TALK OF THE DAY.

Otago Witness, Issue 3415, 29 August 1919, Page 45

TALK OF THE DAY.

Bj Sentinel WEILTH AT WINGATUI. The Dunedin Jockey Club's programme for the coming- season completely overshadows anything previously offered for racing at Wingatui, and such liberally-en-dowed stakes should meet with a fitting response from horseowners. The club has deservedly won a great deal of praise by the bold policy exhibited, and it is safe to predict a record season in store for .Wingatui this season It will meet with the general satisfaction of owners to find that there will not bo a stake worth less than 200sovs on the- programme. This should encourage the rank and file to come along in strong force and build up the hack fields and materially assist in attracting better quality. The feature items on the spring programme will be the M'Lcan Stakes, of 50Osovs; Dunedin Guineas, of 400sovs; Mosgiel Handicap, of 350sovs; and the Ranfurly Handicap, of 300sovs. At the summer meeting the Otago Handicap, of 750sovs; St. Andrew's Handicap, of SOOsovs; and _ Federal Handicap, of 400sovs, are the star items on the programme. At the autumn meeting the Dunedin Cup, of 1500sovs; Champagne Stakes, of SCOsovs; Publicans' Handicap, of 700sovs; J.O. Handicap, of 750sovs; Hazlett Memorial, of 600sovs; and Flying Handicap, of 450sovs, are the chief features of an attractive _ programme. At the Winter meeting, which proved such a great success last season, the Otago Steeples, of lOCOsovs; Birthday Handicap, of 750sovs; Tradesmen's Handicap, of 400sovs; Otago Hurdles, of TCOsovs; Wingatui Steeples, of 500sovs; Provincial Handicap, of 400sovs; King George Handicap, of BOOsovs; Dunedin Steeples, of oOOsovs; and "Victoria Hurdles, of 450sovb, should form a

very strong attraction to both _ owners and tho public. Two-year-olds are catered for on far more liberal lines than formerly, and the club has to be congratulated on their practical method ci popularising the Wingatui meetings. THE NEW ZEALAND CUP. A glance at the handicap for the New Zealand Cup will promptly convince anyone that tho field claiming engagement is principally comprised of horses that have yet to earn distinction on the turf. Only seven out of over half a hundred handicapped have shown sufficient merit to warrant a burden of Bst or over, and at the present stage ttie principal difficulty of owners would be to get capable light-weights to steer their horses in the race. It is, however, none the less un interesting problem, on that account, although many will no doubt be content to wait until spring form helps to throw some light on the solution of the subject. Menelaus has gained distinction as a" stayer. He won the New Zealand Oup of 1917 as a four-year-old, under 8.1, and ran third last year under 8.11 to Sasanof and Rose pink. He now meets Rose Pink on about 31b better terms, but as the mare has still what is only an easy burden to carry whilst the son of Martian and Lovelorn has a good horse's weight, she should be able to keep the top-weight busy. In fact, for one that has made a creditable show as a stayer Rose Pink is rather nicely treated. For instance, she beat Mascot at less than 41b, and now meets her on 121 b better terms. Mascot ran fourth last year with 7.2 after helping to make the pace, and afterwards won the Auckland Cup with 6.13, and her stablemat© Menelaus is preferred at a difference of 81b. Kilmoon, at first blush, reads to have plenty at 8.6, but he ranks as one of the most meritorious performers in the race, and hence is one with whom the weight-adjuster could not take a liberty. Nevertheless, he seems to have, on impression of form, a little too much Kilmoon won at the Wellington spring meeting over a mile and a-cjuarterj but his most impressive form, was-disj/'myea at the New. Zealand Cup meeting, where he "at a shade worse than weight-for-age finished almost in line with snub and in front of Sasanof in the Canterbury Cup. That performance marked him off .as a stayer. In the Metropolitan he was beating Kilrush, -when Devotion flashed on the scene and, gained the verdict. Kilmoon gave Kilrush and a bare beating on that occasion, and seems to have too much in being asked to come in on 51b worse terms. Kilrush, in common with Rose Pink, still has only an easy burden, whereas the, other has something which requires carrying. Kilmoon reads to have none the best of it through Bonnie Maid, as she beat him out of a place at even weights in the Hawke's Bay Cup, and now meets the son of.St. Sophia on 3lb better terms. Kilmoon finished m front of Menelaus in the Canterbury Cup, and as his form makes him read like a stayer, he must. claim strong consideration even if he may to some appear to have his full share of weight. Rorke's Drift has his full share of weight. In fact, on his form against Riccarton opposition he has never shaped like a true stayer in a sound-run race. His best Riccarton per formance was put up in the last Great Autumn, when he finished third to Punka and Glendower. On that occasion he gave 41b and a beating to Red Ribbon, who, however, was staying on better than the Calibre gelding Vagabond was getting 121 b, Heathercote 171 b, and Rose Pink 221 b. Now Red Ribbon .is getting 31b, Vagabond 61b, Heathercote 101 b, and Rose Pink 151 b. On these figures . Rorke's Drift reads fairly/ well treated on form up to a mile and a-half, but the extra distance may trouble him. Bonnie Maid was not nominated for last year's Cup, and when she ran in the Auckland Cup met with a bad passage. She won the Wairarapa Cup with 8.5 in 2.5 1-5, beating Mascot 9.6 and Rose Pink 8.5. She followed on by winning the Hawke's Bay Cup with 8.0 in 2.34, with Kilmoon 8.0 unplaced. Another meritorious performance was her third to Gloaming and' Menelaus in the Champion Plate. , Bonnie Maid is bred to stay, and she may prove the pick of the top-weight division. -Red- Ribbon finished second to Fiery Cross in the Auckland Cup, and hence has shown staying power. She split winning honours with Rewi Poto in the Wellington Cup, and was finishing on well in the Great Autumn Handicap. Volo beat "a fair field in the Rau Kawa Cup when giving Battle Song 131 b and a head beating, whilst Nobleman, Kilrush, and Rose Pink were unplaced at the end of the mile and aquarter. Vagabond made a poor show in the Great Autumn, but afterwards won a double at Manawatu. Wardancer is unsound, and his second to Margerine in the Dunedin Cup has not been overlooked. He appeared only once last season, and may be passed over in the meantime. Nobleman appears to have plenty through his form with Vagaband at Manawatu, where the latter gave away lib and a beating. Gay Lad has 51b more than he failed under amongst the sprinters in the Great Easter, but if he trains on safely would be preferred over a journey, as he gallops with plenty of resolution. He has always stripped a bit on the lusty side, and may prove a better horse this season. Cynic is a slow stayer, and as a stayer is worthy of consideration, as journey horses are by no means common. Melee seems to have a full share of weight. He won the W.R.C. Handicap with 6.11, with Heathercote a close third, giving 101 b, and now the latter is in receipt of weight. Heathercote beat Vagabaond at Wellington when getting 81b, and now there is 41b between them. Heathercote has, however, been somewhat disappointing since he finished alongside Kilmoon in the Derby, with Gloaming showing them the way home. On that form. "Heathercote reads will treated. Maioha is a promising colt that has been kept on the safe side, and Rose Pink reads, as a place-getter last year, one of the best treated in tho rac©. Kilrush is another that has been nicely treated on his best form last season. He was promHcvnt up to about the distance last year, and may stay on better with age. Battle Song did not look in the best of racing shape when he finished fifth last year, srnd as a stayer with a handy weight woulo be dangerous If saddled up fit and well. Eleus has always galloped on well at the end of his races, and of those that follow the coming spring should give the best line as to show how they are likely to shape, and also their owner's intentions. At the present stage Menelaus. Bonnie Maid, Gay Lad, Rose Pink, and Battle Son": appear to read as well as anything at the figures. THE FORBURV PARK TRACKS. A long-standing griovanoe was onco more ventilated at the initial meeting of tho Otago and - Southland Breeders' Association^

