To-day’s Racing News

Greymouth Evening Star, 13 July 1935, Page 13

To-day’s Racing News

Galloping MEETINGS TO COME. July 20. —Hawke’s Bay. July 24. —Rangitikei. July 25.—Waimate District. July 25, 27.—Poverty Bay. July 27.—South Canterbury. July 27.— Manawatu. Aug. 3.—Christchurch Hunt Club. Aug. 3.—Poverty Bay Hunt Club. Aug. 13, 15, 17.—Canterbury Grand National. Kicked Himself: Salt Spray’s withdrawal from his remaining engagements at Trentham was due to his having ricked himself at one of his jumps on Tuesday. It is hoped he may be all right again at National time. Hunts President:

Dr. A. McGregor Grant, owner of Haakon, was elected president of the New Zealand Hunts’ Association at the annual meeting held in Wellington this -week, vice the late Mr D. G. A. Cooper. ' ■ ' *

English Racing: The next big race in England is the Eclipse Stakes, to be run on July 19. The St. Leger will be . decided on September 11. Prince Acre’s Rise:'’

Prince Acre’s rise from the ■ bottom of the open company ladder is seen by the poundage, 8.5, given and accepted for the Onslow Handicap. His winning weight in the Stewards’ was 7.4£. Astarth was lifted from 7.11 to 8.2 for her second. Preferred the Battens: It is interesting to note that Dunmura, who finished so well into third place in the Wellington Steeplechase, remained in to-day’s Winter Hurdles in preference to the July Steeplechase. He is a competent jumper in both departments and can muster a good speed on the flat. One to Each: <

Hunting Jay easily won the Vittoria Hurdles from Swift and Sure, who, in the former’s absence, was successful in the Corunna Hurdles. For the Talavera Hurdles, Hunting Jay went up 15 pounds and the other 12 pounds —relatively good treatment for the topweight. •

Chokebore Runners: Although Knock Out and Tail Light are ‘the sole representatives of the team of Cutts brothers at Trentham to-day only, the stable will have several other horses available for the Grand National Meeting. Horn’s Reef will be on hand again, after being off the scene since his fall at Ellerslie on Boxing Day, and Trumpet Blast and Sky Pilot are two who may be ready to race soon. Tybalt is Tough:

Tybalt has been an exceptionally hard-worked galloper this year, and his succesess well-earned. Thursday’s race was his sixteenth’ since March, an average of one a week. Tybalt was bred by the Hon. E. W. Alison, and is owned by Mr. W. J. Wilson. He is a five-year-old gelding by Romeo from Akahau, a Thurnham mare and. a fullsister to the 1927 Grand National Hurdles winner, Wharnecliffe. A brother to Tybalt, who was registered as Gamin, was never raced, and apart from the two winners mentioned, the family has’met with no success.

Backed a New Chum: Earl Colossus, who ran two races, without distinction at Otaki last month, was accorded a good share of support for the Trial Plato at Trantham on Thursday, but he was not seen in the running. It is unusual to see such expectations of a recruit in a big field, even although the form disclosed is very moderate. However, Earl Colossus may prove in the near future that the trial on which ho was backed was genuine.

Tuoor Tipped: As Valpeen was raised ten pounds for winning the Wellington Steeplechase, and Ruby Meteor, half a stone for running second, the handicapper has not been harsh with the former. His adjustment would indicate that i he expected the mare to be improved the more for the July Steeplechase. Tudor, a casualty on the first day, went up four pounds, while Pahu, who was fourth on Tuesday, was dropped one pound. On these figures, Tudor was the handicapper’s tip.

Southern Rivals: Kemal Pasha’s second in the Members’ Handicap proved satisfactory from the dividend-paying point of view, but expensive by comparison with the treatment accorded Guarantee.. In the Stewards’ Handicap on Tuesday, Guarantee conceded one round. They met level in the Members’ Handicap and for the Onslow Handicap to-day, Kernel Pasha was placed four pounds above Guarantee and eight pounds above him in the Winter Oats.

