TALK OF THE DAY.

Otago Witness, Issue 3433, 30 December 1919, Page 44

TALK OF THE DAY.

By Sentinel.

FRACTIOUS HORSES. Some of the fields which faced the barrier on the first day of the D.J.C. summer meeting gave the starter quite a heap of trouble. In some cases_ rather too much latitude was allowed fractious horses, who were breaking up the lino instead of standing square on for business. Such horses should be promptly sent to the outside or stood behind the others, as there is no Valid reason why well-behaved horses should suffer through the presence of notoriously fractious horses in a field. Unless stronger measures are adopted than what was the case at Wingatui last week —except in the solitary case of Primum —it will be hopeless to expect starting that is fair to all concerned. When there are notoriously bad-mannered horses in a field it seems an absolute waste of time to let them in with well-behaved horses. The others should be labelled as outlaws and kept behind the line until the well-behaved lot get a fair chance. If the outlaws do not with reasonable promptness straighten up, then they should receive very little consideration. If this state of affairs existed and was strictly observed, owners and trainers would take more pains to mend the manners of their horses, or else have to be content to take a big risk of being left at the post, or at the best get all the worst of a start. It was very vexatious indeed to see good horses getting bumped and shoved about like they were at Wingatui last week, and kept dwelling at the post for unduly long periods. Stronger authority was obviously at work on the second day than on tho first, and there was a marked improvement in the starting. On the first day the boy on Rokelaine anticipated the Start by breaking away at least four times, but no word of a fine reached the writer. On the second day the same rider gave no trouble at all. Kilbrogan held up the fields he met for the best part of half an hour on both days, but Primum received scant consideration. The same treatment should have been applied in both cases, and also to all other horses that are notoriously bad-mannered when at the post. MISSING A CHANCE. The race meetings held during the Cliristraas week all proved very successful, and again showed the great ■advantage possessed by a club holding such an excellent holiday date as Boxing Day. It is a time, as Goldsmith remarked, “when all the vil-’ lage train, from labour free, led up their sports beneath the spreading tree,” and hence a really golden opportunity to eater successfully for any popular pastimes sought after by the public anxious for relaxation from the ordinary affairs of life, which maybe in some oases merely consist in a change in the form of pleasure or temporary relief from the worry, debts, duns, and difficulties of a difficult world. The great success achieved at Manawatu and Auckland on Boxing Day has for years past strongly suggested that it_ would be quite possible to build up a big meeting on the same date in the South Island. Tire Dunedin Jockey Club is the only metropolitan club in action. on that particular date in _ the South Island, and in the writer’s opinion has only to kick the. ball at its feet to score a goal in easy opportunity. One can enjoy a day's sport at Wingatui just as well as on any other course in the Dominion, and very much better than on most. Wingatui gives a good horse—even if only a gooff horse at the weights—every chance to score, and that is what makes a particularly strong appeal to the sporting public. A better view of a race cannot be obtained on any other course in the Dominion than What is the case at Wingatui. In the events decided over a mile course there is a straight awav run over half a mile before reaching the first turn, and this provides opportunity for a very fine racing spectacle as well as opportunity for a horse to stride out to the best advantage. The same remark applies to a race over any other distance on the course. Hence there is no great reason whv the Wingatui Christmas meeting should not stand out with far greater prominence on the racing calendar than it does at present. As a centrallv situated metropolitan course Wingatui is in a position to completely overshadow any other club racing at either Christmas or New Year in the South Island, and this particular programme should at least be made strong enough to prevent everything but the crack performers being sent up to the North Island. Winaratui has really a strong ally in the Southland Racing Club, as it follows on closely with an attractive programme, and the two,, in coniunction with Wyndham, supply five davs’ racing, and thus make a really , good racing circuit suppyling owners with ample opportunity to horseowners. The metropolitan club should be the dominant programme. Everyone anxious to see the sport thrive and prosper at this end of the Dominion are pleased to see Southland doing so well, bnt it_ should not be to the disadvantage of Wingatui, where ouite a number of owners sidestepped last week and waited for the meeting at Invercargill. AMYTHAS. It is a great pity that Amythas, tho winner of "the Otago Handicap and St, Andrew’s Handicap, run at Wingatui last week, is not thoroughly sound, as there_ is no doubt in such a case he would establish claims to be considered one of the best three-year-olds of the year, as he was one of the best in his first season. It requires a good horse to win the Otago Handicap as he did after being apparently right out of it half a mile from home. On the second day he made hacks of the opposition—although Warlove is not a hf ok when fit and well, —but’ it must be said that the handicappers took a far too_ lenient opinion of his form. So much so is that the onse

