RACING NOTES

Evening Star, Issue 21973, 8 March 1935, Page 15

RACING NOTES

RACING. March 9.—Cromwell J.C. March 9.—Napier Park R.C. March 9, 11.-Waikato R.C. March 16.—Kurow J.C. March 16.—Clilden 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. March 22, 23.—Manawatu R.C. March 23 25.—Bay of Plenty J.C. March 30.—Hawke’s Bay J.C. March 30. —Birchwood Hunt C. April 4.—Wahnate R.C.

BREEDING OF HORSES. “It is time that more publicity drums were beaten and more trumpets blown about this Dominion’s commanding position with respect to the use, breeding, and proper enjoyment of the thoroughbred horse,” writes Mr 0. N. Gillespie, in the March number of the * New Zealand 'Railways Magazine.’ “ It is not undue optimism to believe that when the time conies for us to have to swallow G. B. Shaw’s advice to ‘ eat your own butter,’ a good measure of compensation for our loss of exports can be got by the right exploitation of our country’s rich capacity for the production of bloodstock. “ New Zealand is second only to old England herself in the growing and furnishing of the finest type of racehorse. We alone in the .world, had the temerity to send a horse to England, whose line of sons and daughters altered the whole map of winning strains ia the Old Land. This was Carbine, and there is in addition the famous Trenton, whb also left an indelible improvement mark. Sir Modred, whose equal we have bred in dozens, headed the winning sires’ list in the United States. With the one exception from France, all other countries, great or small, have had only one-way traffic with England in bloodstock. “ To-day, through intelligent and selective breeding for generations, in a climate ideal for the nurture and culture of the horse, and owing to our fecund, luxuriant, and permanent pastures, our bloodstock has reached a standard of excellence rivalled only by the Mother Country. “ One of the contributing causes towards this extraordinary phenomenon is this fact—the management of the racing horses is, in our little country, without peer in the range of its incidence, in its efficiency, and in its sporting and entertainment value. “ We have eighty or more courses, all of them good, and of them twenty at least bear comparison with the leading racecourses of the rest of the world, and four of them would take a ‘ power o’ heating ’ on any system of comparison. These remarks apply to galloping courses only, and the splendid- arenas devoted to the harness sport, for instance, at Addington and Auckland, are not included. “ Trenlham is the best of them all, and •is the best racecourse in the world.”

Mr Gillespie goes on to state at length his reasons for this contention. Timtru Trotting Club. Owners made a tine response in acceptances for the Timaru Trotting Club’s meeting, and to-morrow’s fixture should be one of the best held in recent years on the Washdyke racecourse (.says the ‘Press’). A field of thirteen in the Timaru Cup gives promise of a stirring contest, and with a comparatively short limit of 48yds the field should be well bunched all the way. Native Chief and Elvo on the back mark have a big job ahead of them to beat some of tue more favourably handicapped division, and on any form be has shown in recent years Native Chief can be salely left out of calculations. .Elvo, however, ’represents a different proposition for she has won seven races this season in a manner that suggests her winning days are not at an end. A hard_ puller, she takes a lot out of herself in fighting with her driver, but on her day sbo Usually has plenty in reserve. Even a handicap of 48yds will not discourage her many admirers on this occasion. One of the most improved pacers this season is Key Spec, and his wins over two miles at Ashburton and New Brighton and a third over a mile and a-quarter at Wellington last Saturday show him a good stayer as well as a food sprinter. On 36yds he is not adlv placed, and his form entitles him to the position of favourite. Not always a brilliant beginner, he is a handy pacer once on the journey, with a rare burst of speed over the final stages of a racei Gunfire has been too long off the winning list to give him anything bat an outside chance, and Great Logan’s public form favours his prospects over a shorter journey than two miles. At the Timaru meeting held in January Todd Lonzia showed a liking for the Washdyke track when he scored a very impressive win in the President’s Handicap, fairly beating a good field in 4min 34 2-ssec. He confirmed that form at the Tloyal meeting at Addington when he won the Sussex Handicap, of a mile and a-half, in 3min 18sec, and now asked to do 4min 32sec he is not harshly treated. Craganour has not displayed any outstanding form for some time, and John Jinks, Queen Author, Mountain Ore, and Manoeuvre do not make any very direct appeal. Little Nelson is a doubtful proposition at the best of times, but Bracken is very consistent and can be depended upon to go a good race. She was unlucky lo suffer defeat at Hutt Park on Saturday, and may soon atone for that beating. Of the*more favourably handicapped horses she appears the most likelv to fill a place. The President’s Handicap should provide a fine race, and the early favourites include Bracken, Todd Lonzia, Rey Spec, and Elvo.

