TALK OF THE DAY.

Otago Witness, Issue 3755, 2 March 1926, Page 61

TALK OF THE DAY.

Sentinit.

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THE LOTTERY OF BREEDING. When a really high-class performer comes to the front it is generally discovered what an attractively-bred, etc., etc., horse he is, and how one bred on such and such lines could not fail to be a racehorse. Some even go so far as to enlarge on the scientific cleverness of the pedigree. The fact, however, remains that some of the greatest racehorses the world has ever known were bred by chance rather than on scientifically premeditated mating, thought, and reasoned out by poring over stud books and the pedigrees of great horses whose great merit drew world-wide attention to their breeding. Orme, a horse and sire of another really great horse and sire in Flying Fox, came into existence by a fluke. Vampire, the dam of Orme, was considered too bad tempered to send away on a visit to an out-side stallion, and so was bred to Orme because he was at the same stud. Angelica, the dam of Orme, was own sister to St. Simon, and Galopin, the sire of Vampire, got St. Simon. This was considered rather too incestuous breeding, but it resulted in at least one great triumph. Vamoose, a full brother to Flying Fox, was, however, a failure. Flying Fox, when at the stud in France, got some really great horses, and also The Welkin, who gave us Gloaming. Carbine has great claims to be considered the greatest horse the world has

ever known, and he also may be classed as a fluke. His sire and dam were imported from England, but Musket would have stayed in Victoria if he had not been deemed too cartily built to get racehorses, and so he came over to Auckland, and was first used as a country stallion. Hence it may be said that Carbine came into existence through a fluke. Mersey was certainly never imported from England with the ultimate idea of mating her with Musket, who first had to get Mitrailleuse and Martini-Henry in 1879 before he got a chance at the stud; in fact, according to the Stud Book Musket was bred to only nine thoroughbred mares in 1879. He did not get Carbine until 1884, when he was 14 years old, so that he achieved his magnum opus late in life; in fact, just in time, as he died in 1885. TII3 mares bred to Musket in 1879 were Sylvia, Rangi, Aconite, Erycina, Queen Mab, Pungawherewhere, Perfume, Moonlight, and Maid of Athol. This amount of patronages did not evidently stand him in the public eye, as the future sire of Carbine, Trenton, and other crack performers. A name that has been linked with Carbine as one of the greatest horses ever seen in Ne\r Zealand is that of Advance. He also may be regarded in the nature of a fluke. -When Mr J. F. Reid and Mr J. B. Reid established a stud at a small stud at Elderslie they decided that the racing prowess of Vanguard and his breeding made him a horse worthy of opportunity at the stud. A search was made for him, but he could not be found until, remarkable to relate, he was discovered in their own district of North Otago, where he was travelling and serving for anything his groom could get. This was gathered from the late Walter Robinson, who then ranked as the leading trainer in Oamaru. Vanguard, when trained by R. J. Mason, won the New Zealand Cup an'! Great Autumn of 1884 and the Dunedin Cup of 1885, and carried the colours of “ Ready-money ” Robinson. then one o c the big men in the New Zealand sporting world, and, incidentally, a man who had stirred them up in England. Vanguard was a fine, big horse, and an attractively-bred sort, with great performances behind him. Still, he was being absolutely wasted in North Otago, where, however, he got Vanilla, who holds with Vladimir and Glentruin the distinction of being one of the very few capable of winning the Stewards’ Handicap on two occasions. Vanguard was 10 years old when he got Skirmisher, Outpost, Vanilla, and after finding his way to the North Island got Advance when he was 15 years old. Here we have it that Carbine and Advance were got by sires who were on the verge of the grave, after having to fight their way to the front and get their first chance to make a name at the stud as much by pure luck as anything. It is rather remarkable that a Traducer horse should be neglected at the stud just when Sir Modrcd, Welcome Jack, Le Loup, Templeton, Trump Card, Nutator, The Dauphin, Cheviot, Somnus, Chancellor, and others were amongst the top-notchers of their time. It is interesting at the present time to look back at Vanguard’s pedigree. He was got by Traducer, who had run second in the Two Thousand Guineas, from En Avant, by Lord Lyon, a son of Stockwell and Paradigm, the dam of Parrafm, one of the best taproots in the English Stud Book. En Avant was a half-sister to Gang Forward, so that no fault could be found with Vanguard’s pedigree or performances. Nevertheless when Skirmisher, Outpost. Ambush, and Sortie were offered as yearlings they could not find buyers. Ambush and Sortie returned to Elderslie, and became .two of the first brood mares to make i’t a famously successful stud. A DOUBTFUL DECISION. The Rules of Racing and the Rules of Trotting were made to be obeyed and not broken by unscrupulous people or by those in authority to suit some particular case, or even stretched into loopholes so that someone might escape through them. Prior to running in the Otahuhu Cup, an investigation was held by the Judicial Committee as to whether Machine Brick was eligible to run in the race. The stewards declared that the horse was eligible to start It appears that Machine Brick is held under lease by Mr J B. Sheenan from a Mr Aubrey. On or about January 18 a man named Powter, who also had a horse leased from Aubrey, was disqualified for sis months at a trotting meeting in Sydney. Subsequently Aubrey wa'i disqualified for six months, but on appeal this was reduced to a month, which expired on February 18. On February 4 Mr Sheenan, who was -in no way con nected with the matter in Sydnoy. nominated Machine Brick for the Otahuhu Cup The matter was inquired into by the N.Z. Trotting Association. who held that Machine Brick was eligible to run, and it was decided to allow the horse to start at any time. There was. however, even in the face of that authority, a strong doubt as to whether the horse was eligible to run, otherwise the Judicial Committee of the Otahuhu Trotting Club would not have been requested to give an opinion on the matter. It seems quite clear that when Machine Brick was nominated for the Otahuhu Cup that his actual owner. Aubrey, was serving a term of disqualification, which, under the test of an appeal, had been reduced bnt not entirely removed There is an established reciprocity between New Zealand and Australia in the government of racing and trotting. Hence, if a man ia disqualified in Australia, he automatically tomes under the ban in this country. In Part I of the N.Z. Rules of Trotting, it is stated that “an owner means anv person having an interest in a horse which requires to be registered, and includes owner, and part owner, lessee, and part lessee, and any person exercising tho rights of ownership, and also includes the agent of an owner.” Part XV of the Rules of Trotting, Section 194, lays it down that “no horse in which any person whone name for the time being appears in the list of disqualifications, or has any interest, shall be entered or started for

