IN A NUTSHELL.

Otago Witness, Issue 3861, 13 March 1928, Page 53

IN A NUTSHELL.

Aberfeldv is gradually coming back la racing shape. King Balboa is regarded as welltreated in the Oamaru Cup. The Kilbroney filly El Nido has been turned out for a lengthy spell. Piuthair may be raced on the second day of the Wellington meeting. Tho Oaks winner, Pink Terrace, will shortly rejoin J. Ruttledge’s stable. Money Order should keep the best of them busy in the sprint races at Trentham. The Gay Lad —Parable mare Controversy has joined R. McDonald’s stable. Dismantle now gives unmistakable signs that she is amiss in the respiratory organs. Satrap may be regarded as the best of a moderate lot in the Wellington St. Leger. The Dunedin Jockey Club is inviting applications for the position of handicapper. Booster continues to get through useful work, and is looking in good shape for business. Adjutor is looking in excellent order at present, and is also schooling well over hurdles. Good as Gold has been getting through good useful work since she was last seen in public. The Kilbroney gelding Tawehi recently broke down so badly that he had to be destroyed. Two steeplechases aro included in tho South Canterbury Jockey Club’s autumn programme. P. Riddle has now a mixed team of gallopers and trotters in training at Victoria Park. Nominations for the Tuapeka Jockey Club’s meeting are due on Friday next, the 16th inst. Acceptances are due on Friday next, the 16th inst.. for the Otautau Racing Club’s meeting. The yearlings by Solferino—Marsa and Night Raid—Bendoun were added to the list last week. The South Canterbury Jockey Club's autumn meeting has been set down for April 27 and 28. The English-bred mare Celerity II is le Ported to be getting useful work on the nvercargill tracks. Circulation put plenty of dash into her work when striding over a circuit oa Saturday morning. A racing partnership has been registered between Mr A. B. Williams and hie trainer, J. A. Jefferd. Top Gear is the latest, recruit to the timber toppers. He looks iust the sori I to make good over fences.

A battle between Limerick, Gothic, and Trivalve should prove a magnetic attraction at the A.J.C. autumn meeting. Kiosk has been responsible for some good track work in his preparation for engagements, at Wellington this week. Laughing Prince is reported to be in excellent order, and if that is so he should shape well in the Thompson' Handicap. The. Lucullus—Lisp filly_.Lilt and the Leighton—Statuette filly continue to show improvement in- their work at Wingatui.

Ranui was schooled over the fences at Wingatui on Saturday. He is in fine lusty condition to begin the winter campaign. Bennanee has been eased up owing to a slight leg injury, but it is expected that he will be ready to race at the Easter meetings. Mr E. Lee Steere, chairman of the West Australian Turf Club, and owner of the one-time champion Eurythmic, is at present on a tour of the Dominion. It is stated that Eulalie was in the private sale list at 5000gns during the early part of the season. She would have been very well sold at the price. The Gay Lad —Revolution gelding Busy Lad now bears a much improved appearance, and is moving nicely in his track work. The Acre gelding Broadlands, in D. P. Wilson’s stable, is gradually on the improve, and is rounding up nicely into racing shape. Kapuna has been showing signs of lameness in the off hind leg. It would be a great pity if he went amiss, as he is one of the most promising ’chasers in sight. Countersign has strained one of her legs, and was in consequence allowed to drop out of her engagement in the Waimate Cup. Mr L. G. Hill has left for a few days’ holiday at Queenstown, and expects to return fit and well to resume dutv at the D.J.C. office. Mr'J. M. Samson has won the Waimate Cup during each of the past three seasons, and has Wayward and Money Peer engaged in this week's race. The Paper Money filly Polly Flinders recently changed owners in Sydney at 600gns. She has won several races at the pony meetings. Beau Cavalier has