IN A NUTSHELL

Otago Witness, Issue 3773, 6 July 1926, Page 59

IN A NUTSHELL

Mr C. Hazlett lias sold Adjutor. Zircon is fancied in some quarters for the Winter Hurdles. Handicaps for the Grand National meeting are due on July 13. Nominations for the Christchurch Hunt Club’s meeting are due on July 16. Pink Note is being quoted at an absurd price for the Winter Cup. Merry Damon is the ruling favourite for the Whyte Memorial Handicap. Winkie’s Best is going on Satisfactorily in his work at Riccarton. The veteran trainer S. Trilford has been granted a temporary license. It is understood that Mr H. F. Nicoll intends selling off his stud and horses in training. The heavy going at Wingatui is seriously hampering local trainers in their efforts to get horses ready to race. Nelson Derby may not be raced again until he is stepped out for the next Trotting Cup. Charlatan is said have trained on well since he won at the Dunedin Winter meeting. J. H. Jefferd will probably take some of Mr A. B. Williams’s horses over to the Sydney Spring meeting. Valicare, who is described ns the best three-year-ohl filly ever seen in Australia. won £BBO3 in stakes this season. The Wellington Winter meeting will be held on Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday of this week. Projector is expected to shape well in his engagements at the Wellington Winter meeting. J. M‘Combe has landed a race in Sydney with his Paper Money gelding Forgery. Civility is reported to be getting through some solid work in the preparation for the Winter Cup. Beaumont has not made many mistakes this season, and is regarded as an improving sort. Master Pet?r will he ridden by Rangi Thompson at the Grand National meeting. ,

Ronex in his best form should be dangerous in his races at Trentham, where he is in at the minimum. Ruapapa, with M'Carten in the saddle, was amongst the defeated division in the Rosehill Handicap, run on June 19. The ’chaser Minterne, who was sold in Sydney 12 months ago at 3000gns, was recently resold at 500gns. Imprint is on the boom, and there is a general opinion that it would require big money to buy him. Kilbronsyth is expected to come back to form. He was perhaps a bit overdone in the early part of the season. The Southland Lilliputian rider, L. J. Ellis, has left for Australia to do some light-weight riding for a Caulfield stable. Mr J. Samson’s mare by King Midas (son of Persimmon) will probably visit Tea Tray during the coming season. Reports from the north state that Tanadees is bowling along pleasingly in his work. Puwhero is booked to race at the Sydney meetings. Such a speedy ’chaser should pay his way in Australia. It is just possible that C. Christie will nurse General Advance into a winner over fences. The Balboa gelding Black Duke has furnished out nicely during his recent spell. The crack English horse Solario will go to the stud next season at a 600guinea fee. An Auckland writer expresses the opinion that the Auckland Trotting Club will discard Free-for-alls when mapping out next season’s programme. The Saxby—Thistledown gelding in D. P. Wilson’s stable is a big-framed chap who will require a considerable amount of building up. The St. Frusquin horse Rossendale is now listed at a 200-guinea fee. Other 200-guinea horses in Australia are Caravel, Legionnaire, and Top Gallant. Everyone seems to take a fancy to Mr J. Samson's Paper Money—Peirene colt in S. G. Ware’s stable, and all predict that he will be a galloper. Mr George Bain recently purchased Punjab (Ghoorka —Phyllis) and Atako (Quarantine —Adela), and they have become stablemates with Uncle Bob. A further spell of bad w r eather has proved a serious handicap to local trainers with horses engaged at the Waimate and South Canterbury Hunt meetings. The Winkie —Kitiora mare Kittawake was amongst the winners at a recent meeting at Victoria Park. Kittawake is a four-year-old half-sister to Orton.

The Wellington Racing Club has recently expended lOOOsovs on the formation of a winter track. Wingatui, “go thou and do likewise.” Whipcord has been going on the right way since he ran at the Dunedin Winter meeting, where he was unlucky to miss a w T in. A very satisfactory list of nominations have been received for the Waimate Hunt meeting and South Canterbury Hunt meeting. At a recent meeting held in Adelaide a rider was disqualified for life for using an electric battery. Apparently the conspiracy consisted of a party of only one. Vagabond is said to be looking well at present. He must be endowed with perpetual youth, as we won the New Zealand Cup in 1919 as a five-year-old. The Waimate Trotting Club will probably hold a race meeting on July 29 if permission can be obtained from the Trotting Association. Mr B. S. Irwin is now sole owner of Bachelor Gay, Avho is regarded as one of the most promising hurdlers seen out in recent years. The names of candidates for seats on the committee of the Dunedin Jockey Club must be lodged on or before 4 p.m. to-day. f Footfall is reported t be coming back to racing shape. It is doubtful if anything like his real capabilities has been displayed on the track. As much as 1000 to l can be procured about a double for the Winter Cup and Grand National Hurdles, providing the combination has not a million to one chance of success. The Manawatu Racing Club is applying for tw’o extra days next season for a Winter meeting. There is also a special application in from the same club for a Jubilee meeting. B. Rosen’s application for a license has been held over. He is a rather capable lightweight, who, it is to be hoped, will give reason to retain the good graces of the racing authorities. J. Henderson was on a brief visit to Dunedin last week. He will shortly move into quarters at Oamaru, wdiere he has acquired the stables built by the late Mr St. John Buckley. There is an unnamed gelding by Masterpiece engaged at the South Canterbury Hunt meeting. It would be difficult to get a better name than Magnum Opus for a Masterpiece gelding. A. E. Ellis has made such a good recovery from the mishap he received at the Dunedin Winter meeting that he expects to be in the saddle again during the Wellington Winter meeting. The death is reported of Mr Archibald Yuille, who was for many years the head of the well-knowui blood stock firm in Melbourne. His father, the late W. C. Yuille, compiled the first Australian Stud Book.

