SPORTING

Manawatu Times, Volume LIV, Issue 6947, 28 June 1929, Page 5

SPORTING

Notes ly “Avia,”

Great Lady, winner of the Trial Plate on Saturday last at Hawke’s Bay, is evidently a smart galloper, for she won that event in very convincing style. She is a member of Geo. New’s stable at Awapuni and more is likely to be icard of her.

A further remand was granted at Christchurch yesterday in the alleged ringing-in. ease in which the identity of the pacer Imperial Thorpe is at issue. The two defendants are Samuel Bates, 36, of Orari, labourer and Leslie Holland, 28, of Invercargill, horse trainer. The date of hearing has been fixed for July 13.

The six-year-old gelding Grand National (Martian —Amber and White) was purchased from Mr. C. P. Valla nee at Hastings by Mr. T. E. AVhelch fo£ the Christchurch owner, Mr. J. S. Barrett. His ambition is to own a Grand National winner, but he has not had the best of luck with his jumpers, and, with WharncliiTe going out, and Charlatan more or less out of action his National and other jumping prospects —which looked distinctly promising earlier in the winter —have dwindled to vanishing point. In Grand National he has a young horse which might easily make good at steeplechasing, a game he has yet to take on. He has shown a lot of promise ns a hurdler, and ran well at Napier Park and Hastings, considering they were his first races for some time. He will remain in Mrs. A. M‘ Donald’s stable at Awapuni until he has fulfilled his engagements next month at Trentham, where he will be ridden by A. M‘Donald, after which he will be transferred to T. H. Gillett’s stable at Riccarton.

A. D. Webster, who missed the trip to Sydney with his team by the Maheno last week on account of the blockage of the Manawatu line by a derailed train, has made arrangements to leave to-day by the Ulimaroa. The team comprises Pirst Acre, Bonhomme, Moutoa Wonder, Castle Island and Statuary. T. Webster accompanies his father.

The following riding engagements have been announced for the AVavcriey fixture to-morrow: —B. Beed: Anolo, Bonogne, Animated, leiogne; T. Green: Piuthair, Vinella, and possibly Bione; C. W. Prance: Monaghan, Goldlike, Airway; H. Goldfinch: Manly, Singer, Whenuanui, Billet, and Mark Mint (probably twice).

B. J. Mackie, who suffered an injury when Lady’s Boy fell with him at Ellerslic, has his arm out of the sling, but iu all probability Trentham will bo his first meeting following his return to the saddle. ■

A. G. Murray, the apprentice rider attached to G. AV. New’s stable, who met with injury when Wilmoreana fell with him at Hastings, is still confined to hospital. Although his injuries are fortunately light, a cracked bone in the leg will keep his inactive for a time at least.

T. Metcalf was suffering with the common complaint, influenza, during the course of the Hawke’s Bay fixtures, and was consequently an absentee. In all probability he will not make the trip through to Wavcrley, the 9.0 scale being a disadvantage at present.

It is generally agreed that had Nukumai not bungled at the double at Hastings, throwing AV. Bowden, ho would have won the Hawke’s Bay Steeplechase. He was apparently going only half-pace at the time, and could have gone to the front at any part. The big track at Trentham should suit him much better, and, providing he trains on, lie should do well in the AVellington Steeplechase.

According to reports, Lord Banald, the winner of the Gladstone Hack and Hunters’ Steeplechase at South Canterbury, is only a novice, but he is a very promising young horse. He is well grown and shows a lot of quality, while he is a brilliant jumper. It will be a surprise if he fails to win mote important events over country, as he is a louug horse who looks certain to improve.

Matu, the solo hope of Trentham stables in major steeplechase events, acquitted himself well in the Hawke’s Bay Steeplechase, and pulled up sound. He showed decided signs of his enforced idleness after his slight mishap at AVanganui. Had ho been properly fit probably he would havo won last Friday, instead of finishing third. Providing no bad luck intervenes he should play his part well before very long.

Tresham’s poor form at the Hawke’s Bay meetings may now be accounted for by the bleeding trouble which bocume evident early last week.

Shortly, which won a double at the Hawke’s Bay meeting, is a three-year-old gelding by Hymcstra from Melting Moment, by Merry Moment from Bogie, by The Officer from Links. He is owned by Mr. AV. B. Kcmball and is trained by AV. Hawthorne at Opaki.

Novar is a good hurdler when the going is firm and ho has done well this season. At the Napier meeting he finished second to Atareria, and was not started on the first day' of the Hawke’s Bay meeting but won well on the second.

The brilliant four-year-old, Paganelli, and the two-vcar-old, Tasty, will leave Auckland for Sydney next month, in charge of their trainer, AA r . J. Carroll.

Boyal Damon had his first race over hurdles in the Havelock Hack Hurdles at Hastings, finishing third. He is stated to have given a line display of jumping.

Yespcrus has only recently made his appearance on tho race track, but he performed well at Hastings on Saturday, just being beaten by Merry Damon on* the post. A’espenis is engaged at .Trentham and should run well there.

The Absurd gelding Nincompoop has been purchased from J. M'Comack by P. Delargey, and he will be trained in future by J. B. Pearson.

Nominations for the major events at the Grand National Steeplechase meeting close to-night, at S o’clock, with the secretary of the Canterbury Jockey Club.

Some of the horses who were taken to Sydney recently by H. B. Lorigan and E. Yuillo are apparently to start Tacing early, and they must have made a good recovery from the rough trip across the Tasman. Sneerer figures amongst the nominations for the hurdle race at the Canterbury Park meeting to-morrow. Boyal Duke is in the Flying Handicap, six furlongs, Joy Bird and Oratrix in the Canterbury Cup, one mile and three furlongs, and Ivilbronsyth. in the Ashbury Handicap, one mile and 75 yards. Other Now Zealanders engaged during the day are High Disdain, Helotis, Hiata, Bed Lion, Crown Area, Becalmed, Stormy, and Moorgas.

As New Zealand as well as Australia is woefully short of stayers nowadays, the following rather trenchant criticism of the position from an editorial in the “Australasian” is of interest: “There is no gainsaying the fact that so far as stayers are concerned we have slipped back badly considering the large number of horses bred. AVorsc still, there is no assurance that the decline has stopped. In our opinion tho principal causes of this retrogression have been too muck racing of two-year-olds before January in each season; too much money allotted during the season for two-year-olds and not enpugh for threc-ycar-olds; insufficient inducement by subsidiary clubs for the breeding of stayers by tlioir catering too liberallv for speed, and to use of a large number of stallions unfitted to maintain the stamina and staying ability of our blood stock. In this respect the worst aspect is the craze for imported sires simply because they are imported. Except for a very small percentage, the imported stallions which have been used in Australia iu the last 20 years have been English culls, mostly unsound, and not many above selling plate or welter form in England. A pedigree, be it ever so fashionable, without tho horse is worse than useless; it is a menace.”