IN A NUTSHELL.

Otago Witness, Issue 3590, 2 January 1923, Page 43

IN A NUTSHELL.

The apprentice allowance is responsible at times for losing a race when it should have been won. Miss Muriel ran like a bus liorse in her races at Wingatui, and was always tailing the field. Some of the riding seen at Wingatui should have been rewarded with a holiday to its exponents. Red Gown won well under her 9.11 in the Otokia Welter, and is proving a rather useful sort this season. Incursio may be found more prominent at the southern meetings than he was at Wingatui and Timaru. Lady Blissful was fancied in some quarters for the Farewell Handicap, but she failed to gain a place. Red Admiral shaped well in his race over hurdles at Wingatui, and should soon score a win over the small timber. Osterman had no chance with Sunny Loch in the Farewell Handicap, but he at least beat all the others in the race.

Wharfedale was making a bold bid under 9.10 in tbe Taihoa Handicap, but he could not carry on under his burden. Bosker Boy did not run up to expectations at Wingatui, but might have been nearer the money if better bandied in his races. Contempt was flying at the finish of the Taihoa Handicap, in which she came from nowhere to closely dispute honours for second money. Sweet Water showed signs cf lameness when doing her preliminary for the Otokia Welter, but nevertheless ran a good race for about five furlongs. Contempt appeared to have a winning chance in the Burnside Handicap, but was sent back about four furlongs from home and had her chance settled. The Gay Lad filly Ardour gave nothing a chance in Allanton Welter, in which she ran the mile in 1.41, and was apparently prepared to go on over more ground. Red Gown was running on at the finish of the Allanton Welter, in which she had the good load of 10.2 to carry in a race won in 1.41, rather smart time for a welter. Whipping Boy ran a fair race when he finished third in the St. Andrew’s Handicap, but even so seems to have deteriorated instead cf training on since last season. Mr L. C. Hazlett won with two of his own breeding on the second day at Wingatue, and so has a double-barrelled pleasure in the success which his colours gathered. General Advance was running on at the finish of the St. Andrew’s Handicap, and his display suggests that he may be hard to beat over more ground in the near future. Red Admiral got badly placed on the outside of the field when making up ground towards the finish of the Otokia Welter, otherwise he would have been much nearer the money. Frivol was on the boom, and is still a good horse and able to gallop, but it would perhaps he wise to lose him in a good paddock fox some time and allow him to build up in condition. The Otohia Welter was a fast-run race, for. which Lcmagundi and Mirza were principally responsible. They, however, both ran themselves to a standstill, and finished outside the placed lot. The 7st minimum at Wingatui received a dint through the apprentice allowance which allowed several riders to weigh out under the margin which the club has been struggling to make for years past. Deucalion, the winner cf the Otago Handicap, was got by Demosthenes from Mocking Bird, by All Black from Mimic, by Merriwee—Palaver, by Apiemont Platter, by St. George—Flattery, by Traducer. Bon Spec did not exhibit half his usual brilliancy at Wingatui, and although he began well was soon supplanted from his usual position as leader. As a rule he goes fast, and as far as he can out in front. Bella Lake stayed on better than generally expected in tbe Farewell Handicap, but she was lucky in getting second, because Etta lost a good chance of gaining that position when she ran wide when in the lead at the home turn. , Many races are lost through the allowance being claimed for inexperienced riders. It may be summed up by saying that a good rider takes advantage of every opportunity, but an inexperienced one gets into all the trouble that is going. . Silent King received a