TALK OF THE DAY.

Otago Witness, Issue 3398, 30 April 1919, Page 40

TALK OF THE DAY.

By Sentinel.

THE WELLINGTON MEETING.

There should be some very interesting racing at Trentham this week. Gloaming and Desert Gold—one time it would have been Desert Gold and Gloaming—are likely to meet again, and the best two-year-olds of the season may settle the supremacy question as to which is the best of the year. If Warplane had trained on safely through the season he would now be a stout opponent for the best of them, and, despite this drawback, there does not seem to be" much between Survey or, Warplane, and Affectation. The Thompson Handicap should provide a good race, and Sasanof may start a solid favourite, as ho holds an undoubtedly good chance on paper. Gay Lad and Kilbrogan are out of the way, and on the Great Easter running Sasanof, after getting badly away, beat Red Ribbon and now meets her at 51b better terms over an extra furlong. Punka, whom Sasanof also beat in the Great Easter, is to meet at 141 b, or 41b better than at Riccarton. Punka is meeting Glendower at 121 b worse terms than in the Great Autumn, and Red Ribbon on 111 b worse terms. Nystad ran badly in the Great Easter, but he" has been well treated in getting in on 121 b better terms with Sasanof. to whom he may give trouble if in a galloping mood. Spanner and Kilrush have both been showing winning form, and should help to make matters interesting. Form points to Sasanof going out a strong favourite. Punka would bo worthy of respect if she could be relied

upon to jump out smartly at tlio rise of the barrier, and Red Ribbon may improve on the two excellent races she displayed at Riccarton. A strong fancy has been held for Torfreda throughout the season, but she has been unlucky. She figures in the Railway, and her second at Auckland will no doubt win her back a few old friends, and backers of Lionskin and Old Gold at Riccarton have no reason to desert them. If the Champagne Stakes form could be accepted as correct, Warplane would hold a chance of extending Gloaming in tho North Island Challenge Stakes. Warplane when finishing second to Miss Mimic beat Surveyor about a length, and was finishing on much stronger than the Nassau colt. Sunart \\s*s fourth, about three lengths away. In the Challenge Stakes Surveyor again beat Sunart, but by a length less ground than in the Champagne Stakes, but, of course, the latter was running on 131 b better terms than on the first day. Warplane was down to meet Surveyor at 101 b better terms than in the Champagne Stakes, and this allowance would have probably brought him upsides with Gloaming, whom Surveyor had fairly busy just inside the distance. Surveyor ran a better race than on tho first day, and may strip a, better colt at Trentham. Even so, Warplane sound nnd i well at the post would also be on the scene. _ Afterglow and Star Lady will meet again in the New Zealand St Leger, and the former will have in all probability a. more experienced pilot on top. If Sasanof nnd Desert Gold meet in the Trentham - Gold Cup the former, no doubt, will go, out first pick. Altogether the club should hold a very successful,meeting with so many equine magnets to draw the crowd. POOR SPORTSMEN. Racegoers in the Dominion are, on the whole, a very well-behaved, orderly lot of people, who take ups and down in a good sporting manner. It is only on very rare occasions a noisy demonstration signifying disapproval of something or other takes place. After the Autumn Nursery on the . second day at Riccarton . a small section of the outside public made a very noisy demonstration when it was. realised that no second dividend was"' receivable 'over Some Kid. The field showed six starters, and no. notification appeared on the card that Sundance and Kilgour were coupled owing to the former being held under lease by the owner of**Kilgour. Patrons of the paddock' enclosure were also annoyed over the matter, but did not run amok over the negligence of those responsible. From the time the single dividend, was hoisted and on until the field* was at the post for tfte next races the demonstration was kept up, and climaxed by about 50 malcontents spreading themselves across the track as the Yaldhurst Welter field ran their race. The demonstraters, however, wisely gave the field ample room to finish, and the police authorities,. discretely handling those who'climbed the rails on to the course, smoothed the matter over, and the disturbers of the peace lapsed into silence. At one time it appeared as if serious trouble might arise, but it was slowly realised that an honest mistake had occurred, and the malcontents put up ;with the bad luck of the situation. The fact that investments were being recorded on both Sundance and Kilgour naturally led investors to believe that two dividends were to be paid. At one stage of the betting the investments were rung' off Kilgour and then recorded again. It was an unfortunate mistake, such, as it is said, happens in the best of regulated families, and racegoers who "squeak" over an honest mistake are bellowing through their pockets, and rank as very poor sportsmen.

