RACING NOTES

Evening Star, Issue 22631, 24 April 1937, Page 11

RACING NOTES

RACING. April 26—Marlborough R.C. April 30, May I—Dannevirke R.C, April 29, May 3.—Oamaru J.C. May 8. —Amberley R.C. May 8, 12.—Hawke’s Bay J.C. May 12, 13.—Egmont R.C. May 12.—Ashburton R.C. May 12.—Southland R.C. May 12. —Bay of Islands R.C.

A JUMPING LINE Royal Mail, winner this year of the English Grand National Steeplechase at Aintree, comes of a line which has produced many famous jumpers—that of unbeaten Barcaldine, whose descendants have done so well in Australia and New Zealand, especially in races over a distance. Royal Mail is by My Prince from Flying May. My Prince has been a great sire of jumpers. Among his famous sons are Reynoldstown (twice winner of the Grand National at Aintree), Gregalach (winner of the G.N.), Easter Hero, Boyarin, and others. My Prince was a good racehorse and inherited the stoutest blood from both sides of his family. He-is by Marcovil (sire of unbeaten Hurry On)’, from Salvaich, by St., Simon from' ' Muirninn, by Scottish Chief-(winner of the Ascot Gup)> from Violet, grand-dam of Derby, and Leger winner, .Melton. In the Union Jack Stakes My Prince defeated that good horse, Stornoway (son of Desmond), and he also won the Tudor Plate, the Gordon Stakes at Goodwood, and other races- ... i, , Royal Mail . (eight years old) has been a great performer over jumps.. Last season he won six i steeplechases and his form had : also been good this season, although he had come down in a race not long before_ the Grand National was run. , In this event he carried 11.13. 1 Royal Mail, of medium size, has .been described, as a , beautifully modelled horse. He is a fast and confident jumper. He had defeated Golden Miller for the Becher ’chase over the course in November, arid from that time had- been fancied by good judges for the big event of the year. He is a black gelding. His dam, Flying May, is by Flying Hackle, out of Little May 11., ; by Ascetic. Ascetic was the sire of the National winners. Cloister, Drumerce, and Ascetic’s Silver. Flying Hackle is by Hackler, son of Petrarch and Hackness, a granddaughter of the Derby winner, Marsyas. Overdue Holiday.For the first time in the past five years blaster Brierly is being allotted a three months’ holiday. Enjoying the freedom of the paddock all day. he is also being fed and boxed at night. Leg Trouble. Sir Simper is to be eased for a while because of suspected trouble in one of his front legs. His trainer, T. H. Platt, has not yet ascertained the extent of the trouble. _ Sir Simper has had only two races since returning to Melbourne from a year’s spell in New Zealand. Korerp Recovered. • ; ~- • HoreroJ -who pulled up very lame after running third to Big Dock and Haut Monde in the Prince of Wales Handicap on the opening day at Mana- . watu. has made a quick recovery, and is being kept in work at Trentham by H. Telford. “ Togo’s ” Future. W. Johnstone, after a holiday in the Argentine since the conclusion of last season’s flat racing iri France, returned To the latter country in February. As one of his employers. will have a number of horses racing in England, perhaps Johnstone will do some riding over there this year. Forty for tha Season. The stallion Blenheim had a list of 40 mares in America this season, the majority being the property' of the syndicate that purchased him. The principal contributor was Mr Warren Wright, with 10. He owns a quarter-, share of the horse. Valuable Race. » ■ Another of America’s big races, the Widener Challenge Cup, was disposed of at Hialeah Park (Miami) last month, and was won by W. J. Hirsch’s four-year-old mare, Columbiana, who, with 7.5, beat 15 tithe? runners in 2.1 4-5 for the mile' and a-quarter. First money was £10,400, second £1,600, third £BOO, and fourth £4OO. A Sydney Winner. • Housemaster,' who won the Ro?eberry Handicap in Sydney on Tuesday, is owned by the 1905 All Black, Mr W. 5. 1 Glenn. Housemaster, in only two starts hitherto, had one second and one first. He is by Chief Ruler— Filetto,_ and is trained by J. T. Jamieson, being one of the most promising inmates of the stable. At Dominion Stud. Cereza, who is to be sent to New Zealand- to commence her stud career, has been a profitable purchase at the 500 guineas she cost Mr E. J. Watt, but the same cannot be said of her brother, Hercules, who realised 1,600 guineas last year. He has not yet raced, but, as he is only two, there is still plenty,of time for him to give a good return. As a yearling he was a fine-looking colt. King Rey. ’ At To Aroha H. Eva is busily engaged with his team of four—lmpasto, King Rey, Seven Seas, and Miriana. Impasto is now on the easy list, and will not be raced again this season. King Rey has been physicked and given a certain amount of paddock freedom. His injured foot, which was found to be festering, has yielded nicely to treatment, and the Raceful gelding is considered to be quite sound. Seven Seas is looking especially well, while Miriana has put on. the desired racing conditipn. '; ' Hardy Veteran. ’ The veteran ’chaser Billy Boy is standing up to his work in good style and looks as bright as ever. It is not intended to give him any schooling over the fences at Ellerslie for some weeks yet, as he is a finished jumper and knows every inch of the steeplechase course. Despite his age, Billy Boy paid his way handsomely last season and more money is likely to come his way in cross-country events before the present jumping season is over. Sydney Bookmakers. . A‘correspondent wishes to know how many bookmakers are licensed for race meetings in Sydney under A.J.C. rules. For Eandwick there are 101

