IN A NUTSHELL.

Otago Witness, Issue 3595, 6 February 1923, Page 44

IN A NUTSHELL.

Mazama shaped well in a school over the hurdles last week. Acceptances for the Tapanui meeting are due on February 7. Nominations for the Wainiale meeting are due on February 19. Cupidon has been getting through good solid work during the past week. There i 3 a final payment of lOsovs to be made for starters in the Dunedin Cup. Income's withdrawal from recent engagements was due to one of his legs filling. The Kilbroney—Bonny Helen colt sold at 300gns, is to join C. Pritchard's stable. The free-legged pacer Don AA’ild practically won the Dunedin Cup from end to end. Silent King has been getting throigli good strong work iu ilia preparation for tile Dunedin Cup. The report that Rector Gray was going to ride over fences is now found to be lacking in ?act. The Australian-bred filly Eaton Lass bear* an improved appearance since she was last seen in public. The Lake County Jockey Club's annual tace meeting will take place on February 28 and March f. The speedy filly Epitaph, who practically failed to stay beyond five furlongs, will probably be sent to the stud. Gold Light and Razzle Dazzle have been responsible for satisfactory track work since their arrival at Wingatui. Peter Amans is regarded by northern critics to be one of the coming hurdlers to score in big things nfxt winter. The Four Chimes three-year-old gelding Mountain Chimes has a good turn of speed, and should prove a useful pacer. Winsome Lady is gone in the respiratory organs, and it is doubtful if she will continue to race beyond the present season. Scrimmage came into favour fer the Dunedin Cup as a. result of her second to Palestrina in the Midsummer Handicap. There is at F’st something original about the title of the ' lierrio Handicap which figures on the Lake County programme Insurrection and Trespass have been responsible for some solid work during their stay at Riccarton, en route to Wingatui. Baldowa lias b;en improving since lie was first seen out- this season, and will probably start favourite in the Berwick Handicap. Corn Rigs lias thickened out. and now 1 ook3, apart from his lightish colour, a more robust horse than what was formerly the case. Locanda Mac scored a very comfortable win in the Electric Handicap, which lie won easing up at the finish in 2.16 1-5 on a slow track. Silver Peak looks none the worse of her efforts this season, and has been doing satisfactory work during the past few days at Wingatui. Eleus has been responsible for som" good work, and under his fight weight in the Dunedin Cup should be found running a good race. It is rumoured that Glentruin will return to Southland after the Dunedin Cup meeting. She never thrived in the south like she did at Riccarton. The Nassau two-year-old Tarleton. who has shown good winning form this season. expected to develop into a rather more than useful three-year-old Red Admiral is suffering from a slightly damaged hock, but lie seems quite sound on the injured leg. wlr'ch received a knock when funning over hurdles. The AA r ingatui course was becoming a bit. hardj but showers of rain fell on Saturday gnd Sunday, and should help to keep the sting out of the ground. After Palestrina won the Midsummer last year she came south, and, starting second favourite in the. Dunedin Cijp. made a poor show in the race.

