THE TURF.

Evening Star, Issue 18161, 29 December 1922, Page 2

THE TURF.

Gossip be Old Identitt, On the first day of the Dunedin Summer Meeting three first favorites won— Biliiewiukio, Lucinette, and Bedgown—and five first favorites failed to got a place. On the second day Loughrea, Ardour, and Sunny Lodi were the favorites (bat won, and four races resulted in llio first favorites being unplaced. Wc may take, it Unit Mr Bussell's handicapping worked out well on the whole, also that Mr M’lvcr’s starting was up to tho mark. Followers of Si) - G. Clifford's stable had ■a bad timo at Wingatui this week, eight starts resulting in nothing better than a second and a third. To back Emerson’s mount was also a losing scheme at the same meeting, for lie had only one win and ono second in eleven starts. Mr J. B. Held was amongst tho visitors to Wingatui this week Bir George Clifford’ did not conic down this lime. Presumably lie went to Auckland to see Winning Hit run in the Cup. Others besides Sir George arc disappointed with the colt’s performance. I regarded him as a good thing for the Auckland Cup. It was not his weight that beat him, but his strong-headness. The Auckland Cup is one of the, events vet to bo included among tho winning exploits of horses carry ine the colors of Sir George Clifford. Nineteen years back (writes "Phaeton”) Sir George furnished the favorite for Ellerslie’s two-mile race with the three-year-old Treadmill, but th-e son of Bill of Portland met the doughty Wairiki that day at the top of his form, and Wairiki beat his young rival, conceding him 181 b. Seven years after Treadmill went down Sir George supplied another favorite for the Cup with Counterfeit. but she failed to see out the two miles, and did not gain a situation, hi 1912 it was a popular opinion that Sir George held tho key to the position with the four-ycar-okl Masterpiece, who in the preceding month bad run Midnight Sun to half a head for first honors in the decision of (he New Zealand Cup. 'J he giant son of Olanranal-d, however, failed to run up to expectations, and an .unplaced performance on his part constituted the chief surprise of tho race. An Elkrslic-tnuned horse has not been successful in Urn Auckland Cup since Santa Rosa won in 1911. A petition is being largely signed by owners and trainers for presentation _to Ibe New Zealand Racing Conference asking for the reinstatement of the one-time crack horseman C. Jenkins, it is now over two years since Jenkins was retired. Amythas is being exercised on the Otnki beach, and hopes arc entertained that ho will be sent out in the autumn, when the sting is out of tho ground. Some timo ago arrangements wore made by a number of Auckland country clubs for . holding their meetings on central courses, the profits and losses to be pooled for the general benefit. The Waipa and Rotorua meetings, the first under this scheme, resulted in a loss. ‘ Lyttelton Times ’ reports as to the Ashburton Trotting Meeting on Tuesday: The three-year-old Logan Chief registered a brilliant performance when he won the Rosing Day Handicap. He left the mark badly, and six furlongs from home he was a long way behind the leaders, with only two horses behind him. A great burst of speed over tho next half-mile, however, landed him in front when the straight was reached, with the moo in safe'keeping. Logan Chief is a well-grown coil by Logan Pointer from Regina Belle, a good mare owned by the .Southland sportsman Mr J. Duffy, who also raced her son. Logan Chief gives promise of developing into a high-class performer, his only weakness being that ho is a. brill© uncertain at tho start of his races. The same paper says that Whispering Willio was ready to fulfil hie engagement in the Ashburton Trotting CMp, but owing to tdie late arrival of his trainer and driver, R. E. Mills, lie had to bo scratched-. A lew minutes after this had been done Mills put in an appearance on the course, having been delayed on tho motor trip by tyre troubles. 'Owen Voight is resting on account of a sore leg. Marquotcur started favorite for the Manawatu Cup. Tho ‘ Post ’ thus describes the race:—Festivity was slow in finding his feet. Passing the stand on the first round Paoanui, Bonnie Heather, and Dissertation were showing the way to a bunched field. Dissertation rushed to the front going out of the straight, and led the field by several lengths. Half a mile from home Paoanui and Admiral Godrington were well placed. Entering tho straight the real tussle began, Merry Day joining in, as did Dissertation, and in a capital race Paoanui gained tho verdict by a head, while half a neck separated Dissertation and Merry Day. Festivity finished a neck away fourth. The winner, who had not won out of his turn, returned a two-fignro dividend. M. M'Carten was in great form at Ellprslie, scoring on Scion, Tukia, and Enfhiis’tf.sm, and riding Glontruin into second place, while his remaining mount was unplaced. The record (remarks the ‘ Press ’) emphasises the luck of racing, for Scion and Glentruin were both more or less chance mounts, and what Asnley Reed’s thoughts are in missing both the New Zealand and Auckland Cups through sticking to Royal Box can be well imagined. It seems another_ good leg-up for the argument that jockeys are generally bad judges.