The Forbury Park track for training purposes is generally too hard and devoid of cushion to train horses with advantage, and improved conditions are desired. 4. fairly firm and fast track may be satisfactory during a race meeting, but when the going is continuously hard during training operations horses are very apt to become sore, and in consequence decline to strike out in their work. There is in consequence a loss of speed instead of the improvement which should naturally follow irh- ? roved condition in the horse to carry speed, 'he remedy is simple, and merely consists of a more frequent harrowing and working the ground in order to make and maintain a cushion to break the jar on a horse's legs. Forbury Park should bo an ideal place to train a horse, as there is a natural bouyancy in the peaty subsoil to give life to the going if a surface does not nullify it by carrying a crust instead of a cushion made by harrowing the traok an inch or more deep, and then floating it off with a leveller. In . fact, .if the clay track was kept in proper condition the inside track would not be necessary, and only used for jogging work. As a matter of fact, trainers complain that the insid( track is not fit for fast work, as it is too wavy, and requires regrading as well as other attention. Some of this leading spirits in the Forbury Park Trotting Club have joined the Otago and Southland Breeders' Association, and with the two working in harmony, any reasonable requests in the way of improved track conditions will no doubt meet with prompt remedy. ; A BREEDERS' ASSOCIATION. What promises to be a strong and active body is the recently-formed Otago and Southland Breeders' Association, which came into existence during the present week. Aj fairly large number of ownerss and breeders were present at the initial meeting, and about 30 members were enrolled. ■ The membership is at present principally composed of owners interested in the lighfch~rr£ss horse, but it is hopea that OWTierS and breeders of the thoroughbred will also join and so make a.thoroughly representative body. Working \in harmony with racing and trotting clubs,"T;he Breeders' Association hopes to be able to lend valuable assistance towards furthering . the interest* of the horse-breeding industry. In fact, * prompt start in that direction has, already been made in the direction of securing' transport for brood mares and stallions during the coming season. Breeders. will, indeed, be landed in a quandary if they cannot get their brood mares, some with foal* at foot or parrying foals, conveyed by tram on visits to stallions, and if they cannot do so it will mean a serious set-back to the breeding industry. In fact, it might go so far aa to compel breeders to keep their mares empty for a year. Such a thing would mean a serious loss from both a breeding and racing point of, view, as it Would naturally hamper the success of thd olassio events which clubs have placed on their orogrammes: with the object of encouraging the importation of high-class stallions and mares, and providing inducement to breed the best and most desirable type of light-harness horse. The horse-breeding industry, which proved of great and unquestionable value during the war, is wholly and solely a matter of private this country, and it is to be hoped that the Government will see the wisdom of assisting it by providing reasonable facilities Tor the transport of brood mares and stallions. THE KUROW MEETING. The Kurow Jockey . Club has.issued aa attractive programme for their annual meetins to be held on October 2. . The chief event will be the Kurow Handicap, of 200sovs, seven furlongs, and it is supported by the Hakataramea Handicap, of llOsovs- the Waitaki Trot, of llSsovs; Waitangi Steeples, of 130sovs; Trial Plate, of llOsovs; Welter Hack, of .llOsov*; Dash Trot, of 105sovs; and Belfield Handicap, of I2osbvs. Nominations are due on Monday, September 8. . v .'_ '