THE TURF.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19214, 3 July 1924, Page 5

THE TURF.

By Sbstinel.

A GREAT MATCH. On Saturday, May 18, tho great match ■look piaro at St Cloud, between tho two (French cracks, Epintml and Sir Galahad, who have both won races in England. Epintml had to concede his opponent 111 b ami just failed to do so by a short nock, a result said to be duo to horsemanship. IE that is so, EpinarA, oven in defeat, proved that the claim made that ho is tho best middle-distance horse in tho world rests on a fairly solid foundation. A report of the match stales that both horses struck off together, and then Sir Galahad went to the front and obtained a length lead. Koinard had made up ground, and was leading 100 yards from home, but then Sir Galahad put up a final effort and won by a short neck. Epiuard started favourite, and carried 9.4 to Sir Galahad’s 8.7. The distance of tho match was over 1300 metros, or about 6* furlongs. It ia interesting to nolo tho distance which was run in 1.20, because the Hawke’s Bay Stakes is decided over a similar journey. It tho distance is accurate it allows one to make an interesting comparison. If Epinard is really the best middle-distance horse in tho vyorld, ono can find good grounds for claiming that Gloaming is more entitled to the honour than the French oolt. Gloaming carried lOst, and won the Hawke’s Bay Stakes in 1922 in 1.20, and tin’s reads a better performance than Epinard’s under 9.4 Tho Hawk, as a two-ycar-old carried 8.7, and won in 1.20. Hymestra as a three-year-old curried 9.8 and won in 1.20, and Royal Artillerv as a three-year-old carried 9.2 and won in 1.20. Several other winners liave put up very good performances in the same race, and it. would seem that wo in New Zealand and Australia can produce equal to the beat in the world. A SERIOUS HANDICAP. The English thoroughbred dates his ago from January 1, and thus can be born m midwinter, a. most trying time for a foal at foot. It is suggested that the date should be cltanged to March I. Ono reason for doing so is that horses foaled in tho Argentine in January would have a great advantage over the English two-year-olds. Surprise is expressed that breeders have not taken advantage of sanding Argentinebred stock to race in England as two-year-olds, where they wotdd have possibly three or four months’ ago over the home-bred stock. No one requires to be told what a great advantage the Argentine-bred stock would have in their favour. It is interesting to recall that Obligado .was bred in the Argentine, and sold in England as a yearling to the late Mr G. G. Stead, who brought him out to Now Zealand. Obligado never got a proper chance at the stud until well on in years. Tho fact of him being landed in England as a yearling shows that what some of the Florae critics fear may happen to English-bred stock if asked to compote against youngsters three or four months older than them was really set in practice a good number of years ago. There is at tho present time an Argentinue-bred two-year-old at Newmarket that is expected to do well. He •was foaled in January, and sold at fjOOOgns as a yearling. This youngster is named El Cacique, and was got by Tracery. By way of contrast it may be pointed out that a recent winner in England was not yet two years old when ho scored. In ot her words, ho is over four months younger than the Argentine colt. If this Argentine colt proves <a good winner it will make them sit up and think. An. advantage of three or four months’ ago in classic events would be a very serious handicap on tho English-bred stock. The laid Hon. J. White was ambitious to win tho English Derby with an Australian-bred colt. Ho made ono attempt, but it did not turn out a success. A shipment of three youngsters in Kirkham, Nnrellan, and Mens Meg were, if memory is not at fault, the youngsters sent Homo, but when tried they did not prove up to expectations owing, it is said, to tho fact that their joints became affected when on tho long voyage Home. Air White had an idea of shipping Austra-lian-bred youngsters to the south of Franco and, after wintering thorn there, send them on to England, but he did not live long enough to carry his idea to fruition. It will, however, lie seen that there is a danger of Argentine breeders completely upsetting the ideas of conservative England by a practical demonstration of what a great advantage an Argentine youngster may have over an English-bred one. THE WELLINGTON MEETING. There should bo some very interesting racing at Trentham next week, as nearly all the best hurdlers and ’chasers in training are engaged at tho meeting, which is booked for Wednesday and Saturday, .i here was a