RACING NOTES

Evening Star, Issue 21628, 25 January 1934, Page 13

RACING NOTES

RACING. I January 27.—Wairoa R.C. j January 27, 29, —Takapuna J.C. | January 31.—Tapanui R.C. 1 February 1, 3.—Egmont R.C. I February 3.—Poverty Bay T.C. I February 3. —Matamata R.C. February' 8, 10.—Dunedin J.C. February 8, 10.—Poverty Bay T.C. February 8, 10. —Taranaki J.C. JOTTINGS. Nominations lor the Dunedin Cup | Meeting, to be held on February .8 and 10, close to-morrow at 5 p.m. Owing to tlie small number of nominations received, the Nelson Trotting Club has postponed its meeting indefinitely. Grand Jury' joined the team of L. G, Morris only a few months ago, and the big improvement in the form of this seven-year-old is a real triumph for a young trainer. In his comment op the Wellington Cup, “ The Watcher ” remarked: “ No Wellington Cup winner has ever been better ridden.” The rider was W. J. Broughton, who won the New Zealand Cup of 1931 on Spearful. Grand Jury has now won thirteen races, and is entitled to be included amongst the best of the aged horses racing in the dominion at the present time. Grand Jury’s stake winnings total £2,595, made up as follows;—At three years, £105; at four years,- £435 ; at five y'ears, £805; at six years, £ls; at seven years, £1,235. Grand Jury is owned by Mr D. Laurie and is trained at Marton by L. J. Morris. The stud fees for the leading thoroughbred sires in England this year were fixed at the following rates;—Solario, by Gainsborough, 500 gs; Tetratema, by The Tetrarch, 500 gs; Gay’ Crusader, by Bayardo, 400 gs; Gainsborough, by Bayardo, 400 gs; Blandford, by Swynford, 300 gs; Son-in-Law, by’ Dark Ronald, 300 gs Reports from the United States chronicle an outbreak of a deadly disease among horses in the State of Colorado. .ft is computed that since September the mortality has been about 50 per cent. Experts believe that the horses become infected by insects. Animals affected lose muscular co-ordina-tion and are unable to swallow, as the throat becomes paralysed. It is stated that this is the fourth epidemic in Colorado since 1912. The following is a summary of the placed performances and winnings of Jewel Pointer:— Season First. Second. Third. Stakes. £

Nightguard ran his best race for some months past in the bigh-weight event at Trentham yesterday, and recouped his new owner for the small price paid for him on the previous day’. He looked a winner 50yds. from the post, but was seriously checked by Prince Colossus pushing him out in a punishing finish. Nightguard was bracketed with Korero, and thus paid a much smaller place dividend than would have otherwise been the case. Sam Smith put up a poor showing in this race, and was never in a likely position. The visit of Royal Amphora to the Wellirfgton Meeting to contest the one race, Kaitoke Handicap, yesterday had a successful result, as he scored a great win and paid a fairly substantial price. The favourite in this race, Dombey, drew tlie rails, and, not getting away as smartly as some of the others, soon lost his place and did well to take part in the finish. Highbrow once more showed up for three parts of the journey in the Kaitoke Handicap yesterday. He turned on a burst of speed to get to the front passing the false rail, and was going well to the distance post, where he commenced to beat a retreat. Highbrow certainly failed to win any money at the meeting, but his efforts were very encouraging, and will have a Ixineficial effect upon him for later racing. Dismiss showed a big improvement in his engagement at Trentham yesterday. In the first day’s race he was in the van from the start, but tailed to stay on. Differently handled in yesterday’s race, he was not bustled over the early part, and, gaining a useful advantage approaching the false rail, was not seriously troubled. Dismiss carries the same colours as Vc trac, who won yesterday’s big event, each scoring a popular win for C. Gieselcr, who is gradually getting a good team together again. The secretary of the Dunedin Jockey Club was present at Trentham this week, and met with an encouraging response to his efforts to secure North Island horses for the Dunedin Cup Meeting next mouth. Red Sun, Golden Wings, King March, and Autopay are likely visitors, while there is a possibility that Epigram and Saltspray may he nominated. G. Jones will go south to ride Red Sun.

