RACING NEWS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21031, 21 May 1930, Page 11

RACING NEWS.

By Sentinel.

Radiac gave a good display over the Wingatui fences yesterday morning. Overhaul and Kapuna are regarded as doubtful starters in the Otago Steeplechase. Money Mine won the Birthday Handicap last year with 7.6, and the King George Handicap with 8.4. In this year's Birthday Handicap he has. been handicapped to meet Circulation, who ran third last year, on 161 b worse terms for less than a two lengths' beating. The form is old but interesting. . Fabriano, who has been awarded top weight at 11.3 in the Otago Steeplechase, won last' year with 9.1. None of last year's runners, except the winner, are engaged in this season's race. The principal events on the South Canterbury Jockey Club's winter programme will be the Teschemakers Handicap, of 250sovs, Otipua Steeples of 200sovs, Prince of Wales Handicap of 200sovs, and Waiiti Steeples of 200sovs; Mr W. Hieeina, the well-known owner and steward of the Wellington Racing Club, is on a'brief visit to Dunedin. It 18 a matter of regret that he could not time bis visit to participate in the Dunedin winter meeting. The King Lupin gelding Tuku, who is • top-weight in the St. Clair Handicap, has displayed winning form in both firm and soft going. He was got by King Lupin from Lady Quin by Quin Abbey—Mignon by Soult—Lady Emmerline by Somnus. It has ,been claimed that when Bawn-na-Glas put up 2.34 in the Wagga Waggn Gold Cup on May 7. the time equalled the New Zealand record, put up by Winning Hit at 2.3 1-5. It may savour of hair-splitting, but Winning Hit is still the record holder. , When Magna Charta won the Greenfield Hurdles at the Dunedin winter meeting last season he gave indications of developing into a crack hurdler. Unfortunately, he did not stand up to training, but all going well he may be seen out again at Wingatui in ■ about a couple of weeks' time. Magna Charta is by King ■John, the sire of Great Charter, from Landrail (dam of Chimera) by Grafton. The distance attached to the Birthday Handicap is apparently considered.a bit too far, and the fact is shown by the increased nominations for the principal, events on the second and third cards of, the programme. The stayer is, however, accorded one of the few chances obtainable in the South . Island, and for that reason trainers and owners should accord the xace better patronage. At one time it was taken as a good opportunity, at the back end of the,season, to learn how a horse woiild probably shape over a distance in the following year, and it should not be overlooked that a stayer's i_ race is generally easier to win than sprint or middle distance events. Great Star, who tops the list in the Tradesmen's Handicap, put up some good performances at the Wingatui winter meeting last season. He won the Brighton. Handicap with 10.4, and on the second day the Wairongoa Handicap with 9.0, giving Caterpillar 241 b. On the third day. Great Star carried 10.8 into third place in the Taieri Handicap. This season Great Star has been unlucky, as his only win was in the Flying Handicap at Rangiora, when he carried 9.3 and beat Caterpillar (7.13), Subdivision (8.13) and a couple of others. Some of his' placed performances were full of merit. He ran second to Toxeuma in the Criterion Handicap, beating Meadow Lark into third place when giving him 71b. At the Auckland summer meeting Great Star was second in the Raihvay Handicap, and also in the Newmarkyt Handicap. His latest performance was a third to Te Awhina and First Sight m the Templeton Handicap, in which he gave, Tin Tin Tin 9lb. Rin Tin Tin, however, did not look right on that occasion.