time when the Wellington Winter meeting stood regarded mostly in the light of a dress rehearsal for the big cross-country carnival at Riccarton, but tho progress made during recent years at Treutham has won its fixtures a prominence which now rival the beat on tho calendar. There may bo more betting recorded in connection with Auckland fixtures, but from a sporting point of view, the Trentham meetings rank second to none. With so favourable a situation, which makes Trentham tho racing hub of the Dominion, it is only natural that it should become increasingly popular, and good management, a (tractive stakes, and splendid accommodation aro the wheels which have carried the Wellington meetings to their present prominence and popularity in the racing world. Tnere will be n. double-barrelled interest in next week’s meeting, as most of the material engaged in the principal events also claim engagement in the more historical events to be decided next month at Riccarton. At the present time several horses claim more than one engagement on tho first day, and Us ono race over hurdles or fences is sufficient for most horses, tho acceptances should supply a bettor idea of owners’ intentions than what the present strength of the fields indicate. It is to bo hoped that Pamplona will make tho trip, as he will find foemen more worthy of ms steel at Trentham than ho has met up to date. It is safe to say taut he will race with credit, as ho is a good fencer and stays well. Oakieigh, Sir Rosebery, Omahu, Carawock, Pamplona, Mahurn, Kohu, and the others handicapped at 10.0 or over would make an excellent field in themselves and with some likely lightweights to carry them along, it should prove a most interesting race. As far as the other events aro concerned it need not bo surprising to find the South Islandowned horses comporting themselves with distinction. Tho Winter Hurdles looks an open race, even though when it comes to business something may stride away and win as easily as First Born did last year. Jiis form has since been rather disappointing, but. it should not be overlooked that he has been carrying a rather substantial increase in weight since he won at Trentham. Lockson lias been making improvement all the time, but ho seems to have a full share of weight. Vagabond is meeting General Advance on such substantially hotter terms than when they ran first and second in the Grand National Hurdle, that he must stand a good chance. Still, if the General strips as well as he did last August, he will run a good race. Sir Roseberry, Boomerday, Captain Sarto, and Nukumai aro a likely quartette. Nukumai, it will be lorneinbeml, ran second to Penury Rose in the Trentham Hurdles, and incidentally finished in front of Alteration, Vagabond. Tinohnka. En Route, Peter Amans and several others. lie afterwards won tho High Weight Handicap, and on form at the last Wellington Winter meeting, reads nicely treated. A big strong horse, such as Sunart, should bo able to handle weight m the Parliamentary Handicap, hut the start of this race is so near a turn, which runs on to the mile post, that tho luck of tne draw for position at the post materially effects a horse’s chance. THE ANTLER CASE. There is ono aspect of Uie Antler case which seems worthy of note, but which will nevertheless be generally overlooked. ]t suggests that the control of our racing is not half so strict as it should be. If that were not so _ why is it that some people, owners, trainers, and riders, adopt such tactics that are really an insult to tho racing intelligence of _ the public. At each race meeting there is generally one or two stipendiary stewards in attendance, and to adopt tho apparently impudent .-Methods which were used iu connection ,vith Antler is tantamount to commitling a daylight burglary under the very eyes of a policeman. There seems to bo something radically wrong with the control of racing when riders aro foolish or impudent enough to take such risks. They would not do so if they were sure of being caught and punished, and the fact that riders take such risks suggests that they have got away with it on some previous occasion. On this occasion it appears as if the pitcher went once too often to the well. Lax or incompetent control is a most prolific source of fraudulent running, because riders know when such control is in evidence they can run all sorts of risks without being challenged. It is quite possible that the honorary officials do not support tho stipendiary stewards so strongly as tho latter desire, hut be that as it may, the fact remains (hat, after many years of stipendiary stewards at our r-c-c meetings, there are still riders who are procured to puli a horse, presumably

