LACK OF GOOD STAYERS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20649, 22 August 1930, Page 9

LACK OF GOOD STAYERS.

BREEDING IN AUSTRALIA.

WHERE NEW ZEALAND LEADS. [FROM Otm OWN CORRESPONDENT.] MELBOURNE, August 14. Australia is sufTcrins from ' a dearth of Htayers. Racing men who take their sport seriously tiro and again exprcßsiijg regret for Ojo prcs<;?i£ stalo of affairs, which is generally regarded as being duo to the over-importation of English sires, who, in spite of their " blue" blood, are totally unfitted for tho purpose of breeding. There is little doubt in tho minds of sound students of the thoroiighbrod that unsuitable horses with tho magic word imported" after their names are being tfiveri preference over Australian sires who have been.tried and havo not been found'wanting. , ,

Such great gallopers as Heroic, Manfred, Windbag and "Whiltier aro Riven very moagro opportunities ai the stud, whereas the lists of many imported sires are reported to be full. There is a school of thought that takes the view that the mixing of English and '' colonial" blood is the only way to improve the breed of the thoroughbred, but these adherents to a fetish worn threadbare do not take into account the number of failures among tho sires imported to Australia and tho successes of Australian-bred sires whoso opportunities have been limiled. Mr. L.'K. S. Mackinnon, chairman'of the Victoria Racing Club, recently discussed the decline of stayerß in Australia, and in doing so he paid a glowing compliment to the New Zealand thoroughbred. " There is no doubt that New Zealand is a long way ahead of us in the thoroughbred business," ho said. " It may bo that they have the secret with regard to feed, but, whatever it is, they get tho stayers where we do not." Prior to tho last Melbourne Cup Mr, Mackinnon- remarked:—"lt is tho poorest cup field we havo had for a very long timo, and it is saved from sheer mediocrity onlir by the presence of Phar Lap and Nightmurch. The fact that three New Zealand-bred horses filled the places in the Melbourne Cup confirmed tho view of , Mr. Mackinnon, who is generally regarded as one of tho soundest students of horseflesh in> Australia. Mr. Mackinnon is hopeful that the decision of the Victoria Racing Club and the Australian Jockey Club to limit future Derbies to colts and fillies—thereby barring geldings, as is dono hy the English Jockey Club—will eventually result in improving the breed in Australia. It. is hoped that the English idea of preserving Dorby winners for breeding purposes will eventually find favour in . Australia and that in yeart to come races will be run exclusively for horses Who are the progeny of Australianbred sires.

WINNING JOCKEYS' . LIST.

A. E. ELLIS' EARLY LEAD

Last season's leading jockey, H. Gray, has so far failed to ride n winner this season, whereas A. E. Ellis has made a particularly good start and has alroady ridden six winners. Possibly Gray may break the ice at tho Hawke's Bay Hunt meeting at Hastings tomorrow, when ho will ride Don Quixote and possibly ono or two otherß. Ellis and H. Goldfinch will also lio riding at Hastings td-morrow. Tho list of winning jockeys for the current season is as follows Wins. A. E. Ellis .. 6 J. Walsh ' . . . 4 H. Dulieu. . . . 3 H. Anderton .2 (Jr. Dempster . .. 2 H. Goldfinch . . . . . . • . . 2 A. McDonald 2 E. Mackie 2 K. Robinson .2 F.Thompson'.. ... ..2

RICCARTON GOSSIP.

FORM ON THE TRACKS. [BY TELEGRAPH. —OWN CORRESPONDENT. ] CHRISTCHURCH, Thursday. ' There was not much fast work at Riccarton this morning. A few horses were Riven short sprints, some of them less than three furlongs, while othors did only half pace work on the sand. Most of the trainers aro resting the horses they raced lost week and they will come back to the track gradually to be got ready for the spring. Spoon, who won the Challenge Stakes last Easter, has been doing steady work .for some time, and she. had her first sprint this morning. She moved off slowly from the three furlong peg.' but showed a glimpse of her best speed when fairly on tho journey. She is. likely to. bo » Dunedin Guineas candidate and will bo pretty well by that time. Thurnm,. ridden by E. Shaw, jumped'two of the schooling hurdles smartly this morning. She may be raced at'tho Otago Hunt Meeting next'month. ■■ Quarterdeck is to be tried as a hurdler and she will have her .first race at Geraldine. She has done a'bit of schooling lately and shows a natural aptitude for jumping. W. Stone is devoting a lot of attention to Brown Paper, a two-year-old by Paper Money from the.imported mare Sally Brown, by Westward Ho. She is. small but a smart galloper, and if she trains on all right she may be a starter in the McLean Stakes at the Dunedin Meeting. Miss Mercitt, who is being trained by W. M. Donald, is getting into racing shape, and her recent sprinting .efforts promise woll for her spring prospects , Fresh Breeze is getting through plenty of useful work and he looks in good condition for early engagements. He may make a trip to'Wingatui next: month for the OLngo Hunt Meeting, whore tho Hunters' Flat Race should show him to advantage Painkiller and Tray Bond, a couple of three-year-olds in W Stone's team, are being kept going in useful work. They look as if they would pny their vmj in the spring. Tho threo-yoar old Tnrquinius by Nightraid- Week End, is due for his first race of the season at Ashbuiion. So far he has shown no form in public, but ho is a nice galloper, and W G Ilobbs has hiui strid ing along in good work. Cutis Brothers are not doing much fast work with thoir tpam at present. Several of thorn, including the horses which were racing last week, have had ft dose of physic. Owlsflight is off the scene as his recovery from u. cold is very slow. Praise is doing well in her work and she looks like boing d smart sprinter this season. Ozono ana tho threo-yonr-old in P V. Mason's team is coming on steadily He should do his share Of winning. Ho has a good way of galloping and he may stay Ranolagh'ts having a :rest after • his racing last week There was ft lot of . merit about his win on, Saturday and ho looks a good sort, for bigger things this season He will bo spelled for n week or two and then got ready for the November carnival at Riccarton.

[{. W. King is treating- Aberfeld.v to a spoil The foot that was injured some time ago is mending slowly, but it iB unlikely that ho Will be troubled with serious work on the tracks foi a few weoks. The'two-year-old brothor to Bat tie Colours and Satisfy hap joined D. Campbell's team. He was broken in last season and haH crown into a .good looking youngster. LoqhJ.aggan, the YVoodend-0 lontruin . two-year-old in C. Emerson's stable, has had a few short sprints lately and shapes well. Hiving the impression that alio will make a very smart galloper, A couple of three-year-olds in this stable, both by Hoscnor, lire also doing woll. Standard Rose, from The Kiss, is fairly forward and may have a ruco at Ashburton, but Royal Sceptie,. from Boimy Olive, will be reserved until later on.