RACING.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19230, 20 January 1926, Page 6

RACING.

SEASON'S FIXTURES. x January 20, 22. 23—Wellington Racing Club. January 22. 23—Foxton Racing Club. January 23—NKaruawahia Racing Club. January 23—Bay of Islands Racing Club. January 27, 28—Pahiatua Racing Club. January 29. 30—Takapuna Jockey Club. . February 3. 4—Egriiont Racing Club. February 4, 6—Gisbome Racing Club, February 6. B—To Kuiti Racing Club. February 11. 13—Dunedin Jockey Club. February 11. 13—Taranaki Jockey Club. February 11, 13—Poverty Bay Turf Club. February 13. 15—Rotorua Racing Club. February 27. March I—Te Aroba Jockey Club March G—Matamata Racing Club. March 10— Opotiki Racing Club. March 13. 17—Ohinemuri Jockey Club. March .17—Whakatane Racing Club. March 20 —Bay of Plenty Racing Club. March 27—Franklin Racing Club. April 3. s—Auckland Racing Club. April 10, 12—Avondale Jockey Club.

ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS. " Mako,"—There were 16 starters for the Takapuna Cup of 1924 (the year Musketoon won).

" Wager."—l. The placed horses in the Melbourne Cup of 1922 were:—King Ingoda (7.1). The Cypher (6.12). Mufti (7.9). " Hawker," Ellerslie.—Father's Voice carried 8.5 and The Hawk 10.4 when the first-named horse won the C'aulfield Futurity Stakes of 1925. NOTES BY PHAETON. The ailment that recently sent Suggestion again into retirement was a wrenched fetlock. Haze, who is engaged in races at Trentham governed bjf hack conditions, is expected to contest the Douro Cup on Friday. The Bay of Islands Racing Club will hold its annual race meeting .next Saturday, and, given fine weather, there is Bome reason to offer the prediction that it will prove a record gathering for the Kawakawa ground.

The Telecranh Handicap (six furlongs), which is net down for decision at Trentham to-day. has every appearance of furnishing ii good bettinc raco. Tamatote (8.6) and Hipo (8.4) are a brace figuring in the aged division that look like taking a hand in the settlement of the race.

Waitaki, a two-year-old filly by Absurd from Waikiki, won the Cantey Vale Handicap in Australia recently. Waitaki, who was bred by Mr. F. Ormond, of Hawko's Bay, was sent across to Sydney la«t autumn to bo sold, and she was bought by Mr. I. H. Andrews at 380gns.

The <Bezonian maro Secret Link (dam of the brilliant Silver Link) is represented by a yearling this season, but tho youngster is not to figure in tho Rale ring. According to a Wellington writer, Secret Link's youngster was sold privately to an Australian sportsman for a sum that is understood to reach four figures.

Magna Charter, who figures among the for tho Fitzherbert Handicap, to be run at Trentham to-day. is a two-year-old by King John from the Grafton maro Landrail, and ho thus claims ha.lf brothership to Chimera, who, with The Hawk, holds tho Australian and New Zealand record (lm 9 4-ss) for six furlongs.

The Wellington Stakes conies up for decision at Trentham to-day.. The following is a list of the horses engaged, with the \mposts they will respectively carry:—The Thorn (141b penalty) 9,6. Lady Cavendish (141b penalty) 9.3, Sleet (101b penalty) 8.13, Nincompoop 8.6. Standard Vivo 8.3, Limited (7lb penalty) 7.5, Kilperon (71b penalty) 7.5, Battlement 6.12, True Blood 6.12, Lady Desmond 6.9.

Tho Auckland gelding Rawhetu. who was responsible for a sensational surprise at Randwick in October last, when ho won the Waverley Handicap (one mile and threcquaretrs) in 3m 01s, is apparently regarded as a thorough slayer, for ho - has been accorded a nomination for the Australian Cup, tho distance of which extends to two miles and a-quarter. Rawhetu is a four-year-old son of Day Comet and the Sonlt mare Miss Winsome.

If, as is stated in a Wellington/,telegram received last night. The Banker has been sold to an Australian sportsman, New Zealand loses another horse of proved staying capacity. In the decision of tho New Zealand Cup, Tho Banker won his 'staying certificate under a good test and his victory in the Canterbury Cup under weight-for-age conditions, when he defeated the doughty Rapine, further established his prowess. JThe banker is engaged in the Sydney Cup, and that fact has no doubt played a strong part in bringing an Australian into the field as a purchaser of the son of Kilbroney. ,

Surveyor's victory in the Goldfields Cup at Takapuna last Thursday was achieved in such hollow style as to encourage not a few to proclaim the son' of Nassau equal to reproducing any feat for which responsible in the immediately preceding season. Considering that Surveyor, is now in his tenth year, it could, of" course, be stoutly argued that age must tell its tale. Surveyor is, however, a horse of a thousand (and much more, I fancy I hear" someone whisper). Well, if Surveyor is destined to reproduce his form of last year (which my readers will not require to be reminded included a victory in the Weljingtcyi Cup), there should bo a goad array of smiling faces in Auckland to-day if the veteran again leads the field home in the big race at Trentham.

The Wellington Cup comes up for decision at Trentham to-day, and with 18 horses still engaged, and the issue on all hands voted extremely open, the situation is such as to invest the ipipending contest with wide interest. The seven horses that figure from 8.2 upwards are all ticked off to take a hand in the settlement of the Question, and lower down Muraahi, Star Stranger, Star Banger. and Gala Day are included in the division held likely to claim attention at the hands of the judge. Advices to hand from Wellington 'credit Star Stranger with having most admirers, and with an impost 3lb under weight-for-age it must be said that the Great Northern Derby winner is nicely placed.

Mr. Eric Riddiford may be found claiming a double string to his bow when tho contestants for the Wellington Cup file out of the birdcago o.t Trentham to-day—English-bred Royal Divorce (8.7) and Fool's Paradise (7.4) are the pair beld by the Wellington sportsman. Fool's Paradise is reported to bo in great form, but descendants of Absurd do not stay well, and I think it will be a pretty general opinion that Fool's Paradise would be better served at a mile and a-quaTter than in a race extending to a mile and a-half. Then again I think it may be soundly argued that Eoyal Divorce should beat his stable mate. At the recent meeting held at Ellerslie Fool's Paradise certainly defeated Eoyal Divorce in the Summer Cup; but. with a proper run it can be contended that the English-bred horse would have won that day. In that race Eoyal Divorce was conceding bis stable mate 221b., whereas there are only 181b. between them in the Wellington Cup. With the distance extending to a mile and a-half, Eoyal Divorce should, I think, beat Fool's Paradise.

A quartette of mares figures in this year's Wellington Cup. viz... Enthusiasm (by Panniure). Clarinda (by Kilbroney), Waetea (by Kilbroney), aid Martulla (by Martian). A perusal of the winning list in connection with the Wellington Cup shows that the mares have a good percentage of successes to their credit. Maritana, Hilda. Mischief, Dudu. Cynisca (won. three years in succession), Retina, Brooklet, Nightfall, Blue Ribbon, Crucinella, Miss Mischief, Pavlova, and Bee. all won outright, while Red Ribbon and Oratress ran a dead-heat in their respective years. Gladsome's first in 1904 must also be mentioned to the credit of the weaker sex, for she was only ruled out rf the list of winners by reason of the apprentice who rode her being unlicensed.