RACING NOTES

Evening Star, Issue 21582, 30 November 1933, Page 12

RACING NOTES

[By St. Clair.]

RACING. December 2.—Fcilding J.C. December I, 2. —Wiutou J.C. December 2, 4. —Takapuna J .C. December 2.—Ashburton C.R.C. December 9, 11.—VVoodville D.J.C. December 16.—Napier Park R.C. December 16.—Hororata R.C. (at Riccarton). December 16.—Waipa R.C. December 26.—Poverty Bay T.C. December 26.—Waipukurau J.C. December 26, 27. —Westland R.C. December 26. 27.—Taranaki J.C.

ALTERATIONS TO HANDICAPPING SYSTEM. Tile Handicapping Committee of the New Zealand Trotting Conference has in hand a, revised portion of the handicapping system which affects horses assessed on line 32. The proposed amendments will not materially alter the present policy of handicapping horses on two-mile marks of 4.34 to 4.27, but will provide a welcome set of conditions governing the privileges of horses on faster marks over two miles and over sprint distances. These new conditions will remove a disability that affected many horses engaged in the New Zealand Trotting Cup, when their owners desired to start them in mile and aquartcr races without incurring a penalty in the Trotting Cup. Under the proposed new conditions a horse, after being handicapped in the New Zealand Trotting Cup, may win as many as four races over a mile and a-quarter or a mile without affecting its two-mile mark. On the other hand, horses on tight marks over sprint distances may be free to win two, three, and even four two-mile races without being penalised for sprint events. Another proposed condition is that concerning a horse who wins the big race and later in the same day is engaged in a mile and a-quartor race. Under those circumstances it is proposed to inflict a penalty of 12yds in the sprint race, but for that day only. If the Horse in question competes in a sprint race on the second day of a meeting, then it will race from the mark it was on for a sprint race before it won the big race on the first day. This condition may bring about certain complications, and the committee is giving the matter serious consideration. JOTTINGS. Cbotta should start favourite in the Trial Stakes at Wiutou to-morrow. She has been galloping well in hexwork. Choir (Woodend—Andentc) is a thrce-year-okl that may lie troublesome, and Island Linnet is another that should run well. All of the eighteen engaged m the Otapiri Trot at Winton will start off the limit, necessitating at least two lines at the starting post. On last year’s form Vocation is sui’o of solid support, and Seamark and Kibo arc both promising pacers. Three years ago Hoy Heed returned from an Australian trip, and immediately opened his winning account with a win m the Maiden Race (fli-st division) at Levin on Mr K. M‘K. Duncan’s Acco. He repeated the performance on Saturday on Lone Raider. The race Indianapolis will have at the New Brighton Meeting will not afford a very good line to his Auckland Cup prospects. At next week’s meeting he is handicapped on 132yds behind. It is not often that only six accepters arc found in a trotting race at Winton, but such is the case in the Hokonui Trot to-morrow. The locally-tx-ained Just John should be elected favourite, with Chiming Wave and Peter Mitchell next fancied. Black Duke will make his first appearance in public as an eleven-year-old when ho starts in the Tradesmen’s Handicap at Winton to-morrow, and as lie has been called on to concede from 131 b to 281 b to younger horses his task looks a heavy one. Blazon should be favourite, and good support also extended to Totolomai and Leading Boy’s chances. There are some smart hack sprinters engaged in the Barkly Handicap tomorrow, and Gore form points to Mayam being scut out favourite, with Venito and Red Sunset the next fancied. Hot Tea, who is at the tail of tho handicap, has not won a race for a long time, but on the firm going likely to be available to-morrow might affect a surprise, as lie is a smart beginner and lias better performances to his credit than most of those engaged in the race. At the Gore Spring Meeting last month Master Anomaly scored a flukey win over six furlongs from Grand Finale, but on the second day bad no chanco with Hula Belle. The Flying Handicap at Winton to-morrow should prove an interesting race between this pair, and at the higher scale of weights Master Anomaly should je sent out favourite. Of the other three engaged in the race Miss Hodowa is entitled to most consideration from backers. Tho holiday arrangements for Mr J. M. Samson’s horses trained at Hiccarton have not yet been decided upon, but it is probable that Guarantee will accompany Southdown to Ellerslic (says tho ‘Press’). He was nominated for the Railway Handicap, and bis third placing in tho Stewards’ Handicap was encouraging enough to continue his engagement in the Ellerslic sprint. He galloped half a mile on Tuesday in 49 1-iJSOC ill company with Roll Hill. Southdown ran five furlongs the reverse nay in liniu 3 2-ssec. Only Red Sea and Oliai dropped out of the Winton Cup, and on his Gore form over eight and a-half furlongs Sailing Home will be fancied, and probably start favourite. On tlic second day, when flic principal handicap was run over a niffe and a-quarter, both Cough and Toreador were close up at the finish to the winner, Palantua. These two horses have been working well lately, and appear to have the best chances of beating Sailing Home. The following rather amusing letter reached the Sydney writer, “ Pilot,” from a country town in another State a few days ago:—“Dear Mr Pilot, — Will you please tell the people who sent Yultewirra over to Melbourne from Adelaide to take him homo before 1 lose all my pigs. In his first race a farmer here laid me two pigs to one against him; in the Melbourne Derby four pigs to one; in the Carnival Handicap on Thursday six pigs to one, and he ran last. 1 have only two pigs left, and I cannot let him run against me now. If lie starts in two more races I will lose the lot.” All going well it seems pretty safe to predict that Nell Volo will be in the boom for tho Rowe Trotting Cup, to be decided at the Auckland Trotting Club’s Christinas Meeting. The daughter of Peter Volo is undoubtedly a high-class trotter, and a rare stayer, but there has been to date a tendency to go to a break during her races. She lias not done a great deal of racing, and if she becomes thoroughly solid it would lie doubtful if there is a, straight-out trotter in the land capable of heating her (states the Auckland ‘Star’').