good hiding in both his races at Wingatui, and in the Invercargill Cup has been asked to meet Silver Beak on 51b worse- terms and Sunny Loch at the same weights as when they both beat him in the Otago Handicap. Ravenna ran a very solid race when she won the Taihoa Handicap, and created the impression that she has improved and would continue to do so if given more work under silk. Her dam has at present a particularly fine colt foal at foot by Paper Money. The writer was rather inclined to fancy Insurrection for tbe Auckland Cup, but Scion proved just a shade too good for him. The Waikanae stud has reason to be proud that it owns the sires of both horses, both good stayers, and the sort we like to see under silk. Lucinette comes from a good staying family represented by the Ouida taproot, and she lived up to the family reputation for stamina by the resolute manner in which she stayed on under punishment at the nnish of her race. Her dame Lady Lucy won the New Zealand Cup of 1909. It is understood that Paper Money joins the Waikanae stud next season. He has left some particularly fine foals in his first season, and it is a matter of regret that he is leaving the South Island, where he promised to do so well for the reputation of that part of the world as a good breeding area. Longhrea has always impressed one as a rather likely sort. He can gallop, beyond doubt, and he stayed and won oyer 10 furlongs in a manner suggesting that a distance would net trouble him. He is, however still a green horse, and wants a good man on top to keep him right in a race. Not many horses have achieved the distinction of winning both the New Zealand Cup and Auckland Cup in the same season. St Hippo won both races as a three-y-a--old and Warstep won the Auckland Cup and dead-heated with Indigo in the New Zealand Cup as a four-year-old, and now Scion has enrolled his name on the very small band of victors. The Buckwheat two-year-old Olympia dumped his rider in the preliminary for the Juvenile Handicap, and afterwards cleared the gates leading to the training tracks at a standing jump. He creates a vision of a National horse, but in the meantime is developing bad habits, as he has been noticed doing the same thing on the tracks during training operations. Class asserted itself in connection w tn the Farewell Handicap at Wingatui, Sunny Loch won comfortably despite fact that several of the runners had tae advantage of a 7lb allowance on top ot tlie original handicap. It seems as i£ at seven furlongs to a mile Sunny Loch is at his pet distance, even though he has creditable form up to a mile and a-quaxter. A rather too belated inspiration comes along when noticing that Scion and Royal Blood won the double at Auckland. There is an obvious connection between an heir of noble or royal lineage and royal blood. By the way, those inclined to inject a hard “k” into the name of the winner of the New Zealand Cup and Auckland Cup should be told that the "c” is silent, like something else in surf bathing. Two victories during the Christinas meetings that the writer was particularly pleased to note were those scored by Mr Roddy Mackenzie’s Sunart and Mr J. R. M’Kenzie’s Acron. Both gentlemen paid good figures for the privilege of owning a good horse. Sunart cost 15(X)sovs and Acron 2000sovs, and they have proved cheap horses at the price. Some people would like to own a good horse, and when they feel an inclination in that direction should not overlook the fact that a good horse is worth good money. Many Kittle has lightened up since ho ran at the New Zealand Cup meeting, where he displayed excellent form in winning the Gold Cup. He appears to have trained off since then, but even so might have been a lot closer up if so much use had not been made of him in his races. He, however, looked to have more than his full share of weight as a three-year-old in being placed at 3lb from Silver Peak over a mile. He was also set a task in being asked to give Limelight 71b

