RACING.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 18762, 16 July 1924, Page 6

RACING.

SEASON'S FIXTURES. fiflj 19H3<rotfe Canterbury- Hunt Club. ffnlySA. 88— Gieboxn«R«nng Club. fidy' Hnnveiub. Atiguti3 I£—Poverty Bay Hunt. •August &—Chrfstehurea Huat Club. '.August 12, 24, lft-Caaterfrurr Jockey 1 Clu¥. DATES OF COMING EVENTS. 12— N.Z. Grind National Steeples. August 14— N.Z. Grand National Hurdles. t .■ Attstbalia." . " August fl—Australian Hurdle Race. August 9—Australian Steeplechase. ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS; ** Monocle." Eem-uera.—When a foal Jjci the Spring of 1909 Prince Souit (by SoulV-Lady Heater) was bought by the late Mr. W. waiters for KXJkue. On January 4* 1011. file colt wa« Bold as a yearling for 750ffEfl. M Wager."—The records in the Stad Book ißhow that Omaha waa foaled in 1914. During the present season Oniahu has contested 11 jCacea, and his record for the term named is as followa:—Two vrins, one second, two Jhixdn, and six times unplaced. ' ■ ..

. NOTES BY FKAETON. ROMANCE OF STEEPLECHASER In all branches of racing a good spice jpf romance is intorworan, and with no branch more so than that of ateeplechasfjtg. ' The present jear furnishes two striking casus. piaster Bobext, who carried Lord Airlie's colours to victory in the Liverpool Grand National Steeplechases in March last, was considered so valueless as a race; that ho was drafted into the prosaic task of a plough Horse, At U years' old Master Roberts negotiated the atiff country at Aintreo in gashing sitylol Now comes along Fleetetono a& a winner of the V.R.O. Grand National Steeplechase, Fleetatone wae made a prenent to the Melbourne sportsman, Mr. IG. Grice, and his consistent position at the tail of the 'field in the flat races he contested caused him to be regarded as a Soke, and he was at one time considered useless for racing. He managed to win a. couple of hunt cups last season, but this yaar he developed brilliant form, with the result that iw won six races in succession, the Groat Eastern Steeplechase, run at the Onkoparfnga meeting in April last, being one of the important eventa down to hia credit. As Fleetstone carried 11.13 in the V.R.O, Grand National Steeplechase ana completed the course in record time, he has left no room for a canl at his victory. The groat form displayed by Fleetatone as he zeachad maturity is to be regarded as another striking Illustration that where the espirit of patience is cultivated in handling a. steeplechaser, a golden return not infrequently is associated therewith.

SSTEW ZEALAND GBAND NATIONALS.

She O-LCI handioapper. Mr. J. '£. Henrys, toras on hand prompt to time with the Weights for the New Zealand Grand Nationals, and, with no other ©rents of (Bote in night to divert attention, the big Jumping: double set down for decision at Jiccarton next month will form a strong channel for discussion. Oakleigh's form has been so..indifferent of late tha* muca Buxiositjr was «?inced at to how Mi. Henrys *ould ssgard the Auckland gelding in casting the handicap for the Grand National ftWDtechaaa, • Im awarding Oskleiga 12.5 "cesa of; the impost which the son «l ijt. Amans <tarried to victory ia laafc year's race) Mr. Henrys evidently deemed it, wise not to take any liberties with Oakleigh. Omahn (12.3) follows Oakleigh, and then comes Pamplona (11-12). Master Peter UOJJ ran a fine race in lart year's Grand JiattonaL and ha was within a lengtn ox OakWh. at the finish. - Some little time back It was ramonred that all was not Quite *eii with. Master Peter, and it will be as well to await developments in his case. In Jne Grand National Hurdle Bace Nukumai beads the list with U.S. but in the face of hia dual winning, display at Wellington he **.x? ot fe rß *"7 treated. . Income is placed within Blb of the top--weigbt. and. though She son ot Guianforte has to be accepted on trust in jumning. Mr. Henrys is auite justified in the course he has taken. Among ♦ha light-weighty Soyal Star (10.2) and Admiral Codnngton (9.11) are a brace that taay repay watching.•......_.... ,'.•:,,::■■■••

