TO-DAY’S RACING NEWS

Greymouth Evening Star, 17 January 1939, Page 11

TO-DAY’S RACING NEWS

Galloping

MEETINGS TO COME.

January 19, 21, 23.—Wellington. January 21— Wairio. January 21, 23—Thames. January 23. —Ashhurst-Poliangin a January 27, 28— Pahiatua. January 28, 30. —Auckland.

Ivar: According to reports. Ivar is bettei now than when winning at the holiday meetings.

Impressive Wins: Flagman won his two races at. the Vincent meeting impressively, and next season he should win good races.

Lickem’s Rider: "The New Plymouth apprentice, l*. Cleaver, wli.o won the Stratford Cup on Lickem. will again have the mount on him in the Wellington Cup.

Easy List: Wotan has been on the easy list since Stratford, but will he taken in hand again to be prepared for 3 e Aroha next month.

Trentham Scratchings: k Royal Star if was scratched at 9.50 a.m. yesterday for all engagements at the Wellington meeting. Dark Water has been withdrawn from the Wellington Stakes, and. Sleeveless from the Fitzherbert Handicap.

Speed: According to sectional times for the King’s Plate recently run at Ellerslie, Smoke Screen ran the last seven furlongs of the mile (done in the New Zealand record time of 1.35 3-5.) in 1.22 3-5, the first furlong having taken 13 sec. and this is faster than Lough Neagh’s Australian and Dominion record for that distance.

Anticipating Defeat: The chances of some* horses with important engagements at the Wellington Cup meeting are already seriously discounted by the fact that inexperienced. riders will have the mounts (says “Sentinel’). Usuallj the inexperienced rider gets into all the trouble that is going in a race. The Wellington Cup has been lost at least two or three times by inexperienced riders being put on sire winners.

Erratic Gay Son: The erratic Gay Son is apparently a gross customer who thrives on racing, and it is mow clear that, he tends to" run his best races as he tunes up. At the New Zealand Cup meeting this was the case, and again al Ellerslie he ran his best race on the final day, when he won the Clifford Plate. Gay Son is expected to go on improving, ■and should win more races before the close of the season. Lady Ina: . The Cape Horn mare, Lady Ina. is credited with improved work on the tracks, and she should be capable of collecting some money at Trentham, this week. She ran second m last year’s Telegraph Handicap, and always races "well on this course. Last season she was most consistent, competing in 17 races for five wins, four seconds and three thirds. She was out of a place on only five occasions. Amigo Unlucky: But for meeting with a check when Old Surrey and Lady Montana, fell, Amigo might have won the Aidworth Stakes at Marton, for he was just commencing a. good run when the incident occurred. W. Jenkins, who rode the Beau Pere gelding, was nearly unseated as a result of the check, and even after this Amigo put in a courageous effort to finish just behind the four place-getters. Amigo will probably be seen in action at Trentham this week.. Nuffield in Work: The champion Australian three-year-old and dual 'Derby winner, Nuffield, has begun his preparation in earnest for autumn racing, and recently made a reappearance* ®n the track at Epsom, Melbourne. Nuffield is stated to have built up a good deal and his chief mission during the autumn will be the Victoria Racing Club and Australian Jockey Club St. Legers.

Auckland Stakes Increased: The Auckland Racing Club has decided to increase stakes as f oiloiys:—Easter Handicap, £BOO to Brighton Hurdles, £'4oo to £aoo, Great Northern Hurdles, £1250 to £1500; Great Northern Steeples, £l5OO to £1750. x , Other events at the autumn, and; winter meetings will carry the same prize money as last year. Other increases are: Great Northern Foa Stakes, 1939-40, £750 to £1000; Great Northern Champagne Stakes. 1940, £6OO to £750. Royal Star II: Royal Star IT has gone in the ligament, and small hopes are entertained that he will recover for racing. This is bad luck for Mr AV. Higgins, as th'e English horse was on the improve all the time, and he would have been a good stake earner. AA'ith Roya Star H not starting in the Wellington Cup, P. Atkins was left free. OverBtures have been made to him t roll ] ■several quarters, and it is likely that he will be on either The Bigot oi Siegmund. The Bigot: The Bigot, who claims an engagement, on Thursday in both the AAcllington Cup and the Anniversary Handicap, will probably start in the cun. The Bigot, was one of the. unlucky runners who suffered from the .inlet - ference caused by Peerless in the Manawatu Cup. As he eventually finished fourth, it. appeared to cost him money, and his subsequent, form at Marton and on the training tracks gives him a good lightweight, chance. One of the Best: Majority, who won his first race on the Stratford course 12 months ago. secured his twelfth winning bracket when he won the. Ngaere Handicap at Stratford last week. A. furlong from home, it is stated, he appeared to have little chance of success, lint, treating his 10.1 with contempt, he finished solidly to score a narrow but convincing win. Majority is undoubtedly the best horse, seen in Taranaki lor many years. Ho has won all his races at the right end and will be seen to further advantage when given an opportunity over a distance. Riders for Trentham: Riding engagements announced for Trentham include: W. .1. Broughton. Smoko Screen, Red Cat. Homil)

