Sporting

Manawatu Times, Volume LVI, Issue 5566, 3 February 1931, Page 4

Sporting

AMOUNTS RECOMMENDED A SPELL During the last spring meetings Amounis toppled Gloaming off the pedestal of the groatest stake-winner of Australia and New Zealand, but it docs not look as if Amounis is going to occupy that coveted honour for many more weeks (says a Sydney writerj. Had all gone well with him he might have been able to keep Phar Lap at bay for a while longer, but the Magpie gelding has recently shown soreness after his work in the morning, and Trainer F. McGrath is recommending to the owner, Mr W. Pearson, that'he be sent away for another spell. If this plan is followed it will mean that Amounis will miss the Autumn carnival, and it is only a matter of Phar Lap reproducing his form of the spring to wipe off the deficit of £1455 10s separating him from Mr Pearson’s old champion.

Chide Back in Work. The former Now Zealand performer Chide, for whom Mr T. 0. Yrautwcin is reported to have paid £OOOO, has finished his holiday, and has rejoined F. T. Cush’s team at Bandwiek (says a Sydney writer). As his purchase price implies, Chide was a really good performer in the Dominion last season, winning at each of his only Jive starts, but he has,proved difficult to tram since his arrival in Sydney, and has twice gone amiss on ’ the eve of big meetings. His only placing in Australia so far is a second in the Bosehill ltawson Stakes, but he looks well after his rest, and the forthcoming autumn carnival might seo him in his best form again.

Motere, after moving attractively in his preliminary prior to the Takapuna Cup, made a very poor showing in the race. He never looked liko a winner after the field had covered half the journey and he finished well back. Fedora, after her running at Trcntham, looked to bo a good prospect for the Calliope Handicap at Takapuna on Thursday, but she failed to get away as smartly as she did at Trcutnam, and though she made up her ground quickly and was with the leaders turning for home, she appeared to get squeezed back and was never in the picture afterwards.

Prior to the Ashburton spring meeting Ball Dress was placed on tho market for 200 guineas, but after her win at that fixture the price was increased, and there were no buyers for her. Since then she has won three races and earned a second placing so that while some of tho prospective buyers missed a good opportunity, tho Choke bore stable has received tho benefit. Ball Dress has taken time to come good, and can now be classed as tho most solid and consistent galloper of the family which has produced Centrepiece, Full Feather, and Semper Paratus. Among the yearlings catalogued for sale in New Zealand this season are several from daughters of Martian (says a Melbourne writer). Only a few of this family have been at the stud m Australia, but one of them, Soldier’s Love, produced Strcphon. It is much to be regretted that Soldier’s Love did not live a few years longer. Brooders with Martian mares in their, paddocks may consider themselves fortunate. They are sure to do everything possible to preserve the line. It is quite likcjv that good sires will come from it before long. In that connection, Nightmarch may be mentioned. He js, of course, from a mare by Martian. It is understood that Nightmarch will not race again after the present season. He will retire to the stud with the very best of credentials, and wo may be sure that he will be given every chance to distinguish himself as a sire. • Perhaps there will be a temptation, in choosing mares for him, to experiment with a double supply of Martian blood in his foals; but it is to bo hoped that this idea, if attempted at all, will not be carried to extremes. It- would seem that tho Bend Or influence is already strong enough in Nightmarch without adding to it in his progeny.

Caulfield Futurity Stakes. The Caulfield Futurity Stakes is set down for decision at the Victoria Amateur Turf Club’s meeting this month, and it is expected that Pliar Lap will be among the contestants. The race rs run over seven furlongs at weight-for-age, with a scale of penalties and allowances. Phar Lap has incurred the maximum penalty of 201 b, which means that ho will have to carry 10.3. In the race of 1922 Eurythmic, 10.7, scored a victory under the maximum penalty, and in last year’s contest Amouuis 10.4, led the field home. The fastest time recorded for the race is 1.20, the Eng-lish-bred Gothic, wdio carried 10.0, being responsible for the liigh-class feat. New Zealand-bred horses have won the Caulfield Futurity Stakes on five occasions. Gladsome (by Seaton Dclavai) has the record of scoring twice. In the race of 1905 she won under 9.7, and in the following year she carried 9.13 to victory. At an interval of four yea'rs Soultline (by Soult), who carried 9.8, scored. Thirteen years then elapsed before another victory was credited to a horse hailing from the Dominion, The Hawk (by Martian) winning under 9.5, and in the following year Father’s Voice (by Absurd), an unpcnalised three-year-old, who carried 8.5, gave the New Zealand division another win. In the race of 1918 Desert Gold went close to registering a victory under 9.13. She ran the winner, Wedge, 9.0, to a neck in the fast time of 1.27. Gay Crest’s Programme.

Gay Crest has been on the easy list since he arrived back at Kiecarton from Trcntham, and ho has freshened up with his short rest. With the return of his trainer, he will resume track work in preparation for autumn engagements. His future programme has not been settled yet. He figures in the Dunedin Cup, but he may be got ready for a trip to Sydney at Easter. WOODVILLE DISTRICT JOCKEY CLUB AUTUMN MEETING NOMINATIONS ON FRIDAY

Nominations for all first-day events at the autumn meeting of the WooJville District Jockey Club, to be held on Wednesday and Thursday, February 25 and 26, close with the secretary, Mr. W. A. Lyon, at 9 o’clock next Friday evening. The principal event on the first day is tho race for the Woodvillo Cup and it will be worth 160 sovs. to the w’innor, in addition to a gold cup valued at 100 sovs. The open sprint on tho opening day carries stakes to the value of 200 sovs.

Taken all through it is a very fine programme and there should be some exciting racing.