SPORTING

Greymouth Evening Star, 14 March 1930, Page 6

SPORTING

greymouth prospects.

(Special to “Star.’ )

CHRISTCHURCH, March 13. Mac de Oro experienced anything but a happy passage narrowly beaten into third place by Sha y J* at Timaru, and his chances of bi mg ing home the spoils from the Nelson meeting at Greymouth are first rate. The Grevmouth track is too mucn like on? of Those rings that bulls are led round in by the nose/’ Horses that can handle the Victoria Park tr f aC J o " S ually go fast there over a furlong C °Great Logan will be very hard to dispose of in the Kitchingham HaZidmap at Greymouth on Monday. Not o/er blessed with courage, the Logan Pointer gelding failed after a good run throughout the Timaru Cup, and t shorter distance will suit his taste. Great Author proved a good thing recommended at the big Coast carnival and he is going to make U.lm buck’up his feathers when the Dominion Handicap comes along at Greymouth on Monday. That good filly, Fifa, has done remarkably well in her work lately, and she is expected to be on hand at the Nelson fixture to tackle the President s Handicap field. The Railways Department advises that a special horse train will leave Christchurch on Sunday at 8.15 a.m. for Greymouth, for the trotting meeting on Monday and Tuesday. Carriages for trainers and attendants only will be attached to the train. One of the most vital questions associated with the light harness sport is the number of incompetent drivers that sit in sulkies, while expert reinsmen look on. The high standard trotting has attained and the speed at which horses, travel nowadays makes it imperative that only competent drivers should participate at our more important meetings, and that all budding reinsmen should know "which rein to pull rounding the corner.” When Gijeat Dillon raced at New Brighton in the spring, many were the flattering opinions formed of his prospects as a future unhoppled performer. So far, these have quite failed to materialise, but there is ample scope for a trotter of his ability at Greymouth on Monday in the 3.32 ten furlongs and a-half Wakefield Handicap. Great Dillon figures on a 12 yards handicap and that should prove well within his capabilities. Great Dillon, who is owned by Mr. H. Murfitt, is by Great Audubon —Flossie Dillon (dam of Tom Thumb).

Dusolina will be there with her boots off fit the Nelson meeting, and considering the credentials she gained at Motukarara, the Drusus filly should prove equal to giving the Trial Handicap field the slip.

ADDINGTON TRAINING.

(Special to "Star.’’)

CHRISTCHURCH, March 13.

Horses engaged at the New Brighton and Nelson meetings who worked pleasingly at .Addington this morning were Muriel de Oro, Mac de Oro, Accumulator, Country King, Morrison, and New Metford, while Vendome, The Shrew, Omaha, St. Maura, Somerby, Rolex, Rey Logan and Mawhariti had useful tasks. . The.track was in good order.

Vendome and The Shrew were together for a mile and a-half, done at a smart clip. Both pacers are in splen did order for J. J. Kunnerley, and the effort of Tho Shrew this morning disclosed that she has benefited by her race in the Timaru Cup. Vendome has come on appreciably of late, and her programme will bo worth watching.

Achray went a mile and a-half at medium pace, and the promising Belinda shaped well in a similar task. Country King and Rey Logan were responsible for a smart effort at a mile and a-half. Rey Logan pleased more, doing a lot better than his companion over the concluding stages of the workout. . Tho tit-bit of the morning was provided when Accumulator, Omaha, Muriel de Oro, Mac de Oro, and St. Maura were assembled. ' All except St Maura went away from the mile and a quarter, Accumulator having a good start from Mac de Orp and Omaha, with Muriel de Oro bringing up the rear. St. Maura joined in at the stands. It was an interesting contest for a mile, but Muriel de Oro came through and held the others at the finish. Accumulator gave a sound display, a repetition of which would flatter his prospects in the two-mile trot at New Brighton on Saturday. Nothing above a 2.17 rate was attempted, but the manner of the performances of Mac de Oro and Muriel de Oro was convincing, in view of their near engagements.

