RACING NOTES

Evening Star, Issue 21903, 14 December 1934, Page 8

RACING NOTES

[By St. Clair.]

RACING. December 15.—Waipa Racing Club. December 15.—Hororata Racing Club. December 15.—Wellington Racing Club. December 26.—Waipukurau. December 26 and 27.—Dunedin Jockey Club. December 26,‘ 27, 29.—Manawatu Racing Club. i December 26, 28, January 1, 2.—Auckland Racing Club. December 26, 29.—Westland Racing Club. January I.—Waikouaiti Racing CluH. January I.—Wyndbam Racing Club, January 1, 2.—Greymouth Jockey Club. January 1, 2.—Hawke’s Bay Jockey Club. January 1, 2.—Stratford Racing Club.' January 1, 2.—Marton Jockey Club. January 1, 2.—Wairarapa Racing Club. January 2.—Oamaru Jockey Club. January 2, 3.—Southland Racing Club. January 7, B.—Reefton Jockey Club. January 10, 12.—Tliamcs Jockey Club. January 11, 12.—Vincent Jockey Club. January 19.—Bay of Islands R.C. January 19.—Wairio Jockey Club.

REMINDERS. To-day.—Southland R.C. nominations, 5 p.m. December 17. —Wyndharn R.C. handicaps due. December 17.—Oamaru R.C. handicaps due. December 17. —Waikouaiti R.C. handicaps due. December 17.—Dunedin J.C. handicaps due. December 17. —Gore T.C. acceptances, 5 p.m. December 20.—Winton T.C. handicaps due. December 20.—Oamaru R.C. acceptances, 8 p.m. December 20.—Waikouaiti R.C. acceptances, 8 p.m. ' December 20.—Winton T.C. acceptances, 8 p.m. December 21.—Dunedin J.C. acceptances, 5 p.m. ‘ December 21.—Vincent J.C. nominations, 8 p.m. December 22. Wyndbam R.C. acceptances, 5 p.m. JOTTINGS. In answer to an inquiry the dates of the Dunedin Cup Meeting this season are February 14 and 10. The single pool system of betting, with dividends on the 75 and 25 per cent, basis, will be in operation at the Hororata Meeting to-morrow. The Handicapping Committee of the New Zealand Trotting Conference has decided that the •Australian pacer Auburn Lad be assessed on his last New Zealand mark, which was 4.26. J E. Pike resumed race riding at Moorefield (Sydney) on December 1, and had a winning mount on Buonarroti, who is owned by William Kelso, with whom Pike served his apprenticeship. Pike was given a great reception by the crowd. , , , „ T The news from Auckland that W. M'Kay intends returning with Auburn Lad to Sydney after the conclusion of the Auckland Trotting Club’s Meeting will caTiso general regret in the south, as it was expected that M‘Kay would the Wellington, Metropolitan, and Forbury Meetings before returning. The Gore Trotting Club is to be congratulated upon its generosity. It has received thirty-seven entries for the Trial Handicap, and in the event of there being eighteen or more starters the race will be run in divisions, and 75sovs will be added to the stake, making the .prize lOOsova for each division.

One of the best of the 1934, two-year-olds in England is the Sansovino colt Shahali, owned by H.H. Aga Khan. He won the Criteribn Stakes at Newmarket on Ocober 30, He was not nominated for the Derby because of a dangerous illness when he- was a yearling. It was not expected that he would throw the effects off in time to be much use at two and three years. He is in events for which entries closed later, including the Grand Prix', de Paris.

The Christchurch ‘ Star ’ reports that C. P. Cameron intends sending Guy J unior and Travis Pringle south to race at the Gore Trotting Club’s Meeting. Guy Junior has improved this season, and he looks like emulating the deeds of his brother, Sir Guy. His outstanding effort at .New Brighton on Saturday, where he'ran second in a mile and a-half race from 24yds bhd in 3min 18 3-ssec, should encourage many to support him in his holiday engagements. Only two owners had their colours carried in both the Jubilee Melbourne Cup of 1910 and the Centenary Melbourne Cup of 1934. One of this pair was “Mr S. A. Rawdon,” for whom the New Zealander, Adam Skirving, has been private trainer for many years. The other was Mr A. J. Toxward, of New Zealand, owner of Limbohm. Mr Toxward’s representative in 1910 was Lady Lucy, winner of the New Zealand Cup of 1909. She ran nowhere in the Melbourne Cup, which was won by Comedy King from Trafalgar and Apple Pie. Cottesmore is to be ridden in his engagement at Trentham to-morrow by R. Marsh, whose term of suspension incurred at Feilding ends that day. The stake attached to the Sydney Cup has again been increased to £5,000, and in addition will carry a gold cup valued at £2OO. The Doncaster Handicap goes up from £1,750 to £2,000. Mr Edgar Meares, a West Australian sportsman, has been in the Hawke’s Bay district recently inspecting the various studs. He will be a buyer at the yearling sales at Trentham next month. ■ (