any race, and any such horse, if he shall start, shall be disqualified for the race.” Machine Brick was held under lease from a disqualified man at the time when the horse was nominated for the Otahuhu Cup It seems, then, that the Trotting Association has side-stepped the Rules of Trotting in declaring Machine Brick eligible to start. Possibly the Association holds fuller information than what has become public. If that is so they should consider it a duty to make the information public and supply the reason why the rules did not—as they appear to do—debar Machine Brick from being entered or started in any race whilst his owner was under disqualifi cation. A LOST LINE. There is some interesting history attached to Johnny Faa, the sire of Income’s dam. He was sold in 1888 as a yearling in the Dunedin saloyards at ifigns, and as a fine, well-grown, goodlooking and stoutly-bred youngster re .lly went for a song. He was got by Trefoil from Le Bohemicnne, by Casivelaunua (son cf the Derby winner Caractacus) from Remnant, by Ctledon —F’tana, by Sir Hercules. La Bohernienne belonged to the Gipsy family founded by the mare of that name and foaled in New South Wales in 1840 Manton, Gipsy King, Canard, Cmur de Lion, and St. Crispin were amongst the best known of the Gipsy tribe. Gitana, the dam of Remnant, also threw Calumny to Traducer. Calumny won the Newmarket Handicap of 1825, and her stable mate Lurline won the Aus tralian Cup run at the some meeting

