IN A NUTSHELL

Otago Witness, Issue 3429, 2 December 1919, Page 46

IN A NUTSHELL

A payment for tho Auckland Cup is duo en December 5. . . at Forbury Park. Gluetanus has been taken up again after a 12 months' spell. •,'-,. The prico paid for Eight and .Left is said to have been 1750. guineas. The Comedy King—Cross Battery colt Artilleryman has won £14,162 in stakes. Richmond Main went out a short-piico favourite when he won the Williamstown Cup: Th& New Zealand Cup winner Vagabond

is said to be a sure starter in the Auckland Cup. Nominations, close on Friday of this ■week at 5 p.m. for the Dunedin summer meeting. Nominations close on Monday, December 8, for the Southland Racing Club's summer meeting. Nominations for the Ashburton Trotting Club's meeting close on Friday, December 5, at 5 p.m. " The well-known Victorian horseman, K. Lewis, recently celebrated , his forty-first birthday. Trix Pointer got badly away in the Forbury Park Cup, and was pulled up early in the race. **

—At the December sales to be held at Doncaster about 600 lots will figure on the catalogue. Comedy .King's fee has been -raised to 250 guineas, and will be available for only six outside*'mares. Cromstall was talked about as being back to his best form, but he was never near the prize list. The Rook scored in decisive 6tyle last week, and looked a winner all the way in the Tainui Handicap. Bacchus showed speed for about half a mile in his races last week, but could not go on with the business. The "Welkin—Teppo colt Elkin sold at 1000 guineas when under the hamrnej at the Melbourne Cup bloodstock sales. "* —'lt would not be surprising to find the star item on the next For bury Park programme carrying a lOOOsovs stake. —F. Davi3 is booked to leave for England about April next, when Mr T. H. Lowry will also go to England via America.. —lf all on© hears be true, a couple of good milking machines were at work in connection with the Forbury Park miseting. Two Dunedin men have to appear in Christchurch this week on a charge of alleged batting during the New Zealand Cup week.

Albert Cling seems to have dropped out of the boom surrounding him a little before he contested the last New Zealand Trotting Cup.

Two smart aquare-gaited trotters in Reta Peter and Whispering Willie gave good exhibitions amongst the pacers at Fbrbury Park.

Gleaming cost ante-post bettors a ama.ll load of money. He was a strong fancy, but after accepting on both days did not reach the post.

A strong gale of wind raised clouds of dust at Forbuxy Park on Saturday, and considerably marred 1 ths pleasure of witnessing the sport.

Prince Burlington did not seem to hs able to act round the turns at Forbury Park. Knee-knockers want big tracks to- show their best form. •■—The Welkin oolt Outlook was sent under the hammer last month, and passed cut at 1650 guineas. Ho cost his present owner 5030 guineas.

The Waikcuaiti Pacing Club's programme omits to mention the closing hc<ur for receipt of nominations on Wednesday, December 10.

Two trotting events figure on the Wai kouaiti Racing Club's programme, the New Year Trot, of 120soovs, and the Domain Trot, of lOOsovs.

Some punters' eyes were gleaming with anything but pleasure when the. Galindo Arch :" Light gelding was struck out of the Iveccvery Handicap. The fcur-year-old gelding Locanda Junior went out an odds-on favourite fov the Spring Handicap, and gave nothing a chance in the race

Roekaway was a strong order for the Advance Handicap, but he knocks himself, and was not in consequence at home on the Forburv Park track.

The New Zealand Bonalang, the halfbrother to Balboa, fractured a shoulder whilst racing at Caulfield last month, and had to be destroyed. The crack two-year-old in Victoria- is Trey; a youngster by The. Welkin, who ia also the sire, cf Foremost, the best of the same age in Queensland. —,Young Star Poin+er has made considerable improvement in his manners since joining. P. Holmea's stable, and the same remark applies to Asturio. Van Director, ihe winner of the Second Amateur Handicap, won from end to end, njid i'3 just the sort to take a better mark than he recorded last week. The Canterbury Owners and Breeders' Association have decided Eb Tequest all clubs to handicap maiden horses with no performances on the same mark.

