TALK OF THE DAY.

Otago Witness, Issue 3314, 19 September 1917, Page 39

TALK OF THE DAY.

By Sentinel. A NEW HANDICAPPER. Mr F. J. Macrnanemin, who has been appointed hundicapper to the Auckland Racing Club, supplies a newcomer in the weight-adjusting business, and, with his lengthy experience of racing, should be able to grasp the value of form. Mr Macmancmin has been connected with racing from boyhood. Ho does not seem to have achieved any success in the saddle during his younger days, but quickly blossomed forth as an owner and trainer. Mr Macmanemin was first associated with the stable presided over by J. Chaafc, sen., in the days when ho trained Trenton, Niagara, Bangle, Necklace, and others. Ho afterwards joined the late Jas. Kean's stable, and a little later acquired an interest in St. "Clements, who turned out one of the smartest sprinters ever seen in New Zealand. St. Clements ran several times at Forbury Park; and another well-known performer trained by him was Hermosa, the dam of Oiyoi. During his career as a trainer Mr Macrnanemin trained Nonette, a high-ckws colt, and a real good winner. Others he prepared were Scotty, Haydn. Royal Oonqueror, St. Crispin, Belmont, Regalia, Je\vellery, and Antares. The practical experience gained as an owner and trainer would naturally make the study of handicapping an essential part of the business of racing, and the knowledge thus acquired should fit him for the very responsible position to which Mr Macrnanemin lias boon appointed. His first adjustments will be scanned with a great deal of interest, and, no doubt, subjected to a close scrutiny by those in close touch with the form at that end of the Dominion. Whilst on the subject of the appointment, of handicappers, it may be said that the writer has long held the opinion that such important appointments, as well as that of starting and judging, should be under the control of the Racing Conference. A handicapper's work is not generally confined to any one club, and where a person such as a handicappcr holds a widespreading power, it stands to reason that the controlling authorities should have a say in such appointments. It might rest with clubs as to whom they should employ; but aspirants for the principal positions connected with racing should first have their qualifications tested by the Racing Conference —in fact, it would be in the best interests of racing if the Racing Conference controlled all appointments of handicapping, judging, aud starting. Each official would receive a suitable salary, and be allotted certain districts. _ By this means there would be a great saving in expenses, as officials would not be acting in the far north during one week and rushing to the South Island during the following one. Thoroughly-established officials would then be more free and independent, and not in danger of losing a club or two if they put a few ounces too much on a horse owned by an influential stable, nor would such positions bo procurable and held except by ability. The Auckland Racing Club have taken a bold step in appointing a man who has yet to make his debut as a recognised weight-adjuster; but it is safe to say that, as Mr Macrnanemin has lived in the club's district all his life, there should be a good and safe line as to qualification.

THE DUNEDIN SPRING MEETING. An important date falls duo this week in connection with our local racing season, as on Friday, the 21st inst., nominations must be made for the Dunedin Jockey Club's Spring meeting. The principal handicap events inviting the attention of owners include the Mosgiel Handicap, of 25Csovs. one mile and a-quarter; tho Electric Handicap, of 150scvs, six furlongs; the Ranfurly Handicap, of 20Osovs. one mile; and the* Shorts Handicap, of six furlongs. The minor events as usual carry stakes of lOOsovs or more, and include a Trial Plate, of lOOsovs, six furlongs, for horses that have not won a race of the value of 30sovs at time of starting. In connection with the meeting, ir is worthy of note that the first race for tho Rf'Lean Stakes will come up for decision, and a payment for both this' event and the Dun edin Guineas falls due on the eame date- - the 21st inst. Tho inclusion of these two classics on our Spring programme has been instrumental in building up a great deal of extra interest in the fixture. At the present time there are over 30 youngsters

