TALK OF THE DAY

Otago Witness, Issue 3808, 8 March 1927, Page 54

TALK OF THE DAY

By

Sentinel.

THE TOPWEIGHTS. It is so seldom that one secs a topweight score in a high-class handicap that it is pleasing to note Spearfelt’s success in the Australian Cup. The top-weights have all the worst of the deal, as very few’ leach that division ivithout having their form fully exposed, and hence it does not take much extra weight to anchor them. Their task is made doubly hard by young and improving horses coming on, and it is for that particular reason handicappers should err on the side of leniency in dealing with the heavyweight brigade which has to race over a distance of ground. Towards the back end of the season the majority of horses are really fit and w’ell for a severe task and"able to run right to tiie top of their form, but even so it does not detract from the great merit displayed by’ Spearfelt in winning the Australian Cup with J. 13 on his back. I'illiewinkie won last year with 9.6, but since 1907 the highest weight carried by a winner is the 8.1 which another New' Zeaianrbr in Cherubini won with in 1916. During the past 20 years the lightweight brigi.de has almost entirely swept the

board and, in fact, Signor, who ran third with 9.4 in 1909, and Piastre, who finished third with 9.0 in 1913, are the only two horses carrying 9.0 or over who have succeeded in gaining a place since 1907. In bygone years when long distance races were not run at such a solid pace as they’ are at present, the topweights had a better chance, as they were not required to carry their loads all the way. Still, the fact remains that from 1890 to 1910 only two horses in Highborn 9.4 and Tartan 9.6 succeeded in winning with 9.0 or more. Nelson ran second to Trident with 9.7 up, Melos, Porfsea, Battalion. Cyclops, Aurum, Le Var, Signor, and Piastre make a splendid list capable of carrying 9.0 or more into’, a place from 1887 up to the present time. THE CHANGE OE FASHION. The St. Simon line, which once carried all before it in England, has dropped out of prominence in recent years, and it .is thought may-fade from view altogether, as at the present time there seems to be nothing in sight capable of restoring it to its former prominence. It is rather interesting to note the rise and fall of the various strains in the Stud Book. Stockwell once earned the title of being called the “Emperor of Stallions,” and then St. Simon came on the scene, and swept all before him. The Stockwell line is coming back again, and perhaps the' St. Simon strain with its wonderful vitality may aerain win back to prominence. The Herod line, which had almost vanished, received a great boost through The Tetrareh and his sire Roi Herocle, and the Musket line is once more gaining well-deserved kudos through his famous son Spearmint. The Musket line had almost petered out in New Zealand and Australia, and was revived in England through Carbine and his famous son Spearmint, who set seal to his fame by winning the Derby’ and Grand Prix de Paris. Perhaps the day will come when the St. Simon line will be revived in England by’ sending back one of his branch from Australia or New Zealand. It was tried with Bill o’ Portland, but the English breeders did not like to use a roarer, and he finally' found his way to Germany. Several St. Simon line horses are . doing very well in the southern hemisphere, where Rossendale, Paper Money. Limond, Day Cornet, Comedv King, Seremond, Roseworthy, and others are doing so well that the line is not likely to perish at this end of the world, if it is not neglected. We have a notable instance of how a very, successful line can be neglected in the case of Traducer, who was oue of the most successful sires of all time, and yet we might search in vain for a tail male representative in New Zealand or Australia. THE TROTTER. It is to be hoped that the committee of the Forbury Park Trotting Club will not lose sight of the suggestion that the New Zealand Trotting Stakes should be converted into a Sires’ Produce Stakes. The New Zealand Trotting Stakes has proved rather too expensive to retain, and some of the Forbury’ Park committee are quite prepared to wipe it off their programme. It is, however, a club’s duty to cater for the legitimate trotter, and one of the best way’s of doing so is to offer sufficient inducement to owners and breeders to keep their young horses to the trotting gait in preference to converting them into pacers. It must not be overlooked that there is far more inducement to own a pacer than a trotter, because the former is far and away more liberally catered for by clubs than the straight-out trotter. In fact, it stands as an everlasting stigma against our light-harness clubs that they cater so liberally for an artificial racer, and show what a farce it is to speak of racing being carried cu for the improvement of the breed. It would be much truer to say that the pacer was encouraged for the benefit of the harness-making trade. That, however, by’ the way 7. Some idea of the practicability of converting the New Zealand Trotting Stakes into a Sires’ Produce Stakes can be. gathered by’ a glance at the nominations for the Ashburton Sapling Stakes, which encourages the early development of pacers. Ninety-five y’oungsters have been engaged, and they’ represent over 20 sires. The owners of these stallions should be circularised and asked if they would support a Sires’ Produce Stake, and also for any suggestions they’ could offer towards maintaining a race calculated to encourage the development of the straightout trotter. Stallion owners should welcome an opportunity to show breeders that they’ have every confidence in their horses, and this they could do by nominating them and making their stock eligible for a Sires’ Produce Stakes. It seems quite clear that it will be only by some such method that the Trotting Stakes and all that it means toward the encouragement of the legitimate light-harness horse can be saved from extinction.