Meeting after meeting at Forbury Park provides very poor racing spectacles in the shape of the amateur events, and they should bs deleted from future programmes. —A. Pringlo was supposed by some racegoers to have lost his punch, but his reinsmajrehip on the second day at Forbury Park saw him back to quije his beet form. _ According to reports from Melbourne Mr S. Green, the former owner of Comedy King, intends starting another stud, .and will unport mares from England and America. There is a possibility that Desert Gold may be sent Home on a visit to Tetrarch, and. if not, 6he may be sent to Australia and bred to the Martagon horse Buckwheat. ■' —The Bill reached its final etage3 in the ■ New South Wales Parliament increasing the amount which country clubs can retain of, totalisator receipts from 8 to 5 per cent. The sum of £'5787 was invested on the Recovery Handicap, which concluded the Forbury Park meeting. The-investments en the Forbury Park Cup totalled £5634 10s. . _ Two of Sir George Clifford's cast-offs in Don Paoifico and Bright Spot won on the second day at Winton. Bright Spot is a sister to Heatherbrae and Briar Patch. The well-known English trainer and onetime jockey John Osborne, who is 85 years of age, saw. his sixty-sixth St. Leger when Keysoe won this year's classic at Doncaster.Emperor was a quiet tip for the Dash Handicap, and h© won nicely from Guyncmer,* whoso subsequent success adds further merit to the performance of his victor on the first day.

Reports from Ricearton state that F. Curistanas is handling- a Glenapp—Blast gfelding. Blast was got by Qunrryiiian from Lady Rosslyn, by Lord Rosslyn from Lady Gertrude.

—lt is understood that the owner of an acceptor for the- second day of the Forbury meeting was offered £2OO (and could have got more) to start his horse, but declined to do' so.

■— C. Emmerson leaves this month on a health-seeking voyage to Australia and England, and rosy make an extended stay abroad. If opportunity occurs, ho may do some riding in England. Chiron." of the Australasian, considers Biplane and Artilleryman two of the greatest three-year-olds ever seen in Australia. Artilleryman is just as brilliant as Cetigno, and Btays better. Billy Parole w«s fancied for Ire engagement on the second day at Forbury Park, but appears to have lost the -dash he displayed when racing against Hardy Wilkes on the ean» track.

Surveyor trained off a bit towards the end of tho Melbourne- Cup meeting, but, according to a gentleman who came over in the same boat, the colt was doing well en sbe voyage home.

According to the writer's opinion, it is 6 to 4 against a hobbled horse beginning well from a flat-foot start, and evens that 4he same horse will strike off into his gait from a walk-up dispatch. The Minister of Railways has informed the Canterbury Owners and Breeders' Association that the department could not see its way clear to reduce the rates of transit at. the present juncture. A note to hand from Murray Hebbo states that he has decided to go right out of the game. He> is still conhned to bad with the illness he contracted during the New Zealand Cup meeting. Foremost, the crack three-year-old of the season in Queensland, was got by The Welkin from Foremost, by Multiform from Otterden, and is consequently own sister to Boniforna and half-sister to Martian. . The Auckland Racing Club intend being very severe on any jockey who does not keep his place in the position drawn at the barrier. The Aucklandcrs should not have a monopoly of the severity. , ( Calauria, the winner of the Tradesmen s Handicap at Winton, was sold last June at 360 guineas. He is an attractively-bred eort, got by Demosthenes from Stressa, by Orvieto from St. Mildred, by St. Simon. —An attractively-bred sort in Merry Bingerf, a four-year-old gelding by Nelson Bingen from Alpha H., carried a good deal of money in the Suburban Handicap, but made a very poor show in the race. Moneymaker started £lO3 better. favourite than Dean Dillon in the Forbury Cup, and there was only £lO 10s difference between Albert Cliug and Capriccio, who went out third and fourth choices respectively. Matty's Boy won very comfortably on the first day at Forbury Park, and was putting in gocd' work on the second day when he broke up and settled a good chance of getting near, if net amongst, the money. Marvin Chief won a heap of friends for the First Amateur Handicap by the manner in which he stepped -cut in his preliminary. He won all the way, although putting in a couple of skips at one stage of the journey. The crack pacer Author Dillon has been eased up since the New Zealand Cup meeting, and is not likely to race again until, the latter part of the season, although he may give speed exhibitions in the meantime. The New South Wales Government has dropped the idea of passing legislation this sfss.'on to give effect to racing amalgamation, owing to Ihe fact that the various interests have- not yet arrived "at an agreement;

Capriccio is a smart beginner from a flat-foot e'.art, .and her smartness in gathering speed! carried her close to the leaders in the President's Handicap before they had covered a furlong. At the end she won handsomely. —Mr C. R. Caffin, who is acting secretary to the Forbury Park Trotting and Dunedin Jockey Ciub during the absence cf Kir H. L. James,, ran the business side of the former club's spring meeting in a thoroughly capable manner.

