SPORTING.

Northern Advocate, 23 August 1924, Page 7

SPORTING.

Mr E. Elliott, the new owner of Gum Chips, has entrusted the daughter of His Highness to the care of W. Donaldson.

There has been a good deal of work at Kensington Park during the w<.ok, though no very startling gallops have been hoard of. Nocturne showed signs of shoulder lameness after working the other morning, but the trouble does not appear to be very serious.

A Wellington writer state.? that Boonienlay raced very much better at Ricearton than at Trentliam and is in excellent order to commence the spring campaign. A day or two ago an Auckland writer, who probably did not go to Ricearton, suggested that Boomerday seemed to need a spell.

Omahu's Riccarton form suggests that he would have done better as a steeplechaser than a hurdler. His owner, however, has not lost faith in the Maniapoto gelding as a utility horse and has nominated him for the principal flat race at Marton.

Although Wassail won twice on the final day at Riccarton, it is stated that he is not a good beginner. • # • «

The fence at the entrance to the straight at Riccarton is an unlucky one for Master Peter. Last year, it is said, he would probably have won the Grand National if he had not tried to run off at that fence. Last week it caused him to lose money, as he ran off at that spot on the second day and fell on the last dav.

Tinokaha is said to have jumped far straighter in his races at Riccarton than he did at Trentham, and the improvement is credited to Rangi Thompson's riding.

Mountain Lion earned place money on one occasion at Riccarton and is expected to be useful at meetings in the South. As a youngster lie showed fine form, promising to be Mountain Knight's best representative, but lie did not go on with it.

On Yoma's form at Riccarton some critics have based the opinion that the Campfire gelding will be seen to advantage over a distance later in the season. * * ■» * .Coming events, remarks a Wellington writer, are said to cast their shadows before. At the EgmontWanganui Hunt meeting last Saturday an aged gelding called Monument Avas started in the Ladies' Bracelet, and he dropped de-ad.

.Silent King made his appearance in the Styx Hurdles at Kicoarton last Saturday, and though he never got near the front, he is said to have run on well. Perhaps he will make a good hurdler next winter, and if his stablomate General Advance stands up to his work as a chaser, the pair should be n formidable combination. * # # *

Sturdee is reported to be unlikely to race again, his owner, Mr C. F. Valla nee, intending to retire him. The Advance gelding is now twelve years of age, but the records indicate that he has only contested 25 races during his career, many of them at rather long intervals. He has won eight races, been second in two and third in three. * * # * Dame Straitlace, who ran second in the last New Zealand Cup, has been purchased by Mr J. F. Buchanan, the importer of Martian, and is to retire to the paddock. Dame Straitlace is a half-sister, by Kilbroney, to the wellknown horse Adjutant, their dam, Discipline, being by Treadmill—Madowla.

As the Auckland and Canterbury spring meetings in November will not clash— for the first time in many years — the nominations for the New Zealand Cup are awaited with a good deal of interest. • * » ♦ Eadiac, the winner of the hack hurdle race on the third day at Eicearton, was priced by a South Island owner, and may not return North. Eadiae is one of the few Absurd horses to shape like a. stayer. He is a six-year-old son of Cintra, the dam of Foolish and Wamibn, of whom the latter has earned some distinction as a hurdler. Eadiae is closely related to Lochson, Cintra. being- by Etoa from Cyrense, a half-sister to Lady Eta, the dam of Lochson.

Royal Star has finished his racing career, and is destined to become a lady's hack on .his owner's station. Though the Martian gelding, now ten years old, did not malic good as* a hurdler, he has a New Zealand Cup to his credit.

Yonia and Barn Owl each raced three times at Riccarton and e-ach got the unlucky record of two seconds and a third. Barn Owl is said to have plenty of pace, and she should win races in the South this season.

Mctley, Inferno and 'i:i : !lard are all reporied to be doing <j;i><<- : : tjri: v.i the truck:; in preparation f"< -;■ : ."g r.uiiig. (Jaillard was nearly in ■''■■<> first flight of last season's two-;.- .w-nlds, and ihoii'j'h lie is an Absurd, '.t is said that lie shapes like a. stayer. Me Avill, no doubt, take his place in the field for the Wanganui Guineas next month. * * * * Lochson has now competed in 52 races for twelve firsts, ten seconds and six thirds, his earning exceeding .24000. * * * - Tt is stated that Rational, who has been entered for Wanganui and Avondale, may make an early journey to Australia. The brilliant sprinter is expected to improve on last season's form. * * * * Negotiations have been in progress, according to a southern writer, for the purchase of Penury Rose by a Southland sportsman. Hurdle races are not very hard to win on many southern courses.

