RACING.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19736, 8 September 1927, Page 16

RACING.

SEASON'S FIXTURES. September 8, 10—Wanganui Jockey Club September 9—Egmont-Wanganui Hunt. September 14—Dannevirke Racing Club. September 15—Dannevirke Hunt. September 17—Otago Hunt. September 24—Ashburton Racing Club. September .24, 26—Avondale Jockey Club (at Ellerslie). September 29, 30—Oeraldine Racing Club October I—Hawke'a Bay Jockey Club. October s—Manawatu5 —Manawatu Hunt. October 7, B—Otaki Maori Racing Club October 8, 10—Auckland Racing Club. October 8, 10—Oarnaru Jockey Club October 13, 15—Dunedin Jockey Club. October 15—Carterton Racing Club. October 19. '2o—Cromwell Racing Club October 21, 22—Waikato Racing Club. October 22, 24—Wellington Racing Club. October 24—Waikato Hunt. ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS. T.S.—l. At six years old Merry Roe (8.7) won the Takapuna Cup of 1917. 2. In contesting the Pakuranga Hunt Cup at Ellerslie on August 15. 1925, Kawini Btruck a fence and his rider (R. Nixon) was unseated. Kawini, however, did not fall. " Wager."—The records published all' agree on the point at issue. Rapier's time for the Wellington Cup is recorded as 2m 321b. Tho fastest time recorded for the race in question is 2m 31s, which was put up respectively by Maioha (8.7), Insurrection (7.0), and Enthusiasm (8.5). . NOTES BY PHAETON. THE A.J.C. DERBY. The withdrawal of Agrion and Royal Feast being an unlikely contestant serves to create a very different situation in connection with the Australian Jockey Club's Derby to that which existed a fortnight back. " 'Tis an ill-wind that blows nobody any good" is an old-time saying, of which frequent illustrations are furnished in tracing affairs, and it can be appropriately cited in regard to the impending Derby rontest at Randwick. The absence of Agrion and Royal Feast may be expected to have the effect of encouraging a number of owners with horses of ordinary standard to give them an opportunity of earning classic honours, and that, of course, makes for an extensive field Now that Agrion is out of the race. Merry Mint stands out as the most likely one to earn distinction for Maoriland, and the - character of his recent form serves to engender a strong hope that he will prove equal to taking a hand in the settlement of the question. Arikiwai (by Paladin—Waterspray), who claims half-brothership to stout-hearted Pilliewinkie, i 3 stated to have trained on satisfactorily since his transportation to Randwick. but whether he is up to the Derby standard is at present a matter for conjecture. Arikiwai is, however, credited with being a horse of good physique, and he may be in the Derby field to battle for New Zealand when the race comes to be decided on the last Saturday in the present month. THE WANGANUI GUINEAS. The Wanganui Jockey Club is in the position of furnishing the first classic event of the season, but this is not always advantageous, and with only a quartette left in for this year's Wanganui Guineas that must be regarded as very disappointing. The fact that the quartette engaged is held to be an even lot saves the situation, and the club may after all secure a good race for the £SOO stake. The following are the acceptances:—Great Charter, In the Shade. Damaris, and Otairi. RICH TWO-YEAR-OLD RACE. The richest two-year-old race in England is the National Breeders' Produce Stakes. This year its total value was £6007, of which £5107 went to the owner of the winner and £3OO to its breeder, while second place carried £4OO and third £2OO. It was won by Flamingo, a Flamboyant—Lady Peregrine colt, owned by Sir L. Phillips. As a yearling Flamingo cost ISOOgns., and as he won two races prior to the one mentioned, he has proved a first-class investment. Flamboyant is a descendant of the American-bred sire Tracery Flamingo is engaged in the three great classic races, T»vo Thousand Guineas, Derby and St. Leger. MISCELLANEOUS NOTES.. Four of Catmint's progeny figure in the New Zealand Cup, viz., Black Mint (syrs), Bennanee (syrs), Phaola (lyrs), and Royal Mint (4yrs), all of whom are at the minimum weight for the two-mile race. Limerick and Commendation, who are expected to have their next meeting in the Chelmsford Stakes, to be run at Randwick next Saturday, will each carry a 7lb penalty, but against that they will have the 3lb allowance for geldings. The distance of the Chelmsford Stakes is a mile and a furlong.

Sydney papers to hand by yesterday's mail show that Royal Charter, who led the field home in the Memsie Stakes at Caulfield last Saturday, disposed of a select field on the Saturday previous in the Underwood Stakes, run at the Williamstown meeting. In placing a brace of weight-for-age events to his credit at the opening of his six-year-old career, Royal Charter has placed himself among the prospective Cup winners.

Comus, a half-brother (by Black- Jester) to the English Derby winner Papyrus, was sent out favourite for - the Underwood Stakes, run at the Williamstown meeting on the 3rd inst., but hia large circle of admirers had the unhappy experience of seeing the imported horse finish unplaced. Comus broke down during the race and it will be as a sire that he will have to win any further distinction.

The Australian-bred colt Laughing Prince, who wound up his twp-year-old career with an attractive performance at Trentham last March when he carried 9.7 to victory in the Pacific Handicap, beating a field of thirteen, is expected to make a reappearance under silk in the Flying Handicap at Wanganui to-day. The son of Quantock has the handy impost of 7.11 in the race in question, the distance of which is six furlongs.

In France the racing authorities will not stand anything the least Buggestive of dope. At a meeting of the committee of the Societo d' Encouragement last month, following a meeting of the Societe des Steeples, the two societies definitely came to the decision to prohibit the administration of quinine to horses on the day when they were to compete. As traces of this medicine were found in the saliva of recent wrnnprs, it was listed among prohibited dopes. v WAIKATO HUNT. ANNUAL RACE MEETING. The Waikato Hunt will hold its annual race meeting on the Cambridge Trotting Club'» course on Monday, October 24 (Labour Day). The programme * issued in connection therewith shows prize-pioney to the amount of £2660. Four of the eight events are confined to the hunter division, which is as it should be with a body engaged in tosteiing hunting. The Waikato Hunt Cup Steeplechase, which stands out as the leading event of the programme, carries a money prize of £6OO and a gold cup of the value of £IOO forms the trophy. The Hunters' Hurdle Race carries the good stake of £;SSO. The leading flat race is the Members' Memorial Handicap, to which is attached prize-money to the amount of £450, and the Instow Handicap (6i furlongs) is worth £360. From the programme, which will be found published in full in another column, it will be seen that nominations for all events close on Monday, October 3, at 5 p.m., with the secretary, Mr. Walter Stopford, Cambridge.