Lurline won the Dunedin Cup in 1874 Trefoil, the sire of Johnny Faa. was got l>3 King of Clubs from Forget-me-not, the dam of Mikado 11, Lady Zetland, and Lord Zetland. Forget-me-not was got by King Lud, a brother to King Cole, the sire of Nelson. Johnny Faa first appeared on the turf when he won the two principal events run at the Taieri Amateur Turf Club’s meeting of 1891. He had a hip down, an« after passing through the late Mr H. Goodman’s stable was sold to Mr G. Smith, who was a wellloiown cueist of the day. For Mr Smith Johnny Faa won several races, and was then sold to a West Coast owner, who raced him in that part of the world for several seasons, and always kept oc picking up races. It will be seen from the above that Johnny Faa was a stoutlybred horse, and if granted a proper chance at the stud might have founded a strong line. King of Clubs, the sire of Trefoil, was got by Ace of Clubs (a son of Stockwell) and the Harkaway marc Irish Queen. Harkaway got King Tom, who in turn sired St Angela, the dam cf St. Simon. King Tom was also the sire of King Cole, whose dam, Qui Vive, was a sister to Vedette, the sire of Galopin and grandsire of St. Simon. It will be seen that the pioneers of blood stock breeding in tho Southern Hemisphere were on the right track with their early importations; but unfortunately their good Work in the way of foundation blood was neglected, but only to see the revival of the same lines through a different source many years afterwards. IN A NUTSHELL The English racing season opens this month. A yearling brother to Tarleton has been named Historic. It is reported that Mr A. G. Hill has sold Mantua to a southern owner. Acceptances for the Southland Racing Club’s meeting are due on March 6. Acceptances for the Oamaru and Waimate meetings are due on March 9. Nominations for the Wyndham Trotting Club’s meeting are due on March 6. Oka, the dam of First Acre, produced a colt to Simond in 1923. The youngster may be some good. First Acre must have improved since he ran down this way, as he keeps on winning in the north. Handicaps for the Timaru .Trotting Club’s meeting are due on March 3, and acceptances on March 8. Young Blake something like his early promise when he finished second at the Otahuhu meeting. Mettle Drift has 111 b less to carry in the Otautau Steeples than when he won the same race last season. H. Telford’s stables at Trentham were burnt down last week whilst he was attending the Marlborough meeting. King Balboa has a good turn of speed, and the five-furlong race at Otautau should find him going out favourite. Kilfane is a better horse than Happy Days, and on that line the former reads very well treated in the Otautau Cup. The trophy attached to the Otautau Cup run last season was worth 25sovs. This year it is said to be worth about 150sovs. Scion, who ranks as a winner of the New Zeland Cup and Auckland Cup, is amongst the nominations for the Oamaru meeting. Victory Bond has 9.13 to carry in the Ahuriri Handicap, but the distance will suit her as she can gallop a brilliant five furlongs. Tresham the winner of the Marlborough Cup was in the market after the Wellington Cup meeting, but a buyer could not be found for him. The well-known reinsman and trainer J. Brice has left for Western Australia to steer Great Bingen in the West Australian championship races. Tarleton has been running with a great lack of success lately, but has a chance of landing the Peninsula Cup, which has not attracted a strong field. It is apparently hoped that Los Ambus will develop stamina, as he has been entered to run over a mile and a-quarter at the Invercargill meeting. There should be some big fields seen out at the Timaru Trotting Club’s meeting. A field of 18 has been nominated for the Timaru Trotting Cup. Kapuna is a half-brother to Reval and Jack Symons. His sire, Saxby wa 3 got by Saxnam a son of Desmond, the sire of Demosthenes, and Simond. The cross-country events on the Southland Racing Club’s programme have filled fairly well, and will form one of the star attractions of the meeting. Accidents are said to be very few and far between in flat races in England. In this countrv they are far too plentiful, and it is not difficult to find tho reason. The Solferino filly Nadanno keeps adding to her winning list, and scorec her sixth win this season when she won on both days of the Woodville meeting. Pilliewinkie’s win in the Essendon Stakes suggests that he is in good racing shape for his engagement in the Australian Cup, to be run on Saturday next. Although Roseday pulled up lanie last week the trouble is apparently not considered very deep-soated, as he ha s been nominated at Invercargill, Waimate, and Gam., ru. It is understood that there is a possibility that A. Pringle will once more set up a training stable in Dunedin. It was here that he first gained fame as a rider and reinsman. Oreum, who won the Woodville Clip last week, is the second foaled and first winner produced by Desert Gold. Oreum resembles her dam. but is built bn much lighter lines. An entry of fourteen for the Waimato Cup must be considered quite satisfactory. The balance of events on the programme should assist in making an attractive card for the meeting. Ownors have bestowed a good all round patronage on the Southland Racing Club’s autumn programme, and the nominations should supply some attractive fields on both days of the meeting. Tho Forbury Park Trotting Club could probably gather far more shekels over their winter meeting by bringing it up on. the oalendar, so that it could be held during the Exhibition than by allowing it to tax© place on its ordinary date.

