TALK OF THE DAY.

Otago Witness, Issue 3430, 9 December 1919, Page 54

TALK OF THE DAY.

By Sentinel

THE AUCKLAND CUP. Less than a third of the field originally engaged in the Auckland Cup remain in the race after the declaration of the first payment. It was a forgone conclusion that there would bs a big shrinkage, as the list included quite a large number with no pretensions to Cup form. The most notable absentees inclucli? Gloaming, Sasanof, Some Boy 11, Client, Afterglow, Punka, Bonnie Maid, and Rose Pink, but the greatest part of the exodus comes from the tail of the handicap. Vagabond and Mascot now share the honours of being- at the top of the list. There is no doubt that Mascot improved a good deal during the New Zealand Cup meeting and as she now meets Vagabond on 71b better .terms in the face of the fact that she handsomely beat him at 41b in the Canterbury Cup, she has only to keep right in order to hold an excellent chance of beating him again. Uncle Ned has shown some good form, and a repetition of his St. George's display, when he gave 9lb and beat Mascot out of a place at the end of 12 furlongs, run in 2.34 1-5, suggests that he should beat her again with a pull of 111 bin his favour. Snub is a solid stayer, and in a sound-run race should beat more than what will beat him. Recent running suggests that ho has not lost form during his trip to Australia, and, taking a line through Kilmoon, he reads one of the best-treated horses in the race. Red Ribbon is a solid performer and is entitled to respect on her best form. Battle Song reads badly treated through Vagabond, who won handsomely at Riccarton, as he meets the latter on only lib better terms than in the New Zealand Cup, but the former afterwards won the Metropolitan, when, however, ho did not meet the Cup winner. It is in Battle Song's favour that Vagabond will have to carry 8.10, whilst the former has still what is not a crushing burden. Karo now stands as the sole representative of a particularly strong stable, and that is quite sufficient to win her strong support. Dusky Eve won the last Wanganui Cup with 7.3 in the record tirao of 2.59, _ and also ran a good race in the Wanganui Stakes, when Monelaus gave him 91b and a neck beating. A repetition of Heathercote's New Zealand Cup performance would make him hard to beat, as he was finishinp: faster than anything. He now meets Vagabond on 121 b and Battle Song on 101 b better terms, and on these fitrures has a royal chance of beating both of thos? who led him homo at Riccarton, despite the fact that Vagabond won so well at the finish. Heathercote suffered interference at the home turn, and, apart from trouble, would have bren far more dangerous at the finish. A lifrhtlyweighted three-year-old in Affectation should bo able to prive a great account of himself. He is a rather better colt than his Riccarton form sutrgosts. A false-run race saw him beaten in the Derby, and in the Canterbury Cup he should have been much closer to Mascot. At the present stage Snub, Heathcreote. Affectation, and Karo read as a quartet not likely to be overlooked if they land safe and sound at the post.

THE DUNEDIN SUMMER MEETING. Although tho nominations for the Dunedin .Tocki3v Club's summ-or meeting are somewhat disappointing so far ns the principal event and- the two-yoar-old races are concerned, there is ample material engaged in tho balance of the programme to provide a very successful meeting. It was hoped that the 750sovs attached to theOtago Handicap, together with tho reduction of the distance from 12 to 10 furlongs, would

attract a better nomination than 14. Owners made a good response with nominations for the hurdle events, and this is doubly pleasing, as this class of race has been attracting rather poor patronage so far this season. Good fields are assured in the hack rao?s, which have filled very well, and, taken all round, the list should provide a good sporting attraction for Wingatui at the coming Christmastide meeting. EXHIBITING STALLIONS. From a horse-lover's point of view one of the most serious drawbacks to tlio complete success of our agricultural shows consists in the fact that the loading, thoroughbred stallions arc seldom or never seen in public on such occasions. One of tho principal reasons why that is so is due to the fact that all our" principal shows are held during the stud season, when highclass stallions cannot bo travelled far from the place at which they are located for thenowner's convenience as well as for that of studmastcrs who desire to patronise the horso: hence it is that studmastcrs are deprived of opportunity to exhibit their stallions, no matter how anxious they may be to show the public the quality of their blood stock. The transference of the date of tho Donedin show from the spring to the autumn of the year will, however, furnish an opportunity to exhibit thoroughbred stallions which did not previously exist, and it is to bo hoped that the Agricultural Society will take advantage of the change. -Stallion-owners could find no better opportunity of exhibiting their horses than during the coming Carnival Week in Dunedin, when it is honed that the combined attractions of racing and trotting will attract large numbor3 of sporting including owners of brood' mares, to this part of the world. In all probability the society has realised that the ohange of dates will supply a golden opportunity to build up a star attraction for their carnival show, and if it has not done so it should consider the advisability of offering stallion-owners a special inducement to bring along their Sultans of the stud. THE JOCKEYS' ASSOCIATION. The New Zealand Jockeys' Association appear to have secured a real live man as secretary in tho person of Mr O. O. Sheath, who is leaving no stone unturned to obtain improved conditions for members of tho association. As evidence that such is the case, one has only to read the following letter: — ' Auckland, November 27, 1919. The Secretary, tho Takapuna Jockey ~ Club, Auckland. Dear Sir,—At a meeting of my executive, held to-da-y, I was instructed to draw your club's attention to the following, and thoy sincerely hope the requests will be given effect to at your future meetings: 1. That you keep the racing track free of dog*." The numbs* of stray dogs at your last meeting was a danger to the lives of the jockeys riding in each race. 2. That all jockeys' fees shall be paid in cash immediately after the- last race. 3. That your club will carry out part XXV, Rule 2, which states: "No lioreo shall be ordered to the post more lhan 20 minutes before the time appointed for starting." If your club finds it necessary to alter the starting time of any race, my association has no objection, as it* is not any concern of ours, but to alter the starting time after the horeea have bo3n ordered to the pest, thereby increasing the time longer than 20 minutes from the time the horses are ordered to tho post, my executive object to, as it i 3 an entire breach of the above rule. The Jockeys wero ordered to the post 33 minutes before they were ordered to lino up to tho barrier in the last race last night, and, taking into consideration the fact that many of the jockeys had been wasting and are clad only in thin riding colours, ray executive are of opinion that your club showed scant consideration for their feelings.—Yours faithfully, The N.Z. Jockeys' Association (Incorporated). (Sgd.) C. C. Sheath, Secretary.