RACING NOTES

Evening Star, Issue 22596, 13 March 1937, Page 25

RACING NOTES

RACING. March 17.—Ohinemuri J.C. March 19, 20. Pahiatua R.C. March 20.—Stratford R.C. March 20.—Otautau R.CMarch 20.—Mamototo R.C. March 20. 22.—Westport J.C. March 20, 22.—Bay of Plenty J.C, March 27.—Greymouth J.C. March 27.—Tuapejca County J.C. March 27. 29.—Auckland R.C, March 27, 29— Feilding J.C. March 27, 29.—Wairarapa R.C. March 27, 29. 30.—Riverton R.C. Mea-ch 29.—Beaumont R.C. March 29.—Waipukurau J.C. March 29.—Kumara R.C. March 29. 30.—Canterbury J.C. April 3.—Greymouth J.C. April 3, s.—Avondale J.C.

OTAGO HUNT The twenty-sixth annual report of the Otago Hunt (Inc.) states:—The regular weekly meets of the hunt during the past season were very well attended, and have as usual been * capably controlled by the master, Mr J, E. Brunton, and the deputy-master, Mr R, C. B. Greenslade. There is, however, room for many more young people to join the hunt, and enjoy the thrills provided by this healthy winter pastime. The annual race meeting was held at Wingatui in fine weather on September 5, but unfortunately the weather had been bad previous to the meeting, and postponement was suggested. However, it was decided, in order to keep faith with the many visiting owners who had brought their horses at considerable expense to compete, to hold the meeting as arranged. The stakes were increased bv £255 on the previous year, and excellent fields were the result. What would have been one of the most successful meetings held by the hunt Was seriously affected by the fear of a continuance of the bad weather; and also due to the fact that a Ranfurly Shield match was held the same day. The totalisator investments showed a decrease of £2,280 10s, and the gate receipts a decrease of £B3 19s 6d The meeting resulted in a profit of only £2l Is as compared with £528 12s 2d last year. The point-to-point steeplechase, through the courtesy of Messrs D. Connor, D. Leishman, and J. Skinner, was again held on their fine properties at North Taieri, where one of the best and most natural courses for a point-to-point was arranged. Fine weather was experienced, and a most successful fixture was the result. In accordance with the rules the following have been proposed for office: —President, Mr B. S. Irwin; vice-president, Mr J. M. Samson; committee —-Messrs T. D. Dalziel, W Hastie, J. Lindsay, and J. Mowat. As there are not more than the required number, they will be declared elected in due course. LOUGH NEAGH THE G.O.M. OF AUSTRALIAN TURF Lough Neagh is the grand old man of the Australian turf. Rising nine, he is the oldest first-class horse in action, and his winnings total of £16,221 is greater than any horse racing to-day, states the Sydney ‘ Sun.’ But it shows that Australian racing is passing through a transitory stage when it is realised that Lough Neagh is not even among the 20 greatest Australian winners of all time. - It’s a matter now of finding new champions to take the place of the stars of the last few years. During 1936 Peter Pan, Rogilla, and Sylvandale all retired from the turf, leaving the way clear to some of the lesser champions. And oven Lough Neagh might not be racing much longer. He holds some of his old form, as his Victoria Park win showed, and will certainly add to bis winnings before the autumn racing is over; but his owner-trainer, T. Brosnan, realises the old horse cannot go on for ever. Lough Neagh’s consistency is shown by the fact that the biggest prize he has ever won was £1,570. And he only won one other race worth more than £I.OOO. Had Lough Neagh been able to accustom himself ■to Melbourne conditions, his tally would have been well over £20,000, but he could never gallop left-handed, and Brosnan made only two tries with him. There doesn’t seem much chance of any horse racing to-day even approaching the heights of Phar Lap, Amounis, and Gloaming, all of whom topped the £40,000 mark in Australia. _ Young Idea, who is second on the list, js a non-stayer, and as the bigger Australian prizes are attached to the longer races his hopes are dim. If Talking were to win the next Melbourne Cup he would be' on the way to big earnings, but in any case his owner, Mr A. E. Cooper, does not intend running the horse at every available opportunity, and Talking will not be gracing the turf long enough to approach the great geldings. But, although racing might now lack a champion or two, there’s really no cause for pessimism, or any feeling that horses are not as good as they once were. The present stage will pass, and perhaps in another year the Australian turf story will be one of a continuous clash of champions. The earnings of the better-known horses to-day, prior to the Flemineton Meeting, which opened last Saturday, are:— £ Lough Neagh 16,221 Young Idea 13,730 Silver Ring 11,715 Oro Il>&>2 Cuddle 9,630 Gold Rod 9,615 Talking 9-667 Regular Bachelor ... ',890 Wotan 7,300 Alunga Palfresco 5,685 Sarcherie 5,1(0 JOTTINGS Acceptances for first-day events and third-day trotting events at the Riverton Meeting close on Wednesday next It is reported from Christchurch that Dollar Bill will not be raced at Riccarton iat Easter, but will go to Riverton in company with Pahu. Although Kinnoull has been nominated for the sprint events at Riverton, it is almost eertain that he will do his Easter racing at Riccarton. S. J. Ucid leaves Wellington for Hastings next week, and ho will take over his position as private trainer to fife fit Osmond pa March 29*,