Rossendale, the sire of the crack Australian two-year-old Rampion, was got by St. Frusquin, the grand sire of Paper Money. Royal Pet, the dam of Rampion, is an imported mare by Your Majesty Pet Girl, by Jacquemart. The Sarto gelding, Asleep, who won over hurdles at Woodville. is bred to make a lumper, as his dam. Lady Napper, was got by Birkenhead—Snooze, by FlintlockLullaby, by Apremont. Snooze was the dam of Napper, a winner of the treat Northern Hurdles. Rosenor is a better horse than his form at Gore suggests. The English colt was probably feeling the effects of the travelling between Wingatui and Riccarton anu thence back to Gore. Ho is also a much better horse on firm going than when the ground is soft and holding. Kilfane gave Ravenna lib and a beating in the King George Handicap, run at the Dunedin Winter meeting. He meets her on 181 b better terms in the Otautau Cup. Since then, Ravenna beat him at even weights at Gore, but she has to allow him the vorv wide margin of 171 b for the beating. . , . .. Nelson Derby was not doing well pn jr to the Otahuhu meeting, but commenced to go right again a couple of days beforo starting. He has apparently made a complete recovery, as he went his best .'ace to date when winning the Free For All, ind is now ranked with the best pacers in me land. It is interesting to note that Batouch, who won the Pine Hurdles, run at Fleinington on Saturday, with 10.3 in 3.41, covered the distance in much faster time than it has taken in b3 r gone years to win several Melbourne Cups. Batouch is a seven-year-old gelding by Alawa from Hoax, by Grafton. The excellent name of Chit has been bestowed on the Paper Money-Minona filly. Minona is an imported mare by the Derby

