RACING NOTES

Evening Star, Issue 21715, 9 May 1934, Page 13

RACING NOTES

RACING. May 10, 12.—Wanganui ,).C. May 11, 12.—Southland R.C. May 19.—llangitikei 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. June 2,4, s.—Dunedin J.C. June 2,4, 6.—Auckland R.C. June 9.—Boston R.C. June 14. 16. —Hawke’s Bay J.C. June 16.—South Canterbury J.C. A GREAT COLT. At Newmarket, more than at any other place, stars of the turf are made, and there is near the town now what appears to be the brightest star that lias arisen for many a year; the three-year-old colt Colombo, owned by Lord Glanely, and trained by Captain Hogg (states an English writer a few weeks ago). It is not only hoped, but iirmly believed, that Colombo will never be beaten, and that he will be the first horse since the great Ormonde who will go through all his season without losing a race. He rose like a rocket last season, and swept through his races; yet there was a day when very little was thought of Colombo. He was bred near Newmarket by Sir Alex Black, a Grimsby trawler owner, at a stud farm of which Lord Glanely is now the occupier. When Colombo was a foal Lord Glanely was interesting himself in this stud, and he and his trainer used to note how the plain-looking foal, which lie was, improved in appearance week by week. Then came a day when' ho was sent into the sale ring at Doncaster as a yearling. No one " took much interest in the lop-eared colt, although he had a distinguished sire, Manna, a winner of the Derby; and, while people were paying 5,000 gs for other yearlings, this one fell to Lord Glanely for 530 gs, a paltry sum in the great Doncaster market. Last year • the 530 gs yearling won over £17,000 in stakes. No money could buy him to-day, but, considering his possibilities, and the races like the Derby that he can win, his value in the open market would be hot less than £50,000. That is why owners keep on keeping racehorses—the possibility of finding a pearl like this in the oyster of the sales. Colombo attracted attention last year less by his appearance than by his wonderful action when going at full speed. When I saw him in his box the other evening he was a different Colombo from the colt we, knew last year—a bigger, handsomer, more muscular individual, whose improvement during the often critical period between a colt’s two-year-old and three-year-old seasons has been greater than a trainer could imagine. He is a hearty eater, has a good temper, and never gives any trouble about the place. But he has one idiosyncrasy. No one may touch his ears.' They are lop ears, and such are considered a blemish to a horse in the show ring. Perhaps Colombo is selfconscious. Everyone at Newmarket believes in Colombo as the horse of the twentieth century, as Ormonde was of the nineteenth—that is, everyone except the trainers of other classic horses. Away on the racecourse side of the town Frank Butters has the Aga Khan’s champion Umidwar, French on the side of his dam Uganda, and owning a sister who has won the Oaks, Udaipur (1932). Only one fugitive appearance did he make last year, and that was at the end of the season, when he won at Hurst Park. His claims to fame are slender compared with those of Colombo, but his trainer firmly believes that ho lias great possibilities, and that in the Derby he will be a worthy challenger. In Ormonde’s day there was a gallant little horse called The Bard, who could beat all the others, but never could he reach Ormonde. Will Umidwar play The Bard to Colombo’s Ormonde in the drama of the racing season on which the curtain has risen? The Aga Khan hopes not, for be has just refused a small fortune for a half-share in the colt. JOTTINGS. Black'Duke, who is engaged in the Southland Cup at 7.0, will be D. P. Wilson’s only representative at the Invercargill Meeting this week. A. H. Eastwood has been engaged to ride Signaller in the Southland Cup on Friday. It is reported from Christchurch that A. E. Ellis has announced that he does not intend riding over hurdles nor fences this winter. Polydora is still on the easy list at Each day of idleness now makes her chance of a visit to Melbourne for the Centenary Cup more remote. The Wanganui Meeting on Thursday and Saturday of this week will see the single pool machine in use again, two dividends being paid on five or more starters The trustees of the estate owning Silver Ring are reported to have received a genuine offer of 2,500 gs for that horse. The offer is at present under consideration. Rational 11. appears to bo taking to cross-country .schooling well, and be is one of che Riccarton contingent of steeplechasers likely to appeal- at Wingatui next month. The ex-Wellington Cup winner. Stanchion, started at the Egmont Meeting without a ticket on the win totalisator, and only one on his chance on the place machine. Stanchion raced as ho was backed. It is reported that an unusually huge number of horses arc being schooled over the steeplechase fences at Washdyke. and that South Canterbury owners will be strongly represented at the Dunedin Winter Meeting. The Southland Racing Club’s Winter Mooting on Friday and Saturday will be held at the same time as the Southland A. and P. Association’s winter show. That should considerably help the attendance. F. D. Jones intends making another trip to Sydney, and his team will probably include Nightly, Custodian, and Control. If all goes well in the meantime, Jones will leave shortly after the Wellington W r inter Meeting. ’ The Southland Racing Club’s Winter Mooting on Friday and SatuVday will ring down the curtain on both racing and trotting in the Southland district this season. Thurina is reported to be more forward now than be was at this time last season. As was the case last year, lie is undergoing the preliminary stages of his preparation at Doylcston under the charge of his part-owner, Mr W. J. Doyle. Later ho will again join the team of .Mrs J. Campbell at Riccarton. It is reported that Royal Limond will not start in any morn steeplechases until he gets more schooling. He will be raced over hurdles at Wanganui. Tc Kniti, and Auckland Meetings, and E. Mackie has boon offered the rides on him at the latter fixtures.