claiming engagement in the M*Lcan Stakes, ol' 300sovs, a:id utter the payment of tho first forfeit on Friday there should bo ample material left to furnish ait interesting race. The result will be followed with moro than passing notice, u.s ii may unearth something good enough to do battle in the Welcome Stakes (now free from penalty conditions), und' other important events ahead, liio Dunedin Guineas, of 400sovs, has over 40 still claiming engagement unit amongst them are whining two-year-olds in the shape of Gamecock, Kilrea, Kilrush, Trentham Hose, Ample, and others who shaped promisingly last season, or who have latterly been acting well on the truck. Ample is. of course, m Australia, and may be counted out. '1 he Martian—Nantes filly Nanna lias yet to make her debut in publie, but she has been shuping well on the track, and may bo raced at> Ashburton this week. A better idea of the strength of the fields in the classics will, of course, remain a matter of conjecture until the end of the week, when the payment of a forfeit will help to thin out the held to much smaller proportions than it carries at present. THE ASHBURTON MEETING. The South Island flat racing season will commence- this week with the Ashburtoir spring meeting, which lakes place on Thursday and Friday, and judging by the excellent acceptances a successful start seems assured, ihe usual travelling facilities will not be available, but the attractive card should prove sufficiently strong to draw excellent attendances. Fiery Cross now holds the pride of place in the Ashburton Handicap, and although he failed to show up prominently at the Grand National meeting, where the large fields probably hampered many a good chance, his best form should not be forgotten, iiis bold, but unlucky displays in the Great Easter, Great Autumn, and Thompson Handicaps would make him worthy of strong respect against a better field than he will be in this week. Tho Glenapp gelding has been doing well on the truck since his last appearance in public, and it will not be surprising to find him elected favourite. Fiery Cross has a shade the best of it on paper with Varnish, as ho meets the latter on 21b better terms than in the Great Autumn and lib better than they were set to meet at in the Great Easter. King Star may run a really good race, but he appears a bit flattered in'the handicap. Fiery Cross, for instance, got into a bad position in the Winter Cup, and had no chance of displaying his real form, but nevertheless lie meets King Star on 15ib tetter terms. King Star also looks to have the worst of it in giving Snub weigiit. Still, the Martian —Rosiphelc gelding stands as tho winner of one of our most important events und what is invariably a hard race to win, and hence must be treated with a certain amount of respect by the handicapper. Good Hope appears to be doing badly in his work ; but Sedd-el-Bahr looks well "and bears an improved appearance, 110 strode, along nicely in his work on Saturday morning, and at Riccarton beat them alj bar Hythrcad in the Islington Handicap. He, however, in common witti King Star, seems to have paid well for his partial success. At Riccarton Snub was giving him Islb, and now comes in on 161 b better, tern;?. There was a good deal of scrambling and bumping in the Islington Handicap, and the fact that somo horse or other failed to show up at the finish may have been due to a bad passage rather titan loss or lack of form. In fact, on his best form Snub is entitled to closely dispute favouritism with the topweight. Daytime, has a handy weight, and if he has been set for the distance should make matters interesting. He is a good beginner, and should thus get a good run,! but may not quite see it out if he has to be kept up to the collar. Red Book's display at Riccarton carried a threat that ho may show a return of form; and Thames haa only to reproduce her Wanganui form to have a chance. The balance of events should contribute towards making a good all-round card and a successful meeting. SIRES OF THE SEASON. There are so many lopsided pedigrees identified with trotting stallions that it is a pleasure to glance over the lines of Marvin Wilkes's family tree. If being bred right on tho soundest linos is any criterion to stud success then it is not astonishing to find him leaving good stock, as well as being a Grst-claes individual with a really good mark to his credit. He has one of tho stoutest pedigrees ever identified with a light-harness stallion, and it is worthy of particular note that he is a tail male descendant, and strongly inbred in his back lints to the great Hambletonian, who has been described as *he greatest progenitor of harness speed that the world has yet seen. Hambletonian carried a triple line to the thoroughbred Messenger, the foundation of the American trotting horse, who was a winner on the flat in England before ho achieved undying fume as a sire of trotting stock in America. Marvin Wilkes's pedigree also contains the names of tho four greatest trotting families in the world represented by George Wilkes, Nutwood, Belmont, and Electioneer. Students of light-harness pedigrees are familiar with tho famous quartet, and appreciate their blood particularly when it is massed in united strength, such as that found in tho breeding of Marvin Wilkes. Hambletonian has bred on to the present day with undiminished vigour through Electioneer. George Wilkes. Belmont, and Nutwood. Nutwood, the sire of Marvin Wilkes's second dam, was got by Belmont from Miss Russell, the dam of flic great Maud S, who astonished the world by going 2.8 J to a high-wheeled sulky. Nutwood is nlso a half-brother to the 'dam of- Abbey Belle, who is also a tail male descendant, and inbred to the great Hambletonian; The greatly successful sire Peter tho Great is also a direct lino descendant of Hambletonian, and is .'nbred to the same sire; but his dam cannot show tho attractive pedigree allied to Marvin Wilkes, and honco the latter, with equal opportunities, should have proved an even more successful stallion if ho had not been imported to Australia and had to take his chance with all sorts of mares. Don Marvin, the sire of Marvin Wilkes, was bred bv that great student of breeding the late Mr Loland Stanford, of tho Palo Alto_ StockFarm, one of tho first men to reinforce tho trotting horse blood with that of tho thoroughbred. Marvin Wilkes took a record as three-year-old of 2.18.. and afterwards went 2.12 i, in a race. He has sired several good winners since his importation, from America, and amongst them is Hardy Wilkes, one of the fastest _ straiffht-out i totters ever'seen in Australasia. Looked at in every way. Marvin Wilkes is bred on mo. r attractive" linos, and carries that desirable infusion of thoroughbred blood calculated to impart vitality. His ihircl dam, Oracle, was got by a thoroughbred horse in Jack Hayze, a. son of Leviathan and Ivlora, a mare by Glencoe, the sire of Poco-

hontas, the dam of Stockwell, who won the title of being the "Emperor of Stallions" amongst the thoroughbreds. With such credentials owners of mares should not show the slightest hesitation in breeding them to Marvin Wilkes, whose blood will become more and more valuable in the- trotting world.