IN A NUTSHELL.

Otago Witness, Issue 3854, 24 January 1928, Page 53

IN A NUTSHELL.

Grand Knight should be worthy of a chance at the stud.

The Australian Cup will carry a stake of 3000sovs. and the New Market Handicap one of 2500sovs.

The Victorian wrier, W. Duncan, has steered 591 winners since he first commenced riding in 1916.

Lp to December 31 the Victorian trainer J. Scobie had trained winners of £20,645 in stakes this season.

The ex-stipendiary steward, Mr C. W. L. Murchison, is considered one of the heaviest punters who races at the Sydney meetings. The Clarenceux gelding Carnot has depreciated in value as a racer owing to developing trouble in the respiratory organs.

The Leighton—Sungleam filly Golden Armour can gallop, and displayed the fact by always being with a more experienced lot of runners in the Wellington Stakes.

The New Zealand-bred mare Field Rose, a sister to Royal Artillery and True Blue, figures as the grand-darn of Lady Canberra, a winner of one of the principal events recently decided at Warwick Farm. The Rossendale colt Winajot, who won the Rosehill Guineas and ran second to Trivalve in the A.J.C. Derbv, has been taken in hand again. He cost his present owner 2100 guineas. The imported horse Si’vius, who ran second to Trivalve in the Melbourne Cup, has been placed in training again with the idea of racing him in the King's Gold Cup.

Gascony did not seem able to fully extend himself on the hard going when racing in the Wellington Stakes. He was battling on at the finish and ran an excellent race considering that he appeared to move rather short when doing his preliminary.

The ex-Riccarton trainer, R. O'Donnell, saddled three placegetters at a meeting recently held at Warwick Farm. He learnt his business i i R. J. Mason’s stable, and prior to going to- Sydney proved that he could get a horse fit and well to race to the top of form. The Sydney Cup of 6000sovs and 200sovs trophy, the Doncaster Handicap of SOOOsovs, and the King’s Gold Cup of 2000sovs and lOOsovs cup will be the plums of the programme for the A.J.C. autumn meeting.

When Coronach won the Eclipse Stakes the. event was worth £12,316. This year’s Eclipse Stakes, to be run at Sandown Park in July, will be worth £12,981, and an additional £5OO is the winner is English bred.

The present owner of Phoenix Park paid 500gns for the Kilbroney gelding, and secured a great bargain. Phoenix Park has won two good stakes, nnd the market was exploited to the extent of £lB,OOO in bets over the Perth Cup. Reports from Australia state that Roval Feast, who dropped dead whilst at ex'ercise, was troubled with an enlarged heart J £ls > ll9 as a two-year-old, and established a record in Australia. Heroic’s record of £ll,BOl ranks next best to that of Royal Feast.

The chestnut colt Historic is a brother to Tarleton and half-brother to Bonnetter. So far he has not troubled the judge, but he looks a likely sort, and gave some indication of proving useful in the future by finishing closer up at the end of the High \Veight Handicap after being in the ruck during the early part of the race. Child’s Play has been troubled with soreness. and a combination of particularly hard going and racing at over a stone worse than weight-for-age against particuJarJ y £mart sprinters settled her in the Wellington Stakes. She retains her speed which won an early reputation, but will probably find distance her greatest handicap.

Lady Limond has a rare turn of speed, and is bred to stay. She was got by Limond from the dam of the New Zealand Cup winner Rouen and also that of Rouex Lady. Laddo, the dam of the two named was got by Sir Laddo from Possibility, by The Possible from a daughter of Namoa, a close relation to Manton who won the New Zealand Cup Derby and Canterbury

Prince Humphrey finished a good second in the Wellesley Stakes, whilst Stag Hunter was outside a place but not far away. Some will jump to the conclusion that Prince Humphrey is a much better two-year-old than Stag Hunter, but the latter was giving away 101 b, and there is not much between them. Stag Hunter will be served by time, and may yet dim the glamour of the Duke Humphrey colt. Amongst the brood mares mated with Nigger Minstrel last season was Civilisation (owned by Mr C. G. Russell, of Wanganui), the result being a brown filly, who has had the name of Colourline bestowed upon her. Civilisation has been a good brood mare, for she has produced Civilform, Wilderness, Civility, Siaosi, Berinthia, Calculation, and Population in addition to Colourline.

