TALK OF THE DAY.

Otago Witness, Issue 3768, 1 June 1926, Page 58

TALK OF THE DAY.

BY SATIRN.

A MODEST START. Cross-country racing At Wingatui was introduced in a rather modest way, but the first race there “between the flags” aroused such interest, even though it attracted a very small field, that the Dunedin Jockey Club at once launched out on a much bigger scale. Prior to 1909 a long stretch of years existed without a steeplechase figuring on a D.J.C. programme, but in that year, after not a little difference of opinion amongst the stewards then holding, office, a cross-country race was included in the winter programme. The programme then provided for a two-card fixture, and on the second day the Wingatui Steeplechase, of 150sovs, two miles and a-half, drew a field of, four, aud only twq completed the course. The race was won by Mr A. Elw.orthy’s Wanganui, ridden by H. Carr, with Mr L. C. St. Korringa second. Albury broke his back at the water jump through going too slowdy at it. apd : in consequence landed in the diton. A horse shpuld always have plenty of way on when sent'.at a water jump, as speed is absolutely neces-

sary to carry a long flight in the air. Homeward made up the fleld in 1909. In 1910 the winter programme included the Otago Steeplechase, of 150sovg, and the Wingatui Steeplechase, of 125sovs. The first-named event attracted a field of 11, and the second day saw a dozen runners assembled at the post. The strength of the fields supplied ample evidence that stceplcchasing at Wingatui supplied something which, if not a longfelt want, was at least an immediate success. A Hunters' Steeplechase, gentlemen riders up, was introduced in 1913, and immediately caught on, and proved so popular that it attracted a field of 14. In 1915 the programme was further strengthened by the inclusion of a Hack and Hunters’ Steeplechase, in which pxofessional riders could accept a mount. That year marked a good sporting programme, which included two hurdle races and four over country. The outbreak of war naturally did not assist matters at Wingatui, but nevertheless the programme was extended to a three-day fixture in 1919. The Otago Steeples carried a stake of lOOOsovs, and others were in proportion; but the ruinous taxation imposed by the Government was eating up the revenue of the club, and a curtailment in prize money became an obvious necessity as time went on, and the exploitation of racing continued. In fact there is not much doubt that racing and trotting became such an easy means of pouring ready money into the Treasury coffers that it played no little part in the granting of extra permits to both branches of sport. One result of the greed displayed by the Government is that the Dunedin Jackey Club had to secure “foreign capital” by way of debentures to carry out the much-needed improvements in the way of accommodation at Under fair taxation the club would have been able to make steady progress in that direction out of revenue instead of merely working for the Government. Nevertheless the club is carrying on its uphill' battle, and doing its best to enhance the popularity of the Wingatui race meetings.

BEARDING THE LION. It seems to savour of bearding the lion in his den for M. M'Carten to go back and ride in Sydney, and the same remark applies to F. D. Jones, who is taking a team across next month. Both were placed under the, ban for 12 months on the occasion of their last visit to Sydney, and one thinks they would be somewhat chary to go to a land where they are regarded with suspicion, even though in many minds it is an unjust one. Apparently both men have an easy conscience, and do not fear, because they are free from guilt. If Royal Despatch had won any important race after his term of disqualification expired, nearly a year ago, many would, no doubt, declare that the punishme’nt had apparently been well deserved. Royal Despatch had 12 months’ compulsory spell, during which he had the opportunity to thrive and strengthen his frame into that of a real racehorse. Apparently he became an eyesore to his owner, who gave him away as a gift. Time passed on, and Royal Despatch has proved that a transfer of ownership free, gratis, and all for nothing was about his full value—in fact, if his present owner tires of the gelding another transfer of ownership would not bring much gold to his coffers. It is true that Royal Despatch has been placed in three races and won on , but his form does not elevate him beyond a fourth-rate performer. This is his form as a five-year-old after he has had every opportunity to mature into something like a racehorse. With this opportunity he is only a fourth-rater, but may possibly be better next season. This is the horse that as a green performer about two years ago required “ stopping,” according to the Sydney experts. They must occasionally feel conscience-stricken when they note how their imaginary swan is really a plain and very ordinary goose. Races are supposed to require winning at the Sydney meeting, but no one would dream after all the possible improvement has been made with Royal Despatch he would require any . stopping even against most modest company. Even if he had won a good race or two it would not justify the opinion expressed by the Sydney officials, because the average horse may improve out of all knowledge during the course of a couple of years. There seems little doubt that a tremendous blunder was made in connection with the matter, and the only excuse that can be offered on behalf of the Sydney people is that their officials did not have a sufficient knowledge of horsemanship to distinguish between an effort to prevent a green horse from boring and one that was being deliberately pulled. That seems to be the most charitable view to take of the case.

