RACING NOTES

Evening Star, Issue 20317, 28 October 1929, Page 5

RACING NOTES

RAGING CLUBS October 30. —Gore Racing Club. November 2. —Omarama Hack Racing Club. _ . . November 2.—Carterton Racing Club. November 2.—"Hiinks Peninsula .Racing 7, 9.—Whangarei Racing Club. November 9, 11, 13, 16.-Canterbury Jockey November 16, IS.-Waikato Racing Club. November 20, 21.—Winton Racing Club. November 25.—Levin Racing Club. November 25 25.—Te Kuiti Racing Club.

Twenty-eight horses loft Wingatui on Saturday morning for Gore. According to a recent visitor’ to Sydney, trotting in that city is far from being a fashionable sport. , J. Marshall rode Trigo in the Derby, but M. Beary is first jockey at Dawson’s stable, where Trigo has been quartered ever since June. Before tho St. Leger tho stewards were asked to decide whether Marshall or Beaiy should ride Trigo at Doncaster. They came to tho conclusion that the latter was entitled to tho mount, being first jockey for the Whatcombe stables. The New Zealand Cup has been won by mares on eight occasions, the list > f successes under that heading being as follows: —Spade Guinea (1886), Rosefeldt (1893), Lady Zetland (1896), Tortulla (1901' Lady Lucy (1909), Sinapis ''1913),, ® vu , t T ess (1920), Gratrix (1928). In 1914 Warstep ran a dead heat with Indigo tor first place. . . When the last mail to hand left London tho question of the leading two-vear-old was still in doubt. This .fact," however, was widely recognised —that in Teacup, a son of Tetratema and Saucer, the Aga Khan owns a colt of high p"omise. Under 9.0 he won the duly Stakes at Newmarket in a manner Ibat caused him to stand light out from tho other contestants. It transpires that the New Zealandowned' sire Night Raid was rcnrcsontccl bv a winner "on the Australian turf prior to Nightmarch and Phar Lap making their dobut there this spi mg. Silver "Bill v, who raced ns a four-year-old last season, is an Australian-born son of Night Raid. He won tour of the five races ho contested, and, tlwugn none was ot the impc Tint oidci, a prediction is offered that the best has vet to be seen of Silver Billy. " The one-time crack American jockey Earle Sando announces that ho has decided to resume riding as ho has come to tho conclusion that owning horses is a sport for the rich man only. Sando, before his retirement, was the leading Americ. n jocker. He met with a bad accident at Saratoga in August, 19° 1 breaking - his leg. several ribs, am collarbone. It was thought he would nevev ride again, hut surgical skill restored him to the saddle. J. E. Pike had a bad time for a lew days before the Australian Jockey Club’s Derby, which ho won on Phar Lap (savs the ‘Globe’). In order to make the weight Tike had to nnd rgo a stcadv “wasting ’ process, and no estimates that he reduced Ins weight by 121 b. At the best of tunes Pike can take no liberties, lor he is tall, and if he allowed himself the freedom of an ordinary citizen ho would probably weigh more than 12st. like felt no ill-effects from bis “ waste, and he rode with his usual vigour. •U various periods quite a number of bm dividends have been connected with racing in South Australia, and the sen-

[By Sx. Claiu.]

TROTTING CLUBS November 2. —Wellington T.C. November 12, 14, 15.—Now Zealand Metropolitan T.C. November 20 23.—Otahuhu T.C. November 28, 30.—Forbury Park T.C. December 6, 7.—Nelson T.C. December 14.—New Brighton T.C. December 26.—Ashburton T.C. December 26.—Gore T.C. December 26, 27.—Westport T.C. December 26, 28.-Soutb Wairarapa -T.C. December 27, 28, 51.—Auckland T.C. December 28.—Winton T.C.

