RACING.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18354, 21 March 1923, Page 6

RACING.

SEASON'S FIXTURES.

New Zealand. March 21—Bay of Plenty Jockey Club (at Avon dale) March 21. 22-Rangitikei Racing Club. March 24—Opotiki Jockey Club (at Takapuna) March 31. April 2— Auckland Racing Club. March 31. April Feildins Jockey Club. March 81. April Wairarapa Racing Club. April 2. 3—Canterbury Jockey Club. April 7. 9—Avondale Jockey Club. April 12—Matamata Racing Club. April 12. 14—Wellington Racing Club. April 18. 19 -Manawatu Racing Club. Australia. March 31. April 2, 4, 7—Australian Jockey Club. DATES OF COMING EVENTS. New Zealand. March 31— Great Northern Champagne Stakes. March 31—Great Northern Oaks. March 31— A.R.C. Easter Handicap. April 2— Great Northern St. LeEer. April 3—Great Easter Handicap. April 3- Great Autumn Handicap. April 7—All-aged Stakes (Avondale). April 12-/ N.Z. St. Leeer Stakes. April 14— Trentham Gold Cup. April 18— Awapuni Gold Cup April 27—Uawke's Bay Cup. Australia. March 3) -Doncaster Handicap. March 31— A.J.C. St. Leger. April 2— Sydney Cup

ANSWERS TO CORREPSONDENTS.

" Magpie." Avondale.—California carried 912 when he won the Avondale Cup. Chortle won the same race under 9.9. H.W.R.—Guianforte was cot by Multiform from La Valiere, a daughter of Seaton Delaval and the Nordenfeldt mare Charente. " Sport," Ponsonby. -C. Reed rode Pretty Man in the Maiden Handicap at Paeroa. He ruled an outsider (23rd in the order). " Mana,'' Artilleryman contested 26 races, and he won nine of his engagements and running a dead heat for first honours. Up to the end of last spring Beaufoid had won 16 races. 0.5.M., Ngaruawahia.—Fiske was got by Nordenfeldt (son of Musket) from tho Yatteudon mare My Idea, 'and he thus ranked as a half-brother to Nelson- At the dispersal sale of tho New Zealand Stud Company's stock in IS9I Fiske (then a yearling) was bought by the late Mr. G. G. Stead for 250gns., and he raced in that sportsman's colours at three years old. " J.M.," Grey Lynn. —Wo cannot find any record of Glencairn having contested cither a hurdle race or a steeplechase event. Tho Ladies' Bracelet Handicap, which Glencairn won at the Pakuranga Hunt Club's Meeting in October last, was for horses the bona fide property of members of any recognised Hunt Club, and which were duly qualified during the season of 1922 by lady or gentlemen members of any such Hunt Club.

NOTES BY PHAETON.

A.R.C. EASTER HANDICAP.

One of the chief races of the autumn season is the A.R.C. Easter Handicap, the weights for which made their appearance on Monday last. Though we have to go back some 12 months for the record of a winning performance on tho part of Thespian, Mr. McManemin selected Absurd's four-year-old son to head the list, and with 9-3 opposite his name that means an impost 31b over weight-for-age. That Thespian is to be accepted as a first-rater at a mile he furnished striking proof when he lowered the colours of the doughty Gloaming in the Islington Plate, run at Ellerslie is the December of 1921, on which occasion he cut the mile record to lm 36 3-ss. Summed up on that performance, Thespian is entitled to great respect. Gasbag (9.2) is in his proper place, and, though possibly ho would like the distance a bit longer, tho fact should not be overlooked that ho beat all his opponents last year with the exception of his stable mate. Grotesque, to whom he was conceding 13lb. Grotesque '8.12) will this year havo to meet his stable mate at a difference of only 4lb. Rapine (8.7) heads the three-year-old division, but, as he hails from the same stable op Gasbag and Grotesque, it will be advisable to await developments before extolling his prospects. Royal Present (8.6) is in a good position to bear out opinions as to his prowess, and, though Royal Blood (8.4) has nothing beyond six furlongs to his credit, there is apparently no reason why he should find eight furlongs beyond his capacity. The division ranged up from 8.0 to 7.0 comprises some promising material, and Merry Day (8.0). Roseday (7.12), Surveyor (7.11), and Ruapapa (7.9) are a quartette that read nicely. Of the lot put in at the minimum, the three-year-old Sheffield has most to recommend him to notice. A survey of the situation points strongly to an extensive list of acceptances, and when the same are posted on Friday the task of gauging the probable strength of the field will be rendered more easy.