been treated to a brief spell, and is again in work. He has not been allowed to eat the “oats of idleness for any lengthy period since he proved so very successful last winter. The Australian bred colt Flying Hero was a fairly strong fancy for his 'race on the last day of the Wellington Cup meeting. He drew 16 in a field of 17, and had hi s chance settled at the rise of the barrier. Honeycomb, who is engaged in the Tria! F*a to at Vaimate, finished third to Shaiimar and Greyfinch in the Ahuriri Hack Handicap, run over six furlongs, at the Banks Peninsula meeting. . The Paper Money—-Michaela filly rising two years old has joined J. Feilder’s stable. She is a very shapely soft, and created- a favourable impression on her arrival at Wingatui. Decision has rejoined J. Feilder’s stable to be got ready for winter racing. He is now much more solid looking in condition than formerly, and is in good order for a preparation. . The Gay Lad mare All Style has a particularly nice filly foal at foot by Last Dart. The foals left by Last Dart in his first season should help to win all the desired patronage next season. Rapier was shaping particularly well on the track prior to being taken up to fulfil his engagements at the Wellington meeting. A. E. Ellis will ride him at the meeting. Dumblane is bowling along freely in his work, and improving as a result of being patiently handled in his preparation. He should score a win before concluding his two-year-old season. The Great Star two-year-old gelding Phaster has a good turn of speed, and if he drops a tendency to dwell at the barrier should soon commence to pay his way. -The well-known performer Te Monanui has been thrown out of training owing to a development of lameness. He may not appear in public until the next spring meetings commence to move along on the racing calendar. Pink Note shows an ugly-looking scar on his off hind fetlock, where he got badly galloped on when racing in the Dunedin Cup. The joint, however, seems perfectly sound, and the Paper Money gelding is again doing easy pacing work. It is to be hoped that owners will not overlook the existence of the Juvenile of 150sovs. on the Southland Racing Club's programme. It is open to two and three-year olds, and will supply a novel item on the card for the day. A northern scribe made a slip of the pen when he recently stated that Money Order had not Been asked to race over more ground than six furlongs. Money Order won the Dunedin Guineas in heavy going, and so has won over a mile. The youngster by Paladin —Radiant Gold, which Mr G. Murray-Aynsley presented to F. Shaw, is now bowling along freely in his work. The gelding has a doubtful-looking joint, but seems to be quite sound on it. Hard Prince shaped well in a school over four flights of hurdles with Beatuy Light and Scion. He seamed to be too brilliant for the two last named, who were, however, steadied in their task and sent over two additional jumps. Scion is improving in his hurdling, and standing up well to his work. It is five years since he won the Auckland Cup and New Zealand Cup in the same season, but he still retains some of his early dash. Antrim Boy had a reputation of being faint-hearted in his races When raced in the Auckland district. He strides along with plenty of dash in his work at Wingatui, and can muster up a good deal of pace when allowed to extend himself. Lucy Locket has been somewhat disappointing this season, but is now showing improvement in her track work. She seemed to be finishing better than Wingatui when-they were put together over a mile on Saturday last. Mr Paris Kirton Flanders Foot of The Priory, Pembury, Kent, a director of the Commonwealth and Dominion Shippinir Line, left £222,137. . He gave instructions in his will that all his riding horses should bo shot “ by some competent person ” at the expense of his estate. Mr J-. M. Samson, who has provided the last three winners of the Waimate Cup, all ridden by C. Emerson, will probably be represented in the forthcoming contest by Wayward and Money Peer. C.

