TALK OF THE DAY.

Otago Witness, Issue 3714, 19 May 1925, Page 48

TALK OF THE DAY.

Bi

Sentinel.

AN ATTRACTIVE PROGRAMME. What is generally considered one of the most enjoyable programmes that, from a spectacular point of view, can be found on the racing calendar is one consisting of flat racing, hurdle racing, and cross-country events. lliis was rnatie evident by the immediate success of Lie Dunedin Winter programme when it became established as a cross-country and hurdle-racing fixture. It seems si range to look back now and note the very modest manner in which a crosscountry race was first introduced at Wingatui. There was, in fact, not a little opposition amongst the then D.J.C. Committee about the inclusion of a steeplechase on a Wingatui Winter programme. The opposition had, however, only a brief life, and the success of the meeting became quite rapid, until the war taxation on racing gave it a serious setback. In good time, no doubt, the reduction of taxation will allow the stakes on the Winter programme to grow again and gather increasing popularity from season to season. This year the programme has attracted fairly liberal patronage from horse-owners, and the nominations contain ample material for a successful gathering on June 3,4, and 6. A NOTABLE PERFORMER. The death of Mr A. Ellinghatri recalls the fact that he bred the great ’chaser Moifaa, who was held in such favour that he started second favourite in Gobo’s Grand National Steeplechase of 1901 with no less than 13.6 on his back. Moifaa ran off during the race, and perhaps it was not surprising, because D. Watt, who rode the big chap, could go to scale at 8.7 or less, and had to make up the difference in dead weight, which piled him up on his mount as if ho was riding on a pack-saddle. Moifaa started a good favourite in the Grand National Hurdles with 12.10 run at the same meeting. Prior to running at the meeting Mr Ellingham granted the writer permission to have Moifaa photographed for the Otago Witness, as he was considtred one of the greatest performers over jumps ever seen in this country. Moifaa ■won the Great Northern Steeplechase, Hawke’s Bay Steeplechase, and Wanganui Steeplechase. He was sold at a substantial sum to Mr S. 11. Gollan, who took him

to England, and won the Liverpool Grand National Steeplechase. It has been said that Mr Gollan paid 2000 guineas for Moifaa, and after his win at Aintree resold him at 4000 guineas to the late King Edward. Unfortunately, Moifaa went wrong in the respiratory organs, and became useless for racing purposes. Moifaa was a very massive horse, standing (as fur as memory goes) at 17 hands or more. He was got by Natator (son of Traducer) from Darbigh, by The Painter from a mare by Daydawn. LONG CAREERS. The remarkable manner in which Gloaming retains his brilliancy, and has continued in winning vein since 1913, gives further proof that as a racing proposition a gelding is decidedly preferable to a stallion. Gloaming is a rattier massive horse, and if ho had been left a stallion it is more than possible his racing career would have been cut down by half, despite the great skill of his trainer. Staliions are much grosser-tonped horses than the unsexed brigade, and lienee are not at all likely to stand up to training. They generally require more work on the training track than a gelding, and this liatiually shortens the life of their legs owing to their general top-heaviness accentuating the impact with the ground when galloping. One of the most renmkable geldings ever raced in New Zealand and Australia was Wakawatea, who as a two-year-old was raced from Auckland to Dunedin, and was still running about a score of years later. Apromont bestowed great legs on his stock, and Wakawatea is a notable example of how they stood the tear and wear of racing and training. Some stallions grow cunning early in their racing career, and very few' indeed last more than half a dozen seasons on the turf; and the brevity of their careers is generally in marked contrast to that of such as Gloaming, w’hov despite the tremendous speed at which he travels, is still sound for racing purposes, despite the fact that he sports an enlarged fetlock joint in front. Another very notable gelding was Liberator, who raced on for years on the flat and over hurdles and fences. His wins included a Dunedin Cup, Wanganui Cup, Great Northern Steeples, Gieat Northern Hurdles, two Grand National Hurdles, and other races. Blaze*and Goldspur were two exceptionally speedy geldings that raced on for years, and many other instances could be quoted to show r that a gelding is from every point of view a better racing proposition than a stallion For that reason a colonial-bred youngster should be gelded unless he lias something particularly attractive about his conformation and pedigree. These remarks apply with even stronger force to trotting stock, some of which are very short in the pedigree, and not at all likely to receive patronage from owmers of brood inares. There is always a good supply of imported stock, and both from a racing point of view and the future welfare ol the thoroughbred and trotter a law should be made to restrict the indiscriminate number of horses allowed to retain their stallion estate. THE BIRTHDAY HANDICAP. Loughrea, who figures at the top of the list in the Birthday Handicap, has started in 11 races this season without scoring a win. He has, however, been six times placed, and a considerable amount of merit is attached to his performances, even if they are mostly tinged with defeat. Due allowance must be made for continuous defeat as far as racing is concerned, otherwise it W’ould descend to the cast iron method of handicapping, which is the main feature of light-harness racing. Loughrea last appeared in the Hazlelt Memorial, when it was a toss of the coin between him and Red Wink. Emerson, on the latter, made a beautifullv-tirned final effort, and just got there. Red Wink followed on by winning the Great Autumn Handicap, and all through the season this cleverly-rid-ren horse has proved a consistently good performer, so that there is no disgrace in a narrow defeat by him. There is, however, just a mild suspicion that, Loughroa has not latterly put too much heart into his work, and mav be feeling the result of his racing under heavy Toads. Prior to running in the Hazlett Memorial he finished third to Red Wink 9.1, and Listening Post 8.12, when carrying 10. Half a length and a length and a-quarter were the margins, and behind the placed lot came Mountain Lion fTb, Cupidon 8.4, and several others. If Loughrea could repeat that form neither Listening Post, Mountain Lion, or Cupidon would hav e a chance with the Kilbroney gelding. Still, from the hand (capper’s point of view, Loughrea i 9 entitled to consideration, and he has been dropped about on a par with Cupidon, for whom a win is long overdue. It cannot, however, be claimed that Loughrea has shown anything like the loss of form which can he attributed to the winner of the A.J.C. Derby. In the Tiniaru Cup Mountain Lion proved that he had no chance of giving Ravenna 131 b over 10 furlongs, and he does not seem to have much chance with her at 91b over an extra quarter of a mile. He beat, her in the D.J.C. Handicap when giving ljlb, but about a mile and a-quarter seems as far as he ©ares to go. On the other hand, Ravenna was fighting on at the end of a particularly fast run race in the Timaru Cup when Tarlton won in 2min 4 4-5. On that form Ravenna seems likely to outstay Mountain Lion. Kilfane crocked up ana burst a blood vessel when running in the Timaru Cup. That, however, has nothing to do with the weights for the Birthday Handicap. In which Kilfane is asked to meet Mountain Lion on 41b and Ravenna on the same term# as when they met in the Timaru Cup, and so he haa none the best of it on paper. This is aocenbuated by the fact that his latest race put him out of action. Tanodees has on several occasions given evidence of stamina, a notable case being his third to Count Cavour and Inferno In the Derby. At the Wellington Bummer meeting he was thira to Btoel Bor 9.12, Kalaknna 10.1 with i 0.9 when heat a length and a head over 11 furlongs in 2niin 20J. Bonena 9.11 was unplaced. At the Wellington Autumn moating Tanadoes with 10.16 finished third to Drolatique 9.6 and Dubious 9.2 over 10 furlongs In 2min BJ. Boneno 9.11 was

