ON THE TURF

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXVI, 13 August 1932, Page 8

ON THE TURF

RACING FIXTURES August 20—Pakuranga Hunt. August 27—Otago Hunt. August 27 —Taranaki Hunt, September 10—Martin J.C. September 17—Ashburton ILC. September 22, 24—Wanganui J.C. September 22, 24—Geraldine LLC. October I—Napier Park Racing Club. October I—Kurow Jockey Club. October 6, B—Dunedin Jockey Club. TROTTING FIXTURES August 27 —Auckland Trotting Club. August 27—Otago limit (two events). September 3—New Brighton T.C September 10—Wellington _ T.C October I—Methven Trotting Club. October B—Waikato Trotting Club. October B—New Brighton Trotting Club. October 22, 24—Greymouth Trotting Club. October 22, 24—Auckland Trotting Club. October 24—Oamaru Trotting Club. October 29—Wellington Trotting Club. Knocklong, who iilied second place in the Avonhcad Handicap and another second place on Thursday in tho Summer Handicap, was trained at Riccarton early in her career, and always possessed a great burst of speed. She has been on tiic West Coast for some time and as she appeal's to have improved in stamina she should have no difficulty in paying her way this season.

Topthom nut up a very attractive effort to win the Cashmere Plate, iL being his second success in similar company, as lie scored at the .Combined meeting last month. He has great speed and now he has developed stamina, so he looks a great prospect for spring racing. Petorette, tho winner of the Ertfiekl Steeplechase, is a South Canterbury hunter, who has shown useful form on several occasions lately. She won the Hunters’ Plate Handicap at Washdyke last month through superior stamina, and it was this quality that enabled her to beat Okopua on Tuesday, after the North Islander appeared to have the race won.

Billy Boy’s success in the Grand National Steeplechase at Riccarton was a performance that was brimful of merit. Previous winners of the race have carried bigger weights, and there have been three other fields as large and one other of larger dimensions, but no winner on these l fields has carried such an impost (11.13) as he did. Moreover, his name goes down on the records as one of six dual Wellington and Grand National winners in the same winter.

The only occasion on whim a larger neld Jias gone out to contest a National was .n Waimai’s year 1 1916), «vhen there were, nineteen starters. Wainni also carried a solid weight, as he had 11.8, second top weight that year, Braeburn, who ran off, being topweight with 11.11. Other years in which a field of Tuesday’s size (sixteen runners) lias contested tho race were in 1924 (Sturdc®, 9.4, winning), 1925 (Peter Maxwell, 9.1, winning). In earlier years ten to fourteen was the usual number, fourteen starting in 1903, 1910, and 1911. Higher weights than Billy Boy carlied have been born by eleven previous winners, these having been Agent (12.0, 12.7, and 12.6 respectively in bis three wins), Clarence (12.2), Canard (12.10), Chemist (12.7), Norton (12.8), Mutiny (12.4 in bis second success), Levanter (12.6), Coalition (12.7 in his second success), and Oakleigh (12.0 in his second success). All these wins, except those of Coalition and Oakleigh, were registered before the present century opened, and big weights were much more the usual rule in Ills early days than they are nowadays. Previous winners of the Wellington Steeples and the Grand National in the

NOTES AND COMMENTS

ON GALLOPS AND TROTTING

same winter have been Gobo (9.8 anil 10.9 respectively in 1901), Captain Jingle (10.5 and 11.7 in 1912), Coalition (12.11 and 12.0 in 1923), and Beau Cavalier (10.7 and 11.7 in 1927). Billy Boy, besides the Wellington and Grand National Steeples, also won the second in importance of Ellerslie’s cross-country events, the Winter Steeples. His record, therefore, gives him three of the Dominion’s four main steepling events of the year. Billy Boy’s record now stands at seven wins, four seconds, two thirds, and five unplaced performances. In all he has won £2645 in stakes, of which £1575 was earned last season and £7OO this season with the National win. There is real romance about his career. Many horses less seriously injured than he was four years ago, when taking part in a hunt in tho Waikato, have been destroyed, but he was given a chance to mend, and the patience bestowed on him has had rich reward. At l that time lie was owned by Mr H. Rolhery, his breeder, and lie was a companion of Glendowie, who won the Great Northern Steeplechase in June three years ago. When jumping a fence in the hunting field he cut his off hind leg so severely that for some time it was feared he would have fo be destroyed, but with care ana attention the wound slowly healed. Progress, nevertheless, was slow, and it was over two years before he 1 was fit to be put into work again. He was then purchased by his present owner, Mr Cf. J. Quirke, and went into tho stable of his present trainer, R. Lewis, at Onehunga. Billy Boy is now rising eight years old. and is a brown gelding by defunct Arehiestown, who was one of the best hurdle horses in England when pur- • iiasefl fnr t)u>. Dominion by the late Mr E. D. O’Rorke to improve the breed of jumping horses in the Waikato. Archiesiown’s best performer before Billy Boy and Paddon came into real prominence this winter Was the flat champion, Seatown.