Emerson will have the mount on Wayward. George Duller, one of England’s leading horsemen in hurdle events, is stated to have received an offer of £3OOO as a retainer to go to America to ride for a prominent sportsman in that country this year. The sum named is stated to be the lar-est retainer ever offered to a hurdle race rider. . The South Australian scheme of training apprentices has met with great success, and could be adopted with advantage in this country. Two medals have been, awarded for the two apprentices showing the most progress in their riding and general conduct. Charlatan, who ran third to Beau Cavalier and Peter Maxwell in the Grand National Steeples and third to Peter Maxwell and Kawini in the same race in 1926 is again in work. It takes many months to thoroughly' condition a horse for the Grand National, and they are usually taken up in January. Cassels and Galway were schooled over seven jumps on Saturday. Their tasks included the new sod wall, which is a stoutly-built obstacle standing 3ft 6in. Cassells outjumped and outpaced Galway from start to finish, and gave a brilliant display. He will probably show much improved form when asked to race again. The Archiestoun gelding Seatoun, who has been out for lengthy spell extending to about a year, will shortly be placed in work again. Seatoun ran second to Commendation in the New Zealand Derby, and showed good promise as a three-year-old when he won twice and got placed six times out of 11 starts. The entries for the English Derby of 1929 total 347. Last year the race was worth 12,61550v5, and with the exception of SOOOsovs supplied by the executive the owners contributed the balance of the stakes. The Eclipse Stakes was worth 12,000sovs, and the executive supplied only 1500>.ovs. The Trial Hurdle Race, of £4OO, which has been added to the Auckland Racing Club’s autumn programme this year, is confined to horses that have not won a hurdle race of the value of £250, or hurdle races of the collective value of £5OO at time of nomination. The distance is fixed at a mile and three-quarters, and the race figures on the second day's programme. Tintoretto ran in Mr J. M. Samson’s ownership when he won at Napier Park last week. The Kilboy gelding was purchased on the eve of the meeting. Tintoretto was foaled in 1919, and got by Kilboy from Gold Painting, a sister to Eon Bord, the dam of Count Cavour. Gold Painting is also the dam of Imitation and Diorama. Tintoretto will join E. J. Ellis’s stable at Timaru. The Auckland trainer, J. T. Jamieson, hasateam of eight engaged at the Wellington autumn meeting. His representatives comprise Perception, Le Choucas, In the Shade. Ti I’ree, Dimmer, Winnington, Mithra, and Prince Humphrey. The only member of the team not well known to racegoers is Perception, a two-year old gelding by Psychology from Amyrin, that is owned by Mr F. Earl. Perception had one run early in the season and shaped creditably. The Solferino two-year-old gelding Salmo Salar, in J. Ruttledge’s stable, is training on nicely, and may capture a race before concluding the season. - Salmo Salar is a good-looking chestnut from Te Anau Maid, by Bezonian from Sister Francis, by Seaton Delaval —Agatha, by Nelson—Sister Agnes, by Rosicrucian. Te Anau Maid threw a good sort in Te Anau Lad, but the best he could do was never seen in public. Although the prize money attached to a Southland Racing Club's autumn meeting represents a big drop in comparison to the stakes offered at the summer fixture it is still strong enough to attract plenty of patronage. The Southland Cup of 35Qsovs, Awarua Handicap of 275sovs, Southland Steeplechase of 245sovs, Flying Handicap of 225sovs, and Invercargill Steeplechase of 220sovs form the principal events on the programme, for which nominations are duo on Friday next, March 16, at 5 p.m. - Set Sail was responsible for an excellent gallop on the inside grass at Wingatui on Saturday morning. The track was in excellent order, with a fairly long growth of grass carrying a heavy dew. With Voight in the saddle, Set Sail reeled off half a mile in 49 2-ssec, and seven furlongs in 1.30 3-5. She finished full of running, and is very well at present. Set Sail was taken north yesterday morning to 1 fill her engagements at Trentham this week. Black Duke, Apple Dighton, and Overhaul were put together over five furlongs at Wingatui on Saturday and they finished in the order named in 1.3. Apple Dighton got the best of the breakaway, and, covering a good deal of ground, led the others to the straight. Black