GOSSIP OF THE TURF

New Zealand Times, Volume LII, Issue 12197, 23 July 1925, Page 8

GOSSIP OF THE TURF

Talk from Track and Stable

{By

“CARBINE”)

RACING FIXTURES July 28—Waimate District Hunt Steeplechase. ■ July 25—South Canterbury Hunt Steeplechase. July 23 and 25—Gisborne E.C. Steeplechase. August : X—Christchurch Hunt Steeplechase (at Biccarton). August I—Poverty Bay Hunt Annual. August 11, 13 and 15—Canterbury J.C. Grand National. August 15—Pakuranga Hunt Annual. NOMINATIONS. July 24—Pakuranga Hunt Annual. HANDICAPS. July 27—Canterbury J.C. Grand National (Minor Events). July 27—Christchurch Hunt Steeplechase. July 27—Poverty Bay Hunt Annual. July 31—Pakuranga Hunt Annual. / ACCEPTANCES* July 28—Poverty Bay Hunt Annual. July 29—Christchurch Hunt Steeplechase. August' s—Canterbury J.C. Grand National (Minor Events). August 7—Pakuranga Hunt Annual. PINAL PAYMENTS. August s—Canterbury J.C. Grand National Steeplechase and Hurdles, and Winter Cup. TROTTING FIXTURES July 18—South Canterbury Hunt Steeplechase (one day), V August I—Poverty Bay Hunt Annual (one day). HANDICAPS. July 27—Poverty Bay Hunt Annual (one event). ACCEpTANCES July IS—South Canterbury Hunt Steeplechase (one event). July 28—Poverty Bay Hunt Annual (one ’ PIEST POBFEITS. July l&r-Ashburton, T.C. N.Z. Sapling Stakes, 1926 ' - SECOND FORFEITS. Dec. 17—Ashburton T.C. N.Z. Sapling Stakes, 1926. . , . NOTES ANDCOMMENTS The Waimate meeting will be held today. There will he racing at Gisborne today and on .Saturday.

Battle Knight.is engaged.in two races this t afternoon at Gisborne* and 'if reserved "for the Oats Tie ought to go particularly well. " He’"is a useful horse under big weights* and ' the class he is opposed to "is * not '6trong.* • Mahia might *be sent ©fitfavourite for the Gisborne Steeplechase* in"whi^h'the field is weak. .

King Cheops, who likes the going soft, was not seen at his best at Trentham* but he ought to show up at Gisborne this afternoon. Princess Bonnie is a fairly smart galloper, and Tari will have the advantage of the services of Boy Reed.

There will be a big fiel<| in the Maiden* and Sunlike, because of the presence in the saddle of Boy Seed, is likely to be well backed.

Dancing Days, who is racing at Waimate this afternoon* has a lot of 'speed and might hang on long enough to be very dangerous in the Morven Welter, which is run over a seven-furlong course. Maurice McCarten's disqualification exoires two days before the Grand National meeting opens. A well-known owner .has. cabled to him offering him ;he riding' of one of the well-fanoied jandiddtes for the Winter Cup.

Tuki, in charge cf his owner, *J. O'Neill, has arrived at Biccarton, and is doing steady work.

Killocra and Musical are at Biccarton in charge of their trainer* B. 8. Bagby. It is reported that a tempting offerin the neighbourhood of *6Booo—was made in Australia for Pilliewinkie recently.

In the absence of Loughrea from the Grand National Hurdles, it is more than likely that A. E. Ellis will have the mount on Penury Bose.

Some Kid has gone into J. Campbell's stable at Biccarton. Although bright and well, the Birkenhead gelding does not look forward enough to do himself justice at early meetings.

Rehutai has come' into favour for the Winter Cup since the Wellington Racing Club's winter meeting. The Lucullus filly will be ridden at Biccarton by L. G. Morris.

W. Tomkinson has a trip to Auckland for the Fleet Meeting in view, but so far no decision has been arrived at as to the personnel of the team. Great Hope and Planet are still located in Sydney. The . restrictions in New South Wales placed on horses coming from Western Australia* owing to the prevalence of foot-and-mouth disease,.is the cause of their not returning to the Dominion as soon as was intended. .

