FAST GALLOPS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23718, 26 July 1940, Page 5

FAST GALLOPS

TRIALS AT BICCAETON KILROBE AND ST. CLOUD SMART HALF-MILE SPRINTS [bv telegraph—OWN correspondent] CHRISTCHURCH, Thursdny Conditions wore favourable, for track work at Riccarton to-day, and the majority of the horses due to race at the South Canterbury Hunt Club's meeting were galloped 011 the inside of the trial grass track. Most attractive gallops were recorded by Kilrobe and St. Cloud over six furlongs, and Pleading and Great Flight over half a mile. Stylbsa and Muffler ran six furlongs in 1.10 2-5. Sovereign Lady and Rue went over tho same ground in 1.20 2-5. Settlement and Prudent Princo covered seven furlongs in 1.33. "Wardress easily accounted for "Wagner over this distance in 1.32 2-G. Flame Queen led Fcrriby to record 1.33; Racewell also took 1.33, and Night Hawk, 1.33. Tho best half-mile sprint of tho morning was that by the Chokcboro youngsters, Pleading and Great Flight, who recorded 40 l-ss. Their stable-mates, Winning Rival and Good Passage, took 50 4-ss. Others who ran half a mile were Hurry Girl and Night Dress; also Disdain, 50 2-ss; Doria, Rebellion and Lockit, 51 2-os; Wild Coon, Lcopardstown and Lord Midas, 51s. Lord Lynn covered fivo furlongs well in 1.5, tho last four in 50 l-ss. Don't Forgot and Whiphand took 1.7 4-5; Scarteen and Anchuss, 1.8; Dinah Dhu easily beat Groat Night in 1.8 4-0; and Lady Magellan beat Richelieu Pearl in 3.8. Kilrobo- and St. Cloud recorded a most attractive gallop over six furlongs, taking 1.17 4-5. Iceland Spar beat Sweet Mystery in 1.20, while Grey Honour and Captain Bruco took 1 21.. Waka strode over a mile in 1.-17 2-o. Flashlight and Tommy Ruff wore companions over four brush fences. '1 he former had to be held back to his male. 101 Caballo jumped five of the steeplechase fences, being accompanied \>y a five-year-old gelding by 'Mint Leaf, a proficient jumper who is engaged in hunt events at the Christchurch Hunt meeting. . Chanteur shaped moderately well four hurdles, but Dividend gavo a dashing display over six obstacles. • , leaders' HONOURED i ■ WHANGAREI RACING CLUB FREE LOAN TO GOVERNMENT [from ouk own cotuiespondf.nt] WHANGAREI, Thursday "A decision to continue its activities during the war was made at the annual meeting ol' the Whangarei Racing Club last night. The executive was also recommended to make available to the Government, as an interestfree loan for the duration ,of the war and six months thereafter, any surplus funds. Discussion also centred round the question of further capital expenditure. Extra sUibluig was retxiiireel. 11s well as other improvements, and the meeting decided to proceed with this work at an estimated cost of over «on. Officers elected were:—Patron, Mr. J. O-. Barclay, M.P.; president, Mr. R. It. Hosking; vice-president, Mr. L. K. Nelson; committee, Messrs. J. A. S. MacKay, 'J. Is, McCarroll, C. 11. Finlayson, E. A. Simmons and A. J. Murdoch; members stewards, Messrs. R. K. Trimmer, J. 1. Wall anil I. A. Williams; auditor, Mr. W. T. Surinam At a dinner held after the meeting, occasion was taken to express in tangiblo form tho members' appreciation of the services to the club of tho president, Mr. R. G. Ilosking, and other members. Mr. Ilosking has been president for 21 years, and tho vice-president, Mr L. R- Nelson, made a presentation to Mr' and Mrs. Hosking. Members honoured were Messrs. L. ,W, Nelson, now in Australia J. A. S. MacKay and Murdoch McInnes, tho last-named two having been members of the committee for over 25 years. SUCCESSFUL TRAINER F. J. SMITH'S FINE RECORD ' 315 WINS IN NEW ZEALAND BY ABAYDOS ;y..- . Tho 24 wins secured this season by F. J. Smith as trainer bring his total in New Zealand to 315, and the 22 winning drives raised his tally in the reinsmen's section to 300. Thoso totals extend over 11 seasons, making his training average 28-i, and his driving average, 27, Smith arrived from England at the beginning of the 1020-30 season, his solo charge being Linnctt ttie Great, who accompanied him. He made his first appearance at the Waikato spring meeting of 1020, driving Linnett tho Great, who was unplaced from 150 yards in the Introductory Handicap. Success came early, as in the succeeding race he drove First Flight to victory in the Frankton Handicap for McKcndrick Brothers. That