Rcrke's Drift does not seem to have stamina enough to go with a good class over two miles, and is not speedy enough to reel of smart miles; but if kept to short tasks, would probably pay better than tried, at both distances.

Following a successful rider's mounts is not a cure road to wealth. At the A.R.C. spring meeting Hector Gray's mounts wore supported to the tune of £10,341 on the totalizator without any return in tho way of dividends. The Wellington Racing Club had a lengthy discussion over the question of increasing the distance of the Wellington Cup •to one mile and three-quarters, but decided to allow the journey to remain at one mile and a-half.

Vice Grand, the winner of .the Winton Stakes, was suffering from a bad cold for some considerable time during the spring, and in consequence is not so forward in racing shape as what would otherwise havo been the case.

The great finish of the Forbury Park meeting was provided by the Victoria Handicap, in which Rose M'Kinney, Pieter Timmerman, and Miss Patty crossed the line at the end of two miles separated by a head and half a head.

The crack light-weight F. Demps-sy was taken bad with pneumonic influenza just before the Melbourne Cup meeting, but at latest reports was well on the road to recovery, although his condition at one time was very serious.

One of the great difficulties which starters have to contend against when using either the standing start or seconds start is handling those who want to go but can't, and those who can go but ckii't want to unless it suits them.

Oh. the last day of the Melbourne Cup meeting the double Surveyor and Artilleryman was backed down to evens, but the former failed and had to be content with second place to Yarraldool, a half-sister by King Rufus to Humbug. —Mr C. Reid has purchased Speechmaker, the three-year-old gelding- by Demosthenes from All's Well, by Hotchkis's—Miss Annie, by Seaton Delaval. The gelding joins F. D. Jones's stable, and is a half-brother to- the Wingatui-trained Grand Duchv.

The principal events at the Waikouaiti Racing Club's meeting will be the Waikouaiti Cup, of 175sovs, seven furlongs, the Bray Memorial, of 120sovs, six furlongs, and the Hawkasbury Hack Handicap, of lOOtovs. Nominations are due on December 10. —All British, the winner of trie Trial Stakes at Winton, is an altractively-bi-ed sort, got by Solferino from Maria, by Martaeron—Ronnetta, by Bay Ronald from Frusquin*tte, by St. Frusquin. Marta w.jq got in England and foaled in New Zealand. Quite a number cf horses bes-an very badly from the s'onding start at the Forbury meeting, although they were fairly placed when the star'er gave the- word. In some cases excellent star's wer--? effected, tho horsPG moving off without mistakes in reaching fieir gait. , .

Yice Grand tli« w ; nii«r of the Win'om Stakes, was got by the Multiform horse YiceAdmiral from, Fibrona, by De ]n. Rey from Redstart, by Casket from Red R'dinghood. bv La Liun from Lass o' the Hills, bv Talk o' the Hill—Miss Flat-atcher, by Flatcatcher— Polly Peaehum, bv Pleniino. Ther? Wo° a close call for fav~urit : sm in the Recovery Hmdicr/o between All 8011, who was a- 12 noint." better favourite than Birdwood, whilst Mn'f.v's Boy started a eoncl third favourite. Birdvood failed <o strike his gait at the start, and his backers got a poor run for their woney.