Brentlight, Somerby and Rolex went a smart mile. Brentlight was in front from the start, but had to give way to his companions, who finished up practically on terms. Somerby went particularly well after giving N. L. Price a lot of trouble through his bad breaking tendencies.

Now Metford was dispatched over ten furlongs and mustered a torrent' of speed. Ho was eased up over the last furlong, but a repetition of his effort this morning would augur well for his prospects in his immediate engagements.

Morrison and,Willie Derby tramped 2 mile and a-quarter together at round about a 2.24 gait.

Wilna Dillon was restricted to easy pace work, and John Mauritius was let off with a light task.

Admiral Bingen, looking very fit was only jogged.

Maiwhariti’s task was two miles He went very evenly this morning. Others that got through useful tasks were Ola Pointer, Nelson Boy and Great Abdallah.

NEW BRIGHTON PROSPECTS.

(Special to “Star.’’)

CHRISTCHURCH, March 13. Big fields are engaged in all the events at New Brighton on Saturday, and there is every prospect of good racing.

So far Tringo has not reproduced her best form, but she only has to do so to keep Great Harvester in check in tho Improvers’ Handicap. Ulm went such a solid race last Saturday as to suggest him being a tough proposition in the Belfast Handicap, while Ola Pointer can be expected to show improvement after her fine race at Timaru.

Shady Spot is sure to be in demand for tho Denton Memorial Handicap, for on that form she appears to have quite four seconds the best of the handicap. Cyono and Morning Sun may bo the best of the others.

Dusolina has only to reproduce her Motukarara form/ to be. dangerous in tho Eclipse Handicap, though if Auto-

matic goes off kindly he and Brentlight may be in the picture. Young Bingen and Petronius should race prominently in the Dash Handicap, and, despite his penalty, Baron Bingen cannot be left out of considerall°New Metfo'rd and Gemlight may be in favour for the Autumn Handicap, while Mac de Oro and Petronius should be worthy of support in the Wainoni Handicap. If Young Bingen is reserved for the Electric he will probably .go out favourite, while Gibraltar and Return Voyage will not lack support.

NOTES FROM RICCARTON.

(Special to “Star.”)

CHRISTCHURCH, March 13. Hurly Burly, who forms one of H. Cutts’ team for Trentham, will only race on the second day, and subsequently she will accompany Ball Dress, Full Feather and Waterline to Awapuni. ~ . There will be a big contingent ot local horses at the Waimate meeting. Amongst them are Arrowmir, Master Clarence, Mime, Haze, Honeycomb and Topere. If recent track form can be taken into consideration, Arrowmir and Master Clarence must be given winning chances. During the past week Aspiring has been causing her trainer some trouble. She has been showing lameness in the knee, but even so her trainer has hopes of racing her at some of the North Island meetings.

The lameness that affected Gay Sonnet last week has developed, and there does not appear to be much chance of her racing again. Both Battle Colours and Subdivision have been turned out, and neither are likely to race till next season. Already several Riccarton trainers have started on their juveniles for next season. Before leaving for Wellington, Percy Mason had the tackle on two of Mr. Greenwood’s high-priced yearlings, the filly by Chief Ruler from Haylock and the colt by Chief Ruler from Toiling Tesse.

WELLINGTON SCRATCHINGS

(Per Press Association.)

WELLINGTON, March 13

Hunting Cry, Silver Paper, Aspiring and Royal Routine have been scratched for all engagements at Trentham.

TRACK AND STABLE NOTES

Mr J. Simpson arrived from Karamea to-day with Olive Nelson. The Aucklander,’ J. T. Jamieson, heads the list of winning traineis, with 28, followed by S. G. Ware 25, C. Gieseler 19, J. Fryer and Mrs A. W. McDonald 17. The Westport-trained Great Author is creating a favourable impression amongst watchers of the working at Victoria Park, and J. Jarden’s charge will not lack admirers of his chances in the Dominion Handicap on Monday. Ram,on Navarro, who created a favourable impression in the show ring is being worked by Fred Lynch at Westport, and is' reported to be taking kindly to pacing. The world’s mile trotting record 1.56|, made by Peter Manning, has now stood for eight years, and the pacing record of 1.565, for fifteen years. “Would you call that progress?” asks a writer in the Chicago “Horse Review.”