THE DUJNEDIN WINTER MEETING. There was not a little curiosity /tinged with anxiety as to how owners would respond to the richly-endowed three-day programme issued in connection with their winter meeting. It was in the first place up _ against the Atiekland winter meeting, which holds a strong olaim on the best 'chasers and hurdlers in training, and there is not too many abroad in the south for racing between the flags. The publication of the ' nominations clearly demonstrates that the D.J.C. holds many excellent prospects of a successful meeting, as there is ample material engaged to give a good card for each day of the fixture. DANGEROUS POSTS. Accidents are somewhat rare on our trotting tracks, despite the- fact that in some cases reasonable precautions are not taken to reduce the risk of accident to a minimum.- At Addington Paul Huon's sulky struck a post, and his driver was thrown out and dragged a considerable distance. Many improvements have been carried out at the Addington trotting grounds. Commodious stands, broad and " lengthv lawn, botanical beauty galore, etc. ; but the most sensible, desirable, and probably a lifesaving improvement has yet to be installed on the track This is the installation of a guard board, such as encircles all American tracks, and is also in evidence at Forbury Park The- Forbury Park track was the first to adopt the guard board in New Zealand, and it was installed at the writer's suggestion. The lack of the board at Addington has been commented on before, but the club seems satisfied "to adhere to the top rail being carried on slanting posts. This system is just as dangerous as a straight post, as the top rail does not prevent a sulky wheel from striking a post, and perhaps so cause a serious accident. Where a guard board is in use a sulky wheel may strike and scrape along, and holds a S?tvi T e ° f V eco ™ry, but. hitting a naked post generally means a complete upset If a guard board was fixed on the AddmgtoTi posts at their present angle it would be almost as dangerous as the exist mar conditions because a wheel would probably jam instead of scraping clear. It i* to be hoped that a guarr] board will be installed on the new track which the club is apposed to be laying out. but whilst in Chmtchurch .during the Easter meet ig that twlf n "\ fOT ™ ed h ? Dame Rumovfr Kng h Acldingto^ a r ° moto 3 ' ntentfon of RACING AT RICCARTON. Riccarton proved last week that as a racing rendezvous it has lost none of the magnetism it holds over the snorting folk of tho country. A splendid attendance on the first clay included visitors from all parts of the South Island, and, as usual, a goodly muster from across the strait. There is more money abroad at Auckland when the totalisator is at work, but good sport is invariably provided by the C.J.C. programme, and that, after all, is the object of racing. Those in search of. winners at Riccarton wove kept busy and interested right through tho piece. A correct move was made at

the outset by establishing Art an odds on chance, but the downfall of Surveyor in tho Champagne Stakes was a facer to punters. Kiibrogau's galloping ability upset two strong fancies in Gay Lad and Sasanof in tho Great Easter, and Nightraider followed on by beating Rossini in the Russley Plate, in which the latter was carrying four'times tho money of his victor. Yet another blow came with the Sockburn, in which Glendower and Vagabond beat a favourite in Heathercote, but they were on the spot with Cerberus and Gamecock. The first three favourites went down on the second day, and a bad miss occurred in connection w r ith the Great Autumn, which a ninth favourite in Punka scored handsomely. Punka, as in the Great Easter, was slow on her legs at the rise of the barrier, and was last or thereabouts as they left the straight. She gradually worked her way forward, and, catching Glendower and Rorke's Drift as they were pacing past the distance, strode to win_ by a go»d two ..lengths. Gloaming oarried nearly .three times the money invested on Miss Mimic, who went out second favourite for the Challenge Stakes, and over a century irjore than the support granted Surveyor. The NassauPedometer colt was giving Miss Mimic 51b instead of 21b, as in the Champagne Stakes, and the lighter scale of weights could, be held to suit the filly, as she is built on much smaller lines than the colt. Gloam mg at once strode to the front, and when Surveyor, who proved the only one capable of putting up a challenge to the favourite, made his final cjaim inside the distance, ho had The Welkin—Light flyer well extended, but could not gather him. The running showed that there was ■ something wrong with the Champagne Stakes form; but, even so, it will be interesting to 'note how Surveyor shapes' when he meets Warplane again. Kilbrogan put up a frame fight when he landed the Templeton after a ding-dong finish with Lionsk n, and another southerner in, Eleus wound up by scoring in the final event on tho card.

