RACING NOTES

Evening Star, Issue 21965, 27 February 1935, Page 2

RACING NOTES

RACING. February 28! - Waiapu K.C. - March 2. -Banks Peninsula U.C. March 2, 4.—Franklin R.C. March 2.—Napier Park R.C. March 6.—Bangitikei R.C. March 8, 9.—Cromwell J.C. March 9 —Napier Pork R.C. March 9, 11.—Waikato R.C. March 16.—Kurow J.C. March 16.—Clifden R.C. March 16 and 18.—Ohinemuri J.C. March 16, 18.-Wellington R.C. March 20. —Opotiki J.C, March 21. 23.—Oamaru J.C.

JOTTINGS

Next Tuesday at 5 p.m. Mr I>. V. A, Smith will receive nominations roi the Oamaru Jockey Club’s summer meeting to be held on March 21 and 33. A ‘proposal made by the Wamo Jockey Club that it should change dates with the Tapanni Club next season has been turned down by the lattex It is computed that the number of yearlings to be submitted at auction at the approaching sales in r«ew boutli Wales will be over 500. Two outstandingly good mares m Warshep, by Martian, and Merry Roe, by Soult, who raced as two-year-olds m the season of 1912-13 and are therefore now each in their 24th ,'eai, respectively made additions to the New Zealand stud book last year, a colt by Hunting Song being the record m each case. i t Racketeer would not have been beaten in the Flying Handicap at New Brighton on Saturday had he not got one of his feet through Chechaheo s sulky wheel two furlong from home (savs the Christchurch Star ). lie mishap sent the big horse to a break. He lost fully five lengths, and when ho recovered his balance he thundered down the straight and was smothering the opposition at the finish. Racketeer is a very reliable horse, and > his supporters were unlucky in losing their money on Saturday. Heroic, sire of Heros, who deadheated with Synagogue m the 1' utunty Stakes last Saturday,_ made two attempts himself to win the Caulfield Futurity Stakes. As a three-year-old with 9.6 he finished fifth in 1925, and twelve months later was fourth with 10.1. The/1925 result was of special interest to New Zealanders, for thh late Mr W. G. Stead won it with Father s Voice, while J. M. Cameron was run-ner-up with The Hawk. Third place went to Mercian King, who later came to New Zealand as a sire. Top Gallant won in 1926. , Winooka was second and Heros thu d in the Oakleigh Plate on February 16, but' the tables were turned in the Futurity on Saturday. Winooka has a splendid record in the important Melbourne and Sydney events up to a mile. j t is:— Oakleigh Plate, 1933, second with 9.9; 1935, second with 10.5. Futurity Stakes, 1933. won with 9.0; 1935, third with 10.2. Newmarket Handicap, 1932, second with 8.9. A.J.C. Epsom Handicap, 1932, third' with 9.0. A J.C. Doncaster Handicap, 1933, von with 9.13 in Imin SSJsec. When his absence in America is recalled, the greatness of his record is enhanced. A little new blood on the committee and the election of a successful business man to the office of president in the person of Air George Wishart, has made all the difference to the Cromwell Jockey club. The club, which is one of the oldest in Otago, was on the point of crossing the Styxian Ferry, and- the sixty-ninth annual meeting looked ns though its race was run, when a few got their heads together and pledged themselves to stem the rot. The efforts of these enthusiasts have been most encouraging, and the nominations for March 8 and 9 constitute a record. Every indication points to a most successful meeting. The remarkable run of dead-beat decisions in Melbourne this season—all the work of the one judge—culminated on Saturday in Synagogue and Heros dividing first prize in the Caulfield Futurity Stakes. This is the first deadheat in the history of the race. Prior to last March, when Hall Mark and Limareh were judged to have run a dead-heat for first in the V.R.C. St. Leger, there had not been such a case in a Melbourne principal event since 1909. when the New Zealand-bred Aborigine and Blue Book divided first prize in the Caulfield Cup.- Under the Australian rules of racing, no dend-heirt may be run off. The most remarkable instance in a big Victorian event occurred in 1872, when Saladin and Flying Dutchman ran a dead-heat in the Australian Cup, two and a-quarter miles. They ran it off, and again the verdict was a dead-beat. A third time the two horses travelled the long journey, and this time Saladin won. Six and thi - ee-quarter miles’ racing in one day.' Saladin carried 7.8, and Flying Dutchman 7 5 Some of the Melbourne critics have been getting verv restive, over all these recent dead-heats.

