SPORTING

Northern Advocate, 9 January 1926, Page 7

SPORTING

CODING- EVENTS. Jan. 12 and 13—Vincent J.C. Annual. Jan. 14 and 16 —Thames J.C. Annual. Jan. 16—Wairo J.C. Annual. Jan. 20, 22, 23—Wellington R.C. Summer. Jan. 22 and 23—Foxton R.C.» Annual. Jan. 23 —Bay of Islands R.C. Annual. Jan. 26, 28—Wairoa R.C. Annual. Jan. 27 and 28—Pahiatua R.C. Annual. Jan. 29, 30 —Takapuna J.C. Summer. Fob. 3—Tapanui R.C. Annual. Feb. 4, 6—Gisborne R.C. Summer. Feb. 6, B—Te8 —Te Kuiti R.C. Annual. Feb. 11. 13—Poverty Bay T.C. Summer. Feb. 11, 13—Dunedin J.C. Autumn. Feb, 11, 13—Taranaki J.C. Autumn. Feb. 25, 27—Marlborough R.C. Summer. March 3, 4—Dannovirko R.C. Summer. March 5, 6 —Nelson J.C. Annual. March 27 —Australian J.C. Warwick Farm. April 3. 5,7, 10 —Australian J.C. Autumn.

NOTES. Wellington weights are published today. Grand Knight won three big races at Christmas and Now Year*, and most people are wondering what ’ weight he will get in the Wellington Cup. It is wonderful how some people get on the winners. When Barometer won at Ellerslie on the last day of the meeting, and paid a big price, one joyful backer informed a Taranaki Writer that he had backed it because Barometer’s name figured "twice” amongst the acceptors for the race. That’s superstition for you! Bert Morris, with nine firsts, and Beg. Maekie, with eight, cleaned up things at the Manawatu and Marton meetings. Hurdler P. Meßrcarty’s score was three. According to a southern scribe cpiite a number of Taranaki sportsmen' who saw the Auckland Cup run are of the opinion that Count Cavour was very unlucky to lose that event, and his subsequent form, third in the Auckland Pacing Club Handicap, and first in the Clifford Plate, bears out that contention. In the Auckland Cup Count Cavour carried 5.13, as against Rapine's 9.8, and when the pair met in the Clifford Plate at a difference of only 41bs, the mile and a half race looked a fair thing for the Cup winner, but Count Cavour beat him pointless. The only explanation is that Count Cavour was improved by racing, while Rapine (a really great horse) was thoroughly .primed up for the big stake, and afterwards wont off a trifle. By the efforts of Grand Knight and Note Mr V. Riddiford secured £530 in prize money at the Marton meeting. Mr das. Bull was again to the fore with Ngata, who won for him £385., Mr H. B, Lorigan’s "gold mine” Orchid, added £260 to his ■winnings, and Bon March’s dual success meant an additional £260 to Mr C. T. Keeble. The consistent Sleet won each day under big weights, her tally being £240.

Othon, who got amongst the winners during the recent racing carnival, turns out to be Bubble Buster, a bay gelding by Nassau —Lalla Rookh, which did some racing in Australia, but did not meet with success. C. Jackson is tired of Sunny Vale and has passed the son of Sunny Lake over to J. Fryer, who intends to try the gelding over hurdles. Sunny Vale has pace; but appears to be unreliable. As an indication of the big crowd I that attended the Stratford Racing Club’s meeting on New Year’s Day, it is understood that something like £1360 Was taken at the gate. Those who attended the recent Stratford meeting were agreeably surprised at the extensive improvements worked on both race track and lawn, states Maecenas. While the club is to be congratulated on such important improvements, the public will relish more stand accommodation when it appears.

Had the weather been fine the Stratford Racing Club’s meeting last week would have surpassed all others held by that club.

Bright Day ami Yoma fought two great battles at the Stratford meeting. In fact the race between this pair in the Malone Memorial was one of the finest one could see. After racing very badly at the Christmas meeting held by the Taranaki Jockey Club, the Bisognc gelding, Bonogne, showed something like his true form by winning the “ double’' at Stratford in most convincing style. On the opening day at Stratford the girth on Gaillard slipped back and in a close finish for the Douglas Handicap ho suffered defeat by a nose. After seeing the good races Olympic ran to Clarinda in the Woodville Handicap; followed by a fair performance in the Manawatu Cup, and a half-head i defeat by Xgata in the Eaeing Club Handicap, many were prepared to see Olvinpic win the Stratford Cup, but after being particularly well placed over tiie first mile he drifted back over the concluding stages. On the second day Olympic finished on p in third place.

