RACING NOTES

Evening Star, Issue 22086, 20 July 1935, Page 21

RACING NOTES

RACING. July B<.—Raagitikei H.C. July 25.—Waimat* District H.C. July 26, 27.—Poverty Bay T.O. July 27.—South Canterbury H.C. July 27.—Manawatu R.C. —Next Season.— August 2.—Poverty Bar H.C, August 3.—Christchurch H.C. August 13, 15, 17.—Canterbury ' J.C. August 24. —Pakuranga H.C. August 29. —Egmont—Wanganui H.C, (at New Plymouth). August 31.—Taranaki H.C. September 7.—Otago H.C. ( September 7.—Marton J.C. September 12. 14—Wanganui J.C. September 21.—Asbburten County E.G, WINGATUI NOTES. A week of line weather at Wingatui has made a great difference to the tracks, and after a sharp frost this morning the grass tracks on the inside and- outside the hurdle track were in aplendid order for this season of the year.’ Umtali, who has now completely recovered from the poisoned leg which put him aside on the eve of the Winter Meeting, ran seven furlongs in linin 40sec. He looks very well, and will ho ridden in the. Grand National Steeplechase by Hex Beale. Travenna, another that was on the sick list last month, has also made a good recovery, and he was sent around at a strong pace. He pulled up well, and showed no signs of soreness. Travenna njay be short of work, but is one

[By St. Clair.]

September 21.—Foiton H.C. September 21, 23.—Avondale J.C. September 26, 28.—Geraldine R.C. September 27, 28.—Marlborough R.C. September 28.—Napier Park R.C. September 28, 30.—Teumarunui R.C. (at Patroa). TROTTING. —Next Season August 10, 14, 16.—N.Z. Metropolitan T.C August 31.—Auckland T.C. September 7.—New Brighton T.C. September 19, 21.—Hawke’e Bay T.C. October s.—New Brighton T.C. October s.—Methven T.C. October 12.—Waikato T.C. October 19, 21.—Westport T.C. | of those horses that comes to hand quickly. A race or two prior to the National Meeting will work wonders on tin's horse, and provided there is no recurrence of the trouble he will be a likely stake winner next month. Jaunt, in A. S. M'Kay’s stable, was I jumped over one hur.dle. He looks well, and is to be qualified for hunters’ races, j Unseen is to be blistered and turned out for-a lengthy spell. When Lycidas cooled off after the Winter Hurdles last Saturday one of his legs filled badly, but this has now disappeared, and he is working well again. He will be ridden in the Grand National Hurdles by D. O’Connor. The lease of Queen of Song to,Mrs J. A. Beale has expired, and she is still running out on her owner’s place. Tia Rosette, who has improved a lot during the last month, and Song Boy reelea off half a mile in 52 l-sscc, both moving well. Chxysology was sent six furlongs, and picked up by Worship three and a-half fin-longs from home, finished strongly in Imin 20sec. Chrysology looks a much improved horse since the last time he raced. 'New Note, who is not likely to be raced until the local Hunt meeting was loafing over the final two fur- gs of five, which he ran in 58 2-ssec. He looks well. Viking easily held Vautron over half a mile in 52 2-ssec. The former will be one of F. Shaw’s team for tlxo National meeting. Reminder returned from Trentharn with one of his hocks slightly damaged, but the injury is not serious, and he is to complete his hunting qualifications. Toreador has had ah easy time of it since racing at the local Winter meeting, and has put on a lot of condition. The easy time that has been given Grand Finale since he last raced, has allowed him to build up well, and he look a much better horse now than at any period of his racing career. C, Gieseler has just finished breaking in two good looking threc-year-olcls by Balboa for -the Central Otago owner, Mr E. Sanders. They are from Green Cloth and March Off, and this morning were cantered round the tracks. JOTTINGS. One owner whose liorso ran into a place at the Wellington Meeting last week would have collected over four figures for a modest win investment had

