IN A NUTSHELL.

Otago Witness, Issue 3804, 8 February 1927, Page 56

IN A NUTSHELL.

C Christie has taken the Lucullus filly .Luthy in hand again. The Tractor gelding Appian Way is again in work at Winggtui. P. Riddle has a straight-out trotter who ranks as a full sister to Sheik. Battle Colours has contracted a cold, and is not likely to start at the Dunedin Cup meeting. Andy gave a pleasing display over fences last week in company with Pamplona and Galway. The once good performer Red Wink seems to have lost form, 1 or else become faint-hearted. Both the Waimate and Oamaru programmes provide races for two-year-olds and upwards. Black Duke shaped very well in a gallop over five furlongs at Wingatui on Saturday. The ’chaser Tuki is coming on nicely, but so far has only been doing useful half-pace work. Handicaps for the Gore summer meeting are due on the 15th, and acceptances on the 18th inst. The Prince Merriwee gelding' Hard Prince shaped fairly well in a school over hurdles last week. ,

Battlement has been responsible for some good work in his preparation for the Dunedin Cup. • ? as °ut considerably, but is still handicapped by trouble in the respiratory organs. Gold Mint was unlucky in his races at 1 rentham, and may do better in his engagements this week. Applications for the position of secretary of the Dunedin Jockey Club close on the 10th inst. .Miss Winkie has been getting along nicely m her work, and strode out-freely in a sprint on Saturday. _ TT P Ie recent rains promise to bring the Vvingatui track into excellent order for the Dunedin Cup meeting. Silver Coot showed a lot of pace when he won at Trentham, and should run a good race at Wingatui this week. Ihe death is reported of the imported horse Clarenceux, the sire of Palestrina, u® ? Trumpeter, -and Boadicea. Pmk Note was travelling much freer than v award at the end of a nine furlong gallop at Wingatui on Saturday. Strongbow did not appear to have' much chance with Ark Royal and Tembroney in a gallop over a furlong on Saturday. King Sol is galloping well at present, and went away from Martis at the end of a bout over seven furlongs on Saturday. Receipt developed lameness after working on Saturday morning, and may not start at the Dunedin Cup meeting. Countersign has evidently been shaping well in her work, as she is one of the popular picks for the Publicans’ Handicap. Front Rank appears to have thrown oit the effects of her mishap at Trentham as she is again going along freely in her work. Coastguard gallops well on the flat, and kept Roman Archer hard at it to keep near him in a gallop over seven furlongs last week. Rosed ay continues to show lameness, and it is doubtful if he will ever again- stand sufficient work to run to anything like his best form. Corn Money has keen kept fairly busy this season, but nevertheless looks big and well, and is galloping with all his wellknown dash. A visitor from Sydney states that George Price has every hope based on good grounds that "Windbag is quite sound again. Tholomon has been somewhat of a disappointment, but he shaped well in a gallop over six furlongs with Comic Son" on Saturday. Pamplona is carrying less bulk than what has generally been the case at this time of the year, and seems to be quite sound on his legs. Ea.ton Bells is not so much mentioned nowadays as. formerly, but she is nevertheless . looking very well and shaping nicely m her work. Dismantle is suffering from a festered toot, and is not likely to race again for some time. She bruised the foot by treading on a stone. Adjutor shaped well in a school over hurdles last week. He may be given a chance, to earn distinction over fences later in the season. The Polymnian, who has been off the scene since the early part of last season, is getting through useful work, and seems to be keeping sound. Assui ance is reported to be sore, and may not in consequence be raced this week. With a good pilot on top he is a horse worth noting. . Jericho gave Arrowy 71b and a beatinoin the Dunedin Jockey Club’s Juvenile Handicap, and they meet on even terms in the Champagne Stakes. F. E. Jones will have the mount on Centrepiece in the Dunedin Cup. He has steered previous winners in Pilliewinkie, VVarstep, and Stepdancer. Kapuna injured one of his feet after winning .at Tapanui, and it was a surprise to see him figuring amongst the acceptors for the President’s Handicap. Young Lochinvar has been shaping well in his work at Riccarton, and in consequence one hears his name, mentioned in connection with the Publicans’ Handicap. The two-year-old Paganelli, who recently showed winning form in the north, is a well-bred sort got by Lord Quex from Ringdove, the dam of Ringborn and Cashmere. Guncase is looking particularly well at present, but shaped a bit disappointingly in a school over hurdles last week. The eye-opener” may, however, improve his hurdling. Arpent seems to be in good shape at present, and is getting through a good deal of useful work. On his best form he should help to make things interesting in the Publicans’ Handicap. Those who attended the Tapanui meeting say it was the best ever held on the course. The card provided some excellent racing, and the financial returns were also very" satisfactory. Reports from Christchurch state that Rapier, and Centrepiece are the ruling favourites for the Dunedin Cup, and Countersign is first in demand for the Publicans Handicap, with Corn Money next. N. C. Dwyer was seriously injured and rendered unconscious by a fall whilst riding at the Tapanui meeting. It ■ is, however, hoped that the injuries will not prove so serious as originally imagined. Ark Royal has come on nicely in his work since, being reeommissionecj, but may not be quite forward enough to run out six furlongs this week. On form he should hold a good chance in the Champagne Stakes. Mr T. Russell has two good-looking sorts of youngsters in his team. One is Cupid s Dart, by Archery from Princess Mosca, the dam of Borodino and Bosker Boy. The other is a gelding by Solferino, from Miss Camouflage. Dancing Days is now eight years old, and has been racing several seasons. She still exhibits a strong tendency to dance aa d jazz, instead of soberly walking, and .she also retains her speed, as she skipped over half a mile in 53secs on Saturday. The Waimate Racing Club’s programme shows stakes ranging in value from lOOsovs to 300sovs. The Waimate Cup of 300sovs, including a cup valued at 50sovs, is the chief attraction. Nominations are due on Tuesday, February 22, at 8 p.m. Happy Warrior seems to have settled down considerably under patient handling by J. M'Chesney. The Kilbroney gelding also seems to be keeping sound, and