because (hey think there i? little ehaiieo of being detected. The same rider would pull a horse if ho thought that expert control would make it odds on him being detected. It is always a matter of regret that fear of punishment should be necessary to purify the turf, but it is quite clear that, the cultivation of n good sporting spirit is not sufficient in itself. The Antler case seems to have been a particularly flagrant affair, and from all accounts, it w end'd have Ibciii rather astonishing if those concerned escaped punishment, which, if anything, erred on the side of leniency. It is to he hoped that the result, of the case will convince those, inclined to use their own rules that the control of racing is not so lax as they would like it to be. Finally it must, be said that those anxious to make, racing above suspicion should not tail to note, and too much stress cannot be laid on the point, that we still have riders whose methods are obviously fraudulent. Wc have a perfect, turf organisation, controlled by highly paid experts, and yet we have such things as the .Antler case, and be it said other's down this way that seem to escape _ notice. This is something very serious indeed for our racing authorities to ponder over.

Princo Ferouz is reported to he showing improvement in his work. The Clarenccus filly Armillary has been sold to an Australian buyer. H. Burns, the light-weight rider, accompanied F. I). Jones’s team to Sydney. The Wellington Winter meeting will be held on Wednesday and Saturday of next week. Winning Hit is being kept up to the collar, and is probably booked to run at tlifc Wellington meeting. Farceur put up a good performance at Randwick on June 9 by carrying 10.13 and winning over a mile in I.3SR Galway’s handicap did not appear in the list of weights published for the \\ciling'.ofi Steeplechase. He was allotted 9.5. Nigger Minstrel, Cold Steel, Highland, Phoenix Park are amongst the New Zealanders entered for the Melbourne Cup. A very pleasing list of nominations have been received for the principal events to ae decided at the Grand National meeting. In futuns the A.J.C. will add lOOsovs to the SOOOsovs attached to the Derby, and it will be received by the breeder of tho winner. Mr L. C. Hazlett has repurchased the part of tho Salisbury estate on which he had his private training tracks, schooling grounds, and stud. Boadicea, did not suffer any damage by her racing at Wingatui, and is now hitting out freely in her work for engagements at Trentham. During the Ashburton meeting a friend handed the writer the sum of £2 10s, which he had kindly collected for the O’Connell Fund. Duo was always a better throe-year-old than Gasbag, and it will be interesting to note how tho former shapes if he is stripped at Trentham and Kiccarton. Viewpoint has been sold to a West Coast buyer. The sou of Autumnus has been a disappointing horse, but may improve by being " added to the list.” Barn Owl, who is engaged at Trentham, finished third to Limelight and Lovesign in the Members’ Handicap, run at the last New Zealand Cup meeting. Reports from the north state that Kipling broke down whilst racing recently, but apparently he is sound enough to enter for the Grand National Steeplechase. Frisco Mail’s latest form suggested that he had trained off, and this seems to be confirmed by the fact that lid has not been entered at Trentham or Kiccarton. In commenting on Chrysostom’s win at Randwiok the Sydney correspondent of the Australasian said: “Barely have wc seen such a fine exhibition of fencing and pace. The light scale of weights adopted in the principal events to be decided at Trentham next week has left some of the tail end of the handicaps without a chance on papen Chrysostom incurred a 101 b penalty for the V.R.C. Grand National Steeplechase as a re. suit of his wins at Randwick, and will nothave to carry 11.13 at Flemington. Winning Hit once held a groat reputation as being a good horse in deep going. He .may find tho ground suitable at Trentham if he has retained his ” form ” as a mudlark. Lady Cunliffc-Owcn, for whom Hector Gray rode in England, scored a win at Newmarket with Precious, a son of The Tetrarch, who won tho Peel Handicap, with F. Bullock iu the saddle. Pamplona gave Galway 331 b and a beating when they finished first and second in the Otago Steeplechase. In the Wellington Steeplechase Galway has to meet his stablemate on 9lb worse terms.