[By &r. Clair.]

April 9, 10. —Manawatu R.C. April 10. —R o cfton J.C. April 15. 17,—Whangarei R.C. April 17.—Waimate R.C. TROTTING. March 17.—Wyndham Trotting Club. March 20.—Cheviot Trotting Club. March 20.—Wanganui Trotting Club. March 27, 29.—Hawera Trotting Club. March 27, 3b—N.Z. Metropolitan Trotting Club. , April 3.—Taranaki Trotting Club. April 8. —Reefton Trotting Club. April 10—Roxburgh Trotting Club. April 10.—Ashburton Trotting Club. April 10.—Thames Trotting Club. April 17.—Manawatu Trotting Club.

The North Island jockey, A. G. Murray. is leaving for Suva next month to ride and train for Mr A. H. Witherow. Courtcraft and Francis Drake may not be clashing in the classics next suasion, as Courtcraft will probably be going over to Australia for the big money. Tareha is expected to show himself a much-improved horse during the racing at Easter. He. may accompany Journet to Ellerslio for the Auckland Racing Club’s June carnival. Arctic King has been nominated for Feilding, but, if ho makes a satisfactory showing at Trentham this week he' will come south to Riccarton at Easter for the Great Autumn Handicap. O. Cox has nominated Lowouberg and Friesland freely at Riccarton, Feilding, and Tauherenikau for Easter, and their destination will probably depend on how they race this week. They may- even be separated, as they were at the New Year. The Canterbury Jockey Club has decided to _ discard the number cloths formerly in use and issue in their place a style similar to those in use at Trentham. In future the saddle cloths will be of black material with white numbers. The Riccarton jumper Nooturnus has arrived in Invercargill to fulfil engagements at the Otautau and Riverton meetings. His trailer, A. S. Ellis, was unable to come south with him, and he will be in the temporary care of F. W. Ellis. The weight-carrying record for the Riverton Cup is held by Loqghrea, who succeeded under 10.1 in 1924. The next best performances are Rorke’s Drift (9.11), 1917; Tulega (9.9), 19Q3; Queen of Song (9.8), 1936; and Victory (9.6), 1889. Travenna is top weight this year with 9.6. A couple of yearlings, both of them by Lord Warden, are the latest additions to F. D, Jones’s stable, and they are now being broken in. A gelding from Windshield is a half-brother to The other is a filly, her dam, Tea < Drill, being by Tea Tray from the imported mare, Quadrilateral, the dam of Homer and Rob Roy, two good performers in Australia. The Ashburton County Racing Club has decided to alter the date tor the club’s winter meeting from June 5 to June 26, on account of the alteration in dates for the Dunedjn Jockey Club’s Winter Meeting, which will now commence on June 9. It has also been decided to increase the stakes for the autumn meeting, to be held en Coronation Day, May 12, by £350, and to provide a silver cup, valued at £25, for the Coronation Handicap, of one mile and a-quarter. After one of the heat winners, Marble Bath, was withdrawn from the final of the “ championship ” at Wayville it became known that the stipendiary stewards were making inquiries. Rumour had it that Marble Bath was a ringer, but the investigations concerned the training of the horse, who was allegedly in the hands of disoualified persons. S. M'Millan, of Sydney, denied these allegations, and ultimately received “ the benefit of a very grave doubt.” Smoke Screen, winner of the Pacific Handicap at Trentham, is a gelding by Limond from Curtain, so is a brother to the Riccarton filly Pelmet, and is a full brother to the colt which was purchased by Mr G. J.. Barton for 1,000 guineas at the recent sales. Smoke Screen had won at his previous start the Sapling Stakes at the Woodvilla Meeting last month. He is trained at Forded by D. Marks, who was formerly head lad at Chokebore Lodge, Kiccarton. The largest training establishment in New Zealand is that of C. S. Donald, at Belfast. There are quartered there at present 131 pacers and trotters, of whom 30 are in regular work, and several more are being handled. Tho private track is half a mile in circumference. There are 16 two-year-olds by Jack Potts and 20 yearlings, besides the stallions Jack Potts and Calumet Axworth, about 40 brood mares and the same number of foals. The older horses in training are Savpldi, Blondie, Wahnooka, Captain Bolt, Celebrity, Casino, Plutus, Reno, and Delapaix. Tho purchase has been completed in America on behalf of Messrs E. G. and F. A. Bridgens (Aucldand) of the three-year-old colt Cloverdale, by Ahhedale (2,14), from Fanny Direct (2.71), by Braden Direct (2.11), a half-brother to Morley Volo (2.11), hy Peter Volo. Abbedale is by the Abbe (2.4), who sired many standard performers, including Bert Abbe (1.591). Abbedale has produced many with records of 2.5 and better, one sou of Chief Abbedale, taking a record of 2.0. On a half-mile track he paced a mile in 2.2. His dam, Marion Candler (2.11) is by Napoleon Direct, sire of a large number of winners. Cloverdale has not raced, but is bred on attractive lines. He will shortly leave for Auckland and go into F. J. Smith’s stable. Tuirau had shown some good form when C. Emerson found it necessary in the spring of last season, to give him a spell, on account of unsoundness. After being off the scene for a year, she resumed work and she seemed on the way back to her best form. Unfortunately, she had a recurrence of her leg trouble, and she has been sent home. It seems unlikely that she. will be triod again as a racing prospect. Tho place in C. Emerson’s team that lias been vacated by Tuirau has been taken by tho three-year-old. Sir Hugh. He has been spelling for a few months and be will bo given another opportunity to fulfil the promise lie showed last autumn, when he gave indications of developing into a useful stayer..