COMING EVENTS. Owners of young thoroughbreds will have to don their “thinking caps” within the next few days, because on Friday, June 11, nominations close for several of the most important events decided on the New Zealand turf. It is too early to form anything like an accurate idea of the possible merits of a rising two-year-old, and hence owners are compelled to nominate “on the blind.” It is, however, better to be sure than sorry, as many an apparently sluggish youugster when first handled smartens up beyond an anticipation when they muscle up a bit and gather strength to stride out and hold their speed. This has been a particularly bad year for trainers who have youngsters to straighten up, as the continuous bad weather debars them, or should do so, from giving their prospective champions anything beyond exercise. The clubs do not require any money at the time of nomination, and it costs owners very little to withdraw any youngster that may not become forward enough to fulfil early engagements. The Dunedin Jockey Club is inviting nominations for the M'Lean Stakes of 750sovs, the Champagne Stakes of 750sovs, and the Dunedin Guineas of 750sovs, There

will be a more liberal response than usual for the above events this year, because there is a record number of youngsters in the local stables. The Canterbury Jockey Club will receive nominations for the Welcome Stakes of 8008ovs, Champagne Stakes of 800sovs, Middle Park Plate of 500sovs, Challenge Stakes of 800sovs, New Zealand Derby of 20008OV8, Oaks Stakes of 750sovs, and Challenge Stakes of 800sovs for 1928. Several other clubs are also inviting entries for important events on the programme. When considering whether a youngster should be nominated in this or that event, owners should not overlook the very important fact that a well-en-gaged youngster that can- really gallop becomes very valuable property. Nomination day is Friday, June 11.

HANDLING YOUNGSTERS. At this time of the year trainers are busily engaged in handling youngsters, and imparting the rudiments of an education which they hope will assist to develop them into real racehorses. Breaking and educating youngsters and gradually bringing them into racing shape is one of the most difficult, if not the most difficult, part of a trainer’s business. Many a good horse has been ruined at the outset of its career by bad management and incompetent handling either by the trainer or rider, or both. The first and most important part of breaking a youngster is to give it a good mouth, so that it will go straight and answer the rein without having to be pulled about. It is most important that the youngster should not be taught to pull, and hence only riders with light hands and considerable experience in the saddle should be allowed on a youngster s back. A trainer may break a youngster to a perfect mouth and manners, but a fat-headed heavy-handed rider will soon completely wreck all the good work. A trainer should carefully watch his youngsters when they are at exercise, and promptly straighten up any rider who attempts to tug and pull on the reins, or ride on one rein, and so teach the youngster to bore and hang. A youngster should not by any means be ridden with short stirrup leathers, As 99 out of 100 crouchers ride on a horse's mouth, and no better method of ruining them can be foupd. Extreme care must be bestowed on the handling of a youngster’s mouth. It is badlymouthed horses that cause trouble at the barrier and during the progress of a race, because their callous mouth v ill not answer to the reins. Light hands prevent a youngster from pulling or yawing about, and yet one can frequently feee riders continuously hanging on to the reins, and so creating the hard mouth which is most undesirable, and a fault which should be avoided with extreme care. Reports from Australia state all sorts of things are being done to give the high-priced brother to V alicare perfect manners. The youngster, who made the record figure of ooUUgns, is being made accustomed to motor horns sounded in his immediate vicinity; a band record is played on a gramophone near him, and his rider vaults on to the colt’s, bare back, and slips ofr down his shoulders or his quarters. This is no doubt very educative and teaches a colt to stand up to all the strange noises one hears in the A cannon or two should be fired off under his belly, and then he would be broke to gunfire. Giving a colt a perfect mouth and manners is not a difficult matter is he is handled with patience and knowledge. The most important stage of a youngsters career, and where most of them are ruined, is when they are beginning to “feel” themselves, and want to gallop. It is the most natural thing in the world for a youngster to gallop. They do so from tile moment they get sufficient strength in their legs. It is the trainer’s business to see that they do not gallop 2 n , tk ? J r ?, ck untii he is perfectly satished that they are in condition to do so. the keen, quick youngster is the easiest one to rum. A foolish desire to see displays of early speed is apt to break the youngster s temper and spoil them in "other ways. On the other hand, the comparatively sluggish youngster won’t allow himself to be bustled and ruined, but once lie takes hold of himself, as they say, he may come on like a house on fire. The not to f U ° foll °L with youngsters is not to force them. If they are naturally nclined to early speed they should be most carefully and patiently handled The trainer can see the speed which is most desirable, and lie should take all sorts of fine care that it is not deeply tested until there is condition to carry it. Another golden rule is to carefully select only the best rider with good hands, and then see that they are used m the right manner