(Cup), Rustem. Taurangi (second dav), ami Ruatiti: W. H Pine, Golden Ridge; G. R. Tattersail. Sigurd. Catalogue.' La. Uni, Accomplice or Royal Star 11; B. IL Morris, Oratory, The Bigot, or Laughing Lass: D. Redstone, Ecstatic; .1. Chaplin. Veil Prior; W. Jenkins, Lady Ina., Seyfried; Al. Bowden, Florence Mills; 11. N. Wiggins, Corrohoree; W. J. McDowell, Yousipoif.

Top Row: 'Pop Row, who won the Telegraph Handicap with 7.7 in 1.11. has 91b more in this year's race. De .just beat Lady Ina, who meets him on 7Mb better terms for a. nose defeat. Only six runners went io the post last year. In the Metropolitan Handicap, Lady Ina 7.12, won from Ron Braggie 9.1. with Top Row 7.13 fourth. Lady Ina meets Top Row on 51b better terms in the Telegraph Handicap. On the third day of the meeting. Lady Ina 8.(I was a close third to Ben Braggie. 9.3 and Brunhild 7.12 with Top Row 7.12 fourth. On that. form. Lady Ina should beat Top Row. The latter should improve more than an aged mare.

Sternchase: A horse who seems sure to win good hack races and perhaps go on to better things, is Sternchase, who has been entered for the Douro Cup, one of the most important hack events of the New Zealand racing year. Sternchase is a three-year-old colt by Lord Quex from Enchantment, by Hunting Song from Smoke Concert. lie is owned and trained by Mr. (I. D. Beatson. president of the Hawke's Ray Jockey Club, and is highly promising. So far he has little in the way of performance, but. says “Carbine, lie has attracted much attention in training, and he made a big impression when he won a minor event at. To Rapa this season. Sternchase may contest the Ruapehu Hack Handicap, on the first day at Trentham.

Riccarton Riders: Riding engagements made by Riccarton ‘ horsemen at Trentham on Thursday include: —A. E. Ellis, Wild Chase. Dungarvan, Lustral; L. J. Ellis. Defaulter. Wald Talk; C. T. Wilson, Dictate. Top Row, Trench Fight; A. Stokes. Night Dress, Skyrena: A. Messervy. Phalanx, Mishna: G. Ridgway, Garonne, Waka; A. Leach. Courtyard; R. Caddy, Wardress; P. Spratt, The Sandwichman. Teak; H. Hibberd, Gay Parade; R. Register, Jewish Lad. L. J. Ellis was offered the ride on Farland in the Telegraph Handicap, and if he takes it, Paper Slipper will be ridden by A. E. Ellis. S. T. Edwards has been engaged to ride Aussie Ra in the 'Wellington Cun.

A Gift: Sceptre made IO.OOOgns as a yearling and proved cheap at the price. At. the dispersal sale of the Eldorslie Stud a shapely filly, but unfortunately with a. damaged pastern, sold . at 45gns. Skybird, the dam of the filly, was got by Sky Rocket, a son of Sunstar and Maid of the Mist, a daughter of Sceptre. How any one. with ambition in the way of breeding let the filly go at the price is a puzzle. Maid of the Mist was got by Cyllene from Sceptre, and also the dam < of Craigan Eran. winner of the 2000 Guineas and second in the Derby. Sunny Jane, winner of the Oaks, ami Hamoaze, the dam of Buchan, Pamai. St. Gerniaur, and Saltash. Sceptre won £38,225 and sold at. £25.000.

Sure to Improve: La. Bru created a. good impression at Awapuni on Christmas Eve when she was beaten only by the narrowest of margins in the Nursery Handicap by Serenata. But for running about when left out clear in the straight there is little doubt La. Bru would have been the winner. La Bru is a beautifully moulded filly by the Son-in-Law horse Beau Pere from the New Zealand Oaks winner Mandane, who was by Panmure from Cherry Mart, by Birkenhead from Martia. by Martian from the imported Persimmon mare Perolina. Martia was the dam of Enthusiasm, winner of the two Derbies and the best of her year. La Bru has 7.11 in the Fitzherbert Handicap at Trentham on Thursday.