unplaced, but won on the second day of the same meeting in the High-weight Handicap run over one and a-half miles. Tanadees with 8.10 won over a mile in lmin 404, and he is preferred to Bonena. Happy Days doubly handicaps himself by playing up when at the barrier. He may however, stay better than most of the field, hut even so Tanadees on North Island form engaged at the meeting, but at the Crown Star have both shown winning form, but none of the seven stone division would hold a chance, or in fact anything engaged, if Bonnie Winkie regained some of his termer prowess in the field. Jubilant has shown evidence of staying, but she is not altogether a light-weight’s horse. There will be other opportunities available for further consideration of the form engaged at the meeting, but at the present time Loughrea and Tanadees seem most likely to come into early favour for the race. CROSS-OOUNTRY FENCES. Year after year it goes on record that only a very small percentage of the fields starting in the Liverpool Grand National Steeplechase manage to complete the course. In fact it is on record that on one occasion only the winner completed the course. The Aintree course is regarded as the most difficult steeplechase in the world, and yet, strange to say, although falls are very numerous, they seldom result in a particularly serious accident to the unshipped riders. It seems then that the Home riders know how to take a toss, or else there is something in the nature of the fences which reduce their danger without diminishing the great interest in the race as a cross-country spectacle. All the fences at Aintree are live hedges, and the life they contain helps to ease a fall caused by striking into them. This is not the case when a horse cracks into a solid post and rail fence, which sometimes jerks a faulty juniper head over heels. The days of stone walls and solid log fences are almost at an end, because they really represent an unnecessary danger without in any way adding to the spectacular attractiveness of the steeplechase. An ideal crosscoutnry course is made by the stoutly-built brush fences at Riocarton. They require jumping, but still carry life enougn to give a horse a chance of standing up if a clear jump is not made. 'Hie great objection to solid posts and rails is that their height and formidability may, by bad weather, bo made far greater than their constructors originally intended. A solid fence to be negotiated on fairly sound going is one thing, but rain and consequently sticky ground mav make it anything but a reasonable obstacle. This is a point that is generally overlooked when a cross-country course is under construction.