GENERAL NOTES

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XX, Issue 148, 12 June 1930, Page 2

GENERAL NOTES

A further reminder is given that to-morrow (Friday) is. closing day for nominnatious for several socalled “classic" events on the respective programmes of the Auckland, Avondale, Canterbury, Dunedin, Feilding, Manawatu, Taranaki, Wanganui,, and Wellington Clubs. To-morrow are also due nominations for both the Napier Park and the Waipa Winter Meetings, and for the Taknpuna Plate (1930) and the Wynyurd Plate (1931), while those

for the Wellington winter fixture must be lodged by Monday next.

The outstanding feature of last week’s racing was the decline in betting. Auckland (£36,582), Dunedin (4.21,646), and Otaki (12,733) made up the substantial total of £70,961 less than for the corresponding meetings last year. Yet irresponsible statements continue to be made that racing can stand further taxation.

Paul 1., who finished in third place for the £2OOO A.J.C. Hurdle Race on Monday, is a full brother of Mister Gamp, who was also unsuccessful in his jumping efforts at Ellerslie the previous week. 1 • * »

With a view of encouraging owners to put young horses to cross-country racing, it is suggested that a maiden steeplechase, with an allowance to five-year-olds that have not won over fences, should be included iA the Wingatui winter programme.

Nancy Lee ran another good raeo in the Visitors’ Handicap at Ellerslie on Saturday when sho finished second to Havering. Auckland reports state that Nancy Lee looks as though she retains all her former brilliancy and she has only to go on the right way till the spring to win a good sprint. She is looking in first-class condition at present.

Although St. Warrigal failed to win .i race at the Great Northern Meeting, he put up two good efforts when he finished third in the Greenlane Steeplechase and filled a similar position in the Tamaki Steeples on the final day of the meeting. The St. Amans gelding is described as a bold and reliable fencer, and it would not surprise to see him doing much better in cross-country events when he has had more experience.

Mr R. Hannon is said to have a promising sort in Pennyplain, a four-year-old gelding by Quiu Abbey. This latest addition to the Cambridge owner’s team created a good impression at Ellerslie by scoring an easy win in the Hunt Club Hurdles when making his initial appearance in a race. Pennyplain contested the Hunt Cup Steeplechase on the second day, but struck himself during tlici race and was not started again at the meeting.

When raced earlier in the season, Helium, who won the Fitzroy Handicap at Ellerslie hist Thursday, showed useful form by finishing third to Prince of Grange and Volimond in the Wynyard Piute at Takapuna. He also ran a great race in the Champion Hack Cup at Te Arolia in which he was only a neck away from Spring Abbey and Te Hoia. who deadheated for first place. The appro-priately-named son of Gasbag had done little racing since then, but hrs win at Ellerslie was very impressive and mote is likely to lie heard of i this prtmising galloper. Standfast 1 was saddled up on two occasions nt the Great Northern Meeting and, seeing he has not previously taken on such pretentious, company, he acquitted himself well. In the Cornwall Handicap he was right up with the leaders halfway down the straight and finished close up, while on Saturday, in the York Handicap, one mile, fie finished a good third. The five-year-old haltbrother (by Valkyrian) to Te Monanui, was turned out in great- condition and he should be troublesome in good company before long. He may co to Trentham for the Wellington Meeting.

Prince Lu, comments the Auckland “Star,” dots not seem to be able to stay out two miles. 11c showed that at Wanganui, when he contested the Century Hurdle Race, hut he won the May Hurdles, one mile and threequarters, very easily on the second day. At Ellerslie he was tired and fell at the last hurdle in the Panmure Hurdle Race, two miles, and in the Campbell Hurdle Race, of similar distance, after being well clear of Taumai when he crossed the last hurdle, eventually stopped to a walk and was beaten by Taumai. Ho has plenty of speed, and in a shorter distance event is hard to beat.

Limerick, whose efforts had been confined to pace work on the sand or plough since he was brought in some weeks ago, was given his first real test on Tuesday morning, when ho was sent three furlongs on the sand with Arikiwai ns a companion, and although not asked for speed reeled off the distance in 39sec. The champion, says a Christchurch exchange, seemed to relish the chance of showing his paces again, and was full of running when the gallop was over. Ho pulled up perfectly sound, and if he continues to train on satisfactorily will be taken across to Sydney for the spring meetings.

Ponjola. who was favourite for both steeples last week, seems to have passed his penk, for he finished very disappointingly with a stand up on Saturday, remarks a Southern scribe. The reverse going and the hill may not have suited him, and it is possible that he will freshen up and bo seen to better advantage at Hastings, Trentham and Riccarton, but it is more probale that ho has had his innings this season, for ho has been in his best racing form for over a. month now, and his trainer has a hard task before him to keep him there for another two months. Matu, adds the same authority, is another that tho Ellerslie course did not suit, and ho has better prospects of showing improvement during the next month or so than Ponjoln, for he has not yet struck Iris best form this season.

