SPORTING.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 25 June 1924, Page 5

SPORTING.

NOTES AND COMMENTS. (By Maecenas.) The Ashburton Racing Club give their natrons plenty of variety, as their recent programme consisted of open and hack fiat races, hurdle races, steeplechases, and trotting races. Sir Chas. Campbell, who purchased Tigerlaud some monhs ago, lias made another purchase, having bought Wliip<or<l on the morning of the second day’s lacing at Ashburton. Whipcord ran in his new owner's colours later in the dav.

Bad luck still follows the team of horses owned by Sir George Clifford, for although well represented at the Ashburton meeting the blue and gold chequers filled only minor places. Cambric, for which it was said 1000 guineas was refused, was a runner in the Hunt Club Cup at Napier Park on Saturday last, but at no stage did the Ponnby gelding show the form one would expect from one so highly assessed.

Gardenia, who was successful in the Meeanee Hack at the Napier Parle meeting, is a younger sister to the disappointing Bodyguard. Evidently Gardenia had shown her connections she could gallop, as she was the medium of a big “plunge” by those who follow this stable. s Seeing that Jovial has taken kindly to hurdle racing, it appears strange that his broher Joy Ride, which is a rare cut of a hurdler, has not been raced over the battens before this. Molyneaux gave a good display for a beginner in the Waiohiki Hurdles at Napier Park, and many good judges will be disappointed should this gelding not win a good hurdle race ere the jumping season closes. Kovno, who won the Hunt Club Cup at Napier Park, is one of the useful Guianforte breed. Considering the limited opportunities he received, Guianforte has produced a number of useful jumpers. Kovno appears to be above hunter class. A number of promising ‘ ‘hacks” took part in the Ashburton meeting, and three in Carpentier, Kukume and Solferite may do well in open company; in fact, one of the three named may be equal to winning a Parliamentary Handicap or a Winter Cup. Now that it has been decided on not to take Qakleigh to Australia, we may expect him to take his place in the Wellington Steeplechase and Grand National fields. If Oakleigh starts at Trentham and Riccarton one can look for a better showing from him than he gave at Ellerslie. Several of the horses competing in the hurdle races at the Napier Park meeting will do better later, and their form there need not be taken seriously.

The few pounds spent in the purchase of Passin’ Through has now been returned twenty times over, as the son of Guianforte has secured £445 in prize money since being secured by bis present owner.

The success of Royal Star at Ashburton is regarded by some as the forerunner of a win in the big hurdle races to be decided in the near future. As a matter of fact, the writer witnessed Royal Star’s Ashburton performance. but. was not impressed, but •rather disappointed by the effort of this well-bred gelding. Royal Star won in bis second appearance at Ashburton but there was little merit in the win. One need only mention that the moderate Likelihood was conceding Royal Star slb. and was called on to give Royal Star six lengths’ start over the last couple of furlongs, and this Likelihood only failed to do by inches, so on this showing Royal Star will have to improve vastly to win a “national.”

In this Dominion Geraniel anil The Cheat had to be judiciously placed to win even common place hack races, hut each got on the winning list soon after arrival in Australia.

When racing in the black and whits livery of the Gisborne sportsman. Mr A. B. M illinms, Chrysostom turned punning,, and let his connections down in the closing stages of his New Zealand career. After being taken to Australia bv Mr H. Nathan, Chrysostom showed little improvement in consistency, but since being relegated to the in inning part of l acing 'the handsome black has run most consistently. Although Mr ft. Nathan is now on the right side of the ledger over his purchase of Chrysostom, he made a had deal when lie gave 600 guineas for Papine’s brother Penitent, which ho purchased a few mouths after securing Chrysostom. Penitent was formerly trained by J. H. Jofferd for Mr Tv. S. TV illinms, and had the reputation of being very fast in private, but this he refused to reproduce in public, and alter a number of reverses Jefferd was lucky enough to pass Penitent on asstated. However, the late successes of Chrysostom leaves Air Nathan with the host of the deal with the East Coast trainer.

The success- of Galway at the Ashburton meeting was not gained over p very formidable lot, hut this well-bred gelding nut up an attractive performance. His jumping; was well nigh perfect. and when called on to go up to the leaders the son of Ivilbroney did so in no uncertain manner. Galway is a stable mate of Pamplona, and runs in the same interests. He is well seasoned now, and it would not be surprising should be play a prominent part in such races as the Wellington or Grand National Steeplechases. Like the New Zealand invasion of Australia with racehorses, the Frenchmen are acting similarly with. England. In both instances the " invaders have secured more than their share of prize-' money. Those who profess to know say that manv English owners look on the visits of the French owners with much disfavour. Of course Ibis is onlv natural, seeing that the ‘-frog eaters” are securing many of the richest prizes. While one has not heard that Australians do not want New Zealand horses there, it is a pointed fact that being allotted to New Zealand horses entered in Australia is | many pounds more than they are asked to carrv in .similar races run in New Zealand.