Old Rivals: , , „ Pater Pan ai\d Rogilla have re urned to Randwick, and the former is in great trim after his holiday. It : wa. originally Intended he should be away a little longer, but the cold wcatl * ar hastened his return home Last spring, Rogilla defeated Peter Pan the first twice they met the Sertac Chelmsford Slakes and the Spring Stakes. In the autumn Rogilla defeat ed Hall Mark at a mile and a { l and ran Peter Pan to a head in the Autumn Plate. That he will again get as close to the latter on weight-for-terms is doubtful, but that he will wm more raeon is practically certain, says "Pilot.”

WX?™ tho nomlnatlon of the gelding South cent provincial meeting in New South Wales, the stewards reported that while A. E. Smith, who figured as the trainer, had been taking the horse to the track, George garter, a wellknown jockey, was its real Accordingly, Smith, Carter, and H M. Bate (Nightfall’s owner) were disqualified tor 13 months under the improper practices rule. A further inquiry into a betting transaction in respect of Nightfall caused the Stewards to find Carter guilty of dishonest and improper practices, and ho is, therefore, disqualified for two years, this to bo cumulative on the 12 months imposed on the other charges.

• ur National Hope: To-day's race for the Victoria Grand National Steeplechase will give the Southlandor, Mctnbo, a fine chance of Building on to his New Zealand record

in good jumping events, and many have made arrangements to back him at Flemington. Membo was bred in 1924 anjl began his careel’ with one start as a two-year-old, since when he has contested well over 100 races. As a six-year-old, he was pulled out no fewer than 31 times. On both sides of his house, he is well-related. He is by Balboa, a Derby and Auckland Cup winner, from Sweet Memory, by Maniapoto, son of Soult. Sweet Memory is a grand-daughter of Lady Helen, one of the best mares ever imported (from New South Wales) by Mr. G. F. Moore for the Kai-Iwi Stud. Lady Helen is the tap-root from which have sprung such notable performers as Reremoana, Lady Cavendish, Lady Bentinck, Golden Hair and Tizzy. How Berestoi Was Rated:

Berestoi, who is well up in the weights in the spring handicaps—in Melbourne, particularly so —won at a mile and a half in England last year, but-was not highly rated by Mr. Fawcett when, at the close of the season, he issued his weights for the Free Handicap, a mile and a quarter race for three-year-olds that had run first, second or third. Windsor Lad headed the list with 9.7, followed by Colombo 9.5, Easton 9.3, and Umidwar 9.2, while Berestoi had only 8.2. When, a year earlier, the Jockey Club handicappar weighted Berestoi for the Free Handicap for two-year-olds he gave him 8.5, against the 9.7 allotted Colombo and Windsor Lad’s 8.3. The foregoing figures suggest that the handicapper believed that as a three-year-old-Berastoi was in much the same position as when a two-year-old. Although he will rate as a five-year-old when he races in Australia in the spring, Berestoi will actually be sojne months short of that age.

Abe Bailey’s Beginnings: • When Tiberius won the Ascot Gold Cup recently for Sir Abe Bailey, |t was, no doubt, a great occasion in a life that has spelled success in capital letters. It was his skill as a bowler that laid the foundation of his great fortune, and he related the story at a dinner to the South African cHcketers in England. He said: “It was Christmas, 1886, when I played in a match for the Transvaal against Natal, on which there was some big betting. 1 took £BO to £l6 against the Transvaal. AMr Montague Davis, who had backed our side, said, he would give me £ 5 if I made 20 runs and he generously gave me £lO for making 21 and 19 runs. In its second innings Natal had to make 141 to win, and when they had made 31 for one wicket I was put on to bowl. I took eight for 17, and we won by one n\n. They carried me off the field, and collected £53/17/6 for me. With the £143 17/6 I paid my hotel score, and my other debts, and set up as a broker.” Brantome’s Waterloo:

