News and Notes

NZ Truth, Issue 998, 10 January 1925, Page 9

News and Notes

A lull. And it's appreciated. Name the best two -year- old., Ditto the best three-year-old. Don't be too hasty— you're liable to trip. . .-.--.■ ■..■:.■ .i -.■■.: ; '•■ . •

What will •'Gold Light get m the Wellington Cup?

And whatever it be,, won't. she have a say if she starts?

There's no stopping \ Rod McKenzie at present. It's Sunart's turn again.

Did Pronto, beat Hyama. at Tauherenikau? Most m a position to see say yes. " '.- <:.-/'/ ', -/■ : •

Snow Morris did Awapuni and Marton and: collected winning fees m eight races.

Seven of the Waikanae yearlings are to be sold during race week at Wellington. . ".. , ..

The seven comprise four. colts and three fillies. A sister to Anthonie s who won at .Tauherenikau, is included. '

After Inferno won at Wanganui m the spring the following appeared m this column: , "It is doubtful if he is going to be a success; over the classic courses 'this season." • : .

Since Wanganui Inferno has won. a race — the Pearce Handicap at Trentham. He was second m • the New Zealand Derby, but from then on he has failed. It's not bred- in the bone, for him to stay. ' ■';

By the way, Inferno must be sick of the sight of -Gold Light. She' cut him. to pieces m the Stead Cup at Riccarton and m the King's Plate at Ellerslie she ran him off his" feet m the first half mile. •

Mr. Percy "Wall's mare Dissertation came through the holiday meetings with credit. She had four races for two wins, a ; second and a third. They never got to her the last day at Hastings. '■'."•.

Though we hear a lot. about the flash members of the Absurd clan, sjaldom is the praise of Lady Ridicule sung. This mare won two mile events at Ellerslie m a very convincing manner. ■ •

Duo came through hisrAucklan'd 'engagements all right, and' by the time the Trentham meeting arrives the old fellow will be very cheeky. - There is a lot of life m him yet, and don't forget It. .■.■/ ■- ', :v ; ",- ■• - ••

Mr. Herbert Gaisford make's no secret of the fact .that he thinks Mime is going- to be one good, horse. One thing is certain, and. thatvis: there -.•■ is . no.

chance of his tjeing run off his legs this season.

It is horrible to have two horses m a race and to back one only to see the other come home on you.' Yet that is said to have happened at one of the New Year meetings.

It is to be hoped that with all the -holiday racing to detract attention the powers that be have not overlooked the question of race riding and the safety of courses. The recent deaths cannot be passed over that lightly.

While on this subject it is generally admitted that inexperienced lads cause most of the trouble m races, but now and again horsemen of long experience also do their share.

A fall occurred at Awapuni that looked a ' bit this way. The greasy going may have caused the downfall of the animal, but one rider who was my a hurry to get 6n to the fence had a helping hand, m it.

The riding at Tauherenikau was at times ghastly. • Dame Fortune smiled —no, laughed loudly- — half a dozen times a/day at that gathering. Riding tickets are issued with' 1 a pound of tea nowadays.

!■; "Truth's" Christmas bax to Rod McKenzie was "A turning; to the long lane." Since that wish was expressed Rod has won five races, including two f-ups, and' dead heated m another.

George Murray Aynsley's trip to Ellerslie was not a paying proposition. The sheet anchor of the team, Limelight, after running third m the Auckland. Cup, failed to. do anything at all.'

Red Wink is proving a great bread and butter ,horse for Jack Pearson, and both the big events at Invercargill came his way.

When Gold Light finished fourth m the Auckland Cup she -was out of a place for the first time this season.

The third day -at Ellerslie' saw big money go on to Bullford m the Hurdles, and the' support was justified.' It is going to, take some weight to stop this fellow m - the winter.

Percy Hazelman is having a great run with his two-year-old Licinius. He won again at Marton, m a canter, and his tally is. now three on end. Trentham will next see him m action.

Mime, the full brother to Parody, had his -first outings at Hastings, and he rah a second and a first. There is more to follow.

