SPORTING.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 9 August 1924, Page 3

SPORTING.

—« EGMONT-WANGANUI HUNT CLUB. WEIGHTS FOR SATURDAY. (by TELEGRAPH —PRESS ASSOCIATION.) WELLINGTON, Aug. S. Hunters, Hurdles, 1-k miles.—War Loan, Ruatara 11.7, Good Mark 11.2, Gay r Bobbie 10.5, Labour Morn 10.0, Diamond Nap, Haligan, Piro Piro 9.13, Rajput, Chesforte 9.9, Uncle Dave. Monument, Supyorter, Shooting Star, Zetes, Roaming 9.7. Maiden Handicap, 5 furlongs.—Peutetre 9.9, Kyla 9.6, Tatrina 9.3, Merry Ann, Cherry Bank, Ruby Red, Glasha Boy, Marquette, Heron/ Ladv Hanma, Gold Peak 9.0. Hack Hurdles, 1-*- miles.—Ruatara, Alarie 10.7, Good Mark 10.2, Price 10.0, Velociform 9.12, Big Push 9.8, Elothenes, Loved- One, Eldenholm 9.2, First Beat, Pouriboilio, Mariiatere Empyrean, Gaiety Girl 9.0. Hack Handicap/one mile.—Sunny \ ale 10.8, Good Mark 9.11, Carnbee 9-ip* Opa 9.3, Koauau, Merry Ann, Gold Peak 9.0. Hunt Cup, miles.—Oak Rose 11.5, War Loan 11.3, Adrienne 10 11 Onipoto 10.5, Labour Morn 9.13, Diamond Aap, Rosemont, Craigowan, Ah Fu, Haerenga, San Guard, Aotea Roa Gdgai 9.7.. . Fl >’ing Handicap, 6 furlongs.—Civilit.v 10.11, Ecuador 10.6, Black Cruiser Snatcher 9.6, Big Push. Empyrean Ladies’ Bracelet, If miles.—Piropiro li.(. Gay Bobbie, Oak Rose 11.5, Monument, Supporters, Opaku, San Guard, kaika, Vivandel 10.7. Moumahaki Hack, 6 furlongs.— Carnbee 10.0, Dangle. Siaosi 913 AAaiotama 9 7, Glengariff 9.6, Haligan 9.2, Marquette 9.0, RICCARTON NOTES YESTERDAY MORNING’S OPERATIONS. CHRISTCHURCH, Aua 8. .Ihe heavy raiy that fell during the night caused the sand track, which was the only one in use this mornino- at Kiccarton, to be very slopoy. Nevertheless a fair amount of useful work wa s got through on its A good deal *°t schooling was also done. Pamplona, Galway and Mottle Drift set out for a school over eight of the ng fences, and barring a slight mixup at the first of the double (which i amplona luckily got out of) the trio gave a splendid showing, the full journey taking 3min. 4sec. Oakleigh fairly revelled in his task while going twice round, with J. Roach up, at a solid bat. Passin’ Through went twice round and seemed inclined to increase the pace had his rider wished. Bulford gave Allan McDonald a task to try and restrain him while bowling twice round at a solid pace. Santiago got through good, useful work, and looks an improved horse. Bonnie AAinkie, who accomplished a useful task, is looking in great nick. Red Sol, alone, was sent a round of the big fences, and finished his task in good style. Adjutor, with Cairmuiir, set out for a -round of the schooling hurdles, and both gave a good showing. The former fenced in hold style. The time was 1.19 2-5. Boomerday bowled round twice in very resolute style. Demand, with Hector Gray up, went twice round, going strongly and resolutely throughout. D. McCauley accomplished good useful work with his team, Kuhio, Ilka and Dominant. The trio is looking well. Iha.potoa bowled round twice in good style. Maunga was qiute at home in the sloppy going and went twice round well. Le Forte, who looks* well, covered two rounds solidly. King Sol had good work. Income, ridden by H. Gray, did useful work. Income is to be schooled again, if weather conditions are satisfactory, to-morrow morning, and if his display is not to his connections’ liking he will not be a starter in the Grand National Hurdles. Fireblight, who looks well, is to he schooled over the big country to-morrow morning. $ Loehson, who sore after working the previous day, was given trotting exercise in the middle, and appeared to move quite soundly. He received a kick on the outside of his off knee prior to the start of the hurdle race on Saturday. It did not affect him during the race, hut since then it has caused some- trouble. It is now yielding to treatment, however, and his owner is hopeful, but somewhat doubtful, that the horse will be all right for the Grand National Hurdles engagement next _Thursday, though he may be allowed to' miss the Jumpers’ Flat Handicap on the opening day of the meeting. Whipcord has been very sore for some days following the race' in the Homeby Steeplechase last Saturdav, but Langley hopes to get him out for a race next week

Royal Fame has not done much for a few days, but he is getting all right again As he has had a lot of racing through the winter, the check in his preparation may not seriously prejudice his prospects next week.'

