NOTES BY PHAETON

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22619, 6 January 1937, Page 7

NOTES BY PHAETON

AUSTRALIAN RACING DOMINION-BRED HORSES GOOD RANGE OF VICTORIES ■ The number* of successes registered by New Zealand-bred hors-es in Australia during the present season, extending from August I to the first week in January, shows that the same is well up to the best previous records embracing u similar period. Wotan's sensational victory in the Melbourne Cup stands out prominently, and the wins registered in wcight-for-age races by Gold Hod, Silver King, Gay Blonde, Queen of Song and Prince Quex comprise a scries of important events. Then there is Lynch Law, a two-year-old colt by Limond, who retains an unbeaten certificate and who is accorded the leading place among the juvenile division that has so far figured on the scene in New South W'a/cs this season. Altogether the Now Zealand - bred horses have scored 77 victories in Australia this season, and there is reason to anticipate that the autumn meetings will see a good addition made to the list. Mala, who was brought back to the Dominion after contesting the Victoria Racing Club's meeting at Flemington in November and has been resting in the interval, is not engaged in either the V.R.C. St. Leger or the A.J.C. St. Leger, so that it may bo regarded as unlikely that ho will have an opportunity of wijiing out the defeats he met with at the hands of Talking in the A.-T.C. Derby and Victoria Derby. Although Mala suffered defeat in nil the races ho contested in Australia, several of the well-versed critics offer the prediction that lie will see a much better day. Prior to the running of the A.J.C. Derby it was stated that an offer of £(5000 was made for Mala, but his owner-trainer, 11. E. Russell, could not bo prevailed upon to sell the colt. A good win for Mala would be a pleasing item to chronicle.

AUSTRALIA'S LEADING FILLY IS SIREN ANOTHER WAKEFUL? A period extending to over 30 years lias elapsed since Wakeful was retired from racing and in tho interval no marc up to her standard has graced the Australian turf. Wakeful was great under all headings, so that to bo compared with her a great deal is required. Siren, the three-year-old daughter of Salmagundi and Valacare, who has distinguished herself this season, is made the subject of much eulogy. In a reference to Siren " The Spectator," of the Melbourne Weekly Times, says: " Surely here is another Wakeful. The daughter of that magnificent marc. Valicare was so far above the others of her ago during tho spring that it is superfluous even to draw comparisons. Siren has inherited all the speed and stamina of her dam. Speed and' stamina are the chief ingredients in the make-up of a champion. And what a champion Siren is! There is no saying how good she is." Siren was bred by Mr. P. H. Osborne, of New South Wales, by whom she is raced.

AUCKLAND CUP WINNERS THE VETERAN DIVISION Shortly after Cuddle had registered her victory in the Auckland Cup at seven years old I found some keen followers of racing discussing the question as to how many victories in the two-miles race at Ellerslio are entered to tho credit of horses of that age. The fact of the list of winners above six years being simply given as aged in the old records, it was no surprise to find uncertainty existing 111 regard to the point at issue. Horses who won the Ellerslio race at seven years include the following: st. lb. 1870 . . Ariel, b h . . .. 8 10 1881 .. Tho Poet, ch g 7 0 1888 .. Nelson, eh h.. .. 0 11005 .. Putty, eh g .. ..7 8 1012 .. Bobrikoff, blk g ■■ 8 8 15)30 . . Cuddle, b . . ..03 t wonder how many remember the unusual incident in connection with the Auckland Cup of 1881, won by The Poet. There were six contestants, Administrator figuring topweight with 7.2, and then followed Libeller / .0, Ihe l>oct 7.0, Normanby 6.12, Alaric 6.0, and Wooduymph 5.12. Administrator started with odds of 5 to 4 laid on his ability to win, but he failed to gain a place.

AN OLD-TIME REGULATION THE TERM "DISTANCE" Tho exact meaning and origin of the term " at the distance" has puzzled manv racegoers, so some explanation might be serviceable. In the early days of racing, when most races were run in three heats, a horse*had to finish within a distance, 210 yards, of the winningpost, otherwiso he was debarred from starting in the other heats, that provision prevented one horse from merely trotting round after the others in the first heat, finishing about half a mile last, and then, being fresh, having an easy task in tho others. STUD ITEMS PERTH CUP WINNER Tho Perth Cup, which is included with tho limited number of races in Australia decided over two miles, saw a horse triumph on New Year's Day whoso sire, Manfred, and dam, Sister Olive, are included with winners of important cup races. Manfred won the Caulfield Cup in 192G and Sister Olive led tho field homo in the Melbourne Cup in 1921. A perusal of tho pedigree of Manolivo reveals that 110 is in-bred to tho Bend Or lino to an intense degree. Manfred is by Valais, son of Cicero and grandson of Cylleno, and Lily of tho Valley, dam of Valais, is by Martagon, sou of Bend Or. Sister Olive is by Red Dennis, son of Trcdennis and grandson of Kendal, who is by Bend Or. Further back Arklow, a full-brother to unbeaten Ormonde, by Bend Or, ranges up.

INTERESTING RECORD The progeny of Pantheon have an outstanding record in connection with the West Australian Derby with four wins in the space of five years. When yearlings tlio respective winners were bought for the following sums:—l93l. Olympian, 45 guineas; 1932, Panto. 425 guineas; 1933, Hyperion, 250 guines; 1935, Oceanus, 650 guineas.