THE UNCERTAINTY OF RACING.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLVII, Issue 14507, 22 October 1910, Page 9

THE UNCERTAINTY OF RACING.

The Craven Plat©, decided at Randwiok on tho third day of the Australian Jockey Club's Spring Meeting, in which event Princo Foot© and Comedy King ran unplaced, is summed up as one of the most striking illustrations of tho uncertainty of racing that tho Australasian turf can call up. In tho course of an article headed " The Craven Disaster" " Milroy," of the Sydney Mail, writes: — Racegoers who are entitled to go out in t.he open and give an opinion without being watched by hired minders, did not dream for a moment that there was a horse in the Craven Plato that had a possible thousand pounds to a brick chance of beating Comedy King, Princo Foote, and Malt King, but, much to their astonishment, none of the trio mentioned got into a place. It was the most disastrous flooring tho talent had been subjected to for years. Of course, wo are all ready to agree that few horses in training could do very much with Parseo if that beautiful but gay deceiver put his best foot forward, but as he refused to do that in the Spring Stakes and the Metropolitan, where was the use of bothering about him in tho Cravon Plate? Nino started, among them the Now Zealandor Maori King, who was 111 great buckle. Comedy King and Prince Foote wore all tho rage, but Malt King also had a very strong following. Early in the betting Flavinius figured at long odds, but his owner came to the rescue, and as a result he shortened the price. One well-known sportsman, who I don't believe has ever let Parseo go without backing him, thought it was picking up money to back two, Comedy King and Princo Foote, and for once in his life ho allowed Parseo to run loose. Another who had seen Parseo through a long list of heart-breaking defeats" jfollc/wcd the big man's load, and went for the two favourites. Then it suddenly struck him that Malt King had on three occasions downed Prince Foote, and had as much right to consideration as " the hundred thousand pounder." so ho backed him to coveir his losses. Then the owner of Flavinius went to market, and this backer seeing him busy became fearful of Flavinius, and he got on the big Flavus liorso to cover the money he had staked on tho other three. After this came tho last and final blow. Ho met a man who know Malt King's rider (McLachlan) well, and (lie jockey nad informed him that he was only afraid of one, and that was Maori . King, whom he had ridden to victory on Metropolitan day. So there was nothing for it but. to back Maori King, and when they lined up at the barrier he found himself a hacker a supporter of five of tho nine runners, any of whom would have won him money. But none of the five got a place. Maltino went out to the front early, and made a lively paoe for her followers. At the half-mile post she had Comedy King, Master Soult, and Malt King handy, with Parseo going in the best of good humour, bowling along in their wake, while Prince Foote was already labouring, and Lord Nolan badly l>eaten. Comedy King made a run at Maltino in the straight, but it was a very weak effort. Admirers of the bonny Maltster mare began to cheer her as she passed tho distance in front, but a little further on Parse® caught her with one of those paralysing runs, such, for instance, as ho got up when he made Soultline look as cheap as rags at w.f.a. in Melbourne. Maltine, in turn, sucetiipbed by half a length to Master Soult for second place, and this pair had Malt King at their heels, with Flavinius next just in front of Maori King, who was soveral lengths in advanoo of Comedy King and Prince Foote. So ended the most disastrous Craven Plate in the history of the race. JOCKEY RECORDS. In tho controversy now taking place between the followers of D. Maher and F. Wootton as to which is likely to occupy the coveted position of leading jockey at tho end of this season, it may interest the present generation of racing men to know what the incomparable F. Archer did during his career, says the Winning Post. At 11 years of age Archer was indentured to Matthew Dawson, the well-known and highly-respected Newmarket trainer; the exact date of the contract being February 10, 1863. In Great Britain Archer had 804-8 mounts and rode 2749 winners, a win of about ono in three. If wo count 1886 (in which year ho died), he headed the list of winning jockeys for tho last 13 seasons, with an average of 201. On eight occasions lie rode over 200 winners in each year, his best being 246 in 1885, T. Loates being the only other jockey to ride 200 winners in one season. Archer won t.he Derby five times, Oaks four, St. Leger six, Two Thousand four, One Thousand two, Yorkshire Oaks seven (in 12 years). Cesarewitch two, City and Suburban five. Great Eastern Handicap three, and the Liverpool Autumn Cup three. Strange to say, ho never weighed in for the Ascot Gold Cup, the Goodwood Cup, or the Cambridgeshire, which was his fatal raoe, for wasting to ride Sir Mirin was the cause of his> death. When Archer crossed the Channel he invariably scored, and for the Grand Prix do Paris ro rode Bruce in 1882, Paradox in 1885, and Minting in 1886. In his time ho rode against such paymasters of tho game as Tom .Cannon, sen., George Fordham, J. Osborne, H. Constable, 0. Wood, Sam Loates, T. Loates. the Barretts, and -many others. The starting-gate and tho monkey crouch wcro unknown. LEAVES FROM MY NOTEBOOK. The racing at Avondale, taken in connection with the