THE FORBURY PARK MEETING. The Forbury Park Trotting Club's wintei meting takes place on May 9 and 10, and owners accorded the programme such a lengthy list of nominations that it requires only fine weather to be on hand to ensure the fixture being a particularly successful one. IN A NUTSHELL Punka and Gloaming were both got by the son of Plying Pox. Zuland pulled up lame after running in the Yaldhurst Welter. The Thrace appeal .case will be heard in Wellington on May 2. Sasanof is likely to start a pronounced favourite for the Thompson Handicap. Nominations for the Otago Hunt Club Steeplechase meeting are due on May 1: Punka galloped a mile in 1.43 4-5 at Riccarton on Saturday, and finished well. • Old Gold's rider claims that he received a bad passage in the Templeton Handicap. —lf Desert Gold starts at the Wellington meeting she will have B. Deeley in the saddle. Gay Lad was scratched prior to the appearance of the weights for the Thompson Handicap. Sasanof was unlucky in His race at Riocarton, but he may balance affairs at Trentham. Santry, the grandsire of Miss Mimio, is standing this season, in, England at a 9-guinea fee. Afterglow was not too well handled in the Great Northern Oaks, and ran a much better race in the 'St. Leger. His many old friends were pleased to see L. H. Hewitt having a good winning turn at the Auckland meeting. Margarine was one of the disappointments of the Great Autumn meeting, but her form has not been particularly consistent. Rewi Poto ran a poor race in the Great Autumn, and those who sent him out second favourite received a bad run for their money. Despite the big drop in. tote, receipts it is understood that the Riverton Racing Club will not make a loss over theiir recent meeting. Followers of Hector Gray during the Great Autumn meeting received a bad spin, as the crack horseman did not steer a single winner- — The death is recorded by Australian papers of Cremorne, who won the Caulfield Cup of 1896. Cremorne was rising 30 when he died.

Spanner is reported to have been badly interfered with whilst running in the A.R.C. Easter Handicap. He scored easily on the second day.

The South Canterbury Jockey Club and the North Otago Jockey Club both received very satisfactory nominations for their coming meetings.

horses trained at Wingatui, have been engaged at the Auckland winter meeting, but not at the local fixture.

Koeeian has proved anything but a happy investment for his present owner. The Elysian gelding is to be- blistered and treated to a lengthy spell. TJunedin to win the Great Easter Handicap. Hippomenes, Casket, Pampero, and Vladimir all hailed from, the south.

Desert Gold-, is reported to have bruised a foot whilst exercising at Ellerslie on Easter Sunday, and consequently could not start in the St. George's Handicap. Punka is to fulfil her engagements at the Wellington meeting. The same owner's Sunart and Kilgour, trained by G. Matthews, were taken home to Elderslie.

The filly Bright Spot (sister to Brambletye, Heatherbrae, and Briar Patch) has been purchased -by a patron of P. T. Hogan's stable. Sundance, the two-year-old" half-sister by Sunny Lake to Kilbrogan, 13 a rather rattled-pated sort, and runs a race by playing up before the rise of the barrier. Old Gold at least ran well enough at Riccarton to suggest that he should pick up a few races in the future. He received a bad passage in the Templeton Handicap. —Mr George Payne, the well-known horseowner, who took a team to Australia, and remained there for some time, ie now mine host of the Clarendon Hotel at Christ-" church. Punka is the first Australian-bred mare or horse to win the Great Autumn Handicap, and only one Australian-bred winner in Ventura has captured the Great Easter Handicap.

Red Ribbon stripped in particularly attractive order for her races at the Great Autumn meeting, but, although run two excellent attempts, she finished just outside tho money. Spanner is credited with winning the Huia Handicap " very easily " in the smart time of 1.14. Some horse that is running

at Wellington that should crack a watch if ridden, out.

Over £14,000 was invested on the- totalisator in connection with the A..R.C. St. George Handicap. The punters at Riccarton played up £9371 10s in connection with the Great Easter Handicap. Kilboyne displayed plenty of pace when he ran in the Teinpleton Handicap, but was not forward enough in condition. \He is apparently quite sound in the leg whlich ho knocked some time ago. Tho mishap to Gay Lad was most unfortunate, as a couple of races at the C.J.C; meeting would have sharpenod him up and made him a very' tough proposition at the Wellington autumn meoting Gay. Lad is being kept at exercise, and his wound, although serious enough to forfeit his, Wellington engagement, may not keep him out of strong, work for any length of time prejudicial to hie training. Cerberus is a. speedy sort that is worth keeping in mind. He looked ■ all over a winner untill well inside the last furlong of the mile in the Aldington Handicap. It has been decided to give him a brief spell. Excellent uomr'nations have been received in connection with the Forbury Park meeting, and the club with ordinary luck will be able to offer their patrons attractive cards on both days of the fixture. The Sunny Lake- two-year-old Sunart made a- very creditable showing in his races at Ricoarton. He is not nearly so forward as those he met, and this suggests the possibility of him making a good three-year-old. Glendower won the last Great Autumn with 6.13; and ran. second this year with 8.3, wht:ch included a slb penalty. He ia thickening and growing a more robust-look-ing sort, and may be found improving with age

Warplano has grown up nicely since the spring, and should develop jnto a handsome three-year-old. He has been troubled with intermittent lameness, which has kept him back, but the trouble is not regarded as serious.

