SPORTING.

Hawera Star, Volume XLV, 16 July 1925, Page 3

SPORTING.

RACING FIXTURES. July 18—South Canterbury Hunt Club. July 23—Waimat . District Hunt Club. July 23, 25—Gisborne B.C. (Notes, by Maecenas.) There will not be any race meetings this week, but the Gisborne Riacing Club hold's its winter meeting on Thursday and Saturday week, and the Wanna to .H,uiiit Club also race on Thursday of next week. As a rule the weather is seasonable for the winter! meeting of the Wellington Racing Club, but it is many years .since this club experienced such bad weather as that of the recent meeting. ’This had a serious effect on the attendance, and naturally the totalizator receipts declined.

The fact that the racing and trotting conferences are held at Wellington during the winter race week, ono sees a. very representative gathering t>] spoiits, and such as ono would never find at any other meeting held in this Dominion.

Although a number of remits were passed at the recent meeting of the Riacing Conference, there were no drastic or important changes in the racing laws. Possibly the most important rule passed was that which prohibits its jockey from wearing a shot-filled waistcoat when race riding. This prohibiting of such waistcoats is much opposed by trainers. The much discussed Winter Cup candidate Rowley finished very last in his race on the opening day at Trentham, and on the second day his rider lost the Fleet Handicap through overconfidence. When being worked prior to the final day’s, racing, Rowley struck himself, and could not race on Saturday. Whether the mishap will interfere Ayith his Winter Cup prospects remains to be seen.

Trespass was a runner on the first and third days of the recent Wellington meeting, but he only galloped in stretches. However, it may not >ho wise to condemn this, gelding under such .had conditions, and Trespass may prove much better at Ricearton, where the ground is usually much better. Many Colours carried his big weignts well at Trentbain, considering how heavy the ground was, hut despite this his form at Trentham was not good enough to suggest that he has a chance in the Grand National Hurdled this year. Possibly next season; Many Colours may be found taking a loading part in important hurdle races.. General Warrington is another gearing that has run in a moat consistent manner during the last few weeks. He looked, when produced at Trentliani, as' it a spell would he beneficial. As he is already “aged,” General Carrington must be nearing the end of his usefulness, and it is a pity that ho was not raced over hurdles a couple ot seasons ago.

Father O’T’lynn way very unlucky to loso -tho Trial Plate run at /I renth-am last Tuesday, for had this two-year-old run (straight he must have \von by a good margin. Qn his showing Father O’Flynn .should develop into a useful three-yea i-okl, and with his present condition to help him, may be capable of showing his best form very early in the coming season. In meeting the two-year-olds under weight for age conditions at Trentham. Olympic was responsible for a good performance, even allowing that lie was somewhat lucky to heat Father O’Flynn. This good looking son of the i.niijKirted Polydamou is developing into a splendid tyjie of the thoroughbred, and many will be surprised should he not pay his way in the near future.

Padonna ran a second at Trentham in a moderate class, and on a. dry course should do better. Still he is 'many classes inferior to his brother (Tamatete) and sister (Tukia). Boy, a 2-year gelding by Kilboy from that once useful mare, Lady Louisa, may turn-out a fair sort- next season. At Tren.tha.ih Bov showed pace while his condition lasted. He is trained by A. AY right. Birkenella is on the improve as a “chaser.” and but for meeting with interference in the Second Hack Steeplechase, looked certain to have beaten Sir AYai. Birkenella may win at Riccarton next month.

Yoma was only produced once at the Wellington meeting, where, after being islow to begin, he finished, better than any of hist' o-ppnoents, if we except AY lute Cornet ami Rehutai. Many were waiting for Yoma to be produced on Saturday, and were disappointed when the Stratford owned gelding was not accepted for. On the opening day of the AVellington meeting Rehutai made up a lot of leeway over the concluding -stages of the Stewards’ Handicap. In consequence the grey mare was looked on as the -best of “good things” for the Jutland Handicap on the second day. At* -the field straightened up for the run. up the straight, Rehutai was giving the leading four many lengths .start, but finishing with remarkable gameness Rlchu-tai won very ea.sih*. Rehutai will bo ridden by L. Morris in the Winter Cup, and with 9.2 in the -saddle the Flgi lloll t-trained mare should run well in tho big mile baiaii-ca-p at Riccarton. The weights for the Nationals and Winter Cup having appeared, followers of racing will have plenty of food for thought for a. week or two. As a rule the Winter Cup field is a Strong one, but this year it appears to be only fair. There arc several promising “backs” in the lower portion of the handicap. When Lucullent won the AA’inter Hurdles on Saturday last- he carried 3£ll> overweight, or 9.0 f all told. In the Grand National Hurdles- Lucullent is called on to carry 10.3. As Lucullent finished well and has size, he may again run well at Riccarton.

