RACING NOTES

Evening Star, Issue 22775, 9 October 1937, Page 11

RACING NOTES

• RACING. October 11.—Auckland R.C. October 14, 16.—South Canterbury J.C. October 14,' 16.—Mastorton R.C. October ■ 16, 18.—Avondale J.C. October . 21, 23, 25.—Wellington R.C. October 23, 25.—Gore R.C. October 25.—N. Canterbury R.C. October 25.—Waverlcy R.C. October 25.—Waikato Hunt. October 29, 30.—Poverty Bay Turf C. October 30.—Banks Peninsula R.C. October 50. —Rangitikei R.C.' November 5, 6. —Whangarei R.C. November 6.—Waipawa County E.O. November 6,8, 10, 13.—Canterbury J.C.

WOTAH REGAINING FORM Ever since the Jast Melbourne Cup moat people have regarded the victory of Wotan in the Melbourne Cup as having been something in the nature of a fluke (writes “ Chiron,” in the ‘Australasian’). Possibly Wotan was a little fortunate in getting a lucky run on the rails all through the race. His abject failure in Sydney during the autumn gave support to the view that he was a lucky Melbourne Cup winner. His form in the Tullamarine - Handicap recently, however, may cause many of us to revise our ideas concerning the last Melbourne Cup and the one whidh is immediately ahead of us. His form was rather impressive, and although he did not win he shaped in a manner which suggested that he is going to. be a force, to he reckoned with at Flemington next month. He has done exceptionally well of late, and has built up and furnished a good deal. He looked in nice solid condition, and the betting Showed that he was expected to put up a. good fight against the favourite, Stevenage. Most people regarded a mile aqd a-qoarter aa_ being a bit short for him, hut that did not prove to'he the case. He ran the favourite to less than a length, and with better luck through the race might have defeated him. Early in the betting Wotan • could have been backqd at 20 to 1, but so. strong was the support for him that he came to 7 to 1. • Just after leaving the straight he was one of the last few horses, but no great distance from the leaders. He, however, appeared to get on the heels of Prince Qnex, and narrowly escaped a fall. He was down almost on hia nose; When he had gathered him iip again Creighton sent Wotan after the leaders, and made a long run on the outside of the field. It carried him into fourth place turning for home,' but be was wide- out and covering -a - good deal of extra ground. DewhuTst, who is' riding iii splendid form at present, shot Stevenage away some distance from home, as he did in the Heaiherlie Handicap, and established a lead of several lengths. Stevenage was well clear as they swung into the' straight, but he had to be hard ridden to stall off a challenge from Wotan. He might not have succeeded had not Wotan hung in a little under pressure in the straight. • \ A if"'' JOTTINGS % Reminders. Nominations for the Oamaru Trotting Club’s Spring Meeting, to'be held on 'I/hbbur Bay, cldse on - Moo3a^« ! a.t-' 8 p.m. Acceptances for the first day of the South Canterbury Jockey Club’s Spring' Meeting close on Monday at 9 p.m. Another Judge Required. Owing- to Mr W. Budkin’s removtl to the North Island, he has resigned the position of judge to the Forbury Park Trotting Club, and-applications Are invited for a successor. Mr J. G. Johnston Dead. The death occurred at Riverton on Thursday of Mr James G. Johnston, of “Glen Moffat,” Nightcaps. In his early days he took a keen interest in racing, and was one of the foundation members of the. Wairio Jockey Club. New Zealand-bred. Hands Up, winner of both of the hurdle races at the Australian Jockey Club’s Meeting, is a Night Raid gelding a half-brother to Red Manfred. The dam, Red Shank, was at the Elderslie Stud for three years, and was sent back to Australia in 1933. Cloudy Range Well. . Cloudy Range is in great heart (says the ‘ Star-Sun ’). On Thursday he accompanied Rongomai over two miles in 4mih 48sec. They did the first mile in 2min 26sec, and travelled about four sulky-widths from the inside rail. Cloudy Range has never been as well as he is at present. Cuddle All Right. The report in circulation that Cuddle is not working with her old dash at Trentham is one of those vague guesses that have missed the mark (says “The Watcher”). The mare is looking in splendid heart and is doing everything that is required of her. Early Speed. , St. Simon line horses ,in Quarryxnan, Autumnus, Lisp, Royal Stag, Winter Wind, Top Score, Count CavoUr, Overdrawn, Scrip, Childsplay, Satisfy, Wealth,. Guarantee, Pelmet, Paper Slipper, and Compensate have won the M'Lean Stakes since its inauguration in 1908. Scratched far Both Cups. Last week the three-year-old Damalis, who at one time ruled as favourite for the Melbourne Cup, struck himself while working and became lame. It was thought at the time that the trouble was not serious, but it did not vield satisfactorily to treatment, and Damalis was withdrawn from the Caul"eld and Melbourne Cups. Unusual Appeal. An unusual advertisement recently appeared in Wellington papers:— “ Masterton Races.—Thursday, October 12, Saturday, October 14—These fates being immovable, the Masterton Racing Club solicits the same, generous no-operation as was shown by other sporting bodies last year in allowing them to race unopposed on these lates.”

