RACING NOTES

Evening Star, Issue 21641, 9 February 1934, Page 10

RACING NOTES

RACING. February 10.—Dunedin J.C. February 10.—Poverty Bay T.C. February 10.—Taranaki J.C. February 10.—Marlborough. R.C. February 10, 12. Rotorua R.C. February 15. —Tologa Bay J.C. February 15, 17. —Dargaville R.C. February 15, 17.—Wanganui J.C. February 17.—Canterbury J.C. • February 21, 22.—VVoodville D.J.C. February 21, 22.—Gore R.C. February 22.—Waiapu R.C. February 24, 26. —Te Aroha J.C. February 28.—Rangitikei R.C. March 1, 3.—Napier Park R.C. March 3.—Banks Peninsula R.C. March 3.—Franklin R.C. March 7, B.—Dannovirke R.C. (at Woodvillo). March 8, 10.—Waikato R.C. March 9, 10.—Cromwell J.C. March 15.—Waimate R.C. ' March 15, 17.—Ohinemuri J.C.

VINTAGE AND ADAMANT. .Vintage’s performance in winning the Dunedin Cup was a particularly food one. A. H. Eastwood always had im in a good position, and when it came to the run home he got a clear run and outpaced and stayed the opposition. it is fifty-one years since a horse still eligible to race in hack company has won the Dunedin Gup. That was Adamant, who won in 1883. Prior to that victory Adamant, who raced in Mr D. Kirby’s colours and was ridden by W. Sharp, had been racing round the country meetings, and his chief recommendation to be considered a , Cup horse was that just previously ho had won the Kakanui Cup. Discussing his chances on the Sunday before the Cup'the handicappei; at that time, Air Caleb Moore, said Adamant was a good little horse, but too slow. After waiting with the field for over a mile Sharp decided that the pace was too slow, and went out in front. From that stage he was never headed, and ran the two miles and a distance (240yds) in 3min 54sec, constituting a fresh time record for the race, which stood until Vanguard ran it in 3min 53sec two years later. The field that finished behind Adamant that day included . Welcome Jack (at that time the champion horse in the colony), Salvage (winner of the Auckland Cup), Lady Emma (winner of two Dunedin Cups), King Quail (winner of the Wanganui Cup), Tim Whiffler (one of the best handicap horses), and others. Vintage is by Shambles from Quality, who, like her son, was bred by Mr D. W. Westenra. She is by Clarenceux frpm Lady Majestic, by Majestic from Lady Melton, by Bill of Portland from Litigant, by Martini Henry, by Yuattehdon from - the Boiardo mare Thyra. Vintage is only a four-year-old, and looks like developing into one of our best handicajj horses. After his successes at the holiday meetings Air .Westenra turned down a tempting offer for Vintage, and has now good cause to be pleased with his decision. CHHOTA’S POOR SHOWING. The most disappointing performance at Wingatui yesterday was Chhota’s display in the cup. Her 1 performance in yielding going at Invercargill, the great race she ran at Wairio under 9st 4lb, and the excellent work she had done throughout her preparation entitled her to the position of second favourite. Chhota pulled hard for the greater part of tho first mile, and probably received a knock, or two as she raced with, her head in the air., Racing up the hill she was well enough placed to have still had a chance,, but at the turn for home . she ran into a pocket from which she had no chance of getting clear until it was too late. Dooley was no doubt handling her to instructions, but with no pace on over the early stages of the race it looked as if it would have been much better to let her run along as she did in the Invercargill Gup. Chhota was turned out in the pink of condition, and her backers yesterday should remember that it was not her true form that she showed in the race. THE SMUGGLER. ■The Smuggler ran a good race in yesterday’s cup,' and his rider was censored by many of the chestnut’s backers for making his run too soon. With half a mile to go The Smuggler was tucked in behind the two leaders, Red Racer and Southdown. When this pair compounded halfway up the hill The Smuggler was left in charge, but he did not commence his run then. Barclay piloted Ventrae ami Vintage into the straight—he could not do otherwise—and was then beaten for pace in the run home by two horses to whom he was conceding both age and weight. After The Smuggler ran such a good race in the New Zealand Cup last November he contracted a very bad cold, and it was not possible to train nor race him at the holiday meetings. To win a race like the Dunedin Cup a horse must have some racing, and though he looked well yesterday it is more than likely that The Smuggler was short of a race or two. He ran a really good race, and suffered nothing by the handling of G-. Barclay. THE CHAMPAGNE STAKES WINNER. Dismiss, who won the Champagne Stakes yesterday, did not meet a strong field, but judging by the easy manner in which he won it would have taken a good one to beat him.* Dismiss is by Paladin from Alarch Off, the dam of Last Alarch and Grand Finale. Alarch Off is by Alarkhope from Officious by Finland from Busybody by Apremont from Tell Tale by Traducer, a good sprinting family. Dismiss was bred by the late Air A. G. Hill, but unfortunately inherits the wind affliction that hfe dam and several of her progeny are troubled with. The atmospherical conditions yesterday were not in his favour, but so far his trouble does not affect his speed. Dismiss has four white stockings, a marking that is not popular with lovers of thoroughbreds, but is also the markings or Hyperion, winner of last season’s Derby. Dismiss is never likely to become a stayer, but unless his infirmity gets worse will always be a smart sprinter. JOTTINGS. The first race at Wingatui to-mor-row is timed to start at 12.45. The rain which fell early this morning will make the track heavy for the concluding day of the Clip .Meeting. At the turn for home in yesterday’s Cup Some Shamble appeared to hold a winning chance,, but he failed badly in tho run home, and finished eighth. The receipt of confidential letters from the Income Tax Department early this week may have had some effect on the amount of money available for speculation at Wingatui yesterday. The dominion’s two leading horsemen, K. Voitre and L. J. Ellis, each won one race yesterday. Those who hacked Davolo and watched the finish from the members’ and trainers’ stand yesterday after-