AA'hen sent out to race at the recent AYellington meeting Lochson bore a bright appearance, but was bandaged in front. In the early stages of tho AA’inter Hurdles Lochson was going well, but was a long way back when the placed division passed the winning post. AA'hen walking hack to the saddling paddock Lochson was very lame, and it looks certain that he will not again show the fine form he displayed just 12 months ago. Although Omahu won the AYellington Steeplechase like the good horse he is, tho task was made very easy by the foolish tactics adopted by the rider of Eerie, who. losing sight of the fact that his mount was carrying 11.7 in very heavy going, went out to force the pace while still over a mile from the finishing point. The hard pulling Black Art immediately went after Eerie,

and thus two formidable opponents of Omahau ran themselves to a standstill, in the AVellington Steeplechase last year Omahau won through a blunder on the part of Pamplona’s rider. In stating these facts one must admit that Mr Bull’s gelding lias put up a fine record over jumps, and in a lengthy career has had liis share of had luck. The Dominion is and has been weak in steeplechase performers this season, and the Canterbury Grand National meeting does not give promise of seeing any better than those meetings field during the past few months. Although his form has been poor of late there was a lot of money for Killochra on Saturday at Trentham, and close observers of the betting market were prepared to see this gelding win easily. Unfortunately for his army of supporters Killochra. fouled the tapes, losing many lengths, and of course had no chance with the useful White Comet. Mr A. McDonald, the Wairarapa sportsman, has four horses engaged in the Winter Cup, viz.—Killochra, Rowley, Strategy and L’Amour. This owner won the event last year, and ante-post bettors are on the qui vive for a lead from the stable this year. Prior to the Wellington meeting Rowley had many friends for the Rigcarton mile, but his going lame lias been somewhat of a knock to these admirers. Trainer C. Jackson lias had Blue Peter well for a long time, but up till a month ago, when he Avon at Waverley, Blue Peter had the habit of running just Avell enough to miss the major portion of the prize money. Oil the opening day of the recent Wellington meeting Blue Peter dreiv number 22 at the starting post, from Avhich position it is next to impossible for a horse to Avin. Blue Peter showed a lot of pace OA'er the first five furlongs, and AA r as running second to Beaumont for a considerable distance, but tired badly. In a small field on Saturday Blue Peter jumped out AA’ell, and had the race AA’on at any stage, as he Avas never off the bit, and eventually Avon AA’ell. All the same this gelding does not shoAA’ his best on a soft track like that of Trentham.

In aivarding Sir Roseberry 12.3 in the Grand National Steeplechase the handicapper Has ignored his failure with 11.13 in the- Winter Steeplechase at the Auckland ivinter meeting. Sir Roseberry Avon the Great Northern Steeplechase last year carrying 10.2, and Avas* again successful in the same rich race this year, carrying 11.4. On these figures Sir Roseberry Avas lucky to get into the Winter Steeplechase with 11.13, despite the fact that he was subsequently beaten in the eA r ent. All the same 12.3 Avill test the gelding over the stiff Ricearton course, as Sir Roseberry is not by any means a big gelding. The Canterbury handicapper lias let Rational off in the Grand National Hurdles ivith o\ r er a stone less than that aivarded the son of Absurd in the Victorian Grand National Hurdles. Even at this big concession it is hard to fancy Rational over a journey. Certainly in the past many horses that have failed to stay Avheii raced on the flat have AA’on good hurdle races. One may quote the case of Umslopagaas. This gelding was a very inodei’r ate performer on the flat, certainly not near the class of Rational, and ivaa not even capable of running out a good six furlongs, yet he Avon the Grand National Hurdle race in 1897. When trained by J. BroAvn an attempt Avas made to Avin a seA’en furlong race Avith Rational, hut the gelding 'could not do better than six furlongs in the class he Avas meeting.