RACING.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19502, 4 December 1926, Page 16

RACING.

SEASON'S FIXTURES. December 4—Taumarunui Racing Club. December 4—Methven Racing December 8. 9-Woodville Racing Club December 10. 11-Soutb Canterbury Jockey Chib. December 11 -Waipa Racing Club. December 16. 18-Dargaviile Racing Club. December 27. 29. January 1. 3—Auckland Racinn Club. December 27. 29, SO— Manawatu Racing Club. . December 27. 28-Taranaki Racinir <-/lno. December 27. 28-Westland Racing Club. December 27. 28— Dunedin Jockev Club. ■December 81. January 1. 4— Greyuiouth Jockey Club. January 1. 3—Stratford Racing Club. January 1. 3—Marton Jockey Club. ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS. *' Argument," Taupiri.—Grand Parade won the English Derby in 1919. Buchnn finished second and Paper Money third. " Wiromu." —To Kara carried 9.10 when bo won tho Brisbane Cup of 1925. Tho records published state that To Kara won by two lengths from Mountain Song (8.4). The distance of the race was two miles end the time recorded was 3m 2G-ts. NOTES BY PHAETON. AUCKLAND SUMMER MEETING. Tho Auckland Racing Club's Summer Meeting holds such an attractive place in tho calendar as to always make it a certainty that in a call for entries tho response on tho part of horseowners will be of a hearty character. Yesterday was gene:ral entry day, and with 752 nominations, everything points to tho forthcoming summer meeting winning a place with tho most noteworthy of its predecessors. ENGLISH-BRED GRAND KNIGHT. The faci. of Grand Knight claiming a double engagement in connection with tho Auckland Cup and Railway Handicap will prevent any pronounced movement in his favour until a lin® is furnished by his connections ; in regard to tho particular race in which tho hopes of his party rest. The fact of Grand Knight having been simply engaged in sprint races so far this season would servo to encourage the view that he niay not bo asked to undertake tho twomilo journey attached to the Auckland Cup. The fact, however, must not bo overlooked that the English-bred horse answered a Question, 1 brilliantly over a mile and a-half when hp won the Great Autumn Handicap at Riccarton under 9.4 in the fast time of 2ni 3i 4-ss. A perusal of Grand Knight's pedigree would certainly servo to win him a staying certificate straightaway, for the leading lines read as follow: Sire: Grand Parade, by Orby (son of Ormo and grandson o£ Ormonde) from Grand Geraldinc, by Desmond (son of St. Simon) from Grand Marnier, by Friar's Ba'sam (son of Hermit) from a daughter of Gaiopin. Dam: Jeunesse. by Polymelus (son of Cyllege v and grandson of Bona Vista) from Jbie ;de, Vivre, by Gallinule (son of Isonomy) from Meiinaa, by Melton (son of , Master Kildare) from Fame, by Statesman. With, 8.12 in the Auckland Cup Grand Knight has ail impost 81b under weight-for-age,' while in the Railway Handicap the &..12 opposite his name represents 111b in excess of the weight-for-age Bcale. TAKAPUNA JOCKEY CLUB. Though a decrease of £5?6,120 in the totalisator receipts atu tho Takapuna Jockey Club's recent spring meeting is a matter for some concern to the body engaged in fostering racing at this North Shore, it might easily h.a»6 been a larger sum than that Doted. As everybody knows, the inauguration of the meeting last Saturday was undertaken in most searching weather, and the wonder is that tho investments reached the Bum stated. Though the weather on the second day was spring-like, it was made Qtiite evident that a further decrease might be expected. It was most unfortunate that Ibe club should have experienced wet weather at this stage, for the newly-laid ground required all the assistance to ensure proper consolidation. The authorities of the Takapun'tk Jockey-Club have always proved courageous in facing difficulties, and the searching/experiences at the, recent spring meeting will not, it may be regarded as auite certain, be allowed to interfere with plans mapped out for the North Shore ground. A PROMISING FOUR-YEAR-OLD. Diogenes is given considerable credit for Ills .winning display in the decision of the Feilding Cup, and the, prediction is offered that the near future has something of a more important character in store for the. four-year-old son of Cynic. Diogenes figures in tho Auckland Cup with" 7.3, and, as that represents an impost. 351b below weight-for-age, j the We.Lngton-owned horse must be voted nicely placed :if he develops the necessary- staying capacity. ' MISCELLANEOUS NOTES. The Hawk figuring among the entrants for minor races at the A.R.C. summer meetfag, points to the probability of the Martian gelding running his next race at Ellerslie. Sixteen horses 'still figure in tho 53rd Great Northern Derby. ' Commendation, Lysander, Battlement and Sea town are the leading candidates engaged, and the A.R.C. should secure a good raco for the £3OOO stake. Early discussions in connection with the Auckland Cup point to a disposition to insta}. Mask in the position of favourite. Star Stranger, Rapine, Count Cavour and Seatown are the other horses most actively discussed. Delightment, the four-year-old son of Catmint and Delightful, is paying his way nicely this season, five wins being down to bis credit. At Whangarei in October ha won a double, he registered a like performance at Te Rapa (Waikato) last month, and at Takapuna on Wednesday he led the field home in the Pupufce Handicap. The bay colt carried a bandage on one of his forelegs at Takapuna and he seemed to be a bit tender on the encased limb. The W&ihou sportsman Mr. W. Dunn must be given credit for breeding a promising filly in Lorna Doone, for the chestnut filly won her two races at the Takapuna meeting in attractive style. Lorna Doone is a well-grown daughter of Tea Tray and on the dam's side, it is interesting to note, she can lay claim to a double strain of Musket blood, one through Monoform (son of Hotchkiss) and the other through St. Clair (son of Musket"). All continuing to go well- with Lorna Doone—and matters certainly point that way—she can be depended upon to extend her winning record as this season advances. An elaborate plan of the sales premises ziow in course of erection at Trcntham for Messrs, Wright, Stephenson and Co., Ltd., fo*. the holding of the thoroughbred yearling sales, and where periodica] sales of bloodstock are to be conducted, shows that the buildings and grounds will be arranged oil tiie most up-to-date lines. No less than ICO loose bones are to be erected, and, with extensive exercise yards, the whole plan in, cast on lines, that show wide vision. The aim is to establish a national bloodstock centre, and the initial sale is fixed to be held on January 21 next. Gleuross. who is. now included with the aged division, made" a reappearance on the scene in the Feilding Cup, and .with 9.0 opposite his name was sent out favourite for that race, but he, failed to gain a situation. In the decision of the St. Andrew's Handicup on tho '.second day, however, he repaid tor his disappointment of the previous da;? by carrying 9.2 home in front. When a yearling in 1921 Glenross was bought by of j l '-Duncan f° r 1175gns, but the son "Wan Sow d not make any return to the sears «i/i l untii ho Was four only amounted' to A at i R rP a eood rS;.!? did not look like '' later on, aS .Hf 3 }' However, he did better to tho value at titrn r. i° baa vvon stakes «U5 Sallonei, Lf p4p«'B3 ia a daai:.10, furlongs! a M ■■ ° v « savoured diaW^ 10 ts Probably bis moat