winner Minorn, from Golden Amber, by Diamond Jubilee, from Ambleside. St. Ambrose was a son of Ambleside and got by St. Simon. Ambleside was a half-sister to Shotover, and on breeding Chit should prove smart. Apropos of sporting writers receiving good information from owners. A few days ago an owner assured the writei that one of his horses was not doing at ail well, and a doubtful starter at the meeting to which he had been taken. The information was not used, and it may be said, fortunately, because the horse won, id not only won, but put up the best performance of his career. Heroic is a member of the same family as Razzle Dazzle and Gold Light. His performance in the Newmarket with 9.8 is one of the best ever put up in the race. Soiiitliiie 9.11 and Pendant 9.7 are the only two winners of the race who have scored with 9.7 or over. Another son of Valai’s in Fuji San put up an excellent performance in running third with 9.5. The two-year-old filly Epode, who continued in winning vein at the Woodville meeting, is a well-bred sort. She is a chestnut filly got by Tea Tray from Exclusive. by Boniform Class by Wallace-La Tosca, by Robinson Crusoe-Nightmare. Tea Tray is a son of The Tetrarch, from Good and Gay, by Bayardo-Popinjay, by St. Frusquin—-Chelandry, by Goldfinch—liluminata, by Rosierucian—Parrafin. They were great pals and battlers on a racecourse, fhey met and made kindly inquiries as to now each other stood financially. One had experienced a great day, and said so. “In fact,” said he, “I dined A la Carte at Hotel.” Tbi other had experienced a slump in luck, but he was not to be outdone as an epicure, so he said, ‘So did I. old chap, but it was A la (pie) carte.” The name of the hotel can be inserted at the usual advertising rates—also the pie cart. The V.R.C. St. Leger winner Belgamba apparently had the luck in his favour by Manfred playing up at the post and dropping his rider at the rise of the barrier. Belgamba is a chestnut colt by Poitral from Bunee, by Earlston—Birida, by Wallace—Emmie, by Robinson Crusoe. Poitrel was got by St. Alwyne (son of St. Frusquin), and amongst his performances includes a Melbourne Cup win with 10.0 on his back. Canterbury reinsmen are pronounced in thoir condemnation of the amount of foul driving that is being indulged in at Alexnrvlra Park. From their remarks, r t is obvious (says “Mascot” in the Christchurch fcun‘ that certain drivers combine, with the iwsalt that directive team-driving is in e*dc/etico. The tactics are mostly employed ia 'mpoi-Unt contest* As the opinion re-gifd-ng tr» amount of foul driving at •"•f'dra 1 ?rk is general, it is imperative !,»•# rc.su'aiat* stops be taken to “trap’ j .-'**Ped!n Joakey Club’s committee !»a* rteomvlto carry out . cx + e nsive improve. m«wt* *l tVingatui. A new stand is lo be erertyj on the north side of ho birdcage "!S? * t f, rrftCG was *>«»ilt some years ago! with the idea of altering the existing layout of the grounds. A new totelisator house is also to be erected. The all orations wifi makg the present outside gland availfor patrons of the saddling paddock, and an entrance for motors will be made at tho south end of the course so as to avoid the necessity for pedestrians and ears using the same roadway to the course, the refreshment booth will be transferred to what is now the outside stand, and tho space under the grand stand will be converted into a members’ luncheon room. It is a matter of regret that the Forbury Ink Jiot’ing Cub has been practically ru mT vT „° , cu f attached to the New Zealand Trotting Stakes to 350 fl°VB. The race was only saved hy the easting vote of the chairman, and if breeders desire to keep it going they should wake up in the matter. It is a matter tlint should ho taken up bv the Owners and Breeders Association. Perhaps the best way to keep the race alive would be to convert it into a Trotting Sires Produce Stakes and to pet stallion owners to assist. They should willingly do so because there is not the slightest shadow of a doubt that such rcces greatly enhance the value of promising young trotters. On the other hand owners will not care to tune up promising young trotters for a small stake, which may really prove a stumbling block to future success. There goems to be an opinion held in Borne quarters that Oration should have lost his race at New Plymouth becajse hit man, contrary to the rules, carried a

