IN A NUTSHELL.

Otago Witness, Issue 3802, 25 January 1927, Page 57

IN A NUTSHELL.

It is said that the headquarters of the Racing Cot lore ,< t is to De shifte 1 to Wellington. Bank Note has plenty of speed, but will be best suited to a six-furlong journey. Both Mr R. A. M Kenzie’s mares (Piuthair and Clarinda) got by no means a good run in the Wellington Cup. Stormy was regarded as next door to a certainty for the Apprentices Plate, and he practically won all the way. Battle Colours ran a good race on the first day at Trentham, and is sure to improve during the rest of the season. Comic Song went a bit sore after arriving at Trentham, and for that reason was struck out of the Telegraph Handicap. Mr W. R. Crossan hag two particularly fine foals by Chief Ruler running out with their dams in a paddock on the Taieri Plains. Stormy ran an excellent race in the Lcuro Cup under 9.9, and all the honours of the race rested with the Quin Abbey gelding. J Licinius and Ballymoy II were knocked endways at the home turn in the Telegraph Handicap, and the former nearly came down. Mask failed to stay on in his races at Wellington. In the Cup perhaps too much use was made of him, but he again failed in the W.R.C, Handicap. Te Monanui ran a good race in the Wellington Cup, but hung in when under pressure at the finish. He no doubt found 9.3 a tiring burden in a fast-run race. Laughing Prince beat all the others bar Paleta in the Nursery Handicap, and was finishing on well, although he had ho chance at the weights with the winner. Mr V. Riddiford started a fleet of four two-year-olds in the Fitzherbert Handicap, and two of them, in Panther and Tone, finished just outside a place, but the quartet had a useful experience. The top weights in the Telegraph Handicap were set a difficult task by drawin" rutside numbers, and then having to chase light-weights who . ran 1.104. Footfall was always well placed in the Wellington Cup, but after being as well as anyone could expect, F. E. Jones could not make his mount carry 8.6.

Count Cavour ran like an overloaded horse at the Wellington Cup meeting. It looked odds on that Rapine would finish m front of him in the Wellington Cup, and such proved to be the case. Booster was bred by Mr A. B. Armour, and. sold to his present owner at 250 guineas. He was got by Solferino from Pretty Face, by Clanranald —Elusive, byIrenton. • Corn ne y made a bold bid for success in the Telegraph Handicap, and after being prominent from the rise of the barrier was beaten “two heads” at the finish by Booster and Paperchase. , was closer up at the finish of the Wellington Cup than at any other part of the race. He was of the last to leave the straight, and begin the last half mile of the journey. The Limond gelding Thaw won in good style on the first day at Wellington, but both Paleta and Laughing Prince gave him 91b and a good hiding over six furlongs in the Nursery Handicap. z The Absurd—Desert Gold filly Auratum. showed speed in the early part of her race in the Wellington Stakes, but faded out in the final furlong. She may develop stamina with more age. Rosenor with the leaders up to the home turn in the Douro Cup, and then dropped right of it. He has a rare turn of speed, and should have won more than he has yet placed to his credit. Receipt drew 18 at the barrier for the Telegraph Handicap, and stayed 18 all the way, or in other words the luck of the draw set her an almost impossible task in a high-class field of sprinters. The Bisone horse Benzora was finishing faster than anything in the Metropolitan Handicap. He has a good turn of speed, and showed that he stays on fairly well when acting under a light weight. The imported gelding Aston looks one' that will improve with age. He was footing it with Stormy in the early part of the Apprentices Plate, and probably, stopped through lack of condition. *The three-year-old Martian gelding, Jemidar, who ranks as a half-brother to Inferno, was amongst the pacemakers in the early stages of the Douro Cup, and may develop into a more than useful sort with age. Battle Colours did not. seem to be seasoned enough for the opposition he met at Trentham, but, despite the fact, he showed good ,\ m ‘ improve as the season gets older, as most of Solferino’s stock seem to require time. The speedy pacer Ivy Audubon, who visited Nelson Bingen a few weeks ago, has been retired to the paddock. Ivy Audubon was got by Great Audubon from Ip’ Pean, by Wildwood—Wild Rose, by Child Harold.