that he scared out most of the opposition on the second day, and will probably win again if sent to Tnvercargill. Amythas showed plenty of brilliancy as a two-year-old, and won last week as if he would stay on over a good course. His.breeding suggests that such would be the case, as ho comes from a stout line through his dam. Amythas was bred by the late Mr G. P. Donnelly, and got by Demosthenes from Gold Treasure, by Gold Reef (son of Bend- . Or) from Pearl Shot, by Torpedo—Pearl Powder, by Captivator from Pearl Ash. This is the same taproot which produced two Melbourne Oup winners in Gaulus and The Grafter, and other successful horses, as Pearl threw Industry, the dam of the Melbourne Cup winners. Battle Song, a good stayer, is also a member of the same family, and it will be seen by Karo'a success in the Auckland Cup that Demosthenes, the sire of Amythas, can get stayers. Amythas was sent to Riccarton in the early spring to be prepared for the Derby, but he could not be got ready for the meeting. He, however, claims an engagement in the New Zealand St. Leger Stakes, to be run at the Wellington autumn meeting. THE WAIKOUAJTI MEETING. Good acceptances were received for the Waikouaiti meeting, but fields will very probably bear a different aspect at the post to what they now do on paper, aa several horses claim two or more engagements during the day. Sembric, for instance, figures in three races; Silver Peak, Ardmore, All Ready, and others also claim two or more engagements. The luck of the draw for positions will be a big factor in deciding success at Waikouaiti, and it is also a course on which a quick beginner will have a decided advantage. Bon Speo may go out favourite for the. Waikouaiti Oup, with Silver Peak and Sembrio next in demand. Benefit, Thistlecrovvn, and Pyjama are ,suro of support in the Bray Memorial Handicap, and Jack Symons will not be overlooked in the Ladies' Purse. Silver Peak and Sembrjc read the best in the Hawkesbury, as they are both smart beginners, whilst Lady Superior and Micky Free may carry good support in the Welter Handicap. THE WYNDHAM MEETING. The Wyndham Racing Club received excellent patronage from owners, and although acceptances have not yet been declared there is every prospect of good fields being seen out at the meeting. It may be taken as a foregone conclusion that Amythas will not start in the Wyndham Cup, but will be reserved for the Invercargill Cup. In his absence Tin Soldier or Eleus may start favourite. Twinkle will probably go out first pick in the Trial Plate, and All British is likely to be accorded a similar honour in the Mimihau' Handicap. Braid, Robert Bell, Kilbrogan, and Redshire should be fancied for the Flying Handicap, and Marjery, Thistlecrown, and Mythology may be the order of favouritism for the Visitors' Handicap. THE SOUTHLAND MEETING.' The Southland Racing Club's summer meeting will commence on January 2, and as there is not likely to be much' more shrinkage in the general list of acceptances, good fields should, bo seen out. Although. Amythas has received a 161 b penalty for the Invercargill Oup, he looks rather leniently' treated, and will no doubt start a good favourite, whilst next in demand , may be Royal Star, Lucid, 'and Eleus. Rokelaine will be a strong order for the Flying, but Radial should beat her at the weights, and Michaela is also there to be considered. Twinkle's form at Wingatui will make hex fancied for the New Year Handicap, whilst Borodino and Braid showed sufficient form at Wrngatui to make them worthy of respect in the Waikiwi Handicap. North Sea on his running to Sembrio cannot be overlooked in connection with the Avenal Welter, whilst Sedd-&l-Bahr looks sure to start first choice in the Waihopai Handicap. THE NEW ZEALAND TURF REGISTER. That very useful and instructive publication, "Form at a. Glance"—otherwise the pocket edition of the New Zealand Turf Register,—came to hand at a very opportune moment on the eye of the Christmas meetings, and so provides an easy mea-is of refreshing the memory of all the form displayed by racehorses and trotters in the early part of the season up to December 16. Students of form will welcome its appeaaince, and can show their appreciation of its publication by placing order* with their booksellers. The. book is issued by the Christohuroh Press Company, whioh has adhered to the old. price of 2s 6d.