althougli at present a bit backward in condition, is now getting through a fair amount of work. No re-handicaps were announced for the first day of the Dunedin Cup meetA he . inner 3 at Tapanui. It is thought that if the handicapper does not intend to re-handicap a winner he should make a statement to that effect. It was stated in town on Saturday that a move in favour of Set Sail for the Dunedin Cup was a result of the mare beating Baldowa in a gallop which took placG the same morning. Baldowa is, however, a better horse in a race than he is in a gallop. the Flying Handicap, run on the second day of the last Dunedin Cup meeting, Lava beat Set Sail and Corn Money when the last-named was in ?> eC v 1 lpt 51b fr . om the winner. In the lublicans’ Handicap Lava meets Corn Money on 121 b better terms. Mr C. G Dalgety won two Dunedin Cups with Stepdancer, and another with her daughter. Warstep. A son of Warstep in Footfall is engaged in this year’s race. Mr Dalgety also won with Prim, another of his own breeding, but she is not in the family sequence represented by Footfall. Tembroney. is rounding up nicely, and showing a fairly good turn of speed in his work. He may be raced on the second day of the Dunedin Cup meeting. Tembroney, it will be remembered, was overlooked by the starter in the Juvenile Handicap, and in consequence had no chance in the race. S. G. Ware has Vaward looking fit and well, and the Bisogne gelding may be found running a good race this week. He ran a good third to Footfall in the Otaio Plate, and finished two lengths away when in receipt of 121 b. In the Dunedin Cup Vaward meets Footfall on 131 b better terms. After galloping on Thursday of last week Pink Terrace’s off fore fetlock filled, and she was in consequence allowed to drop out of her engagement in the Dunedin Cup. Pink Terrace may not be raced again until next season, but her owner has still a good representative in Pink Note to carry his colours in the Dunedin Cup. Rapier is said to be a better horse at the present time than he was when racing at the Wellington Cup meeting. That is quite possible, as he contracted a cold when at the Manawatu meeting, and may in consequence be open to improvement, even though still good enough to win the Wellington Cup. Comic Song has been getting through a good deal of useful work, and shaped well in a gallop over six furlongs on Saturday. The recent heavy rains has kept the ground in his favour, and he seems to keep sound enough for business. He was galloping well at Trentham, but his trainer would not risk a race on the hard going. The Oamaru Jockey Club’s autumn meeting is booked to take place on Wednesday and Thursday, March 23 and 24. The principal events will be the North Otago Cup, of 300sovs (including a cup valued at 25soys), one mile, and the Buekley Memorial Handicap, of 200sovs, one mile and a-quarter. Nominations are due on Thursday, March 3. Circulation won the Champagne Stakes of 1925, when Centrepiece ran third. She was handicapped to give him 231 b when he won the Hopeful Handicap, in which the Paper Money filly ran third. In the Dunedin Cup Centrepiece is giving her 151 b, so that on two-year-old form the Chokebore Lodge candidate would not have a chance with the local filly. At the last Dunedin Cup meeting Courtly Rose carried 7.9, and won the President’s Handicap from Full Swing 8.8 in 2.10 4-5. On the second day Baldowa won over the same distance with 9.0 in 2.11, and in the Dunedin Cup runs with 151 b off his back. Courtly Rose runs with 91b off her back, and it seems as if Balboa should at least beat her. Nincompoop’s tour of the West Coast meetings seems to have greatly improved him. He always had speed, but did not appear to be too courageous. Travelling frequently makes a horse, and it may be worthy of note that Nincompoop appears to have registered just as smart a gallop over five furlongs as Young Lochinvar did at Riccarton last week. Sir George Clifford’s colt Bro’admoor, who is to carry his colours in the Dunedin Champagne Stakes, was amongst the unplaced lot in the Welcome Stakes, and since then has not faced the starter. Broadmoor has been beating Sudden Storm in her work, and as the latter shaped creditably at Wellington the former may be found running a good race. He was got by Panmure from. Heather Brae, by Treadmill. Centrepiece does not act well in soft going, but, as they say, likes to hear his feet rattle on the ground. He found the hard going at Trentham to his liking, and the fact no doubt enabled him to show his best form up-to-date. Centrepiece is bred to stay, and that he will do so seems very likely, as he fights on well at the end of a fast run race over a mile. Set Sail has come into favour for the Dunedin Cup, and although she will no doubt run a good race, Circulation seems to hold her safe on paper at least. Circulation meets Set Sail on 41b better terms than in the Invercargill Cup, when the latter was lucky to get the verdict. On this it would appear that Mr L. C. Hazlett has a strong hand to play in the Dunedin Cup with Overdrawn and Circulation. Father O’Flynn, who looks to be thoroughly fit and well, reeled off half a mile in 52 on Saturday, and as the gallop took place near the middle of the track it ranked as something, smart. Father O’Flynn showed good winning forth at the Hawke’s Bay meeting, but did not show up in his only race at the Wellington Cup meeting. At Hawke’s Bay he won under 9.0 in Ll 4, and under 9.11 in 1.16 3-5. The C.J.C. midsummer meeting will now take place on its original date, February 19. It is rather interesting to find that a racing club has given way to a trotting club in regard to the entertainment to royalty, and it is really a case of the son supplanting the father even when the latter is still going strong and well. No doubt our royal visitors will be greatly entertained by their participation in a trotting meeting, which may be really a great novelty to them, as the light harness racing has never won prominence in England. Glentruin won- the Hazlett Memorial, run at. the last Dunedin Cup meeting, and ' is again shaping well in her work. She