Duke then drew up and finished in front, but neither of the trio were fully extended at the finish. Apple Dighton can go fast for five furlongs, but he is a hard puller and so apt to fight himself to a standstill. .. Those who have witnessed the racing in the north recently are of the opinion that the Romeo—Tecoma filly Royal Doulton is up to the top class. At Te Aroha on the opening day, considering that she was badly served by the start/ she made a fine showing to run second to that brilliant sprinter Paganelli in the Waihou Handicap. In consequence she received heavy support in the President’s Handicap, and fully realised expectations by winning easily. She ran to the front in the middle stages without difficulty, and had a comfortable margin at the finish. The Great Eastern Steeplechase at Onkaparinga. to be run on Easter Monday, for which W. Garrett has taken Sir Roseberry across, is the richest steeplechase in Australia. The distance is three miles and a-<[uarter, over 21 jumps, and the prize is 3000sovs, divided as follows:— First 2000s'ovs, second 500sovs, third 300 sovs, and fourth 200sovs. It is also a cheap race for owners, nomination costing Isov, and acceptance lOsovs. It is something for South Australia, (a totalisator State) to be able to put on the best steeplechase stake in the Commonwealth. Reports from the north speak very favourably of. Last Mark, by King Mark —Hoy, who is one of the finest-looking two-year-olds in the Dominion. He was not broken in until late in order to give his bones sufficient time to set, as his

brothers, King’s Folly and Rigoletto, and nis sister, Penelephon—all high-class, gal-lopers—-went amiss owing to bone trouble or weakness. Last Mark will make his debut at Napier this month, but as he is backward he can hardly be expected to show up. Hoy is also the dam of Anomaly, who was a high-class horse when in training. Australians and New Zealanders would be highly pleased if Black Watch (the son of the Cooltrim mare, Punka III) were to win the next English Derby, but, according to Rapier,” in the Illustrated Sporting and Dramatic News, that is unlikely to happen. He recently wrote as follows: ‘ If Black Watch should take classic honours this year, I shall be proved wrong in my present ideas. He took far too long to’ beat a moderate colt for the Gimcraek Stakes. I remember Gordon Richards had some excuse for him, but when all is said he ought to have easily polished off that opposition.” The Riverton Racing Club has again issued a three-card programme for its annual meeting, which as usual will take place during the Easter holidays. The pro gramme is a very attractive sportintr mix ture of ’chasing, flat racing, and trotting, and so will make such a widespread appeal to all ciasses of owners that success should be assured. The Riverton Cup, of 605sovs, including a gold cup valued at lOOgns, the Great Western Steeples, of 450sovs, the Easter Handicap, of 350sovs, and Riverton Steeplechase, of SOOsovs, form the star items on the programme. fhe light-harness events will be run on the third day. Nominations are due on Mon day, March 19, at 6 p.m. The King Mark gelding Polydectes, who figures amongst the acceptors for the Waimate meeting,' showed winning form last season. as a two-year-old, when he won three times and was twice placed out of 14 starts. At the Wellington Cup meeting he was one of the triple deadheaters in the Ruapehu Handicap, when the trio was made up by Broadacre 9.4, Polydectes 8.5, and Ganymede 7.0. They ran the six furlongs in 1.12 J, or Isec slower than Paperehase’s time in the Telegraph Handicap. Polydectes was unplaced in the Douro Cup, which resembled a football scrimmage rather than a horse race. He was unplaced in his race on the third day of the meeting. Polydectes is out of Itamos. by Hymettus from Idee, by Birkenhead from Ideal. Those who have seen the Rosenor— Monoxide co.lt foal bestow very high praise on the youngster. In fact, one who has been over several studs this year states that he is the finest foal of the season. It is rather interesting to note that Monoxide has produced a particularly fine foal as her first contribution to the Stud Book, as she went to the horse when in training, and raced for some time after service. As a rule the result achieved under such circumstances does not merit praise for good looks and conformation, but Monoxide has supplied a notable exception. Monoxide should breed well, as she was got by Boniform from Philomela, by Bezonian—Philomel, by Birkenhead—Arethusa, by Dreadnought —Dryad, by St. Leger—Woodnymph, by Musket —Sylvia, by Fisherman. The famous English jockey Fred Archer was known as “ the tinman.” We have often been asked to explain (says an exchange) how he obtained the soubriquet. It appears that a sporting journal of the tipster class was wont to publish a yearly keybook, in which the word “ tinman ” figured opposite to the name of the crack horseman. Notices to the effect that the “ tinman ” rides in the advertisement columns of the daily papers caused general inquiry to be made, and thus Archer earned a nickname that stuck to him for the rest of his life. Some people thought that he was called the “ tinman ” because he was so thin. Apropos of this, Fred Webb, a famous contemporary of Archer’s, once said, “ that the reason Archer is so thin is because he is fretting he cannot ride two winners in the same race.” Ihe two-year-old Gold Money, who made a very pleasing debut at the recent meeting held at Te Aroha, is described to me (says “ Phaeton ”) as a very nice filly, and recognising the lines on which she is bred it would be a surprise were the quality stamp missing from her. 'Well, the interesting feature in the pedigree of Gold Money is the inbreeding to St. Simon. Her sire, Paper Money, is by Greenback (a great-grandson of St. Simon), while her dam, Miss Ethel, is by VV airiki (son of Soult and grandson of St. Simon). On the dam’s side Gold Money can boast of two strains of Musket blood, and it is interesting to note that the name of Mosquito, the full sister to Musket, also figures in the pedigree. Gold Money is engaged in the Great Northern Champagne Stakes, to be run at Ellerslie next month, so that she will probably have an opportunity of earning distinction in select company. Sir Victor Sassoon’s mare. Dilly Dally (says “ The Special Commissioner,” of Sporting Life), has arrived in America upon a visit to the famous sire, Man o’ S, r - The Tet rarch out of Willy Nilly, a William 111 mare out of Costly Lady, by Ladas, Dilly Dally was bred by Messrs Robinson and Clark, and was sold by them to the late Lord Manton. . At his death sale she was sold on to the VV arren Tower stud for 4000gns. and then after the late Sir Edward Hulton died passed - into the hands of her present owner for 5500gns. Since she first went to the stud she has produced Ducks and Drakes, to Syndrian; Dilatory, to Gay Crusader; -Dilettante, to Lemonora; Miss Onslow, to Hurry On, and The Lawyer, to Son-in-law. According to an American contemporary the fee paid by Sir Victor Sassoon of Man o’ War is 5000dol (£1000), which; if correct, establishes a record as a stud fee. Tractor is bred on the same lines as Dilly Dally. (i The day of the long-planned coup and the r °d in pickle for the greater nart of the year i 3 seemingly dead. In fact, even the term rod in pickle ” ” suggests a libellous phrase nowadays to some owners and trainers, and we recall (savs the Sport,n? . T’mes) ] ate Mr Mellish, the original “ Robin Goodfellow ” of the Dailv Mail, being, threatened with a libel action by an irate owner and trainer whose horse he had mentioned as a “ rod in pickle ” And we suppose that the use of the beloved term “ readied,” by former racing writers ”L. the Sporting Times would, at least mean imprisonment without the option

for criminal libel! Anyway, we are inclined to think that those owners and trainers who have not many classic horses, but specialise in handicaps, are more open —and therefore more honest on the surf a f. e- 7 than some of those who are still talked of as the great coup-workers in the old days. Recently, in his Random Notes of the Turf, “ Touchstone,” of the Australasian, has told many good stories of the Kings of England and their fondness or otherwise of the turf. King William IV is said to have had small liking for turf pursuits, the reason probably being that his brother, George IV, suffered heavy losses. However, William IV, while he had no direct sympathy with the national sports of his subjects, he often entertained members of the Jockey Club at dinner. The story is told that during the dinner the conversation was mainly directed upon the Ascot meeting, to be held some few weeks later. The Marquis of Westminster was present, and he was boasting of his celebrated horse Touchstone, and offering to back him for a large sum against anything that could be named. The Kin<» heard the offer, and exclaimed, “ I accept the challenge and will name one to beat him by a neck.” Th e wager was at once concluded, and his Majesty, amidst a roar ot