CLIMATIC CHANGES.

NZ Truth, Issue 91, 16 March 1907, Page 2

CLIMATIC CHANGES.

"Spreader" writes :— T-he number of foreign entries for the Ascot Gold Cup this .year m England, among them being six foreign Derby winners, naturally brings to mind the effeai a change of climate and country must have on a thoroughbred. Of course the majority, of foreign horses entered at Ascot are of European extraction and have' been trained and raced m countries similar m many respects to England as rfegards climate,-, and such horses will not be racing at such a disadvantage as, say, Noctuiform, for' instance, who has had to stand the long sea ; journey, practically "from one end.of the earth to the other," previous to settling down to work m a new country. That horses from Australasia have struck form m all sorts of climates goes without saying. Within the lasrb season horses from Australia and New Zealand liave raced, and won, m South America, England and India ; likewise English horses, have secured winning brackets m most of the large racing centres m the world. The change of diet and training tactics m the cases of a great many racehorses seem to have been beneficial rather than otherwise, when exported from their native land. A hofse may strike his top form m a very short time after a long sea journey, and m fact the great; number of horses that have done so makes it hard to believe that a long voyage is m any way likely to lessen his speed or stamina, providing, of course, everything is done to make the journey as untiring and comfortable as possible. . In; the cases m which top notch horses have not struck their best form m. a reasonable time m strange lands, it seems that the change of diet and" method of training have as much to do. with loss of form as has the actual difference m climate. All stud masters as a rule have. a. 'Svay" or two of ■their own of putting 'the* extra es^^Korser^^fe^ll^^^errsimilar m most respects m aay, this country. The' preparation . thait got Spearmint into winning, form m the English Derby would' probably never make an Ascot Gold Gup winner, of Noctuiform, yet it is safe to; surmise that Noctuiform will have to undergo many changes of tactics on the part of his trainer before he can be got into the form he showed at his best m this country. Most horses from this part of the. world that have struck form' m! England have been slow m doing so. Nevertheless,' several of them have struck undoubtedly their best form m that ( country. The "Waler" has long been the most serviceable horse m the British cavalry regiments m India, likewise the racehorses from the Commonwealth have scooped /the plums of it-he Indian turf m late years. The i change of climate from Australia to India doesn't seem to- have the least influence on the stock when exported^ from one country to the other. In India the majority of Australian horses at present m -training are prepared by ex-Australians and also ridden by jockeys from the land of the kangaroo. Loss ■of form m a champion horse when ,taken from. one. ex■treme to the . other -m the matter of climate is' m itself ".food for reflection to the best, of jbq'ges, especially when the horse is " itt all other perfectly , sound z; ..and m ninety-nine case out of a .hundred nothing but "time" itself will" solve the problem . For instances -'of ' Various horses who have shown their best form m foreign lands one has no need to go beyond Ne\7 Zealand. This country produced an English Grand National winner , Moifaa.. The imported I ' Musket got Carbine at the stud m New Zealand, who went "over the other side" and -became the greatest' racehorse of his day, "was then exported tb England and got Spearmint, the English Derby ; winner 'after a great v maHy' years (for a horse), stud ,duty - m tha\cquntrv.- Maltese; Cross was A 'ptiirqhased m England m foal to Wild Oats, and lmpo.rte,d, to. South Australia,, where she 'threw the' foal and gave the turf that masterpieoe of sires Gpzo. The Ions; pea journey didn't evidently at 1 feet. Maltese Cross to any extent, and she was, only one of hundreds 6f' instances that could pc nameJd. ■