SPORTING.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVI, Issue 17348, 20 December 1919, Page 11

SPORTING.

RACING FIXTURES.

December 26, 29. January 1. Auckland Racing Club., December 26, 27, 23—Manawaiu Racine Club. December Alexandra Racine Club. December 26—Porangahau Racing Club. December 26, Dunedin Jockey Club. December 26, Taranaki Jockey Club, December 26, 27—Westland Racing Club. December 27. 30. 31—Auckland Trotting Club. January Wyndham Racing Club. "* January Tirau Racing Club. January l~Waikouaiti Racing Club. January 1, 2—Vincent Jockey Club January 1, 2—Marlon Jockey Club. January 1. Stratford Racing Club. January 1, 2—Wairarapa, Racing Club. January 1, 2—Hawke's Bay Jockey Club. January 1, 3—Greymouth Jockey Club. January 2, —Southland Racing Club. January 7, 8— Reefton Jockey Club. January Waikato Trotting Club. January 13, 15Wairoa County Racing Club. January 14—Rotorua Jockey Club. January 17—Northern Wairoa Racing Club. January 20. 22.' 24—Wellington Racing Club. January 21—Wairio Jockey Club. January 22. 23— Foxton Racing Club. January Otautau Hack Racing Club. January 24—Kawakawa Racing Club. January 29— Pahiatua Racine Club. January 29, Takapuna Jockey Club. February 7, Hamilton Racing Club. February 14—Te Kuiti Racing Club. February 21—Waipa Racing Club. February 28, March 1— Aroia Jockey Club. March 6. «—Obinemuri Jockey Club. March 17. Thame* Jockey Club. March 27—Mata.ma.ta Racing Club. DATES OF COMING EVENTS. December Great Northern Foal Stake*. December 26—Auckland Cap. December —Manawatu Cup. December Auckland Trotting Cup. December Great Northern Trotting Derby. December 27— Palmerston North Stakes. December —A.B.C. Summer Cur>. January 18m»t Northern Derny. January —Wellington Cup. January Wellington Stakes. January 29Takapuna Cup. February 7—Hamilton Cup. ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS, " Sportsman,"—Arrowsmith started for the Substitute English Derby run at Newmarket in 1918. W.M.R., —Waimangu and Santa Rosa, who were both descendants of Soult, won the Auckland Cup in successive seasons. " Wager"Whakawatea holds the record as the hardest-worked two-year-old that has figured on the New Zealand turf. Gladsome ran 16 races at that age. " Constant Reader," Queen Street.—The placed . horses in the Auckland Cup of 1896 were:— (Sat 121b). Haria (7st 41b), and Fabulist (fist 61b). Nestor won by two lengths. " 8.C.," —Cruciform carried 9?t when she won the A.R.C. Railway Handicap on Boxing Day, 1901. She won by two lengths from Hohoro (9st 121b) in lm 16 l-ss. . " K.P.," Hamilton.—Mangamahoe won the King Edward Memorial Handicap, of £1000, at Ellerslie on November 13. He has not contested a race in the interval. " Martian." Ellerslie.—Battle Song carried 7et 131b when he won the Metropolitan Handicap at Riocarton. on November 10 last. The time of the race published in the Referee was given as 2m 55 l-ss. This was an error. The correct time was 2m 35 l-ss.

" Want to Win."—The rule bearing oil the question reads:—" No person shall be eligible for a certificate sue a gentleman rider or an emergency rider; hi If he be engaged in any capacity in a livery stable or training stable, or be directly or indirectly engaged in the business of training or riding."

" Wager," B«muer*.—lt costs £10 mare to start a horse for the Auckland Cup than for the New Zealand Cup. The payments for the two races in question are made up as follows:— Auckland Cup: Entrance £1, acceptance £9, and a final payment of Xai each. New Zealand Cup: Entrance £1, acceptance £9, and a final payment of £10. It should, however, be borne in mind that the stake value of the Auckland Cup is £1000 in advance of that allotted to the New Zealand Cup.

