TALK OF THE DAY.

Otago Witness, Issue 3061, 13 November 1912, Page 57

TALK OF THE DAY.

By SSNTINBL.

CLOSE FINISHES. Close finishes were the order of the day during the New Zealand Cup meeting, and never, perhaps, in the history of racing' at Riccarton have so many exciting climaxes been witnessed at the same gathering; in, fact, it is doubtful if a record was not achieved in that respect. Naturally, the weight-adjuster came in lor high and welldeserved praise; bu’c the writer doca not at all subscribe to the general and frequently erroneously-expressed opinions that close finishes are always the result of capable handicapping. And no really competent hanclicappcr would claim that narrow victories are solely the result of a clever manipulation of the figures, although naturally a weight-adjuster is entitled to feel gratified when the horses give the public a thrilling finish. The merit of a handicap is found when it is subjected to analysis before the horses go to the post. If the figures can on close examination be found to fairly balance the form on paper, then it is a good handicap; but very often the best work of a handicapper will produce a bad race. • This is bad from a spectacular point of view. On the contrary, an indifferent handicap may produce a most interesting and probably exciting race. The figures may be obviously bad, and easily “ripped to pieces,” but the actual race may “vindicate the handicapper’s judgment.’’ Only lately what was generally voted a particularly bad handicap ultimately produced a fairly interesting race; and under the circumstances who would dare cavil at the figures. A thousand and one things can happen during a race, and they may all tend to bring horses together at the finish. A close finish is frequently brought about by the luck of the race rather than the merit of the figures. Good judges do not require to he told such things, but it .is sometimes really astonishing to hear people with very pronounced opinions on racing, and probably everything under the sun, giving vent to statementsj which merely prove ignorance. They are quite satisfied that what they say is right, and it would bo a crime to prove them in the wrong. A true-run raco over a distance of ground climaxed by a finish in which the field is fairly close together may be said to vindicate a handioapper’s judgment, hut who can foretell how a race will actually bo contested even when they are aware of the riding instructions issued to the jockeys. Something may occur at the rise of the barrier which instantaneously places a different complexion on the race. Such things are of common occurrence, and happen at evoiy meeting: but unless they occur as the result of “malice aforethought,” they merely go to show that the “glorious uncertainty of the turf” is not a phrase devoid of meaning. A race that is slowly ran in the early stages very frequently results in a close finish, because when they crowd on sliced over a final furlong or so the houses may not be ablo to get far away from- each other. Bad riding and iioor knowledge of pace may wreck a race as a encctacuLar affair, whilst clever riding in which two or three liders “wait with the field” assists the compilation of a racing picture. Some jockeys are always anxious to win by the length of the straight, while others get there with a well-timed run which just leaves a margin that is not painfully fine at the .finish. There was far more merit in the close finish between Midnight Sun and Masterpiece in the New Zealand Gup than in the actual dead heat which Stardanccr and Bon Reve registered in the Stewards’ Handicap. In ihe former raoc the horses had a fair go at each other, whilst in the Stewards’ Handicap Bon Reve got well away, and Stardanoer had to concede a start to the Boniform gelding in the run up the straight. If Stardanccr had the luck to get clear early in the race the same as Bon Reve there would have been no dead heat hoisted at the finish. On the figures Stardtaitfcer (looked) better treated than Bon Revo, but the kick of the race wont to the latter, and made it ft dead heat. One of the best handicaps of the meeting wae_ compiled in connection with the Cressy Welter, in which the field appeared to get well away, and the winner difficult to locate at about 50 yards from the post. The finish of the Fcndalton Handicap was no real test of the figures, as more than one horse had his chance wrecked at the start solely perhaps through drawing an outside place or getting a bad passage round the first turn. A prospective winner of a mile and a-quarter race at Riccarton has generally to begin well and gain a place fairly quickly, or the scramble round the turn may- absolutely wreck its chance. In fact, if the Fendalton was docked a furlong and the field started with a fairly straight furlong before reaching the mile post it would give a far better test of a handicap than the present distance, which sends the field on to a turn in the first few strides. A good handicap can be demonstrated as such bee fore the actual race. What occurs during the battle nml how it will be climaxed is ex* trcmclv difficult and .generally impossible to foretell. If it were otherwise, wjnnera on paper would he winners in fact: but they are frequently not so, or following the favourite elected by the combined intellect

and puree of the racing public would bo a high road to easy riches.

