RACING.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19607, 8 April 1927, Page 15

RACING.

SEASON'S FIXTURES. Jtorfl o—Hororafta Racing Club. April 16—Tuapeka Racing Club. lApril 16, 18—Auckland Racing Club. • £pril 16, 18—Feilding Jockey Club. 'April 16, 18—Wairarapa Racing Club. April 1?, 18, 19—Rivertpn Racing Club. 'April 18, 19—Canterbury. Jockey Club. April 18—Waipukurau Racing Club. April 20—Westland Racing Club. April 23. 26—Avondale Jockey Club (at Ellerslie). Spril 23 Greymouth Jockey Ciub. April 27—Reefton Jockey Club. April 28, 30—Manawatu Racing Club. April 29, 30—South Canterbury Jockey Club. April 30, May 4—Waikato Racing Club. May 6, 7—Hawke's Bay Jockey Club. May 12, 14—Egmont Racing Club. May 19, 21—Wacganui Jockey Club. Juno 1, 3, 4—Dunedin Jockey Club. June 3, 4, 6 —Auckland Racing Club. NOTES BY PHAIJTON. A.R.C. EASTER HANDICAP. 1. pricking og of the card as to the probable shape acceptances will take in connection with the A.R.C. Easter Handicap presents the same in attractive form, #vid, if the estimate works out with reasonable accuracy, a record field may line up at the post to contest the mile race on Easter Saturday. It is . considered quite certain that Reremoana, who heads the list with 10.2, will be given an opportunity of beating his previous record. A feature of the acceptance list will probably range round the number of three-year-olds that will be paid up for. LIMERICK V. WINDBAG. Windbag and Limerick, who are down for engagement to-morrow in the Chipping Norton Stakes (li miles) at Warwick Farm (N.S.W.), have met on three occasions, and the honours are on the side of the New {Zealand gelding. The pair had their first meeting last spring in the Chelmsford Stakes (nine furlongs), when Limerick (8.0) beat his New South Wales rival (9.11) by two lengths. In the decision of tho Craven Plate (li miles) Windbag" (9.4) defeated Limerick (7.8) by a head. Full honours •were, however, on the side of Limerick last Saturday, when he beat the New South Wales champion in the Rawson Stakes (nine iurloncs) under weigbt-for-age conditions. AN INTERESTING POINT. never hear of success being made by horses having " first run," though such winners have won proportionately many more races than the " late" runners. Relative to the last run (says tho Australasian) another interesting fact is disclosed by the results. The " last run" is considered to count most in weight-for-age events, which, indeed, seems plausible, as such races, especially over a distance, are frequently not run at a true pace early and it is a battle of tactics between the riders. Yet 13 of the 21 weight-for-age races run during the past 15 months ton Melbourne metropolitan courses were won by horses making all the running, tor practically so. In hurdle race 3 and steeplechases over brush and solid fences the leader for at least 75 per cent, of the journey has a very high percentage of success. It must be emphasised that horses that taie the lead for purposes of our comparison, considered as " coming from behind"—even Sparkling Moselle, who cleared out at the abattoirs in the V.R.C. Grand National Hurdles—is included in the winners not considered as having had anything to do/with the pacemaking. This investigation is the most illuminating of all, and it may be mentioned it includes the Grand National Steeplechase winner. Clan Robert, who led throughout with third top weight (11.8), and Minterne, who, with second top weight (11.10), led throughout the last 21 miles of the Australian Steeplechase. Most of the steeplechasers who wgn all the way carried eitner top weight or near it. MISCELLANEOUS NOTES. Rapine was paid ud for in connection with the Great- Autumn Handicap, but it is now considered certain that the Martian fielding will race at Ellerslie at Easter. Vice Grand, who won the Invercargill Steeplechase yesterday, is a ten-year-old gelding by Vice Admiral He had nothing previously to his credit across country, and so far as the records reveal his last success in a flat event was gained in the autumn of 1323, when he won a mile race at Gore. Sprig, winner of the Liverpool Grand National Steeplechase this year, was ridden by " Ted" Leader. It is related that in 1925 he was offered the mount on Double Chance, but he loyally stuck to Sprig, who has for some years been by hia father, T. Leader. Leader was offered a losing fee of £2OO, which would be increased to £2OOO if he won on Double Chance. His loyalty of two year 3 ago has now been Ze warded. Vertigern, who won the Autumn Handicap it Masterton yesterday, is an Australianbred gelding by Rossendale from the Polymelus mare Pansy. When bought as a yearling in the autumn of 1925 he cost Mr. C. Eigar 800gns, so that it may be assumed lie was viewed in a favourable light when he stood before the auctioneer. At two-years-old Vertigern only managed to win one small race, and the Autumn Handicap represents his sole success during the pre--Bsnt season, so that he has yet to develop form in keeping with his high breeding.

The forthcoming yearling sales in New South Wales will mark the entry of the initial progeny of the English sire Saltash to the sals ring, and they are viewed in so promising a light as to encourage the view that some tall prices will result. Saltash, ,who was a good performer in England, is » descendant of Suns tar (son of Sundridge), Ms dam, Hamoaze, being a daughter of Torpoint (son of Trenton), and she traces to the celebrated Persimmon mare Sceptre. It is stated that th<j sum paid for Saltash makes him one of the highest-priced horses that has been imported to Australia. COUNT CAVOUR. A'JTUMN PROSPECTS DIMMED. 'A; and N.Z. SYDNEY, April 7. Count Cavour developed soreness on the Voyage from Wellington to Sydney, and was restricted to easy exercise at Randwick yesterday. According to the Sydney Telegraph the New Zealand gelding walked particularly short, and bis action did not impress. The writer adds: Count Cavour does not appenr to have an ounce of flesh to spare, so it will be interesting to Be© how he shapes in bia training during the next few days. FORTHCOMING MEETINGS. AUCKLAND RACING CLUB. Acceptances fall due to-day, at 5 p.m., for the following events to be run on the opening day of the Auckland Racing Club's Autumn Meeting: Easter Handicap, Brighton Hurdles, Mangere Steeplechase, Onslow Stakes, and President's Handicap. 'At tha same time final payments require to lie made with the secretary, Mr. Vv. 8. Spence, for the Great Northern Champagne Stakes, Great Northern Oaks, and Great iNorthern St. Leger. e ,. WAIKATO RACING CLUB. The Waikato Racing Club will hold its autumn meeting at Te Rapa on Saturday, April 30, and /Wednesday, Ma_y 4, and with prize-money to the amount of £3950 oifered for competition that should ensure a strong lisi of entries. Nominations for ail events close to-day, at 5 p.na., and the same may be lodged either with the secretary, Mr. E. H. O'Meara. at Hamilton, or with Mr. C i". Mark, High Street, Auckland. MANAWATU RACING CLUB. Nominations for all events to be decided *t the Manawafcu Racing Club's Autumn Meeting, to be held on. April -3 and 30. close witb the secretary. Palmerstori North, at 9 p.m. to-day (Friday). Forfeits ateo fall due today for the Manawatu Sires jrroajico Intake# tiflth) and the Manawatu States