[By St. Claih.]

March 16, 17. —Wellington R.C. March 17.—Birclnvood Hunt Club. March 17.—Opunake R.C. March 21.—Opotiki J.C. March 21, 22.—Manawatu R.C. March 23, 24.—Oamaru J.C. March 24.—Otautau R.C.

TROTTING. February 17, 21.—Auckland T.C. February 24.—New Brighton T.C. March 2, 3 —lnvercargill T.C. March 5.--Wellington T.C. March 10.—Timaru T.C. March 14.—Kaikoura T.C. March 14. —Wyndham T.C. March 14. —Manawatu T.C. March 17.—Cheviot T.C. March 17, 24.—Wanganui T.C. March 23. —South Otago T.C. March 24. —Roxburgh T.C. March 31, April 2.—Hawera T.C. March 31. April 4.—N.Z. Metropolitan T.C.

noon received a pleasant surprise when the judge hoisted his number. It looked from their stand as if Tippling got up to win by a neck. In some quarters the “place” totalisator was blamed for the drop of nearly £4,000 on the totalisator investments at Wingatui yesterday. The big dividends and the cold day were more likely the correct cause. Mr A. H. Fisher’s horses Tizzy and Bold Brigand maintained the reputation of tlie stable for paying big dividends. The two North Island candidates in yesterday’s Cup, King March and Red Sun, were never going like winners, and it may be that they did not like the soft going. King March appeared to be in trouble all the way, and was always nearer the tail vend than the front of the field. There were many surprises at Wingatui yesterday, but probably the dividend paid by Palmary in the last race was the biggest. In alb his work Palmary has been beating Tippling, and after the latter’s good showing in the previous race there should have been stronger support for Palmary. F. Shaw has this Paladin gelding very well just now. There are very few horses who can contest steeplechasing and hurdle raring successfully. Polling Day, a very promising juniper who broke a, leg and bad to be destroyed, started in a steeplechase at Wairio three weeks ago, but this did 'not appear to be the cause of his accident. Polling Day had been running at the tail of the field for a mile, and then moved up at the fence near the five furlong post, where the field bunched, and it is possible that he did not get a view ot the hurdle. Polling Day has been a consistent stake winner for Air S. Walker, his last winning effort being in the hurdle race on the second day of the Southland Meeting last month, and his death will be a severe loss. Vintage was not handicapped for tomorrow’s engagements, having been withdrawn after his success in the Dunedin Cup. It is reported that L. J. Ellis, who is now second horseman to K. Voitre for the jockey premiership, intends riding at the Woodville and Te Aroha Aleetings this month. A. E. Ellis has been engaged to ride Peter Jackson in his Australian Autumn engagements, and he will leave for Sydney before tho end of the present month.

