RACING NOTES

Evening Star, Issue 22893, 26 February 1938, Page 26

RACING NOTES

[By St. Club.]

RACING. February 28.—Te Aroha R.O. March 3, s.—Napier Park R.C, March s.—Franklin R.C. March s.—Banks Peninsula R.C. March s.—Rangitikei R.C. • March 11, 12. —Cromwell R.C, March 12.—Carterton R.C. March 12.—Opunake R.C. March 17, 19.—Ohinemuri J.C. March 17, 19.—Wellington R.C, March 23, 26.—Ohmaru J.C. March 25, 26.—Manawatu R.C. March 26.—Birchwood Hunt. March 26, 28.—Bay of Plenty R.C. March 31, April 2—Hawke’s Bay J.C. i April 2.—Stratford R.C. April 2.—Waimate R.C.

THE LIVERPOOL GRAND NATIONAL The much-discussed Airgead Sios has been given 12.0 to carry in the Grand National Steeplechase at Liverpool on March 25 (says an English writer). There has been a great deal of controversy among racing , men as to the weight that would bo allotted to the horse since Sir Francis Towle, his owner, made a statement that if ho was not satisfied with the weight the horse would not run. Sir Francis announced that Airgead Sios will he started for the great ’chase. “ His weight of 12.0 is exactly what I expected liim to get, and as 1/ am satisfied it is fair treatment, he will be specially prepared for the race,” he said. “He will next run at Kempton Park on March 2, but I am not sure that he will meet his Hurst Park engagement a week later. I have decided not to put him to the ordeal of a race for the Cheltenham Gold Cup.” It waa obvious that Royal Mail would head the handicap at 12.7. He won last season under 11.13, by three lengths from Cooleen, who was receiving 91b. She now gets an additional 41b. while Puck a Belle, third, who has the same weight as last year, receives the 81b by which Royal Mail has been raised. Of the field last March, in addition to the three placed, Ego, fourth, has gone down a pound, and Pencraik, sixth, 31b; while Don Bradman has the same as he then carried, 10.8. Don Bradman was knocked over at the first fence, but was remounted and followed on a long way in the rear, finishing last of the seven who completed the course. Tho'se who fell during the course of the race were Delachance. Danmar, What Have You, Didoric, Flying Minutes, Topinois, Drim, Irvine, and Dryburgh. Keen Blade refused, and Emancipator was pulled up. Ego, fourth last March, finished second in 1936 to Reynoldstown, with Bachelor Prince third. The latter had also completed the course the previous season, when he was sixth._ Inversible and Provocative also' got safely round in 1936, but neither was in the field last March. Nor was Blue Prince, who, three years ago, ran second to Reynoldstown. Blue Prince was unlucky that year, as his saddle began to slip at the fence/ after Valentine’s Brook the second time round. At Birmingham recently, Parvin, who rode him, said that as he jumped over each of the three last fences he could feel the saddle going further back each time the horse rose, and wondered whether he would get safely over or he thrown off. He was on the horse’s hindquarters passing the judge. He still thinks he would have won but for that mishap.

Reynoldstown. would appear to have been a lucky dual National winner, as Davy Jones would undoubtedly have beaten him in the following season had the reins not broken between the last two fences, and he nan -put. Davy Jones then carried 10.7, and he has been given 10.13 this year. The American horse, Battleship, has 11,6, and receives a pound from the Irish mare Pontet. who finished third te Latin 111. and Delachance at Newbury. Other interesting newcomers to Aintree in addition to Pontet are Silver Bow 11., Dunhill Castle, Carefree, Lough Cottage, and Workman. Pontet, Lough Cottage, and Workman ran first, second, and third, as written, in the Irish Grand National last March, and the Conyingham Cup. Workman is the best handicapped horse. In the two races mentioned he was giving Pontet 131 b in the first and 91b in the second, whereas at Aintreo he receives 191 b from her.

INFUSION OF FOREIGN BLOOD ADVOCATED

In proposing the toast of ‘ The Jockey Club ’ at the annual dinner of the Gimcrack Club in England, Sir John Jarvis said;—

“ I have an idea —it may be presumptuous—that our stock might be improved by the infusing of a little foreign blood, and- by paying more attention to the maternal side. There is a craze for the fashionable sire, and he is often wasted by being used for unworthy mares. “ In the olden clays the peerage used sometimes to find their mates _ among the ladies of the chorus—exciting, no doubt, hut not always satisfactory. So it is tor the classic ' sires. “I believe that a stud founded l on a strong maternal side with the introduction of new blood from abroad might give satisfactory results. “In a small way I propose to try out these theories. I am retiring my food mares Veuve Clicquot and Gainsorough Lass, with two proved Italian mares of good breeding, to my new stud near Newmarket, and I am sure you will wish me luck in my venture.”