SUCCESSFUL SIRES. For the first quarter of the racing season in Australia Valais topped the , winning stallions with 17 winners of 314 races worth £26,688. This is a rather remarkable achievement for such a brief period, and there is no doubt that V alais has the gift of siring good gallopers. The Musket line is well represented by Spearhead, who sired 20 winners of 34 races worth £19,733, and to his total has to be added the values of the stakes attached to the Australian Cup. Magpie comes next with 23 winners of 31 races worth 18,95850v5, then comes Rossendale with six winners of 13 races valued at £18,313. Our old friend Martian kept his name in prominence by siring three winners of five races worth £10,748. The Welkin (sire of Gloaming) shows that he can sire stallions as -well as racehorses by the fact that his son Greenstead got 14 winners of 21 races worth £10,718. The prolific St. Anton got

34 winners of 60 races worth £9020. St. Anton may not sire many high-class performers, but he is a most prolific sire of winners, and as that is so it is a pity that he has not received a better chance at the stud than he could possibly obtain in South Australia. It is rather interesting to note that the four stallions at the head of the list all represent different lines of blood. The Stockwell line claims two of the first five in Valais and Mar f tagon, and the Simon line comes fourth on the list with Rossendale, a son of St. Frusqi in, who has probably done more than any other horse to keep the branch green and flourishing. St. Frusquin is . Iso well represented bv another son in St. Anton, and in this country he has Paper Money and Day Comet doing well for him. Another prolific sire of winners is the Flying Fox horse Cooltrim, who got 24 winners of 29 races worth £8154. Comedy King comes next with his assistance to keep the St. Simon line in the foreground by getting 20 winners of 31 races worth £7907. A totally’ different line of blood comes next through the Roi Herode horse Chrysolus, who has done well in the early part of his stud career by getting 13 winners of 19 races worth £7609. Woorak has been doing well in getting 17 winners of 29 races worth £7126, and he and Greenstead are the only two Australian-bred horses that appear' amongst the first dozen on the list.

IN A NUTSHELL. Ranipion has won £26,484 10s in stakes. Rosenor is now said to be in the market as a stud horse. Acceptances for the Waimate meeting close to-day (Tuesday). Nominations for the Timaru Trotting Club’t meeting are due on March 10. Silk Thread raced in hopples at the Wellington Trotting Club's meeting. Royal Feast cost 700gns as a yearling, and has won over 6000sovs in stakes. The Wyndham Trotting Club’s annual race meeting takes place on March 16. Front Rank is reported to be sound again, and getting through lenient tasks on the track. The Leighton colt Paleta may’ be raced at Trentham prior to being shipped to Sydney. Mr G. M'Millan,, the owner of Sea Pearl, is leaving in the near future on a trip to England. Buoyant is proving himself a much bvtter’ horse in the north than he was in the south. Mr lan G. Duncan has sold the imported horse Kilbroncy to Mr F. Holmes, of Riccarton. The Martian gelding Naos has now finished second in the Melbourne Cup and Australian Cup. R. B. Berry was fined lusovs for careless driving at the Wellington Trotting Club’s meeting. A. H. Driscoll is to accompany Limerick and Co. to Sydney, and will do the light-weight riding. The Victorian colt Royal Feast cost 700gns as a yearling, and has won over 6000sovs in stakes.

