NEWS AND NOTES.

NZ Truth, Issue 978, 23 August 1924, Page 10

NEWS AND NOTES.

A- 'quiet week. Otago Hunt next Saturday. North Taranaki Hunt the^same day. Sturdee is now ;to. go into retirement. . Wassail is now being rated a second Gloaming; 1 ■'/• . „ - Luke Wilson-; is to superintend the preparation of the members of the late Arthur . Oliver's team m future. Rivalry was given the over Mountain Signal dt Ricearton last Saturday, but : from Jhe Press, stand the •latter won. ;; '. '■'■"- \y..-:. ' . . ■/. Why was an interested party allowed to have a word with the judge when he made his mistake the first day- at Riccarton? . • , . V; . Moorland is now right: for the first time'., .in his career. Good races will be won by him this" season. •Nominations for all events to be run atv(;he Dannevirke Club's spring meeting and at the Dannevirke: Hunt Club's annual meeting close with Secretary Walter, Dobson on Friday, August 29, at 8 p.m.. . . . ;■"." Kilfaire ran a; bad race the first day at the National, but the second day, m select company, lie' gave ,a better display.'/ ' , ; { . .'... Maunga> went ; - to pieces after ; the Trentham meeting, and at Riccarton he looked very scraggy. Invthe National) Hurdles he nearly' came down at the -, first fence, but. he got ; into fourth berth at the' finish^. The last day he was under the stick \a ; mile from home, and down" he came at the last obstacle. — t . Logic ran one good race at Riccarton, the middle day. Properly placed, Harold Connop will make him a'paying proposition this season. "■ ' ■ It is a shame what Wassail would have done' to the Winter : Cup field had he .been allowed jto continue his engagement. :■/.■■■■/:.. ■■.;":.'■ •...''■ .. It is time. the Canterbury Jockey Club dropped the absurd rule of prohibiting boys from smoking m the jockeys' room. 'At the present time when a boy wants to have a smoke. Tie is compelled to go out on to the enclosures, , and that is not ' the best place for a ' boy dressed ready to ride. He is only picked' up by a lot of in-formation-seekers,: who pester him for the 'right oil. ,If other ciubs" can see their way clear, to allow, boys to smoke m their room, .surely such a small concession can be made at, Riccarton? From the stand there appeared to .be a. case for the Judicial Committee; m the .running of the Redcliffe Handicap at ' Riccarton last Saturday. The rider of Rivalry made; pretty;, free play with his whip over the l^sV furlong, arid if lie- did hot interfere... with Mountain Signal, well something happened to cause, that mare to thr.ow her head up m the air.,' „:V . V ''"■•'. ''•:.'' .. ; ■ ..'■ . '.' ■ A race should not <be. long m coming the way of Kenfnorei In both his starts at Riccarton he showed promiße, especially, so on the last day, when he was allowed to run all over the place. . The middle day .at Riccarton a. tale got, about concerning King Sol, and some of the shrewd burnt their fingers. Bonatic was > only produced the last day at Riccarton,: but he. ran like' a duffer. ■; It must "have given, his train-

er a shock, for he expected the gelding to run well up. ' Bonibrook won like a good one the second day at Riccarton, but on the last day at every fence he lost ground and was one of the first beaten. Tinokaha appeared to be a bit short of work at Riccarton, and m both his runs ovx,r the small fences he petei-ed out the last bit. Rangi Thompson kept him up to his fences better than Basher Ayres did at Trentham. Silverton broken down at Riccarton and will need a good spell. This year, instead of taking home the spoils, Charlie Coleman took back a coup"le of cripples. Kovno had three tries at Riccarton, and on each occasion she found the fences too hard. Charlatan is a good fencer, but he does not stay too well. Steve Barrett does not intend to hurry the gelding and' next season he will confine him to hack steeples. ■; . ,■ j What is the worst fence of the Riccarton country? Most riders reckon that the Kennels double is a positive •llghtmare. \ It is said that one horseman was responsible for a lot of pitching m an endeavor to.be on one of the hot things at Riccarton. However, all was m vain. " Taking a line through his running the last day at Riccarton it is not asking much of Silent King to win a r cc over the battens m the near future. Little Demand was second twice at Riccarton. He had everything his way the last day, but he was just pipped by the fast-finishing Radiac The handicapper at Riccarton gave the public a good: lead the last day when he gave Passiri' Through only a pound more than the gelding carried to victory the . second day. San Forte was als6 pointed to. The second day he had lOst 51b, the last lOst lib. The distance was certainly a little longer on Saturday/ but: that was excuse fjr taking such chances. One hard race at