SEASON'S FIXTURES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19405, 13 August 1926, Page 8

SEASON'S FIXTURES.

August 14—Canterbury Jockey Club. . August 21—Pakuranga Hunt (at August 25—Egmont-Wanganui Hunt. August 28—North Taranaki Hunt. September 1. 2 —Marton Jockey Club. September 4—Otaeo Hunt. September 4—Manawatu Hunt. September 0. 11—Wanganui Jockey Club. September 15~-Dannevirke Racing Club. September 16—Dannevirke Hunt. September 18. 20 —Otaki Maori Racing Club. September 24, 25—Ashburton County Racing Club. September 24, 25—Napier Park Racing Club. September 25, 27—Avondale Jockey Club (at Ellerslie). September 30. October I—Geraldine1 —Geraldine Racing Club, NOTES BY PHAETON. ' GRAND NATIONAL HURDLE WINNER. Comical having run unplaced in the Jumpers' Flat Race on Tuesday, when muci} was expected of hyn, the prospects of his leading the field home in the Grand National Hurdle Race were considerably dimmed.. The glorious uncertainty that overhangs racing onco again received a pointed illustration. In the winter of 1925 Comical ran several eood races over hurdles. He won a double at Wanganui in dashing style, and on ; the strength of that performance was considered to have a sood chance of earning distinction in the Great Northern Hurdle Race. but. though he ran well, he had to be content with third place to Sir Roseberrv and Snake. Going on to* Welling- | ton. he beat all his field in the Winter Hurdle Race with the exception of Lucullent. whom ho ran to half a length, conceding his rival 16lb. Subsequently something went wrong with Comical, and he was not seen, again under silk until last month, when he won the High-weight Handicap j under 11.9 at the Wellington meeting. On the strength of that performance he was sent, out favourite for the Winter Hurdle Race, but he failed to gain a situation. The opinion was then ventured that Comical was not readv for the fray and that he would bo a better horse at Riccarton. That opinion he verv 1 amply bor©' out yesterday. Comical, who was bred by his owner. Mr. H. M. CamDbell. was got by Merry Moment from the Developer mare Mint Queen. Up to the present Comical has contested 56 races, and his record stands as follows: UnFirst. Second. Third, placed. At svrs . . 1 2 0 1 At 6vr9 . . 6 5 3 G At 7yrs . . 1 2 1 7 At Bvrs . .4 2 18 At 9vrs . . 1 0 0 3 At lOyrs . . 1 0 0 1 14 11 5 26 Comical has won prize money ,to the amount of £4765. NORTH V. SOUTH. Horses hailing from ,tbe North Island have in many previous years left their mark on the New Zealand Grand National Steeplechase and the Grand National Hurdle Race, and the respective victories registered by Peter Maxwell and Comical in the two big races decided- at Riccarton this week add further to the record. .The following is a list of the North Island-owned horses that have scored victories in the respective races:— Grand National Steeplechase.—Mangaohone, "Chemist, Waterbury. Norton. Mutiny (twice), Levanter. Dummy. Blackberry, The Guard, Gobo, Hadyn, Awahuri, Inniskillen. Eclair, Eurus, Nadador, Te Aral, Paritutu, Captain Jingle, Ngatoa, Waimai, Maßter Strowan, St. Elmn. Coalition (twice), Oakleigh (twice), Sturdee, Tuki, Peter Maxwell. Grand National Hurdle Race.—Couranto, I Donald McKinnon. Dummy, Defiance, Record Reign, Haydn, Treaham, 'Waiwora, Medal* lius, Creusot, Cuiragno, Strafnel, Paiaano, Continuance, Waterworks, Morning. Hurakia, Sleight of Hand, Kauri King, Sir Solo, Hylans, Gladiul (twice). Lochson, Comical. WINDBAG'S FULL-BROTHER BEATEN. Bicolor. the full-brother to the brilliant Windbag, made his debut "on "the turf on the. 31sfc ult.. when he was sent oat to contest the Maiden Handicap at Warwick Farm. and. with an unplaced performance registered against his name, that has served to steady opinion in regard to his being able to raise himself to a like standard with his well-performed relative. In referring to Bicolor's defeat " Pilot," of the Sydney Referee, penned the following:—"Although Bicolor had done a fair amount of work, he gave the impression of being much above himself, but it must not be overlooked that he is a big-bodied colt, and. if' he> had lacked condition to the extent generally believed. he could scarcely have raised such a good, finishing run. It should also be remembered that,the company was poor, and though I agree with those who believe Bicolor will prove good, it might be as well to wait and see how he shapes in better company before proclaiming him a potential champion. There was a disposition that way on Saturday. One thing certain, however, is that if his joint owners wish to crush any of that substantial bet they took about him at a long price for the Melbourne Cup they would now t have no trouble in doing so." TEE RICCARTON RACECOURSE. The possibility of the Canterbury Jockey Club and the Metropolitan Trotting Club combining in the use of Riccarton is being kept alive, but strong doubts are entertained < about the idea ever coming to fruitlbn (remarks " Sentinel" of the Otago Witness). The well-versed southern writer adds:—-"'lt may sound right in theory, but apt to prove a failure if put into practice. There is no doubt that the idea arose from a desiVe toward popularising Riccarton as a race course as much as any consideration of the economic side of the question. Before considering the advisability of chopping up and altering Riccarton as a racecourse it should be Srst recognised that at present it stands as one of the finest tracks in the world. It has a circumference of a mile.and a-half, a lons' back, stretch of about half a mile, followed by an easy bend from the far turn to the home turn, and then a run to the post of about 3i furlongs. Such splendid track formation gives a horse a chance to retrieve a bad run in the early part of . a race and to , assert superiority if |it is on hand. Once a horse is in the 1 straight there is such a long ran to the post that a horse can obtain just as good a chance on the outside, and. in fact, generally better, as nearer the rails." MISCELLANEOUS NOTES. > Maunga, who finished third-in the Grand National Hurdle Race yesterday, occupied a like position in the same race last year. Roisel. who has the record of registering a third victory in the Australian. Hurdle Race at the age ~of 12 years, furnishes another illustration of a horse not being taxed at an early stage of his career racing in attractive style at an advanced age. The Au3tralian-bred gelding Mah Jong (by Comedy King—Chu San), who was sold out of Mr. A. B. Williams' stable last month for 150gns, treated his new owner, Mr. C. R. ,Stanfield, to a 'win at Riccarton yesterday, when he won the Summer Handicap. the winner's portion of the stake being £175. Precious, who led the field home in the Woolston Handicap, run at Riccarton yesterday. is a three-year-old filly by Sutala and the Danube mare Roden. Precious is owned by Mr. G. D. Greenwood. Centrepiece, the four-year-old son of The Ace, was well beaten under the minimum weight in the Winter Cup contest on Tuesday, but in the decision of the August 'Handicap yesterday he played the leading part and gave Sir George Clifford his first win in the new season. Ngata's winning - performance in the Jumpers' Flat Race*on Tuesday under the steadier of 12.13 seemed to point to the gay son of Maniapoto playing the prominent i part in the settlement of the Grand National Hurdle Race, but, according to the : account of the contest telegraphed, he was beaten a good way from home in the long distance race.