JOTTINGS

His Chance Spoiled. Ardmoyie’s chance in the Novice Handicap yesterday was well fancied by his connections, but he was one of those who chances were spoiled by a bad despatch.

TROTTING. . March s.—lnvercargill T.C. , March s.—Wellington T.C. March 12.—Timaru T.C. March 12.—Wairarapa T.C. March 19.—Wyndham T.C. March 19.—Cheviot T.C. April 2.—Roxburgh T.C. April 2.—Westland T.C. April 9.—Taranaki T.C. April 9. —Ashburton T.C, April 16, 18.—Hawera T.C. April 16, 20, 21, 23.—New Zealand Metropolitan T.C. A Good Dividend. When Beam won the Croydon Hancap yesterday she returned a good dividend to win. This mare is now trained by T. G. Pollock at Gore, and this is her first win for a long time. Gold Boa Breaks Down. While doing slow work on the Mosgiel Park track one’ morning this week Gold Boa broke down' very badly, and is not likely to race again. This mare will be sent home to her owner’s place and next season, mated with Paladin. Her Second Win. Sailing Lady .scored her second success over a mile within a week when she won the Summer Hack Handicap yesterday, and has now developed into a nice mare. She beat the opposition for speed over the early stages and outstayed them at the finish. Pulled'Up Lame. The firm going at Gore found out the weak spots in a number of horses. ■Coat of Arms was one of these, and he was very lame on returning to the enclosure after running in the Highweight Handicap. Last Post was also moving very tenderly after this race. Against Free Use of Whip. The Aga Khan’s trainer, Frank Butters, was in South Africa in December and was very complimentary concerning the condition of .the horses he saw racing at Johannesburg. He said they carried a real Ascot bloom. South African jockeyship. did not impress him. In his opinion the riders used their whips too freely. Anything like that would catch Butters’s eye, as it is something that cannot he urged against English, riders. They, as a whole, use the whip as sparingly as possible. How They Fared at Four Years, In commenting on the fact that the Derby winner. Mid-day Sun, is to be raced this season, an English writer says that the post-war Derby winners who competed in England as four-year-olds were Windsor Lad, Hyperion, Cameronian, Coronach, Sansovino, Papyrus, Captain. Cuttle, and Spion Kop. Of these he expresses the opinion that, as an individual Derby winner, Spion Kop was the worst of the batch. He ran twice at four years without winning, while the others mentioned fared as follows at that age:—• Windsor Lad (£10,689), ran and won four races, including the Eclipse Stakes: Hyperion (£1,225), won twice and placed twice in four outings i Cameronian (£1,470), one win and three thirds; Coronach (£4,353), two wins and twice placed; ♦ Sansovino (£523), one win, once second, and twice unplaced; Captain Cuttle (£8,583), won his one race; and Papyrus, four starts for three seconds and once unplaced. Place money is not included in the above amounts. Checking Big S.P. Commissions. In England it has been customary in the working of a big starting price commission to lodge telegrams almost at the last moment in order to avoid the books then sending the money to the course. The starting-price bookmakers were, in consequence, often caught at a long price. To meet the position the National Bookmakers Protection Association sought to enforce the application of a 4 to 1 limit rule in connection with batches of telegrams. Tattersall’s Committee decided to uphold the action of the association, and the new rule reads: “Where a telegram is one of a batch of five or more telegrams each containing a commission for the same horse and handed in at a post or telegraph office at such time or in such circumstances that it is not received until after the advertised time of the race the limit that may he paid over such telegrams will be 4 to 1 for a win and even money for a place.” Owing to the shortness of the odds the new rule is likely to administer a knock-out blow to stai ting price jobs. Wrinkle. Wrinkle, who will he one of South Australia’s representatives at the interdominion championships, cost his owner, Mr W. J. Messenger, 300 gs, and has more than paid for himself in South Australia. He has had 33 runs for eight firsts, eight seconds, and four thirds, the stake money being £1,660. His best gaits on this side have been 2.13 2-5 and 2.11 4-5 (twice). Wrinkle also claims about 30 foals, some of those which have raced here displaying distinct promise. Mr Messenger lost a couple of Wrinkle foals through accident. .He refused several tempting offers for them. Wrinkle is a perfect idol at Wayville. New South 'Wales Representative. New South Wales will probably have only one direct representative at the New Zealand championships next Easter; Wilverang is making the trip. This fast pacer has not reached his best. He holds one Sydney record—the H.P. Trial Handicap in 3.25 3-5, established in 1935. Rock Globe equalled this record in 1936. According to reports Wilverang is a second Lawn Derby. We hope he is (says the Sydney ‘Referee ’).

