SEASON'S FIXTURES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20235, 20 April 1929, Page 17

SEASON'S FIXTURES.

New Zealand, April 20—Wliangarei Racing Club. April 20—Hawko'fl Bay Jockey Club, April 20, 22—Southland Racing Club. April 26, 27—Nelson Racing Club. April 27—Amberley Racing Club. April 27, 29—Waikato Racing Club. April .'!()—Tuapuka County Racing Club. May I—Marfor. Jockey Club. May !), ] I —Egmont Racing Club. May 11—Franklin Racing Club. May 16, ]B—Wanganui Jockey Club. Juno 1, 3, s—Auckland Racing Club. Juno 1, 3, s—Dunodin Jockey Club. ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS. " Wager," Rtimucra.—Croesus (by Royal Fusilier—A urarius) defeated Desert, Gold (by All Black—Aurarius) in tho Kelburn Flafo run at tho Wellington Summer Meeting of .1918. Tho race in question was run over four furlongs at weight-for-ago. " Old-Timor."—The incident in question was connected with tho Auckland Steeplechase, run at Ellorslio on January 2, 1885. Clarence camo in first, with King and Julia Ann in second and third places respectively. An objection was lodged by tho owner of Sunrny on tho grounds that Clarence had gono tho wrong courso. At tho stewards' inquiry which followed tho clerk of tho courso acknowledged that ho had cleared tho wrong course, which mistake, ho explained, was brought about by a crowd of spectators assembled at the point near tho " double." Tho stewards declared tho event no raco and it was run again on tho following day. Clarence did not start in the second race, in which Linwood," ridden by T. Shocnan, won by a short neck from Sunray.

NOTES BY PHAETON. STREPHON AND ENGLAND. In tlio event, of the Melbourne sportsman Mr. Sol Green carrying out his present intention of sending his colt Strephon to England, it goes without saying that fervent hopes will be expressed far and wide in these southern lands that ho will have tho satisfaction of seeing the chestnut son of' Saltash win high honours. However, though soma Australian and New Zealandbred horses lyivc scored successes on tho English turf, tho fact has always to bo recognised that tho chargo of climate in many cases hag had a far-reaching effect on tho equine family. However, Australian-bred Merman is one noteworthy performer that stood the test, and his name is enrolled with winners of the Ascot Gold Cup; and turning to handicap events Newhaven, Tho Grafter and Australian Star, who hailed from Australia, respectively won tho City and Suburban Handicap, and Moifaa, winner of tho Liverpool Grand National Steeplechase, was bred in New Zealand. It has, however, to bo noted that the horses named above that won honours on the English turf were of mature age when they wcro transported from the southern to the northern hemisphere. If, as is stated to bo likely, Strephon will probably be shipped to England at an early date, the chestnut colt will mako the voyage before ho has reached his fourth year.

THE GREAT NORTHERNS. As the years come and go, and the dato draws near for tho closing of entries for tho Great Northerns, the question is often heard, " Where are tho jumpers to como from?" Matters, however, invariably adjust themselves very satisfactorily in regard to the two big events that como up for decision annually in the winter at EUerslic, and onco again the A.R.C. Secretary, Mr. W. S. Spence, had the pleasing task yesterday of lancing up an attractivo list of nominations. Fortyfive horses have been nominated for the Great Northern Hurdle Race, and 39 figure in the Great Northern. Steeplechase. Twenty-four horses are engaged in both races, and a trio that can bo specially cited for reference is Beau Cavalier (who won tho Great Northern Steeplechase in 1927 and tho Great Northern Hurdle Race in 1928), Wedding March, winner of the Great Northern Hurdle Race in 1927, and Glendowie, winner of tho Great Northern Steeplechase in 1928. Then there is Wiltshire, winner of the Now Zealand Grand National Steeplechase of 1928, and Nukumai. winner of the New Zealand Grand National Hurdle Raco of tho same year. Altogether, there is good reason to view the entry list for the leading events at the Winter Meeting as a highly satisfactory document. The weights for the Great Northerns are duo to appear on or about Friday, May 3.

MISCELLANEOUS NOTES. Beau Cavalier figures among the entrants for the two leading jumping events to be decided at the Marlon Jockey Club's meeting on May 4. • When the tax gatherers take tho field they are pretty hard to stop, remarks an Adelaide critic., who penned the following: —" Prior to the races at Onkaparinga, the secretary of tho club was handed no fewer than 17 letters addressed lo visiting jockeys and trainers, bearing a prominent notice, indicating that tho epistles were from tho Taxation Department. Each of tho visitors was (old,, in official language, that in the event of their winning tho Great Eastern Steeplechase (hey would ho called on to pay to the South Australian Government tho pro rata in the way of taxation on percentage of tho stake; also, on what they received in the way of a present from the owner of (he horse.''

Rapier has nothing before him in a racing senso for somo months yet, but all the samo it is satisfactory (o learn that the ailment which necessitated his being eased tip on (ho eve of tho Great Autumn Handicap has quickly yielded to treatment; and further that there is every prospect of tho son of Grey spear, a sain figuring as an entrant for tho Now Zealand Cup. In summing-up tho captures of stake money made by Rapier during (lie five seasons in which ho has been raced I found tho same to amount to X 9540. Extending my researches T ascertained that Anilea, tho dam of Rapier, was bought in the lyitumn of 1920 by Mr. G. G. Holmes for the small sum of 32gns. Milled with Gre.vspear that year Anilea produced (he colt that has his name enrolled as a winner of (ho Wellington Cup. New Zenland Cup and Auckland Cup.

Tl.o Now Zealand-bred golding Naoa, who went through last season without gaining a placo in tlio lon races contested in Australia, and whoso form this season has again been poor, is to bo given an opportunity of distinguishing himself as a hurdler. Navis won a few races on tho flat, but ho was eomowhat unlucky in his racing. In tho decision of tho Sydney Clip of 1926 ho finished third to Murray King and Casorla, and in tho following season ho boat nil his field in tho Melbourne Cup with tho exception of S'poarfolt, and it was tho same doughty performer that kept him out of a. win in tho decision of (ho Australian Cup. Naos is credited with carrying tho Martian solidity in physique, and it will bo interesting to note if tho luck will bo with him when ho sets out to win honours over the battens.

The initial batch of yearlings sired by tho English-bred home Moabito figured in tho sale-ring at tho iccent, auction in New South Wales, and they created a favourable impression. Two colts sired by Moabito were sold respectively lor ISOOgns. and 1400gna., and altogether tiio average for his progeny wys very satisfactory. When Moabito was bought in England in 1921 by an Australian syndicato tho sum involved was 6000gns. Tho purchase of Moabite, thero is reason to beliovc, was prompted by the hopo that ho would race well in Australia, Tho hopes on that heading were, however, doomed to bo early dispelled, for Moabite developed a leg trouble, and ho was eventually sold to Messrs. A. W. and H. Thompson to bo used aa a. sire. The sum paid by tho latter for Moabite was not made public, but from what was stated the syndicate made a very satisfactory sale.