he run first. As it was the place wager showed a substantial profit. The Otago Hunt Club’s programme for its annual race meeting in September has been drafted, and the stakes have been increased by £l5O, making the total £750. Hector Gray had no desire to ride again, but is now in hopes of obtaining a trainer’s license with, the object of starting a riding school for apprentices. Gray was on the course at Trcntham as an ordinary spectator. That sterling little galloper, Closing Time, reappeared at Randwick recently, being indulged in a steady canter round the centre of the course. He looks to [ have done well during his holiday, and showed no sign of the soreness which caused his retirement a few months ago. It is reported that Mr F. J. Conn has been appointed honorary starter for -the Otago Hunt Meeting, to be held in September. Mr Conn will bo an applicant for the vacancies in this department caused by Mr A. D. M’lvor’s retirement as starter. Polydora, ridden by H. Turner, was sent over eight hurdles at Riccarton on Wednesday, her most strenuous task .to date. She cleared the first seven fences in an effortless manner, hut mistimed the last, and struck it heavily, without, however, showing any signs of falling. Miss L. Cuff has taken over the stables at Riverton previously owned by A. M‘Kay, and sho will apply for a trainer’s license. Miss Cuff is a wellknown horsewoman, and during the last few years has had in her care the stallions Wrack and Rey do Ore. That good three-year-old, Kelly, is in regular work at Ellerslie, but so far his tasks have been restricted to trotting and cantering. He lias wintered exceptionally well, and although be lias not grown to any great extent he is bigger and more robust than formerly. Kelly, one of the most improved horses trained at Ellerslie during the present season, is endowed with brilliant speed and is also a good stayer, of whom the best has yet to be seen. Arrangements are being made to ship Link Divine to Melbourne about the middle of August. It -was previously intended that J. Brown would take tho Lysander—Makepeace youngster Votinm across with Link Divine, but the plans have been altered, and it is now intended to give him a race*or two before deciding to ship him. Votium is looking a picture, and doing splendidly, and bis future looks very promising. Siipalmig, who is sot Mo give away 36,yds_ start to the field in the Winter Handicap at the Waimate Meeting on Thursday next, is a 10-year-old gelding by Waverley—Dot Robbins, and is trained in Southland by A. and F. M'Gregor. One of bis best efforts was to run second to Firecrost in the Electrio Handicap at the Beaumont Meeting, where ho registered 2min 19see for a ndle in saddle. Slipalong is a halfbrother to Big Author, a very useful pacer in 0. E. Hooper’s stable.

The Grand National and .Wellington Steeplechase winner, Valpeen, now rising eight years, began racing at five years. He has stated 44 times for eight wins and £3,330 in stakes, of which £1,900 has been won this season. Ho is now well up in the weights, but nevertheless has not been put out of the Grand National Steeplechase with ] Ist 131 b. Silver Ring’s Running.

Some excitement was caused at Victoria Park last Saturday when it was reported that the stewards had inquired into It. Reed’s handling of Silver Ring in the Flying Handicap, first division. Silver Ring, who won the last Epsom Handicap, after being slow to commence in the Flying Handicap, was hard ridden by Reed in the straight, but could only finish eighth. In his preliminary he exhibited symptoms of soreness. At the inquiry R. W. King, trainer of Silver Ring, told the stewards that Silver Ring had suffered recently with foot trouble, and this accounted for his inability to hit out with freedom in the early stages of his race. After hearing the parties the stewards decided to take no action.

Leading Jockeys. Following is a list of jockeys whohave ridden 20 or more winners during the season:—

Trotting Sires’ Stakes. The New Zealand Trotting Sires’ Produce Stakes, which will be decided at the 1937 autumn meeting of the Timaru Trotting Club, is now engaging the attention of owners, and on July 25 nominations of living stallions must be made. The nomination fee for each stallion is £5. On August 27 nominations 'of two-year-olds by the sires nominated will be taken, but the race will also be open to the progeny of a defunct stallion or of sires gelded at date of nomination. The race merits the support of everv owner, for it represents a good effort by the South Canterbury Club to institute classic racing for unhoppled trotters. Owners of two-year-olds are reminded that no entrance fee is required, and the first forfeit of £1 is not due till March 30. Riding in India. H. Jones and E. Monas, who were at the head of the jockeys’ list in Calcutta last season, and have been spending a holiday in Melbourne, returned to India last week. The Sydney light-weight, E. C. Britt, who has been engaged to ride for A. Higgins’s stable,'left by the same boat. Britt can ride at 7st lib, and should do well in the East, as he is a capable horseman, having won several rich races in Sydney and in Melbourne. His two most important wins have been the Sydney Cup on Broad Arrow and the Moonce Valley Cup on Yarramba. Britt served his apprenticeship with M. Poison, and accompanied that trainer to the. United States with Winooka. In that country he won five races on Winooka ahd one on Trevallion. Gay Sheila Returns. Gay Sheila has returned to 15. Pope’s stable, and js to be prepared for a trip to Australia. The Gay Shield mare has missed a season’s racing through

