RACING NOTES

Evening Star, Issue 20982, 22 December 1931, Page 7

RACING NOTES

[By St. Claie.]

RACING. December 26.—VVaipukurau Jockey Club. December 26, 28— Dunedin Jockey Club. December 26, 28.—Taranaki Jockey Club. December 26, 28. 29.—Manawatu Racing Club. . , , J December 26, 29, January 1, 2.—Auckland Racing' Club. ■ ■ January I.—Waikouaiti Racing Club. January I.—Wyndham Racing Cub. January 1, 2.—Greymouth Jockey Club. January 1, 2.— Hawke’s Bay Jockey Club. January 1, 2.—Stratford Racing Club. January 1,2. —Marton Jockey Club. January 1, 2.—VVairarapa Racing Club. January 2.—Oamaru Jockey Club. January 2, 4.—Southland Racing Club.

THIS MORNING AT WINGATUI, There was a strong breeze blowing at Wingatui this morning which helped horses racing up the hill, and consequently times were faster. Most of the fast work was done on the outside or the course proper, which was very hard. Royal Saxon was always going well within himself in running ten furlongs inside 2min 20sec, and is very well just n °All Smiles and Some Acre took Imin 35 3-sseo to run seven furlongs. The latter appears to have thrown off all signs of the soreness he showed a fortnight ago. Palermo did strong work over seven furlongs on the plough, and is now coming to hand quickly. Flying Amv ran a mile on the plough in Imin 52sec;,and Fair Weather, who is rapidly coming to racing condition, ran six furlongs on the same track-m Imin 21sec. , Ruatui heat Rose Dart over five furlongs in 66 l-ssec, and Bulolo ran six in Imin 22 2-ssec. . . . Salmo Salar and Ballance ran nine furlongs on the plough, the last seven in Imin 36 2-ssec. ■ Anne Shakespeare, Royal Limond, and Solmuri finished together at the end of six furlongs in.lmin 22sec. El Boa took 54sec for the last four of six furlongs on the plough. The two-year-old Palantua ran half a mile on the rails in 49sec. She will not start until the second day of the meeting. Silver Salver and Fine Weather ran five furlongs in 65 4-ssec, and Lord Argosy sprinted well over the latter part of a five-furlong task. Drawbar was going better than Bitractor at the end of six furlongs in Imin 21sec, and Bachelor’s Idol and Bold Brigand were on even terms over the same track in Imin 19 l-ssec. Red Racer was sent _ a mile and a-quartcr, which took 2min 28sec. Princess Argosy heat Traylavah over six furlongs in Imin 21sec. Tippling ran six furlongs in Imm 18' l-ssec, the best gallop of the morning. Bellbird beat Genteel over five furlongs in 67 2-osec.

JOTTINGS. I have to acknowledge tickets for the Wyndham Meeting on New Year’s Day. Acceptances for the Waikouaiti and Oamaru Meetings close to-night at 9 o’clock. , . ~ , r , Acceptances for the Wyndliani Meeting close to-morrow at midnight. Nominations for the Vincent Meeting close to-morrow at 7 p.m. _ _ Francolin has returned from a visit to Nightmarch. Hula Belle’s knees gave trouble after the Winton Meeting, and she has been turned out for a lengthy spell. His many friends were pleased to see Mr Harry Divers watching the gallops at Wingatui this morning. He is making a good recovery from his serious illness. Mr G. J. Barton will go north to witness his horses racing at the Auckland Trotting Meeting, Verden accounted for Oratonous over half a mile in SOsec at Riccarton on % Saturday. This was the latter s first fast work since the New Zealand Cup Meeting, and he will' need a race to sharpen him up. A. Eastwood’s mounts on the opening day of the Auckland Racing Club’s Summer Meeting will be Great Star, • United, Whirlalong, Instalment, and Autumn Sun. _ ~ . R. C. Keeper has taken First Raid in hand again. He looks very tvell, after enjoying a spell for a couple of months. At his best, he is a very useful performer. He has won up to a mile and a-quarter, but he is better over shorter journey*. " . ~ Among those engaged on the .southern circuit during the holidays is Red King, a more than useful four-year-old, by Four Chimes from Red Empress; He contested two races last season, winning one of them and finishing second in the other., , , , A number of horses which worked at Wingatui this morning were showing signs of feeling the hard going, and do not look like standing up to some of the tasks they have been.engaged in during the next fortnight unless rain comes to soften the tracks. The venue of the next King’s Cup is in Tasmania, and the race will be run at El wick, Hobart, on February 3 next. Tasmania is the last in the rotation of Commonwealth States to hold the race, - and a new cycle will be begun next season.

According to a Hawke’s Bay writer, King’s Jest is being used as a hack on tbs property of his owner, Mr J. D. Ormond, at Wallingford, and as ho shows no sign of the ailment that brought about his retirement the Great Northern Hurdle winner will probably be put into training again with a view to racing him during the winter. Present indications point to Gay Crest starting favourite for the Auckland Cup. He is reported to have done particularly well since he went to the North Island, but more will be known about him soon, as ho is likely to bo sent along in a serious gallop at EllersJie this week. England’s leading jockey, G. Richards, has, according to English papers, announced his intention of retiring when he has saved £IOO,OOO. With his services so greatly in demand, he may not be many _ years in reaching that amount, especially as jockeys and trainers are always recipients of good tips as to sound commercial investments. Palace will not fulfil his engagements at southern holiday meetings. He struck himself a few days ago and now a splint has made its appearance. H. Nurse has a high opinion of the three-year-old, and is not likely to take any risk by racing him until all is right. He may come back in the autumn to win somo more stakes. ' By his win in the To Awamutu Cup, Peter Jackson has come greatly into favour for the Auckland Cup. His trainer is highly satisfied with his Cup trial, and makes no secret of his opinion about the three-year-old running a great two miles. It is in his favour that he boasts good staying pedigree. He will bo ridden by the Taranaki ap-