shot waistcoat. The rules evidently do not regard the offence as a serious matter, because it does not impose any punishment lor an infringement. There are, however, some inclined to bring Ltuie 14 of part XXIII into play, but err in doing so. Rule 14 refers to fraudulent practice with respect to weight or weighing. There is nothing fraudulent about wearing a shot waistcoat; it may be indiscreet, but even so is merely a technically small breach of a law which in no way lessens the difficulty of a horse winning a race. The new rule was introduced for the purpose of reducing the risk of accentuating a tail in a race owing to a jockey being loaded with lead about his body. The fine of £2O imposed on the wearer of the lead waistcoat seems unnecessarily harsh, and the protest lodged against the winner could only be classed as frivolous objection. The Mira-Warstar filly, foaled in 1921, figures in the Stud Book as a bay. She ha a recently been named Grey Lady, and now figures as a grey. Evidently she has turned from bay to grey since foaling. Mira, her sire, was a grey horse, got by Soult from Tanhei. by Caster-Vivandiere, who threw several greys and roans. Tanhei only produced two greys in Mira and Tieki, whose colour _ wag returned as a brown, but when racing nad turned grey. It is not infrequently the case that the descendants of stock with a grey in their pedigree may be bays, browns, or ches nuts when foaled, but afterwards change to grey. All Pink, the dam of Pink Note and Pink Terrace has a chestnut foal at foot to Tractor, which showg patches of grey, and it will be interesting to note if the youngster throws back to the grandsire, the phenomenal horse, The Tetrarch. The Paper Money gelding Pink Note, who scored a win at the Gore meeting, travels back to Pungawherewhere, the winner of the Dunedin Cup of 1870. All Pink, the dam of Pink Note, was got b T All Red from Luchina, by St. Leger— Katipo, by Tregeagle—Pungawherewhere. by Golden Grape—Atalanta, by Tow ton — Crescent, by Sir Hercules from Moth, a mare bred in 1847 and go", by Boyd’s Camel—Miss Foote, by Herald—Yellow Jenny, by Model (Arab) Old Hector from a mare imported from the Cape of Good Home. Atlanta was the dam of Atlantic, who won the first Dunedin Charrpapne Stakes, run in 1878, an£ the Birthday Handicap, run in 1880, when he won with 6.3 and beat the then famous Le Loup Atalanta was also the dam of Psyche, who threw Vogengang and other usef d winners. Pungawhere was the dam of Tetford (Wanganui Cup), Crackshot (Auckland Cup. Canterbury Cup), St. James (Dunedin Cup), Tranter, Os':ulator, Krupp, aud Brigadier. All Pink is also the dam of Pink Terrace, who ran second in the Welcome Stakes, and won at the Dunedin Summer meeting. Mr J. A. Ainge has consequently done well in starting as a breeder with a mare that has produced two winners at the outset of her career at the stud. .The improvements which are to be carried out at Wingatui will call for a good deal of filling in, as the ground at the bacK of the new stand is always very swampy in wet weather. The material for fiHing-in purposes could be obtained from the gully in the centre of the course, and taken out of there in order to leave an lake 0r long trench which could be utilised as a swimming tank for norsos trained at Wingatui. A swimming keep fi Qrses *n training when they have to be compulsorily thrown out of work through going sore or lame. As a result of continuous racing and training on hard tracks. Objections to the proposal might bo raised by the drays carting the spoil cutting the tracks when crossing, but this could be avoided by planks being laid down over the course proper and by re framing from carting in wet weather, borne yea* ago Mr L. C. Hasletfc held an idea that his club should form an artificial laice m the infield at Wingatui, with the object of making it a sanctuary for game. By doing so, the club could beautify the racecourse, and at the same time collect some very useful material required to build up the enolosures. If the lake comes into existence it would be a good idea to introduce a few swans and geese. Owners could then look at their horses, and then at the birds, and so have an ever present inspiration as to how they should class their standard bearers. Kilfane haa been off the scene since the spring of the year, but figures amongst the acceptors for the Otantau

Cup, iu which he appears to be very leniently treated, and must be hard to beat if in racing shai>e to reproduce his form. This opinion will be strengthened by a brief glance at his form in the early part of the reason. At the Grand National meeting he carried 10.6 and beat Deucalion 10.11, Boadieea 9.13, Mountain Lion 10.2, and others in the Islington Handicap, run over a mile and a-quarter. At the Wellington Fleet meeting he was third with 10.10 to Tanadees 10.2 and General Carrington 9.9 in the Seattle Handicap, one mile and a-quartcr At Geraldine he was third with 8.13 to Deucalion «.] and Waetea 7.1, with 13 others behind him. Ravenna beat him by four lengths when in receipt of 81b in the Mosgiel Handicap, when Rivalry 7.4, Listening Post 9.13, Count Cavour 0.5, Deucalion 9.2, and others finished behind them. In the Otautau Cup Kilf ine meets Ravenna on no less than 251 b better terms than when they met over the same distance at Wingatui. Kilfane was second to Heather Lad 7.4 when carrying 8.13 in the Oamaru Cup, run in 2.6 1-5. In the Gore Cup Ravenna beat him into third place when they met at even weights. On the second day of the same meeting lie carried 9.0, and w'as beaten by a head by Monoxide 7.13. He meets Ravenna on 171 b better terms than when they met at Gore, and if fit and w’ell should beat her out of sight at the weights.