THE WINTON MEETING. The annual racing fixture of the Winton Jockey Club, the oldest racing institution in Southland, attracted many holidaymakers on Wednesday and Thursday last, and, contrary to recent experiences at Riccarton and Trcntham, favourable weather prevailed. The race track was in good going order and the gathering was very successful from a financial point of view, but the competition was hardly as keen as in most previous years, owing to the lenient handicap treatment of first-day winners when the second part of the programme came up for decision. The totalisator returns showed a considerable increase, the sum of £20.231 passing through the machine, as compared with £17,047 at the corresponding meeting of last year. The return was an easy record for the club, and a handsome profit should result on the fixture, and thus encourage the management to increase th© stakes and provide much-needed grandstand accommodation. At the present time it is very hard for hundreds of patrons to get a satisfactory view of the racing owing to the flatness of the surroundings, while those who frequent the outside enclosure have to depend upon a belt of trees for' Shelter in the event of wot or stormy weather. Proceedings each day commenced with a hurdle race over a mile and a-haif course, but both events provided poor sport. The old Manniioher gelding Rifle Range was stripped in excellent buckle, and each time ran home an easy winner. He jumped cleverly, and gave jockey L. S. Lloyd a double winning ride following on like successes last season on the back of Simon Pure. Freak, who was very much above himself, ran well while his condition lasted; Red-White-and-Blue failed to stay; and Alfreda, who was making her first appearance over the battens, jumped very badly, and quite failed to act up to her private reputation over the light fences. The time-honoured Winton Cup, the records of which run back to 1881, when Atlantic won, and Idalium succeeded the following year, this season went to St. Aidan The Birkenhead gelding had evident?* been improved by his gallops at the Gore R.C'.’b Spring meeting, as he stripped bright and full of life, and gave Beale an easy ride. The winner was followed homo by Mias Signal, a four-ycar-old mare bv Signalman —Miss Stent. This ma.ro had previously raced well in short events, and it was something of a emprise to find her staying out 10 furlongs. She was bred by Mr S. H. Gollan. of Hawke’s Bay, while her dam (who is now in Mr F. Malcolm’s stud_ at Heddon Bush) originally came from New South Wales, where she won many races and wa-s incidentally marked cm the nock with the “ringer’s” brand, a mark that suggests dark turf transactions. Russo was favourite for the Cup, but got. a very bad passage. It was made plain that ho may win over a longer course than a mile at some future date. Stepmetcr was never dangerous. Sombrero failed to show any brilliancy, and both King Torrent and Dircctoiro were undoubtedly feeling the effects of their winning exertions at Gore the previous week. For his win St. Aidan was raised from 8.2 ot 9.0 for the Memorial Stakes, the principal event of the second day, and ho found no difficulty in repeating the dose over the shorter course of one mile. Jan, who failed to see the journey out, was placed second, and Russo again took third money. St. A'dan looks very well, and carries the colours of Mr C. Dagg, a gentleman long and favourably known to the res : den is of, and rnanv visitors to, Queenstown, where he has for years been a consistent supporter of the Lake County Jockey Club.