May 15.—Otaki-Maori R.C, May 15.—Bir’chwood Hunt Club. TROTTING. April 27. —Marlborough Trotting Club. May I.—Kaikoura Trotting Club. May B.—Waikato Trotting Club. May B.—Oamaru Trotting Club. May 12, 15.—I’orbury Park Trotting Club, May 29.—Canterbury Park Trotting Club.

licensed for tho paddock, 122 for the Leger, 132 for the flat, and 14 others are eligible for licenses at other courses. That makes a total of 369, which is iriuch below the number of a few years ago. There is no means of ascertaining the number of starting-price bookmakers who carry on business. The number who operate in hotels would alone be an eye-opener. Handily Placed,

Last Refrain won the Riverton Cup

at Easter with 8.1, and finished a good second to Milford in the Easter Handicap when carrying 8.10. He carried 8.4 in the Timaru Cup to-day. On Riverton Cup form Last Refrain met Rebel Lad on 201 b, and Mount Val on 181 b worse terms. Trivet was handicapped in the Timaru Cup on 181 b better terms with Bast Refrain than in the Riverton .Cup. Welhbred Yearling. - One of the imported Australian yearlings that has gone into' H. B. Lorigan’s- stable at Trentham is. a bay colt by Barralong, from Cirqus Star, by Spearhead from Circus Queen. He was bred at the famous Kia Ora Stud, and is related to Hot Night, who was second ■in the English Derby and St. Leger, beaten by Call Boy and Book Law respectively. Barralong was a good winner in England, and one -of his progeny in The’ Bigot has already won several races in New' Zealand. Better Horse. Now. Last winter the Acre gelding Manawatu' graduated from hurdling ranks to take his place and perform well .against the best of the cross-country horses, and Mrs A. W. M'Donald’s charge has returned .to racing an all- • round better horse, . having built _up ■generally ■ since last winter, writes “ Moturoa,” in the ‘Manawatu Standard.’ Besides Manawatu, this stable has the .'hunter Tribesman, as well as Taumau and Lacoste, to polish rip for the winter meetings. A Speedy Galloper. When trained by A. E. Neale at Bulls Diatomous showed a great deal of speed, but he was subsequently sold for stud purposes in the north. He was brought back to racing recently this , season, and displayed signs of . returning to his best form when he was prominent for. a good portion of the way in events at Te Aroha, Pukekohe, and Avondale. He was produced in tho Stewards’ Handicap on the first day of the Whangarei Meeting, and, hitting the front smartly, led the field to the straight, weakening a shade in the run home to finish third. On Saturday he and Crooning were the pilots all the way, the latter holding on just a little too well for him. On this form Diatomus may still have a race concealed about him. but his weight is not getting any less. High" Averages. V Although The imported sire Fox Earth headed the averages for tho recent Sydney yearling sales, at 691 2-3 guineas for three of his progeny, honours rest again with Heroic, when consideration is given to the greater number of his yearlings sold. Heroic’s 22 yearlings sold for the best sire aggregate, 13,635g5, and ,an average of 622igs. This compares with his average of 4342-gs last year, when 31 of his stock were sold. Iliad had the highestpriced yearling, l,Boogs, and had the highest colt average, 950 gs. ' His draft average was 645g5. Night Raid’s average was 475 gs for chits and 250 gs for fillies, his draft average being 400 gs. Future Looks Bright. By his success in the Portland Handicap at Whangarei the Australianbred gelding Glen Abb recorded his second success this season. A feature of his performance was the determined manner in which he finished on when the pressure was applied. Glen Abb has quietened down a good deal as the result of the racing he has had during the last month or two, and as he is still susceptible to improvement, a good future should be in store for him. Improvements at Caulfield. When it comes to improving racing conditions, the Victorian Amateur Turf Club can be expected to lead the way, and they have embarked on an improvement scheme which, when completed, will certainly make Caulfield the greatest course in Australia, says a Melbourne writer. The new scheme will cost £50,000. It embraces the construction of the extension of the grand stand and guineas’ enclosure, and also a new totalisator. All modern conveniences will be installed in these buildings, and nothing finer will be found in Australia. Led All the Wav. The Easter Handicap winner, Tooley Street, with 8.9,- looked a certainty in the Autumn Handicap at Whangarei, and his chances of winning were _ enhanced by the rain that fell overnight and made the going on the heavy side. He led all the way,’ and though seriously challenged by ’ Kelly in the run home, responded brilliantly to score by a long neck. Tooley Street has always run his best races in the autumn, and in any event which he contests between now and his departure for Australia he is assured of most liberal support. A Buchan Horse. Although the purchaser’s name is not mentioned, the six-year-old brown horse, John James (Buchan —Tilly), has, according to the ‘ Sporting Chronicle,’ been sold to Australia. His last race in England was at Newbury on February 25, when he ran unplaced in tho Greenham Handicap Hurdle. John James has raced with more than average success on the flat. At two years he won the Redfern Plate at Kempton Park, and finished fourth to Colombo in the New- Stakes at Ascot, but his best year was as a four-year-old. At the latter age he Won the Sandown Park Guilford Handicap (£359, 1m 51f), Kempton Park Royal Silver Jubilee Handicap (£I,OBO, lsm), and Doncaster Great Yorkshire Handicap (£BB7, about 1m 6f 132yds). . In addition, he was second to .Black Devil in the Newbury Summer Cup, second to Museum in the Ebor Handicap, and third in the Derby Cup. His nine races last season yielded two minor places. On the Easy List.