DEATH OF ARTHUR OLIVER. AVELL-TvNOAVN TRAINER AND JOCKEY. The Christchurch correspondent to the Chronicle, telegraphed last night:— Arthur Oliver, one of the most successful horsemen in the Dominion, who died at Uiccarton this morning after an attack of pneumonia, was down from the North Island with horses for the Grand National Meeting, having lately taken up training work, and he was riding at the Hunt Club meeting at Ricearton last week. Oliver adopted riding soon after leaving school, and was soon in the forefront of the horsemen of the Dominion, and he figured in practically every race of importance in New Zealand. Since joining the ranks of trainers, Oliver had met with a fair amount of success, and Santiago, one of the fancied candidates for the Grand National Hurdle Race, was in his stable, besides many other wellknown gallopers. Oliver was 38 years of age. It is only in the past few seasons that the deceased set up ns a tirainer at Awapuni, and in addition to Santiago and Tussore, his stable sheltered also Santonio, and, until recently, the disappointing Cushat. Tussore was not raced until the end of the season just closed, hut he showed signs of a promising return to form. Santonio (£1195). Santiago (£685) and Cushat (£245) between them won £3125 for their owners.

But it was as a horseman that Oliver was most widely and popularly known. Of late years he did not do much riding. He scored his last win on Valencia at Feilding Easter meeting, while his last ride in the east season was on Tussore at the Wellington meeting a month ago, and he "was also seen in the saddle at the Christchurch “Hunt Club meeting last Saturday.

NOTES AND COMMENTS. (Bv Maecenas.) A few notes on the Canterbury Jockey Club’s meeting (which opens on Tuesday next) will appear in Monday’s issue of this paper. The showing of Income in the Trial Hurdles on Tuesday should give his admirers some idea’ of his Grand National prospects, although it may be just as well to remember that the winner of this event will be penalised in the Grand National Hurdles. Mr. J. Hunter recently left for Hawera to take over Mr. H. Spratt’s team of horses, but negotiations fell through and Hunter has gone hack to Wellington. An error crept into my notes of last Tuesday, for when referring to a court case over commission to be paid on winnings, the omission of a word made the sentence say that the owners’ interpretation of the word “winnings” meant all place money. What all owners and trainers now agree on as winnings is the amount credited for first place only. With the exception of the Hunters’ Hurdles and the Enfield Steeplechase the acceptances for the Canterbury Jockey Club’s meeting are good. The nominations received for the Egmont-Wanganui Hunt Club meeting are not as numerous as the club deserved. Like those of the South Island, this class of gathering, for some unexplainable reason., does not become popular.

Income’s initial attempt over the battens at Ricearton would disappoint an army of admirers, but possibly' the fact that his schooling partners (Silent King and Boomerday) are not very proficient jumpers would cause the soil of Guianforte to be ovex*-cautious. Nevertheless, the exhibition shakes one’s confidence in a horse that has to carry 11.5 over a 2 j-mile course and jump about a. dozen obstacles. The statement given out that Sir Rosebery was. a doubtful starter in the Grand National Steeplechase was evidently well founded, as the gelding did not survive the final payment. A trainer of Garrett’s experience is well up in his work, but seeing that Sir Rosebery has done his racing of late over country, liis chance of winning the Grand National Steeplechase tainly looked better than his chance in the Grand National Hurdles. In adidtion to the Manawatu, Masterton, Wanganui, and Egmont Clubs in the North Island appointing new judges, the Ashburton Racing Club has also made a change, and Mr. Dickson will officiate in that position at the club’s next meeting. Although the Australian Hurdle Race carries the fine prize of £2IOO it could only draw five runners. A number of reasons are given out for such a poor field, but the correct one may be that the distance of the race (three miles and a half, less 92 yards) prohibits anything but a genuine stayer having a chance. ‘ °

Prior to the last Great Northern meeting the writer heard reports of Royal Abbey being a champion at steeplechasing, and his going amiss on the eve of the Great Northern Steeplechase "was stated by some as the loss of a certain win; Now Royal Abbey started in a two and a quarter mile steeplechase last week in Australia, and although only beaten by a head it does not make Royal Abbey out the champion one heard, for anyone who lias seen the Roman nosed gelding in action must agree that 2£ miles would suit him down to the ground, and the chance of Royal Abbey in the rich Australian Steeplechase (four miles), run this afternoon, does not look too bright.

Trainer P. Johnson is credited' with stating that Income is the best jumper that he has ever been associated with. Income may be a splendid jumper, but considering Johnson was associated'with such great and clever fencers as Muscatel and Dummy, both of which were as clever as any jumper that has carried a saddle in this Dominion, the comparison would not be a fair one. Possibly the New Plymouth trainer had in his mind the fact that Income was only a novice, and for the tuition and experience he had was comparable with any. If Income jumps at all well he should be well-night a certainty, when we remember what horses much inferior on the flat have done in past Grand Nationals, not only in New Zealand, hut a Iso in Australia. Good gelding as Ngata was, one could not claim that he was better than, if as good as, Income when racing in flat handicaps, .vet with 11.9 Ngata was taken to the front very early in the Grand National Hurdles of 1922, and led over the last jump by four lengths, and on the bit, but. unfortunately for his owner and a big army of followers, he broke down very badly about a. hundred yards from home. Only last month Jackstaff jumped indifferently over many fences in the V.R.C. Grand National Hurdles, and then his superior pace on the flat returnee Jackstaff an easy winner, with a lot of weight in the saddle. The foregoing has been written not to boost the chance of Income in the coming Grand National Hurdles, but simply to point out that if Income jumps at all well his prospects in the big hurdle race at Riecarton next week should be good.