The much-discussed question of a racehorse’s best age has brought a most interesting article from “ Audax,” in ‘ Horse and Hound.’ In dealing with the subject he says: I believe that in almost every instance over a distance of ground—say the two miles and a-half the Ascot Gold Cup is run over—a horse that has come well to hand and developed satisfactorily never has a better day as a racer than in the summer of his four-year-old career. Certainly on the day Persimmon, for instance, won the Gold Cup he was a greater horse than at any earlier period of his activities., I well remember how magnificent he looked, full of life and vitality, and it would have been impossible to make him better or stronger as a racing machine than on that day when he made the greatly-fancied Wihkfield’s Pride, of the same age, look like a hack. Another four-year-old whom no increase of age would have made better than he was on the day he secured the Ascot Gold Cup mav be instanced in the very handsome Cyllene. In fact, I am convinced that four-year-olds, not in the early spring, but later in the year, have, as a rule, reached the pinnacle of their racing powers. Synagogue’s dead heat in the Caulfield Futurity Stakes on Saturday would considerably help towards the return of the outlay made by Mr J. A. Phillips to secure him. Shortly after the sale was made Mr Phillips stated that ho did not have to pay the 2,600 gs mentioned as the price involved, and that he got him for much less. This was probably so, but in the first place his breeder and previous owner, Mr W. S. Clark, received 2,500 gs for him, and any less figure accepted for him in his sale to Mr Phillips was no concern of his. Synagogue must have been given a good test out after his arrival in Melbourne. as be was accorded a late entry (February 5) for the Futurity Stakes nt an outlay of £3O. this being a hi' increase on the nomination fees if made at the original closing time. In addition it would cost another £SO to start in Saturday’s race. Half ,share of the first and second money and the prize for the nominator of the winner would

[By St. Cl air.. l

TROTTING. March 1, 2.—lnvercargill T.C. March 2. —Wellington T.C. March 9. -Timaru T.C. March 9 —Marlborough T.C. March 13.—Wyndham T.C. March 16.—Cheviot T.C. March 23.—Auckland T.C. March 23.—Roxburgh T.C. March 23.—Wairarapa T.C. March 30.—Manawatu T.C. March 30.—Thames T.C. April 5. —Manawatu T.C. April 6.—Wanganui T.C. April 13.—Wanganui T.C. • April 13.—Ashburton T.C. April 17.—Rotorua T.C. April 20, 22.—Hawera T.C. April 20, 24.—N.Z, Metropolitan T.C,

amount to £1,200. Air Phillips has had only a few horses since ho entered the ranks of owners about three years ago. Yet already his colours have been car ried to success in a Caulfield Cm Moonee Valley Gold Cup, a V.R.C Grand National Hurdle Race, and ; Caulfield Futurity Stakes. With the exception of the National, all of wins have been gained with New Zea-land-bred horses. He has had a very speedy return with Synagogue. Last season Mr Phillips _ finished second on the Australian winning owners’ list with £9,725 to Air C. B. Kellow with £13,256.