The number of falls that occur in flat racing in New Zealand is a mattei* for very serious thought, for there is no doubt as to the same being on the increase, instead of, as could be hoped for, the decrease. The recent meeting held at Te Aroha furnished its quota, and when five horses went down in one race matters assumed the sensational form. It is on all hands admitted that race tracks in the present day are very much improved to what ruled in former times, and therefore the increasing number of falls nrdst be attributed to other causes. No doubt races are now run at a very much sounder pace than in former times, and that has been brought about by the adoption of the crouch seat and short stirriip. With the latter, and to inexperienced riders taking unwise chances in steering for position, may be largely attributed the number of accidents, and until something is done to alter the present style of race riding we are not likely to see the toll of accidents reduced.

Panola, who won at Moonee Valley last month, draws attention to the great success of her dam, Pansy, one of the few Polymelus mares at the Australian stud, as a producer, says a Sydney writer. Pansy, who was purchased as a brood mare at the dispersal sale last year of the Kingsfield stud by Mr. Harry Taylor, was specially imported by Mr. J. E. Brien for the stud, and was not raced. In addition to Panola, she has produced the Wellington Cup winner Vertigern, the Oakleigh Plate winner, Royal Thought and the V.R.C. Hopeful Stakes winner, Pannikin. Pansy will be represented at the next Easter sales by one of the finest yearling colts of the season in a bay yearling by Rossen-dale,-and therefore he can claim relationship to Vertigern and Panola. He was acknowledged to be the finest foal at the Kingsfield sale, and has since then grown the right way, and will be a most commanding yearling.

Eaglet figures in a double engagement at Trentham to-morrow. The two races in which the bay daughter of Chief Ruler figures are the Thompson Handicap (1 mile), in which she is weighted at 8.2, and the North Island Challenge Stakes (7 furlongs), in which with a 141 b penalty her impost will be 9.3. It is most likely that she will start in the mile event, in which she should share most public support with Greymouth-owned Red Heckle, who has a host of admirers. Child© Boy, who is trained by W. R. L. Pascoe at Reefton, is in great fettle and those who remember the way in which he beat Avoness in the Progress Handicap at the Inangahua meeting at the New Year will not be inclined to desert him when he races in the unhoppled classes next week. ■ln the 2.30 class Trial Handicap at the Nelson Trots on Monday there is a good card of thirteen acceptors.. Mr J. Westman’s brown three-year-old filly Dusolina. has done a mile and a-half recently in 3.29 3-5, and has. only to pace properly to stay in front all the way. The daughter of Drusus from Doralinda is to run at New Brighton on Saturday. Some of the others in the Trial Handicap have done a good deal of racing this season, notably Russell Pointer, who finished second to Belinda at Motukarara on March 1 and beat Teremoa, and Mr W. Williamson’s Guy Denver, whose only placing in seven races was a third at i

