RACING.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19563, 16 February 1927, Page 8

RACING.

SEASON'S FIXTURES. February 17— Tolaga Bay Jookey Club. February 17. 19—Wanganui Jockey Club. February 19—Canterbury Jockey Club. February 23. 24. 2&—Nelson Jockey Club. February 25. 26—Woodvillo Jockey Club. February 26. 23—To Aroha Jockey Club. March • '2. 3—Dannevirke Racins Club. March 3. s—Marlborough Racing Club. March s—Matamata5 —Matamata Racing Club. March 9—Opotiki Racing Club. March 11. 12—Napier Park Racing Club. March 12 —Franklin Racing Club. March 17. 19—Ohinemuri Jockey Club. March 17. 19—Wellington Racing Club. March 23. 2-I—Rangitikei Racing Club. March 23. 24—Oamaru Jockey Club. March 26 Bajt of Plenty Jockey Club. April 1(5, IS—Auckland Racing Club. April 18. 19—Canterbury Jockey Club. April 23, 27—Avondalo Jockey Club (at Ellcrslie). April 27, 28—Manawatu Racing Club. [ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS. *' Weka."—Sea De'il won the Great Northern Steeplechase in 1922 and the Great Northern Hurdle Race in 1921. "R..C," Mangamahu.—Snake, bv Quin 'Abbey—Oison, was raced by Mr. R. Hanpon. NOTES BY PHAETON. THE HAWK'S STAKE WINNINGS. An estimate of the amount won in stakes by The Hawk, published in Australia up to the close of last season, gave the same jit £'20,891. 1 have always held the opinion that the total was well in advance of that Quoted. From the fact that the amount Allotted to second and third horses is not given in the Australian Turf Register, the exact amount won by horses is difficult to assess. However, in raking up figures relating to The Hawk's exploits the facts are beyond dispute that when racing in New Zealand at two, three, and four years old respectively the son of Martian won stakes to the value of £7260. The prize-money Attached to the five races The Hawk won in 'Australia at five years old amounted to £6336, and at six years old the eight races he won thrro added a further £8569 to his total, and at seven years old one win that came to him was worth £5Bl. This season The Hawk has won two races in the land of his birth worth £IOSO. which brings the total to £23,796, irrespective of other place moneys which he earned at five, six, jind seven years old respectively in Australia, The Hawk's winnings can at least be safely set down as over £24,0C0. Anyway, the following figures establish the fact that £23,796 can be credited to The Hav.-k at the present stage:— At two years . . . « ~ £2,640 At three years 2,520 At four years .. 2,100 At five years 6.336 At six years .. .. . „ 8,569 At. seven years .. ~ ~ 581 At eight years 1,050 Total £23,796 It was in tlie summer of 1923 that Mr. J. M. Cameron made his lucky purchase of The Ilawk for something like £SOO, and in the interval the Martian gelding has won oyer £17,000 for his owner-trainer. THE WANGANUI CUP. 1 lie Wanganui Cup, another contest for ■which cemes up for decision to-morrow was instituted in 1875, so that to-morrow's race will mark the 53rd anniversary. Rapine (10.4) and Te Monanui (9.9), who head the list, have each their full load of weight, but the opposition is not strong and they can bcth be licked off as likely to run out the mile and three-quarters in a etyle calculated to place them well in the picture. THE NEWMARKET HANDICAP. Thfc connections of Heroic would appear to entertain strong hopes that the son of A alais is destjned to play a prominent part in the settlement of the approaching Newmarket Handicap at Fleminglon, for despite the fact that, the chestnut is called upon to carry 10.3 in that race, a strong commission was effected in his favour, and when the last mail to hand left Sydney he figured at the head of the lipt. In the decision of the Newmarket Handicap last year Heroic scored a victory under 9.8. It is interesting to relate that only one horse has the record of registering a double win in the Newmarket Handicap, and we have to go back 47.years for the record. Aspen, the,horse to win the sprint race at Flemington twice, scored under the respective imposts of 0.8 and 7,8. It will be recognised that Heroic is confronted with a very much more severe task than was Aspen. Heroic, however, is accorded a place in the category of the great, and it will come as no surprise should he eclipse the doughty performance for which ho was responsible at Flsmington twelve months back. MISCELLANEOUS NOTES. The Viceroy's -Cup of 1926, which is the leading event,of the Indian turf, was won by the lush-bred horpe Cap-a-pie, a descendant of the Forfarshire horse Braxted. Autobiography, a three-year-old gelding by .Villain from the Demosthenes mare Egotism, who is being put through his facings at Riccnrton by R. J. Mason, is stated to carry a promising appearance, and he is expected to make his debut under r.ilk at an early date; Birkenelln, who wound up well la?t winter by winnang the Wellington Steeplechase, but who subsequently lost caste and was eased up after disappointing displays at. the New Zealand Grand National Meeting. is reported to be again in training at Trentham. Tho winning performance registered by Bftzora in tho Flying Handicap at New Plymouth on the 10th instant evidently impressed Mr. H. C'oyle, for he raised the original impost of tho Bisogne gelding in the Wanganui Flying Handicap from 7.9 to S.O. Inferpo was left in the Jackson Stakes at the eat© of the final forfeits, but as the eon of Absurd was recently ordered to be placed on the schooling list owing to his unruly behaviour at tho starting post, he is, according to tho rules, declared ineligible to start in any flat race in the Dominion so long as his name figures on the list referred to. Countersign (by Paper Money—Kilberry) only managed to win one race at two years old, but she has improved on that score at a year older; and she has so far four wins to her credit. On the opening day of the Dunedin autumn meeting, on the 10th inst., Countersign disappointed a large circle of admirers; but the second day. at Wingatui, saw her register a good performance in tho Hazleit Memorial Plate, in which race, under a 7lb. penalty, she beat tho Englishbred mare at. a difference of only 31b. in lier favour. The Jackson Stakes, to be run at Wanganui, promises to bring about a highly interesting contest, for Tho Hawk, Grand Knight. Reremoana, Tukia, Lygander and Limited may be expected to measure strides. The race in question is to be run over sis furlongs at standard weight-for-age, so that it should furnish a true test. The three-year-olds Lysander and will be meeting the aged division at a <Uf-tfiMi-nce of only 71b.. and with The Hawk's jwmt winning performance at Taranaki to se<:.mniend him tu note, there is one veteran who cstn be depended upon to set his young rivals a strong task when tho finish comes to fought out. The three-vear-old Battlement is still a disippointment, and the brace o£ unplaced performances for which he was responsible ol the Dunedin Jockey Club's meeting held last week at Wingatui. when currying handy imposts, does not servo to make his prospects bright for events near at hand. At Kandwick in the spring. Battlement was credited with winning the Waverley Handicap (11 miles), in 2m. 595, and aa that con«tituteii a record for the New South Wales ground. Battlement's exploit placed him well jn .the limelight. The New Zealand gelding has to accomplish anything in the interval in keeping with hia Austral;a,n jporiormaiice.