Corn Money made a bold show in the Telegraph Handicap, but was running out ®f his distance in the January Handicap, in which his chance was reduced by getting badly away, and then allowed to make up lost ground too rapidly. The Tyrold gelding Otairi, who was got by Paper Money, showed promising form at Wellington. He finished a good third in the. Fitzherbert Handicap, and Laughing prince just beat him for second place in the Nursery Handicap. The Autumnus filly Sudden Storm was with the leaders in the Wellington Stakes, and shaped very promisingly. Her dam was got by Antagonist from Fleetfoot, and should, on breeding, produce something with a good turn of speed. The Autumnus gelding Vesperus, who won the Douro Cup, was bred by Sir George Clifford, and raced by the Chokebore Lodge stable as a two-year-old. Vesperus is out of Glenowlet. the dam of Nightwatch and Nightraider. Rapine ran a great race under 10.2 in the Wellington Cup, and in a smaller field might have won. He finished well under his big weight, and, by the way, looked a better horse than he did when saddled up for the New Zealand Cup. Inferno, was backed by several wiseacres for the Anniversary Handicap, but settled his chance by bolting twice round the course prior to the start. When the barrier finally rose Inferno wisely .whipped round, and took no further part in the race. Paperchase was unlucky to miss the Metropolitan Handicap instead of having to be content with deadheating with Limited as they flashed past the post. She is a bit slow on her legs at the rise of the barrier, and this cost her the race. In addition to being a liberal buyer of bloodstock at the Wellington sales, Mr J. M. Samson also went to 625 guineas for the Paper Money—Epitaph filly, which made 775 guineas. Post Obiit would, by the way, be a good name for the Epitaph filly.

With a good run all the way in the W.R.C. Handicap Footfall might have won. He appeared to strike trouble when rounding -the top, and so lost ground, but nevertheless finished within two lengths of Star Stranger and Piuthair, who both had to be ridden out to the bitter end. >

Rapine put up a sterling performance under 10.2 in the Wellington Cup, and would have won if another half furlong had been tacked on to the journey. Te Monanui also ran a very good race under 9.5, although he was eith-r tiring or allowed to lay in on Rapier a. ' the finish.

Star Ranger may prove another example of the silly, idea held about horses for courses, and strike winning form when he next runs at Randwick. Star Ranger was tailed off as the Wellington Cup field entered the straight, an'd ran miles below his best form.

Rascal was finishing well in the Januare Handicap, but failed to get nearer than a short length to Centrepiece, who was giving away 41b. Still Rascal stayed on better than expected for one got by Absurd, and he may yet win a race over a mile or a little more. Mr R. M. Hudson is the owner of one of the American fillies said to be imported by Mr J. R. Mackenzie. The filly has joined P. Riddle’s stable, and after being handled will be turned out for two or three months’ spell. Mr Hudson states that Riddle is very pleased with the filly. When Thaw won the Fitzherbert Handicap he came at the right end of the race, and finished stronger than any horse in the field. He is a shapely and well-knit gelding by Limond from Melting, by King Rufus from Liquify, by Seaton Delaval—Liquidation, a half-sister to Maxim. The two-year-old gelding Silvermine is a promising sort. He was got by Catmint from Silver Link, who could gallop with the best in her day. Silver Link won the A.R.C. Railway Handicap, Manawatu Stakes, North Island Challenge Stakes, and showed excellent form on other occasions. Assurance would have extended Stormy if he had obtained a good run in the Apprentices Plate. He drew the rails, but got chopped out, and was running at the tail of the field until 3J furlongs from home. Once in the straight Assurance came with a good run and landed in second place. The Feramorz gelding Starboard Light put up an excellent performance in the Ruapehu Handicap, in which he drew 18 at the barrier, and won under 8.5 in 1.111. He carried 121 b more than Booster, and only took §sec longer than the winner of the chief sprint, so that the performances were about equal. Limited was always well placed in front of the field for the Wellington Stakes, and scored his second success in the race when he won last week. Limited was got by Absurd from Holyrood, by Symington from Lady Dunboyne, by Carbine from Bonne Chance, by Minting. Holyrood is also the dam of Absurdum. Count Cavour was prominent all the way in the New Zealand Cup until the

