RACING.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19372, 6 July 1926, Page 8

RACING.

SEASON'S FIXTURES. July 6. 8. 10—Wellington Racine Club. July 22—Waimate District Racing Club. July 24 South Canterbury Hunt Club. July 29. 31—Gisbome Racing Club. July 31—Christchurch Hunt Club. August 10, 12. 14— Canterbury Jockey Club. ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS. " Aroha."—During the present season Lucullont has contested 11 races* with the following result: Twice second, once third, and eight times unplaced. NOTES BY PHAETON. Tho annual session of the New Zealand Racing Conference is convened to be held at Wellington to-ruorrow. The New Zealand gelding Forgery, who won a ra.'e in Sydney recently in the nomination of J. McCombe, is a three-year-old gelding by Paper Money from the Cannie Chiel mare Subterfuge. Ranipion, who stood out as the leading two-year-old that contested in Australia during the prosent season, has been allotted 7.9 in the Melbourne Cup, which represents sn increase of 3lb. over weight-for-age. By all accounts Master Peter will be ready for the fray to-day when the Wellington Steeplechase comes up for decision, apd the win he registered recently at H&wke's Bay will serve to inspire confidence in his admirers that he will master the big fences at Trentham.

Though Lueullent has failed in all the races in which he has taken part th : s season, the future has, I think, something in store for the big son of Lucullus. The Waikatoowned gelding is stated, to have trained on very satisfactorily since ha raced at Ellerslie last month, and he will probably be seen to advantage both at Trentham and Riccarlon.

In the decision of the Vittoria Hurdle Race at Trentham twelve months back Glenidle led the field home, and as he figures among the acceptances for the same race this year it would seem safe to conclude that he will have the opportunity of earning dual honours on the Wellington ground ■when the same raqe comes up for decision to-day.

Rascal, the two-year-old sen of Absurd and Marly, who figures in the Trial Plato to be run at Trentham to-day, has been defeated in each of the seven races he has contested this season, but he is ticked off to play a part in the settlement of to-day's race. Rascal made a good bid for victory at Ellerslie in April when he ran Decoy Bird to a neck for first honours in the do cision of the Onslow Stakes.

The Australian-ored gelding Mah Jons, who was bought at auction at Hastings last month by Mr R. C. Stanfield for 150gns., figures among the entrants for the Trial Plate, to be run at Trentham to-day. The race in question, which is confined to horsea that have never won a race of the value of £IOO, is to be run tver six furlongs at special weights, and the impost opposite the name of Mah Jong is 9.11.

A recent cablegram from London, in referring to the purchase mad® by an American sportsman of a yearling colt by Gainsborough from Lady Burghley for IO.OOOgns. stated that the sum named ranks as the hisheat price paid for a yearling since the Persimmon—Ornament filly (Sceptre) waa sold under the hammer for that amount .in 1901. This is ouita incorrect, for. as a matter of fact, the stxm mentioned ha& been three times exceeded. In 1919 Lord Glanely paid 11.5G0gn8 for a colt (Westward Ho) by Swynford from Blue Tit, and in the .following year the same nobleman beat the opposition for the possession of the colt (Blue Ensign) by The Tetrarch from Blue Tit. for whom he paid 14,5Q0jns. At the Doncaster sales last September a grev fill.v by Tetratema from Confey realised 12,G00gns. Sir Victor Sasoon being the purchaser. In the decision of the V.R.O. Grand National Hurdle Race at Flemington last Saturday the light-weight division once again had matters all to themselves at the finish, and, so far as the winner, Sparkling Moselle, is concerned, it would seem as though his prominent display ~came as a pronounced surprise. It would seem as though Sparkling Mosella had nothing previously to his credit, and a brace of hurdle events, each of the value of £25, at Victorian country meetings, were his total captures during last season. It is interesting to note that there is a dash- of New Zealand blood in the pedigree of the V.R.C. Grand National winner. His dam, Vorai, is by Auckland-bred Delaware, who was got by Beaton Delavel from the Nordenfelt mare Siepfeldt (dam of the Great Northern Derby winner Reputation). Tha V.R.C. Grand National Hurdle Race was instituted in 1881, and last Saturday's contest marked the forty-sixth that has Eventuated. Well, the interesting fact to be related in connection with Flemington's most noteworthy hurdle ■ event is that Sparkling Moselle's victory in this year's race adds one to the limited score of the mares' record. The first- mare to claim the attention was Emmelea (by The Gondolier) in 1895; 13 years then elapsed before Lady Quic (by The Inquisitor) scored; and now, after an interval of 18 years, Sparkling Moselle is returned the winner. Lady Quiz was responsible for a big surprise when she scored her victory 18 years back, and Sparkling Moselle, it would seem sale to conclude, meant another big win (or the knights of the book and pencil. The Wellington Steeplechase that comes up for decision to-day will mark the 41st contest. The first occasion on which .an Auckland horse scored a win in the Wellington cross-country event was in 1898, when Nor'-west got home in front, and at an interval of five years the Sou'-wester gelding again claimed the attention of the judge. The two fol.\owing years saw Kiatore. who hailed from Auckland, score, and then at an interval of a yoar Haydn gave Auckland another winning turn. In 1910 Capitol scored, followed by Hoanga in the succeeding year; and then in ISI4 Captain Jack cot home first. Nine years elapsed before Oakleiszh brought another addition to the Auckland score. Llewellyn, Kendal and Greekson are the Auckland horses engaged in to-day's race, and they are ticked oS to tai.o a hand in the settlement of the question. Kendal's winning display in the Winter Steeolechase at. Ellerslie last month was a performance in which he displayed pace and grit, and he may be the one in whose proweas most confidence will be centred by Aucklanders. ELECTRIC BATTERY AGAIN. JOCKEY DISQUALIFIED. Wh : le the horses in the last race at Cheltenham. South Auatra'ia. on the 19th nit. were ffoinsr to the post the suspicions of the stewards were aroused, and they carefully wntched the movements of a j.ockev named H. J. Malwone, who had the mount on Whvalna. Malwone was ordered to dismount and proceed to the stewards' room. As he was walking to the room one of the stewards noticed him throw something away. The article was picked up and it waa seen to be an electric battery, fully charged, end of simi'ar make, hand-grenade fashion, to the one-picked up after the Birthday Cup had been run at Victoria Park (S.A.t recently. The stewards decided to disqualify Malwone for life, but exonerated B. Matson. trainer of Whvalpa, from any blame Malwone told the steward* that Matson did not know he had the battery in his possession. Malwone rode in the country districts of South Australia some time ago and then went to Western Australia. He returned a f«w weeks ago and was granted a Jockey's license by the South Australian icckey Ci" v