FAMOUS STUDMASTER. Mr John Musker, a noted figure in the Engliah blood stc.ck world, died suddenly at Shadwell Court, near Thetford, Norfolk, °n April 14. He was aged 85 years. His first great move as a studmaster (says an English writer) was when in 1897 he repatriated Melton from Italy, and commenced breeding on a great scale. The son of Master Kildare had been sold to the Italian Government for f 10,000, and it cost Mr Musker ll,6oogns to brin" him back. Melton started his stud career in England in fine style. In his first season he sired Toddington, Princess Melton, Hercules, Britannia, Canterbury, and Bay Melton, which between them won most of the important two-year-old races of 1900, but they all turned out disappointing afterwards. Mr Musker, however, did well, for Toddington won the only three races in which he took part, and was sold after his first success to Mr R. S. Sievier for 10,000gns. Princess Melton won seven races, and before her last two successes was sold to Mr J. B. Joel for a similar amount, with a contingency of another 5000gns if she won the Oaks. In 1906, owing to ill-health, Mr Musker decided to retire temporarily from breeding, and the whew stud, consisting of 147 lots, realised the then extraordinary total of 85,285gn5. The chief contributor to this was Baroness La Fleche (dam of Spearhead), who was purchased by Sir R. W. B. Jardine for 7500gns. Fortunately Mr Musker’s health took a turn for the better, and in 1909 the stud was restarted, with William Rufus and Henry I, both sons of Melton, as the foundation. From this start the establishment grew so rapidly that, at the outbreak of the Great

War, it was again one of the largest of its kind in Great Britain. In 1917 Mr Musker again decided to disperse his stud, and at Newmarket, in July, he sent up 321 lots, which made 67,871gn5. Among these was Sceptre, who was sold to Sir William Tatem (now Lord Glanely) for 2500gns on the assurance that she would never go into a sale ring again. How keenly interested the deceased was in bloodstock breeding was shown when he founded his third stud in October, 1917, with Grosvenor, Sceptre’s only son, at the head.

