RACING NEWS

New Zealand Times, Volume XL, Issue 9042, 13 May 1915, Page 8

RACING NEWS

FIXTURES May 13—Egmont K.C. Winter. lay 20 and 21—North Otago J.C. Winter. May 20 ami 22—Wanganui J.C. Winter. June 3 and s—Dunedin J.C. Winter. June 3, 5 and 7 —A.K.C, Great Northern Steeplechase. June 18 and 18—Hawke’s Bay J.C. Winter NOTES AND COMMENTS Commenting on tho purchase of the English colt Kedfern by Sir William Cooper for 5300 guineas, the ‘'Australasian" says that the purchase means the importatiou to Australia of another highclass horse. Kedfern will race in Australia and will probably be (ruined by Isaac Fanshuw, in Sydney. -Mr Cooper (now Sir Wiliiaiu) was a partner with Mr VV. T. Jones in Now-haven, and he afterwards bought Mr Jones's snare of the chestnut, and won several good rates with him in England. How lietlfera compares with some horses previously brought out to Australia depends upon what position the two-year-olds of the last English season hold us regards class. If it was a good year Kedfern must ho very good, as he was certainly just about the top of tho tree. Death still voids entries in England, and consequently Kedfern’s engagements were all cancelled by the death of .Lord Cadogan. For years there have been intermittent agitations against this rale, and varoua modifications suggested, but in the tad the Jockey Club has always decided thrr, in view of the large sums involved in forfeits, the plan of striking a horse out of all engagements when the man responsible for those forfeits dies is the most equitable way of meeting the situation. In the ease of Kedfern, the value of the colt was greatly depreciated by his having to be sold minus any on garment., It was the same with Holy Friar, St. Simon, Meddler, and others, but often a man racing on a large scale dies leaving a number of bad horses heavily engaged. In that case, the people who inherit are saved a lot of money. They can sell horses which no one would risk buying if they had to pay up the forfeits. Mr Agar Wynne would never have given oven 500 guineas for Grafton if tho death of Baron Hirach had not voided all the colt’s engagements. Forfeits in. Australia are so small that there, is. no call for such a rule, but there is n solid rearson for allowing death to close accounts in England. Fresh engagements could, of course, have been made for Kedfern in England, but nearly* all the rich weight-for-age stakes at three and four years were closed to him. and as he had a very busy time as a two-year-old, his career, had he started raoing again, this spring, was not likely to be a long one. Still Sir William Cooper would hardly have got him for 5300 guineas if it had not been for the war. Racing is being carried on in England; but there is not much, enthusiasm about it, and probably many rich owners of the Bari of Derby and Lord Eosebory type ore only keeping their stables going as a matter of duty. The men employed in attend-' ing to their horses are too small to make soldiers, and to stop racing would throw them out of employment. Moreover, it would be most unwise to do anything calculated to discourage the breeding of thoroughbreds, and the stootmge of racing, even temporarily, would . mean the absolute abandonment of many studs. Reputation and the two All , Black yearlings , are reported to ’ have arrived at Sydney fit and well. The former will be trained at Randwick by Frank McGrath in readiness for the spring, and Mr B. J.' Waifs representatives will he taken in hand by J. Whitworth. The Canterbury stables are well represented at tho Forbury trotting meeting, which opened yesterday and concludes on Saturday. The contingent of horses from Canterbury numbers 35, which is the major number of trotters taking part at the meeting. According to a southern exchange, four more yearlings have .arrived at Chokebore Lodge from Sir George Clifford’s Stenylmrst stud, making a total' of fourteen home-bred yearlings from his studi that are now. at tho, stables,' while there is. also,-tho , Martian—Neva colt purchased in the spring. Cntts Brothers have no fewer than 33 horses under their care at the present time, and as tho Chokebore Lodge has only stabling accommodation for 25, eight have been placed in the Racecourse Hotel etablcs. Tho recent arrivals from Stonyhurst stod are Tantalus, by Treadmill—Plitaway; Rost Haste, by San Francisco —Flectfoot, who is a brother to First Flight and Plying Start; Glen Helen, by Treadmill—Glenowlet, a sister to Wise Bird and Niphtwatcb; and Subterfuge, by Cannie duel—Couuterfeit.

SpeciaJfoim bad a handicap of 9st when she won the Midsummer Handicap at the C.J.C. summer meeting, and she has been given 8-7 in the Oamaru Cup. The mare has done nothing of note since, her best performance being third to First Glance in the Dunedin Jockey Club Handicap, when she was easily beaten for second place by Ladrone. On the handicaps she is not badly treated, and should- run a fair race if fit on the, day. Immer, with 7.3. in tho Oamaru Cup, should make some showing op. her runnine: at Dunedin, Nelson and Masterton, although in the Thompson Handicap at the Wellington autumn meeting she only had an impost of 7.1 and was outclassed. " Snapdragon, who is on the same mark with Immer and Briar Patch in the Oamaru Cup, -is a horse that may, create a surprise. Her time when she won the Hornby, Welter at Christchurch in February was Imin 42 l-ssec. and then she was asked to make an effort. Truly the field was not of the best,- and she had 10lb advantage of Peg.' At the Wellington autumn meeting in the St. Legsr Stakes Balboa accounted for her without much trouble, and the Marble Arch filly Castalda finished in front of her, but on that occasion Snapdragon gave one the impression that she had’good galloping qualities that may be improved upon. The nominations for the Otaki Moon meeting that takes place on Juno 3rd and 4th are of a very comprehensive nature, and augur well for a very successful meeting.