The New Zealand-bred' Nanna met her death at Bacchus Marsh by rearing and falling whilst playing aboritf in her paddock. Another account states that she_ broke a blood vessel shortly after her arrival there and died.

—Mr H. E. Sellers, secretary .of the Racing Conference, became seriously ill during the Easter race meeting at Christchmxm, and had to be removed to a private hospital. At latest report "Mr Sellers was making improvement The Riverton Racing Club, whoee meeting in past years have been marked by a continuous run of success, experienced bad luck tin connection with this year's fixture, and there was a substantial, drop in the totalisator returns.

Marsa made a poor show when saddled up for the Final Handicap after racing in, the Great Autumn Handicap., She has never been a particularly solid mare, and the experience is one that may have a bad effect on the courage department. Great dissatisfaction was "expressed at the dilatory manner in which investments were received and dividends paid out at the Auckland Racing Club's summer meeting. Several long delays also occurred at Riccar- • ton before the totalisator was balanced. '•

Rorke's Drift ran a good solid race in the Great Autumn and his performance is the best ho has put tip at Riccarton. The Calribre gelding did not so well as the has been seen on -previous occasions, and this' fact enhances the merit of his performances.

Rose Pink may be taken to a race meeting one of these days and not started in a race. There is, however, a chance that she may by mere force of habit break loose, and, after landing herself on the course, thrust herself between a jockey'e legs and carry him to the post. Nystad. helped to make the pace in the Final Handicap until well into the straight, but did not make too generous a response when challenged by Eleus, who, ridden right out, beat him three lengths. Gamecock also turned it up a long ■ way from home, but Melee ran a fair race to get third. Rehandicaps for the New' Brighton meeting are: —Burwood Handicap:—Huon Patch lsec, Sympathy 2sec; Autumn Handicap—Rota Peter 2sec, Colonel Havelock 2aec; Dash Handicap—Joan of .Arc 2sec; Wainoni Handicap—Erin's Queen 2sec, Sympathy 2sec; Electric Handicap—Huon Patch lsec.

The 1025-guinea yearling now known as Rossini made his debut in the Russley Plate, and was beat a head by Nightrader, who got up to win in the last stride. Rossinli is a brother to Soldier's Chorus, Tannhauser, and Cherubini, and as he was a big, lustry colt, will very probably take time to strike top form. He, however, did not disgrace himself in defeat.

Panther, who went into the sale ring under a 40,000-gumea reserve, is the ruling favourite for the English Derby, which will one again be run on the historic Epsom Downs. Panther, let it be said again, was bred at the national stud, which" was presented by Colonel Hall-Walker to the English Government, of which a certain small section fought against the acceptance of such a grand gift to the natlion. The nominations received in connection with the Dunedin. winter meeting premise well for a good reply from owners in connection with the Otago Hunt Club's meeting, for which entries close on Friday, May 1. The Otago Hunt Club has issued a programme which should make a strong appeal to owners of hunters and 'chasers, as it i 3 the most_ ambitious card ever issued in connection with a purely Hunt Club meeting in the Dom/inion. At the Dunedin Cup meeting Lionskin, Tn receipt of 101 b, beat Kilbrogan a head. On that occasion Kilbrogan did too well away. In the Templeton Handicap Kilbrogan was giving Lionskin 241 b, and in a punishing battle beat her home. Both these Kilbroneys finished with the utmost resolution, and Kilbrogan has run so many severe races this season and still comes up smiling that 'he js undoubtedly one of the gamest horses in training. ■*. iEfc Both Rorke's Drift and Vagabond raced in " blapk and red-crossed sashes" in the Great Autumn, and there was very little distinction, because the former carried dark red sleeves in addition. Rorke's Drift was always well placed in the race, but not a few held the opinion that it was Vagabond who was making a bold bid for the stake as they raced along the back. At this stage Vagabond was running- near the tafl of the field, and a considerable distance away from the lenders. Both Heathercote and Almoner ran disappointingly at the Great Autumn meeting, and their three-year-old form is far below what might have been expecetd on the b«st they displayed in their first season. Not infrequently a horse may look apparently right to the eye, but nevertheless fail to ra'ce up to expectations. Such loss of form •may extend over a season or more, ancWhen be recovered and reproduced, unless), of courso, the loss of form ds based on a lack of courage. Royal Stag showed a. return to his early form when he won the Autumn Nursery Handicap. After winning the Dunedin Stakes it will be remembered that Royal Stag wai

