RACING NOTES

Evening Star, Issue 21710, 3 May 1934, Page 11

RACING NOTES

[By St. Claie.]

RACING. May 10, 12.—Wanganui J.C. May 11, 12.—Southland R.C. May 19.—Rangitikei R.C. May 19.—Ashburton C.R.C. March' 19, 21.- —Te Kuiti R.C. May 26.—South Canterbury J.C. June 2, 4.—Otaki Maori R.C. .Tune 2,4, s.—Dunedin J.C. June 2,4, 6.—Auckland’ R.C. Juno 9.—Foxton R.C. • June >l4, 16.—Hawke’s Bay J.C. June 16.—South Canterbury J.C. June 21, 23.—Napier Park R.C. WALLA WALLA’S DRIVER. ■‘ W. M'Kay, who will drive Walla Walla in his match against Harold Logan in Saturday’s match,, was'practically bred in the -saddle, and both Sydney arid Melbourne writers have expressed high opinions regarding his ability, both in saddle and harness races. From the time he could walk he has been given every chance to become a horseman, and like many of our best known drivers his first experience was gained amongst the thoroughbreds. When weighing less than sst and carrying almost as much, in dead weight he won his first race at Alberton, in the Gippsland district, Victoria. A noted performer in the show rings of New South Wales, he has won many a contest with his horse Gray Boy, whom he has ridden over fences in the show rings without a bridle. Creamy, a pony, is a good high jumper with which he would not part for any money. Many times he has ridden Gray Boy and driven Creamy over fences in tandem fashion. His outstanding successes on trie trotting track were secured with Direct Home, a fine mare and a true and tried performer. He 7as engaged at Boost in breaking horses, and in a bunch of fourteen unbroken horses Direct Home was the first he caught and the best he ever handled. With her he won some big races, including the Richmond Five Hundred and the Victoria . Park Thousand. She went 2min 12isec at Richmond, and is a joint holder of that record. At the Melbourne Show Ground track (three laps to the mile) she carried 11.10 and paced a mile in ,2min 12sec. JOTTINGS. ' It is reported that Quinopal has left J. Thistleton’s stable and is now being trained by J. Smith at Otautau. It is understood that the Waimate Hunt will hold a steeplechase meeting again this season. , , „ ~ Acceptances for the first day °r- the Southland Winter Meeting, to be held next week, close to-morrow at 6 p.m. Nominations for the South Canterbury Jockey Club’s Meeting, to be held on May 26, close at 9 p.m. on May 14. Handicaps for the second day of the Forbury Park Meeting will be posted at the club’s board room to-night at 8 o’clock, and acceptances close at 9. The progeny of Chief Ruler, whose death was reported last week, have already won more than £84,000. H®' headed the list of winning sires m 1960 and 1932, and was second last season. In addition to the list of dates for next season approved by the Dunedin District Committee, the application of the Cromwell Jockey Club for March 8 and 9 has also been approved of. Mr G. L. Stead has been engaged by a Napier paper to write a series of articles under the title of_ ‘ My Kingdom for a Horse,’ recounting bis_ association with the turf over a period of many years. Harold Logan had one of his eyes injured while travelling by rail from ,Te Aroha to Auckland. An operation was performed, and for a day or two he worked with a shade, but is now quite all right again. The steeplechase for amateur riders which was run at last year’s Hunt Meeting at Washdyke proved so successful that it has been retained on this season’s programme. It is not unlikely that other hunt clubs will stage a similar race. 1 At the Pakenham Racing Club s Meeting on April 19 Mr W. T. Hazlett’s six-year-old Gold Ray (Aurasio —Gold Light) won the Novice Handicap, £3O, six furlongs, and the same owner’s five-year-old Shining Gold (Aurasio — Gold Light) won the Pakenham Handicap, £75, eight and a-half furlongs. Bach was ridden by J. Godby. ■ The latter started . second favourite, and Gold Ray was at double-figure odds.