Waiwenc, who created a mild surprise by her success in the Paparua Ilandican at Riccarton on Tuesday, was bred bv her owner, Mr J. Porter, who also raced her clam, Rawene, with success. Rowene, by Winkie from Jeanerette, by Kilbroney, paid a sensational dividend when she won the Maiden Stakes at the Christchurch Hunt Club Meeting in 1924, ancl at the Grand National Meeting ten days later she narrowly missed paying another good price when she tilled third place to Ilka and Sun Up in the Cashmere Plate. Waimene, who is bv Diacquenod, has a marked turn of speed, and in her two last races lias shown the possession of stamina as well. Previously she did not stay out her races too well, but she appears to Jiave got the hotter of this disability now. She is only four years old, and looks to havo a successful career ahead of her.

For the third time, elderly Nukumai won the Jumpers” Flat Handicap at Riccarton. This time he had to be ridden right out, but after running well throughout the race lie answered the call of liis rider ancl beat the Wellington winner, Mem bo, by a short length. Palm got a good run most of the way, and threw out a late challenge in tho straight, but did not finish nearly well enough to justify the very heavy support for him. The most serious challenge to Nukumai came from Membo, who was galloping very resolutely at tho right end, but O’Connor on Nukumai rode a slashing finish, and the old gelding responding nobly the challenger was kept at bay. The old veteran was given a great reception. Record Reign holds the weight-carry-ing record among the winners of the Grand National Hurdles. He was burdened with 12st 121 b, including a 51b penalty for his success in the Trial Hurdles, in which he opened his jumping career two days earlier. Liberator 12st 61b ancl Paisano 12st lib head the other winners in the matter of weight. Royal Visitor was always prominent in the Grand National Steeplediase and lie put up a good performance to finish third. He is only six years old and lias not done a great deal of racing over country, so that he should be a much better horse at the game next winter. ' ,r — J. Campbell suffered a loss last week iii the death of Ma Belle Polly, a four-year-old mare by Polazel from Bern, down. She showed great promise early in her career, but though she won a race, her form was disappointing. A post-mortem revealed the presence of a large growth, ancl it is probable this explained her failure to realise expectations in her races.

Pink Note was h.aving his first race among the jumpers when he contested the Trial Hurdles. He went particularly well for a mile, and with a little more experience he will be a very capable performer in this-department. Merry Peel was responsible for a smart performance in the Winter Cup. He was one of the leaders all the way and he stayed on in good style to beat all but the winner.

The King George Handicap at Addington proved a triumph for both Red Shadow and his driver, J. Bryce, jun. Mr G. Deyell’s good pacer won the August Handicap on the first day, but his victory on this occasion was more merito rious for he exhibited all the traits of an outstanding champion. Fourth when the field had gone two furlongs, Red Shadow mixed it with his opponents until iho straight was reached, where In drew to the front and had to withstand wo determined challenges from Cranleigh and King Pointer before reaching the winning post. To those challenges he responded like a lion and fought out every inch of a hot finish. Red Shadow is trained by J. Bryce, who bred him. He is destined to enter the exclusive circle of champions this season.

The five-year-old gelding, Herod is a \vell equipped sprinter, llu begins quickly, and caii pace fast both 'in harness and in saddle. He won well at Addington on Wednesday, and will have to be reckoned with again over short distances. Todd Lonzia went a solid race at Addington on Wednesday, but he did not put that zip into his work in the straight that many expected he would. 1). Withers had him under a hard drive all through the straight, but third place had to be his portion. After the Canterbury Handicap at Addington an inquiry was held into the running of Colorado, as compared with his performance in the Lincoln Ilamli- ' up, decided earlier in the day. After hearing evidence, it was decided that no action be taken.

For a trotter that has had a chequered career, Arctotis registered a splendid performance in winning the Improvers’ Handicap. About three years ago he met with a serious accident in a race at Timaru. and his injuries were of such magnitude that it was thought ho would never race again. Two years later, however, ho made his reappearance at Forhury, where he won a two-mile race and paid a big dividend. He then became too lame to train, being treated and spelled by his owner, Mr <T. A. Smaill, who prepared him for this week’s race. When Impromptu, Rollo and Glen-

rossie lined out across the track a furlong from home in the Speedway Handicap, the crowd received a thrill seldom staged on a racecourse. These three leviathan pacers, that is, from a class point of view, fought for supremacy, with their capable drivers assembling every ounce of ability and nerve to assist them. First- Impromptu, then Rollo, then Glenrossie, were heralded the winner. Down the straight they thundered, a hair-raising finish ending in Impromptu being first to the winning post, with Rollo half a length away and Glenrossie close up third. The three pacers responded gamely to their calls. The winner, Impromptu, is a pupil of •T. S. Shaw’s stable. He is by Pedro Pronto, from Petrova, and was one of the leading money winners last season. The brilliant manner in which Gold Country spreadeatrled a good field of sprinters in the Lincoln Handicap suggests a profitable season for Mr W. j. Morland’s pacer, Gold Country, was slow to begin, and was seventh at the six furlongs disc, with Golden Pedro, who also began slowly, just behind him. Once into the straight, Gold Country came with a great burst of speed, and won with a good deal in hand. Gold Country was bred by bis owner, being bv Roy de Oro from Country Belle, who has a New Zealand Trotting Cup to her -red it.

Red Shadow is the king of horsodom at Addington this week, a position he will retain for some time. Ho pulled up particularly well after his strenuous battle for supremacy in the- King George Handicap, and w.dl train on to elevation to the exclusive circle of New Zealand’s greatest pacers.