Omahu will be a notable absentee from the Grand National meeting. The Maniapoto gelding has twice won the Lincoln Steeplechase at Biccarton, and has raced well on several other occasions on the same course. He lias a wonderful record in good races over hurdles and country, apart from winning good handicaps on the fiat* and with a little luck

on his side, might have been hailed as one of the best hurdle and cross-country, horses the Dominion has produced. As mentioned, he has won two Lincoln' Steeplechases and has won the Welling/ ton Steeplechase twice and finished third once. His next best win was in the Winter Steeplechase at Ellerslie, in. which he had previously run second. He has three seconds in the Great Northern! Steeplechase to his credit, two seconds, and two thirds in the Century Hurdles, and a second in the Great Northern Hurdles and the Wanganui Steeplechase. He started racing as a two-year-old in 1916, and besides the performances mentioned has won numerous other events in every department of Tacing. Valdamo is an adept at jumping hurdles.. He goes at his fences boldly, and gives every indication of being a crackajack over the sticks. This year’s Grand Prix da Paris was worth 625,000 francs. At the old rate.of exchange that would 'have been equivalent to J 825.000 in English money. Now, however, with 164 francs going to the -£ the English value of the race would, be very little over JJ6OOO. Ayrburn’s name was omitted from the list of acceptors in the Winter Cup. The supporters of Tuki, who will be waiting to see him school before the great event, will be disappointed, as J. O’Neill does not intend to give his National candidate any jumping prior to the meeting (says the ''Sun”). Women bookmakers, owners, and punt' era are numerous in England, but now. their ranks include advertising Turf tipsters. In a recent issue of the "London Sporting Life aid Sportsman" there, was a ■ long advertisement from a Miss ' Ivy Rose —nice sounding name—who announced she bod taken up quarters at Epsom to specially watch three (horses ■ that were certainties, and would 6tart at long prices. Those who wished •to share in these good things were merely asked to post three stamped and addressed telegraph forms, and in the old, old wav, to out a pound note on for the lady- on each horse she wired. After the Derby she freely advertised she .had sent Manna for that race. The New Mexico Stakes, a w.f.a. race with penalties and allowances end restricted to two-and-three-olds, oaught on with Sydney owners. It will be run ‘at the Fleet meeting at Randwick on the 25th inst.. and there are 51 entries. Windbag is of the number, as -are Boaster, and Red Gauntlet, Windbag will carry 141 b penalty, and, with the distance only six furlongs, 9.12 should keep him from the front. It is strange to read of ladies associated with a church supervising the lpnchcou, and a clergyman me.king.the introductory remarks at a sale of thoroughbred horses, but this happened at the dispersal of the late Major August Belmont’s Nursey Stud near' Lexington, in America, last May. There were nearly 3500 people present. and the luncheon was under the auspices of the ladies of the .Church of the Good Shepherd (Episcopalian). The sale, was managed by an old-time press. m«n. Mr J. G. Fitzgerald, who was once a leading starter in New York, but who now specialises in' publicity .work, ill matters associated with racing. Heopened the sale by introducing Dr Ohomas'L. Settle, rector of the Church, whovmade the following remarks:—"We of 1 Kentucky are happy to f have so many of vr.u who are visitors assembled here <a-day. We are proud of this beautiful countryin which we live. We believe it is the greatest garden next to Heaven .and we want yon to help us enjoy what our God in Heaven has given us to enjoy, but we are sad to-day, some of us: to: see'this great stud of wonderful thoroughbred horses dispersed. This Nursery Stud, which was built up to a high state of perfection hv a great, student of Wood lines from the foundation assembled by his father on this beautiful place.: has been a thing of great pleasure for many of. us. With thoughts of him who ijydntained this great establishment and'who has p.assed to his eternal reward, lot ,ns all rise end uncover for'a moment in client tribute to the memory of) Major Belmont/*’ Hyprvono .in the vast '.assembly stood with heads bowed for abhul e minute. "Thanks," said Dr fjettte.i as he stepped from fche auction ho*In England this ysar. the opinion was general among breeding, experts that the fact of being by Phalaris >was iogaitfst Manna as a possible stayer. Discussing the idea, Mr W. Allison writes .is-fal-lows in the "Sporting Life' and • Sportsman”:—"l should like to point out: to the detractors of Fhalaris (before the Derby) that. Lord Derby the first to realise thevalue' of Fhalaris a:-' a stallion-to mate with staying blood. He came to the conclusion that his his res were tending too much in. the direction of stamina, excluding speed, and, at that time. I tried to buy Fhalaris ■ for Mr ■ Reginald White, of N.S.W., and. he went and saw Lord Derby about it. /•’lhe result -was that Mr White should 'have the lefusel of the horse if he wore for sale at all. but no hope was held cut that business could be done. Lord Derby wrote expressly that this was just the horse 'he wanted to put speed into his staving mares, and he- was absolutely right, though Pharos did not show quite sufficient stamina for the Derby. Manna has done the trick, anyhow, and though he does not belong to Ford Derby, he has proved the value of his sire up to. the hilt.” - Phalarie was particularly brilliant,, and. prior to Manna, some of his progeny had won beyond a mile and- a half. Moabite did so. and was- twice Successful last year at that exact distance, though in company not quite first-class.