meeting with an accident while spell ing after her three-year-old racing had concluded. She was a good two-year-old, and an even better three-year-old, as she annexed the Avondale Champion Plate, the Avondale Guineas, and the Great Northern Guineas. She was very unfortunate in not winning the Railway Handicap, as she had only one horso behind her at the entrance of the straight, and then just failed to reach Silver Streak by a head. She went amiss in the Great Northern Derby, in which she ran fourth, and although she raced and won after this she was not at her best the following Easter, and was then spelled. She now looks well, ■ despite a rather unsightly off hind leg, and a return to her best form would again place her prominently on the winning list. Auckland Pacers. The well-performed pacer Worthy Light, who has been enjoying a good spell at Wainku since winning the Otahuhu Handicap at Epsom in February, has rejoined the Glenora Park stables .(says the Auckland ‘Herald’). The Worthy Bond gelding has put on a lot of surplus condition during the holiday, and will have an easy time for two weeks before entering upon his preparation for the New Zealand Trotting Cup, in which race, provided that the 4min 26sec limit is not altered, he will bo on 12yds. Chancellor’s place in the stable will be taken by the Great Parrish—Coal Light three-year-old purchased a few months ago by Messrs Bridgcns from W. Fleming. The young pacer, who displayed promise at Epsom both as a hoppled and free-legged pacer, has been gelded since going to Takanini and has done so well .after the operation that he is ready to commence training. England’s Great Horses. “ One of the main reasons why there are so many great horses in England,” writes Sir Thomas Wilford in an article in * Sporting Life,’ “ is that the fillies are not raced for years and years before going to the stud. I fancy that if wo went back, say, for 20 years, we would find that the greatest racehorses have been bred l from mares which raced very little, if at all. None of the great racing mares in New Zealand has produced great racehorses,” Sir Thomas continues, “ and some of the greatest I can think of came from dams which never raced. “It would be interesting to study the same question with relation to humans, now that many women are becoming as highly trained, physically, as men, and compete in exhausting trials, for which their bodies are trained to the highest degree. But such a thought is without doubt irrelevant to the matter at issue.” Australian Turf. It would appear that Sydney sportsmen are much more decided in their views of the spring handicaps than Victorian enthusiasts (says a Sydney writer on July 9). The only unanimity in the two States is that Peter Pan will take no cud of beating ,in the Melbourne Cup, despite his big weight. According to the Sydney market. The Raider has an emphatic call in the Epsom Handicap, but the position in the Metropolian is not so clear, for, whereas Vice-Royal was tho elect at the beginning of last week, Limarch and Sylvandale are now disputing the issue with tho Rosohill representative. Although iu some quarters it has been suggested that the Epsom Handicap will bo the mission of the former New Zealander, Synagogue, bo is only on the second lino for tho Randwick mile, whereas Sydney sportsmen have forced the bookmakers to make him a clear favourite for the Caulfield Cup. In Melbourne, however, pride of place in that event is also being seriously contested by Sylvandale, about whom no

risks are taken in any of the distance events. Dandalla holds a much more prominent position on the charts in Melbourne for the Caulfield Cup than he does in Sydney, he being among the second favourites in Melbourne, having practically as many admirers as Hall Mark and Sir Simper. Orford, who figures at a long quotation for the Caulfield Cup, was recently joined in Melbourne with Peter Pan and Young Idea. Rorke’s Drift Dead. The death of a great little pacer in Rorke’s Drift at Mr D. Roberts’s farm at Lauriston is reported. The chestnut gelding, a son of Driftwood—Specification mare, was rising 23 years, and in his day he was one of the most popular horses racing. He was bred in the Ohoka district by Messrs Patterson brothers, and was bought as a yearling by Mr J. M'Millan, who broke him in and raced him’ in partnership with Mr R. J. Munro, one of the best-known amateur riders and drivers in the history of New Zealand trotting. The principal victory was attained in the New Zealand Gold Cup at Wellington in 1921, and he registered another fine performance to finish second to Albert Cling in the Ashburton Cup. Rorke’s Drift was a prime favourite with the public as well as with his trainer, Mr Munro, who describes him as a wonderful little horse that required very little strong training woi-k to get him in order. Yet with little work he showed great stamina, and was always a better horse when produced the second time on one day. He was a very quick beginner, and in the numerous races he contested he did not fail to go away once correctly. Rorke’s Drift was not kept in cotton wool, and he had a very strenuous racing career, as the following figures will show:—

