NOTES BY PHAETON

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21396, 20 October 1934, Page 11

NOTES BY PHAETON

THE CAULFIELD CUP TO-DAY'S GREAT RACE PROSPECTS OF SIR SIMPER The fifty-seventh Caulfield Cup, to be run to-day, has for a good stretch of years held a place among the leading handicap events of the Australian turf. The prize-money attached to the race amounts to £6500, the winner's portion being £'sooo and a trophy valued at £l5O. At the dale of tho t' nul acceptances IS Remained in the race, with Rogilla, 9.10! maintaining his position at the bead of the list. From tho declaration of tho weights the big chestnut has had his claims warmly extolled. That he has a right to be accepted as a first-rater up to a mile and a-half is acknowledged, hut it is also recognised that he is confronted with a very stiff task to win with an impost Sib. in advance of weight-for-age.

The four-year-olds engaged number eight, and they include the New Zealand-bred pair Waikare, 8.8, and Sir Simper, 7.5. In The Metropolitan at Randwick early this month Waikare acquitted himself attractively in winning the mile and five furlongs race under 8.0 and he cannot be left out of calculations. Sir Simper has placed himself prominently in the limelight by winning four races in succession, and he carried 8.7 when he cored in tho Toorak Handicap, one mile, last Saturday. A mile and a-half journey is a very different contract. but those who have seen a great deal of the New Zealand gelding express the view that he will be found fully equal to the occasion, especially as his impost represents 20lb. below weight-for-age. Two New Zealand horses have won the Caulfield Cup. In 1908 Maranui. 7.11. was successful, and last year Gaine Carrington. 8.13, led the field home. In 1909 Aborigine. 8.9, who hailed from New Zealand, ran a dead-heat for first with Blue Book, 8.1.

DUAL CLASSIC WINNER NEW ZEALAND-BRED THEO By following up his victory in the A.J.C. Derby with a success in the Caulfield Guineas Theo furnished further evidence of his right to be accepted as the leading three-year-old so far produced on the Australian turf this season, and there seems every prospect of the eon of Limond adding the Victoria Derby to his list. The manner in which he finished in the classic event at Randwick clearly showed his ability to et ly out a mile and a-half. and his future looks decidedly promising. Theo figures in the Melbourne Cup with 7.6 (weight-for-age), and. ao he has advanced to the position of second favourite, it is apparently a popular opinion that if a three-year-old is to win lie is the most likely one. HALL MARK'S RECORD CONSISTENCY A FEATURE Hall Mark had a fairly strenuous campaign at three years old last season, but he was found ready for the fray early in the present season when he won the Underwood Stakes at Williamstown on August 25. and. although defeated in the Memsie Stakes, he made full amends by winning the October Stakes at Flemington and the Caulfield Stakes at Caulfield. To have the best of a tussle for supremacy with the doughty Chatham in the last-named race points conclusively to Heroic's son being at the top of his-form, which may be taken to mean that he promises to tflay a strong part in important events near at hand. Up to the present Hall Mark has contested 26 races, and from the following *«eord it will be seen that he has been unplaced on only three occasions during his career:— UnFirst Second Third placed At 2yrs • > 4 1 22 At 3yrs .. 6* 4 2 1 At 4yra .. 3 1 0 0 13 6 4 3 'lncluding one dead-heat. At the close of last season Hall Mark's winnings in prize-money were computed at £19,689 and his earnings so far this season have increased the total to close upon £22.000.

STUD ITEMS FILLIES' WINNING RECORD Fillies have an attractive record in the Great Northern Guineas with 15 victories, the list being as follows:—Hilda, by Musket; Cissy, by Musket; Tit, by Leolinus; St. Laura, by St. Leger; Forme, by Nordenfeldt; La Gloria, by St. Leger; Annette, by Soult; Bleriot, by Soult: Te Pr.papa, by Marble Arch: Miss Egjpt, hy Egypt; Prodice, by Catmint; Eaglet, by Chief Ruler; Gold Trail, by Chief Ruler; Gay Sheila, by Gay Shield: Gay Blonde, by Gay Shield. ADELAIDE'S LEADING FILLY

In South Australia last season the filly Alinura was the leading performer among the two-year-olds, and she looks like I winning similar prominence among the ! three-year-olds this season, for she has won the Adelaide Guineas, Port Adelaide ! Guineas and South Australian Derby. Alinura, who is by King of Mirth, son of : Comedy King from the Lanius niape Minura, can bortst of a high-class pedigree, double strains respectively of St. Simon and Musket being a feature. The latter strain comes to her through Pistol, son of Carbine, and Auraria, daughter of Trenton. Auraria will be best remembered for her surprise victory in the Melbourne Cup of 1895. when she beat a field of 35. LUCKY PURCHASES There certainly is money in England for a lucky breeder. In an interesting article on purchases made by " Atty" Persee for Major Dermont McCalmont " Audax," iu Horse and Hound, says that; the famous and unbeaten The Tetrarch and Scotch Gift, bought as yearlings, jointly cost £1920. Between them they won in stakes £12.309. Scotch Gift had 10 foals, including Arch Gift. The Satrap and Tetratema, who among them won races worth £3l ,('.OO. Seven of the progeny of Scotch Gift were sold for £'26.110, and one of her daughters. Lamb Mint, produced the winners of £2199, while four of the latter's progeny were sold for £4105 eie she was disposed of to Sir Alec Black for £3IOO. Up to the end of the covering season, 1934, The Tetrarch and Tetratema had earned in stud fees no less than £'252,(>55, and the lastnamed is standing at a fee of 500 guineas. KEWPIE'S LARGE FAMILY FOAL BY PETER BINGEN The successful brood mare Kcwpie, by Petercta—Matariki, has produced a filly foal to Peter Bingen. Kewpie has proved a pro-, •lific brood mare and four of her progeny, Kewpie's Guy, Kcwpie's Triumph. Kewpie's King and Kewpie's Bond, have proved good winners, while the three-year-old Kewpie's Crest has prospects of shortly reaching the winning list. A handsome two-year-old colt by Peter Bingen from Kewpie is now being educated by J. Gee, who owns Aiiti brood mare. GREYMOUTH TROTS The Greymouth Trotting Club's meeting will be opened to-day. The following horses are expected to be well supported:— Introductory Handicap.—Royal de Oro, Petrie Handicap.—Endurance, Parette. Blaketown Handicap.—Grace McElwyn, j Gay Sister. Mawhera Handicap.—Lone Derby. Blandford. Diggers' Handicap.—Don Wrack, Scotty Bingen. Royal Oak Handicap.—Renegade. Mataunga. ~ , Advance Handicap.—Agility, Black Shadow Dash Handicap.—Blandford, Bingen Palm.