TALK OF THE DAY.

Otago Witness, Issue 3197, 23 June 1915, Page 52

TALK OF THE DAY.

Bt Sentinel.

THE DERBY WINNER. Pommorn, tho winner of tho Two Thousand Guineas and Derby, is a bay colt got fi.v Polymelus (half-brother to Grafton) from Jlerry Agnes, by St. Hilaire (son of St.

Simon) from Agnes Court, by Hampton from Orphan Agnes, by Speculum—Polly Agnes. .Polymelias was got by Cylleno from Maid JVlaaion. by Hampton from Quiver, an almost full sister to Musket. Fommern is inbred to both Hampton and Hermit, and has aiso two additional strains of Ncwminster isiro of Hermit) through Lord Olifdcn, who also appears in the top and bottom of the colt's pedigree. Through his dam Pommern picks up two strains of Vedette (grandsiro of St. Simon), and in tail male represents the Bend Or line, which, commencing with the latter s sire, Doncaster, has supplied the following Derby winners:—Doncaster, Bend Or, Ormonde, Orme, Flying Fox, and Orby. the grandsire of Pommern, has achieved a remarkable record in connection with the Derby. He is a grandson of Bend Or, and is establishing another very strong line of his famous ancestor, Btockwell. Cylleno has sired four Derby since 1905 in Cicero, Minoru, Lemberg, Tagalie, and now conies the success of Ins grandson in Pommern. The last-named belongs to the No. 16 family, which, as the number implies, has not been particularly successful in the classics—in fact, until Sit. Gatien deadheaded with Harvester in the Derby of 1884, the line had not yet boon represented by a classic winner. It, however, became very prominent in subsequent years. The lino is best known as the Agnes family, for whom the mighty and unbeaten Ormonde won. world-wide fame, and who has bred on through Orme, Flying Fox, and Frenchbred sons of the latter, notably Jardy. The great mare Sceptre, who won the One Thousand Guineas, Two Thousand Guineas, Oaks, ant! St. Lcger, is a member of the No. 16 family ; but, unfortunately, although she achieved great success on the turf, so far she has been a stud failure. L’Abbesso de Jonarrc, who won the Oaks, became even bettor known as the dam of Desmond, one of St. Simon’s most successful sons at the stud. Kendal, the sire of Galteo More, and Mavtagon, the sire of Martian and Hallowmas, are two other members of the No. 16 family that proved very successful at the stud. LIFTING TUB MINIMUM. The Dunedin Jockey Club has shown a desire in the past to increase tlic minimum weight in handicaps from 6.7 to 7.0, and is responsible for a motion to that effect which will come before the Racing Conference, to be held next month. Tho idea of increasing the minimum is no doubt brought about by the fact that it is very difficult and at times impossible to obtain capable riders who can go to scale at the present minimum. Several handicaps figuring on the D.J.C. programme depart from the ordinary minimum and lean towards the Welter scale of weights, and by this the club shows a desire to practise what it preaches. Still, although an increase of the minimum may appear very desirable to some ticoplc it is bound to meet with a great deal of opposition from others. In the first plape, the rule proposed by the Dunedin Jockey Club would place an extra half-stone on horses least entitled to carry it, and at the same time no proposed alteration is suggested that the top weight of 9.0 bo proportionately increased. The motion, furthermore, does not provide for an alteration to other rules in order to bring them in line with the proposed amendment. This, however, could perhaps be brought in by means of an amendment. The dearth of good, light-weight riders has been in evidence ever since racing under handicap conditions commenced, and the mere lifting of the minimum is not likely to achieve what tho D.J.C. is aiming at. Improved tuition to apprentices and the adoption of some practice whereby suitable lads could be taught horsemanship, without going through the drudgery of stable routine would probably help to attract more recruits to the art of horse-riding. Hundreds of young lads have a natural fondness for the horse, and are very happy when astride one, hut they are seldom found to be fond of stable work. If trainers paid a small wage to light-weight boys to ride out and ride work, and allow them to cease further connection with a horse apart from being in the saddle, far more budding Archers would in ail probability come to light The encouragement of horsemanship should be the aim and object of all racing clubs, but under the present system of handicapping, a boy, after his apprenticeship or three or four years’ riding, has frequently to stand down simply because he cannot go to scale sit the weights made by the socalled flattering handicaps, which arc 'too common. Hence we find many riders just on the verge of becoming finished horsemen compelled to abandon the business after they have spent some of tho best years of their life at it, or else be content to mark tune as a stable attendant until one of the very few and far between oppor trinities occur for them to set up as a trainer. A rule which made it compulsory that all handicaps decided over a mile and a-half or less should bo commenced at not less than 9.7 would help to reduce tho present antagonism to the existing minimum, and give more riding to those best able to do it. Such a rule could be well supplemented by another which would permit clubs to raise pro rata any handicaps decided over the distances named above to 9.0 when the highest accepting weight falls below that burden. It would perhaps bo well to restrict any such alteration to handicaps of certain value —say to £SOO or less—so as not to interfere with the most important events decided during the season, and for which there is generally plenty of lightweights available. At certain periods of the racing season, when there is a congestion of meetings on tho calendar, the dearth of light-weights becomes rather pronounced at times. Light-weights are not made in a day; but a- rule can be made in an hour which would reduce thrfir importance in the racing arena. Horsemanship cannot he made by rules; hut the adoption of some of the above ideas, apart from merely lifting tlfe minimum; would certainly tend to give more riding, to experienced riders who now stand idlj? by whilst others arc gathering experience in the saddle and perchance firing away many a race. THE WAIMATE HUNT MEETING. The Waimato Hunt Club’s first totalisuto 1 * programme consists of a seven-item card, containing tinea steeplechases, a hurdle race, and three events on the fiat, of which two are restricted to qualified hunters. This reads like a good sporting card that should meet with plenty of appreciation, and is in keeping with the spirit of a good hunting dub. The chief event is to be the Waimate Hunt Club Cup, of 40sovs, including a cup valued at lOsovs, second £7 10s, and third £2 10sj about throo miles, and open to qualified hunters. Next in point of value comes tho Hally-ho Steeples, of 40sovs; about two miles and a-half. The balance of .the card consists of tho Stud-

holms Hurdles, of 30sovs, one mile and a-half; Bluecliffs Steeples, of 35Asovs, including cup valued at £lO 10s, for worses qualified ■with the Waimate and South Canterbury Hounds; Waihoc Hack Race, of 25sovs, six furlongs; Ladies’ Bracelet, of 25sovs ; one mile and a-half, for qualified hunters; and Hunters’ Plate, of 25sovs, one mile. Nominations are due on Saturday, July 10; handicaps on July 17, and acceptances on July 24-.