The equine hero of tho Winton meeting was undoulxtodly the six-year-old gelding Abo, by Finland —Zillah. He earned 9.10 to victory in tho Welter' Handicap (six furlongs) on tho opening day, winning easily in Imin 16 l-sscc from Peerless 9.4 and Cocoon 8.8, and next day he made no race of the A warn a Hack Handicap, lumping his 9.12 in great stylo from the Guineas winner Pallant 8.6 and Summertime 8.0 in the places. Miss Signal, who took second place in the Cup, was among tho unplaced division of six starters. Abo ran the course in Imin 16 3-ssec. At a later stage Abo was produced again, and was opposed by a dozen others in tho County Handicap (hack conditions), a five-furlong event. Tnc handicappor penalised the son of Finland 121 b, bringing his burden up to 10.11; but this also failed to stop him, and he ran home a winner ijs Imin 3 l-ssco. lie was followed by Golden Webb, a four-year-old maro of great promise by Captain Webb— Wild Daisy, and Sombra. by Canrobert — Umbra, by Clanranald—Black Cloud. The last-named, one of the handsomest animals racing at the fixture, got badly away, met with some interference, and was unlucky in only securing third place for Mr J. Smart, of Arrowtown. Abo is a. thick-set bay gelding, sound as a bell when well, and a very smart beginner. His Winton winnings sot him well out of the hack class, and it is noticeable that he has been nominated in open company at the South Canterbury J. C. meeting. Zillah. the dam of this promising sprinter, who was bred in Hawke’s Bay many years ago, used to race successfully in the south for Mr J. Sharp over short courses, but on one occasion was responsible for a shoek to race-goers at T’a.oaniii. when she ran clean away from Paladin in an important race. Zillah was a very shy breeder, and failed to produce a+ all to thoroughbred sirrs. unt'l eventual!v mated with a trotting stallion.

Winton proved onite a ha p-py him tine crrmiwl for the well-known Pive-rgcfole light harnesw studm-asters. Stevenson and M'Bcath. ns (key carried off no less than three of the fonr trots on the programme. The two-mile TTokonui Trot was secured in harness by Wm Soon, a nioe-lookine chestnnt mare by Kin" Child (a son e,f Pot.hs. eh ; !d. who is <rettin<r some very nice stock) from Tonsy. Win Soon jo fired home jn smin 12sec. and looked to bo capable of doin cr much better if necessary. M r M'Math. who hns not bee.n in the ciffky nntil lately since the times when he n=ed to steer Too Soon, drove Win Soon, and Riih=e. ouemtlv had another cesnfert abV ride behind Queen’s Drive, by Cenernl Pet— TTarold’s Pest, who won the Otepini Trot, one m : le and a-half. in sm : r 56'see. This mare m< started an-a.jn on the proor-d dav end had no difFienltv in winning the Oreti Trot, two m-’les ?n sm>'n 1 f 4.from It other®, free of whom 'MV-rv-’n/t. bv Sir TTectoi—'Mistake, a lot faveain’te. b^d'r d’sarvooipt.ed her eo-m eet’orp Tn addition to Win Soon nnd Oneen’s Drive. the Pivercd-V sportsmen won at Core the prerions week av’t.h Co Soon a three-veero’d filh’ hr TTarold prAhr-h’ld—Tenov. el: home-b-ed novices, and tV»*o within a few dare ancounted for £275 in. stakes, to say nothing:

of stakes credited to them in Canterbury since the current season opened. ,V' e ' e breeders and owners rear and educate tne.r stock with the greatest of ‘are, and thoroughly deserve their turf and show ring successes. They arc noted as rations ot agricultural exhibitions in the south. ine remaining trot at Winton was won oter eight furlongs by Ella Lyons, a, General Lyons mare recently purchased in Gnr.stchuroh, who was leniently handicapped ana won in saddle in 2min 36aSGc in the hands of W. Ratcldffe, trainer of the thoroughbreds Warsaw, Abo, Clanmena, and Champagne, the last-named of whom, by the way, has recovered from the operation ox being added to the list, and is now working nicely on the Southland R.C.’s tracks. As the Winton meeting is held adjacent to the district in which most of our local thoroughbreds are produced, great mtore>t centres in the Winton Guineas contest, a race for three-year-olds of southern breeding. The winner receives a stake of oOgs and a 20" H cup is added, the trophy being the result of private subscriptions from lovers of the thoroughbred horse. This .season’s race attracted a field of seven, and almost without exception they were good to look upon. After his recent success at (K>rc Pallant. bv Pallas—Bealey. was made a very hot favourite and he duly won '"'it'' 1 something to spare, thus enabling Ur Robertson, of Tapanui. to take home a handsome cup for the second t me m ettc-re:'-e.:on—last, vear ho won with Pal sane, by Pallas —Red Peonv. Fallout. last weeks winner, is a gelding of good size and substance. and looks like an animal who might furnish into a rare jumper. His only droavbaek is scarred hocks, the result of an accident with barbed wire, but this may not be anything against his soundness, otherwise Mr J. Beck, an admittedly good judge and owner of Magda la. would hardly rime nurehased him on the iwght of his victory for something like 150 gs. Giralda. by Canrobert—Minaret (half-brother to Magnate), and St. Robera. Cairohert—.St. Br:g:d (a sister to Daringdale) filled the places, and both will do bettor later on. A sturdy filly from Arrowtown, in very backward condition, was greatly admired. This was Pride o’ Clutha, a daughter of Keiburn (son of Hotchkiss', from Flower o’ Ckitha. She is very like her dam in conformation, but cast in a more massive mould and of a richer bay colour. Flower o’ Clutha will be remembered as a great Goldfields and sometimes metropolitan track performer. This event, Southland’s only so-called classic race, was originally known .as the Winton Derby, one mile and a-half. but was subsequently shortened to the Winton Guineas, of six furlongs. For a number of years it was allowed to lapse, but it has now been re-established for two seasons, and the W.J.C. are deserving of every credit for thus encouraging local breeders. The race could also be classed as a payable one, as it attracted £1553 to the total isat or and closed with 19 nominations at £1 1&= each. The minor event* do not call for extended comment, but Miss K ©Herman. a verv nromcslnif five-year-old s: -ter to Alfreda IC-ap-tain Webb—Ed th) carried off the Trial Stakes and Officious, a very hot fa rente, stopped to nothing in th" Farewell Handicap. and thus lost to Alfreds by a short head. Nanda Devi wou’d probably have won the latter event, bait his saddle clipped and he lest his pilot at a critical stage. Tliere were manv complaint* against the hand"cappin.g for the second day. and the fact that six favourites (all previous dav winecrsl proved res Iv successful waseln’.med to snotify the outcry against the work of Mr Jones.