won the Stewards’ Handicap with 7.10 and 9.6, the Middle Park Plate with 9.7, with Nincompoop 8.9 third, the Avondale All-aged Stakes with 9.8, and the Hawke’s Pay Stakes with 9.13 in 1.20 1-5 for six and a-half furlongs. This year she ran second to Reremoana in the Palmerston North Stakes. On her best form Glentruin is anything but “out of the picture” with 9.7 in the Publicans’ Handicap. One of Overdrawn’s strongest recommendations for consideration in the Dunedin Cup is the fact that he ran a good third in the Metropolitan Handicap, when the placings were Piuthair 7.8, Tanadees 8.9, and Overdrawn 7.11 —a head, two lengths, 2.33 1-5. The subsequent form displayed by Tanadees and Piuthair enhances the merit of the performance put up by Overdrawn, who a few days afterwards won the Winton Cup . with 8.5. He meets Sea Sail in the Dunedin Cup on 161 b better terms than when he ran third to her in the Otago Handicap. Count Cavour has been responsible for some good solid work since he raced at the Wellington Cup meeting. Some of his admirers think that he will repeat his success in last year’s Dunedin Cup when saddled up at Wingatui this week. The Count, no doubt, won comfortably enough last year, but it was by no means a strong field behind him. Overdrawn and Haze filled the places, and the unplaced lot were Ravenna, Tommy Dodd, Tarleton, Mfintua, Happy Days, The Cheat, and Viewpoint. He will be up against a stronger field this year, and in addition will have . 61b more to .carry. By winning the Pahiatua Cup, and running second in the Egmont Cup, Nukumai once again furnishes pointed evidence of carrying his eight years remarkably well. A hurdle race performer of marked brilliancy and with a steeplechase victory also to his credit, Nukumai has earned die all-round certificate. Mr S. G. Davidson has good reason to rejoice over the fact that lie withstood the overtures that were once made to him to sell the bay gelding, for he has proved a fine stake earner in the interval (says an exchange). Up to date Nukumai has contested 72 races, and his record stands as follows: —18 wins, 14 seconds, 10 thirds, and 30 times unplaced. Nukumai has won stakes to the value of over £6OOO.