December 26, 27.—Dunedin J.C. December 26, 27, 29.—Manawatu R.C. December 26, 28, January 1, 2.—Auckland R.C. TROTTING. December 9.—New Brighton T.C. December 26.—Gore T.C. December 26.—Ashburton T.C. December 26, 27.—Wairarapa T.C. December 26. 27.—Westport T.C. December 27, 29, 30.—Auckland T.C. December 29.—Winton T.C. December 30. Reefton T.C.

Mr F. Armstrong was a visitor to the Riccarton tracks on Tuesday morning. when Friday Night, his two-year-old brother to Pilar imp, was given bis first sprint. He bad as a mate F. D. Jones’s Lord Warden—Pitbrow Lass filly Minclicad, who had already bad a little experience of galloping. They rattled over a furlong together, and later ran along a little further, both showing attractive speed. Friday Night is one of the lazy, contented sort, but lie has grown and lengthened out into a good looking colt, who may amply repay later on the natient policy that is being adopted with him. The following riding engagements have been made for the Ashburton Meeting on Saturday : —A. E. Ellis, Shatter and Hnrlingbam; A. H. Eastwood, Metal Bird, Rebel Star, Spoon, and Silly Owl; M. Kirwan, Dehce, True Shaft, and Night Flyer; A. Russell, Royal. Sceptre, Starshooter, Importance, and Final Shot; G. H. Humphries, Manetho, Cheap Money, and Some Shambles; D. O’Connor, Grand Review; E. Ludlow, Red Dance; H. Turner, Vintage; C. McCarthy, Argentic; G. Salt, Sibella; H, MacKinnon, Eupator; G. Murfitt, Cleaner. Though only six horses arc engaged in the Winton Steeplechase to-morrow, and three of them maiden jumpers, the race promises to be the most interesting on the card. Nylotis, the top-weight, may not be quite ready, but Umtali, the sole representative from Wingatui, has done a lot of work, and will probably start favourite. French Fleet is always a dangerous horse over two miles and a-lialf. Eccalfcchan and The Rector have been doing good work, and those who saw Mavora lead the field for over a mile at the local Hunt Meeting, should fancy his chance. Mavora and Tlxe Rector should be the next best backed. Melbourne reports state that A. D. Webster will return to New Zealand with his horses next week. Webster has not had any luck with his team in Melbourne this spring, but usually he is able to place his horses to advantage, and he should experience a change of fortune before long. Naturally the successful jockey Goi - - don Richards has many feminine admirers among his followers. An English exchange says that, owing to the arrival of so many letters fi-ora these, Mrs Richards has written in a kindly but firm strain, reminding some of the lady correspondents that Gordon is a married man with a family. Count Palatine is not by any means too old to come back to form, having been foaled in 1926, and at Levin he displayed every sign that be would yet win a -good handicap. Since be has been owned by Mr T. A. Duncan he has been allowed to come along very steadily, with very little racing, and there appeal's every hope that he will shortly repay this patient policy. According to Australian advices, Peter Jackson will not race again in Australia in the colours of Mr J. A. Phillips, who has decided not to exercise his option of a fui-ther lease of a year. Peter Jackson will be returned to New Zealand this week. The Moonec Valley Gold Cup was the only race Peter Jackson won in Australia. He is engaged in the Auckland Cup.