Janet Gaynor, Though Janet Gaynor did not begin as well as Irish Birdcatcher did in the Croyden Handicap yesterday, she lost no time in joining him in the front, but after going well for about three furlongs she suddenly lost her place. Over the last two _ furlongs ■ she was hard ridden, but still drifted and was nearly a dozen (lengths behind the winners at the finish. One of Her Bad Races. Daring Deed ran one of her bad races at Gore, and finished a bad last in a field of five in the principal race. She was one of the first to begin, but the sound pace set by Pink Robe quickly settled her chance. A Good Performance. Valmarch made the opposition look very cheap in the Longford Hack Handicap yesterday, and was easing up at the finish. He carried his 9.6 like a tradesman, and ran the six furlongs in three-fifths of a second faster than Beam when she won the open sprint. His First Success.' Glen Elad, winner of the Electric trot at Gore, has been racing promisingly during the past six weeks, but yesterday’s was his first success. He was hard driven over the last furlong, but never showed any sign of leaving his feet, and it likely to improve. Disappointing. Since he came south for the Dunedin Cup meeting, Roy Bun has won one race and been knocking at the door in each of his other starts, but in the mile race at Gore he ran poorly and was beaten for second money by Coxcomb, who ran his best race to date. Should Have Won. Rodeur was not as judiciously handled in the Croyden Handicap yesterday as she was at Winton last week. ,Had she been kept a little closer, to the leaders over the early or middle stages she would have beaten Beam, as she was only beaten a nose and travelling much the faster at the finish. A Goop Sort. Grattanella had a very stiff race in the Progressive Trot, as though in front all the way, he was under challenge the whole of the mile and a half, and when called on for a final effort responded generously. He ,is one of J. Walsh’s team and looks like making good ‘in better company. ' Ran Well. ' Considering the strong pace set over the early stages of the Gore Highweight Handicap yesterday. The Surgeon ran a good race, under 11.4. He was badly placed in the early stages, hut was finishing on much faster than the winner, and in, another few strides would have beaten Poniard. • A Hot Favourite. From the time the handicaps appeared for the principal race at Gore, Galleon - has been a shortipriced favourite, and he duly landed the short odds laid on his chance, but he had to establish a new course record to beat Pink Robe, and only defeated her a head. This mare raced very generously, and fought out every inch of "the gruelling finish. By Gallant Fox. ✓ Foxlove, winner of the Novice Handicap yesterday, is one pf the few horses sired by Gallant Fox before the latter was gelded... His dam, Cupid’s Dart, won a number of races in Southland a few years ago. Foxlove was reported to be suffering from shin soreness after racing well at Winton a week earlier, hence the good price he paid. A Bad Start. None of Mr Gieseler’s despatches from the six furlong post at Gore yesterday were good efforts, and the start of the Longford Hack Handicap was

the worst of them. The horses in thai centre of the field, appeared to get* . squeezed out,, and though it is extremely doubtful if any of them could ' have, extended Valmarch, several ofl them had no chance after the start* Two-year-olds in America. Australia has its share of two-year* old racing, but the amount dwindle* into insignificance by comparison with! America. Last year 357 sires were, re* presented by two-year-old winners _ iai that country, the most successful being Pharamond 11. (Phalaris —Selene, bjj Chaucer) ..with 21 winners of 3?i raws* Jamieson Goes to the* Top. Two wins and a third took the ex*' New Zealander J.' T. Jamieson to thai head, of the'points score for trainers at Moorefield. His total'is 22, against the 20 of Bf Mead, P. Riddle, with 16is not far away, and there is plenty on time for marked alterations before the' close of the season. Great Odds About a Treble. - * When or trebles are not selected at meetings in India, - th« money is carried over to the nextrday’a racing. At the Bombay Meeting trebla money from the previous day „was car* ried forward to New Year’s Day, when! only one backer selected the, winning trio. He received £1,389, which was al satisfactory return for an investment! of 7s 6d.