SEASON'S FIXTURES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20333, 14 August 1929, Page 9

SEASON'S FIXTURES.

August 15, 17—Canterbury .Toclcey Club. August 21— Pakurangu Hunt. August 21—Ilawke'e Buy Hunt. August 28—Dunnovirko Racing Club, August 29—Daimovirke Hunt. August 31—Taranaki Hunt, September 4, s—Marton Jockey Club. September 7—Otago Hunt. .September 12 M—Wnngunui Jockey Club. September 21—Ashburtou County Racing

Club. September 21—Napier Park Racing Club. September 21 23—Avondnlo Jockey Club. September 20, 27 Gcraldino Racing Club. September 28--Ilawke'B Bay Jockey Club. October 2—Manawatu Hunt. October s—lvurow Jockey Club. October 5, 7—Auckland Racing Club. October 10, 12—Dunedin Jockey Club. October 28—Waikato Hunt. November 9, 11, 13. IG—Canterbury Jockey Club.

NOTES BY PHAETON

GRAND NATIONAL STEEPLES WINNER Another New Zealand Grand National Steeplechase has sono into the records, and for the fourth successive year an Aucklandbred and owned horse has come out at tho head of Ihe field. Wiltshire, who was returned the winner yesterday, repeated his victory of tho preceding year. Having mastered the big fences at Riccarton nt the first time of asking Wiltshire was always included amonpr tho favourites for this year's race, and he now takes rank with Mutiny, Coalilion nnd Oakleigli as a. dual winner of New Zealand Grand National Steeplechase honours at liiccar-

ton. Up to date Wiltshire has contested 57 races and his record reads as follows: UnFirst. Second Third, placed. At 2vi«. ... 0 0 0 5 At 3.vrs. 0 2 0 8 At tyrs. .. 0 0 3 12 At oyr.-i. . . 4 22 8 At Oyrs. . . 2 1 1 0 At "yrs. J 0 0 0

The victory leistered by Wiltshire in the Grand National Steeplechase marked the third occasion on which Mr.~T. Wilson lias furnished the winner of the hig crosscountry race at fficcitrlon. Waimai. v.* ho won the Grand National in 1010. wcored under Ujo colours of tlic popular Wuikoto spoilsman

AN UNBEATEN FILLY. A (illy with an unl'caten record graces the turf in England at the present time. This is Tiffin, a datightei of Tetratemu and Daivn-wind, who is owned by Lord lOllosmerc. At two years old last year Tiffin won the whole of her .engagements—five in number. and when the last mail to hand left London she was still unbeaten. At Newmarket on July 1 Tifiin was produced to contest the July Cup (0 furlongs), in which she was weighted at 'J.2. and had to measure stride:- against a first-class four-year-old in Royal Minstrel, who carried 10. U. In an account, oi the race it is related that a hundred yards fro i the post Royal Minstrel had a neck advantage, and it seemed us though the filly was to lose her unbeaten certificate, but ar. unexpected incident occurred then which gave her lur lust chance, and with great courage she made the most of this dramatic opportunity. Rovnl Minstrel changed his legs, as a tiring horse will do. and tiie momentary and almost imperceptible check which this involved cost him the race. Tiffin won by it short head amid great excitement, and there was a marked display of enthusiasm when the filly came back to the enclosure.

M ISC ELL AN EOUS NOTES. The fact of Kawini having failed to gain a place in the Grand National Steeplcchaso and tl'.at he finished well back in yesterday's race points to the veteran now being on the downgrade.

Thou:;h Jtlio. A.li.C. lmvo curtailed the ita'te money for tlie approaching season's racing nt Ellerslie, tho Auckland Cup in not affected, and I lie leading nice oi the summer programme remains at X3OOO.

Those who argued that Finn's Guard would find the journey of three miles and a-lialf attached to the Grand National Steeplechase beyond his liking must be accounted to have lind their opinion endorsed.

The withdrawal of Lord Ranald from the New Zealand Grand National Steeplechase on the day of the race would affect a lot of people who were out to find the winner ot the cross-country event. In another quarter the withdrawal of the favourite would not lead to any display of grief.

Democratic, wito won the Hunters' Hurdle Race at Riccarton yesterday, was bred ill Auckland by Mr. T. Stewart. 11l the Turf Register for last season Democratic, who is by Thurnham—Demoiselle, is described as a six-year-old, and he failed to gain a place in tho five races he contested.

The victory registered by Gala Day in the Trial Hurdles nt Riccarton yesterday was another win to be credited to Auckland. Mr. Give Matthews, who bought the Qtiin Abbey gelding from Mr. W. 11. Wnckrov\ well deserved the success that came to bis colours.

The second day ot tho Queensland meeting takes place to-day. The leading event of the programme is the Exhibition Handi cap (11 miles), in which Seatowu and Oratrix were engaged at latest advices. Seatowu also figures among tho entrants for the Denman Plate, which event is to bo run over a mile at weight-for-age.

The tliiee-year-old gelding Ceremony, who is booked tor a trip to Sydney, was unfortunately not nominated for any of the three-year-old events, and one particular raco that might have proved quite to his liking is the ilobartvillc Stakes, the distance of which is a mile. Despite tho fact of his non-entry for the flobartvillo Stakes, however. Ceremony may amply justify his transportation to Australia before tho spring meetings are through.

The New Zealand-bred gelding Eden Hall, who had raced unluckily since ho was bought by the Sydney sportsman Mr. T. C. Trautwcin. managed to interrupt the striim of defeats entered against his name when ho led the field home in tho Holiday Handicap (1 mile li furlongs) ot Canterbury Park (N.SAV.) on the 4th inst,. The son of Quin Abbey won his race in hollow style, but «a lie only carried 7.7 there was no great merit attached to his performance

DM ails of Iho contest for tho Denharo Court Ilandicai>. run at Canterbury Park (N.S.W.) on the 3rd inst., show that tho Auckland-owned gelding Aussie (9.Hi) was backed with such forco as to send him oat in the positioi. of favourite Matters looked brifiht for Aussie when he ran into the load, but the filial stage saw Killarncy (8.13) come along with a challenge with which Aussie failed to cope and a victory went down to Killnrney, who waa ridden by M. McCarten.

Historic, who carried top weight (10.4) to victory in this year's Winter Cup at Tficcarton, was a good performer last Benson. He ran 14 races, won four of bis engagements, waa five times second, onco third and waa only unplaced on four occasions. Historic is u five-year-old son of Nassau and Drayton, and it is interesting to note that he is a full brother to Affirm, who has won many races in Australia and who, like Historic, opened tho present season with a winning performance.

Affirm (by Nassau—Braylon), who first saw the light in this Dominion in 19'21, continues to play his part attractively, oven though he has entered on his ninth year At C'aulfield on the 3rd inet. he was set to contest the Malakoff Stakes, '.) furlongs, in which lie carried ">.O, anc' ; ri a hot finish ho beat the well-performed Highfield (!).l) by a head in 1.531. Affirm forrred one of tho lots in the catuloguo at tic dispersal sale of tho •Corteen-Tye horses in lOCS, when ho fell to the bid of Mr. G. Harris at OOOgus. Affirm is one of the division that, has made a handsome return for tho suju expended in bis purchase.