laughter, named “ The Giraffe.” The death of Pistol, which was reported irom Adelaide last week, marks the passing of the last noteworthy direct descendant of Carbine. Pistol, who was one ot the English-bred progeny of Carbine, proved a great prize to the South Australia breeder, Mr J. H. Aldridge. It is computed by “ Phaeton ” that descendants or 1 istol won approximately £225,000 in stakes, and, bearing in mind that stakemoney has not always been high in South Australia, I istol s record is a very noteworthy one. Pistol had the all-round record as a sire, his descendants winning on the flat, over hurdles, and across country. The three most noteworthy descendants of Carbine who served as sires were Wallace, Pistol, and Spearmint, and the winnings of their descendants respectively come out as follow:—Wallace (bred in Australia), £246,145; Pistol (bred in England)-, £235,000; Spearmint (bred in England), £164,717. What can be regarded as the outstanding feature in the above record is that Wallace, who figures at the head of the list, was one of the foals sired by Carbine in his first season, Fiom England comes news of the dealt of Signorinetta, who brought off a celebrated surprise in the Derby of 1908 under the co.ours of the Italian sportsman, Chevalier Ginistrelli. A London writer recently penned the following; “ Signorinetta’s very birth was a romance. Her owner, the p.'c taresque Chevalier Ginistrelli, had a very nice brood mare named Signorina. A colt out of her, by name Signorino, had finslied third in the Derby of 1905, which was wo.i by Cicero. The chevalier could not make up his mind with what sire he would mate Signorina. Then one day, when she was passing a paddock, she whinnied to a horse named Chalereux, a useful but not a great or fashionable sire. The chevalier decided that his mare had fallen in love and his mind was made up to mate her with Chainreux. The result was Signorinetta, who, starting at 100 to 1 against, won the Derby in 190-3. Two days later Signorinetta won the Oaks. After being retired to the stud Signorinetta was purchased as a brood mare by I,ord Rosebery for IO.OOOgns, but she .never threw anything of great note, though her son, The Winter King, wat useful.” George Fordham, one of the greatest and most popular of English jockeys, is one of the few famous jockeys who retired from riding, and after being three year. 4 out of the saddle made a successful “ comeback.” J. Pike, who rode Gothic in the Futurity Stakes at Caulfield, ii one of the few Australian riders who, after being out of the saddle for one or two seasons, returned to racing, and was not long in again establishing himself as one of the greatest riders we have ever seen. Making weight has always been Pike’s trouble (says a writer in the Aus.tralasian), as for manj" years now the lowest he has ridden has been 8.7. Fordham was 'never troubled with weight, as when he returned to the saddle in 1878 he could still ride 7.5. Fordham was a great public favourite, and when he won the English Derby on St. Bevys he was given a wonderful reception. He was known to English racing men as “ the kidder,” as he won numerous races by outwitting his brother jockeys. Irt 1884 he quit the saddle for good, and died in 1887. He selected his own epitaph for his tombstone, and it is most express sive, being, “It is the pace that kills.” “ Better than Precious Dust ” exclaimed many admirers of Polly Flinders, by Paper Money, when she won the first divisioA of the 14.2 Handicap at Victoria Park, Sydney, in sensational stj’.le recently-. And one who passed that remark (says an exchange) was R. Skelton, who should be in a better position than anyone elsd to judge the merits of the two. Skelton won many races with Precious Dust beforq he sold her, and it was only a couple of weeks ago that he disposed of Polly Flinders for £6OO. Although he had td accept a short price the new owner of the Paper Money mare recouped his purchase money. Her performance in giving Lady Woo and Belle Isle the best part of 10 lengths’ start in the last three furlongs was a remarkable one, especially when it was found that a fractious horse had kicked her on the point of the shoulder during the delay at the nost. Lnckily the injury has not developed seriously, and will not interfere with her preparation. The handicappers are gaining a profound

respect for Polly, and she was handicapped to carry 9.9 in the 14.2 at Roseberry recently, .but for the Kensington Cup, in all-heights company, she has the luxurious impost of 7.5 —a pound from the limit.