THE CANTERBURY DOUBLE. As was only to be expected the attention made by the Canterbury Jockey Club in fixing the Great Easter and Great Autumn Handicaps to be run on the same day has served to made it quite clear which event the respective owners mean to attack with their steeds, and no horse now claims the double engagement in the two big handicaps set down for decision at Riccartou on Easter Monday. Winning Hit (9.3), who Mr. Henrys selected to head the list in the Great Easter Handicap, has had his engagement continued, but Gasbag, who was allotted top weight in the Great Autumn Handicap, has been allowed to drop out of the mile and a-half race, and Kick Off (9.3) now figures in the post of honour. The top weights in the respective races should have a good deal to say in tho settlement of matters at Riccarton on Easter Monday. LEAVES FROM MY NOTEBOOK. The omission by the new owner of The j Hawk to comply with the rule, bearing on registration furni-hes a striking illustration of what may happen even when a racer is in hands that might be expected to know what is required to render a. horse eligible to start. Mr. J. Cameron having made several visits to Australia with horses, it would have been thought impossible he won d have overlooked the rule in the case of The Hawk. But there it is, and trie ' New Zealand sportsman is cast in the un- ' happy experience of seeing his horse struck ] oat of many valuable races by the unfor- I tunate oversight. The three-year-old Many Kittle is popularly ticked off to earn marked distinction i during the autumn season. In mapping out the campaign for the son of Winkie at the C..T.C. meeting his owner decided to allow his horse to drop out of the Great Easter Handicap (seven furlongs) and attack the Great Autumn Handicap (one mile and ahalf), in which race Many Kittle, with 8.5 opposite his name, has an impost 3lb over weight-for-age. Many Kittle figures among the accept-rs for the C.J.C. Challenge Stakes ! 'seven- furlongs), which comes up for decision on Easter Monday, in which race he j hsvj # incurred the maximum 10lb penalty, and which will bring his impost to 9.4Horses carrying the colours of Mr. W. R. Kemball were very much in evidence at the Mastorton meeting on Saturday last. Martian Miss (by Martian —Gipsy Girl) won the Flying Handicap; Bonnetter (by Boniform— Brayton) accounted for the opposition in the Autumn Handicap; Kilceit (by KilboyConceit) won the Juvenile Stakes: Bumptious (by -Conceit) scored in the Stewards' Handicap: and Bonrina (by Boniform — Desinm) closed the programme by winning the Dash Handicap. The Takapuna Jockey Club's course has not been tho scene of a race meeting in autumn for many years, but Saturady next will find the flags flying at the North Shore ground, when the Opotiki Jockey Club, a? one of the country combine granted a change nt venue this season, will bring off its I tinni'al gathering under the shadow of Mount Victoria. "The popularity of the North Shore ground may be expected to once again attract a large crowd to Devonport in the event of fine weather prevailing. The Onslow Stakes, a two-year-old event net down for decision at Ellerslie on the 31st inst.. attracted a nomination of 36. and in framing the handicap in connection therewith Mr. F. J. McManemin placed Gold Rain, Laughing Stock, and Sleepy Sol at the. head ofthe list with 8-9 each. Gold ' Rain and Laughing Stock have each won : two races, but Sleepy Sol has so far only I one race to his credit. That does not say,, ! however, that he may not have the best of it with the others at the head of the li.°t when the impending race is through on the 31st inst. The Rangitikei Racing Club opens its autumn meeting to-day. The loading event of. the programme is the Rnnsitikei Cup (one mile and a-quarter). in which the following horses are engaged:— Askari, 9.0: Omahu H» lowro?. 8.9: Correspondent. 8.5: Helen' Rufus 8.3; Sir Fanciful. 7.13: Santiago, 7.11. Passin' Through. 7.9; Boivbrook, 78-Five-e-ghths. Gold Stf-r, Euchre. Frizzier. 6.7. Rouen, who is. engaged in the A.R.C. taster Handicap, is down for an engagement to-day in the Scott Memorial Handicap (six ! furlongs).

At a>,eale of yearlings held in Melbourne on the sth inst. a colt by Cyklon from the Auckland-bred mare Antoinette was numbered among the lots to go under the hammer, and he realised 230gns. Antoinette, who was got by Soult from the Beaton Delaval mare Miss Annie, will be best remembered in Auckland for her victories at Ellerslie in the autumn of 1911. when she won the Easter Handicap and G*eat Northern Oaks under the colours of the sportsman who raced under tho name of " Mr. F. W. Arnold." The Welkin's fame as a sire ha» been so I extensively advertised by the deeds of the brilliant Gloaming that particular interest is annually centred in the entry, of his young descendants into the sale-ring. At the recent bloodstock sales held in Melbourne Mr. E. E. D. Clarke, owner of the Melton Stud, at which establishment, it may be remarked. Gloaming first eaw the light, sent /up half-a-dozen youngsters sired by The Welkin, and the collection realised 3425cn5. It was stated recently that Mr. J. S. McLeod had abandoned the contemplated autumn trip to Australia with Kick Off. According to a recent Sydney cablegram the All Black gelding has been left in tho Doncaster Handicap and Sydney Cup, but that may be simply due to the owner having overlooked the important fact that under the forfeit system a payment, or payments, have to be made to terminate a horse's engagements. The progeny of Woorak were in marked favour at the recent sales in Melbourne, and 10 of his gets to be sold under the hammer realised 8075 ens, an average of 807iKns- It looks as though Mr. G.. Buckley made a very lucky purchase in the chestnut son of Traquair and Madam, who. it is rreidcted, will be well up on the sires' list as he ages. The fact of Kick Off having been paid up for in connection with the Great Autumn handicap and the pen put through his name for the A..R.C. Easter Handicap would appear to point conclusively to Mr. J. S. McLeod having decided to attack Riccarton rather than Ellerslie with the All Black gelding during tho coming Easter. Advices to hand from Wanganui credit Enthusiasm with training on satisfactorily, and the Panmure filly can apparently be booked to make the trip to Eflorslie with a view to contesting the Great Northern Oaks and Great Northern St. Leger. The Nelson Handicap (one mile), set down for decision on the opening day of the A.R.C. Autumn Meeting, has no less than 62 horses engaged, and in casting the weights for the event in question Mr. F. .7- McManemin placed 27 at the minimum (7.0). Country Girl, who won a double at the Maatcrton meeting en Saturday last, is a five-year-old daughter of Guianforte and the Sylvia Park mare Country Picnic, and she thus ranks as a full sister to the Aucklandowned gelding Perfect Day.