RACING NOTES

Evening Star, Issue 22383, 6 July 1936, Page 7

RACING NOTES

RACING. July 7,8, 11.—Wellington R.C. July 18.—Hawke’s Bay Hunt C, July 18. —Waimate Hunt C. July 22.—Rangitikei Hunt C. July 23, 25.—Poverty Bay Bunt C.' July 25.—South Canterbury Hunt C, July 25.—Manawatu R.C.

—Proposed Next Season.— August I.—Poverty Bay Hunt C. August I.—Christchurch Hunt C. August 11, 13, 15.—Canterbury J.C. August 22.—Pakurangi Hunt C. August 27. —Egmont-Wanganui Hunt C. (at New Plymouth). August 29.—Taranaki Hunt C. September s.—Otago Hunt Club. September s.—Marton Jockey Club. September 10, 12.—Wanganui Jockey C. September 19.—Ashburton County R.C. September 19. —Foxton Racing Club. September 19, 21.—Avondale J.C. September 24, 26.—Geraldine Racing C. October 3.— Kurow Jockey Club. THREE-YEAR-OLDS IN MELBOURNE CUP. The New Zealand-bred colt. Gold Rod, who will be entered up with the three-year-olds on August 1, and who is engaged in the forthcoming Melbourne Cup with 7.10, is the mostdiscussed colt connected with the race. A survey <3f winner's of the Melbourne Cup shows that it has been won on 22 occasions by three-year-olds. The winners of that age, with the weight they carried, is given in the following table: — st. lb. 1863 Banker, by uoiardo ... 5 4 1864 Lantern, by Muscivado ... 6 8 1866—The Barb, by Sir Hercules 6 11 1876 Briseis, by Tim Whiffler 6 4 1877 Chester, by Yattendon ... 6 12 1880—Grand Flaneur, by Yattendon 6 10 1883—Martini-Henry, by Musket 7 5 1895 Auraria, by Trenton _ ... 7 4 1896 — Newhaven, by Newminster 7 13 1899 Merriwee, by Bill of Portland ... 7 6 1900— Clean Sweep, by Zalinski 7 0 1903—Lord Cardigan, by Positano 8 8 1906—Poseidon, by Positano ... 7 6 19Q8_Lord Nolan, by Positano 610 1909—Prince Foote, by Sir Foote 7 8 1915 Patrobas, by Wallace ... 7 6 1916 Sasanof, by Martian ... 612 1919—Artilleryman, by Comedy King T 6 1921—Sister Olive, by Red Dennis 6 9 1927—Trivalve, by Cyfelon ... 7 6 1932 Peter Pan, by Pantheon. 7 6 1933 Hall Mark, by Heroic ... 7 8 In the race of 1897 the three-year-old Aurum carried 8.6 into third place behind Gaulus (7.8) and The Grafter (7.7). Gaulus was a six-year-old and The Grafter five years old. Aurum carried an impost 141 bin excess of weight-for-age, while Gaulus had 261 b under and The Grafter 23Jb under. It would be well argued that the task, set Aurum was the most severe encountered by a three year-old in a Melbourne Cup. PRICES OF PROVED HORSES. Anyone in quest of a performed horse at the present time with any pretensions to class has to be prepared for a quotation of solid proportions (writes “ Phaeton ” in the Auckland ‘ Herald ’). It is related that an Australian would-be buyer, with _ eyes focussed on a New Zealand horse, in re-

[By St. Clair.]

October 3. —Otaki Maori Racing Club. October 3.—Napier Park Racing Club. October 3, 5. —Taumarunui Racing Club (at Paeroa). October 8, 10.—Dunedin Jockey Club. TROTTING. —Proposed Next Season. — August 8, 12, 14.—N.Z. Metropolitan T.C. August 15.—-Cambridge T.C. August 29. —Auckland T.C. September s.—New Brighton T.C, September 12. —Wellington T.C. October 3. —Methven T.C, October 10.—New Brighton T.C. October 17.—Waikato T.C. October 17, 19. —Westport T.C. October 22, 24.—Forbury Park T.C. October 24, 26. —Auckland T.C. October 24, 26. —Greymouth T.C, October 26.—Manawatu T.C, October 26. —Oamaru T.C. October 31. —Wellington T.C.

spouse to an inquiry as to the price at which the sprig of the thoroughbred family could be bought, exclaimed when a figure was quoted: “They must have thought a Carbine or Phar Lap was being inquired after.” No business resulted.