There is a possibility that Count Cavour will be sent over to fulfil his engagement in the Sydney Cup. The idea of making betting debts recoverable by law in New South Wales has been temporarily dropped. Countersign continues to train on satisfactorily for her engagement in the Thompson Handicap. Silk Thread had to undergo a protest before finally getting the stakes in the Armstrong Handicap. Nincompoop has been doing some brilliant track work, and should be worth noting for events ahead. Both Silver Coot and Paper Boy’ are striding out well in their work for the Wellington autumn meeting. Pegaway won so well over nine furlongs recently that it is confidently expected to see him score over more groundIf Count Cavour is taken to Australia his absence will help to weaken the field seen out in the Trentham Gold Cup. Grand Knight is reported to be quite sound again, and expected to show a return to form at the autumn meeting. Battlement has shown sufficient improvement to tempt his owner to ship him to

Sydney in company with Limerick and Calcite. In the Shade cost 190gns as a yearling, and has won over 700so.vs in stakes. A substantial offer was refused for him a few days ago. Mr H..P. Olney, who has acted as judge for the Greymouth Jockey Club, has been appointed stipendiary steward to the Ceylon Turf Club. Footfall did not suffer any injurious results from his hard race in the Dunedin Cup, and is bowling along freely in his track work. In addition to winning on Royal Feast at the V.R.C. autumn meeting, M. M'Carten also won the Maribyrnong Plate on the same colt.' The Australian pacer Concliffe won the Waikato • Trotting Cup in 4.30 3-5, and is apparently all that the Australian critics claimed him. A North Island paper predicts that Mr L. G. Hill will prove the right man in the right place as secretary’ to the Dunedin Jockey Club. The grey colt Royal Picture, who came out on the same boat as Rosenor, has been shipped to Sydney’, and is now being trained at Randwick. Count Cavour was responsible for a smart gallop over seven furlongs last week, and will evidently be in good shape when next seen in public. The Absurd—Leta colt, who ranks as a full brother to Thespian, has been named Farrago. He cost 2250gns as a y’earling, and is now in training in Victoria. It is reported from the north that Rosenor is to be sold as a stallion. Rosenor is a horse that should have had a brilliant career on the turf. It is reported from Christchurch that Mr 11. Brinkman has made a good recovery from his recent illness, and will be in attendance at the New Brighton meeting. Assurance has made a complete recovery’ from the soreness which he developed alter racing at the Wellington Cup meeting, and is now galloping well on the track. Two of the best horses seen out a*£ the V.R.C. autumn meeting were Pantheon and Gothic, who both rank as sons of Tracery, whom we best know here as sire of Archery.

