RACING NOTES

Evening Star, Issue 19410, 19 November 1926, Page 13

RACING NOTES

RACING FIXTURES. November 20.—Levin R.C. November 24.—Ashhurst-Pobangina R.C. November 27, December', I.—Takapuna J.C. November 30, December L—Foilding J.C. December 4.—Methveu R.C. December 4.—Taumarumii R.C. December 8, 9. —Woodvillo District J.C. December 10, 11.—South Canterbury J.C December 11.—Waipa R.C. . December 18, 18.—Dargavillo R.C. December 27.—Waipukurau J.C. December 27, 28,-Westland R.C. December 27, 28.—Taranaki J.C. December 27, 28.—Dunedin J.C. •December 27, 28, 30.—Manawatu R.C.

CLASSIC RACES AT RICDARTCH This year’s New Zealand Cup Meeting will not only bo remembered by Count Cavour’s win, but also as the year of good fields and good contests in the classic races. On tno opening day ten fashionably-bred two-year-olds went to the post for the Welcome Stakes, and, though Cimabue made the others look like common hacks at the finish, they were not nearly as poor a lot as he made them appear, but rather ho is a gelding of more than average merit. His 58 2-ssec for the straight five furlongs was a very smart performance, and ho won so easily over the last furlong that he could havo probably gono faster bad it been necessary, but it must bo remembered that there i was a strong galo blowing down the track, which was also in fast condition that day. Ho was not started again at the meeting, and it is unfortunate that his dam, Delight, died with only Cimabue and another youngster to represent her. She was by Demosthenes from Some Light, and apparently mated well with tho imported Leighton. On Monday the Derby Stakes, attracted a high-class field of five geldings and two fillies, and Commendation dominated the betting and showed that lie is all of tho super three-year-old the North Islanders claimed him to _ be. There were doubts regarding his ability to stay over twelve furlongs, but if he has a weakness in stamina then there was nothing in this year’s Derby field to extend him sufficiently to find the weak spot. He was a smashing two-year-old ,and his races. at Riccarton over nine, twelve, and ten furlongs show him to be a champion threo-year-old'. To give tho seasoned and good Footfall 71b and a beating over nine furdongs on the Saturday prior to the Derby was a very searching trial, but ho did it well. In the G. G. Stead Memorial he was ridden by Roy Reed, L. G. Morris, who rode him in his other two races was not available, and Reed rode as bad a race on him in this year’s race as he did last year when ho got beaten by Rapine. Tho race was not a true guide to tho relative form of Rapine and Commendation, and were the race run again I think the three-year-old would win, and win_ easily, great horse and all as Rapine is. The Canterbury Cup, on Wednesday, showed that Rapine is a groat weightcarrier and stayer. Giving tho New Zealand Cup winner lib, ho beat him very easily, and it looked as if, more judiciously ridden in the New Zealand Cup, ho might have beaten him in that race, too. Tho Salisbury-trained High Gear ran prominently in this race, and was largely responsible for the fast pace at which the race was run, tho time, 3min 54sec, being only 2sec slower than the records established by Gold Light and Gasbag. Later tho same afternoon a very fine field of seven fillies went out to contest tho Oaks Stakes, and it is a strange coincidence that it should be run in exactly the same time as tho Derby took. The two Dunedin fillies, Countersign and Pink Terrace, dominated the betting, and tho latter’s running fully justified tho support accorded her chances. She may have been lucky in beating Phaola, who is said to have got into all tho trouble her rider could find to get into, but she won, and may have had something in reserve. Her running at tho meeting and High Gear’s exhibition of speed and stamina will certaifc’y bring_ their imported siro, Tractor, into higli favor. Tho final day saw the highest class field of the > meeting, and perhaps that has ever weighed out at Riccarton when the five champions paraded for tho G. G. Stead Memorial. Rapine should have won this race last year, and it indifferent horsemanship cost him the race then, it was a very finished piece of horsemanship that secured him tho honor this year. With similar assistance from his jockey the Derby winner would have beaten Rapine. It is a great pity that there was bad riding in such a race, which left any doubt about tho supremacy over ten furlongs at weightier age. Both Rapine and Commendation have their friends who will always argue that their champion was the better. I stand for the three-year-old, and havo no doubt about the result had ho had a clear run in the straight. The only unsatisfactory feature of the classics this year was that there is no chance of tho winners of the Welcome Stakes, Derby Stakes, Canterbury

[By Sr. Clair.]

December 27, 29, January 1, 3.—Auckland R.C. December 31, January 1, 4.—Greymoutb J.C. TROTTING FIXTURES. November 20,—Nolson T.C. November 20, 24.—Otahuhu 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.C. December 27, 28.—Westport T.C. December 28 30, 31.—Auckland T.C. December 30.—Winton T.C.

Cup, or G. G. Stead Memorial begetting others as good as themselves, for Cimabue, Commendation, and Rapine are geldings. What a. loss to our studs in the dominion.