trying character of tho weather during the past few weeks, has left its mark on a good many horses in training at Ellerslie, and I fancy that several trainers are having an anxious time. Advocate is one that was raced at Avondale without serious effect. The bay horse looks in great heart, and we can apparently expect a good race from him next month. Santa Rosa and Waimangu also look really well, and the character of their work is such as to give their trainers strong hopes of landing a race shortly. Waiari is another horse who is in capital nick, and he is relishing his tasks. Antoinette has fallen away a (rood deal lately, and I do not think her stable-mate Duma lias done well since he raced at Avondale. Miss Winsome, who won her two initial engagements at Avondale, fills the eve as the best of the two-year-olds at Kllerslie, but that may not mean a. great deal, for we have rarely had such a poor lot in the spring. By winning the Wellington Handicap, Lady Medallist furnished additional evidence that tho Porirua trainer, J. H. Prosser, ma do a very happy purchase when he secured her at 90gs. at the yearling sales held in Now South Wales in the autumn of 1903. When racing at two-years-old Lady Medallist only secured one victory; but tho stake attaching thereto was well above the sum which it cost to buy her. Last season Ladv Medallist won £1760 in stakes, and with a brace of victories down to her credit thus early in her four-year-old career, sho may be said to promise well for making a largo addition to her stake record. The Australian filly is engaged in the Cham-' pion Plate to bo run at Trentham to-day. The finish between Bridge and Tribulation ir\ the Wainui Handicap, at. Trentham, was brimful of interest. Tribulation, who was sent out a strong favourite, flattered tho hopes of his admirers till a few yards from the finish, when he succumbed to a rush by Bridge. At the distance (remarks the Dominion) Tribulation appeared to be winning comfortably, and it almost looked as if Hatch felt confident that he had Tootie beaten, and was unprepared for the rush by Bridge. Against this, however, it must bo taken into consideration that Tribulation was carrying a big weight for a three-year-old, and had made all his own riuining, and the race was run in fast time as compared with some of the other events. In i">fjrrivig to Alawa's poor display at Oaulfiel '~ " Poseidon," of the Melbourne Leader, says:—''During t.he week Alawa did enough work, to tire any ordinary racehorse, and he seemed to revel in his galloping, yet in the Caulfield Stakes he ran like a halfready mongrel. Can it be that, like Emir, Alawa is getting roguish? It would perhaps bo premature to brand Alawa a roguo on his two recent, failures, and before passing judgment he should be allowed another chanoe to re-establish his tarnished reputation. Writing to Mason recently, Hewitt mentioned that ho had signed on to ride for his present employer for three years at a retaining fee of £2000 per annum and 30s a day for expenses. Ho sent a photograph of himself and several of his friends in a big motor-car, in refreiicci to which lie wrote "me at tho wheel. What do you think of my new 120-horse power car?'' "

It is always pleasing to find a two-year-old retaining an unbeaten certificate; and Peirene, who is in that position, is the first representative of the brilliant Achilles to carry silk, the record is rendered additionally interesting. Peireno answered all demands in the settlement of the Wellesloy Stakes, winning her raco at the right end in fast time. The next, engagement which Peirene will bo called upon to fulfil is the C.J.C. Welcome Stakes of lOOOsovs, which event comes up for decision at Ricearton this day fortnight. The New South Wales sportsman Mr. W. Fletcher, the owner of Silver Hampton and Eric, the winners respectively of the Epsom and Metropolitan Handicaps at the recent A.J.C. Spring Meeting, is credited with winning £11,000 in doubles over the successes of his horses in the Kandwick races. As an instance of the luck of racing (remarks a Sydney writer) it may be mentioned that Silver Hampton cost Mr. Fletcher £25, and Erie £300. A few months ago Mr. Fletcher offered Eric for sale at £500, but thd veterinary surgeon declined to pass the horso as sound. The New Zealand mare Lady Lucy has apparently made ati excellent recovery from the attack of pneumonia from which she was suffering last month at Randwick, as on Thursday morning she put up a track record at Flemington. According to a Napier writer, Bobrikoff is not to be raced for some time. The tinland gelding has, it is said, been thrown out of training, and has been transported to his owner's estate, where he will bo allowed to disport himself for some months. The South Australian Derby, run on the 7th inst., gave rise to a surprise. The winner, Sergius (by Koran), was the greatest Outsider of the field, and a big dividend followed his victory. Dearest, the threo-yea.r-old full sister to Master Soult, who distinguished herself in thc< Rimutaka Handicap at Trentham on Wednesday last, is engaged in the Groat Northern Guineas. Theodore, for whom Mr. G. J. Watt gave 800gns. as a two-year-old, still continues a failure. The son of Merriwee figured amongst the also ran division in the Shorts Handicap, won by Boanerges, at Trentham, on Wednesday lastMr. F. Merton, the owner of the Caul field Cup winner Flavinius announced his retirement from the turf some few days before his horso earned distinction in the big mile and a-half race. Shaw, a