Mr A. M'Donald, of New Brighton, a newcomer to the ranks of owners, has purchased Mazzini, who was formerly trained at Bulls by A. E. Neale, and the gelding has gone into S. Barr s stable at Riccarton. Mazzini is a three-year-old hy Chief Ruler from the Australian-bred mare Dignified, by Dignjty from Queen Warbler, hy Comedy King. Ho has raced a few times, and ho was a winner oyer six furlongs at the Otaki Meeting in December. He was secured by his previous owner, Mr A. Giorgi, for 170 guineas as a yearling. It is reported that the Elderslie stallion, Solicitor-Genera), is furnishing out in very pleasing style, and at present looks in bright and blooming condition. He is exercised every day and kept in fine, robust health, and his binlding-np is not the result of being pampered. Among the mares already booked to him for nest season are Lotus Lily, by Chief Rider—Egyptian Flower, bought by Miy E. Steele, of Queensland, at the Westmerc Stud dispersal sale; Jenolan (Valais —Breakaway), dam of Du Barry, bought by Mr C. H. Smidt, New South Wales; and Full Swing. Girl Pat, who has done her racing to date from A. Cook’s Te Awamutu stable in the colours of Mr C. E. Robertson, of Wellington, ran in new interests at the Ohinemuri Meeting today. Negotiations for her purchase have been completed during this week by the Trentham trainer E. Simpson, who will race her in future in partnership with Mr S. Bassion, of Wellington, a newcomer to the ranks of owners. Girl Pat gave promise early in the season when she finished third in the Avondale Stakes and A.R.C. Welcome Stakes. Recently she has registered three more thirds, so she has a record of five thirds in seven starts. She is a two-year-old brown filly by Captain Bunshy from the imported Attains mare, Prophet’s Mark, dam also of Chief Mark and Sir Walter, winners in Australia, and she was secured at last year’s sales for 70gs. Miss Dorothy Paget, who has paid so liberally for yearlings in England of recent years, and without any of her purchases proving out of the ordinary, may yet have the pleasure of breeding a classic winner. She paid high prices for nearly all her brood mares, these including Salome 8,200g5,, Dorigen 6,600g5, Speckle 6,200g5, Doushka 3,000g5, Mara 5,000g5, Sister Clover 3,500a5, Fairyland 2,800g5, Deva 2,000, and Hesper 1,600g5. The fact of those nine alone costing 38,800 gs at auction suggests that Miss Paget owns one of the most costly collection of brood mares at any stud in England, Friesland, winner of the Thompson Handicap at Trentham, is the fourth winner of the event trained by 0. Cox, of Hawera, his previous successes having _ been gained with Reremoann (twice) _ and Golden Hair. Owned by his trainer, Friesland has made his winning sequence five, all of which wins have been scored during the last few weeks. He is an Australian-bred gelding, five years, by Friars dale from Fluency, and he scored a most convincing win the big Trentham mile. Last year Friesland ran a somewhat unlucky second to Silver Ring in the same race. Royal Limond will leave Riccarton to-morrow night for Invercargill to carry out the same early programme as in the two previous years, competing at Otautau