GRAND NATIONAL DOUBLE. Eight horses claim the double engagement fn connection with this year's New Zealand Grand Nationals, and their impost* in tfa© £e*pecfcive events are &s follow:— G.N. G.N. . Steeples. Hurdles. ' , st.lb. St. lb. Omahu .. fi 12 3 v ? 10 a Sir Bosecerry ¥ . 11 7 « B 918 Lochella . . ~ 11 D .„• 9 6 general Advance ..' 10 18 »* 10 12 Sea De*il .. >~ 10 8 ■» w 10 5 San Forte ~ ~ 10 8 ■ »» • ■ 9 0 Ore Ore •■ ». $'2 ». 9 2 Bustler >« > „ 8 0 . v S 0 CPHE WELLINGTON STEEPLECHASE. Omaha has been endeavouring for Quito % lone time to -win a loading cross-country irace, but it was not until he captured the Steeplechase -on Saturday last that his owner. Mr. James Bull, had the fcatisfaction of seeing the natty little black son of Maniapoto succeed in an. event of that order. The account of the race shows that Omaha was always jumping well* but there Beemfl to be "tri impression that a gap in the concluding obstacle played a part in enabling him to beat Pamplona by a neck. The southern gelding is evidently Well up to the standard with which he was credited, and be must be kept in. mind for i&TO&ts ahead. . I&AVES FROM MY NOTEBOOK

In the New Zealand Bules of Bacing this following is embodied 3—" After August 1, 1924, no certificate of registration shall be granted to or be retained by any club which, Tinder its constitution, sanctions the division or apportionment in any case or at any time of the whole or any portion of iW proporty or surplus funds among its members, past or present." In accordance therewith notic* of motion of a, new rules is to bo moved at tho forthcoming annual mooting of members of the Auckland Racing Club, as follows;— "In the event of the, winding up of the slub or of its dissolution by any means whatever, the funds, property and assets of the club remaining after all legal claims against the dub have been satisfied shall be eealt with and disposed of by the trustees for ouch public or charitable purposes as the members shall determine at a special general meeting convened for such purpose, and failing any such determnstion within six ynomtha after the decision has been arrived at to wind up or dissolve the club then for. euch public or charitable, purposes as shall bo determined by the Minister of the Crown for the time being having control over the administration of the gambling laws then in force in New Zealand. This rule shall not be altered, suspended or repealed except with the approval of such Minister."

District committees havo hitharto folt Borne concern as to the effect of the Bale of Easing, which prevents an owner or trainer # employing _ any person whose last application lor a license to train or ride had been refused, unless the unsuccessful applicant had obtained neceraary permission from the Licensing Committee. It now transpires that the Lioensing' Committee makes a distinction between a "license refused" and an "application not granted," bo that in the. oasa of a person who is infarmed that his application for a license is "'not granted," there is no need for him jto seek Bpeoial permission to bontinue to follow his calling as a stable servant. In following up his victory in the Winter Hurdle Race by a win in the Final Hurdle Race under an impost 161b in excess of that under which he scored on the opening day of the Wellington winter meeting Nukumai must be accounted to have furnished*, most conclusive proof of his proweßS. Bv all Sccounts, Nukumai won his race on Saturay through the mud in quite dashing style, sHid the future should have a lot in store for him. Nukumai'a captures in stakes at Trentham amounted to £ICSO, and his owner, Mr.- C. Davidson, has good reason to rejoice over the fact that he declined to listen to the voice of the charmer when a wcuid-be buyer made overtures for the purchase of the bay gelding last month. The veteran Pavo possesses many qualities *hat serve to impress, and certainly that of composure is not the least to which The Welkin gelding can lay claim. The old fellow was well tested in that while, ■standing: oh the wharf awaiting shipment to Sydney by the Ulimaroa on Friday last. The rattle of chains and the general bustle found Pavo ijuite undisturbed", It was, however, an incident which cropped up later in which his composure was well tested. H3b mate, Tactful, proved quite unmanageable at the horse-box. Old" Pavo was sent for in order to give Tactful a lead, and, though Tactful was gyrating merrily when his veteran mate arrived to perform service, that did not unset Pavo, who walked 'through the box as though such was the result of daily education. Oh, yes, I got sufficiently close to Pavo to confer a caress on his nccK, The gallant old fellow, it was pleasing to note, carried a nice 'gloss-on-his.coat, and, if the handicappers are not harsh. Mr, Imgo TViedlander may not have long to wait for {i winning performance in Australia from The Welkin gelding. ;-;•• ;" According to a London writer—and the statement can apparently be. accepted A without/question—Lord Derby has apportioned. 5 per cent, of the amount won by his horses to the,: Benevolent-'Fund ol the Szisiah LegioM, ..'

