SEASON'S FIXTURES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19215, 2 January 1926, Page 13

SEASON'S FIXTURES.

EVENTS IN PROSPECT. j NOTES AND 1 COMMENTS. January 2—Auckland Racine Club. January 4— Greymouth Jockey Club. January 2—Hawko's ißay Jockey Club. January 3 —Marton Jockey Club. January 2—Stratford Racing Club. January 2—Wairarapn Racing Club. January 14, 16—'ftiaiEes Jockey Club (at Takapuna). $ January 20. 22. 23—Wellington Racing Club January 22. 23—Fox ton Racing Club. January 23—Nearuawnhia Racing Club. January 23—Bay of Islands Rac-rnz Club. January 29, 30—Takt.puna Jockey Club. February 6. B—To Kuiti Racing Club. February IS. 15 —Rotorua Racing Club. February 27, March I—Te Aroba Jockey Club DATES OF COMING EVENTS. January 2 —A.R.C. Royal Stakes. January 2—Clifford Plate. January 20 —Wellington Cup. NOTES BY PHAETON. Rapine may be expected to make a reappearance at Ellerslie to-day in the Clifford Plate. The most entenaivo speculation at Elleralie yesterday was connected with the concluding ever.t--the Glasgow Handicap—the sum of £20,156 10s being invested. Askari made a very faulty effort at tho concluding obstacle in contesting tho New Year Hurdle Race yesterday. The Kilbroney gelding was well beaten when he blundered. Golden Autumn, the three-year-old daughter of Autumn, showed a dash of paco up to the entrance of tho straight, but the concluding furlong found her out, and she faded right away. Royal Divorce earned a bandage on his off fore fetlock when be went out to contest tho A.R.C. Handicap yesterday and ho seemed to bo favouring the affected limb at the finish of tho race. There is every promise of Commendation and Lysander contesting the Royal Stakes at Ellerslie to-day, and considerable interest is centred in tho meeting of the two leading juveniles in the six furlongs race. Depoy Bird, tho Australian-bred son oi Humbug, was trying hard to lose bis m&idon status in the Midsummer Handicap, run at Ellerslie yesterday, but he failed to' score, and his finishing effort was marred by a swerve. Though The Thorn had much mow to his credit than his stable-mato Mask it was thought that the latter would prove the better over tho Derby distance. Tho Thoat, however, came home third, with Mask fourth. The Great Northern Derby winner. Star Stranger, has two engagements at Ellerslie to-day. Ho figures in tho Grandstand Handicap (11 miles) with Bst slb. and ho id in the Clifford Plate, which is run over u, mile and a-half at weight-for-age. With the addition of Ballymoy 11. (by Sonninc) to N. Cunningham's team the Ellerslie trainer h:is now a auintette of English-bred horses under his charge, viz., Musketoon (by StedJast), Knighthood (by Tha White Knight), Importer (by The White Knight), and Drawbridge (by Bridge ot Earn). Roy Reed, who has probably never ridden better at any stago of his career than at the present time, steered the respective winners Auckland Cup and Great Northern Derby at the Auckla.nd Racing Club's Summer Heating, and it is interesting to relate it wan a head victory on each occasion.

Appellant, a sturds-looking three-yenr-old son of the Melbourne Cup winner Westcourt, who cost Mr. Erne,'it Alison 525gne. when a yearling, presents t, sturdy appearance, but though well served on the score of condition he has so far failec'l to gain a place in any of his engagements, and as he was well beaten yesterday, under 7.0 in the Ellerslie Handicap there is no reason to look upon him as an early winner.

Soma people were inclined to think when Te Monanui changed hands 12 months back for' .'iOOgns, that the son of Potoa was advantageously Bold.. Mrs. W. D. Graham, who bought Te Monanui is, however, in tho happy position of knowing that her speculation has brought a rich return, for up to date the winnings of Te Monanui under her colours amount to £4170.

Some great bargains were secured in the brood mare class at the sale held at Elleralie on Thursday last. One was Krima, an attractive-looking ilve-year-old daughter of Marble Arch and Martigues (daughter of Martian), who, was secured by Mr. E. A. Price at 34gns. Waiomi &>y Bezonian— Springl. who was followed by a chestnut colt by Quin Abbey, fell to the bid of Mr. P. Stonning at sGgnß., and the Ellerslie trainer should have no cause to regret his purchase.

Royal Present's effort in the Summer Cup was of so weak a character that ho Boeraed to have lost all form. In tho decision of tho A.R.C. Handicap he was found among the leadeia at this head of the straight, and though ho Tsas counted out of the place-getters he ran sufficiently well to encourage the hope that ho may succeed in interrupting tho iseries of defeats down against his name before long.