sational one paid over D.O.D. in the Goodwood Handicap forty-eight years back is still frequently cited. At Morpethville on the sth inst. a four-year-old mare rejoicing in the name of Royal Lass won the Weigall Handicap, boating a field of twenty-three. As only £ll was invested on the winner, the holders of tickets on her chance handled a strong parcel of notes. Trigo’s victory in the St. Legcr won £15.000 for Miss Mary Anderson, of Edgehill Lodge, near Cmderford, Gloucestershire, daughter of an employee of the Forestry Commission. She held the lucky ticket in the Calcutta sweepstake, the first prize in which is £24,000, but she sold a half-share of it for £3,000. It is the second time that Tngo has brought good fortune to Miss Anderson. She had a joint bet vtith her brother on the horse for the Derby. When she wont to the bank with her innings the manager invited her to buy a Calcutta sweepstake ticket. She did so under the name of “ Winnit.” It is worth while winning a race at Randwick for the prize money alone, as will be seen from the fact that the Australian Jockey Club distributed £45,000 in- added money over the four days of the just concluded Spring Meetinf Owners contributed £7,900 by way of forfeits and sweepstakes, so that the total distribution ran into £02,900. That works out at an average of a shade over £2,000 per race, and is a good deal higher than amounts given by any other racing body iu Australia for a similar fixture. The three-year-old filly Stately, who has an Oaks engagement next month, was responsible for an exceptionally good gallop at Riccarton on Thursday morning, when she'registered 2mm 8 l-ssee for a mile and a-quarter on the plough, one of the best performances that has been done on that track in recent vears. So far Stately has not Ain up" to expectations in a race, but she is a brilliant track galloper, who will win in the best company if she will reproduce the form she shows in her work. She is by Paladin from Limelight, by Solforino from Stardancer, by Martian from Stepdanccr, so that she is bred to go any distance. Judging by the betting market, the Craven Plate should have provided a great race between the Derby winner, Phar Lap, and that great galloper Mollison, for thev started equal favourites for the mile and a-quarter weight-for-age race after spirited wagering. However, only when the pair joined issue at the furlong post was there the slightest indication of a keen battle. Momentarily Mollison held the three-year-old, but then Phar Lap came right away and won convincingly by four lengths. Phar Lap was finishing in a manner which suggested that he had just begun his gallop, and to him goes the credit of having given Mollison his greatest defeat.