Two Hawera. .sportsmen wre anxious to secure Ballymoy II e: ,Mr Filed--lander’s sale. But while prepared to give a good sum, the 700 guineas paid for the imported mare was above their estimate of her value.

The successes of Lysander and Joy King at the. Auckland meeting still leaves open the two-year-old championship. Possibly autumn form may reveal Joy King as the best. Jockey L. A. Pine was present at the holiday race meetings of Taranaki. He is still carrying in a sling the arm he unfortunately broke in the early spring, and at present it looks as if Pine will miss many more race meetings. Apart from the monetary loss, this capable lad is missed by owners, as the Dorain-

i.ja vi : y short of experienced rider-. | In ilc Christmas Handicap, decided j at N ".‘v Plymouth, on Boxing Day, Whetumii finished better than any of her ojip'it'ents, and on the day follow - ing she von decisively, and her owner favouwd her chance in the Stratford Cup on Now Year's Day. Whctunui j looked remarkably well when sent out for the la -t-named event and over the first few furlongs wont well, but suddenly fahovod and on returning to the saddling paddock died suddenly. The disqualification of Mosaic after winning he Ellerslie Handicap (an event worth £500) at the recent Auckland mooting, again reminds one of the carelessness of owners and trainers, particularly the latter, says a Southern writer. There are certain rules of racing that every trainer must or should know, yet we find a trainer claiming a 51b allowance for a horse handicapped at 8.9, when it is common knowledge tkat no such advantage can be taken once a horse is handicapped 8.5 or over. Not very long ago one of our leading j owner-trainers claimed allowances Tor j his two horses engaged in a race fer j two-year-olds. They ran first and second, but of course he lost both

prizes. True Blood, who finished second to Limited in the Nursery Handicap at Auckland on Boxing Day, and is engaged at the Wellington meeting, is by Archery from Bonny Helen, a sister to Bonny Portland, the dam of Eeremoana and Lady Cavendish. True Blood is said to he a good sort, who is likely to develop into a useful winner. When Eadial broke down in the Plying Handicap at Invercargill on Satur-, day, it was quite obvious tUat his trouble was serious (says a Southern writer). On examination it was found that ho had split a pastern, and he was subsequently destroyed. In his younger days Eadial was a good sprinter. Distances beyond the mile were usually just a trifle too far for him, though he won the North Otago Cup over a mile and a quarter. Eadial was by All Eed from the Southern mare Acvina, and was foaled in 1014. One of the most discussed runners in the Auckland Cup field was Haze. He was always amongst the short-priced ones, but he did not fill a'place, and now he is entered in the Wellington summer meeting in the Apprentices' Plate, Trial Plate, Douro Cup, and Kolburn Handicap for hacks. On the last day, however, he has also been considered worthy of a nomination in open company in the Summer andieap. Pour Southern horses entered for (he Wellington mooting who will command respect if produced in their engagements are Lstening Post, Tommy Dodd, Set Sail, and Baldowa. They have all been winners during the holidays. Set Sail is nominated amongst the sprinters, but the other three are in the Cup and distance handicaps. Tommy Dodd is a four-year-old gelding by Solferino, out of Kilbcrry, halfsister to Kilwinning and sister to Killowen. He has earned a reputation in the South as a useful customer, and since his entry into open company Ee has acquitted himself with credit. Baldowa is a six-year-old gelding by Balboa, and has some useful performances to his credit. He is, however, under the liability of unsoundness. Long before Parliament stepped in and made the 7st minimum compulsory the Dunedin Jockey Club voluntarily adopted the principle, and the Southern critics were agreed that it made for better racing, states “The Watcher." From results since the 7st minimum has been in general operation, it would appear that the opposition to it was mainly theoretical, for in practice it has to be recorded that the top-weighFs have been doing equally as well under it, if not better, than they did under the (3.7 scale. The top-weight should have won the New Zealand Cup, which went to a well-weighted runner, the four top-weights all ran prominently in the Auckland Cup, wheh was won by the horse carryng the highest impost, and in all other centres where racing has been held the horses with the big weights have run well enough to suggest that they have not been so badly crippled as was thought. It would appear from results that the 7st minimum is working in the interests of the best horses, and those who can carry weight. The Martian two-year-olds, Battlement and Torque, in P. D. Jones’ stable, continue to do useful work. They may bo raced at Trenfham this month, as Battlement has been left in the Wellington Stakes, and, with Torque, has also been entered for the Nursery Handicap. Battlement is a. brother to The Cypher and The Polyminan.

G. J. Pine has the three-year-old Victory Bond and the two-year-old Paper Boy moving- along freely in useful tasks., It is probable that this pair will represent Mr. G. Gerard at Tremtham this month.