" Old-timer," Remuera.On the concluding day of the Auckland Racing Club's Summer Meeting in 1895, one of the. hurdles was by an. oversight left standing after a pony hurdle race contest; and the obstacle remained undiscovered until the horses contesting the Recovery Stakes were abreast it. In the last-named event, Doris Reynard and Lady Marion came home in. that order. The first race was declared null and void; and the hurdle being removed, the race was recontested, with the result that Eve, won from Doris, with Lady Marion third.

NOTES BY PHAETON.

THE AUCKLAND CUP.

With the final payments for the Auckland Cup postponed until to-day, the matter is still in doubt as to the number that will be left in to contest the £3000 race on Boxing Day. The outlook can, however, be voted satisfactory so far as the leading division is concerned, and, with selections continuing to take a wide range, it seems safe to conclude that a very keen interest will be maintained throughout, for those in search of the winner are confronted with a stiff problem. Dusky Eve (7st 131b), who was one of the first to be singled out for attention when the weights were declared, but who lost some of his admirers as a lesult of an unplaced performance in the Manchester Handicap at FeLlding, has quite reinstated himself as a result of his attractive work since he reached the scene, and he can apparently be safely ticked off to render a good account of himself on Boxing Day. The advent of the three-year-old Affectation is awaited with special interest, for an impression prevails that Mr. A. McDonald may have the distinction of furnishing the favourite. With only 6st 131b to carry, Affectation must be voted favourably positioned to extend the three-year-old record in the Ellerslie race. Tin-. GREAT NORTHERN DERBY. During the past few years the committee of the Auckland Racing Club have furnished many illustrations that they do not favour the hoarding up of money, and by increasing the prize attached to the Great Northern Derby, to £2000 that point is once again emphasised in a very convincing manner. Some will no doubt be found contending that the stake of £1550 now attached to the Derby is ample, and that the minor events could be advantageously bin up rather than piling up the prizemoney to events already well provided for. In raising the Great Northern Derby stake to £2000 it can be urged that Auckland and Ellerslie receive a striking advertisement, and it may, I think, be taken as quite certain that the committee, while cultivating Has?, will not overlook those events of minor importance when increases in money are under consideration. THEN AND NOW. Counting up the. number of four figure Flake* offered by the Auckland Racing (.'!ui> for competition, with the Auckland (.'up and Kreat Northern Derby standing out a* £3000 and £2000 respectively, such i,umber no hss than 17. This, no doubt, brings Elers.ie prominently into the limelight, but an enthusiastic note of greater volume would be the accompaniment could it be recognised that such was backed up by those responsible interesting themselves in the breeding question, Going back a period of i early four decades, Auckland enid boast of a powerful stud company, but what is the position to-day There i.s no use to recite the lamentable circumstances that deprived Auckland of her two it. at breeding studs, but 1 am tempted to i lie the courageous manner in which that little band of enthusiasts faced the formation of the Auckland Stud Company in

1830. I will not say that the ultimate handling of dividends was altogether absent from the minds of the men responsible, but I will say that a leading thought was guiding their action that they were doing something for Auckland. They lost their money, it is true; but it is writ large that their action in establishing the Auckland Stud Company resulted in gaining this portion of the King's dominions a very distinctive place. If we could count on the sam enthusiasm on this breeding question as existed in 1880, a lot of people cou.d be depended upon to regard a £2000 Great Northern Derby in a very much TOTALISATOR ARRANGEMENTS AT ELLERSLIE. The committee of the Auckland Racing Club have gone very fully into the question of totalisator arrangements at Ellerslie, and the provision made for coping successfully with the expected record requirements at the forthcoming summer meeting augur well for affording complete satisfaction. Extra windows have been provided for the receipt of investments (including the pre-issuing machine to be worked on the leading race each day), and also for payment of dividends. Change windows are being provided in the totalisator house, and at other points in the grounds, and intending investors would do well to make use of these so that they may, on reaching the investment windows, be ready with the correct amount of money they wish to put on the machine, as co-operation in this manner will not only save time but also greatly minimise the overcrowding and congestion caused through the delay in change being required when purchasing tickets: The new pre-issuing machine will be usei for the sale of 10s tickets only for both enclosures, but early commissions will also be taken, and these tickets will only be paid at the windows of the same building. The investments will not be publicly displayed until the time arrives for their transfer to the main machine.

