NOTES BY PHAETON

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22489, 5 August 1936, Page 11

NOTES BY PHAETON

AUSTRALIAN RACING

VICTORIA'S LEADING HORSES

POOLEY BRIDGE'S RECORD

At various stages of la to reference lias been made by critics, both in Victoria and New South "Wales, to the falling away in the quality of the jumping horses competing there. Victoria, however, can claim to have produced a first-rate hurdler in Pooloy Bridge. At five years old last season, from which stage of his career ho figured as a hurdler, he was credited with winning 10 races over the battens. This must bo regardod as a remarkablo record for a horso in his first season as a jumper, especially as it included a victory in tho V.R.C. Grand National Hurdle Race, three miles, in which lie carried 11.3, and ho capped that performance later by winning another race under 12.0. Tho Australian Hurdle Race, 3} miles and 20 yards, run at Caulfield last Saturday, saw Pooley Bridge carry 12.5 to victory, and, judged from a weightcarrying standard, he now holds equal record with Colonel Shilinski, who won tho raco in 1902 under a similar impost.

Tho high breeding of many horses engaged in jumping races nowadays frequently forms the subject of reference. Pooley Bridge may be included in that category, the leading lined of his pedigree being as follow:

Sire: Ornamentation, by 'lracery, son of Hock Sand uid grandson of Sainfoin, from Document, by Spearmint, son of Carbine, fntn Doctrine, by Ayrshire, son of Jlamptoii. Dam: Talkative, by Flippant, son of Marcovii and grandson of Marco, from Similit-ide, by Uobudll, soa of Hill of Portland, from Similaiity, by Simmer, son of St. Simon.

Tho Australian Steeplechase is fixed to bo run at Caulfiold next Saturday. A survey of tho field shows that few noteworthy performers are engaged, which is in marked contrast to several previous years. Santa Casa, who may appropriately bo referred to as the discovery of 1936, seeing that ho won Grand National honours at Flemington at four years old while of maiden . status, is the popular selection in connection with Saturday's race, in which ho figures with 10.4. The manner in which he won his race at Flemington last month showed him to bo a true stayer, with n fine recommendation as a perfect fencer. Matters certainly point favourably for Santa Casa to extend his record in a notable manner. GREAT STAKE-WINNERS SELECT TWENTY-FOUR In a recent note some figures were given bearing on the records of horses that have figured on the turf in England and Australia. Tli9 following is a comparative statement of the respective winnings in prize-money by a select two-dozen:— England Australia and NZ. Isinglass .. £57,455 'Pilar Lap.. i.'(iO,73St Donovan .. 55.158 Amounis .. 48,297% Coromtch .. *lB, Gloaming. . 43,100 Rock Sand . 45,01:5 'Limerick .. ys,7 , _'!> , / a liahram . . 43,086 Heroic .. 38,002% Flying lfox. 40.090 Eurythmic . Sceptre .. 38,230 'Windbag.. 35,939 Windsor Lad. 38,000 Peter Pan. 34,985% Pretty Polly 37,597 •Nightmare!) .32,1 iOVi Ayrshire . . 35,915 David . . 31,410 Persimmon . 34,700 Mollison .. 30,829 La Fleche. . 31,703 'Carbine .. 29,026 £508,778 £400,724% •Bred in New Zealand. tlucluding £10,025 won In America. Of the 12 comprising the Englishbred lot, nine were bred by their respective owners, whose colours they carried. The tlireo submitted to auction were sold as follows: —Sceptre, 10,000 guineas; La Fleche, 5500 guineas; Wind&or Lad, 1300 guineas. Of those ranked under the Australian and Now Zealand heading, Limerick and Peter Par. wore tho only ones privately bred. Of the remaining ten, eight were sold as yearlings for the following amounts: —Phar Lap, 160 guineas; Amounis, 300 guineas; Gloaming, 230 guineas; Heroic, 1800 guineas; Eurythmic, 310 guineas; Windbag, 150 guineas; David, 40 guineas; (Carbine, 620 guineas. When a foal Mollison was bought for 600 guineas. At two years old Nightmarch was bought for £iooo. THE MINIMUM WEIGHT HIGHER SCALE ADVOCATED At various periods in recent years it has been strongly urged in Australia that tho tiino has arrived for an alteration in regard to the minimum weight in handicap events, which is fixed at 6.7, and once again the question is being widely discussed. The main reasons advanced for a change are that • jockeys competent to ride at 6.7 are few in number, and the fact of inexperienced boys riding in races increases the risk of interference and accident. At one period in Australia the minimum weight was fixed as low as 5.0, and 50 years ago it was 5.7. In tho Melbourne Cup of 18S1 tho winner, Zulu, carried 5.10. Seven other horses in the field that year were weighted below 6.0 and threo carried 5.7. The 6.7 minimum has ruled since 1888. STUD ITEMS A HIGHLY-BRED COLT Many illustrations can bo cited in surveying tho history attaching to the thoroughbred family in support of tho view that it is not wise to become unduly enamoured of a horse's prospects purely based on the animal boasting an attractive pedigree, and that, on tho other hand, it is well to avoid prejudice when the lines of breeding do not accord with certain views. The brown colt by Nigger Minstrel from Slacklino, sold cheaply for 220 guineas at the 'JYcntham salo this year, could bo singled out appropriately for special reference on breeding linos. Tlireo strains of Musket, through Carbine, Royal Artillery and St. Clair respectively, is tho feature in the pedigree. Then there is a strain of St. Simon on each side. Fisherman, through Maribyrnong, figures in the pedigree on the sire's side, while Stoekwell's namo is on both sides through Lord Clifdon, on tho sire's side, and through Rend Or, on the dam's side. As time wears on it will be interesting to note in which class this attractively-bred colt will he placed. AUSTRALIAN STEEPLES TWELVE FINAL ACCEPTORS (Received August 4, 7.5 p.m.) MELBOURNE, Aiifcust <1 Final acceptors for the Australian Steeplechaso, to be run at Caulfield 011 Saturday, include tho following 12 horses: —• AUSTRALIAN STEEPLECHASE, Of £1500; about 3% miles st. lb. st.. lb. El Damaroyal 10 9 St. Robus 9 10 Santa Casa .10 4 Actaeon ..98 Cold Spring 1 10 4 Montaws. . i) ft Wolhock . . 10 2 Wakerlfo ..05 Character . . 10 2 Christmas Gift 9 3 Eastern Chief 912 David's Legacy 9 0 .