referring to tbe Auatrah«Bt-bred gelding Wrapore, who wot ehippd to Sydney last Friday by tb» Ulimaroa, In a recent note X remarked that probably nothing is really yet known to furnish anything like a r»liaolo ii|ta as to his prospects at three years old. However, it can be said tor the l>»y son of Lueknow that he haa furnished very nicely niuce he was seen under silk at Ellerslie in April last, and in the matter of physique be certainly will not be the leaet prepQssessing of the three-year-old division during the comins season. Thore is a lot to rivet intention In a perusal of CWnpore'* pod'.gree; Bis sire, Lueknow. was got by MLuoru iiaaa of the celebrated OyUene). while his dwa, Katherine Dock, is a daughter of Polywelus (son oJ Oyliene). With Cawnnore it i* therefore a case of strong in-breeding to the Dohcastor line, and it will be interesting to note whether staying or sprinting; will be the forte of fir, Ewen Alisons attractive-looking gelding when he is through with his racing nexf. season.

.Though The Monk has not succeeded ia winning a leading event during the season, the form he has displayed at the back end has been very profitable to his connections, representing as it does three successive victories. The most recent event to go down lo tho credit of the son of Absurd was the July Handicap, run at Flemington on Saturday last. The cabled account of the race makes no mention of the impost carried by The Monk, bu« it may, I think. he taken as pretty certain that the r«ew Zealand colt fisured at the head of the handicap, and that. too. with a big weight. The Monk was credited'-with running the mile attached; to the Juily Handicap in 1m 395. bo that ho has clejsrly established hia right to be regarded as » brilliant miler. The .Enclish-bred horse Knighthood had two tries' at, Treniharn to lose his maiden status, but ho was unable to accomplish the ts.sk. In the decision of the Te Aro Handicap he managed to jret up into third place, and in the Crofton Handicap ha beat all his field with the exception of Kilfairo. Knighthood is so nicely balanced at this stage that possibly it would be stretching matters a little unduly to contend that as he matures something very much better may be expected from him. Ali the same. the little bit necessary to enable him to obtain L higher standard than the hack class may found with him when he enters on the next year of his age. Winning Hit was considered to have a good chance of earning distinction in the Parliamentary Handicap ran at Trentham last week, but the best he could do was to run fourth. . On Saturday last the son of Autnmnns made a strong effort to win the Winter Oats Handicap, but, though he flattered the hopes of his admirers when he iran in command well into the straight, he failed to cope with Arch Salute's challenge, and he had to strike his colours to the Marble Arch gelding. Winning Hit therefore winds up. with but one success to his credit at five years old. his sole winning performance this season being registered in the Dunedin Jockey Club Handicap, run at Wingatui last February, That even the greatest experts can fail at times in gauging th« situation accurately as to whether a mare ia in foal or not many instances can ba cited. The English-bred mare Dancing Doll, owned by the Hon. E. W. Alison, is included among the mares that beat the experts. In November iaei> Dancing- Doll was united with Romeo, and when she raced at Eilerslie in April last it was roundly belieired that the English , mare wa« barren, s. now learp from Mr. Ernest Alison that Lancing Doh may be expected' to make an; addition to the Stud Book this season. The bay mare is to be transported to Motukoreto Island during the present week to take 'a place with the brood, mares at the picturesaue island opposite Sanjritoto. When Boomerday wound up at Ellerslie last month with a- win in the Campbell Hurdle Race matters eeenied to shape promisingly for the son of Qnin Abbey to earn further distinction over the battens at short notice. The poor diaplaya of Boomerday at Trentham, have however, served to dim his prosTjecta. for his condition was yqted quite satisfactory when he raced at Wellington. Boomerday figures in the New Zealand Grand National.Hurdle Race with 10.5, but, summed up on recent form, the chances of a good number of other oquinea could be preferred to that of the Auckland gelding. In theae days,, wheh a very solid pace is usually set in steeplechase contests, few gentlemen jockeys are found among tho riders in Grand National events. Mr. Chivrles Grice, of Melbourne, is included among the courageous spirits, and it was in his hands that Fleetstone wen tbe V.R.C. Grand National S'.Veeplechase at Pleraington on Saturday. Mr. Grice, it is also interesting to relate, steered Fleetstone to victory in the Great Eastern Steeplechase, run at the Onkaparinga meeting in April last. Fireblight, who won both hack steeplechases at the Wellington meeting last week, is credit for very satisfactory feats. He is described as a bold jumper, stays well, and tbe prediction ia offered that he will carry his record much higher at short notice in tbe event of his remaining sound. Fireblight should certainly stay well, for his sire, California, was got by stout-hearted San Fran (son of Gozo). and he claims a dash of Musket blood on each side of his pediprree well up. D&zsle, the dam of California, is by Hotchkißß, while Destroyer, dam of Firebliebt, is by Torpedo. The New Zealand-bred pair, Chrysostom and Irish Rufus, each commanded a strong following for the V.R.C. Grand National Steeplechase, but neither took a hand in the actual finish. According to the cabled account of the race, Chrysoatom was in front when the last mile came to be undertaken, but he ia stated to have faded away shortly after, and. as he saw fill the field home, there would aooear to be some grounds for an impression that when he lost his place aO suddenly at the head of the field something unexpected came to him. The fact of Royal Abbey having to ,be withdrawn' from Winter engagements owing to a mishap that bofel him just prior to the opening of the A B.C. meeting last month invested the shipment of the Quin Abbey geiding to Sydney with much interest, and not a little curiosity was, of course, evinced by the keen-sighted ones standing on tho wharf as the big/ chestnut passed through the gates for any \ evidence of injury. Royal Abbey walked quite jauntily and seemed to be in good condition. All going well with the big fellow, he may oe seen _to advantage in an early jumping race ia Australia. From Hawke's Bay comeii news of the death of the English-bred horse Swift Flight, wno succumbed to an attack of blood-poisoning, which supervened on an injury he suffered while beins indulged in a run in a paddock. Swift Flient was imported to Auckland by Mr. J. N. Healop in 1919, and he seemed likely to turn out well, but etakes attaching to a couple'of seconds be recorded were the only return he made while racing. Swift Flight, -who was got by St. Martin from the Ayrshire mare Maxima* was a highlybred hoTse, and he would have been valuable as a sire.