A HARD-WORKED TWO-YEAR-OLD.

" What horse holds the record as the hardest-worked two-year-old that has fiiTured on the New Zealand turf?" was the nature of a question submitted to me during the present week for discussion. Whakawatea, who raced in the season .of 1891-92, is the particular equine that can, I think, with safety be accorded the distinction in th direction named. As an illustration of hardiness, Whakawatea'a case would be accorded a high place anywhere, for it may be mentioned that to run his 21 races as a youngster he was required to travel a great" deal. Brought from the South in the spring, he ran three races at Hawke's Bay, all of which he won. Taken back to Canterbury he raced at "Riccarton, and then he went on to Dunedin, Brought north to race at Ellerslie, he won two out of three races for which he started on the Auckland ground. Canterbury at midsummer found Whawakatea on the scene, and then in succession journeys to Dunedin (a second time) and Hawke's Bay followed, the bay gelding windin" up at Canterbury in the autumn. Whakawatea's -record at two years old was as follows: First, nine times; second, seven times: third, four times; and once unolaced. It is worthy of remark that Whakawatea raced until 13 years old. so that, remembering the severe task exacted from him when a youngster, he must have possessed legs of the steel-bar order..

NIGHTWATCH AND VICEROY'S CUP.

Speculates in racehorses "likely to win the Viceroy's Cup in India have of late years turned their attention more to England than Australia, and with du 6 effect. However, a noteworthy equine bred in Victoria is to journey to the East with a view to contesting the great event run annually at Calcutta in December. This is Night Watch, the five-year-old son of St. Alwyne and Wakeful, who is best known to fame as the winner of the Melbourne Cup of 1918. Some, time early in September Mr. C. L. Macdonald, who bred Night Watch, and who has raced the bay gelding throughout his career, was approached to name a price at which he would sell, and it is understood he quoted £4000, which was not entertained. The stiff price asked for Night Watch at the date named was no doubt largely based on his favourable prospects of winning either the Caulfield or Melbourne Cups the St Alwyne gelding made a bold bid for victory m the first-named race, in which he ran Lucknow to a head but he cut up badly ip the Melbourne Cup, and 'filoOff °? quitted him recently at

LEAVES FROM MY NOTEBOOK. In the old days presentation trophies were a frequent accompaniment to the money prize in connection with leading turf events in the Dominion; but for quite a number of years of late such seemed likely to become merely a reminisence - 0f late the pleasing revival of the old-time custom has to b noted in several quarters, and Mr. E. W. Alison, Jan., is numbered amongst the young sportsmen who are prepared to foster the old custom. A short time back Mr. Alison expressed a wish to the Whangarei Racing Club to donate a trophy of a value not less than 50 guineas. Such was accepted by the Whangarei Club, and in a letter expressive of thanks to the donor he was apprised that the trophy would 'be attached to the prize .offered for the next Whangarei Cup. In the course of a conversation with the secretary of the Auckland Racing Club, Mr. W. S. Spence, during the present week, that gentleman made it very clear that he is an enthusiastic admirer of the pre-issuing machine, which is to be used at Ellerslie for the first time next week. Mr. Spence is of opinion that it will serve to relieve the situation in regard to totahsator investments in a marked degree where pressure is always pf the acute order; and that the instrument can be depended to extend its popularity the more extensively its use is brought into operation is the prediction he offers in no uncertain key.

( The New South Wales sportsman Sir Samuel Hordern was among the purchasers of yearlings at the New Zealand sales of 1918. On that occasion the chestnut filly by Solferuo from Pione, by Stepniak, was acquired for him for 301 guineas, and the chestnut colt by Solferno from Stepka, by St. Leger, for 210 guineas, both being bred by Mr. J. F. Reid. These youngsters remained in the Dominion until recently, when they were shipped to Sydnev, and they are now in work at Randwick.

