ ' It is reported from Riccarton that'the promising two-year-old Belvoir (Hunting Song—Lady Bentinck) has been sold at a good,figure by Mr. G. Fi Moore to : a Southern sportsman.

: Mr. J. Fredric, the owner of Seatown, has two youngsters from his mare Sea^ sprite (dam of Seatown) that are spoken' of as being particulary promising. They are a rising two-year-old brown filly by Limond, and a rising yearling by Hunting Song. Mr. Frcdric also has a rising yearling by Diacquenod from Seasprite's Day Comet daughter, Seastar.

'Te Eapa."—l9s.