Fleotstone and Haoma. who fought out a Treat battlfe for supremacy in the V.R.C. National Steeplechase at Fleming!™ on Saturday last, met last month in the Travancore Steeplechase at Mooneo Valley. Haoma, who oarried the steadier of 12.12, easily beat his rival, to whom ho was conceding: 10lb. In the Grand National contest Fleotstone had to met Haotaa at a difference of only 61b. and a head viotory was the verdict in his favour. Of the horses shipped to Sydney by the TJlimaroa, the one that evinced distaste to the ship-borne voyage was Tactful. The son of Lueullus was auite unmanageable at the horse-box until one of the men took off his coat and placed it over the unruly one's head, which, of course, meant a complete blindfold. However, even then. Tactful had id be fairly pnshed into the box.. The annual meeting of members of the Auckland Bacing Club is convened to be held on Monday, August U. at 2.80 p.m. Nominations for the offices of president, vicepresident, and five committeemen, also three stewards, must be deposited with the secretary, Mr. W. 8. Spence, by 12 noon on Saturday next. In the decision of the New Zealand Grand National Hurdle Eace last year Vagabond carried 11.0 and beat all his field with the exception of General Advance, to whom he was conceding 171b. In this year's race General Advance (10.12) is called npon to ooncede Vagabond (10.10) 2lb. ' Peter Amans is booked to make the trip to Eiccnrton. There is nothing much in tho performance of the bay gelding to encourage the belief that he can win the New Zealand Grand National Hurdle Race, but he managed to get up into third place in that event last year, and with 9.8 he has Bib less to carry in this year's contest. The injuries Eafa suffered prior to the start of the Stewards' Handicap at Trentham on Wednesday last have proved much Cre serious than was at first' thought, and can apparently be written out for some time. The Auckland-bred gelding Sentinella having scored a braco of successes in the space of a few days in Australia. his > owner has some reason to rejoice over his trip across the water with the son of Potoa.