RACING NOTES

Evening Star, Issue 19387, 22 October 1926, Page 13

RACING NOTES

RACING FIXTURES. October 23, 25.—Wellington E.G. October 25.—Waikato Hunt Chib. October 25.—Waipawa County K.C. October 23, 25, or 25, 27.—Waverley K.C, October 25.—North Canterbury R.O. October 25, 27.—Gore R.C. October 28, 30.—Poverty Bay Turf Club. October 30. —Banks Peninsula R.C. October 30, November I.—Thames J.C. November 2, 3.—Cromwell J.C. November 3.—Birchwood Hunt. November 6,8, 10, 13.—N.Z. Cup Meeting.

D.J.C. SPRIG MEETING The few days prioi to the Dunedin Jockey Club’s Spring Meeting the weather was so unsettled and the course so wet, several members of the committee seriously considered a postponement of the fixture Fortunately, conditions improved, and the committee decided to carry on. The track on the Wednesday morning was in a very sodden state, and few who saw it then could imagine the improvement during the next twenty-four ( hours possible; but the strong wind,' and judicious handling by the club’s caretaker provided sound, if somewhat dead, going. The public was spread over a much larger area than at former meetings, and I did not think the attendance on either Thursday or Saturday to be as good as usual, but 1 understand tho gato receipts showed increases each day. The betting certainly showed a decrease, but, with the big dividends, and only one first favorite winning in the two days, the drop of £3,400 odd, representing only about 7i per cent, or the 1925 turnover, was not surprising. Tho racing was good and interesting, and several of the finishes reflected credit upon Mr Lusk’s handicapping, and the latter certainly had the satisfaction of concealing the winners. A han-dici-ppcr who can please everybody Ins yet to be found. Mr Lusk is certainly not the man, and there were the usual growls that this horse had been thrown in or that ono given no chance; but the worst mistake, I think, was in his handicapping of the two-year-olds on the second day. There is a provision in the rule fixing that the top weight in any handicap shall not he less than 9st that Mr Lusk had apparently overlooked, or, still more likely, did not know of. It exempts races for two-year-olds, and in raising the minimum in the Dominion Handicap to Bst thus placing the winner and nmner-up in the M‘Lean Stakes on the 9st_7lb mark ho certainly showed had judgment. Two-year-olds at this period of tho season don’t want to be loaded with any more weight than is necessary, and had he started his handicap at 7st, thus reducing each youngster’s weight by 141 b, ho would have studied the interests of the horses, owners, and the club. Naturally, the owners of Some Rose and Ark Royal declined to start their two-year-olds with 9st 71b up, but at least Some Rose’s owners would have started her again had the minimum been 7st. It was the worst of many mistakes Mr Lusk has made. The M'Lean Stakes and the Dunedin Guineas, the first two classic races to bo run in the South Island, attracted splendid fields, and also provided good races. They were easily the features of the meeting, and for tho first time in tho history of the club they were won by southern owners. Both are owned by good sportsmen, and, though neither was favorite on the tofalisatqr, their wins were popular with tho public. Tho presence of several New Zealand Cup horses also added interest to the meeting, and High Gear and Heather Lad were the only winners amongst them'. Ravenna, Overdrawn, and Full Swing each raced so well they will probably nave their engagements continued in the big race. As usual at this period of the year the hack races attracted the best fields, and Southland and Otago stables appear to be sheltering a lot of good hacks this season. It may ho to the advantage of country clubs which have not yet drafted their programmes for this season to note this fact and make provision for them.

