RICCARTON GOSSIP

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21899, 7 September 1934, Page 9

RICCARTON GOSSIP

f ;w. SCOBIE AS TRAINER i PROSPECTS OF STRONG LIGHT VARIANT IN GOOD ORDER [by telegraph—own correspondent] CHRISTCHURCH. Thursday The veteran cross-country rider, W. Scobie, has decided to take up training and lias been recommended for a licence by the Canterbury district committee. His first horse will be Jerry Boy, a six-year-old gelding bv Jericho from Naughty Queen: This horse raced at the Christchurch hunt meeting and showed some promising form. Scobie had an unpleasant experience in his early association with Jerry Boy, who gave him a nasty spill at Riccarton. To-day he set out with Starshooter (H. Turner) for a round of the hurdles, but after clearing the first safely he blundered on landing over the second and fell. Fortunately Scobie suffered no ill-effects and later remounted the gelding and rode him over four hurdles. Monastic was responsible for a very disappointing showing in company with Jolly Beggar. He repeatedly refused to negotiate the' first fence and a change ol' rider had no effect. Jolly Beggar went on alone and gave a pleasing display. E. Scoullar has a team of four to enter upon the new season's racing, comprising Strong Light, Madam Pompadour, General O'Dufly and an untried three-year-old telding, by Chief Ruler from Moulin Rouge, dam of Latin Quarter. Strong Light looks in better order at present than ever previously and some good races should come her way this term. Madam Pompadour and General O'DufTy, both ,by Arrowsmith, have shown sufficient promise in their eusays to date to suggest that they will be in evidence in the near future. The young member of the team is Very well-grown arid it is not intended to be in any hurry v ith him. Progress of Manetho Manetho continues to make good progress in his work and his trainer, F. Christmas, hopes that the good-looking gelding will be able to give of his best in the r.ew season, as he is sounder now than at any time previously. Christmaß now has a full stable with Manetho, Jolly Beggar, Honour's Lass, Fair Weather, Gold Papei\ Friday Night, and a three-year-old unnamed filly by Rosenor, and two two-year-olds, one a brother to Red Heckle, and the other Sky Rover, ft brother to Honour's Lasa, by Honour from Grey Lass. Bright Shade, who has been somewhat of a disappointment, haa been allotted a spell. Variant, now in P. V. Mason's stable, is coming to hand (satisfactorily and will not need much gallopng to get her into racing shape again. Her stable-mate, Hostis, by HonouF from Goldspear, ie also doing well. He was inclined to give trouble going on to the tracks, but has ehown marked improvement of late. This . three-year-old colt, who was purchased for 60 guineas, by Mr. V. Greenhill, of Greymouth. at the Greenwood dispersal sale, in _ November, 1932, is a most attractive-looking youngster and his future activities will be followed with interest by Riccarton track- ' watchers. ,'. Two-year-olds at Chokebore The Chokebore stable has received two more two-year-olds from tn® Stonyhursfc stud to receive their initial education. One is Slasher.- a colt by J\aDi®r from Brambletye. dam of Tliorndale. Prickles, Branibletorn. Sharp Thorn and Scarlet Rambler. Tho other is Tail Light, a gelding, by Day Comet from Owlscwnbe, bv Autumnus from Glenowlet. L. J. Ellis hae accepted Bin offer to ride Mr. G. M. Carrie's horses alt the Wanganui meeting next week and will thus not be available at the Ashburton meeting. It was reported after the Grand National meeting that Royal Limond had been leased to a northern trainer. Arrangement* were made to this end but. owing to the horso Buffering from lameness' after his week s racing at Riccarton, ho wa« not sont North. FREE-FOR-ALL RACE EVENT AT ADDINGTON CLUB'S SPECIAL CONDITIONS [BY TELEGRAPH —PRESS ASSOCIATION'] CHRISTCHURCH. Thursday The New Zealand Metropolitan Trotting Club has introduced special conditions in connection with the Free-for-All, to be decided on the second day of the club's spring meeting in November. The stake is £SOO. and the distance twq miles. The winner will receive £250, second horse 4100 and the third horse £SO. The horse leading at the end of four furlongs will receive £SO. and the horsi> in the lead at the end of a mile and a-auarter will plso receive £SO. . The committee reserves the right to refuse any nomination. RECORD RETAINER GORDON RICHARDS' FEE A NOTABLE COMBINATION • • ; LONDON. Sept. 5 The leading jockey. Gordon Richards, has accepted an offer of £7OOO a year, plus 10 per cent of the stakes won. during a three years' contract for first claim to ride for the Aga Khan. This is the biggest offer ever made to a jockey in the history of British racing. This is spart from earnings for oecond claim on Richards' services. The retainer of Gordon Richards to ride for the Aga Khan makes a notable combination of England's most successful owner, trainer (Frank Butlers.) and ; jockey. Only recently the Aga Khan and his trainer gained the leading honours- at Ascot, and for the second year in succession ho had the distinction of winning-the. great two-year-old race, the Gimcrack Stakes. Up to the end of July the Aga Khan had won over £28,000 in stakes this season. According to English authorities the Aga Khan, although lie has had many good two-year-olds. has never been better off for horses of that age than he is this season and prospects for next season, therefore, look exceedingly bright, Richards, who has three times headed the jockeys' winning list in England and last season eclipsed Fred Archer's--record of 246 winners in on# season, is only 30 .years of ago..