RACING.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19292, 3 April 1926, Page 13

RACING.

SEASON'S FIXTURES. April 3. s—Auckland Racine Club. April 3. s—Peilding Jockey Club. Aftril 3. s—Wairarapa Racing Club. April 5. o—Canterbury Jockey Club. April G—Waipukurau Racine Club. April 10 12—Avondalo Jockey Club (at Ellerslie). April 15, 17—Wellington Racing Club. April 21. 22—Manawatu Racing .Club. April 22—Waipapakauri Racing Club (at Whangarei). April 24 Whangarci Racing Club. April 30. May I—llawke'B Bay Jockey Club. May 1, 3—W nikato Racing Club. Juno 3. 5. 7—Auckland Racing Club. ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENCE. K.ll.'i Whangarei.—Musketoon, Knighthood. and Importer were sold privately in Auckland. " Inquirer." Rcniucra.—Tho lotalisator was legalised in New Zealand by Parliament in 1631. The instrument was. however, operated at certain places in the colony prior to ths year named. " Kia Orn."— Desert Gold (9.13) ran unplaced in the A.R.C. Easter Handicap of 1019. The 'placed division were:—Uncle Ned (8.2), Rebekah (G.ll), and Spanner (7.7). NOTES BY PHAETON. THE EASTER HANDICAP. If it brings joy to tlife heart of the handicappor to construct a problem serving to mystify students of racing—and on that heading there need not, I think, be any uncertainty—then Mr. F. T. McManemin must be in a very happy frame of mind in regard to the impending Eaater Handicap. On all hands the issue in the big mile race is held to be extremely open, and with the 31 horses paid up for on acceptunco day still holding their places, matters may be said to be highly promising for the weight adjuster seeing a record field file out of tho birdcage this afternoon. It is at all times pleasing to find the horse placed in the position of top weight in the handicap included in tho field of contestants, arid Reromoana, who is cast in the honourod place in to-day's race, promises to play a part in the race in a manner well in keeping with his best previous displays under Bilk. THREE-YEAR-OLD CONTESTANTS. A special interest may bo said to always attach to tho three-year-old division engaged in an important handicap, and with Mimetic and The Thorn regarded as promising candidates in connection with the Easter Handicap set d'o*. n for decision today the winning record of horses of the ago named in tho Ellerslie race presented a subject for rese-.rch. From the year 1698, when tho dial:; ice of the Ear.ter Handicap was reduced, to a mile, tho three-year-olds have score" on eight occasions, the winners and the* weight under which they scored being .as fellows:—Advance (9.6). Nonette (9.T;, Mobility (6,7). Gold Crest (9.0), A'jori'.'ine (7.13). Antoinette (7.10). Menelaus (7.9), and Grotesque (8.11. In framing 'he handicap for to-day's race Mr. F. J. McMancmjn estimated Mimetic and The Thorn to be ecual, 7.11 being the respective imposts allotted to the two colts. Mimetic has not so far v.on a race beyond seven furlongs, but The Thorn has scored at a mile and at a mile and a quarter. PILLIEWINKIE V. WINDBAG. Tho Autumn Stakes, to be run at Randwick to-day, may be expected to find Pilliewinkio and Windbag on hand to fight their battles over again, and it goes without saying that considerable interest will be centred in the contest in the milo and a-half race. In the event of I'illiewinkie defeating his doughty New South Wales rival such v.-ill probably serve to strengthen his position still further as favourite for the Sydney Cup. With 9.13 the New Zealand gelding is confronted with a severe task in tho cup race, but he holds such high credentials both as a weight-carrier and as a stayer that his position as favourite may be amply justified. .MISCELLAN EO US NOTES. Manfred's name is missing from tho list j of horses left in the Australian Jockey Club's St. Leger, and the absence of the dual Derby winner from the classic event at Rundwick must be taken to greatly brighten the prospects of the New Zealand Derby winner, Runnymede. With regard to Manfred, his owner, Mr. B. ChafTey, made it known prior to the colt's transportation from Victoria, that he would not be started unless his condition warranted it. Apparently Manfred is not considered sufficiently forward to run out a mile and three-quarters journey, but, maybe, the colt has not improved his manners fit the barrier. With Gold Light and Count Cavour figuring in the Great Autumn Handicap j with an equal impost (9.13). a lot of In- ! to rest is centred in tho meeting between the daughter of Hymettus and the son of Solferino in next Tuesday's race at Riccarton. " The Count" disposed of Rapine at weight-for-age over a milo and a-half in the summer, and if ho succeeds in defeating Gold Light at even weights ho will be suro of a wide advertisement, for the chestnut mare has won a place with the most nolo worthy performers that have graced the New Zealand turf. Tho Awapuni Gold Cup. which is run an--5 nually at the 'Manawatu Rrvcing Club's Autumn Meeting, is an event in which it is at all times especially pleasing to find an attractive list of entries. This year's race has nineteen horses engaged, and with all the leading performers at. present in commission in tho Dominion figuring as entrants, matters look extremely bright for a record field at Awapuni on April 21. The New South Wales colt Rampion, who holds an unbeaten certificate, is expected to make an effort to extend his winning record in the decision of the A.J.C. Sires' Produce Stakes, which race is set down for decision at Itandwick to-day. This event, is by far the most valuable two-year-old race in the Southern Hemisphere. Last year tho value of the first prize was JM9C.3, and it is quite possible that sum will be exceeded tliis year. An Australian-bred horse lifis yot to 'un tho Great Northern Cliampnijno Stakes. Joy King (by Comedy King—Joyeuse) and Aussie (by Fortifax —Betty), who hail from Australia, are engaged in to-day's race, and the first-named is popularly voted to lie in a good position to follow up the ' victory that he achieved in January last in the decision of the Royal Stakes. The unbeaten filly Vulicitre is expected to contest tho Doiicaster Handicap at Randwick to-day. The impost (8.9) opposite Valiciuo's name for the race in question represents 9lb in excejs of weight-for-age, and it she succeeds in her task filie will have established a record for tho three-year-old division in that particular race. Lackland and Eloquent, who figure aa a bracketed pair in tho nomination of Mr. 1. 11. Lowry in connection with the Onslow Stakes, to be run at Ellerslio to-day, it is intcrestin" to note, «re a the produce of tivo half-sisters. Lackland is out ot War Talk (by Martian- -Gossip) and Eloquent is out of En Parole (by Finland—Gossip). In the course of a recent article iii ( the Sydney Before? the well-versed " Pilot remarked:"As I have already written, there are comparatively few Australian owners • big or little - with whom racing is not more a business than a. sport.' Thorn would appear to be a jumpers in Canterbury at present _i.no Kildare Hurdle Race, sot down for decioum nt Kiccarton next Monday, winch carries £-00 in Htttkc-inoney. nils only n trio engaged. An interesting feature of the acceptances for tho Great Autumn Handicap, set down for decision at. Riccnrton next luesday, is tha* (Wo. of the 13 horses figuring in 'lie milts and a-half race are weighted above 9.0. A trio of English-bred horno-s figure among the acceptances for the Grcnt Easter Handicap. viz.. Grand Knight, Royal Divorce, and Ilosenor.