When 'high prices such as now rule are paid for racers my mind is frequently carried back to the summer of 1883, when. Trenton was sold for £250. A colt of commanding physique, and with an unbeaten certificate, the son of Musket was placed under offer to the late Mr G. G. Stead at the sum named, and, although there was a contingency attached to the sale note that an additional £SOO was to be paid if the colt won the New Zealand Cup and C. Derby that proved of no value to the breeders, Messrs,T. and S. Morrin, for Trenton did not contest either of those races. In considering matters, it has, _ of course, to be remembered that prize money in the early ’eighties was cast on very small figures compared, for instance, with when Finmark was sold for £5.000 in the_ spring of 1918; but one is left wondering what a horse of the stamp of Trenton would 1 have commanded had he been on the scene in Finmark’s day, for the latter could not be compared with Trenton under any heading. JOTTINGS. The first race at Trentham to-mor-row ia timed to start at 11.30, the Wellington Steeplechase at 2.9, and the Whyte Handicap at 3.32. ' The Victoria Grand National Steeplechase will be decided next Saturday at Flemihgton. J. C. Tomklnson is now handling a rising two-year-old filly by Night Raid from Entreaty, thus a full sister to Phar Lap. Last week Lycidas was sold to Mr D. J. Finnegan, the owner of Braw Lad. and he has joined P. T. Hogan’s stable. The Waikquaiti Racing Club has received a very handsome cup, standing 21in high, to he added to the stake for the Waikouaiti Cup next New Year’s Day. Fair Weather pricked a heel a couple of days ago, and is now an unlikely starter at the Wellington meeting this week. Pahu is no stranger to the fences at Trentham. A year ago ho was fourth in the Wellington Steeplechase and third on each of the other days. Although Vocal was withdrawn from the Whyte Handicap on the first day at Trentham, he is in the To Aro Hack Handicap on the same day, and he will be ridden in that event'by A. E. Ellis. In the Great Northern Steeplechase Billy Boy 10.7 won by half a length from Forest Glow 9.13, with Diamond 10.3 a dozen lengths away. They may meet again in the Wellington Steeplechase, in which Billy Boy has gone up 101 b, Forest Glow 91b, and Diamond 11b. . ! Sir Charles Clifford has retained G. Humphries as first horseman for the new season. Humphries rode several winners for the Chokebore stable during the present term, and has now established himself as one of the most accomplished riders in the South Island. Mother Superior was not herself on the first day of the Wanganui Meeting, and her good performance on the second day was the more - noteworthy. That race has still further improved the Chief Ruler mare, and consequently her prospects in the Stewards’ Handicap at Trentham are favoured by followers of the Fordell stable. The amount paid in taxation by the Wanganui Jockey Club for its Winter Meeting reached nearly £3,000. It is understood that the club made a profit of probably £3OO at least over the fixture. As the club gave away an extra £I,OOO in stake money this result must be considered very satisfactory, and will encourage the committee to increase the stakes for the spring and autumn meetings. s Though some considered that Windsor Lad had very little left in him at the finish of the Wanganui Steeplechase, others are of the opinion that he could have won by a big margin had he' been ridden out. In the circumstances it will be interesting to see how the Little England gelding shapes in the Wellington Steeplechase, for which some good judges are selecting him to be dangerous. Hunting Jay ran _ disappointingly when well fancied by his connections in the hurdle event on the second day, at the Napier Park Meeting, but the programme being followed with _ him is similar to last year, and at his second appearance in a hurdling role he easily won the Vittoria Hack Hurdles at the Wellington Winter Meeting. Next Tuesday he will have just over a stone more to carry in the same race, but if he takes his place in the field he would not be a safe horse to leave out of calculations. The three-year-old gelding Dungarvan will be one of the best backed runners in the Stewards’ Handicap at Trentham. After two third placuigs at Feilding in April he was spelled, but made his reappearance at Wanganui' last month and was successful at his first start, unwinding a strong finishing run to beat Diatomous by a neck. Diatomous does not always fight when challenged, but at Wanganui he hung on well, and Dungarvan had to produce an effort above the ordinary to get up in time. The 1 Southland Times ’ says F. W. Ellis has been busy during the past week with a four-year-old British Empire—Queen Balboa maiden mare, and the nippy little filly by British Empire from Tea Party. The former is a thickset mare who may gallop fairly with

experience, while she is strong enqugH to jump big country and carry weight into the bargain. The Tea Party filly ranks as a rising two-year-old who -possesses some of the characteristics of her fast dam, and one of these may be the ability to muster up speed, as she is built and bred that way, while alertness on the track is her motto.