taken on to Wellington, -where he was beat a head by Ermine in the "Wellesley Stakes, with Crenides, Affectation, Surveyor, and several others behind him. It is ealid that Royal Stag received a bad passage through interference in the early part of the Champagno Stakes, or he would have been closer up at the finish. —lt takes a high mark to catch small money nowadays on the trotting track, and as evidence in that direction note that Sympathy had to go 4.35 1-5 to gather the 175sovs which was the winner's end of the stake attached to the Liverpool Handicap, run at Addington on Saturday, and Heclorata went 4.35 2-5 to catch SOsovs attached to second place. This seems proof positive that the Metropolitan Club 'is not lengthening their purse-strings in a corresponding ratio to tho development of speed. Embracer went an odds on chance in the Champion Stakes, but his supporters were not too eweet on his chance when he failed, to strike in* his gait at the start. The mistake cost him several lengths, and when he got to the others ■he was running out from the ralils, and covering a good deal of ground. This ■ made it a rather hard task for the Young M'Kinney— Enibraca gelding, but once heads straightened for.home, he pulled a- fine bit of speed, and soon had his race- won.

* —Kaupokonui, who is amongst the nominations for the Dunedin winter meeting, figures on the unpaid, forfeit list, but it is understood that he was removed from it some time before the nomination date. It will be remembered that Rolling Tide and Kaupokonui were the only two th-t finished in the Kurow Steeples, but it was afterwards discovered that neither of them were eligible. In the meantime the stakes had been paid over, and the club made the unpaid forfeit list the medium of recovering their money. —ln commenting on L. H. Hewitt's horsemanship at the Auckland meeting, where he won three races, "Whalebone," of the Auckland Star, said: "Hewitt lis still a real good horseman, but with only a.-few good rides coming his way owing to prejudice, and, only moderate Tlorses to ride, he was unable to climb very high in the winning list. His exhibitions on Uncle Ned and .Hyllus should convince his traducers that he is still able to hold his own with the best of them, 'and he will now be probably offered more mounts than he is able to accept." Author Dillon won the Craven Handicap, in smart time, as he scored easily at the finish in 2.44 1-5, and was goiing better than a 4.24 gait. His track work prior to the meeting suggested that he was an even better horse' than in the spring, when he won the New Zealand Cup in 4.26 2-5. Author Dillon is only a six-year-old, and wiill Erobably train on to a better mark than he olds at present over a two-mile course. His development stands as a high testimonial to B. Jarden's ability, as he both trains and -holds the Lines. over the son of Harold Dillon and Authoress in his races. nection with the Canterbury Jockey Club's meeting were notified in the racebook that no winning tickets or claims for destroyed or mutilated tickets would be entertained after April 25, or for a longer period than three days after the meeting. It is only reasonable that some limitation should be made and notified, in order to keep investors up to the mark; but an honest mistake or even carelessness responsible for a belated presentation of a winning ticket should not. debar an investor" from receiving" payment—in fact, it is probably assumed and not legal power that a club can make such a rule.

Lady Victoria, the brood mare whom the cable informs us was passed in at 1650 gs at the Sydney sales, is an imported mare by St. Frusquin from Lady Cynosure, by Cyllene from Maid Marion, by Hampton— Quiver,- by Toxophillite, the sire of Musket. She was foaled in 1911, and her dam ranks as own sister to the very successful sire, Polymelus, and half-sister to Grafton, who proved such a great stud success in Australia. Lady Victoria is, dn point of fact, such a be&uitifully-bred mare that one cannot wonder how they got her away from England. Punka has proved a real investment at the 80gs- which Mr J. B. Reid paid for her as a yearling in Australia. Mr Reid has since refused as hr!gh as *lsoOgs for the filly, and her Great Autumn success shows that she would not have been dear at the figure. PunSS was bred at the late Mr James Thompson's stud in New South Wales, and the very aptly named filly was. got by Cooltrim from Drowsy, by Ayr Laddie (son of Ayrshire) from Slumber, by Trenton—Nightmare, and so in tail female Punka belongs »to the same family as the Melbourne Cup winner, Revenue, and other performers, such as Noctuiform, Nightfall, Wakeful, Mentor, and many more good winners. Cooltrim, the sire of Punka, is an imported horse, got by Flying Pox from G-allinaria, by from. Piorina, by Morgan—Balornock, by Galopiu from Stonsie Queen, by Musket.