Tho success of Paladin with Chide and Meprisant at the Dunedin Spring Meeting makes the result of this year’s Gimcrack Stakes of special interest. The historic race at York was won by the ■ two-year-old colt Roral, who carried Sir Abe Bailey’s colours to their third success in the race. Roral, in the reverse way, is bred on the same lines as Paladin. Roral was got by Abbots Trace from a Polymelus mare, whereas Paladin was got by a Polymelus horse from Abbots Anne, the grand, dam of Paladin being by Abbots Trace. Roral is a chestnut colt by Abbots Trace from Dew of June, by Polymelus from Juana, by Velasquez (son of Donovan) from Ellaline, by Bend Or. Gesture, the winner of tho two-year-old race at Trentham on Saturday, is by Chief ruler out of Nattaya (a halfsister to Rapier), by Solferino-Stepka, by St. Ledger—Stcpfeldt. This is one of New Zealand’s most famous and successful families, and Gesture, besides promising to be a useful racehorse, should be a valuable brood mare. She was bred by Mr John Donald, of the Westmere Stud, and was secured by her owner, Mr A. F. Symes, of Hastings, for lOOgs at the last yearling sales. Mr Donald also bred the second horse in Saturday’s race, Princess Betty, who is by Chief Ruler —Marceline, and fetched 160 gs last January. All good horses are intelligent. Like athletes, they know exactly when they are going to race, and what not to do. Phar Lap is apparently atached to his master and trainer, H. R. Telford. A few mornings before the Australian Jockey Club’s meeting commenced (says a Sydney writer) the champion chestnut had finished his work, and, after leaving the training track, was waiting patiently for Telford to ride across from the centre of tho course on las pony. The chestnut was a trifle “ on his toes,” and, suddenly slewing round, dislodged his rider. ’ Phar Lap immediately began to career across the course to the Kensington side, but a whistle from Telford brought him to a standstill. Phar Lap knew that noise, and the intelligence which is characteristic in the good horse told him that he would only knock himself about. He immediately turned around and walked back to his master like a child to its mother. Running horses in their working shoes, especially if the shoes are of considerable thickness, is obviously a decided handicap against plated opposition. A rule of racing states that permission must bj received from the stewards if a horse is to be run in shoes heavier than racing plates. At a recent meeting, however, not 100 miles from Wellington, one competitor at least evaded official surveillance and ran in shoes heavy enough for a Clydesdale (writes “Vedette”). Naturally the horse finished down the course. As news of this appears to have been well broadcasted, the animal is not likely to escape some considerable attention from now on. for it is showing considerable speed on the track for the class of race for which it is eligible. When Nightmarch had tho lead a furlong from home in the Randwick Plate, he looked like running right away from the field, but i:i a flash the complexion of the race underwent a change. Kidaides, responding well to Percival’s vigorous riding, passed Winalot and set chase after the leader. “He’s got him!” yelled the crowd, when Kidaides appreciably reduced the gap s -irating him from Nightmarch. For a moment it seemed true, as Roy Reed was hard at work on the favourite but Nightmarch had something in reserve, and at the finish he was going away from the .th Australian. Had Nightmarch been beaten, R-ed would have come in for a good deal of criticism for his handling of the New Zealander, but it was one of those-muddling races in which any rider is likely to change his mind about what he thinks the best tactics.

The feature of the wagering in connection with the Randwick Plate run on the concluding day of the Australian Jockey Club’s Spring Meeting, was the spirited backing of Nightmarch and Winalot, and at the close of operations the New Zealand horse was only a slightly better favourite than his New South Wales rival. With regard to the contest that eventuated, it was described as a muddling race. In the concluding star -1 Kidaides furnished a thrill. Nightmarch. who had taken command, appeared to be winning easily, when Kidaides came along with a challenge, and, as Roy Reed was hard at work on Nightmarch, the backers of the favourite were placed on tenterhooks. However, Nightmarch had a bit in reserve for the final demand, and he strode away from the South Australian gelding.

The leading lines in High Syce’s pedigree read as follows, from which it will be quickly recognised that _ highclass blood courses through his veins: — Sire; Highfield, by William the Third (son of Simon) from Meadow Rue, by Sainfoin (son of Springfield) from Lily of tho Valley, by Martagon (son of Bend Or). Dam: Concise, by Syce (son of Cyllene) from Yosemitc, by Haut Brion (son of St. Simon) from Meridian, by Marden (son of Morgan). High Syce was bred in Queensland by Messrs J. G. and J. M. M'Dougall, and at a sale of yearlings held there in the autumn of 1926 he fell to the bid of Mr J. M'Cormack at 200 gs, and was purchased by. his present owner at the cud of last season for 4,000g5. Judging from Melbourne papers to hand, the New Zealand pair Phar Lap and Nightmarch dominate the position in connection with the V.R.C. Derby and the Melbourne Cup. So far as the Derby is concerned, Phar Lap is considered to be in a particularly strong position, for- he left not a shadow of doubt as to his being a long way in front of those of his own age. by whom he was opposed at the recent spring meeting held at Randwick. The Melbourne Cup finds Nightmarch and Phar Lap equal favourites, which shows pretty clearly that opinion is well divided as to the one beating the other. With 9.2 Nightmarch has an impost 21b over weight-for-age, while the 7.6 opposite Phar Lap’s name is in accordance with the standard scale. Nightmarch, it is solidly argued, is more ready for the searching test over two miles than his young rival, and some keen critics are on bis side for the big race set down for decision at Fleraington on November 5.