Ben Rosen, the Queensland horseman, .had a very successful time over the holiday meetings, m all riding six winners. The writer has an idea -that Rosen would like to come' to the southern . portion of the North Island to. reside, and now that he s is m the boom, he should find it easy ~ to get set. •■.." . ' ■■ '. ■ ■ ■"■ : ■; '. \

„ Though Clarinda was accepted for at both Awapuni and Marton, she did not race at either gathering. She had not properly thrown off her cold-' and Tom Lloyd was taking no chances.

Last, winter Gaze was ! a: hunter,, but now he is a big 1 handicap winner. The All Black gelding is good for a lot more /races yet before he goes back to 'chasing-. ! It is said .-that there is a maiden up m Gisborne who can catch swallows on the track. Autbmne and Merchant are cold pie to him, and when it comes to "jumping he is a rip snorter. He is firat to be produced m. the winter. ■•■'...' , Bill Donovan had to wait a time to catch'a decent race with Runnymede, but when the Royal Stakes came his way the success was deserved. Bill thinks a lot of his two-year-old, and he has every reason to. ■ : The gentleman jocks' race at Marton the second day was a lot better than is usually the case with such events; Going out r of . ith'e straight they . cert-

ainly all ran off the course with the exception of the winner. But he had Jim Morris aboard. Nuff sed.

The numerous wins of Rod McKenzie over the holidays were very popular. To the writer- the most pleasing part was to see Tom Lloyd having a trot. Tom is one of those genuine chaps who is unaltered by success or defeat, and long .may he continue so.

The Marton meeting is always a popular/ gathering, but at the present it is far from the best course m the country to view racing. - The alterations to the lay-out of the course are to be gone on with at once, and when these are completed great will be the rejoicing. ;

Sottano went shin sore after the Manawatu meeting and Fred Quin-. livan was unable to go on with his Marton engagements. Quinlivan is having a terrible job trying to get a bit of condition stay put on the four-year-old, but another year on the gelding should see the end of this difficulty.

Merchant did not show his true form at Manawatu and Marton, and he was a costly proposition to his party. There is evidently something -vyrong with the Gisborne horse, something that hi.s trainer has yet to diagnose and crure.

Taking it right through, the starting at Marton Avas good — certainly the best seen at meetings of late. It was quite refreshing' after . some of the dispatchings witnessed a few days previously at Awapuni. x

The two biggest surprises of the New Year racing were the dividends returned by Suggestion at Tauherenikau and by Orchid at Stratford. On paper they were, thirty bob touches, but on the -day they were a good deal more.

Jack McDonell started off the New Year on the right foot by winning both hurdle races at Marton with Bonny Rill. The mare, who was making her re-appearance, never let the rest m. • /

Since winning the New Zealand Cup m November, Rod McKenzie has added two more trophies to his sideboard — the Manawatu Cup and the Marton Cup. The two latter events were won m similar fashion, Clandhu and Cleasanta taking the lead early and never being caught.

The racing at Awapuni got to the bottom of Hall Mark, and he performed badly at Marton. He will get a short spell to freshen up before coming on to Trentham.

Ayola did not put her usual dash into her "finish m the Marton Cup, and had to be co. tent with second money. The Hawera mare has had , a pretty strenuous time since Cup week at Riccarton and she is no doubt starting to feel the effects of racing.

Waioeka Jack, a red hot pop m the Hurdles the first day at Marton, was not allowed to follow his usual plan 'of going to the front and making the pace. He 1 was kept m behind the field, and this caused him to get into several fences. He was taking off too soon, and the in-behind tactics were responsible for his errors. Had he been going along at his usual bat m front he would have taken the fences m. his stride. /

Vaward, a ,o-year-old by Bisogne, carrying the same colors as Avola, is a speedy sort, and when tuned up to concert pitch will win races.

Dangle is on the private sale list, his owner having to give up the game owing to bad health. Dangle makes up m courage for what he lacks m inches, being a fair dinkum little bull dog.

The statement published m these notes three weeks ago hinting at the early retirement of a prominent North Island owner was fully substantiated at one of the holiday meetings, where

the said owner went very crook over the decision of one race. The owner's representative m the race was robbed of its right placing.