When his new owner makes Buoyant’s acquaintance he will not feel inclined to enthuse over his purchase. Buoyant is a mean-framed, rat-tailed gelding that does not fill the eye as a thing of beauty, but he can gallop. Egypt, a brother to Desert Gold, was recently sold in Australia for 250gns. He was undoubtedly a good horse in his day, but developed breeding troubles, which he probably inherited from Gallinule, the sire of All Black. If an election takes plaee at the annual meeting of the Dunedin Jockey Club it is to be hoped that it will be fought in a good sporting spirit. The question members have to consider is: Who is the best man? The death is announced of Mr W. Bunt on. who was formerly a resident of Balclutha, but latterly has been residing in Nelson. He was a good sport, and was well liked by everyone who knew him. Mr W. Quirk has refused a substantial increase on what he paid for the Kil-

broney—Pot Pourri youngster at the Dunedin Cup bloodstock sales. The youngster is doing weP under J. Rutledge’s charge. In conversation with C. Cornelius last week it was gathered that Tractor is in fine order for next season. The Salisbury stud groom is a great enthusiast about the son of The Tetrarch, who is in his charge. Count Cavour has. been sent to Australia. He was under offer at 3500gns to an Australian owner, but the Solferino gelding failed to pass the vet. Gloaming was also turned down for being unsound, but he subsequently won over 20,000sovs in stakes. Otago and Southland have done particularly well this season, as the list of successful trainers is topped by Charles Urieseler and Fred W. Ellis. It is a very encouraging fact to chronicle, and shows that our trainers can turn out plenty of winners if they get the right goods in their stables. Mr A. C. Hanlon (president of the Dunedin Jockey Club) will, at the request of the committee, move at the annual meeting that Messrs J. Gow, P. Miller, and S. S. Myers be elected honorary life members of the club. The many years of service devoted by the ; gentlemen to the welfare of the club will, no doubt, be gladly recognised by the members when asked for an on the matter. The annual meeeting cf members takes place on July 20. Good as Gold was a smart, speedy two-year-old this season, but her halfbrother by Archery looks as if he will have to liven up considerably to be a winner It is rather interesting to note how a mare breeds to two different sires. Killala produced a smart two-year-old to Paper Money, whilst to Archery she has bred a youngster of quite a different type- The Archery chap may make good, and it is to be hoped that he will, but he is such a slack walker that he will take time to develop. Mr G. D. Greenwood’s yearlings - Agrion (Limond —Waterwings) and Eulalie (Absurd —Eulogy) are now working at Randwick (says the Sydney Referee). Neither is tall, but both are possessed of substance. Agrion is a shapely customer, showing plenty of life, while Eulalie is of soberer disposition. Among others, the latter is a sister to Humbug, and a half-sister to Yarradool, who, when trained by P. Nolan, downed a 2 to 1 on favourite in Surveyor in the Batman Stakes at Flemington. There is more than usual interest being taken in sporting circles in the election for seats on the committee of the Dunedin Jockey Club. The names of several gentlemen are being mentioned as candidates, and it is pleasing to note that a live interest is being taken in the affairs of the club. The retiring members included Mr A. C. Hanlon and Mr L. C. Hazlett, who are sure to retain office. Mr P. ller is retiring, and Mr W. J. Coughlan, Mr A. H. Fisher, and Mr J. Smith will have to stand a competition for seats if some new men come forward. After referring to the fact that Haipault won a race with a bone broken in his knee, “Audax,” in the Horse and Hound, said that Mr Tattersall told him of a horse that broke his leg and subsequently won the first raco which he contested. This was Dandelion —a brown son of Lord Lyon from Siberia, Vred in 1873 by Lord Falmouth —who, ridden by John Morris, readily upset the odds laid on his lordship’s other representative, the roaring Farnese (F. Archer) for the Column Produce Stakes at the Newmarket Craven meeting of 1876. Dandelion, whose parents were both classic winners, only ran once more, viz., at the ensuing Newmarket meeting, wheD he was last of four. At Royal Ascot it is “not the thing” to enter a protest, and I can quite understand (says “Pilot”) the surprise expressed when the owner of Catalin objected to Miss Sport, winner of the Ascot Stakes. One thing to which English stewards are strongly opposed is the crossing to the rails of any horse before it is the full distance ahead provided by the rules. When I was at Ascot a couple of years ago I saw an Australian rider cross over before he was quite two lengths ahead, which caused a well-known pressman to remark to me: “That might have been fatal at any other track, but protests are not in order at Ascot, and I do not suppose there will be one.” Nor was there. I argued that there was not the slightest suggestion of interference, but my friend assured me there was one thing in particular jockeys must not do on English racecourses, and that was to cross over too early.