finish. When travelling down the back, stretch he was well placed on the rails behind the leaders, but faded out at the business end. No matter how the race was run, he could have no chance with Rapine at a difference of 31b. Mr lan G. Duncan recently experienced a stroke of very bad luck in losing the particularly fine yearling colt by March Along, whom many regarded as the gem of the Elderslie Stud youngsters. The colt was to have been offered at the Wellington yearling sales, and was confidently expected, to make not less than lOOOgns. There should have been a couple of riders on the carpet for the manner in which they handled their mounts in the Wellington Cup. Mask and Fresco cut across the leaders when nearing the end of the first quater-mile, which is just at the post. They caused serious interference, but no official question was apparently asked. The Arrowsmith gelding Sagittarius was backed for the Camp Handicap as if he were a racecourse certainty, but he found Lady Ideal just as speedy and a shade better stayer, with the result that she beat the Riccarton gelding by just enough to swear by, despite the excellent horsemanship displayed by F. E. Jones. Lady Ideal is improving in stamina, and with her speed should win more races in the future. Lysander did not seem able to freely extend himself when doing a preliminary for the Wellington Stakes. He was slow on his legs in the first part of the race, but was finishing on well. Under the circumstances Lysander did very well to finish strongly under 9.6 in a very fastrun race. The record for the race is 58 3-5, held by Gloaming and Rational. Lysander was narrowly beaten in 58|. In some quarters Melissa was regarded as a certainty for the Fitzherbert Handicap. She was always well placed, and looked like a winner until the last few strides, when Thaw beat her and was going away at the finish. Melissa is a smart filly got by Absurd from Amyrin, a mare by Bezonian —Ainyris, by Gold Reef. She has speed, but like her brother, Grotesque, does not carry it far. Alloway carried a good deal of support in the W.R.C. Handicap because he showed what was considered good form in the Great Northern Derby. He could not finish nearer than sixth in the race, and his form is discounted by the fact that he failed to give 61b to one of his own age in Front Rank even after she had been allowed to run herself to a standstill. Still Alloway is a solid-look-ing sort that strides out well, and should continue to win races. He was got by Limond from Admyro, by Solferino from Temba, by Sainfoin. Booster cost his’ present owners something like 250gns, and should have won a good race long before he scored the Telegraph Handicap. Some were picking Paperchase to have a good chance. At Timaru Booster gave her 221 b and finished on her tail. At Trentham they met at level weights, but a further handicap was made by the fact that Booster drew 14 and Paperchase 4, and still he beat her. Another factor ip the success was that Didham put up a stronger finish than the others finishing in a place. Rapier, who won the Wellington Cup, was a strong fancy for the Manawatu Cup, but he contracted a cold and did not show his best form. He subsequently won at a minor meeting, but ran a good race when he won the chief handicap at Trentham. ’ Rapier is a good type of horse showing a good deal of quality. He is bred on attractive lines and has a pedigree strongly suggestive of stamina. This year’s Wellington Cup winner was got by the Spearmint horse Greyspear from Anitea, by St. Ambrose from Stepka, by St. Leger—S.tepfeldt, by Nordenfeldt from Steppe. stock were on the boom last week, and about the only one that did not create a good impression was Count Cavour’s yearling brother. The youngster has improved a great deal since he was sent into the ring at the November sales held in Christchurch, but still fills the eye as one that would have been well sold at the 325gns which the knight of the hammer managed to extract in bids from the ringside. It is quite possible that, the brother to Count Cavour might come good in time if supplied with every opportunity of doing so, but at present could not be expected to make a good price merely because he is closely related to one of the best performers in the Dominion. The manner in which Paleta won the W.R.C. Nursery Handicap stamps him as an exceptionally good two-year-old. The success marked his fourth consecutive win, and as he finished comfortably under 9.5 at the end of a fast-run six furlongs he may prove himself the hast of his year. Paleta is a good-looking sort with plenty of size and quality, and fills the ■eye as a really high-class colt. He was got by the Roi Herode horse Leighton from Catalini, who was foaled at the Elderslie stud and got in England hy Catmint from Symbolism, by Symington. Catmint has got several useful horses since his importation from. England, and Paleta’s excellent form will draw further attention to the fact that he is in New Zealand..