[By Sr. Clair.]

June 21, 23.—Napier Park R.C. Juno 23. —Ashburton C.R.C. Juno 30.—Oamaru J.C. TROTTING. Mar .12 -Oamaru T.C. May 12, 14 —Waikato T.C. May 19.—Wellington T.C. June 24.—Canterbury Park T.C. J une 24.—Hawke’s Bay T.C. June 9. —Ashburton T.C. June 20, 23. —Auckland T.C. Aladdin, who is now trained by A. S. .Ellis at nicearton, has been showing good form in his schooling efforts over the big fences. He is booked for a trip to the Dunedin Winter Meeting, and has only to remain sound to develop into a high-class cross-country horse. Speakeasy, winner of the Great Western Steeplechase, at Riverton at Easier time, is booked to take his place in the Great Northern Steeplechase, 3Jm, in which he has been handicapped to carry 9.1. E. Mackie has been engaged to ride him, and has been directing his schooling efforts at Riccarton lately. Pfihu is being selected as a good winner over hurdles this winter by sound Judges in the North Island. Pahu is by a son of Waitiau (Warplane) from a daughter of Sarto, and thus has both staying and Jumping blood in his veins. So far he has raced with indifferent luck, but on the form he showed at the Hawera Meeting, he appears to be well forward for this winter’s campaign. For the convenience of patrons attending the Oamaru Trotting Club’s Meeting on Saturday, a special passenger train leaves Dunedin at 7.42 a.m. for the Oamaru racecourse. On the return Journey the train leaves the racecourse siding at 5 p.m., Oamaru 5.45 p.m.. arriving in Dunedin at 8.58. Tickets at special excursion fares will be issued to Oamaru by the 7.42 a.m. special train. Easton, whom Lord Woolavington is reported by cable to have purchased at IO.OOOgs from Mr R. B. Strassburger, is a brown colt by Dark Legend from Phaona, and finished second to Colombo in the Two Thousand Guineas last week. As a two-year-old Easton did not race in England, but was probably a starter in France. In addition to Easton Lord Woolavington has Sudsbury, ' Breakwater, and Holy-rood engaged in the Derby, node of whom were winners as two-year-olds. ‘ The Christchurch correspondent of the 1 Southland Times ’ says; Southdown, who was given a let-up after winning two races at the C.J.C. Easter Meeting, has resumed work. He looks an improved colt, and, all going well, he will be a better four-year-old than he was a three-year-old. Carefully placed he should do well next season. He may make one of a team to be taken to Australia by A. Af'Aulay in the spring. Australia Fair, the winner of the Wagga Cup at Wagga, New South Wales, was taken to .the Convent of the Sacred Heart on the following day and admired by the sisters and the boarders. Air Frank M'Grath, the owner of Australia Fair, haa visited the convent several times, as a friend of his has a sister there. When he telephoned the day after the race to arrange a visit, he was congratulated upon the victory of Australia Fair in the Cup, and was told how those at the convent would delight to see the trophy. in presenting the Cambridge Cup to Mr Claude Cowan, owner of Wee Machine, alter the race on Saturday, Mr F. Lye, M.P., elaborated on F. J. Smith’s success in the trotting sport since bis arrival in the dominion, stating that the ex-Englishman had done a lot for the advancement of the sport, particularly in the North Island, Referring to Wee Machine’s win, the speaker paid a tribute to Smith for the pacer’s