Riccarton was the undoing 'of Red Cent. If he had been reserved for the Beaufort the, second day he would have given it a big shake. ' • It is a great pity that Gang Awa' is gone m the wind.. If his breathing apparatus was m good order he would be one of the best 'chasers m the land. He can jump like a stag, and weight does not bother him. When he learns to. jump cleanly and quickly, Boomerday will be a topnotcher. Next winter, we can look for a big improvement; Bert Morris rode a masterly race on Soliform m the Winter Cup. Had he been on Broadwood he would have reversed the positions, such was the fine exhibition he gave. It is a tragedy that avoirdupois keeps the boy out of the siddle most of the season. Some trainers can be confident when they like. One fellow went to N Riccarton with the idea of winning one pace, and he was so certain of his horse that he booked to come home the day after, the race. The horse won and home he went. Bert Worrhald left via Auckland for Sydney this week. • He is going over to ride Sunny Loch In his engagements. Tinokaha, on his l'eturn from: Riccarton, went on to Wanganui, and, for the time' being, will be under the charge of Jim Howden. When .Maunga fell t the last day at Riccarton he gave E. Copestake a shaking and a bad ankle; Cope will have to use a stick for a week or so. Jack Roach broke a small bone m his wrist and cut his head when Royal Fame fell with him. Lbchson, who broke dow^i during the running of the National Hurdles,

looks v a hopeless case, and his party were fortunate m getting a good one m before he went. Before the Lincoln Steeplechase, Mr. George. Peach said that the race would most likely be Oakleigh's last. Pos-, sibly,' m view of the way the St. Amans' gelding stripped, the brothers may alter their mind, for, prior to going out to do his preliminary, he was prancing about the birdcage like a two-year-old. In both his 'races at Riccarton, Oakleigh was unlucky. The first day. First Line caused him to fall, when it looked odds -on the double National winner filling second place. On Saturday he was so well placed early that all were expecting him to be hard, but at the first of the Kennels double Gal.way came down and upset Oakleigh. After winning the Styx Hurdles at Riccarton Saturday last, Dug 'Webster sold Radiac to Mr. J. Grigg. The price paid was £ 600. The Canterbury Jockey Club is regarded as the most autocratic m the land, and if the members do not soon come to their senses they will find •their club going- down the toboggan like greased lightning. Royal Fame as a hurdler can be passed over. "The fence that brought him down at Riccarton he made no effort to jump — he just threw himself into it. He will now go out for a spell, and he needs it. Dick will not jump the 'first fence of the Kennels double at Riccarton. Last year he got m too close to it and toppled over into the ditch, and since then he has been scared of it. The writer doubts if there is another fence m the country that the little fellow ■would shirk, but this one will always beat him. In winning a double against the hot stuff m one day, Wassail showed himself to be more than a boom horse. On a dead track he ran the seven m twenty-eight, the last four taking fifty and two, and he was doing it on his head. The six later m the day, was clocked at fourteen and a half. The solid race Fireblight had m the National fixed her, and m her only other start at, the meeting she ran like a goat. The going was not to her liking, and the softer it is the better she go.es. She is to have a short let•up and will then be prepared for the Hunt Club Steeples at Dannevirke.' Harry Burt won four races over fences at the National meeting. This should be a good enough answer to those people who reckon the big fellow is not a classy horseman? One thing certain: a horse has to come down to get rid of hini. The most impressive horse seen out at the National meeting was Bullford,. a big, upstanding gelding by Strowan. In a fortnight he hai scored three wins, and so far .he has not yet been asked to gallop. Nothing, is beyond him, and next winter he will make his mark. Radiac, who is now the property of Mr. J. Grigg, is a' most likely sort of a jumper. Up to the present he has next to no schooling, but when he is properly seasoned, one of the big hurdle races will come his way. He is able t-. jump big country, according to those who should know. v Black Art, who is now back at Vern Colello's, is to be blistered -and turned out. • ■ . The Riccarton two-year-olds were sprinted during an interval between races last Saturday. Taking them right through, they are a very ordinary lot, and the only two to cause comment were the Boniform— Philomela filly and the Paper Money — Kilrea gelding. During the progress of the gentlemen jocksters' race at Riccarton