RACING.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19384, 20 July 1926, Page 8

RACING.

SEASON'S FIXTURES. July 22—Waimate Hunt. July 24—South Canterbury Hunt. July 29. 31 —Gisborne Racing Club. July 31—Christchurch Hunt at Riccarton. August 10, 12. 14— Canterbury Jockey Club August 21— Pakuranga Hunt (at Elieralie). August 25—Egmont-Wanganui Hunt. August 28—North Taranaki Hunt. ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS. " Takamma."—P. Donoghue is a son oi 8. Donoghue. He has ridden several winners. Ho is an apprentice attached to S. Wootton's stable, and. according to Ruffs Guide of the present year, his lowest riding weight was given as sst 13lb. A.S.. Tirau.—l. The placed horses in the Wanganui Guineas of 1908 were: Aborigine. Diamond Star, and Diabnlo, who finished in that order. The race «n question is confined to three-year-olds. 2. Achilles was an Australian-bred horse Medallion from Nereid. He ran his first race at two years old, in the spring of 1901. at Riccarton. and his last race was in the Manawatu Stakes, run at Awapuni on April 24. 1907. It is assessed tht Achilles won £IO,OOO in stakes during his racing career. NOTES BY PHAETON. NEW ZEALAND GRAND NATIONALS. The acceptances received for the New Zealand Grand Nationals are of so very satisfactory a character that it >« auite safe to assume a very keen interest wiU be maintained in the respective issues, for on nil hands it is admitted _ that Mr. 0. E. Henrys has succeeded admirably in concealing the winner in both races. In both events the Auckland-trained division looms np well, and with Tuki (10.7). Birkenella (10.1). Kendal (9.13). Kawini (9.9). and Peter Maxwell (9.1) engaged in the steepleclase and Zircon (10.3), Black Cruiser (10.2). Lucullent (9.8). and Kawini (9.6) in the hurdle race, there js ample material to rivet local attention in keen stvle. According to southern advices to hand. Birkenella may he rescarded as favourite for the steeplechase, but Firetilteht is also strongly fancied. For the hurdle race Zircon (10.3). Nukumai (11.8). and Comical (11.4) may be regarded as the trio most in reauest at the present juncture. THE GRAND NATIONAL DOUBLE, As freouently noted, no horse has yet succeeded in winning the New Zealand Grand National Steeplechase and the New Zealand Grand National Hurdle Race in the same year: indeed, the records reveal that few horses have been set the task. At the posting of the first acceptances for this year's big iumping double at Riccarton Landbird. General Advance, and Kawini are the onlv horses engaged in both races. Landbird demonstrated that he had lost none of his dash when he won the Great Northern Hurdle Race at Ellerslie last month, but in contesting the Wellington Steeplechase and 'the Julv Steeplechase at Trentham this month he fai'ed on each occasion to complete the course, which, of course, dims his prospects over Riccarton country. As to General Advance, he has been off the scene for a considerable period, and. so far as the cross-country event is concerned, he has to be taken quite on trust. Now we come to Kawini, who revealed that he is reliable under both headings. In the decision of the Great Northern Hurdle Race the son of Formative beat all his field with the exception of Landbird, and in the Great Northern Steeplechase contest he was within a neck of the winner (Dick). The fact of the steeplechase being run before the hurdle race in the Grand National double invests the task with more difficulty than that attached to the Great Northern doub'e. where the hurdle event comes first. However, we must indulge in the hope that all will be well with Kawini at Riccarton nest month and that he may capture the double. CORONACH'S LATEST VICTORY. The victory registered by Coronach in the Eclipse Stakes, run at Sandown Park last Friday. serves to bring Lord Woolavington'B colt once again well into the limelight. It would seem doubtful if Lord Derby's Colorado was included among the starters for the Eclipse Stakes, and the St. Leger. to be run at Doncaster in September, may be the race on which that popular nobleman has set his heart in the hope that his colt will wipe out the defeat he suffered in the Derby. It seems to be generally concluded, however, that Lord Woolavington claims the better stayer in Coronach and that Colorado will be confronted with a severe task to defeat hia big chestnut rival over a mile and threequarters MISCELLANEOUS NOTES. The Wanganui sportsman. Mr. J. Bull, likes to have a double- string to his bow. and be paid up for both Ngata and Brigadier Bill for the Grand National Hurdle Race. Vagabond having been allowed to drop out of the Grand National Hurdle Race, this must. I suppose, be regarded in the light that the veteran has failed to stand the nscessary preparation, for he was nicely treated with 9.13. ,The Gisborne Racing Club's meeting, which is fixed to be held on the 29th and 31st inst., will attract s. few horses from Auckland, and the Ellerslie trainer, T. George, is expected to leave for, the East Coast to-day by the Wiiiliui with Tresillian, Penniless, and Tempernttie. Though Kiosk had two hard races during his recent trio to Sydney, he is stated to have stood the test well, es also the voyage back to New Zealand. The son of Tea Tray is reported to be again in steady work at Wanganui, and he is regarded as one tof the most likely to be ready to fulfil three-year-old engagements during the coming spring. Listening Post, who is one of the latent reeruitp to the ranks of the hurdlers, is credited with acquitting himself satisfactorily in his schooling work. From the fact of his having been paid up for in connection with the Grand National Hurdle Race it is to be assumed that his owner entertains hopes of high honours coming to his horse at the outset of his career as a hurdler. General Advance has been off the scene during the whole of the present season, and, as he only started once in the preceding one, it is to be assumed that hia training was invested with some concern. Advices to hand credit "Tho General" with going on well, and, as he was paid up for in the Grand Nationals, it would seem oafe to conclude that he is likely to be s'.-en out under silk at Riccarton next month. General Advance won the Grand National Hurdle Race of 1923, but he has yet to contest a cross-country event. The Auckland sportsman. Mr. C. G. Macind"e. having oaid up for both Nippy and Lo Choucns in connection with the Winter Cup, thit mav be interpreted in the sense thnt the two Australian-bred geldings are ' prn"res='n3 satisfactorily in their training ot P'pakura. Nippy (9.8). who is placed 2*V> above his stable mate in the mile race set down for decision at Riccarton on August 10. be it a field of 17 in the Connolly J- T nndi r ap lone mile and a-quarter), run rt Wanganui last May. In that race he Carried 7.8 and beat a field of 17. Thaf ma be regarded as Nippy's beat p. rfornia' ce to d te. Le Choueas has onlv so far been seen to advantage over sis fur ongs. and Ni iv seems to be the best proposition of the Aiukland-owned pair. A youngster that raced well in New Zealand during the now-fast-closing season that is ted to nut up a very much more attractive record when he comes to fulfil th"ee-year-old engagements is Seatown. At two %-ears old Se town contested 15 races ar.d his record stands as fo.lows:—Four wins, three times second. fo\ir times third, three tunes tourth, and once unplaced. Seatown. who was pot by Archiestown, was cred.ted with standing over 16 hands when racing at two ve rs old, .and altogether he is referred to as a gelding of remarkab y good physiaue. Seatown figures among the entrants for the Austra.ian Jockey Club's Derby, but it is for trne to reveal whether hia owner has any designs on. .that valuable —*ce.