W EI, I, IN GT O N ME E TIN G.

AN AUCKLAND REVIEW

[special to “stab.”]

AUCKLAND, January 17. The AVellington Racing Club's meeting will open on Thursday with the Trentham Highweight Handicap, and with Shy having 10.13 as topweight, the class is not very strong. This seems to be the opportunity for the Australian-bred colt, Prime Quality, who has hat'd a fair amount of racing and has been placed a couple of times. It. is thought he will do better over a distance of ground, and with the assistance of a strong rider, he should run well forward. Wellington Stakes: There will probably he not. more than half-a-dozen starters in the Wellington Stakes, although ten paid the final forfeit. It should he a. great race, with the good and game Beaulivre as the probable favourite. However, the issue appears to be very open. Konneta and Kathbella. are brilliant, fillies, while Galy Son and Te Hero, on their day, are capable of anything. In the Royal Stakes, run over six furlongs, there was only half a. head between Te Hero and Beaulivre behind the winner High Caste. Now. Te Hero meets Beaulivre Mb better, and if he begins as well as he did on his last visit to Trentham. Te Hero will be a hard nut. to crack. Gay Son won the Clifford Plate convincingly. after a. good third in the King's Plate, ami he cannot, he put into the discard. Beaulivre and Te Hero may ho the closest at the judge. Free Goers in Request: A free-going galloper is the best het in the Apprentices' Plate, and the chances of Florence Mills. Flying Comedy, AVatrdress and Passaform appear the most likely. Flying Comedy has been running consistently well, although with only one win at the heli ginning of the season. She ran Colfort i to a. neck in the Tararua Handicap at. | Awapuni and was placed atgain at the New Year at Tanherinikau. Wardress has won four in a row on the AVest. Coast. Passaform has been placed in his last four starts, the last occasion being when he ran third to Alma and Foxlove in the Invercargill Cup, which is much better form than most of the others in the event under review have aspired to reach. Ecstatic, has an abundance of speed-, but the seven furlongs may prove too far in the meantime. Unless AVatrdress is better • than her opportunities have made her

apear io be, one would expect. T’assaform and Flying Comedy to be, the ones to Ito supported, without considering the aspect of jockeys.

I'wo-Year-Old Talent: There is thought to be some excellent. material hidden in the Fitzherbert, Handicap field, and the majority of the two-year-olds halve bad some racing experience. Gold Salute won on the second day at Dunedin alter four successive placings. Military Maid won at Marton early in the season, but in neither case was the class of great merit. Silver Stick has been raced only lightly, but on his first aippearauce he ran Globe Trotter to a. head in the Feilding Juvenile Stakes. On the whole, he appeal's to be the most promising of the entry, especially when his breeding, by Beau Pore from Silver Rule, is considered. The fact that he has been placed 31b above the Wod'villo winner, Sleeveless, is an indication that the handicapper regards him as holding the equal ol winning form. Another Beau Bore product. La Bru, was impressive in running a close second in a big field in the Nursery Handicap on the first day oi the Manawatu meeting, and she ought now to be ready to show al little improvement, for she needed the racing she has had.

Defaulter Favourite: Those who saw Defaulter in action at. Riccarton and Ellerslie are confident he will be the hardest to beat in the Wellington Cup. He has a big weight, for a three-year-old, hut he still alppeals very strongly. Wild Chase has been going great guns at Christchurch, and he is preferred to other South Island representatives with the exception of Dictate, who ran sterling races at Ellerslie without any great reward. Homily is not a true-blue stayer, but she was finishing on at the end of the Summer Cup and Nathalies’ Memorial Handicap, both of a mile and a-quarter. With the race run to suit, her, she will again he in the money. Recembering the form of Arctic King in recent months and the fact that he has generally raced well at Trenthdm, he is entitled to serious consideration, especially if the ground is easy. Among those on the minimum, Corrohoree appeals as a staying type. A winner at Woodville, he scored again in the Liverpool Handicap at the Manawatu meeting, beating Argentic alnd Happy Landing. He now meets Argentic 81b and Happy Landing, 111 b worse on a longer journey. A well-supported trio may be Defaulter, Dictate and Homily, or Corroboree.

Wild Talk Appeals: On recent trials, Wild Talk will be one of the elect for the Ruapehu Handicap. Sternchase and Gold Glare are both improvers, but White Gold will have to do better than her most recent outings to recover her private reputation. Some at the top of the handicap may find better opportunities on the later days of the meeting, with special reference to the Douro Cup. Wild Talk, Sternchase and the useful Blonde Princess may. meet a. strong market.