June 23.—Ashburton C.R.C. June 30.—Oamaru J.C. TROTTING. May s.—Forbury Park T.C. May 5. —Cambridge T.C. May 12.—Oamaru T.C. May 12, 14. —Waikato T.C. May 19.—Wellington T.C. June 24.—Canterbury Park T.C. June 24.—Hawke’s Bay T.C. June 9. —Ashburton T.C. June 20, 23.—Auckland T.C. Galloping and trotting are governed by different sets of rules, but the sister sport has many which could with benefit be applied to the turf. One of them is that riders or drivers cannot be changed bn a horse during the currency of a meeting without the express permission of the stewards. In reply to a correspondent, there are five separate records for a mile at Forbury Park,. Harold Logan, against time, registered 2min 4 2-ssec in November, 1931 Great Bingen in a race registered 2min 7 3-ssec in December, 1925; Todd Lonzia trotted a.mile m 2min 11 l-ssec in November, 1932; and as a two-year-old the same_ straight-out trotter covered a mile in 2min 22 2-ssec in May, 1930, both of his efforts being against time; Great- Bingen paced a mile in saddle in a race in 2min lOseo in November, 1930. According to an American writer, the stallion Wrack, who is in his twentysixth year, has over £500,000 to his credit. Wrack, who cost a little less than £2,000 in England, is by Robert le Diablo from Samphire. He is still doing stud duty, but bis fee this season is only £6O. Aladdin is getting through useful tasks on the Riccarton tracks, but he does not look nearly ready to race. He has been nominated for the Great Northern Hurdles, but he cannot be at his best by the beginning of June, even if he stands up to the final stages of a preparation. Last year’s Great Northern Steeplechase winner, Callamart, is doing well in his preparation at Awapuni, and is expected to be thoroughly fit to tackle the Great Northerns in June. Callamart was out of luck when he raced at Ellerslie in the autumn, falling in the Brighton Hurdles and breaking some of his gear in _ the Autumn Steeplechase, but he is a splendid stayer who is always likely to be dangerous in long races over fences. A fouf-year-old Archiestown colt, owned and bred by Mr Carlton Hinton, of Eureka, and trained, by him as a hunter, was shipped from Auckland last week to Sir Francis Nathan, of Perth. The horse was purchased for Sir Francis Nathan by Dr A. M. Grant, of Auckland, who saw the animal win the maiden hunter event at the last Cambridge show. The price paid exceeded £IOO. The Riccarton horsemen A. H. Eastwood. G. H. Humphries, A. Messervy, and W. H. Jones are going south for the Invercargill Meeting next week. Eastwood has been engaged for Signaller, First Song, and Lady Kate. The - two first-named won at Otautau on Saturday. Lady Kate is a maiden performer in the Wingatui stable of C. Gieseler. The Southland ‘ Times says At a very recent southern meeting a light harness participant in a race returned to the birdcage in a condition from hopple strain that was not pleasant to look upon. Had" the South Island stipendiary official not necessarily been engaged elsewhere there might been an inquiry leading to complications. The New Zealander Our Comet (Day o Comet—Lady Hill) had another win in Melbourne on April 21—this time on the flat. He was sent out favourite in a big field for the Mentone Purse, one mile two and a-half furlongs, and. won easily by three lengths. The Melbourne ‘ Argus*’ subsequently remarked that as Our Comet nad great speed for a hurdle racer and'was a good jumper, he would bo hard to defeat in any hurdle race while in his present form. Doiran has been taken up again by D. O’Connor after a spell following a blister, which appears to have had successful results. The big gelding is carrying solid condition, and if he continues to keep sound he will probably be given a course of schooling later. Another gelding recently recommissioned is Grecian Prince, who looks more robust than ever previously. Ho also is likely to join the jumpers 1 during the. .winter.

After he had won the Craven Stakes at Newmarket on .Colombo, tbe Aiistralian jockey, W. R. Johnstone, remarked : “ This is the best horse I have ever ridden.” Lord Glanely, owner of Colombo, said that a good judge had told him last year that Colombo was the best horse since Isinglass. It may be added that Isinglass, a son of Isonomy, won the Triple ’Crown in 1893, the Two Thousand Guineas, Derby, and St. Leger. ■ The meagre reports of the Nelson Meeting did not give a fair indication of its success. On tbe second day the totalisator handled £5,456 10s, compared with £4,783 on the second day last year, making the total for the meeting £10,058 10s, ■ an increase of £835 on £9.223 for the two days last year. This result was gratifying in view of the fact that there were only seven races each day this compared with eight last year, while the weather was also unfavourable on the opening day. ' r ~ Billy Boy has had a drop m the weights for the Great Northern Steeplechase. Last year, with 12.7 he finished third to Callamart, 10.11 and High Commissioner 9.0. The other starters i included Make Up 11.5 and Copey 10.5. Compared with those imposts Boy this time is down 131b‘ and Copey down 121 b. Callamart has gone up 121 b, High Commissioner 101 b, and Make Up 31b Billy Boy thus-meets Callamart on 251 b better terms. In the last New Zealand Grand National Steeplechase, won by Th.uripa .from Luna hnx, Lucess was third with 9.11, Billy Boy fourth with 12.5, and Copey fifth with 101 Make Up 12.1 pulled up and Callamart 12,1 lost .his rider. Referring to Shining Gold’s success fh the Pakenham Handicap last month, the " Age’ says:—All Joy was always favourite, with Knocktemple, Shining Gold, and Fulham next fancied. Shining Gold and Knocktemple were the early pace-makers, with All Joy in the centre of the field. Shining Gold shook off Knocktemple going along the back stretch, where All Joy and Beautiful Girl began to move forward. Shining Gold held a commanding lead rounding the home turn, and although All Joy finished well he failed by four lengths to reach - the leader. Beautiful Girl made up ground over the last furlong to gain third place. She, however, was three lengths behind All Joy, who was going away from her. Shining Gold is a six-year-old gelding by Arausio from Gold Light, and is one of the team of New Zealand horses trained by T. Platt for Mr W. T. Hazlett. He failed to gain a place in the Encourage Purse, won by Stardennis at Kyneton last week, when he went out an evenmoney favourite. The following is the Auckland Herald’s ’ description of the running of the Invitation Race won by Harold Logan last Saturday:—Harold Logan began quickest from No. 2 position and led early from Auburn Lad, Red Shadow, jewel Pointer, and Lindbergh. Harold