The imported horse Greengrocer dropped back last in the first half-mile of the Trenthani High Weight Handicap and then came on in the second half to finish close to the placed lot. He thus gave some indication of staying power, and might do a lot better if tried over more than a middle distance. Greengrocer is only ’a young four-year-old. and in actual age giving away about six months to New Zea-land-bred horses.

Amorist was afforded every chance in his race on the opening day at Trentham. He got well- away and secured a berth on the rails, and after being nicely nursed until well inside the distance, could not come on when Air Tight and First Sight threatened danger, although he managed to fight on into second place. Amorist is a big three-year-old, and should improve with age and time necessary to strengthen a big racing frame.

Paganelli, the winner of the Wellington Stakes, can reel off speed. He went with Childsplay over the first half mile, and after settling her, fought off strong challenges from Prince Humphrey and Gascony. Paganelli has generally been in or near the money when not a winner, and has a good turn of speed. He was got by Lord Quex from Ringdove, an imported mare who won some races in the Stead gold and black cap. She was got by Collar, a close relation to Sceptre, It is a matter of regret that the very promising two-year-old Silver Paper will have to be put out of work as a result of badly bruising one of his feet He shows signs of trouble, and it became more accentuated as the result of being injudiciously galloped instead of getting a complete rest, even if only of a temporary nature. The Paper Money gelding reeled off three furlongs in 35, but carried a leg afterwards, and perhaps the wisest thing to do would be to put him by until next season, as hq is a bit overgrown and would greatly benefit by time. The following is a list of the principal winning sires in America for the past season:—

Some of Gay Lad's stock are rather feather-headed and a tendency in that direction cost First Sight a good chance of success in the opening event, oa the Wellington Cup programme. First Sight is a good three-year-old with heaps of size and quality and in colour and markings strongly reminds one of his grand-dam, First Glance, who was a really good per’ former in her day. First Sight was inclined to lx? on his toes when in the birdcage, and went from bad to worse through the rule of_ racing established on behalf of the totalisator which sends a horse out to the post 20 minutes before they line up to the barrier. First Sight played up and would- not. get in line, with the result that he was hopelessly left when the others began the journey. He afterwards did remarkably well to finish third, and looks Sure to win races if he does not become a victim of a rule which is apt to wreck the temper of horses with anything but the most-placid temperament. Writinrr on the application of science to the breeding of racehorses, the Special Commissioner to London Sporting Life says: The age of miracles has passed. Beliefs in such tilings as telegony, or the influence of a previous parent, etc., have died a natural death. Still, breeders believe that

roaring,’ cataracts, spavin, ringbone and a 2 1 " I ! dred and Ollc other thing’s— all probably due to a faulty environment in. the early days of the horse—are transmittable. Ask them if they think that because they suffer from appendicitis, gout, measles, mumps, or malaria their children will do the same, and they will laugh at you, but suggest that either of the accidents or diseases that I have mentioned are not heritable, ’ and they will merely say, ‘Yes, I know all that, but they arc not the same.’ Sometimes I wonder if they will ever wake up. Old beliefs die hard, but the world is moving on and it behoves bloodstock breeders to do likewise.” Nothing ran a better race amongst the beaten division in the Wellington Cup that Countersign. She began well, and was with the leaders when approaching the sharp turn out of the straight, when she commenced to drift back, and finally became conspicuous as a bad last when four furlongs from home. She then commenced to make up ground, and finished sixth not far away from the placed lot. If she could have been hunted up to hold anything like a handy position in the first mile she must have been hard to beat at the finish. She did well to finish on well at the end of a fast-run race, and it seems as if a loss of early speed is being replaced by Stamina, so that one of these days she may win over a distance. She previously gave evidence of stamina by coming from last to third in the Fendalton Handicap, and bearing in mind the merit of the Hazlett Memorial success Countersign cannot be ignored when racing over a distance in the future.