last Saturday one" of the contestants fell. The rider did not half go crook at the joker he alleged- was responsible for the fall, and the sight was witnessed of a half-pie inquiry m the bird cage, which was adjourned to the judicial room ,as soon as somebody woke up. Nothing was done to the alleged culprit. A filly by Limond— Commerce made her appearance at Mr. G. N. Carrie's stud farm one day last week. The name Viola has been bestowed upon the filly by Joculator out of En-, garl whom W. Dwyer has m work at Wanganui. She is spoken rather highly of. Gaillard will probably be a runner m the open sprint event at .the Taranaki Hunt Club meeting. Homage has .started bleeding and has had to be turned out for a spell.Siaosi has furnished into a splendid type of three-year-old, and he has only to go on th= right way to pick up some good races for Bert Russell. The son of Elyßian is to contest the Takapuna Plate all going well m the interval. . •■'■ The failure of Omahu to win a race at the National meeting was hard to understand. In the big hurdles he was always well placed, but When asked to do a little better three furlongs from home, he could not respond. The lust day he shirked his work for the first two fences, but over the final halfmile he went more generously and finished third. ( " While on the subject' of Omahu, it Is only right that Sir Rosebery should be mentioned. In June, the Masterton horse won the Great Northern like a real good one, but at Trentham he went a poor race. Put back to hurdling at Riccarton, he failed to even run decently, and was a failure. Mixing it may be the root of the trouble with both him and Omahu. The last fence of- the National Hurdles saw Vagabond get into trouble when looking all over a winner. The hist day he won handsomely, much to the pleasure of the crowd. It*ls hard to find out any definite particulars about the inquiries for AVassail, though it is definitely known that a Sydney buyer was very keen on securing him. Anyhow, the sale fell through, and the brilliant customer is still m Hickey's stables: ' The first day of the National meeting Prompter ran second (the judge made it third) ', but m his other two starts he was well beaten. What Kuhio lacks m inches he more than makes up m courage. Till he entered Denny McCauley's stables at Trentham he was a big disappointment, but he is now coming good. Though Jack Gravestock was given m the race cards as the trainer of both Sturdee and Merry Singer, they are still Inmates of J. Muher's stables at Hastings. Santiago was handicapped at 9st 41b m the National Hurdles, but when he won the Trial Hurdles on the first day he Incurred a 121 b penalty for beating a lot of >hacks. Carrying this, he ran second m the National. For the .Sydenhnm Hurdles the hist day he was Kiven 10«t 1111> — a rise of seven pounds for running hoc-oik!. Aftor reading tho above it is easy to hco how hl« owner frot it m the neck for putting up a. twelve pound ,

penalty. The handicapper only got two chances to weigh him, and the second time he gave the gelding twen-ty-one pounds more than on the first occasion. Of course, Santiago's owner had a reason for going after the Trial Hurdles. He wanted to get the services of Bert Wormald m the National, but when that horseman was injured as a result, of the falling of Carawock, the ride went to Harry McSweeney. Perhaps with Wormald up Santiago might have won, and the exhibition over the last furlong points to this, but the fact remains that the horse's owner was a bit rash m going for the penalty. Had it come off it would have been a good piece of generalship, but as it didn't it was a bad error, of judgment. Merry Singer is not much more than a 'novice at the jumping game, and lack of experience told against him m the National* Hurdles. He failed this year, but it may be a different story next. It was pleasing to see the display Duo gave the middle day at Riccarton. In the; Islington Handicap the onetime champion showed he has not forgotten how to 'gallop, and m his heyday he was a most bold galloper. After much perseverance Winning Hit won a race at Riccarton. He hopped out- to the front, but the rest of the field were satisfied to let him make the pace, expecting the Chokebore horse to come back to them. He didn't, and by the time the rest woke up to the fact 'he was a winner-. 