Sprinters Discussed: There is reason to suppose that the topweight Smoke Screen will be honoured most of the Telegraph handicappers. He has every qualification for the job, after his second to. Disdain, the unbeatable, in the Railway Handicap and 1 victory over Stretto in the King’s Plate. Oratory’s defeat of Lady Ina in the Malrton Railway Handicap and Mittie’s win over the same runner-up on the second day invite comparison. Oratory is asked to meet Lady Ina only 11b worse and Mittie meets the same mare only 21b worse, so the Lady Ina. concession is negligible, . . Top Row beat Lady Leigh in the Federal Handicap at Dunedin, and at a difference of 51b the mare reversed the positions on the second cay with a more emphatic margin. A drop from 9.6 to 8.3 should be appreciated by Top Row, who is a first-class galloper, and won the Telegraph Handicap under 7.7 last year from Lady Inal, 7.Si. Black Thread won two. open sprints at Awapuni over the holidays, beating Russian Ballet and Counterblast, and those performances appear to have gained full recognition from the handicapper. Farland has as good average, but the punters may fall back on Smoke Screen, Top Row and Oratory.

Hard Bate to Win: Usually, the Anniversary Handicap has been a hard' race to win. There is an abundance of winning form this year. Haughty Winner completed the double in the Wardell Handicap, one mile. Lady Montana won the Marton Cup and The Bigot was successful in the Aidworth Stakes on the second day. Amigo took the Himitangi Handicap at Awapuni from Ivar and Rakahanga; The Sandwichman won at Oamaru after running second in the Waikouaiti Cup on the preceding day; Flammarion, winner of the Kelvin Handicap, is another who can run out a merry mile when tit. Dungarva'm surprised by winning the President’s Handicap at Tauherinikau on the second day. Trench Fight did not race up to expectations on his northern tour, but in his case also, the racing would be beneficial. One would prefer Lady Montana, Dungarvan or Fl alm mar ion at the weights.

ASHHURST MEETING. FIELDS FOR MONDAY. PALMERSTON N„ January 16. For the Ashhurst-Pohangina Racing Club’s meeting to be held on January 23. the following acceptances have been received; — 12.0: Hack Hurdles Handicap, one mile and a-half: Bing Boy 11.0, Tareha 10.4, Hanover 10.0. Umpire 9.10, Princess Isabel. Maahanni 9.0. 12.40:

T’ohangina. Handicap, six furlongs: — (lay Chou 9.3, Lady Ina 8.1. Joviality 7.6. Solaria. Flammarion 7.5. Alyth, Sporting Gift, Screen Star 7.0. 1.20:

Komako Hack Handicap, six furlongs: Jeanne 8.13, Stella Lux 8.6. Guiding Light 8.3. Copy Cal. Lexden 5.2, Red Witch 8.1. Thrasos 7.13. Rowana 7.1 U, Jacynth, Golden Enterprise 2.0: Ashhurst Cup. one mile and a-qiiar-tcr: Master Cyklon 8.11. Lucullus Lad. Tiger Gain 5.6. Ned Cut tie 7.13. Dainty Sue 7.7. Galteemore. Winsome Lu 7.3. Red Sand 7.2. Helen Ford 7.1, Aureus. Amatory, Royal Choice 7.0. 2.45: Novice Stakes, six furlongs: Brazil. Daregain. Golden Garter. Judgment. March Easy. Regicide. Richelieu Pearl, Red Chief. Titter 5.7. Caulion. FlyingFlag 7.12. 3.30: Manawatu Gorge Hack Cup. eight furlongs and a-half: Hinerawe 9.0. Mendelssohn 8.1 o. Centrepoise. To Morelm 8.7. Stella Lux 8.4. Donegal 7 1!!. War Lap 7.11. Sir Rabbi 7-.10,

Vivacious, Bing Boy. Classical 7.9, Col incamps 7.8. Morning Flight. Yed Prim 7.7. 4.15:

Siberia Hack Handicap, live furlongs: Hunter’s Eve 9.-I, Jeanne B.H, Screen. Star 8.9, Filetto 8.3, Earls Court 8.2, Copy Cat, Lexden 8.1. Ambrose 8.0. Gold Petal 7.13, Rowaim 7.9. Daregain. Kokako, Goklchase, (.olden Enterprise 7.7.

Raumai Handicap, seven furlongs'. Gav Chou 9.10, Wildflower 8.4, Mea Men 8.2, Solaria, Red Sand, Flammarion 7.12. Master Quex, Alyth, Buster Brown, Granvale, Sporting Gift, Gold Ballad 7.7.