season, with limited opportunities, Smith trained five winners and drove six. The following season his respective figures were r.i and 18. and in the next term they were 1(5 and 18. By this time Smith had built up a fine team and in 1032-33 he reached the top of the list with 30 and 37, while the succeeding season he established his record of 51 and 52. In 3035-30 Smith was leading trainer with -10, but J. Bryce, Jun., drove -13 winners, or two more than the Auckland reinsman. Next season he again topped both lists with 38 and 37. For the fivo seasons, 103233 to 1030-37, Smith's training total was 100, an average of 30, and his driving total, 100, an average of 38. Linnett the Great Progeny The first winner trained by Smith in the Dominion was Linnett the Great, who shortly after her arrival in Auckland was purchased bv McKendrick Brothers. The daughter of McGregor the Great and The Linnctt was a fine trotter and since going to tho stud sho has produced twice to Great Parrish and onco to Ringtrue, all being fillies. Tho first product was purchased by Smith and has produced a colt foul to Swordsman. The next, Linnett's Pride, has visited the same horse, while the Ringtrue offspring. Princess Linnett, this term won three races for McKendrick Brothers. During his career Smith has won many of the most important races on the trotting calendar, but three to elude him are tho New Zealand Sapling Stakes, in which ho was unlucky, with Chancellor and later with Sandusky, New Zealand Derby Stakes, and New Zealand Trotting Cup. He won the Auckland Trotting Cup with King's Warrior, who was second on another occasion, and drove Worthy Light into second place when Rol L'Or established tho race record of 4.15 2-5. "With Chancellor and Bonniedene 110 won tho Great Northern Trotting Derby, find scored four times in tho Otahuhu Handicap, tho winners being Mountain Dell, Kewpio's King, King's Warrior, all by Blue Mountain King, and Wrecker. Success of Nell Volo Worthy Light and Ironside were his Adams Memorial Cup successes, the latter also scoring in the National Handicap at Addington. Worthy Light also won tho President's Handicap. With Bonny Azure Smith won tho Hawera Trotting Cup and Waimato Plains Handicap, and Ravoa D'Or gave him success in tho Manawatu Cup. Sandusky won tho Champion Handicap at Epsom, where Nell Volo twice won the Rown Trotting Cup. Nell Volo is one of the best trotters to race and has won numerous races. Other good stake earners were Littlo Guy, Peeawav, Great Ballin, Carnui, Tumatakura, Jock Bin-en. Mr. Penalty, Carl Mack, Guid Hairsl Pollv Pan, Rustle, Canton. Lynworthy, Raider, War Paint. Modern Light, King's Guide, Kewpie's King, Swordsman, Jewel Pointer, Van Derby and Nervie's Last. Although in (lie veteran stage when 111 'Hie stable Jewel Pointer won tho Champion HandiSmith drove the free-legged Ncrvie's Last to ft milo record of 2.4 at Epsom and Van Derby to a world's grass record of 2.0 Q-5. Another good winnor, although not trained bv Smith, was Dan Direct, a roan horse ho imported and sold to Mossrs. ftewdick Brothers. Antonio Direct, also a roan, and a pacer of (rreat possibilities, died shortly after his arrival in Auckland. One of Smith's greatest performances was on the first day of the Auckland spring meeting in 1030, when he won with Swordsman. Ncrvie's Last. Soessivn. Polly Pan, Tollgatc and Mountain Flight, the last five in successive races. He was second with Kind's Warrior and third with Frank Pest in the remaining two races, truly a field day. Two seasons ago ho started Crocus, ironside and Norvio's Last in tho C. F. Mark Memorial and they filled tho three places as named, giving the Takanini trainer another record. Smith will havo a larso team for the coming soason, and ono likely to tako very high honours Is tho American .horse, Josedalo Grattan, who this term registered five wins, fivo seconds and a third in 14 starts. TROTTING FIXTURES August 10, 14 10—New Zealand Metropolitan Trotting Club. August 31 —Auckland Trotting Club. September 7—New Brighton Trotting Club September IS, 21— Wellington Trotting Club October s—Met liven Trotting Cliib. 'lciober h—Thames Trotting Club, October 12 —New Brighton Trotting Club October 23, 20 —Wellington Trotting Club. October 20, 28—Greymouth Trotting Club. October 28—Oamaru Trotting Club. October 26; 28. or 30—Auckland Trotting Club, I