Filena, a half-sister to Nedda, and owned by Rev. Father Farthing (her breeder) in Invercargill, has produced a colt foal to Silverado. This mare is now in Australia. It is imported that Cough is likely to do some travelling during the holidays, as she may contest both the Waikouaiti Cup on New Year’s Day and return to race on the following day at Invercargill., Southdown will be ridden in the Duke of Gloucester Handicap to-morrow by G. H. Humphries, but in the Auckland Cup Mr Samson’s colt will be handled by L. J. Ellis, and will have to carry about 61b overweight. Very keen interest is being taken in the meeting of Sporting Blood and Synagogue in the Trentham Stakes tomorrow. Sporting Blood will again be ridden by L. J. Ellis, and on this occasion A. E. Ellis will have the mount on Synagogue, instead of his usual pilot, W. J. Broughton. The Melbourne Cup winner Peter Pan has been sent to Doonside for a spell, which is to extend until January. No doubt Peter Pan will be given .sufficient exercise to keep him in healthy condition while he is away from Randwick, and when ho returns he should soon round into shape for the autumn meetings. Norman Conquest’s successes came to a sudden stop at Ascot. Heavily backed in the second division of the Flying Handicap, he had every chance, but just missed a place. The winner was the Auckland-bred mare Sirocco (Whirl-

January 22, 24, 26.—Wellington R.C. January 22.—Ashhurst-Pohangina R.C, January 28, 29.—Takapuna J.C. January 30, 31. —Egmont Racing Club. Jan. 31, Feb. 2.—Wairoa Racing Club. February 2.—Matarnata R.C. Februai-y 6. —Tapanui Racing Club. TROTTING. December 26.—Gore Trotting Club. December 26.—Wairarapa Trotting Club. December 26. —Ashburton Trotting Club. December 26. 27.—Westport Trotting Club. December 26, 29, 31.—Auckland Trotting Club. December 39.—Winton Tretting Club. January 1, 2.—Canterbury Park T.C. January s.—Westland Trotting Club. January 4, s.—Greymouth Trotting Club. January 9.—Reefton Trotting Club. January 12.—Wellington Trotting Club. January 19.—N.K, Metropolitan T.C. January 26.—Timaru Trotting Club. Jan. 31, Feb. 2.—Forbury Park T.C.

wind—Black Points). . She is a smart but somewhat erratic three-year-old filly trained by W. Kelso. Some of the riding engagements for to-morrow at Trentham are: B. H. Morris, Gold Trail, Cyclonic, Cadland; W. J. Broughton, Canopy, Severe, Arctic .King, Grand Jury; S. Wilson, Pango, Princess Doreen, Bias; H. N. Wiggins, Solarium, Going Gay, Limulus; A. E. Ellis, Synagogue. Fresh arrangements will have to be made for Copper King, Hunting Lodge, Aussie Ra, and Courtega, on which W. E. Pine, who was suspended at Woodville, was to have the mount. Passion Fruit maintained the recent improvement he has shown by winning the Bolton . Memorial at Woodville on Saturday, in decisive fashion, the. feature again being the way he finished on. Passion Fruit is improving, and although he will be taking on formidable opponents at Trentham to-morrow he will have to be considered.

Bunsby Gaze and Chenars, winners at Mooneo Valley last Saturday, were both bred in the dominion. Bunsby Gaze is a three-year-old colt by Captain Bunsby from Gazelia, and Chenars is a four-year-old horse by Hunting Song from Lalla Ilookh. Lalla Rookh was a half-sister to Bon Ton, The Toff, and Eligible, and it is a family which has produced some of the best gallopers in Australasia. .

People who are fond of quoting the different systems of betting to account for the recent decline in turnovers, especially when the system they dislike shows the decrease, will have to find some other excuse, for there has been a fairly steady decline under all systems. Nobody (says the ‘ Dominion ’) appears to have discovered yet that the public purse needs replenishing, and that when they do bet a heavy tax helps to diminish their returns. Racing men are of necessity optimists. True to type is a Victorian country trainer who took a young horse a two-day walking journey from Omeo, in the Australian Alps, to race at Lindenow. He invested £lO on the horse, which finished second. “ I guess he’s a bit new,” said the trainer, “ but all he wants is time. I’ll put him away for a couple of years.” The point of this story is that the trainer is ninetyfive years of age. The fastest two-year-old said to have been seen out this season in Victoria is a bay filly named Theresa Gamba. She cleared out from a good field at Caulfield on November 24 when winning the Stanmore Handicap, and cut out five furlongs in 60sec. The horse who finished second to her was Mr W. Higgins’s Debham, who arrived back in the dominion yesterday and will probably be racing at Trentham on Saturday. E. C. M'Dermott is not likely to make the trip to Auckland for the Christmas and New Year racing, for he has Cloudy Range and Cruiser engaged at Ashburton on Boxing Day, and in the absence of J. Behrns, who is recovering from injuries, he will probably be asked to drive the Durbar Lodge horses. The Auckland trip would mean an absence from Addington for M'Dermott at a tinie when his own team needs all his care. J. Fraser, jun., will probably drive Indianapolis in the Auckland Cup (says the ‘ Press ’). The South Australian Government received from the bookmakers during their first year of operations about £150,000, which is greatly in excess of expectations, not only of the Betting Control Board, but also of the Government, according to Mr P. F. Kiley, secretary of the Licensed Victuallers’ Racing Club (Adelaide). He expressed the opinion that a proportion of the tax received by the Government on the turnover on, interstate races should be paid to the clubs conducting meetings on the courses on which the bets were made.

