RACING NOTES

Evening Star, Issue 21723, 18 May 1934, Page 9

RACING NOTES

RASING. May 19. —Ashburton B.C, May IS.—Bancitikei R.C. March 13. 21.—Te Kuiti R.C. May 26.—South Canterbury J.C. June 2, 4.—Otaki Maori R.C. Jim* 2,4, s.—Dunedin J.C. June 2,4, 6.—Auckland R.C. June 9. —Foiton R.C. June 14, 18. —Hawke’s Bay J.C. June 16.—South Canterbury J.,C. Jun* 21, 23.—Napier Park R.C. Jun* 23.—Ashburton C.R.C. June 30.—Oamaru J.C. Julv 6.—Dannevirke Hunt Club.

TO-MORROW’S BIG MATCH RACE. When the invitations were issued for the match race to be decided at Hutt Park on Saturday the Wellington Trottin Club reserved the right to make alterations or additions to the field, and information was received in Christchurch on Wednesday that the owner of Impromptu had been invited to produce his pacer for the race against Walla Walla and the other star performers. Discussing this horse’s right to be included in the high-class field, the ' Dress ’ says: On recent form Impromptu is fully entitled to a place m the field, and if track conditions suit the big pacer may be expected to put up a good race. After two useful performances at the New Zealand Metropolitan Trotting Club’s Easter Meeting Impromptu proved himself a high-class racehorse when he won the Durbar Handicap of one mile and a-half at Ashburton in .'lmiu 13 4-ssec, easily beating a good field. He was then taken to the Auckland Meeting, and after winning the Fergusson Handicap of two miles he defeated lied Shadow, Harold Logan, Auburn Lad, Lindbergh, and Worthy Light in the. invitation Match of one mile and a-quarter in 2min 47 l-osec, on what is described as a heavy track. Showing that he is right at the top of his form, impromptu' on Monday last established a record of 2min 4 l-ssec for the Waikato Trotting Club’s course, thereby equalling the record made by Happy Voyage on the grass track at New ihe field for the scratch race at Wellington will now comprise Walla Walla, Auburn Lad, Harold Logan, Lindbergh, impromptu, lied Shadow, and Gleurossie, and looks like developing into a threecornered battle of the North and South islands and Australia. With Walla and Auburn Lad in lor in Australia holds a strong hand, while North Island interests are entrusted to impromptu and Gleurossie, the latter having an advantage through racing on his home track. The South island, however, can be relied on to make a brave showing with Harold Logan, Red Shadow and Lindbergh, and from these three the winner may come, with a distinct preference for Harokl Logan, in this field Roi TOr would not be out of place, for he is the only horse in' New Zealand that has twice beaten 4min 15sec for two miles, besides which he has a mile and a-quarter record ot 2m in 37 l-sseo. At Oamaru on Saturday last he was ot quite ready, yet he ran a very creditable_ race, and the effort would improve him considerably. His presence at Hutt Park on Saturday would not weaken what looks to be one of the best fields ever paraded on a New Zealand racecourse, WINOOKA ACCLIMATISED. Recent cables received in Australia from the United States have indicated that Winooka has done well since he raced there last year, and that he is likelv to get back to something like his best Australian form this season. He showed to advantage in a trial spin last week, and that suggests lie is now thoroughly acclimatised. In a recent issue of the Kentucky ‘ Thoroughbred Record ’ the well-known turf writer Vernon Sanders had something to say regarding Winooka, about whom he wrote: tralian champion, is due to arrive at Churchill Downs about March Ij. He will come with a shipment of the Audley Farm Stable, which will make Douglas Park training quarters for the pretentious stable Joe Patterson plans to train this year. Winooka will have a stablemate' m Trevallion, another thoroughbred from the country 1 Down Under. Winooka and Trevallion will be campaigned by M. Poison, the trainer who conditioned both last year. Winooka made a Favourable impression on the Maryland racing public last fall, when He defeated some of the best sprinters in the east. Winooka started but seven times in America last year, winning Four, ttdrd once, and out of. the money a couple of times, earning all told 20,300dol. His handlers claimed that he was not accustomed to the skinned tracks.' and had not been acclimatised enough to show his real prowess as a racer. Tile report comes that Winooka wintered well at Berryville, Va.. and that he would bo ready for hard (raining at once. He will he conditioned by Joe Patterson at Douglas Park until

[By St. Clair.]

July 10, 12, 14.—'Wellington K.C. July 21.—Hawke’s Bay Hunt Club. July 28.—Waimate Hunt Club. July 26, 28.—Poverty Bay Turf Club July 28.—South Canterbury J.C. July 28.—Manawatu R.C.

TROTTING. May 19.—Wellington T.C. June 24,—Canterbury Park T. 6, June 24.—Hawke’* Bay T.C. June 9.—Ashburton T.C. June 20. 23.—Auckland T.C.