In a recent note I made reference to a tendency in these days to side-step when a, horse hailing from another stable regarded as dangerous is included in the field. Discussing the question with a well-known Aucklander, who, like myelf (says “ Phaeton ”) treasures many incidents of the true sporting spirit which played so strong a, part in racing in the old days, he related to me an interesting story. Old John Chaafe—who, it can be said with all truth, ever cultivated the courageous spirit—was once informed that a certain powerful two year-old might not be brought to Auckland, and the conveyor of the information expected that the old-time trainer would rejoice to hear that a dangerous opponent would probably be an absentee. Old John, however, regarded matters in quite a different vein, and remarked: “We’ll send him his passage money.” That was the spirit.. Of all the trainers that have followed their profession in New Zealand none has ever shown a greater dash of courage in meeting opponents than John Chaafe, and even in old age he still furnished an object lesson to the rising generation on that admirable quality. The conditions of the high-weight races at Trentham are hardly in accordance with the spirit of these events, writes Vedette. This type of race really replaces hurdle events/ and so that jockeys who ride over fences will not have too lean a period in the summer months, these races were introduced to give them their chance. Th© Wellington Club’s events, however, are open to riders who have completed a. hurdle race or steeplechase three times in the last two years in New Zealand. This is very elastic, and thus L. G. Morris and R. S. Bagby are both available still for these races, although Morris himself admits freely that he should be debarred from riding in them. At the recent Manawatu meeting a decision in quite the opposite direction was made when A. E. Ellisj who had ridden over fences all through, the winter and to within three months of the Manawatu meeting, was debarred from riding. The Rules of Racing still leave to the stewards of any race meeting the right of approving who are and who are not hurdle race or steeplechase jockeys, so that these anomalies are likely to continue.

Fair Play, according to the latest files from America, is leading in the list of winning sires, being well clear of Broomstick. In 1920 and 1924 Fair Play was the winning sire, and with the present racing season in America almost at an end. his position at the head of the list for the third time is assured. Undoubtedly the greatest horse Fair Play gave to the racing world was the remarkable Man o’ War. Of course, many other notable thoroughbreds were produced by him also. When he took the honours in 1920 his progeny put together 269,102d01, 1924 saw his total 296,204d01, while from January 1 to October 31 in 1927 his tally was 316,269d01. This latter represents more than £60,000. When Man o’ War won the Sires’ Premiership in 1926 he made record figures of 408,137d01. This is the only occasion Fair Play’s figures for 1927 have been exceeded. In the racing of 1927 Fair Play has 37 representatives, and collectively they won 64 races up to November 1, each and every one having a part in accounting for the 316,269d0l now to the credit of their sire. With such stars as Chance Shot (winner of 89,527d01), Chance Play (with earnings of 83,800dol), Display (60,526d01), Catalan (12,580dol), and Fairmount (8625d01) as the principal contributors, there is no mystery to Fair Play’s splendid record for 1927. The well-known sportsman, Mr J. E. Brewer, who made such a name for himself, first as a rider and afterwards as a trainer* was quite familiar with most points of the game when only fifteen years old. At this age his father is said to have entrusted him with the complete management of a horse which he sent to Cobar to the race meeting there. At that time the Brewers lived on the Lachlan River, and Cobar was a con* siderable distance away. Still, young!

Brewer was equal to taking the horse all she way by road, the only means of travelling that route, riding-' and winning his races and returning home safely. The ease has probably few, if any, parallels, but this season (says “ Carwoold ”) : n England a boy of fifteen named Stephenson has come through a most severe test with infinite credit. This was in the Cambridgeshire. Stakes, one of the most important handicap events in England, and consequently one of the most keenly contested and difficult to win. In a field of 21 starters, young Stephenson had the mount on 'Niantic, a chestnut four-year-old son of Stefan the Great, with 6st 31b to carry. After a rather long-drawn-out tussle between Medal and Niantic, the judge was unable to separate them, and a dead heat (was declared. Stephenson must be an extremely cool-headed youngster to be entrusted at so early an age in a race where nothing but a finished horseman could be expected to hold his own.