Th© Ascot Gold Cup winner, Tiberius, is by Foxlaw from Glenabatrick, and. the race was as remarkable for the victory of the English thoroughbred as for the failure of the French champion, Brantome, who was thought by many to be a “good thing.” Tiberius took definite command of the opposition at the foot of the three furlongs incline leading to the winning post, and the field had no sooner faced the crucial part of the battle than Brantome’s jockey brought his whip into play. Brantome was beaten from that moment, and his failure to make any real response under pressure seemed surprising. If he had been in the form which had won him race after race in his own country, he mu&t have hung on a bit longer with a chance of winning, but he fell away rapidly. His lovely smooth, cat-like action, Which so clearly defined him from the others, had gone. He was thoroughly beaten and very tiredlooking as he went past the post. But for Bright Bird, who was tailed off, Brantome would have occupied the ignoble position of last place. Mazir Mended: Soon after his first win at the Takapuna meeting in January, following several placings, the juvenile gelding, Mazir, went wrong. He is again in work at Te Aroha under his owner, Mr J. H. Wallace, and next season he is expected to win good races over sprint courses. He is by Whirlwind from Le Begum, who is sister to Supremacy, a good sprinter, who won the A.R.C. Welcome Stakes, Avondale Stakes, G.N. Foal -Stakes, Railway Handicap, and other good races. A half-sister by Hunting Song to Mazir is being prepared at Te Awamutu by W. Stone, who earlier this season did so well with Solarium, winner of the Mitchelson and Avondale Cups. Remembering this trainer’s previous successes in the early two-year-old races with Supremacy and Royal Ruler it would not be surprising if this latest youngster was found well forward for early racing. She is bred to go fast, and on her home track there is tho right ground to develop horses for early spring racing. Trotting MEETINGS TO COME. August 10, 14, 16 —N.Z. Metropolitan. August 31 —Auckland. September 7 —New Brighton. September 14 —Wellington. September 19, 21 —Hawke’s Bay. October s—Methven.5 —Methven. October 12 —New Brighton. October 12 or 19 —Waikato. October 26, 28 —Auckland. October 26, 28 —Greymouth. October 28 —Oamaru. November 2 —Wellington. November 2 —Thames. Bismuth Will Keep: The Nelson Bingen pacer, Bismuth, ono of the string of J. T. Paul, who won a race at the Cambridge meeting, in May, but who did not act up to expectations at Epsom, was beaten there by the heavy going. On a firm track, he will be a cure for financial flatulence.

No Work at Addington: ■ Rain, with successive heavy frosts and fogs have conspired to keep the Addington track* closed for several days, and those trainers of trotters who wish to be ready for August have been keeping their charges exercised on the roads. It was expected that the extreme outside of the course would bo dry enough to-day to use.

Tuning Up: Indianapolis was worked by F. C. Dunlevey this week on the small halfmile cinder track at Addington, the horse being sent at a steady pace for four circuits. This is a fair substitute track, on the outside.

Sale of Argolis: The sale of the pacer Argolis to an Auckland owner is reported. Argolis has won twice this season for Mr V. Leeming, while at the Greymouth meeting in April, he was produced three times.for as many thirds, with J. Fraser, jun., behind him. His best success was at Cheviot, when he won a 2.23 class race, in 2.14 4-5. Argolis, who is a five-year-old by Nelson Derby, will be a useful addition to Epsom tracks.

Not Liable to Penalties: There will be three hunt meetings—at Waimate, Washdyke, and Riccarton —between the declaration of weights for the Grand Nationals and the Winter Cup and the running of these events, but winners at the meetings named will not incur liability to a penalty for the three big races. Handicaps for lesser events on Grand National Day will not be announced until after the hunt fixtures.

Should Reach Good Class: One of the most promising improvers in the Auckland province is the three-year-old filly Bonny Azure, trained by C. G. Smith at Takanui. This filly gained a comfortable win in the Mangere Handicap on the first day of the Auckland winter meeting and was installed a strong second fancy for the June Handicap on the second day. in this event she failed to strike her gait at the start and was giving the leaders a long start at the end of a mile. Her driver then sent her after the front division, but with two furlongs to go she still did not look likely to fill a place. Bonny Azure finished in great style from then on and at the post was in second position. It was a really fine effort, and when she overcomes her fault of beginning slowly, Bonny Azure is likely to reach the best classes.