Centrepiece was responsible for a fairly smart gallop over six furlongs last week. He was responsible for the best gallop of the morning when he covered the journey in 1.17 2-5. Amongst the recent winners in the North Island is Papatu, who was got by Romeo from Gambode, by Martian— Escapade, by Pilgrim's Progress from Escopette, by Carbine. The Martian—Lady Disdain gelding Tiff has been thrown out of training, and will in future be used as a stallion hack. He suffers from a hip complaint, which debars him from standing a preparation. The Tea Tray’ gelding Jazz Baby’ put up a good performance by’ winning with 9.6 on his three-year-old back, and following on by winning the open sprint on the second day of the Dannevirke meeting. The distinction of being the youngest jockey to ride in the Liverpool Grand National belongs to Dick Woodland, who was only fourteen years of age when he finished fourth on a horse named Magpie. Limerick has been responsible for some good solid work, and when saddled up for his engagements at Randwick should strip a much better horse than he did when racing over there in the spring of the ,Many a sire owes his position to chance. Thus, Sundridge owed his success to Sunstar, and Tredennis owed his start to Bachelor's Double. A system found most successful was inbreeding to the '“sire’s dam’’ and keep the outcross to sire’s sire side. Mr G. Gould has sustained a severe stroke of bad luck by the mishap which happened to Jericho last week when galloping at Riccarton. Jericho had proved himself a good colt and held every prospect of developing into a high-class three-year-old. The Paper Money’ colt The Wensuni defeated 15 others in the V.R.C. Nursery Handicap. He is a half-brother to Monoxide and Dioxide. It was probably a knowledge of The Wensum’s merit which induced a Victorian owner to buy’ Dioxide some few weeks ago. There is an agitation going on in England with the object of obtaining free passes to owners. Some of the English clubs will not give an owner a pass unless he has a horse running, and should his horse or horses be amongst the nonstarters a pass is not granted. None of the Australian critics mentioned Gothic amongst the possible winners of the Newmarket Handicap. It may, however, be taken for granted that Mr Sol Green and his trainer did not overlook the fact that they had a horse in the big Flemington sprint. An Epsom trainer tells rather an amusing story about his small string of steeplechasers. One morning recently he inquired of his head man as to how the horses were as they’ trotted un the roads, and the latter’s reply was: “They are all lame with the exception of your hack, sir.”

Red Wink continues to suffer defeat in all his gallops, and it would be good business to put him with something that he could beat. It is a bad policy to allow a horse “a good hiding” every time he is asked to gallop and nothing could be more calculated to undermine a horse’s courage and confidence. The London Sporting Times has been running a. handicapping conwetition. It selected six horses in the Lincolnshire Handicap and six in the Liverpool Grand National Steeplechase, and the competitor who handicapped them at or nearest the official figures was to have two horses backed to win 250sovs and a double for lOOOsovs. The Invercargill Trotting Club experienced a. very successful meeting in connection with their annual fixture. There was a good attendance on each day, and both cards attracted excellent fields. It seems to be a foregone conclusion that the Invercargill meeting will grow in importance—particularly—if the club could secure a track of its own. Some people hold the mistaken idea that training a horse for the New Zealand or Melbourne Cup shortens its turf career. Spearfelt won the Melbourne Cup run in November last, and last week annexed the Australian Cup. On each occasion the places were filled by Pantheon and

Naos, so that their preparation in the spring did not ruin them. - Marian—Kildec colt, bred by M r A. M Donald, has been purchased by Mr E. K Jolly, of Adelaide. It is understood that when the colt went under the hammer at the Wellington bloodstock sales he earned a. reserve of 2000gns. The colt goes 1 J* Lowe’s stable at Trentham, anti will remain there until his new owner returns from a trip to England. At a cross-country meeting held at Lingfield just before the last mail to hand left England a rider named A. Gregson had a hair-raising experience. His mount fell wth him, and Gregson, being unable to free one of his feet from the stirrup iron, was dragged for about 40 yards with the frightened horse trying to kick him. Fortunately’ the strain of the jockey’s weight broke the bar of the saddle and probably saved Gregson’s life. It is estimated that there are about 10,000 bookmakers in England. The legal definition of a bookmaker in England reads: “Any person who, whether on Ins own account or as servant or agent to any other person, carries on, whether occasionally or regularly, the business of receiving or negotiating bets, or who in any manner holds himsplf out or permits himself to be held opt in any manner as a person who receives or negotiates bets.” Messrs Adamson, Mackinnon, and Co?:, of Melbourne, have purchased, through their English representatives, the English five-year-old horse Spelthorne, by Spearmint. from Dutch Mary. As a three-veai - old Spelthorne won four races: Oue of these was the Irish St. Leger, of one mile and three-quarters. He was also successful in the St. George Stakes at Liverpool -and the Duke of York Stakes. .Spelthorne was acquired for Mr Percy Miller, of the Kia Ora Stud (New South Wales). With the small field of nine contesting this year’s Australian Cup, it might well be asked “Where are the stayers?” At no former period has the breeding of bloodstock in the Commonwealth been promoted on such extensive lines as at present, and the small percentage of stayers resulting is a subject that gives rise to a deal of thought. Forty-five years ago (says “Phaeton”) when breeding racehorses was nothing like so extensive as at the present time, a field of 22 was found on hand to contest the Australian Cup. There is nobody nowadays resembling the Jubilee Plunger, of whom we read: “To spend £250,000 in a couple of years must have been a task of considerable difficulty, but Mr Benzon was equal to the occasion. He lost at cards at Goodwood in one night £30,000, and frequently lost at the Field Chib sums averaging from £4OOO to £12.000. Chemin de fer must be an exciting game, for this gambler actually declared that he once last £lO,OOO in 10 minutes. His greatest lossss in one day were £15,000 at Sandown, and £lO,OOO in the evening. An afternoon at pigeon shooting rarely cost this rash young gentleman less than £1000.” Are our racehorses as good as they were in the days of John Porter, Robert Peck, ames .’au'h, Dick Marsh, old Alec Taylor, the Blosses, the Hayhoes, Jewitt. the Dawsons, etc.? I do not think they are (says a writer in the London Sporting Life), and I ■’o not write with any desire to disparage our thoroughbreds, but solely with a desire to benefit them. I am afraid many follow the habit of an ostrich, which, burying its head in the sand, is unconscious of what is going on around. Now, if I were not absolutely sure of my ground I should not offer myself as a target for all the venomous missi’ s tlese “ostriches” would hurl.