Another of the older school of sportsmen passed away recently, when Mr W H. Mate died. One of a family that held "large pastoral interests in Riverina, Mr Mate .was well past middle age when he first gave any serious attention to racing Of all his investments in blood stock (says the iPastoral Review) the best horse ever he owned probably oost Ipm the smallest out- - 4 dispmaal sale of the Kirkham stud m 1898, Mr Mate purchased the old Manbyrnong mare Angora, in foal to Gossoon (imp.), for 40 guineas. Only one mare at the sale brought a lower price. In due course Angora produced a chestnut colt afterwards known as Ibex, and one of the most brilliant horses on the turf in his day. Several choicely bred imported and Australian mares were included in the collection that day at Kirkham and some Rood prices were realised. These mares .were, either in foal or with foal at foot, and it is worthy of note that of the foals they produced that year, or at any subsequent time, there was never one that approached the class of Ibex. Tor Mr Mate this fine horse won many important races, it is on record that he twice defeated UaM peerless Wakeful at weight-for-age. It

has been said that Ibex was the best horse that Mr Mate owned, but he held on lease from the late Mr H. C. White and raced a marc that was quite as brilliant as Ibex. This was Fulminate, also by Gossoon, and from the Musket mare Percussion. It is a coincidence that Ibex and Fulminate were, just as much superior to anything else Mr Mate ever raced as they were to any other animal Gossoon ever sired. Laughing Prince was made, in the writer’s estimation, a false favourite for the W’elliugton Cup. If there is anything in the value of a handicap. Set Sail looked sure to finish well in front of him, and such proved to be the case. At Timaru Set Sail beat Martarma handsomely when giving away 211 b. Martarina pulled up after the race without showing any indication of a lack of racing condition, and he went on to beat Laughing Prince in the Great Northern Derby. How, then, by the greatest shadows that Admiral Rous ever cast on a race, could Laughing Prince have a chance with Set Sail at a difference of 41b? Sometimes, of course, a horse may completely flout a handicapper’s opinion, but weight is undoubtedly the bugbear of the racecourse, and the’flying mare Set Sail would have travelled much nearer to success in the Wellington Cup if she could have been steadied and kept in behind one or two leaders, instead of fighting off everything that came along and so left herself without the strong finish she had displayed on other occasions. It was not an error of judgment on Voight’s part, but the reins became slippery, so he said, and hence he could not get the nice grip to steady the mare that would have materially helped her chance in the race. If Set Sail could have been handled with the same tactics in the Wellington Cup as when she won the Invercargill Cup, the result at Trentham would have been different. There would have been a finishing instead of dying effort, left, and that would have made all the difference in the world.

Invariably our wealthy owners are thorough sportsmen, but (says “ Vigilant ”) there are owners of far less financial standing—men hard put to it to

make two ends meet—who are far more worthy of being termed sportsmen than a few of the wealthy ones. One does not admire a wealthy man who demantis a ‘‘ cutfrom the fortunate drawer of prominent horses in a sweep. One is not condemning the practice of a drawer of a horse laying a portion of the prize to an owner. It is not the intention of an owner to start a horse, but he does so because of the inducement offered him. But any wealthy owner who lays himself out to benefit at the expense of the man or syndicate who draws his horse in a consultation is open to criticism. A striking case is in mind. It appears a horse with' an excellent chance in an event, on which a recent consultation was held, was drawn by two men in a modest sphere of life. The owner of the horse is one whose colours are often carried to victory. He is a man of wealth. On his being offered a certain amount of the consultation prize money' in the event of his horse scoring, he made it clear that the horse would not start unless arrangements were made for a third of the first prize monev if he won, and the drawers of the horse had to accede to the terms. The average owner may be excused for accepting a consideration from the drawer of his horse in a consultation, but it is a pity all wealthy owners cannot rise above it. In the case cited above the horse was beaten.

