RACING NEWS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23669, 29 November 1938, Page 13

RACING NEWS

By Sentinel

■s" FIXTURES December 3,—Otaki Maori R.C December 10 Hororata R.C. December 10 12,-WoodvillP District J.C December 17— Waipa R.C December 24. 28, 27.—Manawatu R.C. December ?6 • -Waipukurau J.C December 26 27.—Dunediri J.C. December 26 27 -Taranak) J.C. December ,26. 28.—Auckland R.C, December 28.—Westland H.C, December 31.—Wairarapa R.C. December 31.—Greymouth J.C. r?cember 31.—Hawke's Bay J.C. 1939. Janu ry t, 6. Aucklano R.C. January 2.-rWairarapa R.C Janary 2.—Greymouth J.C. January 2.—Hawke's Bay J.C. January 2.—Waikouaiti R.C. January 2.~Wyndhairt R.C. January 2 3 —Stratford R.C. January 2. 3.-Marton J.C . January 3.--Oamaru J.C January 3 I.—Southland R.C. January 4, I.— Reef ton J.C. January 13, t4.~ Vincent J.C January 14.—Clifden R.C. January 19. 21. 23.—Wellington H.C. January 21.—Walrio J.C January 81, 23.—Thames J.C. January 23.—Ashhurst-Pohangina R.C. January 27 28.—Pahlatua R.C. Heroic From August 1 to October 31 Heroic fired 18 winners of 29i races worth £17,546; ' A Good Hack Toro Koura, with 9.0, won at Ashburton in lmin 12.3-ssee,and put up a good gallop when compared with that of Cocksure, who won with 8.5 in lmin 25 4-ssec. Linguist Linguist may be seen out at the Otaki meeting. She has been schooling well over hurdles. Third Choice Aranui started third favourite in a field of 15 when he won at Gaulfleld on November 19. Aranui carried 7.10 and won over five furlongs in lmin OiSsec. ' ■ .;;;;',;: .-•;•:' ';".-.. Te Hero .. Te Hero is falling from grace. He failed in the Cheltenham Handicap, and his manners, rather than his lack of pace, seem to be his most serious handicap. Raebwrn ',. The Colossus colt Raeburn has reappeared on the Riccarton tracks, and may be raced at the holiday meetings to be held in Otago and Southland Hi<rh Caste The Cambria Handicap winner. High is another of Bulandshar's get. His dam. The Besrum.is also the producer of Mazir. Stretto. and Arvakur Improvident Improvident, who finished second to Keen Sight at Ashburton. has a good, tum-of speed, but "was a bit flighty as a two-year-old. He was eot by Defoe f'-om Misgovern, by King Mark— Parula. by Birkenhead. : Teak ... -; ■, ■ , The winner of the High-weight Handicap at Ashburton turned up in Teak, a six-year-old gelding by Tea Trav— Kilcalm. by Kilbroney—Esther, by Santry: Teak had not won a race since November of 1935. ''.,. Oriental Bay m Oriental Bay. the winner of the Takapuna Plate, did not strike winning form last season when racing as a two-year-old. This season he has won twice and been second twice out of five starts. ' K»»n Si«ht ■ •''." , Keen Sight, who won at Ashburton, bss taken some time to fulfil the nj-omise displayed in his early racing. He was got by Nightmarch from Good Winning uipment, by Martian. . Globe Trotter Globe Trotter, who won at Feildirig on Saturday, was got by Safari from Lvcht Draft, by Paper Money—Gazeworthy, by Rose Worthy. Safari was pot by Marchalong—Duchess Glass, by Duke Foofe—Quair Glass, by Traquair —Cheat) Glass, by Isinglass,' Lousrh Neagh

After having raced for eight years, Lough Neagh has been retired from the turf. Lough Neagh, who was 10 years old last August, started in 126 races for 32 wins. 23 seconds and 21 thirds. He won £19,871 in stakes. Until Ajax topped his stake-winning record he was the best winnet of the horses racing up to last season. Fleminjrton Figures

During the Melbourne Cup meeting the totalisator figures showed a decline on each of the four days, the total turnover being • £331,327, as against £357.689-10s last year, which represented a decrease for the meeting of £26,362 10s. Last year, however, was a record. To a large extent the drop in the totalisator returns was attributable to the fact that there was little betting on the weight-for-age races. Ajax so completely dominated them that there was little wagering, either with the bookmakers or on totalisators in the three races contested by him. Contrasts

The single pool system was in operation at Auckland and Feilding on Saturday last. There was a drop of £6213 in the investments at Auckland (win and place last year), and an increase of £6031 at Feilding. Under the win and place at Ashburton there was a drop of £730 on last year's figures. '

The Sandwichman ", A surprise was created by The Sandwichman in winning the Tinwald Handicap from end to end. This season The Sandwichman won over hurdles at Ashburton. was placed over hurdles at Geraldine. second to Recollection in the Middleton Handicap at Riccarton. and Won the C.J.C. Suburban Handicap with 9.11 in ■ lmin 40sec. The Sandwichman was. foaled in 1930 and got by Shambles from Leicester Square, by Joculator—Bligthy, by Kilbroney— Armilla. by Castor—Necklace, by Musket.