over a mile in the face of the latter’s brilliant form at the New Zealand Cup meeting. F. E. Jones did not have many rides at Wingatui, but when he did get in the saddle gave a display of horsemanship that should stand as an object lesson to tbe Archers in embryo that were at the meeting. George Xoung also rode a perfect race on Silver Peak when she won tne.St. Andrew’s Handicap. He knew where the rails were and the shortest cut home. Neither of these riders srt a saddle with their knees under the chin, whereas others with a iot to learn knock knees over a horse's withers when some misguided owner or trainer gives them a ride. The bookmakers operating in Victoria are greatly disturbed over the re-enactment of the betting tax of 6d on betting tickets. One of the speakers at a recent meeting of pencillers stated that it cost him 1-600 a year in taxes, and it was instanced that some 400 men were now requited to pay £70,000 per year on betting tickets. As an illustration of what was termed “the iniquity of the tax,’’ the speaker mentioned that during four days at Flemington he took £6OOO in the paddock and paid £l5O in taxes; while not long ago he saw one man bot £6OOO to £3OOO and it cost only 6d. Battle Scene made a ruh-away race of the Federal Handicap, in which she soon drew clear and gave nothing a chance at the business end. She has always possessed speed, and latterly has been showing improved stamina. Battle Scene was got by Martian from Edna May, by Multiform from Helen Faucit, by Castor from Cissy (sister to Trenton), by Musket—Frailty, by Goldsborough. With such a pedigree Battle Scene should win over more ground than she has successfully covered up to date, and in due time should prove a valuable broodmare. Mr A. D. M’lvor did good work at the barrier during the Wingatui meeting, and would achieve better results if he marshalled his fields up to the tapes whilst waiting for the signal to announce that the betting has been balanced. Only two or three minutes elapse between the signal indicating that the machine has closed and that the investments have been balanced, and this interval can be very well utilised in educating horses and riders to stand quietly at the barrier. On the other hand, a field is much more difficult to control when called up and likely tp. be sent away at the very earliest opportunity. The two-ycar-old filly Eaton Bells, who was amongst the runners at the Wingatui meeting, seems destined to see a better day. Since she landed from Australia she has grown and furnished into a fine-looking youngster, and has shown gradual improvement under J. Ruttledge’s mentorship, which has brought her on. Eaton Bells is of a rather contented disposition, and when properly tuned up will show improvement on her recent form. She was got by the imported sire Eaton Lad from Formicary, by Multiform from Beatrice Avington, by Avington Several people were after Many Kittle, and as Mr W. A. Nicholl is just as fend of owning a good horse as any other man, ho refused 2tXX)gs for the Sunglow gelding, whom he bred to carry his colours. Many Kittle, when racing at Wingatui, did not look so bright and muscular as when ho sailed home in front of a good field in tho Stead Gold Cup. and this on top of tho fact that he was rather flatteringly handicapped for a three-year-old did not help him. to run like a big-prlc d horse. Rather too much use was made of him in both h.s races, and anxiety to win too soon did not help the little chap to have a winning punch at tho finish. Tatau Tatau was unable to start at tho Dunedin Summer meeting owing to being badly kicked by Castellan whilst they were running out in the stable paddock at Wingatui. The mishap was a piece of bad luck, but perhaps she was just as well in her stable on the day of the race, as she might have cost her admirers good money if sent to the post for the Federal Handicap, in which, on paper, she did not have tho ghost of a chance with Battle Scene, who bolted away with the race, on the Avon Welter form in which Tatr.u Tatau beat Battle Scene half a head when the latter was giving slb. She had a very remote chance indeed when meeting the latter on 10lb worse terms for such a narrow victory. A petition is being largely signed by owners and trainers tor presentation to tho New Zealand Racing Conference asking for the reinstatement of the one-time crack horseman, C. Jenkins. It is now over two years since Jenkins was compulsorily retired, and the question of these indeterminate sentences is one that should engage the attention of the authorities. Trainers and riders have often a punishment inflicted on them altogether too severe for their offence, and the fact seems to be overlooked that it is possible to inflict a fine of hundreds of pounds on a guilty person when punishment for a similar offence under the law of the country is at the outside a fiver. The position is intolerable, and should be reviewed. Corn Rigs is the sort of a horse that is in front for nine and a-lralf furlongs in a 10-furlong race, and seven and furlongs in an eight-furlong race, but if kept into the collar is very apt to finish last over any distance. Because he led for the bulk of the journey in the Otago Handicap many people considered him a moral for the St Andrew’s Handicap, run over a quarter of'a mile less ground. They forgot, however, and so apparently did the handicapper, that Silver Peak gave him 131 b and a beating over the same distance at Winton, and consequently he had no chance, on paper at least, when meeting the mare at a difference of 10lb Horn Rigs tried to win all the way. and perhaps the fact that he collapsed like a pricked balloon and finished last was due to being set too bard a task at the weights. The Windsor Handicap at Eagle Farm on the 9tli inst. was associated with an unusual occurrence. What actually happened was told at an inquiry which was instituted by the stewards of the Queensland Turf Club. Hill, rider of Snow Star, lost Jiis whip at a critical Stage of the race, and finished with Suddaby’s whip. Suddaby, in his evidence, said he had occasion to use his whip approaching the home turn, and when drawing it it slipped right through his hands, and Hill, who was on the outside of him, took it. He admitted that he may have dropped his whip if Hill had not taken it. W. Hill, rider of Snow Star, said he dropped his whip before reaching the three-furlong post. Owissa, Snow Star, and Armacre were nearly level at the turn. Owissa appeared as if she would drop back. He then asked Suddaby for his whip, which came toward him. Hill, thinking Suddaby was giving it to him, took it. As a result of the finding the stewards imposed a fine of £2O on W. Hill, who rode Snow Star, and H. Suddaby, who rode Owissa, was reprimanded.