Duplication of Names: At the Sydney Trotting Conference, attended by Mr H. F. Nicoll, one of the questions discussed was the registration of horses’ names. “Despite our protest,” said Mr Nicoll in reporting to the New Zealand Trotting Conference on Wednesday, “it was decided that no name once registered in any State should ever be duplicated. Your delegates pointed out the apparent absurdity of such a regulation, because many horses are registered who neve” start in a race and are never heard of again, and one cannot see any reason why after a reasonable time, say 10, 15 or even 20 years, such a name, carrying no record and no sentimental • value, should be banned, say in New Zealand, because it was registered, but never used, in Western Australia many years ago. A division was taken on the motion, and the majority was against us. No doubt, the matter will be raised again at the next Conference.” One must agree entirely with Mr Nicoll’s sentiments, and even in New Zealand, where names are often duplicated with those of gallopers, no valid objection can be taken. In the last list of registrations, for example, the following titles occur:—Golden Miller, Heather Glow, Riptide, Royal Doulton, and Streamline all these being names of gallopers of recent date. TROTTING IN CANTERBURY. [SPECIAL TO “STAB.”] CHRISTCHURCH, July 12. A Welcome Reduction: Trainers will not be inconvenienced in the matter of getting horses ready for action as the result of the new rule reducing the intervals between races, for while the interval has been reduced by five minutes drivers will now only be required to spend fifteen minutes on the track before a race. Previously twenty minutes was the period insisted upon.

strong Auckland Team: The Auckland trainer, J. T. Paul, has a formidable team in work, and during the present season his horses have won just on £l5OO. Included are several young pacers and trotters, so there is every prospect of further successes in the coming year. The star of the stable will probably be Ringtree, rising four years, and one of the best of his age in New Zealand. He has not been overdone and in his only two miles race he registered 4.30 to fill second place. Others in Paul’s stable are two really good trotters in Great Admiral and Te Kahu, besides Gold Eagle, Young Rodney, Bismuth and Aircraft.

A Trotting Nursery: Walnut Hall Farm, Kentucky, is regarded as the greatest trotting nursery in America, and of the 95 yearlings that were reared on the farm and sold in 1933, 39 have started in races or against time and 28 have established mile records of 2.30 or better.

Protection for Owners: The fee for registration of a joint interest was previously 2/6, but at the Trotting Conference on Wednesday this fee was increased to 10/-. Owners however, will be prepared to pay this increased sum when they realise the substantial protection offered in the new rule which was passed. It reads as follows: —“Provided always that whan a duly registered joint interest provides for the payment of a sum of money out of any winnings of a horse and such horse wins any money, the person entitled to the payment may serve notice on the Club or Racing Club liable to pay such winnings of his claim as he is entitled to, and thereupon such Club shall retain the amount claimed and with the consent of all parties shall pay the same to the claimant, and if this consent cannot be obtained then the Club shall retain tho amount until a linal judgment of a court of law is obtained, and such amount, less any legal costs incurred by the Club shall thereupon be paid in accordance with such judgment.” The new rule offers a protection to an owner against unscrupulous practices, and as such should be welcomed by all.

Huon Voyage: Huon Voyage is getting on in years, but does not appear to be losing any of Ills speed, and his trainer, F. C. Duuleavey, is confident that there is still a race or two in the Australian trotter. Huon Voyage is one of the best in New Zealand, but through injuries and other causes he has not won so often as he should have.

Returned South: Harvestin, who finished his season's racing with an extended tour of the North Island and for a period was trained in Auckland, has returned to Canterbury, and is again under the caro of G. 11. Murfitt at Rangiora. Harvestin has not been kept in cottonwool, and he has earned any success that has come his way. An Unsuccessful Trip:

Auburn Lad's second trip to New Zealand was not a successful one, and the Globo Derby gelding is back in Melbourne in the care of his owner, W. McKay. When ho came to Adding-

ton from Australia last season, Auburn Lad showed himself to be a pacer of the highest class, and besides winning a good two miles race at Addington and racing very consistently at Auckland he registered 2.2 2-5 for a mile in a race against time. On his second trip, however, he quite failed to reproduce his true form, and he i proved a big disappointment to M. B. Edwards, who trained him for some months.