Golden Wings, who will be racing at New Plymouth this week, is hooked to leave shortly; for-Alclbourne,- where he will contest ■'the valuable Newmarket Handicap and other big sprint events. A Victorian owner, • who was in Christchurch recently, remarked that the keenest, racing men in Australia still held a high opinion of Silver Scorn. These men, said the visitor, were not disposed to attach too much importance to the defeats which the Silverado mare had so far suffered in Australia.

“It might be his last race to-day; his legs are not too sound, and it is doubtful whether he will stand much further training and racing,” remarked M. J. Carroll, as Paganelli went out to contest the Waharoa Handicap at Matamata. Paganelli is now in his tenth year, and, although lie js carrying a bright and healthy appearance, he is a long way below the horse he used to be a few seasons ago. Riccarton reports indicate that it is practically certain F. Holmes will take Minerval to Australia in the autumn. His Easter programme at Randwick includes the Sydney Cup and the King’s Cup, while it is possible that he will be sold during his trip to Australia if a suitable offer is available. Sam Smith may go also, as a working mate for the Cup horse. Mr W. R. Kemball will send over six more two-year-olds to G. Jones at Caulfield by the Wanganella, sailing next week—Barnum, Cape Morn, Cape Lilock, Cape Rose, and Sir Quex. Cape Morn, Cape Rose, and Sir Quex have not yet raced. The three-year-old Silver Beam, sister to Argentic, who has been at Trentham since _ the Wellington meeting, is also going to Melbourne in charge of H. S. Greave, who has been on a visit to his relatives in New Zealand. A writer, - commenting upon the recent New Zealand yearling sales, which included the first of the progeny of Posterity and Iliad, says: “The sales of the first progeny of these two imported sires should do more than anything else to impress breeders here of the improvement in the demand for yearlings, for, although the youngsters, from all accounts, were well developed and prepared for the sales, it has been the custom of buyers during the past few years to avoid new blood lines in favour of the stock of sires who have proved their ability to get winners.” A remarkable performance was registered at the Harold Park (New South Wales) Meeting on January 31 by Gipsy Pronto in the second division of the Unhoppled Pacers’ Handicap. Starting from 216yds behind in a 3min 37seo class, Gipsy Pronto was beaten by inches after registering a fraction worse than 3min 16sec for a mile and a-half. When it is remembered that Harold Park is a half-mile cinder track it will be realised that this is one of the greatest performances registered in Australia or New Zealand, and places Gipsy Pronto on the same level as Walla Walla and New Zealand’s best. Gordon Richards’s native town is Oakengates, Shropshire, and after an absence of fourteen years he paid it a visit in December. He was given a civic reception, and presentations were made to him in recognition of breaking F. Archer’s record. Steve Donogluie, on behalf of the Oakengates Council and district sportsmen, presented Richards with an address of welcome inscribed on vellum and contained in a silver casket. At night Richards was entertained at a banquet at Wellington and presented with a silver replica of himself mounted on Golden King, horse on which ho beat the record! Under the heading “general conditions,” the following appears in the programme issued for the New Zealand Metropolitan Trotting Club’s Eastor Meeting:—“ln the "event of Walla Walla not, being able to start at the meeting the committee reserve the

right to substitute two other events in place of the invitation match races.” it is to be hoped that nothing happens to prevent Walla Walla from being produced in first-class order for both races, and, even if lie is not able to start! that the club will not alter the class of race but will merely issue invitations to one or two other owners to nominate their horses. The race in this case would still create great interest and would represent a true test between our recognised champions. Although no official announcement has been made (says the ‘ Press ’), it is understood that Harold Logan, Red Shadow, Roi TQr, and Indianapolis will be Walla Walla’s opponents in both the invitation races over one mile and a mile and a-half.- As the committee will ask the owners of several other horses to stand by in case they are needed to complete the field, it is just possible that the form shown in the mile race will have some bearing on the composition of the field for the mile and a-half contest. If an emergency for the longer race is required the popular vote would be for Lindbergh, a horse that can be depended upon to pace it with the champions over the last few furlongs. Too slow a beginner for a mile race, Lindbergh would probably lose his chance at the start, but in a truly-run mile and a-half there are few that could pace it with him.