IRATE INVESTORS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20766, 8 January 1931, Page 7

IRATE INVESTORS.

INCIDENT IN VICTORIA.

COMPLAINT AGAINST JOCKEY.

ALLEGATIONS OF WRONG TIP.

[from our own correspondent.]

MELBOURNE, Dec. 30

Some excitement was caused at the Mentone meeting on Saturday, December 20, when two brothers named Bloomstein became much upset in the paddock as the second favourite, Appellant, came home an easy winner in the Brush Steeplechase. The brothers soon had an inquisitive crowd round them, and, gesticulating wildly, they were heard to allege that they had been " dumped."

The race was the fourth on the programme and they eagerly sought the winning rider, E. Webster, and the trainer of Appellant, F. McCabe, formerly well known, as a cross-country jockey in New Zealand. They were apparently unable to get in touch with either Webster or McCabe, who are supposed to have left the course earlier than usual.

The Bloomsteina waited, however, until after the last race and took their complaint to tho- stipendiary stewards. To these officials they made a statement to the effect that they had been deliberately put off Appellant by Webster, who advised them to back the favourite, Nauru, at the same timo handing them £2O to invest on Nauru. They had at the Epsom meeting previously put £SOO on Appellant, when ridden by another jockey, K. Scott, the gelding • on that occasion having finished third.

The Bloomstcins said, they had been backing hones heavily for about I'2 months and so far had made a success of the business. They paid woll for their information, but they did not relish being " dumped." They told the stewards they had been christened by some of the racing talent as the " clowns in clover." When informed by Webster that Appellant could not beat Nauru, they inferred that Appellant would be a non-trier, and they invested £2OO on Nauru. In their own words, they " objected to being made fools of."

It js understood that Webster stoutly denies having given the Bloomsteins £2O to invest on Nauru for him. As ,it is an offence under the Rules of Racing for a jockey to bet, or for any person to bet with or for a jockey, the stewards have passed the complaint on to the Victoria Racing Club Committee,

The case is causing a good deal of talk in racing circles and additional interest is centred in it because of the fact that Webster, while riding Silver Billy (by Nigjit Raid) in the Welter Handicap fit a country meeting at Colac on Boxing Day, was disqualified for 12 months in connection with his handling of the horse. In the race in which Webster struck trouble Jiis mount finished within half a neck of Egyptian- News, a son of Egypt, the brother of Desert Gold.

SYDNEY TURF ITEMS.

G. PRICE'S BAD LUCK.

SISTER TO GESTURE WINS. j [from our own correspondent.} SYDNEY, Jan. 2. G. Price lost a very promising performer in Funnel at Randwick last Saturday, held on lease by himself. Funnel suddenly faltered when in a good position near the half-mile, and M. McCarten pulled him up. He had dislocated a fetlock and was destroyed. This is the fourth horse lost by Price practically in the same way at the same spot at Randwick, two of the others being Boarnerges and Ballymena. Price at that stage had charge of Ballymena. owing to the disqualification of F. D. Jonss in the Royal Despatch case. Price had only two wins at the meeting with Clarence and Killarney. Gesto was well backed twice, and last Saturday all but won, going under in the last stride to Spearman, who has been a most consistent performer at recent meetings. Sir Samuel Hordern's imported horse Compodonico will be causing the bookmakers as much trouble as the tax shortly. He ran two good races at Randwick for a second and a fifth. The layers simply call him Compo. He is a stylish customer, but gives the impression that he is not too genuine.. .At the sarnie time, the son •of Brigand will win races.

Kahokura, who is being raced in Sydney by H. Doyle for Mr. W. Scholium, of Auckland, may earn some small stakemoney before returning home. Greenstead horses comprise some of the smartest horses in training here. Bim Boy, a rather surprising winner at Randwick yesterday, is a fine three-year-old by Greenstead. Bim Boy may not follow far behind Greenline as a top-notch performer.

Coolmint is a patchy customer over here. He ran one of his best races to finish third yesterday in a Flying Welter with 8.4 to Bim Boy, 9.0, and Sydney George, 9.3. Star God can be described as one of Star Stranger's poor relations. He resembles his brother neither in racing ability nor in appearance. Miss Nottava, the chestnut sister to Gesture, opened her winning account at forlorn odds in ,a 6J-furlongs Nursery Handicap «it Randwick yesterday. She is only a pony, but a very smart galloper. On the track she runs off 'he course at the turn and repeats her antics in races. Yesterday she went right to the outside fence, but her apprentice rider drove her along the straight and she got up to win by three-quarters of a length. She has all the family , pace, and if kept on the track by stronger riders in future she will win plenty of races.

Wangoola has been beaten into second place in his last three starts, twice by Pavilion and once by Valparaiso. Wangoola is one of the most improved gallopers at Randwick. and when beaten by Valparaiso carried 9.9 over nine furlongs run in 1,511.

Homo Made does not appear to be able to muster up any pace in the early part of hurdle races nowadays, but is running on at the finish. He has just changed hands again.

High Disdain ran a very creditable race to finish third in the Carrington Stakes with 9.'4. He is being weighted just beyond his ability.

Gay Ballerina carried 9.3 in the Carringlon Stakes, but was beaten at the end of 5} furlongs under her weight.

NATIVE PRINCE IMPROVING.

TO RACE AT WELLINGTON.

Native Prince, who, sinco returning from Addington, has been under the charge of C. Fuirmun at Epsom, will be taken to Wellington next week to take part in the Gold Cup contest at Hutt Park. After the meeting he will go on to Christchureh to join D. Bennett's stable again. Nativo Prince, who was very light j'n condition after his trip north, is building up again in good stylo and will strip a much better horse at Wellington. Yesterday, in company with Harold Logan, who is at present boing truined at Epsoin by R. J, Humphreys, Native Prince gave an improved display over two miles, and liis work suggested that ho will not bo long in regaining his best form.

TROTTING FIXTURES. January 10.— Tiinaru Trotting Club. Jannary 17,—Wellington Trotting Club Gold Cup January 29.—Northland Trotting Club Annual. '