Prince Val’s Relative. Laudatory’s success in the Kaikohe Maiden Handicap at Pukekohe last week-end followed a promising performance in a similar race on the opening day, when she raced up to the leaders halfway through, but expended herself before the closing stages. Better han--1 died on Monday, she was an easy win--1 ner from the favourite, Lady Diana. . A win for Laudatory was not out of turn, as she is noyr a seven-year-old mare (says a northern writer). How- > ever, she has not yet done much racing, ' having had occasional starts only during the last two seasons and only two starts this season prior to the Franklin meeting. She is a brown mare by Lapidary from the Glengowrie—Uranium I niare Sports Queen, who is not in the Stud Book but who has left some useful performers. The most notable among 1 them is Prince Val. a son of Valkyrian, : but another good one was the steeplechaser Koyal Visitor, by Lucullus, who had to he destroyed in Victoria early this season as the result of an accident. Laudatory, who is a younger progeny, was bred h.v Mr D. 0. Cnrolan, of Waharoa. Waikato, who acquired the dam at a hack price before she started to breed, and she is being raced on lease by Messrs W. M. Jenkins, and C. v-Kltoft. of Sandringham, who train her themselves.

TROTTING. March 9.—Tiinaru T.C. March 13.—Wyndham T.C. March 16.—Cheviot T.C. March 23.—Auckland T.C. March 23.—Roxburgh T.C. March 25.—Wairarapa T.C. March 30.—Manawatu T.C. March 30.—Thames T.C. April 3.—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.

PROMISING JUVENILES. Promising form was shown by several of the newcomers in the Juvenile Stakes at Motukarara (says the ‘ Dominion ’). Among the debutantes Gold Label, Malvasia, and Land Raid did best, while Tooley Street shaped fairly. It was by only the shortest of heads that Malvasia failed to snatch third prize money from Gold Label. She is trained by ,1. B. Pearson for her breeder, Mr S. G. Holmes, and a change of luck for this stable would be generally popular. A three-year-old brown filly, Malvasia is by Valkyrian from Malmsey, by Clarenceux from Charmilla (dam of Verden and Charmeuse), by Charlemagne 11. from Armilla, by Castor from the Musket mare Necklace. Gold Label is a three-year-old chestnut filly by Robespierre from Sundance, who is by Sunny Lake from Showano, by St. Ambrose and going back to the King Tom mare Mermaid. C. J. M'Gregor is training and racing this filly. Land Raid, a three-year-old bay gelding, is owned and trained by his breeder,. Mr A. B. Spiers, of Kumara, and is a member of the team of H. Nurse. He is by Night Raid from Missland (dam of Gold Arrow), by Elysian (son of Soult) from Wairakau, by Cyrenian from Wairoagomai, by Hotchkiss. A POPULAR SYSTEM. It is interesting to note that at the Banks Peninsula Racing Club’s Meeting on Saturday supporters of the favourite in each race on the place system failed in only one event, the Forsyth Hack Handicap, to collect a dividend. It is computed that £1 invested on each favourite in this way would have produced £ll Is, so that the investor would have an enjoyable and profitable day, as well as deriving much enjoyment from visiting the pay-out window on seven occasions. There was every evidence on Saturday that the win and place system is still popular with Canterbury racegoers (says a Christchurch writer). Proof of this can be gained by the large increase in the turnover, in spite of a good deal of money being turned away owing to the facilities being unable to cope with the unexpected rush for tickets. No doubt, with a handsome profit accruing from Saturday’s meeting, some necessary improvements in this regard will be effected before the club’s next fixture.

