NOTES FROM AUSTRALIA

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XVIII, Issue 125, 10 May 1928, Page 2

NOTES FROM AUSTRALIA

Testing Apprentices. The committee of the Australian Jockey Club took an important step at a recent meeting when it decider that in future apprentices applying for permission to ride in races must pass a test by the stewards in trials from a barrier start. Since the rearrangements regarding the stewards great attention has been paid to the matter of interferences, that sometimes plays such a big part in the result of a race. Frequently it is inexi>ei'ience rather than carelessness that is the cause of it, and while it is not suggested that in the past the granting of permits has been lax, the new regulation will ensure that the embryo jockey will at least have a good grounding in barrier tactics before he is allowed 1 to ride in public. Flicker Discussed. Although he has plenty to occupy his attention in the preparation of Ins horses, says a Sydney exchange, tne Randwick trainer F. McGrain has a penchant for a pony performer, and a recent addition to ins team, Flicker, should satisfy him in tins regard if she fulfils all that is expected of her. Flicker was bred in New Zealand by Mr. W, T. Hazlett, being by Caper Aloney (imp.) from Illume, by Kilbroney from Simper (imp.), whose grand-dam Cheianary, is also the dam of Chersonese (imp.), famous in this state as the dam of Heroic. Flicker’s size was detrimental to her prospects in New Zealand, although what was seen of her tempted a Sydney sportsman to offer a comparatively high figure for her. Yesterday she was paraded before the official measurer for theA.R.C., Mr. T. Watson, who granted her a 14.1 certificate. McGrath in recent years trained Miss Nobby, Littleton, and First Toy, who were all winners in pony company, * S • Friendless— It is seldom that a horse runs unsupported on the totalisator at a Sydney A.R.C. meeting, or at any meeting in the metropolitan area lor that matter. As a rule, someone is on the lookout for a large dividend. Yet at Kensington a week or two back the fourteen-two pony, Van, carried R. Skelton’s colours into second place in the fourth division of the Novice Handicap, and no one benefited, for she was unsupported on the machine. One ticket would have been worth a little more than £69. * » * The King’s Cup. Although the order in which the King’s Cup is to be run was fixed at a conference of the principal racing clubs in the Commonwealth, held in Melbourne, at Cup time, an endeavour will bo made by the West Australian Turf Club to have an alteration made, so that that club may have the Cup race next year instead of in 1931, in order that it might be made part of the centenary celebrations. If the sequence is maintained, the race will be decided at Brisbane next year, and in Adelaide in 1930. » » English C & S. The result of the English City and Suburban Handicap, run at Epsom on Wednesday week, probably did not cause much surprise, although Mr. J. B. Joel’s six-year-old horse Priory Park was backable on the course at 20 to 1. Last year Priory Park won the Lincolnshire Handicap, beating Orbindos and Asterus, two really good handicap horses. He was not placed in the City and Suburban; finished second in the Royal Hunt Cup to Asterus; won the Stewards’ Cup at Goodwood from Queen’s Bower and Fohanaun; but lie was a long way back in the King George Stakes at Goodwood. Priory Park is by Rocksavage from Chatham 11., by imported Dailey Dale from Coronation Day, by Ermak. The Two Thousand, The Two Thousand Guineas, I he first of the English classics, was won by Sir Laurence Phillips’ bay colt I" him in go, .by Flamboyant from Lady Peregrine, by White Eagle from Lisma, by Persimmon from Luscious, by Harpcuden or Royal Hampton. He

was bred by Sir J. Robinson, and when two years old in five starts won the Spring Stakes at Newmarket, the Fulbourne Stakes at Newmarket, and the National Breeders’ Produce Stakes at Sandown Park. He finished second in the May Stakes at Newmarket, but was not placed at Ascot in the Windsor Castle Stakes. The second horse, Royal Minstrel, was not raced last season. He is probably one of Royal Lancer’s stock. O’Curry, owned by Mr. D. Sullivan, in third place, is a chestnut colt by Abbott’s Trace from La Paloma. This colt did very well when two years old. He won the Bath Foal Stakes and the Newbury Autumn Foal Plate. _He was four times in second place, including the Rous Memorial Stakes at Newmarket, and finished third in the Great Two-year-old Stakes at Hurst Park. Last year the race was worth £10,915, and the placed horses were Adam’s Apple, Call Boy, and Sickle. » » € C. Price On Top. Toward the end of last racing season, says the Sydney “Sun,” W. Kelso and G. Price had a great rtvn for the leadership of the .Sydney trainer’s list. This season, with three months still to go, Price has a strong lead. Windbag established the former New Zealander among Sydney’s leading trainers, and he has not looked back since. G. P. Nailon and D. Lewis are Price's most formidable rivals this year, Lewis having made a considerable advance on his seven winners of. the previous season. » * * Hard-Luck O'Donnell. No other trainer has had such an aggravating season as another exMaorilander, R. D. O’Donnell, adds the writer last above quoted. While lie has had three winners his charges have run second no fewer than 15 times and third eight times. At one time ho registered nine consecutive seconds and no fewer than 18 minor placings before Beedos won for him at Rosehill. Such a cruel run of luck is calculated to break the heart of the proverbial graven image, and O'Donnell has hau the sympathy of his fellows. The faqt that horses trained by him have" so often run into the money proves his ability to get them fit. * * « Maoriland Winners. New Zealand blood was not very prominent in the racing that has taken place in Australia since tile A. J.C. meeting. The 4-year-old Absurd—Farce gelding Menander, starting a good second favourite and carrying 8.11, accounted for the Glenferrie Handicap, one mile, run at Caulfield (Vic.) last Saturday-week. On the same day, at the Moorefield (N.S.W.) meeting ,the 3-year-old gelding Inflation (Paper MoneyBo Peep), also a good second favourite, won the third division of the Maiden Handicap, his owners throwing in for a big win in wagers. At the same fixture King William, by Mountain King from the N.Z.-bred mare Lady Elysian, was successful in the Kogarali Stakes, IJm. Though bred in Australia, No Humbug, winner of the Trial Stakes at the Wellington (N.S.W.) meeting a day or two earlier is Maoriland on hoth sides of his breeding, being by Humbug—Chuckle.