RACING NEWS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22421, 16 November 1934, Page 14

RACING NEWS

By Sentinel.

The Day Comet mare Starlight ,is one of the latest recruits to jumping. . The Cape Horn gelding Vitaphone has been purchased by Mr W. Parsons and placed with S. Barr to tram. It is stated that Sir Simper got his tongue over the bit when running in the Melbourne Cup and was on the point of collapse at the finish. Slasher, a two-year-old colt by Rapier from Eambletyc, and Tail Light, a two-vear-old. gelding by Day ’ Comet rroni Owlscombe, are recent additions to the Chokebore Lodge stable. „ Synagogue was suffering from .an abscess of the jaw on the eve of the New Zealand Cup meeting. Had the fact been broadcast several would have neglected to gather dividends off him during the meeting. With D. J. Burgess in the saddle, Thespis has been sent over the steeplechase fences on the flat twice at Ellerslie and gave a. v fine .display of jumping. Thespis will probably have his first outing as ' a steplechaser at the Takapuna meeting at Ellerslie. Elysian, the sire of Sutala, who got Steeton, was a high-class three-year-Pla. v He won the New Zealand Derby, Canterbury Cup, Avondale Guineas, Hawke s Bay Guineas, and Wellington Champion Plate. He was unplaced in the Riccarton Welter with 10.7, and trained off - alter the New Zealand Cup meeting. Peter Pan put up a great performance in the Melbourne Cup. He did what facts and figures of form make out. .to be a most difficult task, and accomplished it in heavy going, which accentuates the load of a topi weight. Apparently he is just as good in soft going as when acting on top of the ground. There is a limit to equine endurance and, like the pitcher that goes too often to the well, horses can go too often to the post. This particularly applies; to two-year-olds. They may look bright and well, but can lose the zest for racing if started too often, and they become classed as “rogues,” whereas the trouble really rest* With their owners and ■ trainers., , . - ■■ ' Recent reports from Sydney state that tlie chestnut horse Croupier has done sp well on his course of treatment at a Sydney veterinary hospital that his owner. Mr R. J. Murphy, would be surprised if he coiild see him now. Croupier was bled and'treated to a course of medicine, and the latter portion of hig cure is being continued still. He has resumed work at Randwiek. but his exercise is nettling more.than trotting. If he should come right, Australians will presently admit that, in addition to ranking as a commanding horse, the son of- Surveyor is a first-class galloper. The trustees of the estate of the late Mr H. M. Reeves have sold the yearling colt by Philamor from Rapina (halfsister to Rapine), and he is booked for Australia. - The price has not been disclosed, further than a statement that it was much higher than the ,vJBO guineas paid • for his brother, who realised that price at Trentham in January. The colt was * secured 'by’Mr .of j Melbourne, aad.it mayout that .the recent purchase .was i3sb"made, on his account. If this . proves to be correct, it may be taken a*. an indication that the colt bought'in Jifnuary; ,now a two-year-old, has shown special-promise. It is reported- that there is a possibility of the , and Rational, Steeplechase; winner, Woodlace, being sent to New Zealand for the big jumping events here toward the end of .the year, as there are few : opportunities for a steeplechaser in Australia in the summer months. Woodlace is now regarded as the best fencer in Australia.- He won-the Cup Steeplechase at Flemiugton with ILIO in the heavy going as he liked. He was allowed to settle down comfortably in the first portion of the--journey, but jumped so brilliantly that he was able to assume control along the river-sicte of the course. An: interesting fact about the Victoria Derby is that since 1913 13 of tne winners were bought at auction and only one of the number cost a cum running to four figures. Following are the sums that were paid:—Beragoon, 700 Car--lita, 125 guineas; Patrobas, SOp gmneas; Eusebiiw, 025 guineas; Whittier. 250 guineas: Francis Tressady, 230 guineas; Spearfek J2O guineas; Manfred, 1400 guinea*; fjtrephon, 525 guineas; Phar Lap, 160 guineas; Johnnie Jason, 120 guineas; Liberal, 225 guineas; Theo, 650 guineas. Wolaroi and Rampibn, winners in 1916 and 1838 respectively, who were raced by their breeders, could have been bought at auction at yearlings, but, as the bidding did not reach the reserve, .they were passed in. Wolaroi was for sale for 200 guineas and Rampion for 1500 guineas. As Wolaroi won £20,016 in prize money, and ' Rampion £25,484, the breeders bad every-reason to rejoice. Imagine people leaving Flemington before the Melbourne Gup vp run (says the ‘Melbourne Sporting Globe). Ihe steady, soaking ram that fell unceasingly from 12 o’clock until just on 4 o’clock dampened the spirit of thousands of people to such an extent that they left the course. After the second race there was one long procession from the flat to Racecourse road, while patrons of the paddock and hill flocked to the- trains. It is estimated -that 20,000 people went home early, thoroughly disappointed and disgusted beyond words. Most of them - were wet to the skin. Everybody was throughly miserable. Those who could not squeeze into the stands bad to shelter under umbrellas, and those who had no umbrellas simply had to get soaked. Men and women walked about the course, looking much like drowned rats. Suits, hats and frocks were ruined. The Centenary Melbourne Cup will live long in the memory of the people who patronised it. Fortunately for those who saw it through, the rain ceased just before 4 o’clock, and the Cup was run in a blaze of sunshine.