The well-known Awapuni trainerjockey, A. Oliver, who died at Riccarton on the eve of the National meeting,a victim to pneumonia, had taken three horses to the South for the meeting. They were Bonibrook and Tussore, who were transferred to J. Morris' stable and won races, and .Santiago, who was taken in hand by J. B. Pearson and was also a winner.

R E. Jones was in the money more frequently than tiny other jockey at the National meeting. Jones, who hud a few roars -, experience as a trainer, but went hack to riding, is first horseman for Sir George Clifford this season. He has previously won many good races in the blue and gold chequers.

Mr J. Gillespie, whose death at Palmcrston Nlorth was reported a few days ago, was the breeder of Master Strowam and Rowan. Beginning life in the Police Force, Mr Gillespie subsequently became a successful farmer and breeder of bloodstock.

It is not often that South Island horses arc seen at Avondale, but Red Wink has been nominated for the coming spring meeting by J. B. Pearson, a well-known Riccarton trainer.

A. E. Wonnald, the well-known Southern jockey, has left for Australia. He will steer Sunny Loch in his spring engagements at Randwick. * * * *

There was trouble over the judging of the last race on the opening day at Riccarton, and on the second and , third days Mr R. H. Aldworth had the i assistance of Mr A. Dickson in the j hox. Mr Dickson, a well-known Christ- J church sporting writer, is judge for the Metropolitan Trotting Club and other trotting and racing clubs in the South. * * # * As showing what can be done with small capital, says a Wellington Writer, a North Islander at Riccarton last Saturdav who regarded Bullford and Was- i sail ns racecourse certainties, and also fancied Vagabond in the Sydenham Hurdles, started with £1 on Bullford. He placed the dividend on Wassail, the return from that on Vagabond, and then played up the whole lot when Wassail started again. The dividends were small, yet lie balanced out just over three figures to the good. • # * • When Sturdee carried 0.4 to victory in the Grand National Steeplechase last '■ week' it was the lightest weight under which any horse has won the big race, i Carawock is to be turned out for a ! spell, which will last till January, when he will be taken in hand for next steeple#hase season. • ♦ * * F. Tilley's Fordell stable has Padonna, Bonhomme, Vuelta, Shining Armour, Inferno, and a bay gelding by Kilbroney-Ribble engaged in the Wanganui Guineas. The last-named horse, and Bonhomme and Vuelta were not raced as two-year-olds. » • • • The first two-year-old race of the season, the Debutante Stakes, to be run on the second day of the Wanganui J.C. spring meeting, has drawn 27 nominations. Messrs G. M. Currie and W. R. Kemball each, have three youngsters engaged. * # » • Three-year-olds in the New Zealand Eclipse Stakes at Wanganui next month are Motley, Subjection, Quiescent, Banogue, and Troilus. In the Wanganui Guineas there are four Absurd three-year-olds: Motley, Gaillard, Inferno and Fool's Paradise. Last year Tukia, as brilliant as any of this season's lot, failed to see out the journey in the Guineas and it will be interesting to see how those by the same sire fare in next month's contest.

Sir (.'eorge Cli/Tonl has nominated 'u'iiininp; Hit and Barn Owl for the

■\Y:;;i:,.:iiui spring meeting. The same owner had nominated Armchair, Gamehag. .Retrospect and Deep Drive for the Wanganui Guineas, but it is not ,'onsideied any of these will reach the post. * * * * After Wassail's Riccarton performances considerable interest was attached to the opinion the handicappers would form of him in his next outing. Mr 11. Coyle is the first weight adjustor to have the Elysian gelding through his hands, and he has awarded him top weight in the Heaton Park Handicap at the Rangitikei Hunt Club's meeting. At 9.10 in a race with a 7st minimum he cannot be considered overburdened, but he is now giving weight to good horses such as Halgina, Duo, Arch Salute, Comical and others. Should Wassail start next month his real worth will be tested.

An English-bred descendant of Carbine, in the shape of the appropriately named Pistol, who is at the stud m South Australia, and who has proved a marked success, continue to keep the name of his illustrious parent in a good place even at <an advanced age. Last season descendants of Pistol captured stakes to the value of £13,(584, which raised the total down to the credit of the progeny of the Carbine horse to £.180,761. Conosidering that for several years Pistol's stock were racing for comparatively small stakes, the amount of their stake captures shows up the son of Carbine in a most favourable light.