The meeting last week was quite a successful one, but had the climatic conditions been better the fixture would have been one of the best spring gatherings the club has held. On the second day it served to introduce the Gover-nor-General and Lady Alice Fergusson to racing in Otago, and those who were privileged, to meet their Excellencies at Wingatni very sincerely hope that they will he frequent guests of the club, JOTTINGS Red Art was running outside his class in the Spring Hurdles. Coastguard gave a good exhibition of jumping on the opening day, but on Saturday ho hit several of the hurdles very hard. Neither C. Emerson nor J. A. Beale could win a race at the local meeting. Bonomel ran his best race at Wingatni on Saturday since ho won the Otago Hurdles sixteen months ago. With a little more experience Guncase is going to make a very proficient hurdler. Captain Sarto appears to have lost all form. „ _ Happy Days wants building up. He can’t bo expected to win races in Ins present condition. Mr W. T. Hnzlett was a through passenger to Wellington on Thursday, where ho has some of his horses racing. The Gore course is"'in excellent order for next week’s meeting. They have not had nearly as much rain in the south as we have had round about Dunedin. The going promises to be firm. Comic Song is coming back to form, and it should bo profitable to follow lum from now on. Mr J. S. Barratt is confident that Count Cavour will race better at Riccarton next month than he did in Sydney. He will need to to have a chance in the New Zealand Cup. Evidently the hard race she had on Thursday was too niuch for Set Sail in the condition she was in, for she ran badly on Saturday. She will probably show up to better advantage at Gore next -week. „ Soldier’s Pride should show up well at Gore on Monday. Ho is tho best stayer in tho race. . _ Quickfonn, a mare trained by K. M'Donald at Wingatni at one time, is now in J* W* PnnkhursVs stablo nt Invercargill. \ . Equerry is reported to bo snowing improved form on the Invercargill tracks. His many friends will regret to hear that R. M‘Kay is indisposed Boh has a big team in work at Invercargill nowadays, but there does not appear to be another Radial amongst them. The progeny of Martian has now won £327 508 ' It ’is reported that Full Swing pulled three shoes off at Wingatni last week. This may have accounted for her poor showing in the Ranfurly Handicap. It is reported that Black Duke was got at by someone prior to his race on Thursday. His connections supported him very confidently in the race he was beaten in and only lightly when he won. Beacon Light is reported to bo slightly amiss. Ho has, never been a very sound horse.

[By St. Claie.]

TROTTING FIXTURES. October 23, 25.—Greymouth T.O. . October 25.T-Oaraaru T.O October 30—'i'imaru T.O. November 9, 11, 12.—New Zealand Metro politan T.C. November 19, 20.—Nelson T.C. November 20, 24.—Otahubu T.C. November 26 27.—Forbury Park T.C. December 4.—Waikato T.C. December 8. 11. —Wellington T.C. December 16, 18.—New Brighton T.C. December 27.—Ashburton T.C. December 27.—Gore T.C. December 27, 28.—South Wairarapa T.O, December 27, 28.—Westport T.C. December 28, 30, 31.—Auckland T.O. December 30.—Winton T.C.

The Auckland Racing Club received oighty-threo entries for the Railway Handicap, £1,400 (6f), to be run at tho Christmas Meeting. Receipt has been nicely handicapped in the open six-furlong race at Gore. Tlioloraon and Black Duke have been sent, north to take part in the Wellington Meeting, which commences tomorrow. Countersign will now have. to bo reckoned with in the Oaks at Riccarton next mouth. Lava will in future be trained with Mountain Lion at Washdyke. Kipling has joined S. A. Rowland’s stable at Invercargill, where ho will bo prepared for the steeplechases at Winton and Wairio. Her owners were asked to put a price on Some Rose after she won the M'Lean Stakes. The price asked, IjOOOgs, did not lead to business. Goro races on Monday and Wednesday, and the Railway Department advertises a good train service. Oamaru trots on Monday. A suitable train service has been arranged. . ‘ Wellington Spring Meeting opens tomorrow. The Sydney ‘ Referee ’ picks the New Zealand Cup to be a good thing for Star Stranger. Pitou was scratched for . his first day’s engagement at Gore, his trainer being dissatisfied with his handicap. Surely Mr Gibbs confused Riton with some other horse. It is understood that the turnstiles used at the recent D.J.O. Meeting made a big difference to the gate receipts. There is another payment duo for tho Now Zealand Cup this evening. Heather Lad will be given a chance to distinguish himself in the New Zealand Cup. The races at Wellington on Saturday and Monday will throw some light on the New Zealand Cup. New Zealand Cup candidates will bo racing at Trentham, Rangiora, and Gore on Monday. Aluiriri continues to ho a firm favorite in tho New Zealand Trotting Cup. Otago horses have been nicely handicapped in the Stewards’ Handicap. Arpent must bo given a chance in the Stewards’ Handicap. Ho has already proved that he can sprint very fast over the Riccarton straight six furlongs. Tho acceptances for the Goro Cup are disappointing, and the race looks like being a match between Ravenna and Full Swing. The Cromwell Meeting. promises to be a successful one, judging from tho nominations received. Tho trotting races at Goro have filled well. The hack races at tho Gore Meeting promise to provide some good racing and big fields. Rampion has now iron £20,966 10s in his seven wins and one second. The Kurow Meeting showed a loss of about £4OO, and the Oamaru Meeting £SOO. South Canterbury Jockey Club will give £2.820 in stakes on December 10 and 11. Michaela, who produced a filly foal to Paper Money during the week, is to visit Solferino this season. The winner of the M'Lean Stakes on Thursday was bred at Riverton by her owners, by Some Boy 11. from Rose cle Val, a maro they bought in the North Island, but found very difficult to train, and so decided to breed from her. Rose do Val is a half-sister to Dogage, by Hymettus from Miss de Val, a maro bred by Mr St. John Buckley, by All Red from Northern Ross, by FinlandRose Shield, by Hotchkiss—Rose of Wellington, by St. Leger—Fleurette, by Robinson Crusoe—Rose of Denmark (imp.), by Stockwell—Marchioness, by Melbourne.. It will be seen from tho above pedigree that Some Rose is beautifully bred, and her classic engagements are the Welcome Stakes, to bo run next month, the D.J.O. Champagne Stakes, to bo run next February, and the New Zealand Oaks, to be run in November next year. Some Rose will go north to fulfil her engagements at Riccarton, which will also include the handicap races for two-year-olds. RAMPIOH Referring to the A.J.C. Derby winner, “ Musket,” in tho ‘ Sydney Mail,’ says ho was bred by his owners, Messrs J. E. and C. H. Brien, the latter of whom formed a very high opinion of him when he vas a yearling. At that time Mr J. E. Brien was in England. In company with Mr Cecil Brien, I was looking over tho yearlings at Kingsfield Stud in December, 1924, and he said to me (pointing to tho colt now known as Rampion) : “ What do you think ho will fetch? ” “ Couldn’t say; a thousand, perhaps,” I replied. “ Well, no one will secure him under fifteen hundred,” was the retort. “Yon don’t want much,” I challenged. “ I would like to bo able to breed and sell them for five hundred.” “No doubt you would; but colts like that fellow are not bred twice in twenty years by the one breeder, and unless some buyer is prepared to give fifteen hundred 1 will race him myself, and then lie may turn out to bo worth a deal more.”

