GENERAL NOTES

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXII, Issue 53, 15 February 1932, Page 2

GENERAL NOTES

It rarely happens that a mare who has reached the age of 27 years produces a noteworthy winner. Delhiana, an imported mare by Zamiel, who was foaled in 1903, is the dam of Lady Joy, who won a double in the two-year-old class at meetings in New South Wales last month. Red Racer, who brought off a great surprise in the Dunedin Cup on Thursday, belongs to a family well known in the South Island. By Solferino from Soldier’s Fancy, he was bred by Dr. J. E. Rogers, who also bred and raced Set Sail. Soldier’s Fancy was a daughter of the Martian horse Soldiers' Chorus, who was a good winner in the South Island, his victories including tbe Invercargill Cup in 1912 and 1913. Soldiers’ Chorus was a full-brother to Tannhauser and Cherubini, the dam being Grand Opera, whose sire, Gipsy Grand, himself won the Dunedin Cup in 1896. Red Racer had not achieved anything of note before Thursday’s victory, and, as he was foaled in 1923, it is evident that, like many Solferinos, he has taken a long time to mature.

The English pacing mare Miss Joan Direct, recently purchased by F. J. Smith, arrived by the Otira from London on Thursday, and was taken tc Epsom. Miss Joan Direct is a daughter of Wellington Direct, and, like the majority of the sire’s progeny, is a roan. She was formerly trained by Smith at Greenford Park, London, where she won a few sprint events. Miss Joan Direct, who is an aged mare, has not raced for a couple of seasons, and will not be hurried in her New Zealand preparation. This is the third uoan by Wellington Direct imported to Auckland by Smith, the others being Dan Direct, who was purchased by Messrs Newdick Bros., and Antonio Direct, who died shortly after his arrival in Auckland.

• • • The New Zealand-bred gelding Second Wind, who added the King’s Cup to his winning repertoire last week, furnishes a good illustration of the fact that it is unsafe to sum up a horse on two-year-old performances, for in his five races at that stage he managed to gain a place on only one occasion. Second Wind was bred by Mr. T. H. Lowry, from whom he was Bought by Mr. E. Lee Steere when two years old. Transported to Western Australia, he won several events there, including the Derby and the St. Leger. Subsequently he raced in Victoria with success, and his victories in the Williamstown Cup and the V.R.C. Handicap wOre attractive. To date Second Wind has contested 41 races, and his winnings in prize-money amount to approximately £ll,OOO. He is well engaged in events ahead, and. as he holds a place among the stayers, he may be expected to extend his winning recoid at the autumn meetings.

Trentham horses engaged at tinMarlborough Racing Club’s meeting had a bad shaking due to heavy southerly weather on the trip from Wellington to Pieton. Solitaire 11. was the worst sufferer, and when unloaded she had a long and deep wound on the neck, part of her loft ear was torn, and she received abrasions to her forelegs and stifles. .Retract received skinned forelegs, and Peep had an ex tensive wound on the off forefoot. In consideration of the horses the ship was slowed to half-speed, with the result that the journey took five and a-half hours.