TROTTING. December 26.—Ashburton Trotting Club. December 26.—Gore Trotting Club. December 26, 28.—Westport Trotting Club. December 26, 28.—South Wairarapa Trotting Club. December 28, 30, 31.—Auckland Trotting Club. December 30.—Winton Trotting Club. December 30.—Reef ton Trotting Club. January 1, 2.—Canterbury Park Trotting Club. January 4.—Westland Trotting Club. January 5, 6.—Greymouth Trotting Club. January 16.—Wellington Trotting Club. January 23.—Tiraaru Trotting Club. January 28, 30.—Porbury Park Trotting Club.

prentice, H. Stockley, who is in good form at present. At Riccarton on Saturday Ilirx was given a mile and a-quarter gallop, Hoa accompanying him over the early part, and Kakara joining in at the mile post. Riri and Kakara maintained an even pace for their journey without being asked to go against time, the last mile occupying Imin 47see. While Riri should break his maiden status at the Dunedin Meeting, Kakara gives promise of having a profitable southern trip. The Awapuni lady trainer, Mrs A. M'Donald, has Inflation and La Moderne in the Great Northern Foal Stakes, and both of them may play leading parts in the finish. It was xinderstood that H. Gray was to ride Inflation, with A. E. Ellis on La Moderne. According to a recent report, however, H. Stockley will handle one of them, probably La Moderne. Possibly the engagement of the Taranaki light-weight is for the Royal Stakes.

Handicapped on 84yds, Wrackler, good pacer though he is, cannot be given other than a starter’s chance in the Auckland Cup (says the _ Christchurch ‘Times’). His mark is 4.23, and as there are horses on. or near the limit, who can be depended upon to go a bit better than their handicaps, Wrackler would have to put up a wonderful effort to win. His chance may come on the second day, in the Champion Handicap, the fast mile and a quarter, but evep in this race the brilliant son of Wrack will meet some brilliant opponents. With Wrackler. Peter Bingen, Jewel Pointer and others in the field the race should provide a great contest. In discussing the English Jockey Club the London ‘ Morning Post ’ recently had the following reference to its origin:—“It is a reminder of the enduring character of the turf as a national institution that the club was established as far back as 1750. and perhaps a little earlier, though some years'elapsed before it assumed its present form. Readers of the ‘ Morning Post’ on May 1, 1773, were informed that the Jockey Club had authorised Mr James Weatherby to. undertake the duties of ‘ Keeper of the Match Book at Newmarket,’ and since that date the Weatherby family has continued to serve and represent the club in an official capacity. One of the first resolutions of the club was in connection with the weighing-in of jockeys.” Peter Jackson’s success in the Te Awamutu Cup has brought him into strong favour for the Auckland Cup. This event has not been won by a three-year-old since Nestor scox-ed in 1896. Prior to Nestor’s success Pegasus (1893), St. Hippo (1892), Crackshot (1890), and Welcome Jack (1882) put three-year-olds’ names on the records. However, it is not often that a hoiso of that ago now contests the race, for most of those with staying pretensions are reserved for the Great Northern Derby. The failure of the A.J.C. Derby and Canterbuy Cup winner, Ballymena, when in at 21b under weight-for-age, is one of the most remarkable incidents in connection with the record of three-year-olds in the Auckland Cup. Reputation was unlucky riot to win in his year. Warstep bored him in the run home, but the placings were not disturbed. A good three-year-old should always be much harder to beat in the Auckland Cup than in the New Zealand Cup several weeks earlier. Nightmarch made his reappearance on the Riccarton tracks on Saturday, and was trotted a couple of rounds the reverse way on the plough (says the ‘Press’). He was evidently not allowed to put on any sui'plus condition during his stay at Orari, and his bright appearance would suggest that be will soon be ready to enter upon another serious preparation. Nightmarch’s withdrawal from racing after the Easter meeting at'Riccarton was prompted by slight leg trouble only, and all traces of this have disappeared as the result of continued treatment at Mr G. Kain’s stud, and be was also kept in good order by light daily -exercise. He is only in his sixth year,' and has not had too strenuous a career. Interest will now be attached to his further efforts to increase his stake-winning figures of £29,528 10s.

Royal Game, who won the Highweight Handicap at Dannevirke, has been racing for eight seasons, and there are few horses in the country who have started so often and travelled so much. As a two-year-old be had thirteen starts, winning one event and being placed on two other occasions, and the next season contested forty-three events for twelve wins and nine placings. As a foux;-year-old he ran on thirty-eight occasions for six wing and six placings. He started in thirty-five races as a five-year-old, for two wins and seven placings. In the next season he faced the barrier on forty-five occasions for two wins and ten placings, while last season, out of thirty-eight starts, he won three races and finished third in a similar number _of events. This season he has Had thirteen races, winning one event and being placed in two others. Altogether ho has run in 225 races for twenty-seven wins and thirtynine placings, so that he has had a strenuous time. Yet he has thrived all through his career on hard work, and is always fresh and blooming.