SPORTING

Greymouth Evening Star, 20 June 1923, Page 6

SPORTING

RACING NEWS AND NOTES. (By “Arlington.”) Mr. M. O’Brien has sold the trotting gelding General Derby to J. Bryce. Dixie Mac is having a short spell, prior to being put into work for the Metropolitan August Meeting. Since coming to New Zealand she has raced most consistently, and won in stakes the useful sum of £879. The sensation in Tasmanian racing circles has been the disqualification of trainers Byron Lord and E. A. Eley by the T.R.C. on a charge of having doped the racehorses Walworth Bright and Coolpart at the Hobart Cup meeting. They were disqualified during the pleasure' of the committee. W. O’Halloran, a New Zealand jockey, and a frequent visitor to the Coast meetings, writes to say that he is now attached to C. Cooper’s stable at Caulfield. Since leaving New Zealand some two years ago Billy has done a lot of riding in Melbourne, and more recently in Adelaide. Dubious and the English colt by King’s Proctor that recently joined T. Quinlivan’s team worked in company at Trentham on Saturday morning. The name of Royal Flower has been claimed for the imported youngster. He iias a beautiful tail (reaching down to the ground), which was mentioned by his trainer as one of his good points. R. W. King has put Many Kittle and Pilliewinkie in work again after a spell, and they will be got ready for spring engagements. Deucalion will not be taken in hand for some time yet.

Cutts Brothers are keeping Whipping Boy and Distant Shot busy, in view of engagements at Trentham next month. Both horses look well. W. M’Donald has Tatau Tatau moving along in useful tasks at Riccarton. Sne is to race at Trentham. Insurrection failed to win a race this season, but lie earned £9OO as a result of being placed three times in important events at Auckland. Sir George Clifford’s imported stallion, The Ace, has got through a lot of useful work at Riccarton lately, and fie is now being sent along fast over short courses. He is said to be a speedy customer, who looks like winning races if he remains sound. Mr. J. B. Pearson, owner of Clean Sweep, Red Wink and other horses, recently broke a small bone in his ankle. He is now on the mend, but is still lame.

One of the finest looking horses seen cut at the Napier Park meeting was Polonet, a half-brther to Sycorax. He is a handsome dark chestnut colt, three years old, by Polydamon—Witchet. He is not ready yet. He has plenty of length, and is well ribbed up, with beautiful quarters. He should be better with a bit more age, and when the ground is firmer a decent handicap may not be beyond him.

in a field of. eleven for the Waiohika Hurdles at Napier on Saturday, Mountain Peer, who had 11. McDon- . aid on his back (11. Tricklebank had I the mount the first day), and Nukumai were the best supported. Both Nukumai and Mountain Peer were well placed all through the piece, and Blue Socks improved in his fencing on the first day. Then he was very careful in the way that he negotiated the obstacles, while on Saturday he fenced clever and fast. With a bit more education there looks to be great possibilities ahead of tlie Wolawa gelding in hurdle events. Mervotia, who was given a good chance by his connections lan like a duffer, and pulled up lame. Barrier was made a solid favourite for the Winter Oats at Napier on Saturday, with Aratura and Civilform the next best supported. The fvourite was ridden by Goldfinch on this occasion (Lowe who had been on the gelding tne previous day standing down). A good start saw the field run in a compact body for the first furlong, when Soldier’s Love showed out witn Civilform and Aratura next, Soldier’s Love did not remain long in control, for she gave way a furlong farther along to Civilform, who had Aratura at his heels, the next to come into vision being Joy Bide. With heads turned for home Civilform gave way to Aratura, witli Barrier coming fast. At the distance Barrier and Aratura were at it hot and strong, but over the last lap the former aserted himself and got there by a neck. The winner’s performance nas a great improvement on the opening day, when he was not greatly fancied on the machine. Of the nine runners who were saddled up for the Park Steeplechase on Saturday, Whipcord had the most support, the next in order being Te Mane at a gap of nearly £2OO. Goldscene, Maraecotara and General Haven also came in for good support. Maraetotara came a cropper at the post and rails in the first circuit, Birkwick having previously gone out at the second fence of the double. ' In the concluding round Te Maire commenced to tire, and Whipcord took third place. At the last fence General Haven and Goldscene were, in the air together, with Whipcord just clear of it, but his chance was oblierated on the obstacle as he came a crasher. Once over, General Haven got away from Goldscene, and beat him by four lengths. Te Mane was twenty lengths away third. General Haven was at one time trained by Harry Hickey, at Hastings, for Mr. F. Lysnar, but is now owned by Mr. E. Pardoe, of Gisborne, and trained there by W. D. Turnbull. He was ridden on Saturday by S. Walls, and the dividend was a two-figure one.