A parade of yearlings was held at Trentham on the morning of the Wellington Cup meeting, but some of the youngsters exhibited should have been kept perdu. They were sent along in quick parade. A really good looker was at times followed by a youngster that failed badly by comparison in conformation, and also on occasion when not so forward or bright and healthy in condition. From a commercial point of view only the best should have been shown, and then during the following afternoon’s racing it would have been broadcasted that, without exception, the youngsters on view were all potential champions. Instead of wise selection being made, some duds were also paraded, and their presence discounted what might have, in their absence, been a golden opportunity to create an impression.

After Centrepiece’s win in the January Handicap some who should know better remarked about what they deemed the horse’s inconsistent form as compared with his run on the first day. Such people really do not know what they are talking about, and yet can always find Someone to listen to them. Centrepiece appeared to suffer interference twice during the Anniversary Handicap—once when nearing the home turn and. again when running in the straight. This certainly

accentuated his 9.5 burden. He carried 81b. less in the January Handicap, in which he was meeting Ring the Bell on close on a stone better terms for a fourlength defeat, contributed to by a bad passage. Penman, who ran second to Ring the Bell, was met on 81b, and Joy Bird, who ran third, on 21b better terms. Instead of Centrepiece’s form being regarded as inconsistent, it should be said that his win in the January Handicap was brought about by the fact that he ran as a really well handicapped horse. Messrs Wright, Stephenson and Co., Ltd. announce that the valuable imported stai- !° n ’, a P e Horn, has been acquired by the Masterton breeder and owner, Mr W. R. Kemball. Cape Horn arrived in the Dominion towards the end of October, and ' vas . on l ease for the past season by Mrs M. A, Perry, Otatara. Prior to being shipped to the Dominion, Cape Horn was mated with 18 good mares in England, and he was coupled with 20 mares in Hawke’s Bay during the season just ended. Cape Worn has been purchased outright by Mr Kemball at a very substantial price. He was brought to Trentham on Monday, and was on view at Messrs Wright, Stephenson and Co.’s Trentham stables ovef the period of the races and yearling sales. Cape Horn is a No. 8 horse, being out of White Squall by White Eagle, from Elm Twig, by Orme from Lucky Hit, by Carbine from Donna Fortuna, by Donovan from Wheel of Fortune, by Adventurer from Queen Bertha. This is a great line, and reintroducing as it does also the blood of Carbine, should prove very popular. The bloodstock sales held in connection with the Wellington Cup meeting must be considered a great success, but it was noticed that the large attendance soon melted away . after the yearlings on the catalogue had been under the hammer. The sale will, certainly be spoilt in future if the sweepings of studs and stables are allowed to pad out the length of the business. This occurred last week, and was responsible for the sale lasting from 10.30 a.m. until after 6 p.m. Some of the greatest rubbish that could be collected was sent into the ring, and possible buvers for subsequent entries had to wait for the best part of a day before they could bid for what they particularly desired to see under the hammer. Anything calculated to depreciate the tone of what it is hoped to make a Dominion sale, should be strictly eliminated, and the catalogue kept as far as possible to yearlings and high-class stock. Unless something in this direction is established, the value of the market will fall, because buyers will not travel long journeys if their time is taxed with efforts to get rid of stock which no sane man would buy. The above is said with a desire towards doing a little to prevent the attractiveness which they created being reduced. Some particularly fine youngsters went into the ring, and, speaking generally, they were a credit to the studs which bred them.