Shy has been on the easy list since the Avondale Meeting, and it is unlikely that ho will race again for some weeks. His winnings during the season

amounted to over £6OO, which was very satisfactory, as the Valkyrian gelding was not over-raced. On the few occasions that Shy was tried in middledistance handicaps his form was very encouraging. He ran second to Martara in the Summer Handicap at Trentham and also to Mazir in the President’s Handicap at Te Aroha, both 10-furlong events, and those performances indicate that he possesses a fair amount of stamina.

Memories of a Century. The Nelson Turf Club held meetings at Stoke as early as 1842, when Gipsy, by Emigrant, was successful (says the ‘Nelson Mail’). She won again at the next anniversary, held the first week in February. Another mare of the same name was landed in Nelson from Sydney in 1846. She competed at the meeting in 1847 and defeated II Barbiere at w.f.a. When properly trained the following year the latter turned the tables. They were mated on several occasions, the second progeny being Gipsy Queen, dam of Calumny, She accompanied Lurline, another great Traducer mare, to Australia, on one of Mr Redwood’s trips. They won the big Melbourne autumn double, the Newmarket Handicap and Australia Cup.

Racing in W.A. Two Western Australian-bred youngsters, Jungle Lady and Hybla, were first and second in the W.A.T.C. Sires’ Produce' Stakes, with the New South Wales-bred Vaurien, by Veilmond, third. Owned by Mr G. Atkinson and trained at Fremantle by W. F. Tozer, Jungle Lady is by Agrion from Brown Queen, a mare by Mosqueton (son of Carbine) from Minting Queen,, by Minting, while Hybla, raced by his breeder, Mr E. Lee Steere, chairman of the W.A.T.C. Committee, is by Treat from Maple, who, in Mr Lee Steere’s colours, won among- other races the Caulfield Cup. Jungle Lady is one of the most improved two-year-olds racing in Western Australia, and her Sires’ Produce Stakes win was her fourth success in five starts. It was in the third of these races she missed a place, but a cold was blamed. English Protest Action. English stewards do not wait for a protest to be entered if they are of opinion that action on their part is warranted. The flat racing season opened at Lincoln on March 15, and Parkin, ridden by S. Wragg, won the Canwick Maiden Plate by three lengths from Rose Bleu. A furlong from home Amazonas fell and brought down Stage Error. The second horse was not affected, and no protest was entered. The stewards, however, took action, on their own initiative, and after holding an inquiry decided Wragg was responsible’ for the accident. They disqualified Parkin, and awarded the race to Rose Bleu. Such was a slice of luck for backers of the latter. In view of the stewards finding him in fault, it might be thought Wragg would have been severly punished, but as he was merely suspended for the remainder of the meeting careless riding would not appear to be regarded as a very serious matter in England. Racing at Calcutta. Australian trainers and jockeys again had a remarkably successful record at the Calcutta season, which ended on March 25. The Victorian, J. Scarlett, in. his first season in India, headed the winning jockeys’ list, with E. Morris second and the Englishman J. H. firmer third. Aleo Higgins, who is to train the New Zealander Martara, did best of the Australian trainers. The jockey E. Morris, who returned to Australia recently, travelling nearly all the way by air, said Indian racing people have been impressed with the good form shown by Australian horses sent to India in the past couple of seasons. Morris will remain in Melbourne on holiday for a few months before going back to India.

The statistics for the season in Cal-' cutta show that races run totalled 187 and stakes totalled approximately £120,600. The number of horses that competed was 2,059, and supporters of favourites had a lean time, only 37 being successful. The greatest outsider of the season was a horse named Poet’s Walk, who paid nearly a century and a-half for £1 on the totalisator. Captain Beedham and J. G. Clarke, both Englishmen, were the leading trainers with 29 and 21 wins respectively. A. Higgins was third with 16 wins, and his figures were really good, as he goes from . Bombay only for the importantmeetings, whereas Beedham and Clarke are permanent residents of Calcutta.