The Sydney owner, Mr J. S. Brunton, had an offer of 2,000 guineas recently for his Iliad—Quadrilateral two-year-old colt Homer. It came from the Queensland sportsman, Mr A. B. Nagel, who was informed by Mr Brunton that the colt was not for sc’e. Homer’s half-brother, by Night Raid, will be among the yearlings at the Trentham sales next month. He is a grand-looking colt—a big, rich brown, with any amount of reach and substance —and ho is likely to prove one of the most attractive youngsters to be offered. In his review of the field for the Auckland Trotting Cup, “ Abaydos,” in the Auckland ‘ Herald,’ says: When Indianapolis won the Auckland Trotting Cup last season jie did not handle the right-handed Epsom course too well, and if he has not improved in this respect he will be in danger with such strong opposition. However, he is in wonderful form, and his success in the Christchurch Handicap in 4.16 1-5, in spite of a broken hopple, was even more outstanding than his cup win. It is in Harold Logan’s favour that he races well at Epsom, and will not lack support. When Mr T. H. Lowry’s two-year-old colt Haut Monde won at Trentham in the spring he created a very favourable impression by the style in which ho fought out the finish. He was taken to the New Zealand Cup Meeting, but developed soreness and was unable to run. He proved too good for his opponents at Woodville on Monday, and, although the opposition may not have been very strong, he is a good colt who looks sure to develop into something above the average. Haut Monde is engaged at Trentham to-morrow. Caliente, who claims an engagement in the Duke of Gloucester Handicap, one mile and three furlongs, ran two good races at Elerslie in _ November, winning a mile hack event in fast time on the first day, and she also finished fourth in the St. Andrew’s Handicap, run over a similar distance, on the second day. Last season Caliente was successful in the Matamata Cup, run over a mile and a-quarter and 15yds. She won with the greatest of ease, being timed to run the distance in 2.6 3-5. This mare has always shaped like a stayer in her races, and as she is on

the minimum at Trentham she is likely to beat more than beats her.

To have attended sixty-five annual race meetings, and to look forward to enjoying another fixture on Boxing Day is the happy lot of Mr W. A. Thompson. of Hokitika. His first connection with the Westland Racing Club was on January I, 1867, when the first registered race meeting in Westland was' held. For many years, Mr Thompson was on the executive of the club, and was starter for eleven years, relinquishing the latter position because of interference with him at the starting post'by the then secretary of the club, who had a horse running in a race which he. was about to start. Mr Thompson was made a life member of the club some twbnty-fiv© years ago, and is very proud of the privilege. He has attended sixty-five annual meetings of members, and has missed only two, owing to being out of the district. He is now ninety-three years of age, but retains his interest in the club, and hopes to take part in the forthcoming jubilee celebrations.

Ref erring to the chances of some of* the Riccarton horses at Trentham tomorrow, the * Press ’ says:—Hounslow is being taken north mainly to race in the hurdle events at Ellerslie, and his engagement in the high-weight event on Saturday will be of benefit to him. Sweet Agnes has done well since last raced, and, with L. J. Ellis in the saddle, she wifi not need to lie neglected for the big event. Cranford did an excellent gallop bn Tuesday, and his prospects in the Bledisloe Stakes look very _ bright. He has always been a formidable galloper under a light scale of weights, and with 7.11 he will be prominent throughout. Free Air has to be given a chance in the high-weight event, but Horowhenua does not make much appeal amongst the opposition he will encounter in the principal event. Sea Fox will have the services of a strong horseman in the Sandringham Handicap, and on his form at Riccarton he will probably dispute favouritism. Maroha is improving with every race, and, although he may not be capable of winning his race, he will give a creditable display. Southdown will be an interesting contestant in the Duke of Gloucester Handicap. He has done well since running second in the Metropolitan Handicap with 91b more than he will carry on Saturday, and, as he is expected to take a part in the finish ot the Auckland Cup, he should show up over eleven furlongs. Penelope has had a comparatively easy time since the Cup Meeting, and has not been asked to gallop as much as previously. She is well seasoned, and will hold her own amongst the juveniles paraded.