Royal Star has been kept fair.y busy on the track, and although he has not won since he scored in the Kew Zealand Cup, he may train back to his best form . _ The Boniform —-Skirl two-year-old m r. ■Shaw’s stable was recently kicked whilst running in the paddock, and niay not start at the Dunedin Cup meeting. The trotting stallion Native King, by A M son Bingen—Novice, sold at the late Mr B. Shad-bolt’s sale, has been purchased by Mr G. W. Watkins, of Christchurch. Glentruin has been striding along well m her work 6ince running at the Wellington Oup meeting, and is regarded as a sure starter in the Hazlett Memorial Stakes. The two-year-old Parody, who is engaged in the' Dunedin Champagne Stakes, is credited with running five furlongs in 1.1 at Riccarton last week from a flying dtart. The death is reported of Mr Jack Perriam, a popular and well-known person in sporting circles The late Mr Perriam contracted pneumonia and died after a brief illness C. Gieseler has sold his house and stables at Wingatui to C. Ware, who has been acting as private tiainer to Mr A H. Fisher, and contemplates setting up as a public .trainer. There is a nice yearling, an own sister to Razzle Dazzle, at the Waikanae stud, and Simper has a Boniform colt at foot which is described as something out of the ordinary. The'mishap in the Kensington Handicap apparently cost Lenamhor a good chance of success in the race, as, after losing a lot of ground, he came from now he re and finished a good third. . The Buckwheat two year-old Olympia has sobered down considerably since he ran at the Dunedin Summer meeting, but he may not remain so w r hen under silk and the band .starts to play. . Adair showed good speed in the Dunedin Cup, but scoilt his chance by running over himself and breaking up. He stood on the mark when sent out to race under saddle m the Electric Handicap. The Winkie gelding Avispado cleared out from his field when lie won over seven.,,furlofigs at Invercargill, and it will be interesting to note if the extra, distance in tne Presidents Handicap will stop him. Olvnthus who was a winner over hurdles »t Woodville, won the Horowhenua Cup of , 1919. He is a well-bred sort, and was got by Demosthenes from Etona, by Castor fioni lady Walmsley, a sister to Carbine. , The Wyndliam Racing Club made a profit of £4OO over their recent race meeting and paid 1600sovs in taxation. A special meeting is to be held to consider the matter of proceding with the erection of a new grandst and. The All Black gelding All Aboard is regarded as the champion hurdler of NewSouth Wales. He recently won under 12.9. All Aboard was got by All Black from Float., by Captain Webb, by Nordenfeldt from My Idea, the dam of Nejson. The Kilbroney—Flowery Speech gelding Peroration won the January Handicap, of 50GSOVS, run at the A.J.C. Anniversary meeting held at Randwick on January 20. Peroration beat nine others, and won over a mile and a-quarter in 2.5. . .Nighborn gave a good exhibition of trotting when he won the Otago Handicap, in which he never put a toe wrong. Peter JfPKinnev is a miich speedier horse, but i 3 apt to become unbalanced, otherwise he would have beaten Nighborn. The disappointing Absurd filly Veil, who is reported to have broken a blood vessel at Trentham, was returned to her breeder, Mr G. M. Currie, of Wanganui. Veil cost lOOOgns as a yearling, and scored her only win when she won at Trentham. The Black fillv Oelene Pointer, bv Logan. Pointer—Queen Cole, carried twice as much money as Away, who started second favourite in the Chatham Handicap. Celebe Pointer broke uu whilst the Adonis gelding Away ran a solid race, and won in good style. Palestrina has now placed two wins in the Midsummer Handicap to her credit. She won last year with 8.4, and carried 3lb less than Trespass, who ran third. This vear she had 21b less than Trespass, so that there was practically no fluctuation in the handicap. Battle Scene is running in improved and consistent stvle this season. Her success in the Craven Plate marked her fourth win of the seaon. and four placed performances out of 11 starts. She alwavs had a good turn of speed, but did not finish on in some of : her races. A punter recently claimed that he put up a record by backing three non-triers in one day at the same meeting. It must have been one of those sort of davs which require a particularly wid?-awake system of betting to be successful at the business, a dodging the defunct sort of system as it were. Roseday now looks in more solid condition than he has at any part of the present season. He is doing good work on the track without shqwing any signs of “getting on his toee, as he has been doing in his races. If he is cool, calm, and collected in the Dunedin Cup he may put up his best performance under silk this season. Many Kittle has been worked over a distance during the past week, when he ran 10 furlongs in 2.13 2-5, and apparently it is intended to let him take liis chance in the Dunedin Cup. On the promise he showed in the Stead Gold Cup he would take a power of beating. In that race be carried 7.12. and won handsomely in 2.5 3-5, whilst Gold Light, was unplaced. The Paris correspondent of a London paper says that at Auteui! there was a tremendous demonstration against the owner of Le Stiff, ■winner of a selling plate. A fortnight earlier, when favourite for a similar race, Le -Stiff finished last. After seeing him win at his next run, the public decided he was approjffiately named, and loudly expressed themselves to that effect. About eight out of 14 starters failed to get going in the Electric Handicap. This is not the sort of thing to popularise standing starts for hobbled horses. There seems to be just one little idea which, if carried out, greatly helps a horse to move off light from a standing start. Still that does not alter the fact that tying a horses legs together and endeavouring to make it jump off into ton speed is repugnant to common sense. Will Oakland reads well in on paper in the Publicans’ Handicap. His last appearance at Wingatui was in the Empire Handicap, run at the Winter meeting, when he carried 8.10 and cleared out from Franca iso 7.10, Bella Lake 7.0, and Mantua 7.7. Now they meet at a handicap of Will Oakland 7.10, Mantua 7.2, Bella Lake 7.0, Francaise 7.0, and it will be interesting to note if the last-named trio are capable of defying the figures, which read so greatly iu favour of Will Oakland. Apparently the law which applies to flatracing in regard to fractious horses does not apply to hurdle-racing, as Kilbrogan, whose name is on the banned list, figures amongst the acceptors for the Autumn Hurdles, to be run at Wingatui, If a horse is to he debarred a club should not accept hie nominations, but a course of hurdling has- improved the manners of many horses who were very fractious at the post when racing on the flat, and this, no doubt, is the reason for Kilbrogan’s appearance as a hurdler. Elens with 9.7 was a head away in third nlace behind War Love 8.5, who got beaten