TTTE CUP MEETING. The good luck which has been identified with the weather on hand for Cup meetings for many years past was rudely shattered this season, when three out of the four days’ racing at Riccarton were got off under very unpleasant conditions. Still, tlie antagonistic weather did not completely mar the pleasure of witnessing some particularly fine racing, although it drove the spectators to cover several times throughout the meeting. One could say with isafoly that finer sport was never witnessed at Riccarton or any other course. From first to last the races required a good deal of winning, and the entire programme was devoid of an event which failed to produce an interesting contest. Possibly the results may have been climaxed rather differently if the horses had been running on top of the ground throughout the meeting. The condition of the track was dead against some horses, j jrticularly those that had to act under weight; hence winning honours rested chiefly with the light-weights. With the execution of the Oaks, all the principal events produced splendid racing. Brown Owl defeated Star'dancer with something to spare, hut the 'alter is only a pony in comparison with th? Treadmill—Glenowlet filly, and, further more, looked a bit overdone when going out for the race. St-ardaneer had rather a strenuous battle in the Stewards, and appeared to have lightened up a good deal since she appeared at Wingatui. It is. however, not easy to gain an accurate idea of a horse’s size end condition from the bird’s-eye view obtained from the press gallery at Riccarton. In any ease. Stardancer, if defeated in the Oaks, was not bv any means disgraced. a c she st’-ugg'cd ••pry gamclv ip pursuit of Brown Owl, who. under weight-for-sizo conditions. wouhl have to concede rous'drrahle poundage to her small opponent. The Derby form suggested that the M»«ts Stead Bros, had a better three-year-old in Bor Rryo than generally supposed Bon Revo's mission appeared to be pacemaker for his stable companion. but after piloting the wav tie bad to be the one to defeat Haskavne’s challenge at the fini«b. Extra kudos goes to Ron Rove’s success, ns b s saddle s 1 inner] during .bo race and ho had to he ridden home under difficulties. Uaslcnyne ran a good race, but the Gold Gup form makes him a e-eod dee 1 beb’nd the two tbrre-wiv. olds that carried the yellow and black. Haskavpe’s form ip the Joekey Cub TTandio.an enhances the merit of the Derby .a.yd Dold Cun runnrnrr. and marks out Bon Reve and Bon Ton ns fairly high-class three-year-olds. Unfortunately Autumniis did not nnpear in a faveurab’c light, and tvs running "-as" neither in keening with In's two-year-old form nor hi* track work. A utii mens was credited w>th two or three good gal'ops that suggested be was in fo'-m. but b-mkers . vidcntlv woiiM not accent him ais bein'- ou-te bis best —'ben they sent out the "Valdburst hordes v itb more support than the Goldlcaf colt. The bad going on baud during the third dar spoilt Masterpiece’s chance In the Canterbury Cun. as be could not act on the loose ground. Goldfinder won in excel’ent style, .and was evident'v improved by bis races earlier at the meeting. Tie has oplv to train on to Ire dangerous in a race over a journey. The son of San Fran and Dazzle is a big. strcngthy horse, and appears to have got