JOTTINGS Trotting at Forbury Park next week. Mr Stewart Waddell lias been on a visit to Dunedin this week. .Messrs L. G. Hazlett, A. B. Armour, and Q. A. Kain represented tho D.J.C. at the Winton Meeting. Overdrawn scored very easily in the heavy going at Winton on Wednesday. Mr L. C, Hazlett has a very promising steeplechaser in Andy. Excellent fields are promised for the Forbury Park Meeting next week. Full Swing raced at Riccarton on Saturday and again at Winton on Wednesday. Hard, travelling. A field of eleven in the Steeplechase at Winton shows how popular the jumping game is in Southland. The appropriately-named Mudlark ran a good race in the Trial Handicap at Winton. He is by Gay Lad from Dab Chick. “ Bob” M‘Kay was able to be at the Winton Meeting. His severe illness has given him a shaking, and it will bo some time before bo is back to his usual health again. Kipling was pulled up after he had gone a mile and a-half in the Steeplechase the first day. When he was sent down to Rowland a few weeks ago he was in very poor condition, and bore a very neglected look._ Rowland has certainly got him looking healthy. Mr L. C. Hazlett’e pair, Overdrawn and Andy, were the only two first favorites to win at Winton on Wednesday, and it is a long time since such sensational dividends were paid in the same afternoon as those returned by Gipsv Maid, King Cup, and Kilbarry. Battle Colors ran disappointingly in tho Trial Handicap at Winton. He certainly missed the jump out, and got interfered with, but he did not show the pace in the run home I expected. He was probably hampered by the wet going. Ho is a good-looking colt, and is improving in looks with cVery gallop. Nyanza nearly brought off a surprise in the Winton Steeplechase on Wednesday. Nothing in the race was jumping or galloping better until about three furlongs from home he hit a fence very hard, and it took all the steam out of him. Ho was paying _ a big dividend’to win, and but for bitting tho fence would almost certain to have been first or second.

C. Gieseler gave the public a great go in the Flying Handicap at Winton, -when Sweet Melody just beat Corn Money. The racing Sweet Melody has had during the past month has hardened her up, and there was no fitter horse on the course. She has already won sevenraces this season for Mr Neilson, and it doesn’t look as if she has reached the end of her tether yet. Of thirty-two races decided during the four days of the Canterbury Jockey Club’s Meeting seventeen were won by North Island horses and fifteen by South Island horses, Riccarton stables claiming eleven of the southern sueCGSSSSt Mr L. C. Hazlett had four horses racing at the Canterbury Jockey Club’s New Zealand Cup Meeting. They performed very consistently, and, though they failed to win a race, they secured £7lO in place money. Overdrawn was third in the New Zealand Cup _ and third in the Metropolitan Handicap; Circulation was third in the Criterion Handicap and second in the Jockey Club Handicap; and High Gear was third in the Canterbury Cup. When Full Swing stripped for the Cup at Winton on Wednesday she looked none the worse for her racing at Riccarton and travelling, but apparently she was feeling the effects, for she could not go with Overdrawn over the last half-mile. Receipt, on the other hand, I thought, looked much lighter than when sne raced at Gore three weeks ago, and appeared to be fretting a little on the parade. Sparkling Eyes, who ran in the Trial Handicap at Winton, 14. a three-year-old full sister to -Listening Post. She is very like her brother, hut a much better-looking three-year-old than he was at that age. She is green yet, and was only having her second outing in public. There is no doubt about her ability to sprint, and when she has learned to stay on a little bettor there will be some money for her supporters. Kilbarry is now owned by_ Mr A. Hillis, of Invercargill, and is home trained. The going was made to his order. The old horse did not get awqy too well, but at the home turn was close up to the leadets, and when they swung wide into the straight young Burns shot him through. He beat Bloom at the distance, and appeared to boat Bilbo by a good half-length. There was no money for Tholomon in the Barkly Handicap at Winton on Thursday until the machine closed, and then his position in the betting rose from one of the extreme outsiders to sixth favorite. He drew the rails, and had the race in safe keeping 100yds from the post. Then Didhara appeared to let him ease down, and could not got him going again when King Cup came at him over the last bit.

Mr C. E. Elgar was the most unlucky owner who was represented at the Canterbury Jockey ulub’s Meeting. He bad three horses racing, and their form was decidedly tantalising, Licinius was second in the Stewards’ Handicap and Criterion Handicap; David Garrick was third in the Spring Plate, third in the Derby, and second in the Seymour Handicap; and Lucky Days was third in the Linwood Handicap. They thus secured £790 in place money without winning a race. According to tho latest files to hand, G. Young thought ho was to ride Spearfelt m the Melbourne Cup almost right up to the time of the race. When questioned, he said that although everybody else seemed to know that he was not to ride Spearfelt, he had had no notice from the connections of the horse. H, Cairns has an army of admirers, and in consequence of the reported change Spearfelt’s price in the betting shortened to less than a third of the odds on offer a week before the race. According to “Pilot,” Mr D. Grant, the owner of Spearfelt, was ordered by the stewards of the Victoria Racing Club to pay Young the winning fee. , There was nothing voluntary about it, as was suggested by the cable news received in New Zealand.

The judging at Winton on Wednesday was far from satisfactory. In the first race he placed Haphazard third. The latter was not in the first halfdozen, and upon his mistake being pointed out, Mr Swale altered the trum-

bprs in Battle Color’s favor. In the Barkly Handicap ho placed Jack o’ Lantern third and Rippling Lake fourth.- The latter was not in the first seven, but Flying Mist was a good third and Jack o’Lantern fourth. The dead-heat decision in the final event of the aftgrnoon was the worst mistake of all. I was standing in a fairly good line on the top of the members’ stand, and though the horses finished wide apart the margin in favor of Kilbarry was so wide that there is no doubt ho won. If Mr Swale was in doubt the decision he gave was the fair one to give, but races are too liard < to win nowadays to lose at the winning post through any fault of the judge.