THE TURF IN AUSTRALIA.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 18629, 9 February 1924, Page 12

THE TURF IN AUSTRALIA.

AUTUMN HANDICAPS. ■'■ ■"':;'■• y.. : / r *„«,.. . BY PHAETON.. Tha : declaration of the weights lor *&• Newmarket Handicap- Mid Australian Cup does not arouse anything like the same •mount of interest in New Zealand ciroles M & the old days, The fact •of aever*] horse* who first saw the light in Maoriland being included in the list of . entrants will, however, serve to J»* aW acme pointed attention. to the ?!«»•: ington gathering. It . may be said - that most New Zealand interest we* centred in the prpbahle impost . The Hawk.would receive m the Newmarket Handicap. An awarding the Martian gilding. 9.8, it is made quite clear that the V.8,.0. hWicapper he* chanced nothing with th* sturdy little bay. Still, it can also be solidly contended that he has earned hia imi<st, and his pelea* of the flying Beauford at weight-for-age m the spring of the pra<tent year was uu<doubtedly a performance of true brilliancy. All being well with The Hawk on the first Saturday in March, he cap be depended upon, to run » brilliant six furlongs up the • FlammgW straight. " In framing the weights. 'ternho Australian Cup the V.BJp. Wdicapper awarded The .cypher Mi. and on form .tM) impost, could be de/amled7 The bay golfing ha*, however, so far failed in all Bis mces this season, and that, too. in.a pronounced degree. Possibly The Cypher haa been awaiting the advent of autumn to come out of his shell. -in* Melbourne sportsman, Mr. E. Eccles, who owns Th» Cypher, it may he assumed, would wel'cßm*. such ft happening, fox the ton of Martian and Polymnia' must have cost him a lot of money IRISH-BRED CROWDENNIS. Imported horses have accomplished so many brilliant feats when raced in Australia that when any come before handi•cappers with form to recommend them they are unlikely to get the best of the weights. This is forcibly brought out in' the case of Crowdennis. a six-year-old by Tredennis, who was brought from the northern to the" southern hemisphere acme few months back. CrowJennis figures wnong the entrants for the V.R.C. Newmarket Handicap (six furlongs), for which raoe he has been awarded top weight (10.4), During Crowdennis' career in England and Ireland he won 10 races, his most noteworthy success being the Molyneux Cop of d£lßß6. In a reference to Crowdennis " Touchstone," of the Australasian, remarked:—"This brown sen of Tredennis is a grand stamp of & horse, moulded on rather massive lines. I should say he is well over 16 hands, stands over » lot ot ground without showing the least weaKniwa in the back ribs, has a splendid shoulder, long rein, good bone', and great muscular development.. He is one of the best horses to follow I have seen for a loner time, being well let down, with ft breech that would not disgrace a draught horse, and muscular thighs and gaskins. He has tremendous driving power, which, no doubt, is the secret of his great pace. He walks, too. like a speedy one—reaches out well with the forelegs, yet brings the hind foot a good 6in over the track of the fore. / Holt nones that Crowdennis may be able to slay, but if ever there was a horse shaped mainly for speed this is the one, though, as he has a fair amount of heart and lung room, it is possible that the only reason he has , not won over c longer distance than eix furlongs is that he was never asked to go farther." AUCKIAND-BRET> BOCKFIELD. Aucklandere will not Quite have forgotten the chestnut? gelding Rockfield, who carried the colours of the* Hon. E. W. Alison for several seasons and was eventually sold for a good sum to Mr. H. Manuel. Bockfield was transported to Sydney last year, and is now engaged in endeavouring to win* over hurdles. The eon of Monoform and' Golden Rose figured in a race over the battens at Randwick on the 26th pit., and under the heading of ' '-False Alarm Hurdler" the Sydney Sportsman had the following:— Where did they get this Rockfield stuff. anyhow ? Bockfield is an aged chestnut «rfdmsr that raced with moderate success on the flat in New Zeajand, but is now old and set in his way*, and he hag no inclination to learn hurolins at bis tune of life. Still, pomebody came at him on Saturday And backed him in the Hurdle Race, and he isn't in yet. Rockfield may make a hurdler in time, but his showing on Saturday, when he finished last, will entitle bis backers to get a long price -when he next starts in & urdln race. For a well-backed horse he save about the poorest showing that has been seen at Bandwick for a long time." Bockfield was foaled in 1913, and as he is now rising 11 years old, he has no time to lose if he is to shine as a hurdler.

MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS. The lottery attached , to, the buying of thoroughbreds could not be better evidenced than «i the „ wee of two .purchases made, by the New South Wales sportsman, Mr. J. J. Leahy, in 1822. Chsraore. a. very promising two-year-old, by Linaere—Charlotte, was purchased by Mr.. Leahy at auction fox llOOgne. but ha* not so far won a race for bio owner. Valdoona, an untried two-year-old, waa secured about the same time tor SSsns, and the succeeded in. winning the rich. Adrian Knox Stakes at the A. J.C. Anniversary meeting. . ' . A XV* an ill-wind ; that blows nobody any rood is an old saying, and it receives many an apt illustration. Such was forthcoming at the recent meeting held at Randwick by the Australian Jockey Club on the 26th ult. W. Johnstone. who waa to pilot the favourite. El Dorado in the Anniversary Handicap of fsmoo. had. the bad luck to be suspended by the A.J.C. for one month because of some breach of the regulations in regard to his apprenticeship. A. Orrell ,was secured to steer El Dorado almost at the . oleventh hour, and, a fine win for both heirs* and rider resulted. ' _I* , is. , made quite evident that if the English-bred horae Crowdennia i* to win a sprint handicap, event this 'autumn he will have to accomplish the feat under big poundN*t t&M''*??"}* , tBo handicap for the Oakleigh Plate (5* furlongiO the V.A.T.C. handicapper awarded Crowdennia the steadier of 10.10. The distinction conferred upon the English horse was not apparently viewed with favour by the owner: for the pen went through the, name of Crowdennia shortly after the declaration of the weights. An equine rejoicing in the name of Stony, who forms orto of the team presided, over by the ex-New Zealand trainer. George Price, was made the medium of such pronounced ' sup-pert * or , the Anniversary Handicap, run at, Rendwick on the 2fltb uR.. that he ruled a hot favourite Stony, however, went down, and the beat he could do waa to finish third to El Dorado and Note.." The Australian Jockey Club is apparently determined to maintain the cour»e decided on last season in regard to cultivating lumping events in New South Wales, and it is announced that the -.two leading events at the next winter meeting.(*- hurdle race and a steeplechase) will each carry £2000 in added money. RBTUVI3NATIKG HORSES. SCIENTISTS AT WORK. Racing authorities are divided into two camps concerning experiments which have been mads to.give racehorses second youth (says the Paris colrespondent of the London Sportsman). Dr. vorpnon, of monkey-gland fame, operated recently at the Alfoxt Veterin-' cry School, near Paris, 'on .Ayala, ; belonging to M. Wiltcrack. the Belgian owner, who has * stable in France. Ayala had a brilliant carter on the his only defeat being in the Grand Prix d'Oatende.'and the glands required for the experiment were taken from Qiakeridge, a young horse. The result in this case was • inconclusive,, as Ayala, in the course of hia.airugglea against being placed on the table, fractured his hip, and a splinter of bone pierced a.vein, causing internal hemorrhage, which proved fatal. Other operations which have been carried out are reported to have been successful, but if an attempt is made to run a rejuvenated* horse on. a. French track a bitter fight in racing circles hi expected. Many stewards declare they will not permit any tampering with horses and state that the doctoring of thoroughbreds is equivalent to doping, Supporter* of the new departure, contend that if the experiment results in. the, improved rirrfning of horses, the end wj}l justify the means, for theoretically the object of racing is the cpntinuaJ improvement of the thorough"red »-■".■■-■■■ - «~— MUGGY PAYS BRING SICKNESS. Oppressive, steamy weather ill very trying to most people. who are run down it is really dangerous. Infection spreads most readily in humid conditions. - i Everybody knows that a person who is 'out of sorts" has not the strength" -to I resist contagion. Germs, gain easy entrance to the citadel of health. .Keep free {from danger by taking Baxter's pills. This splendid tonic quickly fortifies the Byefcern; to iomhat disease. Waste is gently removed, stomach, kid«. neys and liver are roused, from. torpidity to normal action; digestion is improved and the blood stream enriched. Enjoy radiant health and build up rgv serve stores of vitality, ' Bring zest and. vigour to all your doings. Baxter's Pills cost only 2s at chemists and stores. If, unable to obtain locally, send remittance to A- and W. . Battel'. Manufacturing Chemists, Christchurch, and a supply wijl be sent you post free—Advt,