half a length by Royal Stag 9.4 in the Dunedin Cup of 1921. Prior to that he was unluckily beaten in the Wellington Cup with 7.7, when Maioha 8.7 beat him a nose in 2.31. Eleus made no mistake in the W.R.C. Handicap, which he won with 7.12 in 2.19. He subsequently went amiss, but is now striding along nicely in his work, and as he reads well treated on liis best form with 7.4 he at least should help to make the race interesting. Kerb has been striding out freely in her work since her successful trip to Trentham*. She has, however, a tough proposition to solve in the Publicans’ Handicap, in which she meets Listening Post on 14lb worse terms than when he beat her in heavy going on the second day at Invercargill. In the Shorts Handicap Listening Post 9.9 was beat a short neck by Bella Lake 7.4 (including 31b allowance), whilst Kerb 7.2 (including 71b allowance) was unplaced. In the Publicans’ Listening Post has 9.4 and Kerb 7.11 — a difference of 14lb—whilst Bella Lake meets the Eager Eyes gelding on lib worse terms. C. Vrieseler may change his mind, but when informing the writer that lie had sold his property at Wingatui he also said that he contemplated retiring from training because there was “nothing in it.” It was rather surprising to hear the statement, as Gieseler has done fairly well this season with Silent King, who lias won the Geraldine Cup, North Otago Cup. and both the principal handicaps at the Gore. Soring meeting, as well as gaining several places. Other members of bis team have won. but some of them are hardly class enough. Gieseler has, however, been very successful since he cams to Wingatui, and his most notable win was scored with Ardenvhor in the New Zealand Cup. . . . General Advance has been getting a fairly solid amount of work since he was last seen in public, and regarded as fairly well treated on paper in the Dunedin Cap cn some of his form this season. For instance, lie .gave 3511. to Silver Peak over a mile at Winton, and ran her to a. length over a. pet distance for the mare. In the Wyncihain Cup lie lost a good chan3o of seriously troubling Silver Peak bv going round on the outside of the field, at the home turn of a short straight. At Invercargill he c truck heavy going, and going back to W yndliam form it is found that he meets (Silver Peak om 19. b better terms, and this liberal margin should help to bring therm together despite the mare’s good form at Trentham. The Absurd gelding Sir Walter m F. Shaw s •stable has built up, and bears an improved appearance. The Absurds are not by any means reerarded as stayers, but Sir W alter has travelled far on two occasions. He once get- tangled up in KTs rug, and in an effort to shake himself free travelled I*s miles across country. On a similar mishap occurring he meandered somewhat hurriedly over 13. miles of country scenery, so that the stock can get a journey under some circumstances. These mishaps made him a rather undesirable property, and he was sold cheaply. He is the second Sir Walter in history who hs.o achieved fame by shedding his clothing, but if the one to whom Queen Elizabeth gave the glad eve had kicked part, of his off instead* of gallantly placing it under her feet he also would have been a great stayer —in distance from tlie Royal presence. Some good x* r i ces werc ™/9de cember bloodstock sales, which were m progress when the last mail to hand left England. Bay Go-1, by Bayardo—Kilmei-n and covered by Buchan, sold at 210.>gns. G nssant, a mare bv ■’White Biplane and covered by Galloper Light, made 20007n5, Mabel]a, by Sunstar—Taga-lie and covered by Gainsborough, went at 2000gns; the bay stallion Arch Gift, by The Tetrarch—Scotch Gift sold at SJOOgns; and a filly foal oy Swynford—Dittany went at fflWOgns. A Rood fioure waa realised bv Pamfleta, by William the Third—Bird in the .Hand, and covered by Tetratema, and knocked down at 6100°ns. On the same day the chestnut filly Silver Urn, by Juggernaut —Amphora, sold at 4000gns; and the four-year-old bay colt Leighton, by Roi Herodc—Queen...of tfte Earth, was purchased oil behalf of Mr W, G. Stead at SlOOgns. , „ A change of_ trainers is not likely to enact an improvement In Insurrection s racing condition, but a change from a somewhat Unlucky owner to one on whom Dame 1' oftune lias smiled may mean a lot. Insurrection has always been a good, but unlucky, horse, 'and has never won anything like the reward of his'' real merit. One ■ reason why some horses are consistently unlucky is because, they are alwavs getting .a bit the worst of the weights. Sometimes it. is not sufficiently recognised that the real basis of bad luck is the plain fact that other horses are too good at the weights. Lone of the first four in the Wellington Cup are in the Dunedin Cup,, and Scrimmage is recorded as next past they nest. . e'he then met Insurrection at 161 b, she finished third, and in front of him in the W.R.C. Handicap at 15lb, and Insurrection is down to give the mare 17lb in the Dunedin Cun, Such figures must 6pell bad luck for a horse because, instead of getting an allowance for defeat, Insurrection has - been treated as a winner, as far as Scrimmage is concerned. Badly handicapped horses sometimes win. just as horses thrown into a handicap sometimes miss, but this does not. iustifv a handicap which does not at least give a horse a chance on paper. All the same, if Insurrection can shed some of the bad luck which has steered his course in the past he may prove a very hard nut to crack.