Ashburton in September. Denver Hi ds on the back mark has raced five times this year without earning anytlU The death at Westport on Wednesday evening of Mr George Harol Ayers marked the loss of one who had Contributed in large velopment of sport on the Coast He was at one time the owner of a number of horses, including Com, dam of the smart pacer Talaro, Blazes Dines and Loyal, and more recently he purchased the galloper Deluge The fields in the Brightwater and president’s Handicaps, restricted to unhoppled trotters, are decidedly good, and these races on Monday should be distinctly interesting. Olive Nelson won the' Ngahere Handicap in a similar race at Victoria Park in October but over two furlongs less than she is to go in the President’s. Childe Boy is another on the front mark who scored a second to Rapture in the Express Handicap at the January meeting at Victoria Park. With the exception of Mr J. N. Clarke’s grey filly Fifa, who filled second place to Great Way in the Dunollie Handicap at the same meeting, the others on the same mark have not got performances to recommend them. Of those on 12yds Eva Reta raced indifferently at Timaru, and was little fancied by the punters. Nancy Bingen went a good second in a two miles event at Methven in the spring, but St. Petrox, who has been placed in four of five starts is more attractive especially as the Petareta gelding is credited with a good race in the Temuka Handicap at Timaru in which he finished third. Rose Audo meets Oval on a two seconds better footing than when the latter beat her by a head ihto second place in the Summer Handicap over the same distance at the Greymouth T.C. meeting in January. As reports concerning both are favourable, the pair may have command when approaching the judge’s box. From the weights allotted by Mr H. Coyle for the Plunket Nursery Handicap, to be decided at Trentham to-morrow, it is evident he has formed a good opinion of Tripping and Autopay. Both of these youngsters have come into prominence only recently with two 'successes. Appledore even more has caught the handicapper’s eye, for he has yet to wiii, yet is within a few pounds of winners of two races, and has to give weight to winners in Green Linnet, Henry of Navarre, and Jenny Diver. There is not much doubt that Apppledore is an improving gelding of whom the bpst has yet to be seen, and the handicapper’s tip may prove a good one to bear in mind. A party of British farmers came out of the Rutland Hotel the other morning after breakfast (says the Wanganui “Herald”), and the first thing that caught their eye was a row of taxis labelled “Bulls Races.” “What!” said one farmer. “You race bulls in this country. By jove! lam not going on by the excursion train to-day. I want to see those bulls running.”

Mr W. S. Clarke’s Guy Denver arrived in Greymouth last evening from Inangahua in charge of T. Burrows. Liberty Hall was kicked early in the week by Loch Bank, and may not be a starter at the Nelson meeting, where he has engagements in the Dominion Handicap and in the saddle event. If started the Great Audubon gelding will be short of work. The grey gelding Chancellor Boy,J winner of the District Handicap at the Westland Trotting Club’s meeting, is reported to be in rare fettle in thecare of L. J. Kirwan at Hokitika, and his prospects in the saddle race on Monday are considered to be bright. LOOKING FOR WINNERS LIMIT HORSES BEST For the backer of horses there is no sure road to success. Whether one follows form, systems, or anything else, finding a winner is a very tough proposition, but this does not deter thousands of people every race day “giving it a go,” and they will continue to do' so while the tote bells ring. In the trotting sport the greatest proportion of winners come from horses handicapped on the limit or thereabouts, and supporters of horses handicapped well back have not the same prospects of handling a dividend as those who invest on something on or near the front.

It possibly might be offered as an explanation that more horses are handicapped 'on the limit than on any other one mark. This is undoubtedly so, but it doesn’t alter the fact that it is from the limit that most winners are entered up. It doesn’t matter the proverbial “tuppence” to the backer liow many horses are on the limit compared with any other mark. If the proportion of winners is greater off the front or thereabouts, that is the place to look for them, and the records show that the further horses are back in the handicap the less chance they have of winning. That is beyond argument, despite the fact that they are the best horses. An Auckland writer has gone into figures in regard to this contention and he shows that in the seven trotting meetings held this season in that province 87 handicap races have been decided, and the following shows the number of winners entered up and the marks they started from: — Limit, 26; 12yds, 23;. 24yds, 11; 36yds 10; 48yds, 9’; 60yds, 2; 72yds, 3; 84yds, 0; 96yds, 2; 132yds, 1. Knowing that white sheep eat more than black, because there are more of them, it is only right that because there are more horses on the limit and 13yds than the other marks there should be more winners, and the difficulty is to know which is the right one of the bunch. The figures above show that in 87 races 49 winners have been on either the limit or 12 yds.