Poison gets here.’’ .Winooka will have his first race this season at Chicago at the end of the present month. JOTTINGS. Nominations for the Dunedin Winter Meeting close at 5 p.m. to-day. The first race at Ashburton will start at 12.30 to-morrow. The Auckland trainer, F. J. Smith, has turned out forty-six winners of tight harness races this season. There is no preliminary payment for the big events at the Auckland Racing Club’s Great Northern fixture, the acceptances for all first day events and the Great Northern Steeplechase falling due on Friday of next week. G. Richards was again slow off the mark in England this year, but after three weeks’ racing he got to the fro>nt, and English critics were of opinion he would remain there. In a recent letter Mr W. R. Kemball reported that all his horses landed in .Melbourne in good condition. At present lie has twenty-five horses in work, and some of them are promising, especially one or two of his Lord Quex yeariings. Consent’s form at Wanganui was very disappointing, and L. G. Morris stated afterwards that he was unlikely to race at Ellerslie, where his engagements included the Great Northern Hurdles. A change of riders was tried with Consent on the second day at Wanganui, but he was again well beaten, and appears to have gone off instead of improving. Speakeasy, who has been sent north to compete in the steeplechases at the Te Kuiti and Auckland Meetings, has a unique record as a steeplechaser, as he has never been beaten in a race that he has finished in. His trouble is that he is an erratic fencer, but when in the right mood a bold jumper and stays well.

There is a tendency m the north to hail Brown Abbey as a coming champion, but if his form at Egmont and Wanganui is any criterion he is only moderate. He did not improve much with bis racing, and although heavy ground may give him a pull, ho will have to do something better before being considered one of the leading lights. Some Shamble has been suffering slight lameness of late, and lie was not paid up for at Ashburton. His stable is, however, well represented by Quietly, who will be making her initial attempt over ten furlongs. She has finished on strongly in all her recent successes over a distance up to a mile, and there is every reason to expect her to master the extra journey. Thespis, one of the favourites for the Great Northern Steeplechase, schooled brilliantly on Tuesday morning, but unfortunately over-reached and cut his off foreleg just above the coronet. It is believed that he cut an artery, and the wound bled very freely until he received treatment from Dr W. C. Ring. The cut appeared to be fairly deep, and its full effect may not be apparent for a day or two. The trouble is unlikely to be serious, although it may prove troublesome at this stage of his preparation, and also make it doubtful whether he will be able to race at Te Rapa to-morrow. Makeup was installed favourite lor the Wanganui Steeplechase on the strength of his good race in the Century Hurdles the first day, but with his'll.l3 he was always running well back and making no impression over the concluding stages. In spite of the weight, it was a disappointing performance, and pointed to bis being not so forward as anticipated. T. R George has gone on with him to Te Kuiti. where he will gel (mother race before the Groat Northerns, and there is no need to discard such a well-performed horse for his failure on Saturday. More than half the horses engaged in the Fairfield Hack Handicap to be run at Ashburton to-morrow have been returned as winners during Hie last few mouths, these comprising Silver bight, Red Dance, Cheap Honey, Drum Fire, Star "Raider, Grand Review, Sihella, and Air Pocket, while of the remainder, the form of Tout ilc Monde, Hae re Tonn. High Rank, llaroha, Jolly Beggar, and Rebel Chief has been good enough to give each i lavourable chance of disputing the honours. The Ashburton Club is certain I j' fortunate in as-

sembling such an even field of proved hack talent.