Reg. Mackie, who had a fall the second day at Awapuni, was fooled about by the doctors to such an extent that he didn't know where he was. He had a broken collar-bone, then he didn't, then he did again, and at last it was discovered all was well. He had enough X-ray photos taken to fill a gallery.

The win of a certain horse at Awapuni did not please a number of people, including his owner and trainer, and the jockey got a bit of a roasting. There was all sorts' of talk about splits, etc., but the breach was. healed.

Te Kuri was given a great chance m the Marton Cup, but a minor mishap before the meeting caused his scratcning.

Since winning at Woodville last month, Licinius has scored at Awapuni and Marton. So far. the Lucullus gelding has not been asked to do his best; and it is difficult to say how good he is.

Mountain Jean was not ridden a good race the first day at Marton. The second day she got into bother early, but a lucky opening presented itself and Snow Morris drove her through to just get there. George New has the filly well, and he should win more races with her. •

At last year's sale of the Waikanae yearlings the Kilbroney -Rebekah colt brought 950 guineas. . Known as Anthonie, he won at Tauherenikau at. New Year, scoring m a convincing manner. A sister to Anthonie is to be offered at the sale during race week at Trentham.

Mr. C. J. Bennett had the bad luck to recently lose a foal by Cynic out of Pauleen, the dam of that good one Gazique.

' Sanctuary ran badly at Marton and on that form is not .worth bothering about. However, she may yet come right, and it may be wise to wait a bit.

Mr. W. R. Kemball is not having a great run at the present time, but this is not surprising as his stables shelter a very, poor 'lot. When Mr. Kemball started off he had a remarkable run, but this was not out of the way as he bought performers that had shown they were the goods. Since he has started to try and breed his own the rot has set m.

Olympic, a nice four-year-old by Polydamon out of Gay (a half-sister to Chortle), will not be long 1 m winning a race. At Marton the second day he only went out of. the picture over the last fifty yards.

Jockeys may come and jockeys may go, but the. Christmas jockey is always with us.

Mireusonta at the turn for home s in the open six the first day at Marton looked a good thing, but he faltered halfway,, down the running and Santonio ran past. The chestnut, however, came again with a great rattle and got up and made a dead-heat of it. Tom Lloyd is having a time trying to keep' Mireusonta on his legs.

In Night, the Wellington owner, Walter Smart, has the makings, of a good hurdler. He is only a novice at the game, but with a bit more experience he will come good.

A well-known owner who put three pounds on Potoanui the second day at Marton, riot knowing- that .Jack Kaan was on the Auckland horse, was rather annoyed with himself before the start of the race, but when Jack brought his mount along to win easily thfe owner took on to himself all the credit of being a good judge. Wonderful how circumstances alter cascsV

In his last few outings Bumptious has run like a dog, and he is. more at home now at the tail end of the field than m the lead.

'■ In her last few starts, Matin Bell has been costly. She is a fair sort only, and will never reach dress circle company.

A half-brother to that good mare Boadicea is to be offered at the sale of the Waikanae yearlings on January 21. He will need to be only as quarter as good as his relative to be worth a lot of money.

, In the spring Black Rock gave indications of making a good sort, but of late his showings have been poor. He ciit himself while working- at Awapuni and was not started there, but. at jMarton after being prominent m the early stages he died out.

Suggestion proved himself . a good horse when he won the Wairarapa Cup, for he was not ridden an elegant race. It would have been a cruel blow to Jack Farmer had his charge been beaten.

The, first day at Marton; Master Sandstone stopped just when his rider wanted him to get a move on. Taken to the front the next day he never looked like getting beaten and he won easily. However, his form of late is nothing to get excited about, and he is evidently not as good as was at first thought. >

The three-year-olds this season are a bad lot, and when Count Cavour can again win the Derby this statement is brought home most forcibly.. The writer can deeply . sympathise with George Jones, whose crack, Nigger Minstrel, went wrong. This unfortunate incident prevented Jones from having the killing of a life time.