The Government’s Share: “While the Auckland Trotting Club distributed £16,320 in stakes during the 1934-35 season and the public invested £204,758 for 11 days’ racing, the Government proved the greatest winner, taking £19,294,” says an exchange. “The figures disclose the fact that the owners, who have various expenses to face before the horses are ready to win, took £16,320 from the club and the Government £3OOO more.”

Dilworth’s Foal: One of the greatest fillies of her day in Dilworth died earlier in the season, but it is pleasing to record that her foal by Arion Axworthy is growing into a very good looking youngster. The foal is bred on speed producing lines, for Arion Axworthy is by Arion Guy 1.59 J from Belle Keller by Ortolon Axw'drthiy—Baroness Mona and Dilworth is by Travis Axworthy from Muriel Dillon by Harold Dillon. There is possibly too great a preponderance of Axworthy blood in the pedigree for Arion Guy, Belle Keller, and Dilworth are grandson and granddaughters of that famed stallion. Such a wealth of this blood, however, may prove very valuable when the filly retires to the stud and is crossed with a horse of the breeding of Wrack, Rey de Oro, or any of the well-bred stallions now at the services of breeders.

The One Family: The Auckland trainer, J. Gee, has a team of four in work comprising Kewpie’s Triumph, Kewpie’s Bond, Kewpies’ Guy, and Kewpie’s Crest, all the progeny of one mare, Kewpie.

An Accident: A three-year-old filly by Adioo Guy from Playsoon was to have been sent from Southland to a Canterbury stable, but unfortunately she escaped from her box one day, and is in foal to a colt, the property of Messrs Youngson and Jones, of Riversdale. This filly has breeding to recommend her, and her dam has produced a highgrade performer in Harold Thorpe.

Walla Walla’s Successor: Qften referred to as Walla Walla’s successor, Lawn Derby put up a great performance at Victoria Park recently, says an Australian exchange, when after a slow beginning he won the unhoppled handicap of one and a-half miles in convincing fashion. The Sydney sporting writers are in raptures over the Robert Derby stallion, who is trained and driven by W. J. O’Shea. In the race he averaged a shade worse than 2.17 to the mile, and this after a collision with another sulky. However, those who saw him perform at Launceston at the Easter Carnival would believe the pacer capable of anything. His close fourth in a race over two miles after being hopelessly left was a revelation, and then later in the day to come out and win over a distance of ten furlongs with ridiculous ease capped a great day’s work.

Death of Great Brood Mare: The great brood mare, Nervolo Belle, died from natural causes on April 16 at CaJumet Farm, according to advice recently received from Dick McMahon, manager (says “The Horseman.’’ When Mr Warren Wright, proprietor of Calumet, disposed of his harness-horse holdings, the aged mares, Nervolo Belle and Zombrewer, were retired. Nervolo Belle was one of the greatest trotting matrons. She produced six 2.10 trotters, including Peter Volo (4) 2.2; The Great Volo 2.2}, Volga (3) 2.4 L The Great Miss Morris (4) 2.75, Axvolo (4) 2.73, and Worthy Volo (2) 2.83. She was foaled in 1906, making her twenty-nine years old at the time of her death. She was bred jointly by W. P. Knight, Nichol- j asville, Ky., and Scott Hudson, later passing to G. L. Knight, of Nicholasville, who owned her at the time she produced Peter Volo and Volga. She was sold to Laurel Hall Farm, Indianapolis, Ind., when that establishment selected Peter the Great to head the stud there, and after the dispersal of Laurel Hall she was secured for the Calumet Farm brood mare band, where she spent the remainder of her days. As dam of Peter Volo, the only sire to get seven two-minute performers, Nervolo Belle’s name will live for ever.