Lady Zephyr was sent out favourite for the Melrose Handicap at Trentham yesterday, but was the last to move off, and although she improved her position uring the middle stages she went back again in the run home, and finished, near the rear. .'.lanetlio has been under treatment at Tiontliam since Saturday suffering from a severe injury to a hack tendon as the result of being galloped on in the early stages of the Apprentices’ Plate. It was intended to send him home during the week, but on veterinary advice he is to remain at Trentham until he is in a fit state to travel. Saltspray who created a mild .surprise at Trentham yesterday has not been raced to much extent, his only previous win being at Marton in May last when he paid a big price. He is a brother to Ozone at one time trained at Riccarton, and was purchased as a yearling in Sydney by G. Price for his present owner for 250 guineas. There was an idea in the spring of sending this gelding to Randwick to be trained by Price, but was not undertaken owing to meeting with mishap. There is a possibility he may be nominated for the Dunedin meeting. The Night Raid—Zany colt purchased by Wright Stephenson and Co., for 750 guineas at Trentham on Tuesday was secured for Mr L. K. S. Mackinnon, chairman of the Victoria Racing Club. The colt is to return to Eldcrslie Stud and will be handled and broken in there before being sent to his new owner.

Yentrac outclassed the opposition in yesterday’s big race at Trcntham, and although Southerners extended him solid support, lie paid a good price. Yentrac was bred by Mr L. C. Hazlett and was one of six horses by Tractor sold in a hatch by Mr Hazlott for seventy guineas. Hi tractor was one of the remainder, and be and Yentrac appear to ho the only horses

[By St. Claie ]

Blue Ensign, by The Tetrarch from Blue Tit, cost Lord Glanely 14,500 gs as a yearling. He was a failure on the racecourse and at the stud. Lord Glanely sent him up for sale at Newmarket in December on the understanding that the money bid for him should go to the Newmarket Hospital. Blue Ensign, who was thirteen years old at the time of the sale, brought only 85gs. At the same sale Lemonora, by Lemberg—Honora, changed owners for sogs. In 1921 Lemonora finished third in the Derby to Humorist and Craig an Eran, and be won the Grand Prix de Paris and Newmarket Stakes. It is evident that nobody wants an old horse who has failed at the stud. With the disappearance of the Trentham Gold Cup from the calendar and the reduction of the distance of the Canterbury Cup to a mile and a-quarter the num*ber of two-mile races on the New Zealand turf is reduced to two, the New Zealand Cup and the Auckland Cup. What a contrast to old-time conditions ! At one time the Aucklana Cup and the Wanganui Cup were run over two miles and a-quarter, the Dunedin Cup over two miles and a distance, and the Wellington Cup and. the Taranaki Cup over two miles, while quite a number of the minor clubs were courageous enough to fix the distance of their leading event at two miles. The C.J.C. Handicap, which gave place to the 'New Zealand Cup in 1883, was always run over two miles, and the Canterbury Cup, run at weight-for-age, had a long life as a two miles and a-quarter race. It has been said that “ man is what he eats.” This applies still more to the thoroughbred horse. Many years ago it was recognised that you simply cannot raise good horses, sound in limb, wind and constitution, on bad country. In discussing the vital importance of pasturage a London writer says: “It is the stuff in the grass which matters, not the juggling with systems of breeding which is ever a bit of a toss-up, and even something more if Lord Raglan is right. His lordship, as we know, has said that most pedigrees are fakes; but, fakes or not, where the thorough-