Taking the three-year-olds right through this writer would rather -have Ebb. Simpson's filly D.egage carrying his modest investment than any other of her age m commission. She's some good.

Snowstell gave the Turf a number of extra good horses, Rebekah, one of her produce, being -a very : brilliant mare. At the Waikanae sale on January 21 a bay, colt by Kilbroney out of Snowstell will be offered, and there should be keen competition for this youngster. .

Had not Merle whipped round when the barrier went up for the Juvenile Handicap the first day at Marton. she would have been second. Murt Gardner expected his filly to give Licinius a race. She should not be long m picking up a race up her way.

Young Norm. Trillor, who is apprenticed to Harold Connop at Woodville, won* his' first race on Cleansanta when that mare scored m the* Mai ton Cup. The kid rides well, although he was very anxious to reach the judge m the Cup. In fact a furlong from home he looked: like leaving his mount to come home alone, such was his anxiety to get there.

Since last seen Lucrative has made a big improvement, and at Marton the second day he won comfortably. The big horse is now. carrying a bit ■; of condition, and J»m Morris should ;win with him again m the near future.

The two-year-old form is getting a bit tangled, but the autumn will see Mimetic coming into his own. To date Runnymede arid Licinius appear to be his most dangerous opponents.

Ma Boughal will m future Vace In the interests of Messrs. Jorgensen and Thorpe. Perhaps the change of clime will make the chestnut more honestit is to be hoped so at anyrate'. • '

The, first horse beaten m the Marton Cup was Clandhu. The going seemed to have him all at sea.

Bert Russell cracked it at Ellerslie when Siaosi won the third day. The win was well received, for all recognised that the Wanganui trainer deserved a turn-up. :

When Master Doon w.pn the Railway a lot were inclined to look at the performance •as a fluke, ' but- the three-year-old's, form on subsequent days proved that dt was not. Even at Derby weights he was capable of beating all but the winner, ■ .-'•■■"-