The American committee which had in' hand the scheme for arranging a series of international races had not up to the end of May received any replies from the governing bodies in England and France, Presumably they thought it a matter for owners to consider, and at latest the American committee had decided to get into direct communication with them. . A definite plan has been arranged for a series of four races for two groups of horses. One group will be limited to three-year-olds, and the, other will be for four-year-olds upwards. Each country will be entitled; i to name one entry and one substitute for each race.

The Hunting Song—Love Token three-year-old Pakanui, which heads the handicap with Dungarvan in the Stewards’. Handicap at Trentham, has not had the best of luck this winter. He has been very consistent, but mavaly as a runner-up, and he seldom runs » bad race. After his second to One Whetu in the Cornwall Handicap at Auckland he was favourite for the York Handicap on the third day. Fourth was the best he could do on that occa sion. At Hastings he ran second ti Pladie over six furlongs, and bn the concluding day at Napier Park he was third to Sunny Sky and Passion Flower oyer seven furlongs. He is a good beginner and the six-furlong event may see him return to the winning list again.

Twelve months ago Prince Acre came to Trentham- as' a promoted hack, and he touted the field in. the Stewards’* Handicap on the first day, then ran second to Guarantee on the final day at bis only .other start at the meeting. He is again in the Stewards’ Handicap next Tuesday .with only \2lb above the minimum, and horses who have previously won at Trentham are usually good horses to keep on side with (says the Wellington ‘ Post ’). Since he resumed racing Prince Acre has not been on the winners’ list, but at the - Auckland Meeting last month he dead-heated for third on the middle day and finished fourth on _the final day. A year ago he won a division of the hack Jervois Handicap on the first day and finished second among the hacks on the middle day. His performance in open company at EUerslie this year is scarcely less promising than it was last year. Very little improvement in the interim will find him disputing the issue on Tuesday.

One of the smartest hacks in commission at present (writes “ Hurry On,” in the Taranaki 1 Daily News ’). is the three-year-old Peter Beckford. So far he has been only lightly raced,but in his last two starts he has deadheated for first with Sardius in the Juvenile at Hastings on April 18 and won the Greenmeadows Hack Handicap at Napier, Park on the King’s Birthday. On the last occasion he is stated to have been looking .big and susceptible to considerable improvement.-' His next engagement is in the Trial Plate on the second day of the meeting at Trentham, and in Hawke’s Bay he has many friends. Peter Beckford is closely related to Pakanui, being by the same sire. Hunting Song, while "Sarty, the dam of Peter Beckford, is out of the imported Lake Taken, the dam of Paka■mu. He is held on lease by the wellknown hunting enthusiast, Mr G. D. Beatson.

In recent years top weights, with the exception of Valpeen, have not played a very prominent part at the finish of the Wellington Steeplechase. In fact, they have not even figured conspicuously in a place. Since Master Strowan won with 12.5 in 1918 the highest weights successfully carried have been Coalition 11.11, Oakleigh 11.12, Omahu 11.5 and 11,9, Billy Boy 11.3-and 11.5, and Yalpeen 11.4. Coalition was second with 10.11, and again with 11.6. Pamplona was second with 11.1. and Bon Reve 11.10, Kawini 11.1, and Make Up 11.3 are the only others since 1918 to carry over 11.0 into a, place. Valpeen 11.4 was top weight in the field when he won last year, and Billy Boy 11.5 was in the post of honour when he scored in 1934, and he ran unplaced with 12.6 in 1933, when Omeo won under 9 .'4. Billy Boy was also top weight in the field when he won with 11.3 in 1932, and so is accustomed to carrying a good burden. He has also shaped with distinction in the Grand National Steeplechase underf big weights, as he won with 11.13 in 1932, and was second with 11.13 and again with 11.5. This year he has 11.3 in the Wellington Steeplechase, and also 11 years against him on the calendar.