RACING NEWS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22006, 15 July 1933, Page 17

RACING NEWS

By Sentinel.

The Wellington Racing Club's winter meeting'will be concluded to-day. Acceptances for the Waimate Hunt Club's meeting are due to-day. Acceptances for the South Canterbury Hunt Club's meeting close on Monday. 17th inst., at 9 p.m. Ida Merling, the end-to-end winner of the Te Aro Handicap at Trentham, is another of the Robespierre breed who is making good. This filly, who cost her owner, Mr T. A. Duncan, only 65 guineas as a yearling," was recently a winner at Wanganui, and she ran out a very solid seven furlongs on Tuesday. Red Wink, her half-sister of an earlier period, won numerous races, including the Great Autumn Handicap, Hazlett Memorial aDd Invercargill Cup. Ida Merling is very brilliant, and in addition she gives promise of staying. The special winter minimum weight, which for a few years has been 8.0, after being 9.0 for a long time, has disappeared. As a result of a decision of the Racing

Conference this week the 7.0 minimum •will apply throughout the year, from the beginning of next season. _ Emancipation's race in the High-weight Handicap at Trentham on Thursday pointed to hi* chance' in the Winter Hurdles, and no doubt he will now be favourite. Repudiation was one of the leaders from the start'of the Petone Handicap at Trentham on Thursday, and was in third place entering upon the course proper. Later on, Woodful, in making his run, seemed to interfere with her, as she stopped quickly and dropped right out of the contest. . ~ The 1932 English Derby winner April th* Fifth was kept in training this year with the idea of running in two or three weight-for-age races. However, he proved difficult to train, and just, before the Derby meeting in May Mr T. Walls, who has a half-share in the horse with Mr S. M: Macgregor, said he was unlikely to race again. He added.that though April the Fifth was not to be sent to auction, a private offer for him for stud purposes might be considered. "- • ' _■• Touching upon people' who drew Hyin the Irish - lottery; a London paper says that Mr Samuel Foux, of Stoke Newington, sold a. half-share in his ticket for £2OOO, and, after a trip round the world, will build ckeap.houses for poor people. Eight first prizes of £30,000 each were drawn, by people, living in or.near London, as were si* second prizes of £15,000 each and seven of £IO,OOO each. Some of those who sßared in the various prizes were'people who had been out of employment for some time. Nightly made a good impression by his second placing to. the speedy Passion Fruit at Trentham., He hung on well, and should develop into a good-class three-year-old. He ; on Thursday night. ■ ;'"■' r ; ' _ Billy Boy ran a good race in^the Wellington Steeplechase, giving a fine exhibition of jumping. He, made up some ground fast when starting the last round, but the weight anchored him, as he was in trouble- before the straight was reached.- :: ; ■ ';;,*'' In France, the owner of the winner of nearly eyery important Tace makes a contribution to some charity. It is not the custom in England, but a Jewish, bookmaker. Mr Issy Isaacs, of London, was so delighted over the success of his colt, Diocletian, in a. minor handicap—it was worth only £l6l—on May 20, that he presented £SO to the racinp executive to give to any charity it nominated. High Commissioner is reported from Te Rapa to be putting in a sound preparation and to be looking a picture of con- * dition. He is one : of the ruling favourites for"the Grand National meeting.'and will need only to repeat lEllerslie form to be a hard proposition at the southern fixture.:- . Cylinder's., victory at Trentham on Thursday suggested,, that he will have to be reckoned with in the new season'*) big' events; ' He- has had'an interrupted career, and, in addition; to breaking down as a three-year-old,, lie contracted the trouble again On a visit to Australia last spring, and was not raced until the Napiermeeting'last month. He has been nominated for the principal Australian, spring races, and is likely to make the trip'in company with" his-half-brother Cyclonic. Cylinder is expected to contest the Winter Cup. V - •• '■' ',-•;. ■' : '.- Evidently French: -racing men; believe England 'is a dangerous place'- for- an- invader... When Rodosto left for. England he was. accompanied ■-' by "three stable guards who were to have been his constant companions - until :he left -the paddling paddock at Epsom to run in the Derby. A large Alsatian : dog, who, in France, aWays mountsguard outside Rodosto'« stable at hightj.was refused a permit to" enter Ensland. And. after'all the precautions for his safety Rodosto. did not run in ithe Derby owing tq~ going lame a'few days before' its decision.'_ Luna ..Lux. has, the .reputation in the North'lsland-of: being' a first-class jumper, but he did not pleas<> his admirers so much" as usual by his display iti the "Wellington Steeplechase. He raced at. a few fences with Omro, who outjumped him nt each fence, leaying Luna Lux with leeway.,.to! make, up on the ;flat. Orcioo was in brilliant jumping mood, however, -and he gave'the finest exhibition in the race.. Luna Lux also covered, a* good deal of;ground at some parts of the journey. In spite of all, he is a very capable steeplechaser, who will be a serious contender for the Grand National, if he visits Riecrirton next month.' Poland's , leading jockey, Gordon \ Richards, continues 1 to take all before him.'and with six more wins during the Ep?om'.'meeting in June he lifted his total, of wins for ..the season to 74. which was 48 points in front of the next, on the .list.' S. Donoghue. , Richards, "who has been riding" for 12 seasons/ has now nearly 1250 wins to his credit, against 1648 \o( Donoghue .over a .period of 25 years'. Fred Archer's total was 2746. It has not ,been unusual for Richards to ride three winners in one day this season, though, of course, he_ missed altogether on some days. On bein? congratulated' on reaching his 50 wins, Richards said: "It was at York two or three years ago that T reached mv 'flOO- for the season, and now at the York spring meeting I have had the good fortune to get mv hallcentury, which I. have never done so early before.' I'hope now to score the 200 I fell short of last year." figures for the years he headed the win.; ning jockeys' list are as follows:—llWfl, 118: 1927, 164; 1928. 148; 1929, 135; 1931, 145; and 1932. 190.

The Otago Hunt Club's weekly meet is to take place in the vicinity of the aerodrome. Should it be necessary to postpone it a notice to that effect will be posted at the Sports Depot at 10.30 this morning.