TALK OF THE DAY.

Otago Witness, Issue 3383, 15 January 1919, Page 41

TALK OF THE DAY.

By Sentinel. WELL WEIGHTED. Both the Dunedin horses, Michaela and Kilboyne, are nicely treated in the Telegraph Handioap at Wellington. In the Criterion Handicap Kilboyne beat 80-peep three lengths at even weights, and now has to allow only 31b. In the same race Mvshaeia, after a bad run in the early part was two lengths off, third. On that occasion Michaela was giving 131 b to Kilboyne and 80-peep, and now is givmg Kilboyne lib and 80-pecp 41b. In the same race Acre and Nystad, both in receipt of 'lb from Michaela, were unplaced, and now Nystad has to give her "51b, and Acre come 3 in on even terms. On Riccarton form Michaela should beat Acre and Nystad, and at least get close to Kilboyne, who, in company with the Dunedin mare, looks the pick of the handicap. Nanna was also in the Criterion, but it is doubtful if she was anything like the mare that won ,at Auckland. Still, she is meeting Kilboyne on 31b worse terms, and Michaela on 151 b worse terms. Croesus and Hymestra both meet Michaela on much better terms than at Riccarton, as she meets both on 161 b worse terms than in the Stewards' Handicap. In the Fendalton Kiboyne was always going as well as Hymestra when the latter was attempting to give 71b, and the former, as far as Hymestra is concerned, reads well treated at 41b. Some other smart sprinters were engaged, but on the appearance of the handicaps both Michaela and Kilboyne read as if they should keep the best of the opposition very busy if they go to the post. THE ST. SIMON "STRAIN." According to "Chiron," of the Australasian, trainers in that part of the World attribute an alleged lack of stamina m the present-day horse to the influence of the St. Simon blood. That may be bo, but it is a trainer's opinion that runs wide of the facts. It is, of course, only natural that the blame should' be fastened on to the horse, as he can carry the load. Still, it has to be said on behalf of the horse that opinions which cannot be substantiated by facts may at times do a serious injustice to those concerned—for instance, to owners of stallions or mares of St. Simon descent. As a matter of fact, the St. Simon blood has played a remarkably strong hand in the decision of the. Melbourne Cup, which may be safely accepted as a difficult race to win and a test of stamina. If one cares to analyse the value of the opinion which asserts that the St. Simon strain carries a lack of stamina in its wake, it will be found that very few Melbourne Cup winners in recent years have lacked an infusion of the line on either one side or the other of its pedigree. It will also be found what a remarkably strong influence has a blending of the St. Simon and Musket strains on to the Frailty taproot played in the decision of the world-famous race which is decided at Flemingrton. No doubt all the descendants of St. Simon brought out to Australia have not been absolutely perfect and free from fault, but the very fact that good, bad, and indifferent help to make the total makes their achievements all the more creditable —particularly so is that the case when some of the "duds" of the tribe have not been unsuccessful. Merriwee was the first descendant of St. Simon to win the Melbourne Cup. He scored in 1899, and from that date on to the present day only two or three winners are minus the St. Simon blood, and where it is missing the loss is very much discounted by the fact that his sire Galopin is on the scene. Merriwee was got by Bill o' Portland (son of St. Simon) from Etraweenie by Trenton (son of Muiket and Frailty). Clean Sweep, who won in 1900, was got by Zalinski (a son of Nordenfeldt from Frailtyk Revenue, the winner of 1901, was got by Trenton (Musket —Frailty) from Water Lily, and The Victory, who scored in 1902, was got by The Admiral (Richmond— Footstep) from The Charmer. Lord Cardigan, who followed on in 1903, was go by Positano (son of St. Simon) from Lady Trenton, she by Trenton, the son of Musket and Frailty. Acrasia. the winner of 1904, was got by Gozo from Cerise-and-Blue. Blue Spec, the winner of 1905, was got by True Blue from Specula, by Splendor, a representative of the Speculum line of Vedette, the grandsire of St. Simon. Poseidon, the winner of 1906, was got by Positano (son of St. Simon) from Jacinth, by Martini-Henry, a son of Musket. Apologue, the winner of 1907, was got by Phoebus Apollo (son of St. Simon) from Miss Gladys, by Cuirassier, a brother to Trenton. Lord Nolan, the winner of 1908, was. got by Positano (son of St. Simon) from Lady Lybil, by Antaeus from Lady Trenton, by Trenton. Prince Footo, the winner of 1909, was got by Sir Footo, a son of Sir Hugo, -vvhoso fourth dam, Qui Vive, is an own sister to Vedette, the sire of Galopin, who was also the sire of Prince Foote'-s great grand dam. Comedy King, winner of 1910, was got by Persimmon, a son of St. Simon, and The Parisian, who came next, was got by Bobadil (grandson of St. Simon) from The Parisienne, by Trenton. . Piastre, the winner of 1911, is a son of Positano, a son of St. Simon, and Posinatus, the next winner, was got by Fortunatus (by St. Frusquin, a son of St. Simon) from Whakatika, a daughter of St. Simon. Kingsburgh, the winner of 1914, was got by Wallace from Alexandra, by Persimmon, a son of St. Simon. Patrobus, who won in 1915, was got by Wallace from Zizzle, a mare by Simmer, u son of St. Simon. Sasanof won in 1916, and was got