There was only a little, money for Callamart in the Century Hurdles, and his backers soon recognised that their chance was hopeless. Callamart struck trouble at the very first fence and also stopped another couple of horses when he ran out, and thereafter he was never able to make up for this loss of ground. He has been, expected to do well in several hurdling races during the past twelve months, but something always went wrong. It was thought that he would win both the Great Northerns last June, and he tossed his rider off at the first obstacle, although he was first home in the Great Northern Steeplechase. The following stewards were declared elected at the annual general meeting of the Canterbury Jockey Club on Wednesday Messrs M. Bethell, A. T. Donnelly, A. S; Elworthy, G. Fulton, H. A. Knight, H. A’ Rhind, G. Leslie Rutherford, D. E. Wanklyu, D. W. Westenra, Sir Charles Clifford, Dr M. G. Louissou, and the Hon. Sir R. Heaton Rhodes. The following committee was declared elected:—Messrs W. L. Clifford, A. T. Donnelly, A. S. Elworthy, G. Fulton, D. W. J. Gould, H. A. Knight, George R. Macdonald, H. A. Rhind, G. Leslie Rutherford, D. E. Wanklyn, R. G. G. Westenra, Sir Charles Clifford, and Dr M. G. Louisson. Mr George Gould was re-elected, unopposed, honorary treasurer. An excellent display of jumping was given by Rational 11. (H. Turner), Aladdin (A. S, Ellis), and Arcade (0. Murfitt) over a round of the steeplechase fences at Riccarton on Wednesday (says the ’Press’). Aladdin was allowed to go to the front over the early, stages, but the trio finished in a ■line, with an attractive jump on the part of each over the sod wall. This was Aladdin’s first schooling in company, and his effort was very pleasing, but* unfortunately he showed signs of lameness afterwards. Rational 11. also did well, and his- display must have been very gratifying to his owner, Mr P. F. Thorpy, who was present, and who recently turned down a chance of selling his geldmg. Arcade is a most proficient jumper, and will he a useful winter performer. An American exchange of April 21 says: Turning on his famous speedy lor only one brief moment, C. V. Whitney’s Equipoise, back to the racing wars to continue an attack on Sun Beau's money winning record, won his six-year-old dehut to-day. He defeated four other high-class tlmroughbreds for his second straight triumph in the Philadelphia Handicap at Havre de Grace. The victory, worth 5,800d0J. carried Equipoise past Gallant Fox into third place on the list of leading money winners. His total earnings were boosted to 328,770d0l as compared to 328,165d0l won bv the Fox. Ahead lies Phar Lap with 332,250d01, and Sun Beau with 376,744d01. [Since then Equipoise won the Dixie Handicap easily at the prohibitive odds ot 10 to 1 on at Baltimore on May 5. The prize, 4,190d01, brings his total earnings to 332,960d01, slightly in excess of Phar Lap’s, and within striking distance of Sun Beau’s world record.] The decision of the stewards ot the Eginont Racing Club in the Orapai inquiry undoubtedly leaves an impression that the horse was not ridden on its merits (writes “ The Watcher,” in the 1 Dominion ’). However that may be, it is the opinion of more than one competent observer that Orapai on the second day ran very true to form. On the first day he came from the back to beat British Columbia by a head. On the second day, with a, rise of 101 b, and British Columbia raised 51b, he again came from the back and beat British Columbia bv half a head. Both were beaten by ‘Royal Bengal, on whom there was a stronger rider, and who is a champion in wet going. One feature of the inquiry which has given rise to sonic comment, is that it was adjourned off the course. The horse was either ridden on its merits or it was not, and the valuable evidence of eyesight, it is contended, should have been sufficient. Owing to the acceptors for the Maiden Handicap, to be run on the first clny ot the Te Kuiti Racing Club s meeting at Te Rapa next Saturday, exceeding the safety number, the event has had to be divided. The divisions will form the first and third races on the programme, each being treated as a separate event, the totalizator being open on each division. The divisions arc as follow First Division:. Brow" Lap 9.0, Etcetera 8.6, Sale Bank 8.4,

Campanero,B.l, Nigger Kill 7.13, Engi 7.13, Valorous 7.13, Cordon 7.13, Beau Valet 7.13, Gharsong 7.13, Te Taua 7.13, Scotland 7.13, Carshaltou 7.13, Moss Vale 7.11, Racette 7.11, Star Maire 7.11, Yellow Bonnet 7.11, Nurjalian 7.11. Second Division: Record Flight 8.12, Curlew '8.4, Englishman 5.3, Clan Ronald 8.1, Silver Wattle 7.13, Lebanon 7.13, Ring Rey 7.13, Gipsy Moth 7.13, Notainint 7.13, Anagram 7.13, Silver Brier 7.13, Royal Lap 7.13, Joyzelie 7.11, Miss Acre 7.11, Sweet Lap 7.11, Miss Lu 7.11, Aubretia 7.11, Star Lap '7.11. Looking over Australian Jockey Club Derby results for the last years one cannot' help recalling that Noetuifonn, who won in 1905, was an exceptional horse, says 11 Pilot,” in the Sydney ‘ Referee. 1 Before his year the best time' for the Derby was 2min 37Jsec, and he . cut it down to 2min 32}sec, which remained the record until Salitros did 2min. 32sec in 1920. Noctuiform. also won the New Zealand Cup as a three-year-old, but on being sent to England ’ never regained his earlier form, and ended his career by breaking a leg in a hurdle race. Time does not always correctly indicate the comparative merit of horses, but only two Australian Jockey Club Derby winners have improved upon Nootuiform’s record. 1 have already mentioned Salitros, and the other was Phar Lap, who did 2min 31isec. Poseidon won the year following Noctuiform, but he did nothing special in the way of time, taking 2min 38sec. In the last thirty years the slowest time was the 2min 41jsec of Mountain Knight. Gloaming won in 2min 33Jsec. Like Noctuiform he was trained by R. J. Mason, whose other winners, Biplane and Cupidon, respectively took 2min 34Jsec and 2min 33Jsec. Rampion and Trivalve each won in 2min 33sec, Prince Humphrey in 2min 32Jsec —fourth best time for the race—and Peter Pan in 2min 34sec. - AU of which emphasises the fact that though we do not hear as much of Noctuiform as some ot later days, he was one of the greatest winners of the Australian Jockey Club Derby. ■