TALK OF THE DAY.

Otago Witness, Issue 3611, 29 May 1923, Page 45

TALK OF THE DAY.

By

Sentinel.

WINUATUI. A fairly good frost, which fell overnight made the atmosphere rather sharp at \\ ingaitii on Monday morning. A "ood deal of work took place, but the gallopers were confined to steady work on the outside of the course proper, and a few were schooled over the fences and hurdles. The going on the course proper is quite firm and in excellent order for the meeting, particularly tor the ’chasing and hurdling— in fact, trie track is remarkably sound after the deluge experienced about three weeks ago. Tornea was sent over a round of the schooling fences, jumping 12 obstacles, and gave an excellent display. Matatua and Londonderry were companions in a round over tire hurdle-, during which both shaped satisfactorily. l-l.i Bank went clean away from Orange Billets in a round of lhc schooling fences. T he former jumped quickly and eleverlv, but the Inner dwelt badly at each obstacle. General Detain was sent over three or four fences. Loughrea did strong half-pace work over a couple of circuits, and howled along in pleasing style. \ agabond anti Gladful did similar work, and were anxious to increase the. pace. Both the visitors look in good shape for their eugageemnis. Bonnie -Winkie got through a useful task, and others doing steady work included Windermere, Barrister, Ruena, Incursio, Martian Miss, Bonnettor, Birkenella. and several others, but as ir was an off ninrning nothing went against the w a tsii. TOPSY-I LRVEYDOM. '1 lie bulk of the riding at Oaniaru seemed to be done by the apprentices, whilst some of the leading riders in the South Island filled the role of spectators. It is all very fine to encourage youngsters, but it can l>e overdone, and it is most unfair that the novice should get most of the work whilst the tradesman is idle. If such a

! thing obtained in ordinary labour circles, what a roar there would be. Kings would tremble on their thrones, and politicians would rush to manufacture and amend all the laws in the country to meet the case. Not so our turf legislators, who look on with unseeing eyes, and apparently do not recognise the topsy-turveydom of the situation. The situation is a serious one, and under the circumstances one can hardly blame some riders if they fall from grace and make the very best use of the few j rides that come their way. It. is hard, in--1 deed, on riders who cannot go to scale | under Bst to go to the expense of travelling j from meeting to meeting and by force of ! circumstances created by the Rules of I Racing tempted to make expenses by puntj ing instead of getting it at the profession ! to which they have devoted the best part jof their lives. It is alf very fine for the apprentice, but it is inevitable that he. too, will in time join the partially unemployed unless more protection is .bestowed on the rider who has emerged from his apprenticeship and can still do a handy weight. A remedy is required in both the interests of the sport and the full-blossomed rider, but although this aspect of the case has been touched upon on previous occasions, we will, no doubt, as usual, see the annual tinkering at the rules on minor points whilst most important matters are neglected. THE DUNEDIN WINTER MEETING. Wingatui is a, popular sporting rendezvous at the present time, as hosts of sportsmen regard the Dunedin Jockey Club’s Winter meeting as the most attractive fixture held on the course. The star attraction is, of course, the cross country events, and the battles over hurdles, and with a. splendid array of nominations there should be some good fields seen out on each day of the gathering. One good reason why