John Bradbury gave Vaward 131 b over 10 furlongs at Gore, and ran him to less than two lengths in a solidly-run race. In the Waimate Cup John Bradbury comes in on 71b better terms, and at the scale of weights should beat Vaward if he can handle the turns. At the Dunedin Cup meeting John Bradbury was handicapped to give Mountain Lion 41b, and although the former has been doing well this season and the latter ‘nothing at all,” they are on even terms in the Waimate Cup. Last year Emerson won the Waimate Cup on Mountain Lion with 9.2, whilst Fresco ran third with 7.6. Mountain Lion now meets Fresco on 161 b better terms. Lou Robertson, who trained Gothic, the winner of this year’s Newmarket Handicap, was first known as a trainer and reinsman in the light harness world. After leaving New Zealand he was for some years associated with his brother Mr A. Robertson in the management of the Allandale Stock Farm owned by the Messrs Tye Brothers. Abbey Bell and Marvin Wilkes were amongst the stallions imported for the Allandale Stock Farm, as well as a choice collection of brood mares. On the dispersal of the trotting-bred stock the Robertsons changed over to thoroughbreds, and have been associated with them for many years. Mr A. Robertson has paid several visits to England to select blood stock for Mr Sol Green, and Gothic is one of his selections. It is a good stretch of years since the colours of an Australian sportsman were unfurled in connection with racing in New Zealand. When next spring rolls round it is quite likely that a prominent Australian will be represented here. When Mr Otway’ Falkiner was at Riccarton last November during the New Zealand Cup meeting he was credited with stating that he might send a team across to New Zealand next season. A Melbourne paper recently’ to hand states that Mr Falkiner has not abandoned the idea of sending a team across to Maoriland when next season’s racing is under way. It goes without saying (says the Lyttelton Times)