The rule adopted by the Australian Jockey Club and the Victoria Racing Club debarring geldings from classic events, which has operated for three years, has yet to receive unanimous support. Those opposed to the edict, who are referred to as the die-hards, contend that the best horso should be allowed to win, but the matter has to be looked at all round. Mr E. Reginald White, a prominent breeder of New South Wales, does this in stating his views on the subject, as follows: —The first qualification of a Derby winner is that he should be a whole horse, not an unsexed one. Is not the purpose of racing to improve _ the quality of speed, stamina, and weightcarrying capacity of the horse? By unsexing such horses as Phar Lap, Amounis, and Gloaming, to name three great horses, that purpose is seriously handicapped. On the other hand, by the act of emasculation yon_ immediately reduce the muscular weight of a horse, supposing all ’things are equal, for it is a truth that the gelding would he carrying less flesh weight than the entire. Now, on the argument as to weight of body, it may be that a family gets undue honour for producing _ a Derby winner when a gelding wins the Derby, and thus would lead breeders astray in their estimate of the value of that family. Another point worth considering is that when a horse is gelded his temper is altered, whereas if no Aver© entire all his bad faults would be disclosed, and thus breeders would be enlightened on that very important point. , J ; The cabled statement that Azucar, winner of* the Santa Anita Handicap at Los Angeles last week, was unable to win a race in England, while literally correct, conveys rather a false impression. He did not get much or a chance as his racing in England was limited to five starts' as a three-yeai-old. In four he was unplaced, but he was third in the London Cup, one mile and a-quarter, at Alexandra Park. In that race he was conceding 61b to the winner, Nitischin, who had 7.10. Twelve months later Nitischin wbn the same race again with 9.1, and then won the Cesarewitch, and his subsequent successes included the Jockey Club Gup, so the form of Azucar in the London Cup can be classed as pretty good. Me was sold to an American with the idea of making a steeplechaser out of him, but evidently, as'has been the case with some other horses, the change of climate lias proved very beneficial to Azucar, who is by Alilasius from Clarice by Picton, and became a seven-year-old on January 1. Records of recent American racing are not available, but Azucar must have, been racing well before the weights were issued. He was receiving only 31b from Mate, tor instance, and 91b from Twenty Grand. On January 13 the ‘ New York HeraldTribune ’ in discussing the Santa Anita Handicap said. “ We almost overlooked a bright possibility, Fred M. Algers former steeplechaser, Azucar. this fellow at least is sound, has speed, is game, and can go any route (Dist—ance).” Azucar is a chestnut gelding by Alilesius from Clarice. Ladysman, who finished second, won the important Suburban Handicap, o tip mile and a-quarter, last year, beating Equipoise by inches. Unfortunately the cable does not state what the race was worth to the winner. The added money was 100,000dol (£20,000), but there Is also a big sweepstake. Wrackettc is the local favourite for the Invercargill Trotting Cup to be decided on Friday. . ~ , It is reported from the north that both 11. Reed and B. H. Morns have lodged appeals against the month s suspension to which they were sentenced by the Woodville Club last Saturday. Blue Mountain Queen is reported to be showing much improved form in her work. She will require to be back to her best i form to win the Invercargill Trotting Cup from 72yds behind. ■ Imperial Bingen, who has been hanchcapped oti the 24yds mark in the Invercargill Trotting Cup (4mm 4/ sec Class), has not started in a race since he won at the Southland Racing Club s Winter Aleeting nearly five years ago. Ready Money was interfered with m his race at Gore when two horses fell, and finished sixth with one ot the wheels of his sulky badly buckled. Un the limit in the Thomson Handicap to he run over two miles next Lriday, this Gore trained horse is sure to command support. . . When Kibo beat All Sunshine a neck in the Winton Trotting Cup she was o-iving the latter a start of 48yds, their respective times being 4min 27 4-ssec and 4min 32sec. In the Invercargill Trotting Cup All Sunshine has been assessed at 4mm 44sec and Kibo at 4min 41sec. In the Winton race Kibo was beaten a length by her stable-mate, Chechacho, and had she commenced her run earlier would have won. as she was travelling verv fast over the last furlong. On their respective handicaps in the Invercargill race, Kibo appears to have all the advantage, and she should bo the hardest to beat. Under the present system of handicapping pacers and trotters, horses often appeal- to have many seconds up their sleeves, but just as often another crops up and the good thing gets beaten. When Parrish Chimes ran second to Sonoma King at Forhury Park last meeting, he was credited with travelling the mile and a-half in 3min 36sec. At Invercargill on Friday this horse is on the limit in a 3min 49scc race, and it would look as if he has only to repeat his Forhury Park form to be very hard to bent. But punters should remember that the Invercargill course is very different in conformation from the Forhury track. It is grass and very undulating, which often upsets both pacers and trotters that are trained on level dirt tracks. *

Since the Liverpool Grand National was first run over an ajl-grass course in 1885, forty horses have mad© a hold

show under big burdens exceeding 12st. including the distinguished winners Cloister (1893). Manifesto (1899), Jerry M. (1912). Poethlyn .(1919),. Sprig (1927), and Golden Miller (last year). Those who ran second with upwards of 12st in the . saddle embrace Cloister (1892), Jerry M. (1910), Shaun Spadah (1923) Old Tay Bridge (1926), and Easter Hero (1929). Horses placed third with burdens exceeding 12st include Manifesto, in three different years, also Ballot Box (1888), Ilex (1891), Ilex (1892), Lutteur 111. (1914), Silvo (1924) Bright’s Boy (1927), Shaun Goilin (1932), and Thomond 11. (last year). _____