1 Reg. Mackie had an easy ride on Wassail m his first race at Riccarton last< Saturday, but the second, gave him a bit of work. , His mount did not jump out too cleanly, and coming on to the course proper Mackie was driving him along. Wassail responded most generously and at the distance he was a winner. One thing certain is that Mackie gets as much out of the gelding as it is possible. In eight races he has got him home first seven times, and don't forget deeds count. Vagabond got into some trouble on" his way down to Riccarton and did not do much solid work before the National Hurdles. Walter Garrett does not often make a mistake m rating the chances of his horses, but it looks as if Weeta has got him thinking. Both at Trentham and Riccarton the gelding let his party down. The Wairarapa Racing. Club has decided not to continue the five shillings tax*" oh members' motqr-cars. This was a sore point at the last fixture. It dpes not seem as if Birkenella will make good as a hurdler, and he is one of the few Birkenheads who have not taken kindly to the jumping game. Last National he won two races, but they> were on the flat. Bob Knox was confident of picking up, a race' last week with Penury Rose, but third m the Jumpers', Flat was his best effort. The Opaki trainer believes m his horses earning their breakfast, and this one has probably be,en overdone. When Mr. C. F. Vallance leased Mahuru early m th e jumping season it was with a hope that she would represent him m the Grand National Steeplechase. The mare broke down at Trentham last month, and the only horse he had to rely on then was Sturdee, and when this gelding. ran; last m the Wellington Steeples, things did not look top good.. However, Sturdee won the big event at Riccarton and realised a long cherished hope of his owner. Bill Hawthorne, must, have got a shock when Blue Hall won at Riccarton. This -gay deceiver would have broken, the heart of any other trainer years ago. ' " Peneus does not gallop at all w,eiron a wet track, and is backward m consequence, but the Vallance-owned horse soon comes to hand and will be ready for the local meeting. Captain Gage Williams is gathering m a few positions m the judge's box, and last week was appointed to that position by the Carterton Club. . Sir Rosebery had a recurrence of his old trouble after racing m the National Hurdles, and ' could not start again. His mission on the concluding day was the Lincoln Steeples, and A. McDonald was to have ridden him. Lady Ben has. shown a liking for the jumping game, and :it is her owner's intention to try her m this department m the near future. At present she is only doing light work at Opaki. One of the reasons advanced for the failure of Income to show any dash m his schooling efforts at. Riccarton was that on landing over the fences the jar made him feel his, one-time dicky leg. Anyway, for the time being his owner, Ted Andrews, has given up the idea of making a hurdler out of his gelding. 1 ■ During the running 'of the Grand National Steeplechase it was impossible from the stand to see, the horses jumping the Kennels double, so great ,was the crowd congregated about these two fences. . 'the club should see that m future : spectators are kept at a reasonable distance from obstacles. It is not fair to the riders and the horses that, a seething- mass of humanity should be perched upon fences to be jumped, and again, it; is not fair to lawn patrons who pay good money to see the jumping, only to have their view cut out by «. mob." Another place that the club could well clear during the running of races is the last hurdle m the straight. The only two bad jumps Tenterfield put m during the running of his race was at this obstacle, and the last time, b^e oame down. * Dame Straightlace has finished her racing career and is to go into the Kinloch Stud. Since her second m the last New Zealand Cup. she has performed very disappointingly, and never at any time has she given Steve Barrett reason to wire "Win the race and marry the girl." The big disappointment of the National meeting was the inability of Pamplona to take his place m the National field. The lameness behind was not extra serious, but Lou Hazlett was taking no. risks of ruining his good horse, so he let the race go. He fvUl now be put by till next season, when he will come up smiling. Yoma ran three good races at the National, meeting, but was not quite think. Unless one Is m the select circle it is next door to impossible to get a lad y's ticket at Riccarton. The attlude of the club is hard to reason, but it is only having one effect. Em. Warner's display on Sturdee m the National Steeplechase waafirstrate, and on the score of riding alone he deserved the victory. Paul Pry is a promising sort, and he won his race at Rlccnrton *" .{V P 16 ; 1 *" ng manner. . Next year he will be going along with the cracks, and he should just about hold his own. The Egmont-Wanganui Hunt Club experienced bad weather for its annual nice mooting held at Wanganui Jast Saturday. Mr G. D. Bcatson, of Hastings, took Giy Bobble und Oak Rose to the Hunt Club meeting at Wanganui, und picked up two races. Oak Rose won the Hunt Cup, and Guy Bobbie scored m the Ladies' Bracelet. Diamond Nap, winner of the Hunters' Hurdles, wsih well handled by R. Symc, who brought the Glonapp gelding along with »i line run at the finish to win nicely from Supporter. The