Diophon, the winner of tliis year’s Two Thousand Guineas, was got by Grand Parade (son of Orby) from Donnetta, by Donovan—Rinovata, by Wenlock—Traviota, by Cremorne —The White Lady. New Zoaland-brcd horses did remarkably well at the A.J.C. Winter meeting, aa Chrysostura won twice, Giggle also won twice, and others to win were Farceun and Quiniro, whilst Carawock ran second to Chrysostom If Captain Sarto has trained on since winning at the Dunedin meeting he should Help to make matters interesting at Tren tharn He meets Matatua on 241 b better terms than when they mot in the Greenfield Hurdles. It is understood that George Feilding has decided to abandon riding, and will in future confine himself to training horses. He has made a gon’d start with Fort Regal, and should soon have a few more horses in his stable. J. M. Cameron has entered Molyneux for the Grand National Hurdles, so that he apparently does not contemplate an immediate return to Australia. On his last visit to Kiccarton bo landed the Grand National Steeplechase v/ilh St. Elmn, in 1918. The, great two-year-old Mumtaz Malfal started favourite for the One Thousand Guineas, hut failed to get nearer than second, after showing her early brilliancy up to six furlongs. It is now intended to reverse her phenomenal speed for races over shorter con rses. Kipling was handicapped to give Rod Sol 261 bin the Tahtina Steeples, They did not meet, hut Kipling won the Dunedin Steeples, and Red Sol the Tahtina Steeples, which were run on the same day. In the Wellington Steeplechase Kipling is giving 3lb to Red Sol. By an apparent oversight Oaklcigh, Loehella, Silent King, and Glenotus have been left in their V.R.C. Grand National engagements. In Victoria a horse must be scratched for their engagements, and do not automatically drop out by non-accept-ance, as in New Zealand. General Advance has been entered for the Grand National Hurdles, Grand National Steeplechase, and Winter Cup. Evidently he is held to Iw a most versatile horse, and it would be only one step more to find him nominated at Addington. It is on record that Foremost won a flat race, a hurdlo '■at-i and a trot during the same afternoon. Tho ‘Special Commissioner” of the London Sportsman claims Tracery to be the best stallion in the world. He said so when taken to task for tipping three sons of Tracery to fill the places in tho Two Thousand Guineas. We have a son of Tracery at Eldcrslie in the shape of Archery, a very fine type of the thoroughbred. French horses have latterly been prominent on the English turf, but one of them in Kefalin, who won tho Grand Prix de Paris two years ago, failed to gain a place in the Great Jubilee Handicap of 2550a0v3, one mile and a-quarter. run at Kc-mpton Park on May 17. The winner turned up in the Polymelus colt Parth, who just beat Verdict. After a long absence, extending to about 30 years, from Dunedin, the well-known Aucklander Mr W. Ryan paid a brief visit to this city last week. He wears well, and the passing years have dealt kindly with the genial nill.” One of his horses in Quiniro won the second hurdles at Randwick on Juno 9, and started at a long price in the betting.

Captain Sarto gave Lc Forte 28lb and a beating in the Otago Hlrdles, and in the Winter Hurdles to be run next week can meet iiim on Hlb bettor terms. This would mean that if Lc Forte is entitled to start, the other must have a royal chance. Lo Forte, however, shapes as if he would be better suited by longer journeys than ho has tackled up-to-date. • It savours strongly of parochialism to find Uie Australian Jockey Club withholding a bonus to breeders of the winners of the St. Leger, Breeders’ Plate, Gimcrack Stakes, December Stakes, Champagne Stakes, and Adrian Knox Stakes unless they are bred in New South Wales. The breeder of a Derby winner or winner of the Sires' Produce Stakes receives a bonus no matter where the horse ia bred. First Born won tho last Winter Hurdles with 9,2i|, and this year was allotted 10.10 so that lie will need io he about a couple of atone better horse to win this year. He meets Penury Rose on 2lUb worse terms for a little over two lengths’ beating. Penury Rose meets Captain Sarto on lib better, terms than when the latter won the Otago Hurdles, and this does not give tho first-named much chance on paper. When 3omo great rating mares retire .to the stud they do not become immediately successful in the paddock as on tho turf. Their daughters and granddaughters, however, not infrequently become great producers, and this seems to be. the case with Sceptre. The latest mail to hand shows that the Tudor Stakes, run at Sundown on May 2, was won by Great Barrier, who was got by Chaucer from Banna, by Sundar from Queen Carbine, by Carbini from Sceptre.