February 9, 10.—Marlborough R.C. February 10, 12.—Rotorua R.C. TROTTING. January 27.—Forbury Park T.C. February 3. Ji t. Aletropollian T.C. February 17, 21.—Auckland T.C. February 24.—New Brighton T.C. March 2, 3. —Invercargill T.C. Alarch 3.—Wellington T.C. March 10.—Timaru T.C. of the six to have raced prominently’, p Ventrac’s owner, Mr P. J. Herlihy, 3 is a resident of Central Otago, and is a comparatively new owner but has [. started well with Ventrac and Dismiss. t He bought two mares, March Off and - Heralday', and bred Dismiss from the former so he lias a gratifying re- , cord in his short career, e Final Shot gave undoubted evidence s by her win at Trentham yesterday that i she is endowed with marked stamina for one of her .size, as she has been i kept busy since the spring and had i two hard races on the first two days i of the Wellington Meeting.. Apiiar- . ently she has thrived on her hard pro--1 gramme, and the manner in which she downed some strong opponents in a > strenuous finish stamped her as one of 1 the gamest fillies produced from Stony- ; hurst for some time. Silver Ring’s ; electrifying finish at Trentham yester- ! day was the outstanding feature of the ; whole of the Trentham Meeting. He l seemed to be in an almost hopeless position at the false rail, and it would have been interesting to have timed 1 him over the last two furlongs. He was ridden a masterly finish by G. Humphries, who has been associated with him in all his races to date. Copyist y’esterday ran up to the form expected of him on the previous two days, and it is evident he improved with racing. He was close up to the leaders on this occasion from the opening stages, and in having to submit to such a remarkable finishing effort as executed by his conqueror he putup a very' creditable performance. His stablemaie, Rocket, met with bad luck during his race. He moved up into third place with nearly half the journey covered, and appeared to he going much easier than in either of his,previous essay's, but an outside horse cut across him and he was not only sent back, but was unbalanced for a good distance. At the time of the mishap lie was in a more commanding position than lias been the case in any of his races during the past two months, and hut for it ho would have taken part in the finish. Guarantee turned sideways when the barrier lifted in the City Handicap at Trentham yesterday, and was in last place practically throughout. Both Silver Streak and Cranford disappointed yesterday, and it would appear as if they were feeling the effects of their previous exertions at the fixture. Davolo was one of the slowest to move off in the Kelburn 'Handicap yesterday, and was in last place to the home turn. He then made a forward move, but had to go on the outside of several horses, and when the straight Was reached was in the middle of the course, thus covering a lot of extra ground., Otherwise he would have made matters more difficult for Lone Raider, who, however, is a class hack and a likely winner later in open company. In 1927 His Majesty donated a gold cup to be competed for annually in the various States of Australia by rotation. This year the King’s Cup will be run at the Australian Jockey Club’s Autumn Meeting at Randwiek, and, with a stake of £2,000 attached, a high-class field should be attracted. The distance is a mile and a-half, and the maximum weight is fixed at 9.5 and the minimum 7.0. In the seven contests to’date three New Zealand-bred horses have won with the maximum weight—namely, Limerick in 1928, Phar Lap in 1930, and Second Wind in 1932. On Saturday, January 6, two former New Zealanders in Bingen Lad and Firebrand were successful at Brennan Park, Perth. Bingen Lad (Nelson Bingen—O.Y.M.) dead-heated from 24,yds behind with Prince Loloma over a mile and five furlongs, recording a 2.18| gait for the journey’. Firebrand also won from 42yds behind over one mile and five furlongs, his rate of speed being 2.181. Firebrand, by Denver Hu on from a "Prince Imperial mare; raced twenty-one times in New Zealand for one win, one second, and a third. He is now nine years of age, and Bingen Lad fourteen. Red Shadow has not had a hopple on since he won the Free-for-All at the New Zealand Metropolitan Trotting Chib’s November Meeting, hut he has been indulged in sufficient exercise to keep him healthy and well. He will be given a special preparation for the Free-for-All events at Easter, when he will meet Walla Walla and the pick of the local champions. J. Bryce has a very high opinion of Red Shadow’s ability, and he is quite prepared for the son of j Travis Axworthy and Our Aggie to step I a mile close to two minutes (says the I Christchurch ‘Star’). I

bred horse is concerned, it is the phosphates in the grass which count. The grazing in this country and Ireland is superior to that in France or in other Continental countries, and the fact that we produce a finer stamp of animal than they do is traceable to this fact, and most probably to no other. In Australia the phosphates are pretty nearly as good as our own. That country never could have deserved to be called ‘ Horsetralia ’ if it bad not been a land peculiarly suited to •oreeding the horse.”

1925-26 ... 1 9 630 1926-27 ... 5 O 6 1,570 1927-28 ... 6 5 6 6,546 1928-29 ... 1 3 — 1,025 1929-60 ~u, 6 — 285 1960-61 9 6 4 1,485 1961-26 ... i — — 210 . 1962-66 — — 1 60 1963-64 2 3 1 570 16 24 12 £9,050