NOTES BY PHAETON

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22350, 22 February 1936, Page 11

NOTES BY PHAETON

THE FUTURITY STAKES CONTEST AT CAULFIELD CUDDLE* A LIKELY- RUNNER The Caulfield Futurity Stakes, to be decided at the Victoria Amateur Turf Club's meeting to-day, is included among important events of the Australian calendar, for it carries the fine stake of £2600, of which £2OOO goes to the owner of the winner. The race is run over seven furlong?, •at weight-for-age, with a scale of penalties and allowances, and when it is stated that a horse can incur a penalty to the extent of 201b. it will be recognised that matters in that- respect are cast on severe lines. Eurythmic 10.7, Top Gallant 10.2, Gothic; 10.0, Amounis 10.4, and Phar Lap 10.3 are winners who put up substantial penalties and they are the only horses to have won with Gold, 9.13. nearly succeeded in the task, for she ran the unpenalised Wedge, 9.0, to a head for first. An interesting feature of the conditions of the Futurity Stakes is that provision is made for late entries, the subscription being fixed at £SO. The New Zealand mare Cuddle, owned by Mr. R. J. Murphy, was included with the late entries for this year's race. New Zoalan(l-bred horses have a good record in the Futurity Stakes. Gladsome, by Seaton Delaval, scored twice, winning with 9.7 in 1905 and the following year with 9.13. Three years later Soultline, by Soult, carried 9.8 home in front of 20 opponents. Fourteen years then elapsed before another victory went to a horse hailing front New Zealand, The Hawk, by Martian, winning under 9.5 in 1924. The following year, 1925, Father's Voice, 8.5, by Absurd, and The Hawk, 10.4, fought out the -finish, the former winning by a narrow margin. In 1931 Phar Lap, by Night Raid, carried 10.3* to victory, and Mystic Peak, who was also bred in the Dominion, filled second position. In 1932 Amnion Ra, by Limond, won under 9.3, and in the following year Gaine Carrington, 8.12, finished third. Last year Synagogue, 8.5, ran a deadheat for first with Heros,9.B. The field for .to-day ! s raco numbers 10, as follows; —Arachne 9.10, Closing Time 9.8, Cuddle 9.8, Great Legend 9-7. Short Wave 9.4, Valiant Chief 9.1, Cardinal 9.1, Regular Bachelor 9.0, Silver Jubilee 8.12, Press Gang 8.12," Grand Mogul 8.5, Gay Pop 8.5, Whernside 8.2, Cry -Havoc 7.0, .Prince Sion 6.12, Paucknins 6.8. , The victory registered by Cuddle in the St. George Stakes last Saturday at Caulfield was accomplished »in . such attractive style that her prospects in the Futurity Stakes to-day appear very bright Five are inincluded in the n.eld, and the two with most to their credit are Valiant Chief, by Heroic, and Cardinal, by Manfred.

THE AUSTRALIAN CUP GOOD FIELD ENGAGED The Australian Cup, which is to be run at Flemington on March 7, seems likely to attract a large field, as 32 horses remained engaged at the date of the first acceptances. The withdrawal of Svlvandale and Hall Mark leaves Cuddle, 9.2, at the head of the list, and, according to latest reports, she is equal favourite with the South Australian niaro Amalia, who is considered nicely treated with 8.3. Palfresco, who brought off a surprise in the Caulfi'eld Cup, is engaged with 8.3.

AUTUMN CLASSICS NEW ZEALAND ST. LEGER The first classic of the autumn season in the Dominion ir. the New Zealand St. Leger, which comes tip for decision at Trentham on March 17. Greek -Shepherd, hy Iliad—Dresden China, and Heritage, by Posterity—Homage,- who filled first and third places respectively in the Great Northern Derby, are tho pair whose prospects are most discussed. The victory registered by Heritage-in the Trentham Stakes, in which he romped away from the southern colt ELinnoull in a fast-run mile and a-quarter, has encouraged some of- his enthusiastic followers to regard him as the leading, three-year-old, but he has to accomplish something more, before that conclusion can be accepted. Greek Shepherd, had defeated Heritage in the Great Northern Derby, and another meeting between them will be awaited with interest. The manner in which Greek Shepherd stayed the mile and a-half at -Ellerslie was distinctly pleasing, and it is quite on the cards that lie will run a ! mile and three-quarters as well as most of those of his age.

AMERICAN RACE MEETINGS EXTENSIVE CIRCUITS Tho Americans can always bo deponded upon to map out matters on extensive lines, and in connection with the operations at Alambo Downs, San Antonio, Texas, the winter meeting extended to 46 days. Horses are stabled on the course, and, although provision is made for 875, the applications for accommodation reached to close upon 3000. STUD ITEMS A PROMISING COLT The three-year-old Bustard, who recently came into prominence in Victoria by defeating Sylvandale, winner of the Australian Cup, and Marabou, winner of the Melbourne Cup, in tho Williamstown Stakes, one mile and a-quarter, in the fast time of 2.6J, traces to Carbine on the sire's side. He is by The Buzzard, son of Spion Kop, who is by Spearmint, son of Carbine. Citrine, dam of Bustard, is by Seromond, son of Desmond and grandson of St. Simon. When a yearling Bustard was bought for 375 guineas. IRELAND'S HORSE INDUSTRY England's prohibitory tariff has had such a disastrous effect on the Irish horse industry that recent developments have caused the greatest concern in the Free State. A commission of inquiry into the horse-breeding industry was recently appointed and held its first meeting in Dublin. In evidence before the commission it was elicited that the export trade in horses dropped from £2,123,342 in 1930 to £1,910,395 in 1931, to £1,295,141 in 1932, to £784,515 in 1933. Since 1933 many of the highest-class stallions of Ireland have been removed to England. By taking this course the owners avoided the 40 per cent tariff which would have been paid if their progeny had been sent to the English sales.