From Sydney comes news that the V.R.C. Derby winner Richmond .Main recently met with a somewhat serious accident which it is feared may keep him in retirement for some little time. While running in a paddock at Wills' Gully, Richmond Main galloped into a fence and fell, rising from his position w.th a piece of paling embedded in one of his coronets. Though the injury is regarded in a serious light it is hoped that the Derby winner will be able to go into work again in the course of a, few weeks in the event of no complications arising.

In times past the authorities of the Auckland Racing Club have made strong efforts to limit the presence of persons in the birdcage at Ellerslie to those entitled to be there; but such did not prove as successful or accomplish the desired end. It has now been determined to apply the drastic hand; and a set of regulations decided upon are in future to be rigidly enforced. A specially uniformed officer is to be stationed in tinenclosure, and those who are not entitled to be present may anticipate a quit k reminder that they will have to retire outside.

Cetigne, who put up a fresh Australian and New Zealand record for a mile at Flemingtoti last, month when he won the Linlithgow Stake-,, may be given another opportunity to distinguish himself over his pet distance before the autumn roll.-round. as he figures among the entrants for the Villiers Stakes, winch event is set down for decision at, Randwick on the 20th inet., and in which he is weighted with 9st 121b.

Advices from Hawke's Ray state that Mr. T. H. Low ry has disposed of the last of hie horses, in training to Mi-. \V. Hig--inns, owner of Paroraiigi. These included the black co.'t Inland, by Finland—All's Well and the chestnut colt Rla-ekhead. byFinland Gossip This pair will go into A. McAulay's stable at Tauherenikau.

NOTES FROM ELLERSLIE. • J. Lowe promises to have Mascot at the top of her form when she contests the Auckland Cap on Boxing Day, and her general appearance certainly impressed the onlookers when she was stripped for useful work on the tan on Thursday morning. She was not set a severe task, but moved with perfect freedom, in consequence of which she has oome seriously into calculations for the important twomile contest. As the daughter of Martian carried more weight to victory over the two miles and a-quarter attached to the Canterbury Cup last month than she is required to carry in the Auckland Cup, it is only reasonable to expect her to make a great bid for the important Auckland Cup, which event she won almost from end to end last December when saddled with a light impost. Her condition does her trainer credit.

Sir George Clifford's team for competition at Ellerslie includes Moorfowl, Miss Mimic, Heathercote, Royal Stag, and Night Raider. This quintette arrived in charge of Trainer H. Cutis on Wednesday, and have been out on the tracks, but have not been set any really serious tasks so far.

Hessian and Comedy Prince were again companions in a sprint outside the trestles on the course proper on Thursday morning, when Comedy Prince was going easier "than his companion at the close of six furlongs run in the vicinity of lm 20s.

Tabasco's task on Thursday morning last was a sprint on the sand. The time registered was fair.

Heather Moon did not impress quite so much as Persian King over the concluding stages of a six-furlong sprint outside the trestles on Thursday morning. The time was only fair, about lm 245.

Glencannie was not out after time when accompanied by a stable companion in a sprint outside the trestles last Thursday. W. Smith has the Pistol representative looking well.

Thrace made fair time for a hurdle horse from the six-furlong post home on the outside of the course proper last Thursday, and'is looking well. He will probably be engaged in hack flat events at the apreaching Cup meeting. His trainer also had Some Boy H. out, but the handicap horse was restricted to easy work.

Snub does not appear to be greatly in demand of late for the Auckland Cup, and it cannot be said that he has put any great dash into his work since arrival at headquarters. His task on Thursday was useful work in company with his stable companion Scornful.

Gazique sprinted five furlongs from the old post on the outside of the course proper last Thursday, but was not extended. The time registered was not taken seriously. The Gisborne sprinter looks really well.

Arab King showed up in front of Ohoreka and Demoiselle at the close of a gallop from the six-furlong post home on Thursday, registering about lm 225, which would have been considered fair for hacks at ordinary times. However, the track is in great order*just at present, and Hessian and Comedy Prince went two seconds better the same morning.