Logan set a slow pace over the first quarter in 35 l-ssec, and in the stri’. ght ho was joined by Red Shadow, the pair, being a length clear of Auburn' Lad* with Jewel Pointer and Lindbergh together another length away, Sr. old Logan and Bed Shadow commenced tha last half-mile together 'about two lengths ahead of Auburn Lad, who ran right up behind them nearing, the top.; With no chance of getting through Auburn Lad made an effort on tha outside of Harold Logan and Red Shadow, and they came, into the straight almost abreast several lengths clear of Lindbergh, who had .put .in a skip a little earlier, Harold Logan finished best to win by a length and a-quarter from Auburn Lad, who defeated Bed Shadow by a length. Lindbergh was two lengths further back fourth, and Jewel Pointer was several lengths back last.' Times; 2min 46sec,;, 2mm 45 2-Ssec, 2mm 46 l-ssec. Sectional times: First quarter, 35 l-ssec; half-mile, Imin 9 3-ssec; six furlongs,. Imin 42sec; last mile, 2min 9 4-ssec;j and the last half-mile, Imin 3sec. Impromptu effected a big surprise when ho beat Bed Shadow, Harold Logan, Lindbergh, and Auburn Lad in the Invitation Match at Epsom on Monday (says the Christchurch ‘Star’)- While his ability in heavy ground was not. remembered fay speculators, few would have picked him to beat Bed Shadow under adverse circumstances, ' for ■ Red Shadow is held to have no peers in mud. As for Harold Logan, he never has been regarded as a mudlark, and little notice need be taken of his defeat under the circumstances. At the/same time, it must be said that Impromptu’s recent form drew attention to his improvement, and it is obvious that he is going to play an important part in future handicap events; but not until he beats Red Shadow and, Harold Logan .on a dry course will he be acknowledged as budding champion. Impromptu was bred by J. J. Kennerley, and is by Pedro Pronto from Petrovna. He was an ugly duckling, and was sold to Mr R. P. Hampton, who later passed him on to his present owner, Mr C. Moran, for £45. In his, first-season Impromptu won five races, and in the next season ho again won five events. Last year, he was successful on two occasions, and this season he has three races to his credit. All told, he has won approximately £2,460. Ho has been dnveu most of his races by J. S. Shaw, who handles him perfectly. Speakeasy, ridden by E. Mackie, and Aladdin, Ridden by his trainer, A. S.Ellis, were schooled over the country, at Riccarton on Monday (reports the < Press ’). This was Aladdin’s first attempt over the. big fences, and Speakeasy was sent with him as a schooling companion and to give him a lead, Aladdin followed him. at a good interval, and although jumping carefully !■« gave a very satisfactory display. Speakeasy is' booked for a trip to the To Ruiti Meeting on May 19 and 2J, and will go on to Ellerslie from there.. Aladdin was nominated for the -.same trip, but it is not considered advisable, to take a risk in sending him far from home, as, apart from his doubtful soundness, it has not been possible ta give him enough solid work to fit him for the trip. Instead he will race at the South Canterbury fixture on May, 26 and will go on to Wmgatui. Rational 11. (H. Turner) and Gappy Ricks (J. Wadley) set off to negotiate a round of the steeplechase country, the latter giving his . mate a lead. Both jumped the first, a brush, safely, bus Gappy Ricks screwed on landing over the first fence of the brush double and dislodged his rider, and Rational 11. was pulled off the second in order i<» avoid trouble. The latter was immediately taken back and jumped the three brushes alone, giving a most encouraging display. Wadley was rendered unconscious for a while, but escaped , any injury. Gappy Ricks was later mounted by J. Armstrong, husband ' of the gelding’s owner, and lumped four brushes well, but crashed badly at the sod wall, falling heavily on liis rider, who was removed by ambulance to the Christchurch Hospital.-