that the visit o£ an Australian team of racehorses "would arouse a very wide interest on both, sides of the Tasman Sea. They keep hammering away against the Betting Tax in England, and an exchange recently said that: “One point in the Turf Guardian Society’s statement cannot be over-emphasised—-the lessening of respect for the law which the. present state of legislation affecting betting has caused. One may pay cash on a racehorse but not in an office; it is illegal to call on a bookmaker and speak to him personally, but he can listen to one’s voice over a Government-owned wire; and the man in the street must not hand a slip to a man he sees on the pavement, but there is nothing to prevent them going to neighbouring telephone booths and doing their business that way, provided no money passes! It is similar idiotic and indefensible legislation which tells us that we must not buy cigarettes from a man, but we may from a machine after a clock has struck a certain hour. It is only the gift of laughter that prevents us going mad!” . Slowly and laboriously British ideals of sport, have been built up, and contemporaneously with that growth there has been the refining of the British character because of the sport in which its people take part, and the lessons that sport teaches. These are facts that must •never be overlooked by those who decry sport. Often in these days we read diatribes against games because of the time that, it is alleged, is wasted over them. Those who thus write and speak are lacking that spirit of sportsmanship that has been so important a factor in the development and evolution of the British race (says Sporting Life). There is no need to apologise for the time spent in sport. Rather should we glory in it. Many times in the history of the Empire it has stood us in good stead, and it may be that in the future it will render as valuable services as in those dark and dismal days of 1914, when battalions of sportsmen enrolled themselves to defend

Civ lllbcl Llvll, pidj ckl dll LICLVIL pd.lL. I have recently come in contact with several owner-breeders who enjoy breeding from their best mares, . but they inform me (says Warren Hill) that it has recently been almost impossible to get a nomination to one of the leading sires. A nobleman after weeks of correspondence has just managed to get one four years hence. Of course, this was more or less the case in St. Simon’s time, but there were very few stallions above 120gns, and there were, I think, better sires at the price than what we have today. It seems to be the custom now to demand exorbitant fees for everything before they have proved their wor-th, even for young sires that have failed to stand training much more than a year, and these, in my view, are a most dangerous class to use. Breeding establishments to-day should not cost anything like so much as at the time of the war, for straw, hay, corn, etc., are quite at a normal price now. But the point is how owners who keep three or four good mares to breed their own stock are to go best to work so as not to ruin good mares by wrong mating. “St. Simon owes much of his renown (says the Australasian) as a sire of good stayers to the stout Waxy blood in the females to whom he has been mated, esflincn 1 nt: l»n- e flncmnrlnrl fvnrr

Touchstone, per medium of Hampton, Musket, and Newminster, and also from Birdcatcher via Stockwell and others. Both of the great sons of Waxy—Whalebone and Whisker —have greater influence in the 1 'ood lines than Blacklock. English lineal descendants of Waxy and Penelope (by Trumpator) are Whisker, Whalebone, Web, Sir Hercules, Economist, The Baron, ?-.in r " Tom, Camel, Birdcatcher, The Colonel, Hathaway Touchstone, Newminster, Oxford, Sterling, Springfield, He -nit, Orlando, Teddington, Hampton, Lord Clifden, Rataplan, Kettledrum, Flatcatcher, Surplice, Lord of the Isles, Ladas, Ayrshire, Doncaster, St. Albans, Blair Athol, Isonomy, Gallinule, Bend Or, Orme, Ormonde, Martagon, Cotherstone. Lord Lyon, Cyllene, Bay Ronald, Faugh-a-Ballagh, Chanticleer, Goldfinch, Paragone. Marsyas, Cicero, Dark Ronald, Bona Vista, Valais, Flying Fox, Musket, Toxopholite, Ithuriel, Longbow, Belladrum, Adventurer, Blinkhoolie, and others.”

Paleta may be given a run at the Trentham autumn meeting on the opening day, and will leave the following day for Sydney. The Leighton colt has been kept going since he won at the last Wellington meeting, and he (says an exchange) is now being given short sprints to sharpen him up for his forthcoming important engagements. There are some rich prizes to be won at Randwick at Easter time, and, as W. 11. Dwyer knows what is required to win at that track, it is safe to assume that he has confidence in his colt, and, more- . over, he is anxious to make amends for the failure of Kiosk, whom he took across the pond last winter. Paleta is one of the best, and his contests with the best of the Australian youngsters should gite a line on the quality of our two-year-olds. This colt has been well advertised in Australia by those buyers who came over for the Trentham sales last month, and saw him win under 9.5. In one way the departure of Paleta is a matter for regret, for it will not be possible for him to take on Cimabue and Agrion, not to mention others, this season, unless they, too, go to Randwick. And this is possible.