(By St. Clair.)

trotting. October 16. —Waikato T.C. October 16, 18. —Westport T.C. October 23, 25.—Auckland T.C. October 23, 25.—Greymouth T.C. October 25.—Oamaru T.C. October 30.—Wellington T.C. October 30.—Invercargill T.C. Oamaru 30. —Thames T.C.' November 9, 11, 12.—N.Z. Metropolitan T.C. November 13.—Manawaiu T.C. November 25, 21.—Forbury Park T.C.

The " Brown Ribbon ” of Germany. Franco was represented by yatellor and Cousine in this year’s Brown Ribbon” of Germany, run before a record crowd of 120,000 at Munich on August 1. The former started a warjn favourite, but he was beaten threequarters of a length by the German colt Blasius, owned and bred by Grat Spretti, and ridden by the German Jockey Held. Cousine finished fourth in a field of 13. A Notable Day. Maniopoto’s Metropolitan in 1905 was only one of the bright features of a notable day at Randwiek, as New Zealand horses won the whole programme that day. Machine Gun took the. Shorts Handicap, and Sultana the steeplechase, while Mr G. G. bread captured the other three events with Isolt, Sungod, and Nightfall. A Good Sequence. Gold Rod completed a sequence of four New Zealand horses to win the Epsom Handicap. Capris (by Captain Bunsby) was successful last year, Synagogue (by Rabbi), and Silver Ring (by Silverado) preceding her. Or this lot, only Silver Ring was owned in the Dominion, hut Autopay, by Paper Money) in 1931, and Nightmarch (by Night Raid) in 1929 both earned the colours of New Zealand owners. A Good French Four-year-old. When reviewing last season's racing in France, the British Bloodstock Breeders’ Review stated that special mention had to be made of Corrida, M. M. Boussac’s brilliant four-year-old chestnut filly, by Coronach out of Zariba, ran in four countries, France, England, Germany, and Belgium..' In England she won the Hardwicke'Stakes,- worth £3,270, at Ascot, and ran third in the Champion Stakes at Newmarket. Corrida was bred an France by. M. M. Boussac.

Racing Taxation in New South Walesi Tho racing public in New South Wales, not to mention the bookmakers, are desperately disappointed that the State Government’s Budget does not provide for any, relief from taxation.: The question immediately became acute, for the Premier, Mr B. S. B. Stevens, had undertaken to make some reduction. Members of his own party, and even Cabinet Ministers, took sides, and, compromised at .a party meeting, by_ agreeing ‘to review all racing taxation "immediately after the ■Federal ilecsoh?. . ■ A Surprise Win. There have been a few surprises in' connection-with the Dunedin Guineas, four years ago by Tauramai. The Ealadin gelding made his first appearance when, i.caxrymgi- the, lowest . weight, ho finished at the tail of the field in the maiden event on the first day. Two days later he .scored a five-lengths victory ihHhe Guineas. Admittedly it was a moderate lot that he beat, but Tauramai went on to win the Dunedin Clip and the Great Autumn Handicap the same season. Support for New Zealanders. New Zealanders continue to support their own horses in tho Caulfield and Melbourne Cups, to be held on October 16 and November 2 respectively (states an Australian sports writer). An- interesting double backed for several thousands last week was Floodtide and the three-year-old Courtcraft. Floodtide has done exceptionally well since,he arrived from New Zealand. Continued support has made him second favourite for the Caulfield Cup. In the Melbourne Cup and the Caulfield Cup another New Zealander, Willie Win, has eased a little.