by Martian from a daughter of Madder, she by Gossoon, a son of Galopin. .Westcourt won in 1917, and he was got by Bright Steel (son of St. Simon) from a Trenton mare, and the latest winner, Night Watch, was got by St. Alwynne, a son ofthe St. Simon horse St. Frusquin from Wakeful, the crack daughter of Trenton. From the abovo it will be seen that the assertion claiming St. Simon blood is lacking in stamina is very; far from the truth. Still, the article in which the charge was made has been quoted without question or comment. Instead of the strain lacking the great merit of stamina, itwill be seen that m the case of Posinatus it has, on the contrary, been doubled with advantage. We must then look elsewhere for tho reason why our horses are lacking in stamina if such is really the case. In the writer's opinion it is the present-day trainer who is to blame far more than tho alleged lack of stamina in the horse. It is a well-recognised fact that the present-day trainer has made a fetish of the so-called light preparation, and works under entirely different methods to those of old-time men of a quarter of a century ago, when proved. stayers were far moro plentiful than they are to-day. In recent years trainers have studied the development of speod to such an extent that- the art of developing a_ stayer is in danger of being lost—in fact, judging by the preparations given horses with Cup engagements, Some trainers have a very remote idea, or speaking more candidly, no knowledge as to how; a journey horse should be trained. Believing that to be the case, the writer for one declines to believe that the present-day horse is lacking in stamina. On the contrary, there is good, grounds for claiming that the majority of tho present-day trainers not capable of developing the stamina which is. so very necessary for great achievements on the turf. THE WELLINGTON CUP. Mr H. poyle, who adjusts the handicaps for the Wellington Racing Club, has a partiality for framing his adjustments on a light scale. Hence it will be found that, in compiling the weights for the first day of the Wellington Clip meeting he has travelled very little beyond the regulation Bst. A light scale of weights naturally favours the best horses, as they can generally be found in such cases with a handicap weight which has been successfully carried in previous battles. For instance, Client, who tops the list in the Wellington Cup with 9st, won the Hawke's Bay Cup, one mile and a-half, with 9.3 in 2.34 1-5. and has also two Wanganui Cups to his credit, the last won with 8.5 in 3.1 2-5, and followed up with a Wanganui Stakes Handicap, one mile and a-half, with 9.3 -in 2.35. He has also some very creditable performances over 10 furlongs when acting under good weight, and after winning the Hawke's Bay Cup went out favourite for the Burke Memorial Stakes, one mile and a-quarter, when acting under 9.13. Client cannot be considered harshly treated at 9st in the Wellington Cup. Menelaus ran third in the Wanganui Cup with 9st, giving Client 91b. and many thought the son of Martian siiould have won. Menelaus won the W.R.O. Handicap with 8.10 in 2.19 1-5, Nobleman 8.9 and Teka 8.4 being unplaced. He ran third in the last New Zealand Cup with 8.11, and a brief glance at the form of the two weights suggests that the rest of the Bst division will have to be on their best legs to head off Client and Menelaus, and of the two the latter may prove the most reliable. Mascot has latterly been in the limelight, but at the weights her stable-mate reads best. Teka ran a good second under 9.0 at Auckland, and if back to the form he disolayed in winning the Metropolitan with 8.3 in 2.32 4-5 should help to keep matters busy. Snub has a nice weight, but not enough distance. Still, a win from him would occasion no surprise. Red Ribbon won under 7.10 at Auckland, and the consistent Kilmoon has only lib more than he carried .Jnto second place in the Metropolitan, and displayed no loss of form in the Great Northern Derby. He and Menelaus may prove the best of the eight stone lot. Kilmoon and Punka should both beat Karo, and if Heathereote runs to his New Zealand Derby promise he and Punka read the pick of the _7st lot. At the scale of weights one is a bit* dubious about expressing a. fancy for any of the featherweight division, but the acceptance should show w r hat the owners think of the matter. Melee, for instance, may be deemed better than Kilmoon at the weights. THE SOUTH CANTERBURY MEETING. The postponed meeting of the South Canterbury Jockey Club will take place on Thursday of this week, and although the strength of. the fields is not great in either quality or numbers, the card should provide some interesting sport. Margerine was slightly off colour a few days ago. b..fc is again doing solid work, and at her best form is entitled to start favourite in the November Handicap. Marsa won well at Invercargill and reads nicely in at 51b worse terms than when beating Subterfuge all the way in the Invercargill Cup. John Barleycorn will be more suited by the Timaru course than he was at Invercargill. He meets Marsa on 151 b better terms than in the Invercargill Cup, and Subterfuge on 101 b better terms; but has not much in his favour on the. second day's running. The track, • however, should assist his handicap! Bellshire showed improving form as a stayer, but Spangle is rather unreliable. King of the Valley is galloping well, and with 6.9 should be able to run a- good mile. Mortham will probably start favourite in the Flying Handicap, but only a poor field is likely to start. THE WAIRIO MEETING. The Wairio meeting takes place to-day, and as it is a favourite outing with Southland sports the''card should attract a good attendance. On his form at the Vincent meeting Glenwood may be sent out favourite for the Wairio Cup, as his defeat of All Ready over 10 furlongs, followed by defeating Radial over six furlongs, suggests that he is an improved horse. Wild Night was staying oh when he ran second to Bon Spec at Wingatui; but he is in four races, and his owner may select something apparently easier than the Wairio Cup. THE DUNEDIN CUP MEETING. Nominations for the Dunedin Cup, of 1500sovs, and the balance of events on the D.J.C. autumn programme close on Friday of this week at 5 p.m. There was a tip about for Zabism in the Cheltenham Hack Handicap, in which she Went out favourite, but failed to get nearer than third. Zabism won at the Marton meeting, and is a five-year-old sister in blood to Hymestra and Tprfreda.