Count Cavour was bowling on the bit in the Wellington Cup until, reaching the home turn, but he collapsed in the run up the straight. He now meets Rapier in the Dunedin Cup on 121 b and Footfall on 41b better terms. Footfall meets Rapier on 81b better terms for a little over’ two lengths’ beating, and this should give the Autumnus gelding a chance of beating the. Wellington Cup winner. At the Auckland Cup meeting Footfall beat Count Cavour by a neck over a mile and a-half when in receipt of 24ib. He has been asked to allow 71b for the beating, and on that form Count Cavour should be in front of Footfall at the finish. The Auckland form may prove more reliable than that at Trentham, where the Count’s form appeared to be too bad to be true. Epsom has long been identified with racing. The sport is said to have first taken place on the famous Surrey Downs in the reign of James I, who used to visit the town, then a popular health resort, to partake of “the waters.” It is on record also that Charles II was a visitor to Epsom on the occasion of race days. It is, however, only since the institution of the classic events towards the end of the eighteenth century that Epsom has really become celebrated in the racing world. More recently it has established a reputation as a training centre, though it had to live down early prejudice. ' lany well-known horses have been prepared for their engagements on the spacious downs, while many famous families have been associated with the town as trainers or jockeys—or noth. The occasional but observant visitor to the races, rambling round the ring, probably marvels at the rapidity with whicn the price of some horse shortens without, in his area, a single copper going on the particular animal, so that “bar one” sounds to him as the bleating from the sheep-fold. And lie might further marvel (says Sporting Life) inasmuch as, although the price of,' we will say, the favourite, is shut off altogether, the rates tendered against other animals remain the same. Again, and assuming that he is in the business world, he might say to himself that the trader (i.e., the bookmaker) is likely only to attract the most custom-if his prices are' better than those who are in competition with him. That point of view, however, may not seem to him to occur to those who voice the prices, so that A sets a ’tune to which Z chimes in on the same note. Really, the public is to blame if, being fair assessors of form, they accept a price which they do not consider is in proportion to the winning chance. Rather than not have a bet, however, they take a price. They bet on a chance against a man whose aim is to bet ‘to figures. Continued operations of . such kind only lead to one end—the customer is out of pocket.