A Good Record. The Metropolitan Handicap has been won eight times by horses bred in New Zealand. Sir Modred (by Traducer) was successful in 1884, after which there was a gap to Cravat (by Castor) in 1898, Maniapoto (by Soult) won in 1905, and Solution (by Soult) a year later. There was another long interval to Pershore (by All Black) in 1920, followed by Star Stranger (by Martian) • in 1926, Waikare (by Limond) in 1934, and finally, Sir Regent this year. Sir Modred, Maniapoto, Solution, and Star Stranger were raced by New Zealand owners, Tauramai. Tauramai, who has been left ih the New Zealand Cup, has raced only five times in New Zealand since he won the Great Autumn two and a-half years ago. He was taken to Australia soon after that’ success with the idea of contesting the. Melbourne Cup, but went amiss, and has never since regained his three-year-old form. In addition to the Great Autumn, Tauramai won the Dunedin Guineas, the Otago Handicap, and the Dunedin Cup, but he was not a consistent performer even in that season. On Thursday he ran well as long as his condition lasted.

The Epsom and Metropolitan Double. Silver Ring and Waikare provided the winning double, Epsom and Metropolitan Handicaps, for'the Dominion in 1934, just as Gold Rod and Sir Regent did this year. < Gold Rod and Sir Regent, both by Chief Ruler,, were sold as yearlings at the same day at Trentham, in January of 1935, but whereas Gold Rod, a member of the Desert Gold family, cost Mr E. J. Watt COOgs, Sir Regent, from the imported mare, Irish Lyric, by Desman (son of Desmond) 1 realised only 55gs. He was bought by Mr W. R, Kemball, but in his two-year-old racing and his first two starts af three' years he did no good. Mr Kemball had a partner in Mr S. S.. Crick, who subsequently became the sole owner, and 'it- is for him' that the horse has done all his winning. Tremendous Drop in Ten Years. As showing the extent to which various causes have affected the Australian Jockey Club’s revenue for the past 10 years, it may be mentioned that for the year ending June'3o, 1927, the club received £170,287 in admissions, and for the year ending June' 30, 1937, the amount was £100,932. That is something, states the ‘ Referee,’ for which

even the stipendiary stewards cannot be blamed—and they, a trifle unfairly, are blamed for most things in connection with the decrease in patronage of race meetings. Nor can the totahsator drop at Randwick from £1,129,204 in 1926-27 to £633,724 in 1936-3< be charged against them. An Excuse for Ortyx. A northern writer present at Wingatui on Thursday says there was no excuse excepting the 101 b penalty for the defeat of Ortyx in the M‘Lean Stakes. Unfortunately ho had not had the opportunity of inspecting, the course. From where Ortyx started at the barrier she had to gallop over a furlong and a-half of very soft going, and an inspection of the line she took to the home turn showed she was going into the ground fully her hooves deep. The trade looked good, was carrying an excellent sward of grass, but when galloped on proved to be very soft. This, no doubt, also affected Great Baby’s chance,, who drew No. 9 berth at the barrier (Ortyx started from No. 11, though she drew No. 10), but Great Baby’s rider took her over nearer the rails smartly and thus got her on to sounder going. Ortyx ran wide all the way and was still out wide turning for home. In Favour of Single Pool Wagering. Chatting with, a visitor to Wingatui on Thursday, who, in addition tp. being an owner, is also a steward of two of the leading clubs in the Dominion, one racing and the other trotting, he remarked that b© felt sure the committee of the Forbury Park Trotting Club had, done the right thing in reverting to . the single pool system of working the totalisator. He. said he had made a close study of the two betting systems in operation in New Zealand, and was now satisfied that the win and place system was only suitable on courses where there were big fields, big crowds, and big pools. He recognised that it was almost the universal system of wagering in all . countries where the totalisator. was used, hut unfortunately the population of New Zealand was yet too small, and attendances at our courses, outside Auckland, Wellington, and Christchurch, were not largo enough for the clubs, owners, and public to receive the full benefit of win and place betting.

Notes. The Caulfield Cup will be run next Saturday. ■ . During his seven years of racing Lough Neagh has won £19,526, and he is the highest stake winner at present racing in Australia. L. G. Morris, who has been established at Marten since he entered the ranks of trainers, has taken possession of his new stables at Awapuni. Ho has a string of 11 horses in commission at present. ■ The A.J.C. winner Avenger will not be three years old until October 29, which may account in some measure for his poor record as a two-year-old. A Hawke’s Bay owner secured a fullsiated to Sir Regent for 55gs_ at the Trentham sales the year following that the Metropolitan Handicap winner was sold at the same price. Gold Rod, whoso winnings are- now £14,015, cost Mr E. J. Watt 350 gs at the Trentham sales. At the montlily meeting of the committee, of the Hawke’s Bay Jockey Club Mr B. Bergin was appointed judge, vice Mr W. P. Bussell, resigned.