The writer is not at all inclined to subscribe to the opinion that the stewards of the Canterbury Jockey Club do not study the interests of trainers. ,There is not a. finer or better equipped training ground in the Southern Hemisphere than Riccarton for either flat racers, hurdlers, or The course and training tracks are under the competent control of Mr P. D. M'Nab, who also ranks second to none as a starter. Riccarton provides a tan track, sand track, plough, trial grass tracks, and in addition the course proper is always open on the eve. of a meeting. The infield provides room to give a regiment of horses trotting and cantering exercise, and, altogether, the nature of the soil and tracks could not be excelled for the right place to prepare any class of horse. The club has provided a bowling green for the local trainers and friends, and also a “hut” where trainers can take shelter and have early morning tea if required. A copy of sporting 'papers can always be found in the hut, and all that is left to the trainers is finding a horse and the ability to make champions. It is true that the Canterbury Jockey Club has always been regarded as strongly conservative; but it is not the only club that has been forced by fluctuating fortunes and taxation to curtail slakes and increase them again when warranted by revenue. It is reported that Arikiwai injured himself in his box a few days ago, and showing signs of lameness, was restncted to easy work only at Riccarton on Saturday. Mr L. J. Fechney, owner of Lord Ranald, has purchased the brood mare Woodful, in foal to Day Comet. Woodful is a sister to Sailor’s Hope, the dam of Quarterdeck and Waterline. The six-year-old gelding Flying Swift, who won over fences : in good style at Wanganui, is bred on stout lines that suggest stamina. He was got by Swift Flight from Flying Shadow by Glen Albyn —Waipupu. by Monoform—Wairakau by Cyrenian— Waiorongomai by Hotchkiss — Bianca by Black Eagle—Bessie by Angler —Scraps by Lord of the Hills—Ragpicker by Fisherman —Juliet. Mr J. R. Stewart, a veterinary surgeon residing at Randwick and officially connected with the Australian Jockey Club, has issued a writ against the wellknown cx-New Zealand trainer, George Price, claiming £SOOO for alleged libel. Reports from Greymouth state that the Riccarton jockey, R. Coveny, is making a good recovery from the accident that has laid him aside during the last few weeks. ’ Stanley Wootton, when recently passing through Adelaide on his way to Britain, ventured the opinion that Phar Laj> was a good horse, but he went on to say that he regarded the English horses as the best in the world. “ Australia,” he added, “ stands much higher in its racecourse appointments than England. Conveniences for the public too, are vastly superior out here.” Talking of jockeys, he said: “Admitting that Jim Pike is an excellent horseman, and that E. Bartle. M. M’Carten, and A. Wilson are sharp, determined riders, they are exceptions, and the riders, taken all round, did not come up to the standard he expected.” Among the horses recently sold without reserve by the executors of the late Mr John Brown’s estate, was the brother to Windbag, who cost Mr Brown 4000 1 guineas, and has not yet figured in a race. ; Magnifico, as he was named, is now a 1 three-year-old, and ho brought only 80 guineas, the buyer being W. Izzard, of Guyra. As a two-year-old (says the Referee), the colt \vas put into training i by F. M'Grath, but respiratory trouble I made itself apparent, and he was successI fully operated on by the New Zealand 1 veterinary. Dr W. C. Ring. After the operation, the noise which Magnifico formerly made was missing. Following t that a couple of attempts were made to

put him through a preparation, but an injured ligament necessitated throwing him out of work. It ia understood that Lord Ranald will make his first appearance this season at the Ashburton meeting nest month, to be followed by the South Canterbury and Christchurch Hunt meetings, preparatory to being produced at the Grand National gathering in August. ,The resignation of Mr T. A. Tabart as secretary of the Victoria Amateur Turf Club, which was announced recently, has caused a sensation in Melbourne racing circles, and members of the club seem intent on securing the details. A petition was circulated among the members calling for a special meeting of members to consider the circumstances of the resignation. The chairman of the club,' Mr Jamee Grice. waa included among the signatories, but after the committee had drawn his attention to a rule which prevented him from signing such.a document he withdrew his signature. At the same time the members of the committee dissociated themselves from the action of the chairman. Mr Tabart went to Melbourne from Tasmania and during his terni of office he effected a great improvement at Caulfield, which how is. a strong competitor with Flemington ae the most popular racecourse in Victoria. The South Australia St. Leger recently run at Morphettville resulted in a threelengths' victory for St. Mary, while Temoin defeated Hot Springs by a head for second place. The winner is a brown w y by «r e , im P°rted horse St. Spasa from Mary Medwin, by Comedy .King (imp.j from Watershoot, by the Hotchkiss horse Royal Artillery. Temoin is a bay colt by Drake (an imported son of Sir Eager) trom Imputation, by Reputation from Lady Wallace; and Hot Springs is a New Zealand-bred bay gelding by Chief Ruioi (imp.) from Tinkler, by Bezonian (imp.) J<or, many years past members of the Canterbury Jockey Club have taken little interest m the election of the committee, owing probably to the fact that candidates outside those seeking re-election have had little chance of ousting any of the sitting members. Matters, however, have taken a different course for the election at the forthcoming annual meeting (says the iress), as eight nominations have been received to contest the seats, with the committtee m power. These comprise Sir Charles Clifford, Dr P. S. Foster, and Messrs A. T. Donnelly, J. M. Stewart, T. C. Robinson, H. A Rhind, C. S. Thomas, and J. O. Coop. As it is understood that the present members are seeking re-elec-tion the ballot wil] probably be an incentive to club members to display more interest in the affairs of the club by recording their votes. Even in previous years when an election has been necessary, it is understood that a very small percentage of members has taken the trouble to send in their papers. The sitting committee is comprised or the following:—Messrs H A. Knight (chairman), L. G. D. Acland, R. Allen J. S. Barrett, W. L. Clifford, C. G. Dalgety, W. Deans, A. S. Elworthy, G. Fulton, G. Gould, R. M. Morten, G. N. MXean, G. L. Rutherford, and D. W. Westenra.