Fabriquette and Crowhurst were a pair sprinted on Thursday. They registered fair time over six furlongs without being worried. Crowhurst is being kept up to solid tasks, on which he usually thrives well.

Should the best of the sprinters engaged at the approaching meeting be sent after serious time-making before Cup day outside the course proper some fast track work should be witnessed, for I noticed a hack in Ruatara experience little difficulty running down from the new fivefurlong post last Thursday in the vicinity of lm ss. Ruatara had "Ma Copper as a companion from the half-mile post. The best of the Railway Handicap horses should bo capable of registering lm 4s comfortably from the same mark, while lm 18£s should be within range from the six-furlong post outside the trestles under present track conditions.

Finkop and Salvaless made a couple t>f fifths over lm 8s from the old fivefurlong post home last Thursday, both hitting out freely at the close.

Motuih't and Wake accompanied Mascot with J. Lowe to Ellerslie. The former worked at a useful pace on the tan last Thursday, looking well, while Wake was noticed at exercise on the juvenile track. Bitholia and Dunedin sprinted home from the half-mile post last Thursday outside the trestles in under 525. It is said there is a possibility of J. O'Shea riding the latter in the Foal Stakes on Boxing Day. B

Lucullan's task on Thursday morning was not severe, and of late patient tactics are being adopted with him. The son of Lucullus indulged in useful pacing and trotting on the juvenile track.

Gloaming, looking remarkably well, displayed no great liking for useful exercise on Thursday, but when Deeley did get him moving the treble Derby winner reeled off six furlongs on the tan in the vicinity of lm 20s, and could have done better.

Rossini, who is in great heart, accompanied Karo over the best part of the last six furlongs of her work on the tan last Thursday, and gained some firm admirers by his freedom of action. The time registered was only about 2-sths of a second outside that registered by Gloaming a little earlier in the morning.

Red Ribbon, who is spoken of as likely to be tried over hurdles later on, hit out freely from the seven furlong post outside the trestles last Thursday, being clocked to cover the distance in under lm 36s without doing her best, '■'The Auckland Cup candidate looks as if she had been kept up to solid work at Opaki before coming north.

All Talk was timed to register lm 35s from the seven furlong post home on Thursday. War Tank joined in about the five furlong post, the pair finishing at close quarters.

Blue Cross and Canowindra indulged in a useful circuit of the tan track on Thursday, making a shade over lm 55s for the distance. C. Coleman's pair both look well.

Battle Song and Bonnie Maid were companions at useful pacing work on the tan last Thursday. J Ayer's pair bear a well-trained appearance, and the former, who acted as runner-up to Vagabond in the New Zealand Cup, and afterwards won the Metropolitan Handicap, of a mile and a-half, is claiming fresh admirers for the Auckland Cup.

Tibertiya was among those noticed moving freely in her work last Thursday morning. Her stable companion, Humbug, who has plenty of white about his legs, was not asked to go fast on the juvenile track.

Vagabond baa come into market quotations seriously in connection with the Auckland Cup since his arrival at headquarters.

Clonmel sprinted satisfactorily for a hack on the outside of the course proper last Thursday, while Phyllona was noticed among those at serviceable work on the tan.

Weldone and Trespass were a pair of Hawthorne's team sprinted on Thursday tiling. Hymestra also indulged in serviceable sprinting, but this chestnut is not quite so greatly in the boom as on former visits to Ellerslie.

! Mullingar was given a serviceable circuit i of the tan last Thursday morning, and ! stood the'test well, but he does not imi press track watch as likely to be danj gerous at the close of the two-mile journey in the Auckland Cup.

R. J. O'Donnell's team, which arrived on Thursday, will be among those in action at headquarters this morning. The team consists of Melee, KUmooii, Right and Left. Starland, Golden Crozier, Bonetter and Wanigan.

Dusky Eve lost none of his admirers by the free manner in which he covered a circuit of the tan last Thursday in under lm 555, without assistance. He promises to strip fit on Friday next, having done exceptionally well under Trainer T. Clarke since coming north. Keen track attendants at Ellersliev have been inclined to look upon his prospects of gaining Auckland Cup honours favourably for some days.