' After the Caulfield Cup there was a consensus of opinion that Sir Simper was unlucky to miai a win. The opinions came from men fully qualified to express them. Taken in conjunction with previous form the unlucky run at Caulfield made Sir Simper’s form in the Melbourne Cup too bad to be true. The first report of the race suggested that the heavy going beat him,, but a Inter one states that he got his tongue over the bit and choked. The heavy going at Flemington on. Melbourne Cup day completely upset all calculations based on form put up on firm going. A champion on a firm track may run like a bus horse in heavy gojng. A great deal depends on a horse’s action. A long-strider requires the grip of the ground that can only be obtained on a firm track. On the other hand a long-

stridor if required to act on false going is all at sea if the ground shifts on impact of the stride. A round or shortactioned horse is not so seriously affected, as his action is in a sense under more control, and hence-’ better suited to heavy going. Some horses may bo a stone or more better in heavy going than on a firm track, and then again, heavy going on some tracks may have quite a ‘different effect to what is the case on others, Heavy going at Trentham is quite different from that at Riccarton, and Wingatui differs from both the northern- tracks in bad weather. Changes in the state of the going can, to a certain extent, be overcome by attention to plating and altering the plates to suit the ground or, under suitable conditions, discarding them in favour of tips or a few nails* but- nowadays it is very rare to see a horse racing “ barefoot.” It is also rare to sec a horse’s feet receive very necessary attention when racing in bad going. The neglect to do so may at times account for some horses being better than others in heavy going and this apart# from the question of action.

It is estimated that the victory of Peter Pan in the Melbourne Cup was the cause of £75,000 bfeing taken from the ring, as the horse was coupled extensively in doubles with the Caulfield Cup winner Journal, and, in addition, had been backed weeks ago’straight out for substantial amounts. Leading operators also state that the aggregate winnings from the course throughout Australia would exceed £IOO,OOO, as telegrams were received almost to the time of the race to back Peter Pan, and as the price receded considerably, the return would be greater than anticipated by the backers. Several weeks ago a prominent Sydney sportsman ■ supported Peter Pan straight out for £IO,OOO, with one operator l ; and nearly £20.000 with another. Three, other double bookmakers reported that they had incurred liabilities of £12,000, £IO,OOO, and £BOOO respectively, but these amounts were reduced. at the final discussions, when Peter Pan showed a tendency to ease. It was the intention of some of them to reduce still further on the day of the race, hut when rain fell so heavily they, like many of the thousands of the people present, did not think Peter Pan equal to the Herculean task. - The biggest winners were, direct followers of the stable, some of them being content to have their investments and remain in_ Sydney and hear the race through the wireless. They showed good judgment, as the conditions tit Flemington were the worst for a great many years. Most of the bookmakers stated that they had lost heavily on the double, for at one stage of the Melbourne Cup discussions Peter Pan touched three to one, while the longest price they laid about him was 10 to one. _ VVhen going to view the race one leading Victorian bookmaker incurred a liability of £IOOO to £7O. It was the last wager he wrote on the Melbourne Cup. Mr Dangar, the owner, of the horse, is not a big bettor, and profited principally by the Stake. .