back to hi. Ihrce-year-old form. When scanning Goldtinder over prior to the Cup he looked a bit too lusty to see out two miles. He was, perhaps, a shade lucky, as the field was not all in at top form. ViceAdmiral, for Instance, was not the horse of last year, and Lady Lucy moved badly when ■ going down. She hit out freely enough in front, but could not tuily extend her hind legs. Domino's rather cobby appearance makes him look round and lusty, but his finishing at the end of two miles and a-quuiter makes turn a fitter house than he looked Both Domino and Goldfinder may be better horses about Auckland Cup time. l/os Angelos looked well. He lost a good bit of ground in moving off slowly in the Canterbury Cup, and did not commence to recover it until the pace improved. This, of course, made his task more difficult. He appeared to be travelling well as they turned for home, but could not gain a place at the finish. Bobrikoff beat him home at the end of the journey, and his displays at the meeting earn the Gossip gelding a word of praise for staying better than most people expected. Bobrikoff had the bad luck of the race in the Gold Cup. as he gut into a bad position running to the far turn, and although ho was brought back to the rails it afterwards appeared an injudicious move to bring him up on the outside to the leaders as they raced into the straight. Los Angelos did not run up to expectations, but the heavy fall of rain did not help either him or Bobrikoff l . Haskaync ran a good race, and his name was proclaimed as the winner when he took charge for a brief space as they approached the distance In the final fight, however, the two sons of Boniform had it to themselves, and fought out a highly-interesting finish, which showed Bon Ton to be a better cob than he was in the Derby. It is worthy of note that Brown Owl stayed on at the finished, and, although the ■ outsider of the party, beat, the more-fancied articles for a place. One could not wish to see better racing than that provided by the w.f.a events, the Derby, and .other races at special weights, such as the Spring Plate. The handicaps also provided some highlyinteresting sport, and, taken all round,’ the Cup mooting of 1912 deservedly takes rank as one of the best race meetings ever held at Riccarton. BREEDERS AND BUYERS. Despite the financial attractiveness of pre-pre&en’t-day programmes a.nd the almost certainty of a stiff further increase of prizemoney there was a very poor market for the thoroughbred yearlings placed under the hammer at tire a.nmia.l sales, which took place during Oup week. The prospective earning capacity of a likely youngster is now much greater than at any time during the turf history of the Dominion. Stakes have increased by leaps and bounds during the past 10 or 12 seasons, but there has not by any means been a proportionate increase in the value of blood stock. Last week's sales do not, of course, give am accurate idea of the market In fact, from a breeder’s point of view it looked the worst sale held in recent yeans. Good-looking, attractivcly-brcd and likely sorts failed to olioit a bid, and were ordered out of the ring. Others went at prices considerably below their value, and altogether there was a decided slump in the market. The best of those sent in made moderate prices, and some of the cheaper lots were almost given away. No doubt the fact that a few of the youngsters not in the first grade had a considerable amount of forfeits tacked on to them was a big factor towards low figures in thciiir case, but even so they were not extravagantly engaged. Breeders are in a bit of a quandary over the question of engaging their yearlings. Buyers naturally like to have the better class of yearlings well engaged, and regard the forfeits as a mere bagatelle, but the average purchaser would no doubt prefer to see the youngsters free from engagements and 'their consequent forfeits. A North Island buyer is not anxious to get hold of a yearling that is liberally engaged in the South Island, where there is only a remote possibility of the second-raters being under silk as two-year-olds, and per contra the same applies with buyers from this pant of t , the Dominion. There is no doubt it would mutually benefit both breeder and buyer if the entries for the classics and other events for which year lings arc eligible for nomination were deferred until fairly late in the season. Racing clubs would not receive quite so large an entry, but they would probably benefit in the long run, as under other conditions owners would not be temptrd to prepare backward youngsters for early engagements, a.nd thus in all probability shorten a horse’s career on the turf. It is on such an occasion as the present when poor prices have been realised that breeders would be more reconc-led to a temporary slump if racing clubs devoted a portion of their stakes to breeders of winners. Tim is a matter which should certainly receive attention when future programmes are being drafted. THE SOUTH CANTERBURY MEETING. The South Canterbury Jockey Club have received a highly gratifying nomination list for their spring meeting, and the long array of entries suggests what Timaru meetings should be under favourable circumstances. There is a good truck and excellent accom-modation-unobtainable' at many other places, —and, taken altogether, there is not much doubt that the South Canterbury meetings should occupy a much higher place in the sporting world. It is perhaps 111 ere'y a question of prize-money ; and, if nominations can be taken as an indication of success, the coming meeting should be the best ever held on the course. It would not inquire owners to continue very long w tli such liberal nominations to find the .South Canterbury meetings figuring amongst the best in the South Island, and it is to bn hoped that a fair percentage of the nominations will figure amongst the actual runners. Coroniforni. who scored in both the principal events at the Dunedin spring meeting, holds the honour of being made top weight in the Timaru Handicap with 9.3 opposite his name. He won the Mosgiel Handicap with 8.3, and now meets Gnome on 71b worse terms. True Knight comes in on 171 b belter terms, Muvmu-ra c« n 121 b, and Countermine at 171 b. On the Ranfurly Handicap form Coroniforni meets Stepmeter on 12l'b worse terms. My Lawyer was handicapped at a 121 L> concession. and now conies in at 41b less as the result of his success at Riccarton. Parable has been a disappointment since she won the Dunedin Cup. but reads to have a chance at 8.2. In that race she gave 131 b to The Cornet and 191 b to True Knight, but neither of the two last-named has shown Ids best form this season. Gold Coin has not run up to her latest form at Timaru, where she won both the chief events at the last autumn meeting. The most

dangerous of the seven stone division, howover, should bo Countermine, if she runs up to her best form. .She was not far away third in the Crossy Welter, and on that form should beat some of those who follow her in the hand ; cap; in fact, it will be remembered that Coroniforni failed to give her 13ib in the Mosgiel Handicap last season, and now has to concede 241 b. Of course Coroniforni is now a better horse than, for some time past; but the figures provide for a fairly good improvement. A more noticeable race in favour of Countermine is the Peninsula Cup. where she gave Coroniforni 31b and a neck beating over 10 furlongs, and now meets him on 271 b better terms. Countermine, is not too reliable, and her form on paper is often at variance with her form in fact. Acceptances are duo on Friday next.