crack South African jockey now riding in England, mir-t have been a disheartening man for punters to follow. He rode a winner at York, and then was up on 60 consecutive losers before ho again caught the judge's eye, also, curiously enough, at York. In referring to the recent A.J.C. Spring Meeting, "Terlinga," of the Australasian, says:—'"The two-year-old cracks of last season are not thought of in connection with any ,of the great races run at a mile and ahalf or over this season. ' While under examination recently, G. Janek, the loading native jockey of Austria, stated that during the 1909 season his income totalled £17,000. For services rendered during the same length of time th« Prime Minister of England draws £5000. A private letter from Sydney states that the Advance mare Effort broke a bloodvessel during training, and it was found necessary to scratch her for all engagements at Randwick. She was shipped to Wellington from Sydney on Saturday week. Provocation is expected to make his reappearance under silk to-day at Trentham. The son of Birkenhead figures in the Nai Nai Handicap (six furlongs), in which he heads the list with 9st 71b. Four New Zealand Cup candidates were among the unplaced division in tho Wainui Handicap, rim at Trentham,' namely, Diabolo, Merriwa, Coronetted and Ambrosian. Mr. Morse's adjustments for the. minor events to bo run on the opening day of the Auckland Racing Club's Spring Meeting are due to appear on Monday next. Goldfinder, the half-brother (by San Fran) to California, is expected to fulfil his engagement in tho Great Northern Guineas. Ingoda, the four-year-old daughter of Stepniak and Armigera, is reported to be training on well at Riccarton. Wellington critics vote Peirene, the two-year-old daughter of Achilles and Bluewater, a high-class filly. Lady Medallist is credited with winning the Wellington Handicap in comfortable style. Tho Y.R.C. Derby comes, up for decision on Saturday next. ! Sector Gray will, it is stated, ride Bridge in tho New Zealand Cup. Roosevelt is stated to be showing signs ! of unsoundness. Ashby has failed to stand bis preparation. STUD NOTES. £bt PHAETON. Tho Caulfield Cup winner, Flavinius, was bred in New South Wales by Mr. Hunter White, and when sold as a yearling he was knocked down for tho moderate sum of 180" S. The leading lines of the Cup-win-ner's pedigree read as follow: — FLAVINIUS. Sire: Flavus, by Hampton (son of Lord Clifden) from Alaora, by Albert Victor (son of Marsyas) from Allreion, by Chevron (son of Rosicrucian). Dam: Gold Grip, by Goldsborough (son of Fireworks) from La Grippe, by Splendor (son of Speculum) from Paradise, by The Barb (son of Sir Hercules). Carbine's Australian-born son Wallace has long since won a good place in the list of winning sires, and as the chestnut's total is now well over £95.000, there is every reason to anticipate that lie will this season take rank along with tho parents, whose stock have won an amount, running to £100,000. Carbine, it may be remarked, begat Wallace in his first season, and that the chestnut son was endowed with some of that rare brilliancy which was so striking a characteristic in his illustrious parent lie proved beyond a doubt. The searching test to which Wallace was subjected in the Champion Stakes of 1896, when he rail a dead-heat with Quiver in tho reconrd time of sm. 23.15., showed him to be a horso of great grit; and his subsequent- victory in the Sydney Cup under Bst 121b is regarded as one of tho finest feats recorded by a three-year-old in a distance race associated with the Australian turf. Wallace's total as a sire- bxjing now close to the £100.000 standard, some curiosity will, no doubt, be evinced as to how his record stands with that of his sire. Up to tho end of last season Carbine's descendants had captured £150,370, which is a long way in advance of any record held by a colonial-brad sire. Achilles is not the only sire this season to claim the parentage of a winning descendant in the first flutter under silk. Culprit, who won the Stepniak Stakes at. the North Otago meeting on Thursday last, is the first descendant of Charlemagne 11. that has facsd the starter. Charlemagne 11. is a very beautifully-bred horse by St. Simon from Perfect Dream, a daughter of Morion and the Pero Gomez maro Rosebud. Tho yearlings bred by Sir Tatton Sykes invariably give rise to spirited competition, and tho usual record was forthcoming last month at Doncaster, when the Yorkshire baronet sent, up 15 youngsters for sale, the collection realising 12,270 guineas, a Desmond—Altesso colt, fetching 1900 guineas; William the ThirdAlreida colt, 1750 guineas; Elorizel ll.Game Chick colt, 1800 guineas ; and St. Frusquin—Little Era colt, 1000 guineas. Culprit, the winner of the Stepniak Stakes at the North Otago meeting, ranks as a great-grand-daughter of Carbine. Culroy, the dam of] Culprit, was got by Wallace (son of Carbine). Tho following foalings have been reported during the present week: — i Mr. W. Walters'® Lady Arawa, by Arawa— Maid of Athens, Ally to Soult. i Mr. W. Walters's Gold Web, by St. Hippo —Cobweb, colt to Gluten. Mr. T. Cunningham's Maratea, by IsordenfeldtFisligirl, colt to Spalpeen. Mr. J. Cavanagh's Waimanju, by Explosion —Stepfast, filly to Spalpeen. Mr. H. Weal's Love, by Bundook—Snake, .filly to Sir Ayrner. A- the Bushy Park stud farm Helen Portland has foaled a filly by Boniform, Guiding Star a colt by Fontenoy, Colleen a filly by Benzonian. Poiycast© a colt by Sweet .Simon, and Nightingale a filly by Foatenoy.