condition and the capable manner in which he was driven. Those who saw Water Power’s line thrust in the Doncaster Handicap at the South Canterbury Meeting last month will not be surprised at her advance in weight for Invercargill, Lf she claims an apprentice allowance she will race under 7.18. In the winter of last season she beat such horses as Silver Streak, PaJantua f twice), and Ranelagh, and she is reported to be in even better trim than she was at that period. Particularly it the going is Ueavy, she will be a wide public choice, either in the Flying Handicap or in the Tradesmen's Handicap, run over her best distance, a mile. An Australian writer ucalnig with the subject ol nomenclature suggests that the names ol the wives of Henry the Eighth would be appropriate for hllies by Heroic. We specially selects Anne of Clevcs because history records how Henry was informed of her great beauty, and be was naturally anxious to see. her. When she did arrive at his court, the King described her as “ a great big Flanders mare.” One Heroic filly that achieved distinction was Maid of Orleans. Reversing the Henry VMll. idea, there are inisogaraists in ■ the community who would regard the name of any married man as appropriate for Heroic colts. By his success in the Dixie Handicap at Baltimore on Saturday, Equipoise is credited with passing Phar Lap on the world’s winning list of racehorses and being second only to Sun Beau, another American. The total of Equipoise is now £66,592. According to American lists, Phar Lap won £(3(5,450, but the Australian authority, ‘ Miller’s Guide,' makes the total of Phar Lap £60,788, which leaves him still ahead of Equipoise. Sun Beau, who won thirty-three of lus seventytour races, is generally credited with £75,348. Some lists, however, credit him with winning £78,488. Equipoise is by Pennant, son of Peter Pan (U.S.A.), from the English mare Royal Rose by Royal Hampton. Only one filly has won the Kentucky Derby (and that a very long time ago), but American bookmakers have made Mata Han favourite for the classic this year. As only one mare (Regret) has won in fifty-nine years, it seems about time (on the law of averages) that another ot the sex was due for a blue ribbon victory. Mata Han is by Peter Hastings out ot War Woman by Man o War, son of Fair Play and Maluibab by Rock Sand, sire of Tracery. Peter Hastings was bred in 1925. He is by Peter Pan from Nettie Hastings by Hastings. At two years Mata Hari won five races out of eight starts. Her wins included the Breeders’ Futurity and the Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes. Peter Pan was by Commando out of imported Cinderella by Hermit. Commando was by Domino out of Emma C., by the Australian and New Zealand-bred horse DareInn, son of The Peer and Lurlme. Peter Pan sired Pennant, Black Toney, and the good mare Prudery. He sired the dams of such performers as Top Plight, Victorian, and Diavolo. His son. Pennant, is the sire of the champion Equipoise. Peter Pan died in December last. He was bred in i9Ol

and served at the stud from 1909 until 1931. He was in his thirtieth year when he died. He was a high-class racehorse. When the Castleton Stud dispersal sale took place in 1912 Peter Pan (then eight years old) was bought by Air H. P. Whitney lor 3S,oUodol. He was a great success at the stud, though he was never at the head ol the winning sires’ list.