ENGLISH RAI ING COSTS.

PLEA FOR BOOKMAKERS

LONDON, December 2. The Earl of Harewood, in a banquet speech last night, appealed for racehorse owners’ costs to be reduced to give men of moderate means a chance to compete with wealthy owners. Lord Hairewood suggested that owners were involved in too large expense by way of forfeits in keeping horses entered for big races. He would like to see people who could not afford very large sums enabled to own high-class horses without being involved in big amounts until they knew the gamble was worth while. He also deplored the diminuion in the number of bookmakers at race meetings and urged that “racing be made faiir” for them. “It would be a great sadness it we were gradually to squeeze them out,, he said. “I do not think it is the ‘tote’ in general that is affecting the bookmakers. It is much more an organisation, the ‘tote’ investor.” , Lord Harewood, who is a steward of the Jockey Club, was speaking at the 172nd Gimraick Club dinner at York in place of the Earl of Derby, who was unable Io attend. Trotting MEETINGS TO COME January 28, February I—Nelson, January 26, 28—Forbury Park.

Van Derby: Van Derby is booked to make an attempt to lower his record of 2.1 1-5 at the Alexandra Park meeting of February 11 and 15.

Smart Sprinter: Janeworthy, by Frank Worthy, from that fine mare Molly Pointer, dam also of Silver de Oro, has been known to possess brilliant speed since she won her two first races at Victoria' Park, but so far she has failed to see out a mile and a-half, and opportunities over a mile for mares on her line, are few. At Timaru, on Saturday, she won easily, and she should soon win again over a sprint distance.

Once Promising: Thor, by Travis Axworthy (imp.) from the American-bred Mercedes, has all-American blood in his veins. At one time he was regarded as highly promising, but developed breaking habits that made him an unreliable proposition. Age, he is now rising six years, and racing are settling him down, and he may yet win more races, for he has abundant speed. At Timaru, he scored a not-unexpected success, after breaking several times, following his good second to Violet Wrack at Greymouth. B. ,1. Humphreys’ Success:

For the number of horses started in races, few trainers have the record that R. J. Humphreys has established this season, and he took several steps up in the winning trainers’ list on Saturday, when he was successful with Janeworthy, Donald Dhu and Acuity, at Timaru. Since the beginning of the season, Humphreys has won three races with Cantata, two each with Windsor Lass, Donald Dhu, and Acuity, and one each with Mystery Yet, Sonoma King, Blair Athol, Esplendor, and Jalneworthy. This makes a total of 14 wins, and he is well on the way to beating his last season’s record of IS winners.

An Improved Pacer: Colonel Axworthy registered two good performances at the Timaru meeting on Saturday, and he made a brave fight when he finished second to Jalne Worthy in the Salisbury Handicap. He had ground to make up at the straight entrance, and while he had no chance with the winner, he showed himself to be a real trier. His time was 2.12 for a mile. In the Kerrytown Handicap he had none of the luck of ground in the later stages, and finished fourth. With V. Alborn •in the sulky he pulled more weight thaiu the majority of those opposed to him.

Small, but Speedy: There is not a. great deal of Coquette, but she is a three-year-old above the average, aind her victory in the Farewell Handicap at Timaru on Saturday was decisive. Coquette failed to run into a place in her two-year-old engagements, but she was a close fourth in the New Brighton Challenge Stakes and third to Aidershot and Revision in the New Zealand Derby. In the New Zealamd Champion Stakes at Ashburton she was second to Nelson Eddy and first and second at the recent Greymouth meeting. Her dam is Bonny Logan, who had a mile record of 2.7 4-5, and was one of the most consistent mares ever raced in New Zealand. Her half-brother, Bayard, is also only a pony, but he also has inherited the family characteristics. He won the principal event, at the Cambridge meeting on Saturday. and should win more races in the north.

Noll Volo: Nell Volo, possibly the best trotter owned and trained in Auckland, and one of the greatest trotters ever to race in the Dominion, is once more to thrill the crowds. The daughter of Peter Volo three seasons ago was mated with the American-bred horse Gallant Knight. The union was without result, and again the following season she was missed to IT. Scott. Then, just 12 months algo, she was mated with Great Bingen, and, for the third time, no foal resulted. F. ,1. Smith, her owner, has now decided to race her again, and recently she was placed in work at Takanini. In the classes as now provided in Auckland, Nell Volo would be called upon to concede substantial! starts to most of her opponents, but at Addington, where the classes are tighter, she would be well placed in the handicaps to secure a. stake or two.