The English-bred mare Ballymoy 11. has been looked upon as a smart sprinter, but, having failed to win a race, much curiosity was evinced at) to the shape the bidding would take when she went into the sale-ring at Ellerslie on Thursday, and whether Mr. Friedlander would allow her to go into other hands. The mare was quitted at TOOgns, which is 350gns in excess of tho sum at which she was bought by Mr. Friedlander two ysars back.

"What a wonder is old Surveyor! The veteran, who has jnly been in training a short while after serving another season at the stud, figured among the starters for tho x\.R.C. Handicap yesterday, and setting a strong pace he lt»d tho field for over a mile after two furlongs of the journey had been completed. The old horse walked away apparently quite sound after his race, and he 'is entitled tc> be kept in mind for events ahead. There appeared to bo good reason to look upon Brotland as a bargain whe.ft he fell to the bid of Mr. W. M. Taylor at lOgns at auction on Thursday last. In the spaco o f half an hour, however, the Marble Arch gelding was again sent into the sale-ring, and at one stage it seemed as though tho bidding would not reach the sum paid for him in the first instance, but at length the bidding was carried to lOgna, at which Mr. W. Hunter became the purchaser. When Mr. Hugo Friedlander bought the Romeo—Orvieta colt for TOOgns as a yearling in the summer of ].924 matters looked favourable for a good return following the speculation. Under tbe appropriate name of Romantic tho now gelding has proved a marked disappointment, and he was allowed to (so at auction on Thursday laat *or the small sum of 35!;ns. Romantic is now owned by a Stratford sportsman, and it will be interesting to :note whether a change ol quarters will bring about an alteration in tbe form of the gelding, Tho sporting spirit is so strong a -jnality With Mr. Ev/en Alison that it is at all times pleasant to chronicle a win for his colours. Cawnpore's victory in the Newmarket Handicap was well earned. The Australian gelding: had previously been defeated in all the events he had contested this season, but his owner took matters quite philoaophically, and he made no secret of tho fact tnat Cawnpore wonld yet repay for disappointments, h is pleasing (o chronicle that such has come about in an important rac® a'i Ellerelie.

An old identity of the Auckland turf passed away pn Thursday night, in tho person of Mr. R. , r <laikie. The deceased came to Auckland from Sydney over 50 yoars ago, and for a considsrabk period ho was one of the most popular of bookmakers in Auckland. At vtirious times ha was associated with the lute Mr. W. Lyons in the ownership of several horaos. but he did not experience much good luck in that connection. Latterly he contributed racing notes to several sporting journals. Mr. Blaikie had been in failing health for a coudlo of years past, but hj.s death, was due to an accident which befel him at Alexandra Park a couple of months back.

FORTHCOMING MEETINGS. WELLINGTON RACING CLUB. Tho Wellington Racing Club's Summer Meeting is fired to bo held on January 20, 22 and 25, and tho programme in connection therewith wil! require attention from horseewners on or before Monday next, on which date, at 9 p.m., nominations for all events close with the secretary, Mr. J. M. Griffiths. Forfeit also falls due on tho eaino date (or the Wellington Stakes. TAKAPUNA JOCKEY CLUB. The Takapuna Jockey Club's Summer Meeting, fixed for January 29 and 30. will require attention at the hands of horscowners on or before Friday next, on which day. at 5 p.m., nominations for all events close with the secretary, Mr. R. Wynyard. TE KUITI RACING CLUB. Tho To Kuiti Racing Club has issued tho programme for its annual meeting, which is to be hold on Saturday and Monday. February 6 and 8. Tho total sum allotted in prize-money amounts to £2230. with tho To Kuiti Cud of £*3 so and tho Waiton.io Handicap of £250 standing out as the leading events. Prom the programme, which will be found published ia full in another column, it will bo seen that nominations lor all evauts close on Friday, January 15. at 5 p.m., and the samo may be lodged either with the secretary, Mr. L. C Horton, To Kuiti, or with Messrs. Blomfiold and Co., High Street, Auckland. NGARUAWAHLk RACING CLUB. Nominations for all events io be run at tho Ngaruawahia Racing Club's meeting olose on Friday next, at 5 p.m., with the secretary, Mr. A. B. Jones. THAMES JOCKEY CLUB. The weights for events to bo run on iho first day of tho Thames Jockey Club's Mooting will be declared by Mr. F. W. Edwards on Monday and acceptances for samo close on Friday next at 5 p.m. Tho game may bo lodged either with Mr, A. G. Rae, Thamtd, or with Mr. R. Wyn.vard, Shortland Street, Auckland.