General Advance won the Grand National Hurdles,. 21 miic-s, wih 9.11, and is not harshly treated in the. Winter Hurdles with 10.6 over a quarter of a mile leas ground, lie meets Vagabond, who ran second io him at Riccarton, on Hlb worse terms, and this -houki give tho ancient Martian gelding a good chance of turning the tables on his victor. After winning the G.N. Hurdles, General Advance afterwards carried 10.3 into a. close third in the Sydenham Hardies.

Although The Tetrarch has sired tvo winners of the SI. Leg-cr, he is besf, known u.s a sire of speed. Just before the mail left, the spotted wonder gave another indication that ho can sire hor&cs able to got a bit of distance by having a winning represent alive in Salmon Trout, who won the Hastings Plate, run over a mile and aquartor. Salmon Trout was got by The Tetrarch from Salamandra, a marc by St. Frnsquin from Electra., by Fager from Sircma, by Gallinola from Concussion. Two youngsters in Nincompoop and Chignon have been sent, across to 11. J. Mason, who is in Sydney. Nincompoop is a bay colt by Absurd from Cheknua by Liangwm from Clielys by Sir Visto— Chelandry by Goldfinch, and so belongs to (be. same family as Razzle Dazzle. Prince Kernuz is a half-brother to the coll. Chignon is a filly by Absurd from Lady D bv St. Denis from Lady C by Ladas—Si. Celia by St. Serf. Both youngsters are said to liave shaped well in sprints at Riccarton.

Some of tiie Australian critics claim that Chrysostom is the best 'chaser ever seen at Randwick. II that is so, Carawock, who ran a second and third to him at Bandwick, must be worthy of respect at TTcnthuin. Chrysostom was giving Carawock 111 b in the A.J.C. Steeplechase, in which they rose at the last fence together, but the latter blundered, and was beat four lengths in the run, home. The Wellington .Steeplechase Handicap makes Oaklcigh a better horse than Chrysostom, as he is asked to give 151 b to the latter at. Trentham. In the V.B.C. Grand National Steeplechase Oaklcigh was allotted 12.2 and invited to give Loehella Hlb. In the Wellington Steeplechase Oaklcigh has to give away ,20 b. In the Flemington race some of those handicapped wore Oaklcigh 12.2, Loehella 11.5, Glenotus 10.11, Carawock 10.10, and Kohu 10 1 In the Wellington Steeplechase the jfi mires read Oaklcigh 11.13, Carawock 10.13, Kohu 10.9, Loehella 10.7, and Glenotus 10.6. It will be noted that Kohu was handicapped to meet Loehella at Flemington on 201 b better terms than at Flemington Receipt is a name suggested for the Paper Money—Satisfaction filly owned and bred by Mr G. Kane. The youngster ia said to be a particularly promising sort. Satisfaction ■w-s* got by Bezonia from Satiafaire by Birkenhead —Content by DreadnoughtLullaby by Apremont Hammock, and the filly under notice is bred to go fast and como to hand early. This opinion is strengthened by Hie fact that Paper Money was a particularly successful two-year-old, and the Satisfaction filly comes from a line which claims Welcome Slake winners in the shape of Siesta, Somme’.l, and Conqueror. Chrysostom ia by no means the first of his tribe to win in Australia. Pearl. Shell, the winner of the Victoria Oaks in 1883, also traces back to the same taproot as the Demosthenes gelding. Pearl Shell was got by Musket from Pearl Ash, who also produced Industry, the dam of two Melbourne Cup winners in Gaulus and The Grafter. Another of the tribe, in Melinite, was also a. good performer over hurdles. She won the' Groat Northern Hurdles in 1894, and old-time patrons of Forbury Park will remember her dead-heating with Stuart Waddell's Captive in the Birthday Handicap of 1891. One is sometimes a-sked for a. definition of a staver. Slaying power depends a great deal on” good wind. That being so, the writer claims that one of the best slayers be ever came across was a gentleman who talked at the top of his voice from Dunedin to Christchurch, and when he wasn’t talking, he indulged in shrill whistling. He talked everyone, who got away, out o' the carriage, and would no doubt, be still going strong all the way to Auckland or round the world. It is so nice and soothing to have a highly-pitched voice banging the ear drums whilst one is endeavouring to beguile the tedium of a long journey. ■Sunny Loch failed to give Razzle Dazzle lib in the Great Easter, and Gloaming unluckily failed, and only failed through bad luck, to give Kazzle Dazzle 9lb in the Challenge Stakes. If Razzle Dazzle is set down at 61b better than Sunny Loch, who was recently handicapped at 10.2 in Sydney, a handicap would read —Gloaming 11.3, Razzle Dazzle 10.8, Sunny Loch 10.2. After her win in the Challenge Stakes, in which she carried 6lb more than in the Great Easter, and ran the same distance 1 3-sscc faster, Razzle Dazzle would be considered 10lb better than Sunny Loch, so that Gloaming 11.7, Razzle Dazzle 10.12, Sunny Loch 10.2, would go near summing up their form.