Loila Denver did n" co too woll under saddle in the Advanre Ha-ndicap. Tan 1 , when the veteran reinsman M. Edwards held tho lines on the second clav tli** filly won nil tho way and nniflhod up 'trongly. Leila Denver was fot by Huon from Buelnh G., and shapes well for a yune throvcr-old. According to the full amount of the Tace for the Linlithgo"' Stakes, there was a. great battle b°t-.veeu GaHujfs and Surveyor for winning honours. Surveyor was in charsro n.t the distance, and in a fisrht over the last 50 yards Cetinge bent the New Zealand colt a Tirfld in tho. particularly smart time of 1.37 for the mile. Moneymaker's win in the Forbury Cup was the most popular success of the meet-

ing, principally because it broke the long l spell of bad luck which has been following A. Pringle both as rider and reinsman. Later in the day Pringle drove Rose M'Kinney with excellent judgment, end scored his eecond win. during tho afternoon. Claverhouse, who wen tho Winton Cup, has been a particularly obstinate horse at the barrier, and his reluctance to face the music has cost him his chance in several races. He was got by Antagonist from Scottish Star, and probably a good deal of his factiousness is inherited through tracing back to a mare by Apreruont—Nautilus. —Mr H. E>. Reynolds's starting machine was used in connection with several races on the Forbury Park programme, and when a slight improvement is made with the object of reducing the noise following release it will probably become, in demand where the standing start is in voguo. Mr W. P. Dunne, who acted as starter, when questioned on the matter, spoke in very favourable terms of Mr Reynolds's invention. —An interesting coincidence occurred in connection with the Forbury Park meeting, when the owners of three New Zealand Trotting Cuo winners, Mr 11. F. Niooll, Mr J v H. Thomson, and Mr W. H. Norton, stepped into the same motor car to attend the meeting. Mr Thomson, who had only returned from the front the previous evening, owns Cathedral Chimes; Mr Norton owns Ttrix Pointer; and Mt Nicoll won wiih Durbar. Tho following are the nominations for the Manawatu Cup, of lOOOsovs, one mile and a-half:— Red Ribbon, Battle Scrag, Battle Array, .Seasprite, Moutoa Ivanova, Penury Rose, Omahu, Di'ibble, The Speaker, Tre&sida, Rose Queen, Hyttus ; Punka, Nobleman, Kipling, Ma-rqueteur, First Salute, Denies, Uncle Ned, Olyiithus, War Star, Crenides, Athens 11, Client, Oratress, Hurry Up, Bagdad, Rose Pink, Kilrush, Imoedliment, Snub, Dusky Eve.

The winning sires at Forbury Park last week were:—Harold Dillon (Matty's Boy and Ausiurio), Rothschild (Moneymaker and Emperor), Blackchild (Parkfield).. June Pointer (Young- Star Pointer), O.Y.M. (Gapriccio), Brent Locando (Lccanda. Junior and Guyneniar), Medallion (M-edallius), Miarvin "Wilkes "Marvin" Chief), Young M"Kinney (Rose M'Kinney), General May (The Rook), Petereta (Reta Rose), Denven Suon (Leila Denver), and Von Coronado (Van Director). Soma years ego the writer suggested that at the principal meetings, particularly those at Ricoarton, provision should be made for backers who wish to invest on important races before the betting opens on them in the ordinary way. Say, for instance, a backer wishes to invest on the Cup and Stewards', he should be able to do so as scon as tha betting commences on the first race of 'tho day. The Aaickland Racing Club intends to adopt the idea- in use at Randwiok, where provision is mad© to meet the requirements of early investors. By this means it is hoped to ease the rush of investors before the principal events on each clay's card. The rules guarding" both racing and trotting practically give stewards unlimited power, and it is quite within their province io make the meat searching investigation as to why some well-backed horses in ante-post betting do not fulfill their engagements. An owner cannot, of course, be compelled to start a horse, and there is no great objection to the use of the scratching pen when used legitimately. There is, however, such athing as fraudulent scratching, which occurs when a horse is left in a. race with apparently the sole object of exploiting the public and then withdrawn. Such cases are not at all uncommon, and require more official'attention than they receive at present.

The Lake County Racing Club has decided to hold its annual race meeting on December 19 and 20.

Official information has been received that Gay Lad was withdrawn from the Auckland Cup at 12.15 p.m. on November 18.

On the concluding day of the Otahuhu Trotting Club's spring meeting W. Kelsey, driver of Kirikiriroa, was fined £2O for using objectionable language prior to the start of the Visitors' Handicap. An error was made in the Press Association report of the second day of the Win ton meeting in stating that Marjery interfered with Rokelaine during the running of the Stewards' Purse. It was Bokelaine who interfered with Marjery, and M'Lellan, the rider of the former, was suspended for one month