An absolutely intolerable state of affairs has been created in racing this season by starters bestowing a totally unwarranted consideration to fractious horses. At Invercargill the starter made Jack o’ Lantern the present of a doubly good winning chance on both day-s by letting him away from a cantering-up start, whilst the rest of the field began from a practically flat despatch. Jack o’ Lantern received the same unwarranted consideration at Wairio. and now at Trentham Joy Bird holds up the field in the Wellington’Cup. and finally is one of the first to break the line. In the meantime she has kicked Ark Royal, and possibly ruined a valuable horse who, bar accident, had a gcod chance of winning. It is quite obvious to any

ordinary racegoer that such as Jack o’ Lantern and Joy Bird are lucky’ to be allowed to be nominated in a race, and yet they’ receive more consideration than all the well-behaved horses that comprise the majority of the field. Under such circumstances the public naturally ask who own fractious horses, and when they are found to be running in the nomination of a steward of some club or other it is accepted as sufficient explanation of a really impossible state of affairs. One of these days everyone will agree with the writer that handicappers, starters, and judges should be appointed by the Racing Conference, and so removed from the stigma that local influence plays a part in their work. Continued protests in print, which are really only a mild reflection of public opinion, seem to have no effect, but if Ihc evicting trend of affairs is continued some officials, both honorary and stipendiary. are sure to find themselves out of office.

Paper Money was well represented on the opening day of the Wellington Cup meeting by Paper Chase and Money Order first and second in the Telegraph Handicap, and by Pink Note, who ran second in the Wellington Cup. Paper Chase is inbred to the greatest staying taproot in the Stud Book, that represented by Sunshine, and whilst she has a rare turn of speed should also stay well if trained to travel a journey. Paper Chase was got by Paper Money from Staidance, the dam of Limelight, and Starland. An echo of the past was heard at Trentham last week when some one said “the top weight has white and red spots.” The colours were once famous in England as the Eske colours, and at one time well known ’’l New Zealand as the Zetland spots. They were first unfurled in this country by Sir Hercules Robinson, who, when Governor of New Zealand, raced in partnership with the late Sir George M’Lean. Sir Hercules Robinson brought Lady Emma from Australia, and after his return to England she won several important races. A glance at the Turf Register will show that H. Robinson’s Lady Emma as a three-year-old won the Great ’Autumn Handicao of 1831 with sst 131 b on her back

with Malcolm Allen, afterwards well known in trotting circles, in the saddle. Running in the samo nomination, I>ady Emma won the D. J.C., Handicap of 1882, and again in 1884 in the ownership of G. M'Lean. Lady Emma won the Dunedin Cup of 1882 in Sir Hercules Robinson’s nomination, and again in 1884 in G. M'Lean’s “ Zetland spots.” The colours were prominently linking themselves with the racing history of the period and becoming one of the most popular sporting banners on the New. Zealand turf. They wore afterwards carried by several notable horses, including Lady Evelyn, the winner of tho first Middle Park Plate, run m 1884, Dunedin Cup winners in St. Jamoa and Lord Rosslyn and later St. Clair, a son of Musket and Pulchid, won several good races. Vladimir, Pampero, and other useful handicap horses, won for the colours in more recent times, but their glory commenced to fade. Vladimir and Pampero were bred at the Warrington Stud, and so was Euroclydon, who won the New Zealand Cup Derby and Canterbury Cup as a three-year-old. Several other good winners were also bred there, but the paddocks became overstocked and horsesick, and towards the end of a fine old sportsman’s career could not produce anything of sufficient class to run under the colours identified with some great performers in their day. “ What’s that in red spots? ” asked somebody at Trentham within earshot of the writer, and the speaker was obviously in ignorance that he referred to a set of colours which were woven in tho fabric of racing history manufactured in the days when Dunedin ranked as the hub of the sporting world.

Races Amount Sire. Won. Won. Dollars. Fair Play 46 316.269 Broomstick . . 82 230,484 Whisk Broom II 217,691 Light Brigade 146 200,265 Pennant 67 200,229 Man o’ War 56 194,859 Wildair 59 ■ 186,018 Wrack . .' .. 121 180,262 Luke M’Luke 76 176,131 Brown Prince II 57 172,951 Sw'eep . . 142 165,228 Spanish Prince ii 101 153,754 Black Toney 59 138,980 North Star III 70 130,082 High Time .. 74 127,113 Friar Rock .. 82 125,987 Peter Pan . . 71 120,759 Negofol 59 119,480 Steth . . . . 156 117,953 Omar Khayyam 102 115,065