RACING.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19718, 18 August 1927, Page 14

RACING.

SEASON'S FIXTURES. if 'August 20 —Pakuranga Hunt (at Ellerslie). August 27 —Taranaki Hunt. September 2. 3—Marton Jockey Club. September 8. 10— Wanganui Jockey Club. September 9—Egmont-Wanganui Hunt. September 10—Otago Hunt. September 14 —Dannevirke Racing Club. September 15—Dannevirke Hunt. September 24—Ashburton Racing Club. September 24, 26—Avondaie Jockey Club (at Ellerslie). September 29, SO—Geraldine Racing Club. October I—Hawke's Bay Jockey Club October s—Manawatu Hunt October 7. B—Otaki Maori Racing Chib. October 8. 10—Auckland Racing Club October 8, 10—Oamaru Jockey Club. October 13. 15— Dtmedin Jockey Club. October 15— Carterton Racing Club. October 19, 20—Cromwell Racing Club. October 22, 24—Wellington Racing Club. October 22. 24—Waikato Racing Club

ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS. "In Doubt." Taupiri.—Anchor (10.7) con- ■ tested the Penrose Hurdle Race on the first day of the Auckland Winter Meeting. He tan unplaced for' that event. "Kaikai," Thames.—The placed horses in the New Zealand Cup of 1906 were Star Rose (1). Muitifid (2), St. Joe (3). Paritutu started favourite. According to the figures published Lapland was the absolute outsider, the sum invested on his number f being £ls below, that of Star Rose. The douDle (N.Z. Cup and Stewards' Handicap) at the meeting in question paid over the sum mentioned. The law at present in force prevents the publication of the amount of totalisator dividends, but you will be able to acquire the information from the Turf .Register.

NOTES BY PHAETON. THE DERBIES OF 1927. In the old" days the autumn had rarely closed in ere some strong wagering was ! chronicled in connection with the V.R.C. Derby. Though th* A.J.C. Derby has fairly outstripped its rival in the matter of stake money, such has not served to revive old customs. Indeed, the stake is so valuable that owners are content to wait. Though there may be no wagering of a noteworthy character on the' Derbies at this stage, there is a great deal to interest the students of racing in connection with the impending contests. Royal Feast (by King Offa Bunfeast), who stood out prominently as the best colt that carried silk during last season, is credited with training on splendidly, and, though some appear to hold a doubt as to his finding the mile and a-half attached to the Derby to his liking, there are others who consider he will be found to stay properly. In gauging staying capacity, cases could be cited where many expert critics have been found astray The lines of breeding may be the rock on which they may have based the prejudice, or again, it may be on the question of physique. In the case of , Royal Feasi it- is on the point of his great stature that doubts exist as to his / staying well. The strong lines on which Royal Feast is bred, however, entitle him to be accepted as a horse that should stay any journey. In/Tegard to Agrion, some are inclined to entertain a prejudice against him as a likely stayer on the grounds that his dam is a daughter of Absurd, but though it cannot be disputed that descendants of the Sundridge hor3e lack stamina, still there is some encouragement to keep an open ; mind with regard to Agrion, for he finished v up well over seven furlongs at two years old. and, being got by Limond (a grandson of St. Simon), should certainly greatly help to make him a stayer. At the yearling Bales held in New South Wales in the ; autumn of 1926 a colt by Valais from Courante (dam of the speedy Valicare) gave rise to a very spirited competition, and the price realised for the youngster (5500gns) constituted a record for Australia. The colt in question, who was subsequently named Avant Courier, was cast on such ■ s; " >ndid lines as to furnish material for much * eulogistic reference as a very probable Derby winner. Avant Courier did not win a race at two years old, but that is not entitled to much weight in viewing hia three-year-old prospects, for he was not heavily taxed. Very little is, however, now heard of Avant Courier in connection with the Derby contests, and from that it would seem as though s an opinion prevails he is not at present regarded as above the ordinary division. . LIMERICK'S BIG TASK. In a reference to Limerick's engagement in the Metropolitan Stakes (one *niile five furlongs), to be run at R.ndwick in October, "Pilot," of the Syane> tieferee, remarks:— "Limerick is an undeniably good horse, but in connection with big handicaps backers must, to some extent, be guided by past results, and since the distance of the Metropolitan was reduced from two miles it has only once been won by anything carrying more than weight-for-age. Rebus, with 9.10—-41b. in excess—was responsible for the feat. Paris had a pound less than weight-for-age when he won as a six-year-old with 9.2, and Star Stranger 2lb. less last year. David was a great horse, but 7lb. above weight-for-age pulled him up in 1923 and 2lb. over weight-for-age the following year, though each time he was second. It wonld be absurd to write that success was beyond Limerick, especially as he ran second with 51b. over weight-for-age in the Sydney Cup, but a glance through the list of .past winners of the Metropolitan gives a fair idea of the stiff task set the New ' , Zealander when placed Blb. above the * weight-for-age mark." MISCELLANEOUS NOTES. Advices to hand from New Plymouth credit Te Monanui with being in nice condition to undertake another season's racing, and that of course points to the son of Potoa being ready for the fray at an early date. A three-year-old popularly selected to win & good race this season is Satrap, a son of Paladin and the Persimmon mare Persian Lilac, who is owned by Mr. J. S. Barrett. Satrap is engaged in the Dunedin Guineas, so that he will have an early opportunity to win classic honours. ; Despite the poor form displayed by Runnymede since his transportation to Australia, the New Zealand gelding is kept well up in the weights, and in a recent race he figured top weight with 9.0. It would be pleasing to chronicle a win for Runnymede, for his purchase by a Sydney sportsman at a high figure was decidedly courageous. Though there have been intermittent showers during the present week, the breaks of sunshine have served to improve course conditions at Ellerslie, and, providing no heavy downpours occur between now and' Saturday, the Pakuranga Hunt meeting, fixed for that day, should be held under satisfactory conditions. All going well, Sir George Clifford will probably have some smart two-year-olds to carry his colours this season. At present the Messrs.' Cutts have the following juveniles in training:—Full Feather (by Autumnus —Equipment), Capercailzie (by Autumnus—Kirriemuir), Child's I'lay (by Autumnus—Helter Skelter), and Impertinence (by The Ace—Miss Mimic), Full Feather is a colt, the other three mentioned being fillies. Commendation' continues to form the Etibject of much enthusiastic writing in New South Wales, and ho is also being ■well attended to by the cameramen. In & recent issue of the Sydney Sportsman a full-page photograph was given of the New Zealand gelding, and it can be said that the picture produced did him full justice. In regard to Commendation's engagement in the Caulfield Cup it is stated that he has again been solidly supported and that ® novr at a . rate of odds for that race on one hand.