At three years, 5 starts, 1 win, £lO5. At four years, 13 starts, 1 win, 1 third, £2ll. At five years, 23 starts, 2 wins. 3 thirds, £270. At six years, 34 starts. 3 wins, 5 seconds, 4 thirds, £756. At seven years, 33 starts, 1 win, 1 second, 6 thirds, £4lB. At eight years, 35 starts, 2 wins, 2 seconds, 5 thirds, £875. At nine years, 19 starts, 1 third, £4O. At 10 years, 13 starts, 2 seconds, 2 thirds, £162. At 12 years, 3 starts. In nine seasons’ racing Rorke’s Drift started 178 times, won 10 races,_ was second 10 times, and third 20 times, for £2,837 in stakes.

American Importations. The Roydon _ Lodge Mr J. R. M'Konzie, evidently has ideas of forming an all-American stud, for latest advices (reports the ‘Press’) are that he has purchased two two-year-olds in Taka Chance, by Scotland —E.R.E.L., and U. Scott, by Scotland —Lillian Hilta. _ Both horses took records at matinee meetings, Taka Chance doing 2min 9sec and TJ. Scott 2min for a mile. These are fashionably-bred youngsters, for Scotland was one of America’s best trotters a few years ago, with a record of Imin 59Jsec. and was the champion trotter in 1930. Scotland is a brown horse by Peter Scott —Roya M'Kinney, and is a brother to Rose Scott, Imiu 59Jsec. Ho was a great racehorse, and in his first race as a two-year-old he won in 2min 6fsec, a performance not previously equalled. The story of the two-year-old battles among Scotland, Fireglow, and Spencer will never grow old, for it is one of the epic chapters in the history of colt trotting, At the close of the season Fireglow had a record of 2min 4sec, Scotland one of 2min ssec, and Spencer one of 2min s|sec, At five years Scotland took bis record of Imin 59j,sec when his trainer attempted to do 2min Isec for a mile. He went the first

quarter in 29Jsec, half-mile in 59sec, and six furlongs in linin 28|sec. His dam, lloya M‘Kinney, was the first mare to produce two performers with records of better than 2min.E.R.E.L., the dam of Taka Chance, by Belwin— Miss Peter Dillon, and a half-sister to Caretaker, who took a three-year-old record of 2min 5) sec, is also the dam of Plucky Scott with a two-year-old record of 2min 6sec. Lillian flilta, the dam of TJ. Scott, is by U. Forbes, and is also the dam of Lillian Richard, 2min 4sec. Mr M'Kenzie has imported a big number of .horses to New Zealand, and during his last trip to America purchased the black colt Gallant Knight, and the fillies Airflow and Fair Warning. He will almost certainly race his newly-acquired youngsters, and when retired to the stud they should further enhance the reputation of Roydon Lodge as a trotting nursery.

L. J. Ellis ... 92 R. W. W , J. BroughM'Tavish 27 ton 84 R. Reed (..••• 25 P. S. Atkins 74 W. E. Pine ... 25 H. N. Wiggins .‘38 W. .lenkins 24 A. Mcsscrvy 37 N. R v B. H. Morris 30 M'Kenzie 23 S. Wilson ... 35 H. Young ... 22 S. Anderson 34 C. T. Wilson 21 K. Voitre ... 34 J. H. M'llae 21 A. E. Ellis ... 32 J. Dooley ... 20 11. Marsh ... 32 R. Horne ... 20 L. Dulieu ... 31 E. A. Leckie 20 G. Cameron 30 S. Tremain ... 20 H. Goldfinch 29