COURSING

Evening Star, Issue 23726, 6 November 1940, Page 9

COURSING

NOTES AND COMMENTS

[By Plu.mi’ton.J

Owing to the requests made by many of the readers of these notes, there will appear during the next few weeks particulars of some of the great dogs of the past, whoso pedigrees are prominent among presentday chamoions. Answer to Correspondent. “ R.D.” (Nightcaps).—Guess, owned by Mr R. A. Hair, of Dunedin, was by Electrician (hive Wire—Comedietta) from Tuckfield's Pride (Norman Tucklield— Queen s Pride). A Famous Sire. White Hope (imp.) was known in England as Sisvpluis. He was imported to Australia by Mr H. V. Eoy in 1912, four years after the llunis-Jolinson boxing match in Sydney, and Mr Eoy renamed him White Hope. He was bred by the late R. N. Stoller (London), and was one of a litter of 10.

The litter comprised many noted performers in England, but none equalled the reputation of White Hupo as a sire. White Hope was whelped in June, 1909, and he w-as a litter brother to Sylph. Scarlet Letter, ami Saracen (the sire of Corsair, imported to Australia). He landed in Sydney by the same steamer as that on which the wonderful bitch Clare (Taurus—Oxford Girl) returned to her native land after competing m the F.nglish Waterloo Cup of 1911. The latter made a bold bid for honours in this classic event, as she was narrowly defeated in the fourth round by the eventual winner, Jahberwork. On completion of the necessary quarantine period. Mr Foy lost no time in putting White Hope into training to see what he was made of, and this English aristocrat was seen in action at the Kensington meeting, held in September, 1912. He was a contender for (lie Ladies’ Bracelet Stake, for 32 all-aged greyhounds who had not won more than S 3 3s in any one stake. White Hope won this stake, and defeated the following:—Jack Bonnow, Moving Picture, King o’ the Slams, Early Star, and Vedette in the final course.

In winning this stake, White Hope showed rare ability to “dust” his hares about, and lie ran as true as steel, showing gameness to a marked degree. It was definitely noticeable that ha did not display anything like the pace which his sons and daughters showed a few seasons later, and, strange to relate, White Hope arrived in Australia with the reputation of being a fast dog, but an indifferent worker. his initial public performance in Australia’ ho was found to be almost the exact opposite.

White Hope was put aside for the 1913 New South Wales Waterloo Cup, and was prepared for it by that astute trainer, Greig Keighery, who, incidentally, had the handling of him when he won the Ladies’ Bracelet Stake at Kensington.

Drawn against the Victorian representative, Great Western, in the first round of the cup, run at Rooty Hill in June, 1913, White Hope, starting favourite, led by three lengths, and was a decided winner. He was. then opposed to Dave D’Arcy’s very fast dog. Dad, who had shown great form when running in the New South Wales Derby of 1913. Dad easily led White Hope, the margin in his favour being fully seven lengths, and thus White Hope’s chances of success in his first Waterloo Cup in Australia lind vanished. Dad subsequently divided (lie New South Wales Champion Cup of 1913 with his kennel mate, Darling Downs. Running in the Waterloo Plate for 16 dogs defeated in the first tics of tho cup, White Hope beat My Mack in the first course, and then received an accidental bye through the withdrawal of the Victorian. dog. Senator. . In the .third.sound he met his second defeat in Australia, tho vanquishei on this occasion being Mr P A. Lamb’s great performer Loud Report, who incidentally defeated King o’ the Bulwarks iu the final of the Waterloo Plato of that year.

White Hope had his third and last start in the Champion Stakes run at St. Arnaud, Victoria In ,1913 tho St. Arnaud championship attracted an entry of 48 all-aged performers, and Mr H. V. Foy nominated both White Hope and Missa Johnson (a puppy which he had seen competing at Ront.v Hill and eventually purchased). On the last clay of tho meeting there were three dogs left, in the Championship Stake, and two of these were White Hope and Missa Johnson. An unusual occurrence then took place. Owing to the third dog in the flak'- having a natural bye into the final Mr Foy’g two dogs would either have to jr.eet or else bo allowed the privilege of nominating which one of the two runners would contest tho final. While Horn, was then withdrawn in fa vour of Missa Johnson.

Further notes on White Hope will appear next week.