At the monthly meeting of the stewards of the Masterton Racing Club recently the New Zealand Racing Conference brought under the notice of the club “ the inadvisability of supplying to newspapers or their correspondents the financial results of race meetings Urder the present system of racing taxation a wrong impression may be created in the minds of certain people as to the real effect which tho excessive taxation is having upon racing, especially when it is reported in the papers that a club has made a profit over its meeting. While the actual meeting may show a profit, the balance sheet for the year may show a loss.” Several members expressed the opinion that it was not advisable to gag tho press, and the letter was received.

Tho London Sportsman of May 7 remarks that, “unsatisfactory as things are in England where racing and betting are concerned, they appear to be infinitely worse in New Zealand, according to the latest exchanges from that country. A young man was sent to prison for seven days for making bets of Is and 2s 6d. It is true that the GoiArnorGcneral interfered, and that the unfortunate victim was released after throe and a-half days’ imprisonment, but what are wo to think of laws which enable magistrates to mole out such savage punishment for so trifling an offence? But New Zealand has always Buffered from the anti-gambling fraternity, whose influence has gone so far as (o interfere with the liberty of the press by suppressing all betting news, just as our bigots would like to do here.” Full accounts of the race for the Two Thousand Guineas came to hand last week Twenty horses went to the post, and in a great finish Diophon. carrying II H. Aja Khan's colours, beat Bright Knight a head, whilst Green Fire was a neck away third, just beating Tom Punch for a place. Caravel was close up fifth. In other words, there were five almost in line at the finish of a fast run race. Tom Pinch, who was tho ruling winter favourite for the Derby, started favourite, but faded out after being in front a short distance from tho post. The extended pedigree of Plack, the winner of this year’s One Thousand Guineas, shews that oho comes from the same taproot as Ringdove, a mare imported by the late Mr G. 0. Stead, Ringdove was got by the St. Simon horse Collar from Miss Chaffinch, whose second dam was Kermcsse, a. mare by Cromnrne Kermesso is the fourth dam of Plack, who was got by Hurry On (son of Mareovie) from Groat, by Junior—Sixpenny, by 'William 111 from Monteur, by Ladas from Kamesse. Ringdove was a good performer in her day. She won the C.J.C. Handicap, hut for such a beautifully-bred mare must rank as a comparative failure at the stud. Her best foals were Ringform and Cashmere, but some of her later contributions may come to the front, whilst some of her daughters may prove gold . mines. The Stud Book states that tho mare was given away, presumably, after throwing a filly to Surveyor in 1922. This seems a disappointing end for a marc got by a sire who was a son of St. Simon from a sister to Ormonde, in Ornament, the dam of Sceptre. The great Sceptre herself was not an immediate success at the stud, but her daughters are .breeding on well, and perhaps tho same results may be found in connection with Ringdove and her daughters.