The Kilbroney— Glen Helen colt to be offered at the sale of the Waikanae yearlings during Wellington race week, though he has no famous relatives, has the blood. Glen Helen is by Treadmill out of Glenowlet, who was by Clanranald out of that great stud mare Madowla. Though her connections knew she could gaUop they did not participate m the dividend when Lady Evalina won the Maiden at Tauherenikau. The mare won so well that better things can be expected from her. It was hard luck for Jack Fryer to lose Miss . Mickey at Stratford. She was a most promising hurdler, and that was not to be wondered at, seeing the way she was bred. Jack will find her box hard to fill. Kaiti only had one race over the holidays — at Awapuni, where he did not do as well as was expected. He was then sent back to Woodville. m the spring Kaiti showed promise, and perhaps the autumn will see him coming again. Peach Brandy is taking a long time to win a race, and his displays., at Tauherenikau were not the best. The course probably did not suit him, but the fields were as weak as he will ever meet. All present at the Taranaki and Stratford meetings were impressed with the performances of Te Kawa over the fences. He is a good second string for Ted Murtagh, who has", not a ba>l one m Eerie. . , The easiest win at the Wairarapa meeting was that of Kilceit m the President's Handicap. The mare was ridden by L. Daly, a son of the trainer, who rode with success on the same course thirty years ago. After accepting m three races at Manawatu ■ and not starting, Peneus got a track to suit him at Tauherenikau and lobbed m with his big weight. The Vallance gelding is now at the top of his form. In the south at the present time nothing is performing with more credit than Monoxide, and big things are predicted of her. The sale of the Waikanae yearlings during race week at Wellington will see a full sister to Monoxide under the hammer, arid some very spirited bidding should result. Merry Day has gone right off, . and was at the tail of the field both days at* Tauherenikau. The let-up she had was not long enough, and it would have been wiser to keep, her for the autumn. • No one would begrudge Tom Higgins his two wins with Blonde at Tauherenikau. The Kilbroney mare has -not been reliable up to now, but she is well at present, and should pick up another race or two this season m hack company. All are aware what a fine mare Enthusiasm is, and the last time she was seen out at Trentham was m the Champion Plate. 1 Remember the great race she went? A half-sister, by Kilbroney, is catalogued for the forthcoming Waikanae sale. There is no need to say more. .',■'. . » Though on the. small side, the two-year-old Sleet will win races later on. She has plenty of pace, but at present does not steer a straight course. Percy Hazleman has good trying-out tackle m Lucinius to take the filly along. Prince Hal was ridden into the ground on the first day , at . Tauherenikau, despite his big weight. This spoilt any chance he may have had on the second day, as he was a very tired horse. — ' . ; Lady Evalina' had only been up a few weeks before her win at New Year, and' was not siipported 'by her owner, whose first win it was since coming into the game. Lady Fingers has done her dash, and though she had the track to her liking last week she made no showing. The mare is also showing a disinclination to line up at the barrier. Archery will have a representative at the Waikanae yearling sale on January 21, when Bonny Helen's chestnut colt will be offered. At the sale in' Christchurch m November a colt by Archery out of Peace, bred at Waikanae; brought 525 guineas, so it is reasonable to expect a substantial price for the Bonny Helen colt. So far the Hymestra two-year-olds have been a failure, and Race Day, is to be turned' out. . Neither this filly nor Hymestrason show any of the brilliancy which characterised the sire. Black. Rock was costly to his party at. Marton. The gelding has developed soreness, and is such a big-topped horse that it will not be wise to race him much more this season. Subjection is a fair sort of hack, but that is all. He had every chance at Tauherenikau, but failed to win a race. The Bidwill colt may come good later on, as most of the Martian breed do.' • ■•'■ ■•.•■_•; - •'■ v /■ • Chris McGovern was the best of a poor lot. of horsemen at the Wairarapa meeting. He rode his mounts vig-J orously, but on occasions he was helped by some of the others not being particularly interested m the finish. The, action of the Wellington Club m deciding to refain from issuing complimentary ladies' tickets m future is not a wise one, and that this is true will no doubt be brought home forcibly to the club during the forthcoming meeting 1 . The Duriedin Club tried the experiment for a couple of meetings last year, but it was forced to forego its parsimony after the, last Cup meeting. 'With Gaillard, Motley and. Runnymede left m the Wellington Stakes there is material for a good race. Gloaming is still engaged m the Jackson Stakes at Wangariui, but it is not yet known whether he will go up. In his absence Tamatete will score his second win m the event. It looks like Mimetic is not going to be asked anything serious till the autumn, as he has not been nominated for a race at Trentham. Other members ,of J. H. Jefferd's team are engaged. • Royal J3lood is engaged m the sprint events at Trentham, and he will most likely make the trip. That was his owner's intention some time back, at any rate. Those who are closely m touch with him reckon that Automne would have had- to play second fiddle to Mimetic m the Foal Stakes at Ellerslie. In a try-out; at Gisborne some time before the Auckland meeting the two-year-old did not show to advantage. Three-year-olds are prominent by their absence from the list of nominations for the Wellington Cup, only Count Cavour and Quiescent being entered. Alex Alexander has purchased Orazone, the full sister to Ora's Delight. The youngster, who shows a great turn of speed," is much bigger than Ora's' Delight. Haligan has been taken over by Messrs Gray and Bailey as part of the deal, and is to be put to the stud; Avola's next appearance will prob^ably be the Egmont Cup. Va ward's connections were' 'quite satisfied with the youngster's "showing at Marton. During the progress of the Stratford meeting two boys were doing a bit of torn foolery m the jockeys' room, when m boLbed a steward. Imagining that there was a free fight or /something of the like m progress, he hailed both lads up before the stewards, and before they knew where they were they had each been mulcted m a tenner fine. This penalty is an absolute injustice, as both- lads are the best of friends and there "was never any suggestion of fisticuffs. It was only a bit of horse play, which was magnified by a steward. Country meetings,- are generally the best of all gatherings, but there is only one thing that tends to detract from their popularity. 1 That is

the amateur steward, who throughout the year is a good fellow, but on race day, having been entrusted with a bit of authority, allows his arrogance to master his common sense.