SPORTING

Greymouth Evening Star, 14 January 1928, Page 11

SPORTING

WELLINGTON R.C. ACCEPTANCES. (Per Press Association.) WELLINGTON, January 13. The Wellington Racing Club’s acceptances for the first clay on January 21 are as follow: — Trentham High-Weight Handicap of 260 sovs., one mile. —Mandarine, Rotowhero 9.13, First Sight 9.9, Airtight, Amorist 9.7, Greengrocer 9.4, Green Cloth 9.2, Historic, Flying Shot, Sneerer, Clavers 9.0. Wellington Stakes, of 1000 sovs (for two and three-year-olds), weight for age, 5 furlongs.—Baskier, Childsplay, Dark Girl, Gascony, Golden Armour, Paganelli, Prince Humphrey, Silver Paper, Staghunter, Thespian, Ayah C. Apprentices’ Plate, of 260 sovs.. 7 furlongs (3 year-olds 7.9, 4 year-olds and upwards 8.5). —Aro De Vai, Arikiwai, Amor, Bourse, Blimp, Catkin, Calm, Give, Goshawk, Kindle, Lady Killer, Lady Limond, Paper Boy, Some Lad, Spray, Budge, Starflight, The Swell, Thurnbell, Wild Work, Wayward.

Fitzherbert Handicap, of 350 sovs., five furlongs.—High Disdain 8.13, Goblin Market 8.3, Royal Duke 8.2, Kaikoro 8.0, Amplifier 7.13, Briar Root, Banket, Monetize 7.12, Miss Gowrie, 7.11, Flicker 7.10, Moorgas, Consent, Boston, Kiriana 7.7, Teheka 7.5, Dumblane, Sungift, Concentrate 11., Miss Ransom, Full Feather, Shona 7.4. Shot Silk, Pari 7.3, Kentish Lady, Select, Dancing Star, Stanchion 7.0. Wellington Cup Handicap, of 1500 sovs., li miles. —Star Stranger 9.8, Footfall 8.11, Piuthair 8.5, Mask 8.4, Set Sail 8,3, Laughing Prince 7.13, Joy Bird, Battlement 7.5, David Garrick 7.3, Bright Glow, Papatu 7.2, Bennanee, Pink Note, Celerity IL, Black Mint, Novar, Ary Royal, Overhaul, Countersign 7.0. Anniversary Handicap of 500 sovs., one mile.—Thorndale 9.5, Sir Archie Nincompoop 9.2, .Overhaul 9.0, Magna Charta 8.11, Le Choucas 8.10, Damaris Vertigern 8.9, Tiega, Gala Day 8.7, Sir Roy 8.5, Assurance, Duke Abbey 8.4, Ring Boy 8.2, Front Rank, Alyson, Cosmetic, Horomea 8.0. Telegraph Handicap, of 1000 sovs., 6 furlongs. —Aussie 9.7, The Hawk 8.10, Cimabue 8.9, Crown Area, Eulalie 8.8, Booster 8.4, Money Order, Shirley, 8.3, Joy King 8.2, Limited 8-1, Royal Damon 7.12, taperchase 7.10, In the Shade 7.8, Lausanne 7.6, Lady Limond 7.5, Royal Ceres 7.3, Covent Garden 7.2, Good as Gold, Sudden Storm,■ Rascal, Cerf, Silver Coot 7.0. Ruapehu Handicap (hack conditions), of 260 sovs, 6 furlongs.—Broad Acre 9.4, The Raider 8.13, Addlepate 8.6, Rotor, Polydates 8.5, Capitulation 8.3, Camisader 7.12, Billikins 7.9, Erin-Go-Bragh, Fair Exchange 7.8, Bronstell 7.6, Mandy 7.4, Dainty Ways, Dimmer, Ganymede, High Heather, Sky Quest, Irish Lad 7.0.

NOTES AND COMMENTS. (By “Register.”) GALLOPING FIXTURES.Jan. 17, 19. —Wairoa R.C. Jan 21. —Wairoa J.C. Jan. 21, 23. —Foxton R.C. Jan. 21, 23, 25.—Wellington R.C. TROTTING. Jan. 26, 28. —Forbury Park T.C. Jan. 28. —Hawke’s Bay T.C. Jan. 31, Feb. I.—Nelson T.C. GALLOPING Martian begat Martarma, winner of the Great Northern Derby, when he was 22 years old. The meetings held in Taranaki during the recent holiday period revealed a number of good “hacks.” Among the number coming under this heading are Bright Glow, Royal Acre, Seastar, and Gold Dawn, and this quartet should secure further successes.

