NOTES BY PHAETON.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 20111, 23 November 1928, Page 17

NOTES BY PHAETON.

ENGLISH-BRED JOY BIRD. The English.bred maro Joy Bird made a successful reappearance on the sceno at tho Otaki meeting last Wednesday, when sho led tho field homo in tho Kereihiroera Handicap. Joy Bird, it may be remarked, was ranged up with the hard-worked division last season, for tho records show that sho was called upon to carry silk on 32 occasions. When a yearling Joy Bird was purchased in England by tho Wellington sportsman Mr. VV. Higgins for 575gns. Up to tho present Joy Bird , lias won prize-money to the amount of £2515, but even should blio not succeed in making a further addition—an unlikely circumstance apparently—sho will be valuable property as n, brood marc, for she was got by Argosy (n son of Bachelor's Dquble and grandson of Tredennis) from Fragrant (a do lighter of Speurmint and grand-daughter of Carbine). UNBEATEN TWO-YEAR-OLD. Parkwood, who stands out as the leading two-year-old in Australia this season, is given much credit for his victories, and. by nil accounts, 110 is iv credit to his siro, tho English-bred Backwood. In referring to the son of Backwood llio Melbourne Leader remarked:—"Parkwood lias • won three races, two of them with a 10lb. penalty, and lie is likely to maintain his superiority to tho end of tho season, just as Mollison did last season. He, however, gives promise of staying beltei than Mollison, as 110 seems a much moro solid youngster and shapes liko a Derby possibility." TE KUITI MEETING. The To Kuiti Racing Club holds its annual race meeting on Saturday and Monday next and matters shape promisingly for a successful gathering. The leading event of the first day's programme is tho To Kuiti Cup (li miles), in which the following horses arc engaged:— st. lb et. lb. High Pitch 9 0 King Smock 7 10 Pupalu ... 810 Tinokoa ... 7 G Siaosi .... 85 Gold Rain ~71 Schorr .... 80 Bright Day . 7 0 Transformer 7 12 Tho Lover . 7 0 STORIES OF STEVE DONOGHUE. Steve Donoghue, in his own statement, gives tho credit for his money difficulties to his readiness to help friends. Ho came to their help when and as ho could, and has received little or no consideration for his goodness. By 011 extraordinary coincidence Tom Keece's book, " Cannons and Big Guns." just published, contains strong- confirmation of this. Speaking of tho jockey, who is one of his oldest friends, the great billiard player says:—" Very few people, apart from his intimate friends, realise his exceedingly generous character or have any idea of tho number of lamo dogs he has helped over stiles. I don't think Stephen ever turned a needy friend down in his life, and many a man could retlro on half the money ho has given away privately without a soul knowing anything about it except the recipient. Another of Donogliue's characteristics, which always impresses me, is his extraordinary senso of time. For some reason or other he hardly ever looks at a watch or clock—ho just feels the time by some sort of sixth sense . . . When he was duo to ride at Ostend on ono occasion I saw him change into riding kit on the Channel steamer, knowing that when she docked it would be as much as ho could do to weigh out in time by dashing straight to tho 1 course in a car. A rush like that never upsets him in the least. He may be in an aeroplane half an hour beforo the race, but when they are ' off' you can trust Stephen to ride wifh tho same dash and judgment as ever."

MISCELLANEOUS NOTES. Celerity 11. was struck out of all engagements at tho Auckland Racing Club's Summer Meeting at 9 a.m. yesterday.

Beacon Light is stated to be in work at Hastings, but, according to advices to hand, it is at present quite problematical as lo whether ho will fulfil engagements at the Auckland Racing Club's Summer Meeting.

Tho three-year-old gelding Red Heckle, who has two wins and a second for his performances this season, is viewed in a promising light. Red Heckle is by War plane (son of Martian), from tho Glenapp mare Glenluce, and ho should bo ablo to stay.

Evidently no one wanted a thoroughbred stud farm when they let 700 odd acres of the Flaxtnere Estate go begging (remarks " Hermit"). Flaxmere has been the birthplace of many noted thoroughbreds, both when it was in tho possession of the late Sir William R. Russell and since it passed into W. G. Stead's hands.

The English-bred mare Mirabelle and her filly foal by Boslombe, bought in England by tho British Bloodstock Company on account of Mr. G.. M. Currie, of Wanganui, and which were brought io Auckland this week by the steamer Port Wellington, made the long sea voyage very satisfactorily. The mare and her foal aro to be taken on to Wellington by Hie I'ort Wellinglon, from which placo they will bo entrained to Wan ganui.

In tho decision of the Stewards' Handicap at the West Australian Meeting on the 10th itist. three New Zealand-bred geldings filled the places. Tiono (by Solferino— Rosalia), was,first, Kilreid (by Kilbroney— Amber and White) second, and Indian Sago (by Catmint—Chakwftna) third. Tiono is a full-brother lo Roseday, who won the A.R.C. Handicap at Ellerslio in 1924.

Tho three-year-old Moorgas, who changed hands on two occasions . at good prices within a short period, has so far nothing of much account to his credit, but ho is evidently viewed in a promising light or ,T. McCombo would not have been tho purchaser. Moorgas. who was got by Gasbag from Moorlield. is engaged in tho forthcoming Great Northern Derby, but it remains to bo seen whether his new owner has any designs on the big classic event to be decided at Ellerslio oil New Year's Day.

The spring racing at Flemington served lo show that Australia is badly of! for stayers just now (remarks the Melbourne Leader). Statesman won the Melbourne Cup because he can stay and was well handicapped. When it camo to tackling Gothic over a mile and a-half at weight-for-ago it was mado very clear there is a vast difference between handicap and weight-for-ago form. Vaals was left in to make a pace for him and the race was run to suit him, yet he could not niako the semblance of a fight of it with Gothic, and Winalot also beat him a long way. Statesman is just a slow stayer."

According to advices to hand, Te Mahanga Estate, which went to auction at Hastings (llawko's Bay) last Saturday, was practically all sold, though tho homestead, with the range of stabling, did not find a buyer. Commenting on the sale, "Hermit" remarks:—"Among the purchasers was Mr. Jack Cameron, whoso association with Te Mahanga must have for him many pleasant memories. • It was with To Mahanga-bred horses that Mr. Cameron first came into tho limelight as n trainer, and sinco that timo it may bo said lie has never been quite separated from To Mahanga stock."

The stallion Campfire. who was tho Inst direct descendant of Carbine in New Zealand. was recently numbered among the defunct. Campfire, who was foaled .in 1903 and whs thus in his twenty-filth year, was imported to New Zealand in 190i> by Mr. E. J. Watt, whose colours lie carried in several races, but without success. Though u failure as a racehorse himself. Campfire was a proved success as a sire, and two of his progeny -Depredation and Muraahieach proved themselves stayers. Depredation 'won tho Auckland Cup of 1916, and in 1923 Muraahi dead heated with To Kara in the Ellerslio race. Muraahi subsequently won the AVanganni Clip. Depredation, who was kept entire, ia at the stud in tho Taranaki district.