Vinny names well known in racing in New Zealand appeared on the number board when the riders for the Carbine Plate, a race confined to gentlemen riders, were posted at Ellerslie on Saturday, writes “Vedette” in the Wellington “Post." Mr J. D. Ormond, junr., a grandson of the late Hou. J. D. Ormond, of Hawke's Bay, rode Grattus, owned by his uncle, Mr F. Ormond; Mr J. F. Morris, generally acknowledged fo bo the best amateur rider in the Dominion, rodo Spring Abbey. He is a son of the Marton trainer. J. R. Morris, and a brother of the successful jockeys. B. H. and L. G. Morris. Mr K. MeK. Dunean, who rode last vein’s winner, Ot.iiri, owned by himself was on Sir Moiul. Mr Duncan is a son of Mr T. \. Duncan, owner of l aughing Prince. Mr M. 11. Tims, » ho was the iiwiici- of tho good horse I' ■ Kura. i odr a balf-lirotlior to his ■ ihl favourite 1 e Hole, also uaned by

him. Mr Tims was the only one of those named to get a place, his mount running third.

A Taranaki writer is responsible for the statements the Aurora Borealis has been somewhat of a trial to Mr F. Waller, and that last season the Manawatu sportsman would have sold her very cheaply. Always possessed of pace, she frequently disappointed with the colours up, and must have proved a very costly mare to her connections. An erratic jumper, it was on the advice of Mr Waller’s brother, a well-known hunting enthusiast, that she was sent out to follow the hounds, and her fencing immediately improved, with happy results this season. So it can be safely argued that hunting “made" Aurora Borealis, and with Omeo in second place’and Odin in third in the Great Northern Steeplechase, the race was a veritable triumph for the hunters. There is no doubt that the variety of fences to be taken during the course of a hunting season makes a horse clever nt the jumping game, and there are few smarter “on their pins” than the trio which divided the money in last Thursday’s big event.

Blenheim, winner of the recent English Derby, is by the same sire as the Derby winner (Trigo) of 1920, Blandford, and the Irish stallion has again proved the stoutness of the horses hailing from the Green Isle. Blenheim is bred to stay, not only on is sire’s side but also on his dam’s, Malva being by Charles O’Malley—another Irish touch, iu name if not in breeding—from Wild Aurum, by Robert le Diable from Marliacea, who was got by Martagon, the sire of Martian, the best progenitor .of stayers in New Zealand. Blandford traces back to John o’ Gaunt .and Bay Duchess, the latter being the dam of Bay Ronald, sire of Dark Ronald, whose son, Magpie, was a great winner in Australia. Charles O’Malley was by Desmond, son of St. Simon and sire of Litnond. So, in New Zealand there are many horses closely related in blood to Blenheim.

London “Sporting Life" reports that a sensation was caused in racing circles by the announcement by the Stewards of the Jockey Club before the running of the Chesterford Plate at Newmarket that the winner -would be examined under the rule authorising an examination whenever the stewards think fit. The winner happened to be Pennant, who is owned by Mr Anthony de Rotschild, himself a Jockey Club steward. A specimen of the horse’s saliva was duly taken, and the stewards subsequently made a statement that, in the interests of racing, the power conferred on them should be exercised periodically. Special interest in the circumstances attaches to the statement 4>y Dr. W. Starkie formerly metropolitan police surgeon, that a new drug, which has not been classed as dangerous, but is allied to cocaine, is being extensively used because it is more difficult to trace than cocaine, and easier to administer, and is not possible to detect. He declared that tests proved that the “dope” added considerably to a horse’s speed over a mile.

Though Rose of England, winner of the English Oaks last week, is rightly described as being French-bred, her sire Teddy—a most un-French name —while certainly foaled in La Belle France, is of distinctly English stock. He has sired a number of good horses, and Rose of England brings him more into prominence. He is a member of the No. 2 family, and was foaled in 1913. He is a bay hprse by Ajax out of Rondeau, (a good winner in England) by Bay Ronald (grandsire of Magpie), out of Doremi by Bend Or, out of Lady Emily. This mare was a half-sister to Rosa May, great granddani of Rosedrop, winner of the Oaks, and dam .of the great horse Gainsborough, winner of the Derby, and sire of Mr Harry Hassall’s stallion Gainscort.

Teddy did not race at two years, but he was later a good performer, his victories including the French War Derby. He was at tho head of the French winning sires’ list in 1923, third in 1925, and second in 1926. Sir Gallahad, who is a son of Teddy and sire of the Kentucky Derby winner Gallant Fox. won among other races, the French Two Thousand Guineas and Lin- Inshire Handicap. Ajax, sire of Teuuy, wa,s by Plying Fox, from Amie, uy Clamart from Alice by Wellingtonia, a son of Chattanooga, and Pocahontas’s daughter, Araucaria. The dam of Alice was Asta, by Cambuscan (son of Newminster), sire of Camballo. best known to Australians as the sire of Lady Alwyne. dam .of Poitrel, and also of Mr C. Boyle’s hurdler, Conjurer 11. Teddy thus has a great record as a progenitor of classic winners in England. France and U.S.A. He has a representative in Australia in Rionscup. a horse who has shown galloping ability but lias failed in public, and has now gone to the stud.