RACING.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19744, 17 September 1927, Page 15

RACING.

SEASON'S FIXTURES. September 17—Otago Hunt. September 24, 26—Avondale Jockey Club (at Ellerslie). September 24—Ashburton Racing Club. September 29, 30—Geraldine Racine Club. October I—Hawke's Bay Jockey Club. October S—Manawatu Hunt. October 7, B—Otaki Maori Racine Club. October 8, 10—Auckland Racing Club. October 8. 10—Oamaru Jockey Club. October 13, 15 —Dunedin Jockey Club. October 15—Carterton Racing Club. October 19, 20—Cromwell Racing Club. October 21, 22—Waikato Racing Club. October 22, 24 —Wellington Racing Club. October 24—Waikato Hunt. October 21—Waverley Racing Club. October 24—Waipawa Racing Club. October 24, 26—Gore Racing Club. October 27, 29—Poverty Bay Tur! Club. October 29 —Maßterton Racing Club. October 29. 31 —Thames Jockey Club (at

Ellerslie). November 5. 7, 9, 12—Canterbury Jockey

Club. November 10, 12—Whangarei Racing Club. November 26, 28—Takapuna Jockey Club.

ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS. T.T., Papakura.—l. The New Zealand rule bearing on the question reads ns follows:—"Two-year-olds shall not run prior to December 1 over a distance exceeding five furlongs, nor prior to March 1 in any race exceeding six furlongs, nor at ony time in any handicap in which horses of any age other than two-year-olds or three-year-olds are engaged." 2. In Australia, in the autumn season, several races for two-year-olds are run over a mile course. NOTES BY PHAETON. SPRING MEETING AT ELLERSLIE. The present season at Ellerslie will be rendered noteworthy by reason of the six days' racing fixed to be held there during the spring. The Avondale Jockey Club will hold its meeting on September 24 and 26; the Auckland Racing Club's gathering follows on October 8 and 10; and the Thames Joekcy Club will bring off its meeting on October 29 and 31. Racegoers •will, therefore, be provided with a good bunch of problems on which to engage their thoughts during the next few weeks. HIGH-PRICED MARES. Many instances can be cited that it requires a big bid in England to secure a brood mare of high lineage who is marked off as a stud success. The sale of Comedienne, dam of the Derby winner Call Boy, for ll,ooogns furnishes a further illustration of big figures being connected with the sale of a brood matron. Comedienne was foaled in 1913, so that she is now 14 years old, and is thus fairly >ell advanced in age. It is, of course, quite possible for Comedienne to produce anther colt up to the standard of Call Boy. but that would be regarded as a lucky experience. The following is a list of the highest prices that have been paid for mares iu England:— _ Gns. Straitlace, by Son-in-Law—Stolen Kiss, by Best Man .. .. 17,000 Salamander, by St. Frusquin— Electra, by The Tetrsrch .. 16,000 La Fleche, by St. Simon—Quiver, by Toxopholite 12,600 Soubriquet, by Lemberg—Silver Fowl, by Wildfowler .. .. 12,500 Fifinella, by Polymelus—Silver Fowl, by Wildfowler 12,000 La Fleche proved a good speculation to the late Sir Tatton Sykes, owner of the Sledmere Stud, for several of her produce were sold at high prices. In the cases of Straitlace, Soubriquet, and Fifinella they are comparatively young mares and there is plenty of time for each to prove good speculations. LAUGHING PRINCE. The Doncaster strain through its most famous channel (Bend Or) is the feature in the pedigree of Laughing Prince, who won the New Zealand Eclipse Stakes at Wanganui last Saturday, and this ranges up on the top lines. His sire, Quantock, is a grandson of Orme, who is by Ormonde (son of Bend Or), while his dam, Martian Princess, is by Martian (son of Martagon and grandson of Bend Or), In further running through the pedigree a double strain of Musket comes to Laughing Prince —one through Sfepniak (son of Nordenfeldt) and the other through Happy Land, who is a daughter of Musket. On pedigree lines a great deal can be expected from Laughing Prince. The Australian-bred colt figures in the followine important events set down for decision this season: —Avondale Guineas, Great Northern Guineas, New Zealand Derby, Great Northern Derby, Great Northern St. Leger, and North Island Challenge Stakes,

MISCELLANEOUS NOTES. The Takar>u.na Jockey Club has allotted £12,650 in prize-money for the two meetings to be held at the North Shore this season, viz., spring meeting, £6150; summer meeting, £6500. Beacon Light is included among the nonacceptors for the Avondale Cup; but as the Boniform gelcling figures among the nominations for the Mitchelson Cup and King Edward Handicap, to be run at the Auckland Racing Club's Spring Meeting, he may be racing at Ellerslie next month. The Hill Stakes, to be run at the Rosehill meeting to-day, baa the following horses engaged:—Pantheon (imp.), 7vrs; Coin Nut, 6yrs; Valamita, 6yrs; Fuji San, 6yrs; Amounis, syrs; Gothic (imp.), Syrs; Piuthair. syrs; Limerick, 4yrs; Commendation, 4yrs; Merry Mint, 3yrs.. The distance of the Hill Stakes is a mile and the conditions weight-for-agc, with penalty and allowances. Footfall's performances at five years old last season served to raise him to a good place among the horses carrying eilk, and those who can be accounted to be advantageously placed to sum up the son of Autumnua expressed the view that he might be expected to carry bis record evtn higher at six years old. Reports of the training work performed at Riccarton during the week credit Footfall with acquitting himself in a very satisfactory style, and everything points to his being ready for the fray at Riccarton in November. Footfall figures in the New Zealand Cup with 5.9.

The statement cabled from Sydney on Wednesday that Merry Mint and Royal Lineage were both under a cloud seemed to point to their having developed ailments that would seriously affect their preparation (or spring engagements. Later reports to hand, however, state that the condition of both horses has greatly improved. From that it would seem fair to deduce that t! eir respective ailments have proved of a trild order, and, further, that they may be tspeered to be again in training at an early «ctc Merry Mint's r, inning performance ia the liobartriile Stakes E.r,d his second to Umericfc in the _ Chelmsford Stakes serves to make him New Zealand's mam siope in. connection with the A.J.C. Derby, and 11 goes without sayins that a very keen interest will be manifested in the character of his training work to fit him for the classic race set down for decision at Bandwiek on October 1.

In a reference to Limerick's victory in the Warwick Stakes the Sydney Sportsxnaa remarked:—"As trainer of Limerick, Fred. Jones walked r;g'at into the •pctlifftt at Warwick Farm on September 3. Having no cracked heel to deal with this time, Fred, was able to give his horse the ground work of a toed preparation before he left New Zealand and had only to put the finishing touches on hisa here. He wae the fittest _ horse that went to the post for the Warwick Stakes. Knowing what they did. it is surprising that the stable c.d not back Limerick of the earth at o to 2. for _ they will never have such a .-lian.ee again. But the horse's owner does not bet at all. aad Fred, is not exactly a game bettor. He Might bet an even twenty about the sue rising to-morrow, but he would wast a of ocda about it riling th» day after."