True to his word, when bidding censed at 1,350 gs nt the Easter sales of 1025, Mr Cecil Brion refused to part with the colt at that price; and so, for the sake of 150 gs, some buyer missed one_of the greatest bargains associated with yearling buying of recent years, for Rampion has already won, while just over the fhreshhold of his three-year-old career, £17,565. Just after winning the V.R.C. Manbyrnong Plate last November a Victorian owner offered £B,OOO for the colt, and since then £IO,OOO has twice been refused, one of the offers coming after his defeat by Cromwell in the Rosebill Guineas. Rampion is not for sale at any price. THE A.J.C. CRAVEN PLATE. (By “Cardigan,” in the ‘Australasian.’) When the barrier rose Valicare shot away, while Windbag dwelt slightly and lost a little ground. Jones did not attempt to force the pace for the first furlong, but at the mile ho allowed Valicare to stride out, and she quickly opened up a long lead from The Hawk and Amounis. with Limerick and Windbag last. The first five furlongs were run in 0.591, but at the half-mile Valicare met the full force of the wind, and the pace slackened. At the five furlongs Valicare must have been quite six lengths from Amounis and The Hawk, with Limerick next and Windbag last. At this stage Munro was riding Windbag so hard, and he was making no impression on the leaders, that his chance looked hopeless. At the half-mile he lessened the gap a little, and at the three furlongs Amounis and The Hawk were fairly dose to the filly, with Windbag and

Limerick now coming fast. A furlong and a-half from home Amounis retired beaten, and Valicare shot away again, but it must have been the final effort, as at the furlong polo Windbag ran to her, and Limerick shot up on the in-‘ side. Valicare was rolling a little, and she interfered with Limerick, and as Windbag was banging in slightly, there was not much room for the three-year-old, and his rider had to check him slightly. Munro had had the whip on Windbag from the .entrance of the straight, but it was not until the half-distance was reached that he had Valicare beaten, and he then had to withstand a challenge from Limerick. He did so, but a.stride past the post Limerick was in front. Limerick was probably unlucky, but nevertheless it would be impossible to detract from Windbag’s great performance. No gamer horse ever looked through a bridle, and he is not out of the Melbourne Cup even with his huge weight. Limerick’s performance was full of merit, and he finished with great dash. I might bo wide of the mark, but I think whatever beats him in the Melbourne Cup will win. Valicare did well, and fought out the issue in the gamest possible style. She vs not a Wakeful—where staying is concerned—but she is certainly the fastest mare I have ever seen, and possibly the best we have ever bad over a mile. Amounis was not far away, and did well. At present be may not be quite up to w.f.a. form, but in the autumn he should bci.