Three-year-olds are apt to strike the apex of their form towards the autumn of their second season, and in fact may at the tail end of the year race better than at any subsequent period of their career. A good three-year-old in such a race as the Wellington Cup is always entitled to respect. Renown won with 8.10, Gladsome with 8.5, Nightfall with 8.2, and Rapine with 7.12, but in recent years horses that age have not become prominent. After his running in the Great Northern Derby, the Wellington Cup might not be beyond Laughing Prince. Renown annexed the event after winning the Great Northern Derby. Gladsome won the blue riband at Ellerslie and then went on to Wellington to dead heat with Convoy in the Cup. Nightfall, who would have won the Great Northern Derby but for an accident, won the Wellington Cup in the same season. Laughing Prince should' give a really good account of . himself, judging by his display in Auckland. One of the most noteworthy mares engaged in racing at the present stage in New Zealand is Set Sail, the six-year-old daughter of Solferino and Strathpeffer, whose most recent winning exploit was in connection with the Invercargill Cup, in which race she carried 9.8 and won her race in good style in 2min. This marked the third cup won this season by Set Sail, and altogether she stands out as the best of her sex racing at the' present time . in the South Island. Set Sail, who was bred by Dr J. E. Rogers, it is interesting to relate, was not raced at two years old,' and to find the mare recording attractive form at six years old shows that the patient course pursued with her has brought a golden return, for she has won stakes to the value of £5900. Up to date Set Sail has contested 57 races, and has won fifteen of them, and been placed on twenty other occasions. She figures in the (Wellington Cup with 8.3, with which impost she should have every chance. Te Kara developed unsoundness after contesting the Auckland Cup on Boxing Day, and it may apparently be regarded as quite certain that the son of General Latour will be off the scene for some time, even if he should He raced again. A perusal of Te Kara’s performances show that he has contested 65 races, and, as several have been over long distances, it can be said he lias well earned a rest. Stories relating to , the old-time sportsmen in England always furnish interesting reading. The turf career of Lord George Bentinck is thus related: “Lord George Bentinck was allowed to be the cleverest»man that the turf ever had, but the loss of £27,000 in one year was the crucible in which he learned his experience. Strictly speaking, he was a very fancy bettor, and he would do what hardly any man alive would do—make a book to any -amount, and back horses as well. He had sometimes as many as 60 horses in training, all running in public, while his stud numbered 100. With three stud farms to maintain, plus training and travelling expenses,

stakes, and forfeits it was absolutely necessary to bet heavily and successfully to enable him to make both ends meet. And Lord George did bet heavily and successfully.. He stood to win £150,000 on his colt Gaper for the Derby of 1843, yet was too good a judge to lose sight of Cotherstone, whom he backed to win a, good stake, and thus although Gaper was not placed his owner netted £30,000 over that eventful Derby. In 1845 his net winnings by betting amounted to upwards of £lOO,OOO, but then his expenses were enormous. Kent’s training bill amounted to £7OOO for the year, travelling expenses came to £3600, forfeits to close on £23,000, sweeptstakes to nearly as much more, so that the £lOO,OO had dwindled considerably before he could reckon up his clear gains. Such prodigality could not last for ever, even for an enormously rich and clever man like Lord George, but the end was a complete surprise to the racing world. With all his wealth and numerous horses, he never succeeded in his pet ambition —to win the Derby.” Rapier has been very much ‘‘up on his toes” since returning from Auckland, and it is evident that his recent racing has wound up the stallion, who is a highly strung fellow. "He has been allowed to drop out of the Wellington Cup. Erin-Go-Bragh has accepted in the Rapahoe Handicap of six furlongs in the ’first day at Wellington. He, however, should be more suited to the Kaitohe Handicap of five furlongs on the third day.

Mr A. W. Cox, a Christchurch visitor and trotting trainer, who has been the guest of Mr V. Alborn, at Reefton, during the recent racing carnival, inspected the race course and trotting track in company with the President of the Trotting Club, Mr Geo. Lockington on Monday last, and expressed the opinion that the Reefton track and race course is the best in New Zealand for training purposes, and he has been on every course of any note in the Dominion.