winner will be worth watching at the Marton J.C. and Rangitikei Hunt Olub's meetings, as he is very well; Marton sports were very sweet on the chances of Supporter m the Hunters' Hurdles at Wanganui last Saturday, as the ■ Patrbnus gelding was credited with having done as well as Bonibrook and Demand m his schooling essays. He went well, but found Diamond Nap just a bit better on the day. Peut Etre has not grown much since last season, but she gallops m good style. She won the Maiden at Wanganui last- Saturday, beating a fail* field comfortably. . Taranaki people backed Price confidently m the Hack Hurdles at the Hunt Club meeting, but Alaric found more support. W. Easton rode a welljudged race on the, favorite, •who jumped cleverly. It looked as if he could have won by a big margin had his rider liked. Hughie Johnston ''has riot had Opa long, but the gelding has improved very much since he took him m hand. He won the Waverley Hack at the. hunt meeting at Wanganui like a good one. Oak Rose is not yet a spent light, as he proved by carrying top weight to victory m the Hunt Cup at Wanganui. Ecuador was taken to Wanganui for the Flying Handicap last Saturday and mad« favorite. Whatever chance he had was blotted out through him losing a lot of - ground by swerving badly when the tapes went up. Civility showed some of her old brilliancy, being m front most of the way. It looked odds on her winning, but herrider appeared to stop riding her at the distance and she dropped back.. There was a dead 'un m the Ladies' Bracelet, and appropriately enough he was named Monument. He led the field for three-quarters of a mile and then toppled over dead. : , \ Kaika and Supporter were abreast at the home turn, but ran out and let Gay Bobbie up on the. rails to win. Alaric will have to meet some good ones m the hack hurdles at Marton, but he will lead them a merry dance if he gets to the front m: the early stages. A parade of two-year-olds was to have been held during the i afternoon at the Egmont-Wanganui Hunt Club's meeting, but the , wretched weather conditions led to it being abandoned. Mr.- JV B. Gaisford has been having Koauau schooled over the hurdles recently, and the son' of All Red has been shaping well for a beginner. The gelding was a starter m the Waverley Hack at Wanganui last Saturday, but was hardly i*eady for such a race and finished fourth. ; Siaosi finished last m a five horse race at Wanganui last Saturday. Though not yet ready he was expected to shape better than he did. That once bold fencer Onipoto had a number of supporters for the Hunt Cup at Wanganui, but -he threw out at the first obstacle. J .Shining Armour is .engaged m the Tutaenui Welter at Marton. The son of Greyspear is said to have grown into a fine stamp of a three-year-old. ' v A. Wormald left for Sydney by the Niagara on Tuesday to fulfil riding cn T gagements on the other side. It transpires that Eonmark is to carry the colors of his trainer, C. Coleman, the Ellerslie mentor having obtained a twelve months'^ lease of the King. Mark gelding. Peter Amans has resumed work after his short spell. ; ..' : J. Preston has sent Larrikin and The Drifter to the hunts. The former jumps well and should turn out to be an asset at this branch of the sport. C. Browne has decided to give up riding for a period, and it is stated that he will set up -in the -motor, business shortly. Marble Bell promises to be well forward by* the time the Avondale Meeting comes round. The little mare finished second m the Avondale Cup last season. t Archibald looks fresh and well to start the season, and on his form.towards the end of last season, he should more than pay his way when asked to race again. The Auckland contingent of horses at present racing on the other side have not met with much success. So far, Tactful is the only one who has won a race. Most of the team have contracted colds and have hot run up to their best form. J." Buchanan has the three-year-old Radiate looking very well. Radiate is a half-brother to Te Kuri by Polydamon. It happened m Christchurch last week. The last race had been reached, and the horses were parading m the birdccige. The punters for one stable were awaiting the oil — to be or not to be, that was the question. To be it was, and there was a rush for the tote. All -were set, but then the word was passed that the stable were not popping. Then there was a scramble to lay off. Some succeeded, some didn't. .The stable, commission for the pea- was being held up to the last minute. Just on time the commissioner made a wild rush into the joint, but he left his effort too late and was shut out. Result, the punters were on the wrong way and the stable missed being on the right way.