RACING.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19470, 28 October 1926, Page 6

RACING.

SEASON'S FIXTURES. October 28. 30— Poverty Bay Turf Club. October 99. 30—Masterton Racing Club (at Trentham). October 30—Banks Peninsular Racing Club. October 30. November I—Thames1 —Thames Jockey Club. November 2, 3—Cromwell Jockey Club. November 3—Bixehwood Hunt Club. November 6, B—Auckland Racing Club November 6. 8. 10. 13— Canterbury Jockey Club. . , November 13. 15—Waikato Racine Club. November 27. December 1 —Takapuna Jockey Club. _ November 30. December I—Feilding Jockey Club. December 4—Taumarunui Racing Club. December 8. 9—"Woodville Racing Club. December 11—Waira Racine Club. December IG, 18—Dargaville Racing Club. December 27 29. January 1. 3—Auckland Racing Club. _ December 27. 28. 30—Manawatu Racine Club. December 27, 28-Taranaki Racing Club. December 27. 28—Duuedin Jockey Club. lANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS. " Query."—Haze has contested 19 races nnd has finished second on nine occasions. In the decision of the Metropolitan Handicap Ilase (7.7) ran second to Raoino (9.7). '• Waeer." —1. The payments necessary to make a horse eligible us a starter for tho Melbourne Cup is £75. 2. According to tho statistics published, Revenuo (7 to 4). who won tho Melbourne Cup of 1901, Btartcd the shortest-priced favourito on record for that race. NOTES BY PIIAETON. MANFRED'S GREAT TASK. Manfred having been left in the Melbourne Cup. this may be taken to menn that his owner, Mr. B. ChafW. has decided to give hiß four-year-old llorse an opportunity of earning distinction m the Melbourne Cup. in which race, with a 101b penalty, tho son of Va'iais will be called upon to carry 10.1. which represents an impost 151b in excess of weight-for-age. "Writing in the Sydney Rofereo " Sentry" penned the following" H. McCalman is optimistic concerning Manfred's chance of improving on his second in last year s Melbourne Cup. despite his penalty. Before Satnrdav's race he told me that if Manfred -won tho Caul field Cup ho would still be hard to beat with his additional 10lb at Flemineton. and, as a reason tor his optimism, said that the horse's preparation liad not been unduly hurried when the plans for his spring campaign were changed, Snd that he expected Manfred to improve a stone between th© two races. Ten stone one pound is a terrific impost for a four-year-old. but whether McCalman is Tight or wrong in his ideas about the improvement Manfred is capable of. the bookmakers are inclined to agree with him. At any rate. Manfred's Melbourne Cup price did not lengthen when operations on that handicap were continued after the races, and he had numerous supporters who reckon that ho is a champion capable of shattering all records." THE MELBOURNE CUP. Rampion and Limerick, who figure as the leading performers in the V.R.C. Derby, are also engaged in the Melbourne Cup. It is a select number of threo-year-olds that have won the Derby and Cup at Flemington. The first equine to win that distinction was a filly, Briseis, who scored in 1876. The following year saw Chester lead the field home in each race, and in IPSO Grand Flaneur won tho double. In 1883 the Auckland-bred colt Martini-Henry won aistinction, and a period of 12 years elapsed before Newliaven broke the spell. Ten years then slipped by bofore Poseidon scored. In 19C9 Prince Foote won the double, and six years after Patrobas accomplished a like feat. MISCELLANEOUS NOTES. Commendation i 3 reputed to have trained cn most satisfactorily since ho raced at Ellerslie last month, and he is probably now on the scene at Riccarton with a view to contesting the New Zealand Derby, whioh ©vent comes np for decision on November 8. Vesperus. who has scored a brace of tcrent successes, failed to win a race at either two or three years old. and ho was sold j • last year by Sir George Clifford to Mr. B. McLaren. Vesperus is a descendant of Autumnus and the Clanrannld mare Glenowlet, and with Musket and St. Simon clone up in the pedigrc-e. something further may be expected from Vesperus. R. Lewis, who steered Manfred to victory fn the Caulfield Cup. is credited with saying:—"Manfred is the most difficult horse to manage I have ever ridden. Since first riding him I have received hundreds of letters telling me what tactics I should adopt. I replied to many of them, saying; ' You can have tho bridle, saddle, and horse: come and see what you can do.' " Though Pilliewinkie is out of commission nt tho present important ntage of the racing season, it is pleasing to learn that tho New Zealand gelding has not broken down. The reason assigned for Pillievinkie'a withdrawal from all spring engagements is a mishap that befel him while contesting 'the Herbert Power Stakes at Caulfield on the 13th insl., dt.ring which race he struck himself. "With an eye to the future it was deemed advisable not to further tax Pilliewinkie at this stage. The Australian jockey R. Lewis, who will T>e 48 next month, retains his talents as a Norseman to a wonderful decree. In n reference to Lewis the Sydnev Referee rerntly remarked" The way Lewis retains his form is proof of what a careful-living jockey can accomplish. He will be 48 next month, and. at an ago at which most Australian jockeys have dropped out or greatly deteriorated, is still capable of holding his own unions the best. Even England, where jockeys last longer than here, cannot boast *if one of Lewis' age who is his superior." Under the heading " Not Good Enough," p. Sydney writer penned the following: ** The New Zealand jumper Bright Light is apparently not good enough to win in hurdle or steeplechase company in Sydney, and he is booked for an early return to Maoriland, King Abbey, Aberfeldy, Knighthood and Mount Marta are other .iumperu that came from New Zealand this year and found i the opposition too strong Apparently any moderate hurdler or 'chaser coming to Sydney from the Dominion nowadays reQuires a full share of hick to win. The junipers now racing in tho metropolitan area are an improved lot." The New Zealand gelding Runnytnede, v/ho was bought at a high figure last November by the Sydney sportsman Mr. T. C. Trautwein. but who lias failed to develop in Australia anything approaching the same form he dlsplaved in the land of his birth, j is to be treated to another spell. In a ( recent issue of the Sydney Referee the following ar oeared anent the King John gelding!—" Runnymede. who has never looked as if tho change of climate agreed with him. is getting a short holiday for tho purpose of freshening him up. He is ; to bo sent to his owner's place, Woodville, 1 near Multlaiid, and will remain there about Bis weeks, As he does not run kindly right band in, ho might be seen to greater advantage if raced in Melbourne. In New Zealand he was undeniably good, but in Sydnev ha has not- Bhown form that would make him worth a fifth of what his owner is reported to have paid for him." THAMES REHANDICAPS. [BY TET.'EGTtAFH. —OWN CORRESPONDENT. ] THAMES. Wednesday. The following rehandicaps have been de- | Wared for the Thames race meeting:— j Htffck Handicap.—Tinokoa, 7.12- ■ Hwwiioan,—Tinoiti. fi.fi. j