JOTTINGS. Chidden, who opened her winning account in the Terawera High-weight at Motukarara last Saturday, is a three-year-old full-sister to Chide, winner of the New Zealand Cup, Canterbury Cup, and Stead Cup. Imperial Spear, who returned to the winners’ list at Motukarara last Saturday, has been a. most consistent horse this season. His thirteen starts have resulted: 0,2, 1,3, 0,0, 1,1, 2,2, 3,2, 1. Emissary was defeated but by no means disgraced at Motukarara. His conqueror, Tuirau, is a very smart Silverado mare, who has now won'three of her last four races. Capital was stopping at the end. Bella Rosa made a good showing and should be worth keeping in mind. Wino and Dover Patrol did fairly, while Back Thrust showed some improvement. In scoring a -narrow win in the Northland Hack Handicap at Pukekohe on Monday, King Tut was opening his winning account, but he does not appear to have raced prior to the present season and was having only his fifth or sixth start in all. The field ho beat was not a good one, and the form may not prove very useful as a later guide. King Tut is now six years old, and he is given as a chestnut gelding by King Nassau, a son of Nassau and a half-brother to the Wellington Cup winner Kilmoon. His dam, Nowena, is a mare by Potoa, tracing back lo the famed Juliet, foundress of the most notable branch of the No. 13 family in New Zealand. He was bred by Mr W. A. Mason, and he is now owned by Mr A. Forbes, from whom he is held on lease by the Avondale trainer W. Gough. Riccarton stables are represented by the following horses in the nominations for the Wellington Racing Club’s Autumn Meeting;—Colossian, Haero Tonn, Silly Owl, Owlsgleam, Variant, Hororata,* Fair Weather, Fracas, Nightly. Abdication, Silver Ring, Silver Sight, Hostis, Manetho, Wino, Emissary, Imperial Spear, Knowledge, Moonbeam, and Greek Shepherd. Other nominations from the South Island indue Guarantee, Kpris, Kamal Pasha, Trivet, Golden King, Nightform, Another English sire is on ins way to New Zealand, the five-year-old horse Foxbridge having been secured for Mr L. S. Otway’s Trelawney Stud, Cambridge. He is to arrive next month, A member of the No. 14 family, Foxbridge is by Fox law (by Son-in-Law) from Bridgemount (by Bridge of Earn from Mountain Mint, by Spearmint from Adula, sister to Pretty Polly and half-sister to Veneration 11.. clam of Crugunour). Cresta Run, by Hurry On from Brdgemount. won the One Thousand Guineas in 1927. As a tbree-vcar-old Fosbridge won the Atlantic Cup, of £2,500, Hm, at Liverpool, and ran third to Loaningdale and Firdaussi in the Eclipse Stakes, Hm. Harold Wrack was unlucky, through meeting interference, in not winning at least one race at the recent Invercargill Meeting, but he will be afforded an opportunity of making amends at the Timaru Meeting to-mor-row. At his best he is a very speedy pacer, and he made a deep impression when he registered 3min 22sec _for a mile and a-half at the Wellington Meeting last month. In the Seadown Handicap at Timaru he figures on the limit of a 3min 37see class, and though the company is full of promise he should hold his own. He is trained on the Washdyke course by R. Townley, and will lie racing in familiar surroundings. The stable presided over by S. Barr at Riccarton has had eleven wins this season, but it has also had no fewer than thirty-nine minor placings—-twenty-one seconds and eighteen thirds. .Silver Sight (second) and Quietly and Capital (both third) increased this unlucky proportion at Motukarara last Saturday. Dundee was confident.lv supported by his connections at the Wellington '['rots last Saturday, but when the field was marshalled he displayed nervousness, and when he had travelled nine furlongs lie was heaten, Re finished a ( long way behind the winner, Hjg cpttr

dition revealed a strained heart, and he is to be given a lengthy spell at his owner’s place at Timvald. Up till the middle of February M. M‘Car ten was fourth on the winning jockeys’ list in races run in the Sydney area. The top five were: J. Pratt 57; J). Munro 45, A. Knox 44, M. M‘Carton 32, and J. O'Sullivan 51. M'Carton had much the best average, however, as he had been unplaced only 50 times, against 135 by Pratt and 205 by Knox. Munro also had a better average than the two leaders, his total of unplaced rides being 91, M'Carton was in the money 65 times in 115 starts. Munro 80 in 171. Pratt 104 in 239, Knox 134 in 339, and O’Sullivan 91 in 254, At the New Brighton Meeting last Month Travis Pringle made an exhibition of his field over a mile and a-half, and at no stage of the race was ho extended to win in 3min 31 l-ssoe from a 3min 45sen mark. Ho could apparently have improved a good deal on this time, which makes his chance in the Kingsdown Handicap at Timaru on Saturday appear very bright. Travis Pringle, however, has not always trotted 1 in the faultless manner he showed on that occasion, and possibly has only come right as the result of his racing experience, On this running. however, there appears nothing capable of extending him, and he is likely to see a very short price in the totalisator betting.