these classes of contests are so popular is due to the fact that whilst the cross country course is quite ample in circumference to give every horse a chance, it still provides an excellent, view of every jump in the circuit which extends to about a mile and a-half. The jumps require doing, particularly the two very substantial post and rail obstacles, one of which is opposite the old mile post, and the other near the fourfurlong post. The sod wall which takes a field off the course proper is solid, but not particularly formidable except in bad weather, when the approach and take-off is apt. to become boggy, and accentuates the difficulty of negotiating the jump. The rest of the course is quite fair country, and although a number of spectators concentrate their attention at water jump, it is. really the easiest jump o"n the course providing a rider gets a hit of pace on to carry his mount over. Whilst on this subject of the water jump, it is noticed that year after year a large number of spectators congregate on the north side and selfishly block the view of those \vho remain in the enclosures. The stewards should take steps to prevent this slate of affairs and so earn the gratitude of the multitude! the events on the fiat should provide some interesting racing, and with a very desirable auxiliary on hand in the shape of good weather. < e card for each day should attract, a huge attendance. WINNING SIRES. The_ Australasian of May 12 supplies statistics of the winning stallions in \ns tralia from August 1 to April 30.’ Comedy King tops the list with 36 winners of 7? races worth 38.57950v5. and he i s so fur aheaa of Tmatjre that he will retain his position at the end of the season. Tinacre had o 7 winners of 63 races worth 21,28750v5. and he ;?; followed by a comparatively young sire in \» oorak. who had 17 winners of 3C races worth 2014750v5. St. Anton, who anks third m the list is a prolific sire of Hirers, although they may not be top. no ehers on the turf. He got 51 winners of 94- races worth 18,23050v5. Sea Prince i« 15*55050ws 1 V;r ners of “J >’aees worth K,qHjso.s, and then comes the Welkin with 15 Winners of 33 races worth 14.74750 vs Endorus follows with 36 winners of 68 laces worth 14.322.50v5. and Tressady has 23 winners of 58, races worth 13.36250 vs A notable feature of those that figure atthe top of the list consists in the fact fha f 1 ersmunon sued Comedy King, Sea Prince -nd Tressady, who figure in the first eio-hf Woornk who ranks third. i s ,h e onlv colomal-hreil. stallion in the first eleven on the si!' Simon pistoling £' p . reßcnt Ihe 'fW ° nly I ' e r ,rcs<?,l <atives of MirskeT'in o h f%fcu?v>t n gSJj "t So"; Simon and ’the NW *"» <»* gagement. who was once Iwrih J I ''? L' 1 ' “Special Commissioner” ' To { h ° Sportsman as the bos! brer! t I t ond ? 11 world, but nevertheless has f lie - the any prominence as a stall ion.' iod '° a<Wve A COSTLY COLT. ”°t a f 'lO ■° ne Sets a chance in England w i "'^'? uinea yearling, even b!>ttoK d p U S e^;i e th n e 7 ridl h V These f • a ' lllai ketmg. rara avis in tUf ffUln , oa fiorts stand as "a held ccurVmtTrulod ITlorTof t°ho K goes without saying that anvth „ “I? 1 “t approaches the threshold of' the* 10 njvj 1 guinea mark in England must have attm ne conformation and a pedigree that can stand a lot. of picking to pieces. -Vrcheiv is a rich dark bay with black points showmg practically no white except some flecks iturning from his coronets up the back if iiis lima Dastenis. JFe has k i looking. well shaped, and goo< length of rem, and is nicelv lop,„^t f rV. aM<i welF and w.iUs well, and it there is any fault fo find it- savours of the I do not like thee Dr led—the reason why I eannot to'l” type of criticism. Still, he may not appeal to everyone w ho eat) look at him w ithout being avv.uc ot the golden glamour created by a 10,000-guinea atmosphere. Never!he less Archery is: hard to fault, and’ as he is only a. four-year-old he will fill out i lllo a handsome type of stallion. At present the only thing—which, after all, may be a very minor fault—is that he is a shade too apple-shaped about the quarters. When carrying the bloom of a spring coat ho should fill the eye as a very line horse Archery did not achieve any distinction on the turf owing to being tapped in the wind, but this should not be detrimental to his stud career, when it is remembered

(hat Grafton and Bill o’ Portland, two of the most successful sires that Australia has known, were troubled with the same complaint. PROMISING YOUNGSTERS. An opportunity occurred during the Oamaru meeting to renew acquaint ante with the crop of foals left by Paper Money os a result of his first season at the stud. As foals at foot Paper Money's first crop filled the eye as a particularly likely lot of young equine aristocrats, and during the intervening months since October last they have grown the right way. They have never been boxed, but allowed free run in the commodious paddocks, in which open sheds provide shelter and feed boxes. Hence the youngsters are a bit rough in the coat, but all robust, shapely sorts, standing true on their legs, and showing plenty of liberty' when in action. The fillies are a particularly sturdy lot of young ladies, and a slight suspicion arises in the mind witen looking them over that Paper Money is “a bit of a ladies’ man.” He has also some very fine colts,- and if the youngsters continue to go on as they have it vyiil be a pleasure to look them over again in the spring. There are also a couple of Tractor’s get running at Elderslte, and they also are a credit to their sire. Tn fact, although the writer has been visiting Elderslie off and on for over 20 years, (he opinion is held that the paddocks never carried an all-round better lot than they do at present. Unfortunately there was not sufficient time to run over to Burnside, but Mr J. F. Reid states that, all his bloodstock hate been doing well, and that in the eourso of a few days Kilbroney will come down from the Waika.nne Stud, and link forces with Solferino close to the paddocks where he gained his first fame as a sire.