THE DUNEDIN WINTER MEETING. The Dunedin Jockey Club will commence its Winter meeting at Wingatui to-day, and it will be continued on Thursday and concluded on Saturday. The Winter meeting at Wingatui is with many sportsmen the most popular fixture held on the course. Its varied and attractive programme, consisting of steeplechases, hurdle races, and handicap events decided on the flat form a magnetic appeal to horse-lovers, with the result that it is now .a foregone conclusion to be a sure success. This year there was a promise of additional interest and attraction in the shape of several nominations from the North Island, but unfortunately the engagements were not continued on the date of the acceptances. Still there is ample material on hand to supply fairly good fields, which should furnish some interesting sport. It may be said in passing that the fields are likely to improve in numerical strength as the meeting progresses, because the shorter distances o.n the second and third cards make a more widespread appeal to owners. The weather during the past couple of weeks has been anything but a contributing factor towards the success of the meeting, and has considerably hampered training operations —in fact, the grass training tracks have been converted into a quagmire as a result of a very large number of horses being worked on them morning . after morning in wet weather. The course proper has, however, been kept in reserve, and will provide fairly firm ground, and what at least must be considered good winter going. A decided improvement took place in the weather on Saturday, aud has, it is pleasing to state, continued in evidence up to the present. In the event of wet weather the asphalt laid down in front of the totalisator will mean that a minimum of water will be on the surface of the ground, and this forms a great improvement on what formerly existed. The card for the day contains two steeplechases, a hurdle race, and five flat races. The old-established Birthday Handicap, first run in 1873, has attracted a fie.ld of nine. Deucalion, who is at the head of the list, won a double at the recent Ashburton meeting, and so established the fact that he is able to run up to form. He acts well in softish going, is well up to weight, and is a good consistent performer. Hence it is not surprising that he is a good favourite for the race. Deucalion holds Mountain Lion safe on paper, as he has given him considerably more weight and a beating than what will be between them to-day. For instance, when Deucalion put up a Wingatui track record last season in the D.J.C. Handicap he gave Mountain Lion 111 b and half a length beating in 2.5. At the last Grand National Deucalion gave 91b, and finished in front of the Fairy Gold gelding. Hence he should beat him at 31b over a mile and a-half. Deucalion should also beat Mountain Lion on their Timaru form. It is, of course, possible that Mountain Lion may justify the handicapper’s opinion. The most formidable opponent Deucalion will probably find in the field is Overdrawn, to whom he has to concede 181 b. This may prove too strenuous a task. Overdrawn has displayed evidence of stamina during the season, but only when carrying a feather-weight. He was second with 7.0 to Count Cavour in the Dunedin Cup, and ran a fair race in the Great Autumn under 7.3, even though he did not finish in the first half-dozen. Overdrawn seems to have trained on, and although there is not much of hirQ to carry 7.10 seems sure to give a good account of himself. Goosestep has been showing improved form, and a well-sea-soned five-year-old should run a good race under 7.7. His pedigree rather than performances leads one to think that he may yet do something really worthy of a son of the famous Warstep. Full Swing is bred to stay, and has giveu evidence of being able to do so, but she has not displayed such good form over a distance as Mantua, to whom she has to concede weight. Full Swing is, however, an improving sort, and may race better than generally expected. Mantua is well handicapped, and as she bids adieu to the turt with this week's racing her success would be very popular, as she has always been a favourite for the courageous manner in which she races despite a by no means sound kneejoint. The going will suit her, and to support her chance there is some fair track work to her credit. Mantua beat Overdrawn in the D.J.C. Handicap at a difference of lib, and no* comes ini 91b better terms. Mountain Lion failed to give her 3slb in the same race, and now has to concede 251 b. Mantua is, however, doubly handicapped by the fact that she generally loses a lot of ground in the early part of a race. Geranial has won up to a mile and a-quarter, and if Kilfane could strike form he would have a royal chance. Royal Archer, wE-j looks

well, has twice created a surprise, and stays fairly well. Still, with all their credentials, it is very doubtful if anything will oust Deucalion from his position as favourite. Overdrawn m.ay do so, and even if he does not weight of money is not always the right guide to the result. Mantua may be picked out as the best of the opposition to the more fancied horses. The Otago Steeplechase has not attracted a very strong field, but it should nevertheless prove an interesting race, and one well worth seeing. This year the distance attached to the race has been extended so as to avoid making the big sod wall the first jump. The distance is given as about three miles aud a-quarter, but will probably extend to another furlong, as it starts near the water jump, which is opposite the three-furlong post on the course. Kipling will probably start favourite. He is well seasoned, and should run a good race. Cartoon and Frenchman will also carry a good deal of support, and if there is one stayer in the race it is Whipcord. The Tradesmen’s Handicap is generally regarded as fairly open. Sun Up will be the popular pick, and if Moorland is forward enough in condition he is so favourably handicapped that students of form could not pass him over. Heavy going will lengthen the distance in Baldowa’s favour, but Clontarf and Miss Winkie will probably be sorted out as the most likely runners to trouble the favourite. Cashman has broken down, and Bonatic will probably go out first choice in the first race, with Sayonara next in demand. Red Kriss may prove the best of the others, despite the trouble in his respiratory organs. Kilris has been unlucky this season, but may be selected as likely to make amends in the Brighton Handicap. Buoyant and Spearmaid will be a couple of others supported in a fairly open race. Mazama and Osterman may be found to be the order of favouritism in the St. Clair Steeples, and ’Frisco Mail, Bonomel, and Coastguard will probably be backed in that order for the Jumpers’ Flat. The card will conclude with the Winter Welter, in which first choice will rest between Pink Note and Rapier. Ophir will also find friends for his chance.