Despite dl the protests, England is evidently to have it. betting tax. and Mr Winston Churchill, Chancellor oi the Exchequer, says it is going to return more than he originally calculated. In the House of Commons recently he stated that in estimating the 5 per gent, tax would yield about .'6,006,000 in a full year, he was working on a £200,000,000 basis, but an examination b~ Treasury officials of the books of some of England’s principal commission agents showed that the turnover was nearer £300,000,000. To many people such a turnover may seem almost impossible, but the betting done at start-ing-price in the Old Country is something tremendous. a here are many cities besides London where several big firms operate. An idea of the business transacted by some of the London commission agents

is gleaned from the statement of one that he had 150 employees in his offee. It was in a letter denouncing the tax that he admitted that number. All the betting tax clauses in the Finance Bill were passed by the House of Commons in committee, and though, according to the opponents of the tax (says “Pilot”), the end of racing in England is now in sight, it is long odds on —and the books —still being in a flourishing condition 20 . ears hence, and continuing so. English pessimists who have of late been bewailing the degeneracy of their horses as stayers had to change their tune recently when they saw in the Ascot Gold Cup, of two and a-half miles, that grand four-year-old horse Solario run home an easy winner from the French candidate Priori, who was three lengths behind the winner and four lengths ahead of Pons Asinorum, winner of the Newbury Cup. When the French horse Massine won this race i»i 1924 from his fellow-country-man Filibert de Savoie, many were the wails that French horses were better stayers than the English; but one swallow does not make a summer, and in 1925, when Tricard was the hope of France, he could do no better than run last. Priori, however, must be a good horse to do as well as he did. It is stated that he headed Solario in the straight, “causing Steve Donoghue, who was in the press box, confidently to predict the victory of the French aorse. Yet Solario won without the whip being drawn, thus emphasising his greatness. Solario will go to the stud at the end of the season at a record fee of 600 guineas, and is booked up for the year.” This is the* horse, says the Sydney Mail, Avhich the Aga Khan made a big offer for (reputed at £100,000), which was refused by his owner, Sir John Rutherford. A writer in the Auckland Star that when chatting with a keen trotting enthusiast, and one who knows the game from A to Z, he said the Gore proposal was too absurd to be given consideration. “The very essence 'of racing, whether galloping or trotting, is handicapping,” he said. “But to suggest that only winners should be penalised is absurd. Times out of number maidens have gone 3.30 or better into a place at the Auckland Trotting or Otahuhu Club’s meetings, and one can imagine what would happen if these horses were to be on the limit in 3.45 classes at future country meetings. With the form

exposed, it would spell disaster for all dubs, and I am positive that if the Gore proposal is carried every club in New Zealand would at once cut down the stake money. They would be compelled to do so, as the fields would be reduced, many races would be foregone conclusions, and the public would not bet upon them. If the Gore people think their proposal sound, there is nothing to stop them from adopting it at their own meetings. If they do, it would mean that owners would have to race for stakes like those given at the Sydney Showgrounds. Handicapping has existed for 4000 years, and placed horses have always been liable to be penalised. It is handicapping which makes for the best racing, whether it be galloping, trotting, cycling, or running. To do away with handicapping would SDell disaster to the sport, of that I am convinced.” ) A a gallant a ’chaser (saj’s the Field)! v as ever looked through a bridle ended his career when, having broken a leg in running for the West of Scotland Han- ' dicap Chase at Bogside recently, Sergeant Murphy had to be destroyed. At the time of his death he had been before the public for over 11 seasons, and had taken part in six Grand Nationals. In his first attempt to win the ’chasers* Derby he finished seventh. Then in 1920 he came in fourth behind Troytown. In 1922, the winner being Music Hall, Sergeant Murphy again finished fourth after having fallen. In 1923, when 13 years old, and ridden by the late Capt. Bennett, he won the great race. In the following year, when Master Robert won, he finished fifth, and when Double Chance won in 1925 he met with a mishap in running. It is only a few weeks ago that we had occasion to admire his splendid jumping at Hurst Park, but we could not help thinking that he was beginning to show signs of advancing age, and deserved to enjoy well-earned repose. He was a horse possessed of great individuality and intelligence. Time and again we have seen him hacking abouc with his trainer in his saddle while work was going on in the early hours at Newmarket. A string of horses might be galloping under his very nose, but without so much as the flick of an ear the old horse would watch them with an appraising look, just turning his head so as to keep them in view as they went on their way. He was, moreover, a singularly beautiful and bloodlike ’chaser. No man ever sat on a better or kinder hack, and we are sure that' no one will regret his death more than his trainer, George Blackwell.