SEASON'S FIXTURES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20306, 13 July 1929, Page 9

SEASON'S FIXTURES.

July 13—Wellington Racing Club. July '25, 27—Giaborno Uacina Club. August a—Clfristchurcb Hunt Club. August 13, 15, 17— Canterbury Jocltoy Club.

ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS. " Subscriber," To Araroa. —Tho forthcoining meetings of tho respectivo bodies named aro fixed to bo held us follows: Christchurch Hunt, August 3; Pakuranga Hunt. August 21.

" Wager."—Kiatcre won the Great Northern Steeplechaso and also the Wellington Steeplechase on two occasions. Kiatcre won tho first-na;ned event in 1905 and 1907 and tho Wellington Steeplechase in 1901 and 1905.

NOTES BY PIIAETON

RACING THE TWO-YEAR-OLD. If olio wero to say that tho question bearing on the racing of two-year-olds was of tho burning order, such would probably bo fairly widely characterised as nil extravagant statement. All tho same, however, ti: uiy who shape their views on wide lines could, 1 think, be (illicitly found contending that the subject should tnlto that form On many occasions tho undue cultivation of emly two-year-old racing has been referred to both in Australia and New Zealand. but matters remain pretty inußt us of old. In tho course of a recent leading article bearing on tho falling away ill tho number of stayers in the Commonwealth, tho Australasian contended that one of tho causes operating was the undue racing of two-year-olds prior to January 1 and to tho proportion of pri/.0-nioney allotted to nic.es for the iuvenilo division, instead of giving tho three-year-olds more to race for. rheio can be no doubt that many a horse that would probably have earned marked distinction has had his career seriously affected by early racing in juvenile days, but even wealthy owners consent to the applying of tho early test, thereby risking leg troubles and other ailments for the animal, which, under a different set of circumstances, might not havo appeared Tlioro is no disguising tho fact that varied opinions aro held oil the racing of two-yeur-olds There arc some men who are dead against the racing of the juveniles at any period; others who stoutly contend that tho "babies" should not bo pulled out before tho autumn; then thero is the big division of moderates who. seeking to strike tho happy medium, name November 1 as tho starting point at which Iho two-year-olds should be brought out for tho first time; and, lastly, those who would place no bar to the racing of a youngster in tho month of September. So long, however, as substantial sums are offered by clubs for two-year-old events and those who sit in high places remain silent in applying the curb, so long it would seem safe to conclude. will tho old order continue even In the face of deterioration being clearly established. THE WINTER HURDLE RACE. In referring to tho Wellington Steeplechase in a recent note mention was made of tho fact of Auckland owners furnishing the winner of the cross-country event on eight occasions The average of successes in connection with tho Winter Hurdle Raco by '• ■ --os hailing from this quarter is also to U,- "garded as pleasant reading for Aurk laiulers. In 1920 tho Hon. E. W. Alts,, • furnished the winner with Slowcoach; a: 1925 Mr. R. F. Werner scored with Lucullent; the following year saw Mr. John Paterson's gelding Zircon home in front; and last year Beau Cavalier carried Mr. A. G. Quartley's colours to victory. King's Guard, owned by Mr. 11. Cannon, is Auckland's main hope for to-day's race, and with the handy impost of 9.11 the Quill Abbey gelding may bo expected to take a hand in the settlement of the question. MISCELLANEOUS NOTES. According to advices received from Christchurch. Limerick and Paquito will bo shipped to Sydney by tho steamer leaving Wellington on July 26. Scion, who won tho New Zealand Cup and Auckland Cup in 1922, figures among tho entrants for a cross-country event to be decided at the Waimato Hunt meeting on tho 25th inst. Scion is rising 11 years old. Though Bright Glow has not been nominated for any of the leading handicap events set down for decision at tho forthcoming spring meetings in Australia, it is said to be quite probable that tho daughter of Day Comet will be taken across to Sydney in the event of her remaining sound.

Mr. T. TT. Lowry's team in training at Hastings comprises Gasdony (by King John —First Blow). Great Charter (by King John —En Parole), Clever (by PsychologyMiss Cute). iind a quartette of rising two-year-olds in the shape of Commandant (hy Legionnaire Been-in-Amber). Chrysology (by Psychology-Desert Gold), Courtesy (by Limond— Homage), and Rapallo (by Grandcourt— Parley)

It would scorn as though the New South Wales sportsman Itr. J. Brown will experience a disappointment with Magnifico, the vising three-year-old full-brother to Windbag, for whom he paid 4000gns when he bought him as a yearling. In order to givo Magnifico tirno to mature properly, tho colt was not raced at two years old, but on being put into work recently at Randwick ho is stated to have developed respiratory trouble.

Tho action of tho Racing Conferenco in removing the life disqualification imposed on Hector Gray will be generally approved. Gray has been punished for tho cffenco which he was alleged to have committed, and it is to bo hoped that the severe lesson ho has learned will have duo effect. As a jockey Gray won a position with the most noteworthy horsemen that have figured on the New Zealand turf, and, given the opportunity, ho may again bo seen to marked advantage.

Amorist, who won tho Vittoria Hurdles at. Trenthnm on Wednesday, is an Australianbred four-year-old gelding by Baverstock Amicitia. When a yearling he was bought in New South Wales for 120gns by Mr. J. McCombe. under whose colours he won a hack raco last season. Some months back Amorist was bought by tho Canterbury sportsman Mr. H. Dampicr-Crossley. and at the Dunedin Winter Meeting last month ho won a hurdle race in good style.

Moorgas, of whoso sale in Sydney mention was made in n recent cablegram, is the three-year-old son of Gasbag and Moorefield who was taken across to Australia several months hack in company with Crown Area by Mr. J. McCombo Moorgas has, no doifbt, been well tried out nt three years old and his form has been disappointing, for ho is of good physique. In a. few weeks Moorgns will ho ranged up with the four-year-old division, and it will bo interesting to noto whether a change of form in the improved direction will be credited to him.

Kentle. this year's winner ol the V.R.C. Grand National Hurdle Race, though only in his sixth year, has raced under the colours of no less than five owners. When sold as a yearling ho was bought by Mr. W H. Tudor for 200gns. 110 was subso qucntly owned at various stages of his career respectively by Messrs. W. Neal. G. Bell.'and S W Biggins, and the latter, who bought him for 550gns at auction in March, 1928, sold him a- few weeks back to Mr L. K S McKinnon for 700gns. It was under the last-named sportsman's colours that Kentlo won Grand National honours at Flemington last Saturday.

The Trentham Hurdle Unco winner Overhaul is 0110 of this season's additions to the ranks of the lumpers. At the Auckland Winter Meeting hold at Ellerslie hist month Overhaul won the I'unmuro Hurdle llaco, and but for an accident that befel him as the result of a blunder on the part of Sulla, which brought the Duncdin gelding down, ho would also probably have been hailed us the winner of . tlio Orakei I7urdle Race Overhaul can boast of a good pedigree, for his Bire, Tractor, is by The Tetrarch. while his dam, Take Down, is by Downshire, and, witli strains respectively of Musket, Yattendon and Traducer following, it can bo said that there is quito an array of winning strains in his pedigree. Overhaul is engaged in the Winter Hurdlo Race with tho handy burden of 0.3,