Ajax Stands Alone Ajax did not have much opposition In the weight-for-age races at the Melbourne Cup meeting, as Royal Chief was a tired horse and did not show anything like his Sydney form. Ajax met him in three races in Melbourne, and each time soundly trounced him He probably would have done so even had Royal Chief been at the top of his form. Twice at Flemington Royal Chief seemed to have a change of making a race of it with Ajax. but (says " Chiron ") in each instance, just as there seemed a possibility of a thrill Ajax bounded away from the New Zealander without the least effort and won at his ease. Ajax now settles down in his races, and Badger is able to ride him at any pace he desires, conseauently there is no reason why Ajax should not run out even longer distances than a mile and a-half. His owners now feel that they might have won either the Caulfleld or the Melbourne Cup had they '.started aim.

Memories of Tagalie Memories of Tagalie. Louvois. Blankney 11, and Louviers are revived by the news of the death at Bournemouth (England) of Mr Waiter Raphael, at the age of 76 years. For many years the colours of Mr Raphael were carried to success with distinction by those horses, the grey filly Tagalie winning the One Thousand Guineas and the Derby for him in 1912. This daughter of Cyllene was one of the few fillies to have won the great classic race on Epsom Downs. Mr Raphael went close to winning three Derbies during his career as an owner, as the following year Louvois was beaten a head and a neck >'n the memorable race when Craganour, who defeated Aboyeur in a bumping finish, was disqualified by the stewards, the race being awarded to the 100-to-l chance Aboyeur. Louvois was then placed second. In that sensational race several horses finished close together, and probably Louvois was most unlucky not to have defeated both Craganour and Aboyeur. Louvois had previously won the Two Thousand Guineas by a head from Craganour. In 1909, his horse Louviers was beaten a short head in the Derby by Minoru, owned by King Edward VII, in one of the most thrillins races ever seen. Bettma was another classic winner for Mr Raphael, she having won the One Thousand Guineas in 1921, while another to carry his colours—dark blue, scarlet hooped sleeves, scarlet cap—with success was Lord Annadale, who won the Stewards' Cup in 1913. With Blankney 11, a half-brother to Tagalie Mr Raphael won the Gimcrack Stakes. He afterwards came to Australia, and was in the Nerrin Nerrin Stud for years.

A Disappointment The Melbourne Cup proved to be a most disappointing race, and when it was over, and Catalogue had been returned the winner, a Sydney visitor summed up the race rather well when he said it did not rise above the standard of a Sydney mid-week handicap. It could easily have been a great r..ce, but as a spectacle and a thrill it /as ruined by the shocking judgment of the jockeys. They made a present of the race to. Catalogue (says the Australasian), just as the riders did the year Posinatus was successful. Both races were falsely run, and instead of becoming a real test of stamina, it degenerated into a sprint over a few furlongs. Posinatus was allowed to stride along at his leisure in the lead and sprint home over the last few furlongs, and that was the case with Catalogue. The horses, which had been trained to run a solid two miles, misht just as well have been in their stalls for all the chance they had. of winning. It must have been a period of exasperation to those trainers who had given their horses a solid Cup preparation to see their work destroyed by the riders. They ran the first halfmile in 52 seconds, and the next two half-miles were run at exactly the same pace. Catalogue sprinted home from the half-mile post in 50J Mr Heath has been timing Melbourne Cups for longer than most of us care to_remember. He remarked on. Oaks Day that it was the worst Melbourne Cup he had ever timed. As the race was run, Catalogue must, be .given some credit for having.won it, but he will not go down in. history as one of the good winners of the Melbourne Cup. When the pace was.very slow stayers like Royal Chief, Plectrum, Marauder, L'Aiglon, and Bourbon, who had all done a solid preparation and wanted a fast run race, were kept muddling about the tail-end of the field,, and consequently when Catalogue sprinted away approaching the turn for home they were left in hopeless positions. Judgment of pace seems to be a lost art.