on Saturday next and Riverton a week later. According to Christchurch reports he has done a lot of good work, and he is so forward that he may be expected to race well on the southern trip. Later on he is likely to again travel to the North Island, winding, up at Auckland in June, as he has done on two previous occasions. It is probable that Owlsgleam, in the same ownership, will accompany the steeplechaser to Southland, to race in sprint events. She needs only ope more race to take her out of hack class, and she may later on be tried as a jmnper._ R. Beale, who won the Grand National Steeplechase on Royal Limond, has been engaged to ride the gelding throughout the season. F. J. Smith took a smart novice to the Wellington trotting meeting in the Great Bingen mare Crocus, and with a shade of luck she may have won a race, says a northern writer. At her first appearance, in the Autumn Novice, she failed to strike a gait at the start, and lost some valuable ground, although she had made up most of the leeway at_ the home turn. However, her earlier effort left her without any dash Over the final furlong, and she weakened into third place, hater in the day Crocus lost her driver during the running of the Taiia Novice. Crocus is a fine stamp of mare, and an early success should he in store for her. By his ridiculously easy win in the New Zealand St. Leger Stakes Wild Chase left no doubt as to his superiority over Martaya. In winning he gave Sir Charles Clifford his first success in this particular classic, and he credited his sire, Paper Money, with his first win in the event. Wild Chase is the only one Of the stock of Paper Money who has won over a distance further than a mile and a-half on the flat, and is by far the best stayer sired by the Greenback horse. Before Wild Chase won the New Zealand Derby Stakes in November, Paper Money had not been credited with a win in a Derby or a St. Leger, but through the agency of Wild Chase his name figures in the winning list of both classics. Wild Chase’s record for the season stands at seven wins and two seconds in nine starts. By her success in the R. A. Armstrong Memorial Handicap Bonny Azure has reached the grade for the next New Zealand Trotting Cup, which will probably be tightened from a 4min 26scc to a 4min 25sec limit. She has had a remarkable career since racing at two miles. She scored her first success 15 months ago at Cambridge off 4min 42sec, and at Hawera won the Trotting Cup and Waimate Plains Handicap, establishing a course record of. 4min 26 3-sseo in the latter event. Bonny Azure began the present season on 4min 32sec, but two wins at Addington and a sprint success at Epsom put her back to 4min 27sec, from which mark she dead-heated with her former stable mate, King’s Warrior, in the Dominion Handicap at Hutt Park last month in 4min 22sec. Last Saturday King’s Warrior could finish only third. Bonny Azure is held on lease by Mr S. G. Hedley, for whom she has won approximately £3,000. The lease, it is understood, expires at tho end of the season, and unless present intentions are changed Bonny Azure will return to her breeder, Sir L. J. Brake, Whangarei, who may race her next season.