RACING.

Otago Witness, Issue 3888, 18 September 1928, Page 55

RACING.

FIXTURES. September 19.— Manawatu Hunt. September 22.—Ashburton. September 22.—Is’apier Park. September 22, 24.—Avondale. September 27, 28.—Geraldine. September 29.—Pakarangi Hunt. September 29.—Hawke's Bay. October 6.—Kurow. October 6.—Carterton. October 6, B.—Auckland. October 11, 13.—Dunedin Spring. October 13.—Masterton. October 20, 22.—Wellington. October 20, 22.—Gore. Octobei 20, 24.—Waikato. October 22.—Waverley. October- 22.—Waikato Hunt. October 22.—Waipawa. October 22.—North Canterbury. October 25, 27.—Pwerty Bay. October 27. —Banks Peninsula. October 31. —Birchwood Hunt. November 1, 3.—Dargaville. November 3,5, 7, 10.—N.Z. Cup. November 14, 15.—Winton. November 17, 19.—Cromwell. NOMINATIONS. September 4.—Ashburton. September 10.—Geraldine. September 14.—Dunedin. September 14.—Kurow. HANDICAPS. September 11. —Ashburton. September 14.—N.Z. Cup. September 17.—Geraldine. September 24.—Kurow. September 29 —Dunedin. ACCEPTANCES. September 18.—Ashburton. September 24.—Geraldine. September 26.—Kurow. October s.—Dunedin.

TALK OF THE DAY.

By Sentinel. THE NEW ZEALAND CUP. The declaration of the weights for the New Zealand Cup is one of the events of the season, as the handicap forms one of the principal topics in racing circles right up to the day of the race. The majority of this year’s field has been crowded in at the minimum, and so far as they are concerned it would be difficult to give some a chance on paper. Star Stranger, who figures at the top of the list, ran second with 8.4 to Rapier in last year’s race, and now meets him on 141 b better terms. They met again in the Auckland Cuu, when Rapier beat Star Stranger out of a place when in receipt of 101 b. They have been invited to meet again at a difference of 61b. Star Stranger beat Rapier at even weights in the Trentham Gold Cup, run in the record time of 3.22 J, and holds a good chance of beating him again if they meet in the big race at Riccarton. Count Cavour is a proved stayer, and is well treated in meeting Rapier on 91b better terms than when he ran second to him in the Auckland Cup. The Count also meets Star Stranger on 51b better terms than when the latter finished unplaced behind him in the Auckland Cup. On the figures Count Cavour should beat both ~ Rapier and Star Stranger. Beacon Light is not a sound horse, and may not reach the post. His best performance last season was a second in the Metropolitan Handicap. He just beat Footfall, and is badly treated in being asked to meet him on 71b worse terms for a neck beating. Footfall did not win a race last season, but he “ knocked at the door ” on several occasions. At the Ashburton spring meeting b-» was '«->»>•> •■ 1 -- 161 b better than Rapier, and was giving the son of Grey bpcar 11.0 w.i n

met in the N.Z. Cup. Footfall now meets Rapier on 191 b and Star Stranger on 51b better terms in this year’s race, and is regarded as the pick of the top weights. Both Set Sail and Pink Note appear to be at the mercy of Star Stranger on Wellington Cup form. Star Stranger outstayed the pair of them, and meets Set Sail on 21b worse terms and Pink Note on 81b better terms. Set Sail meets Pink Note on 101 b better terms than when they practically proved a match in the Wellington Cup. They met again in the Dunedin Cup, and Pink Note won when running at a difference of 171 b, and there is now 61b between them. Pink Note improved during the year, but has received more than ’his full share of weight through Set Sail. Battle Colours is apparently regarded as a better horse I than warranted on form, and has been handicapped more on what he threatens to do rather than on accomplishments. He may win, but certainly has none the best of it in being so close to Pink Note and Set Sail, who have displayed much better form. Set Sail won the Invercargill Cup with 9.6, with Pink Note, 8.5, in third place. Battle Colours was unplaced with 7.2. In the N.Z. Cup the figures read Set Sail 7.13, Pink Note 7.7, and Battle Colours 7.6. Tresham has displayed evidence of stamina on more than one occasion, and it is greatly in his favour that T. Quinlivan ranks as a past master in preparing a horse for a journey. Amongst the wins recorded by Tresham last season was a success in the Hawke’s Bay Cup with 8.2 in 2.33 1-5, which ranks as equal to the race record established by Maioha. Under a light weight Tresham may stay on and help to harass the topweights at the finish. Black Mint has nothing to carry in comparison to the big weights he raced under during the past season. He is a bigframed horse that should improve with age, and on that account will probably display better form during the present season. He won over a mile and a-half m the Birthday Handicap, and subsequently showed winning form under welter weights at the Wellington winter meeting and Grand National meeting. Black Mint has been running on at tlie end of his races, and with a feather weight looks as one worthy of a mark against his name. He meets Bisox on 261 b better terms than when they met in the Parliamentary Handicap, and that should make him one of the picks of the lightweight division. Much can happen during the next six or seven weeks to furnish good grounds for a change of opinion, but at the present time Footfall is regarded as the pick of the handicap, and others with a chance are Set Sail, Pink Note, Battle Colours, Black Mint, Oratrix, and Countersign. THE ASHBURTON MEETING. The acceptances foi the Ashburton meeting are not due until to-day. and this date seems rather too close to the racing, which takes place four days later. The meeting -would obtain a better publicity if the acceptances had closed or. Friday last, and thus obtain a week’s discussion before the race date. It is also not in favour of a meeting when trainers have to make arrangements for transport without being fully aware of the real strength of the opposition. The card should provide some interesting racing, particularly as Count Cavour and Footfall are both galloping well, and are apparently well forward, in condition The racing will carry a double interest, as a large number of the horses engaged are also likely to be seen out at Geraldine, Kurow. and at Dunedin. First Sight will probably start favourite for the Ashburton Handicap if sent to the post. He has won over a mile at Wellington with 9:12 in 1.404, and has a’so shaped well up to a mile and a-quarter. He may not be a boy’s horse, but he was well forward in condition at the Grand National meeting, when he wrecked a good chance in the Winter Cup by playing up at the post. First Sight would also have, a good chance in the Farewell Handicap, and this race may- be his mission. In his absence the disappointing Chickwheat may receive support, as he seems to show a partiality for the track. Gold Mint and Sir Roy may also receive support. If Silver Coot has trained on he may be backed in the Farewell despite the fact that he has tlie worst of it on paper with Money Order. Camisader, Chide, Rigmarole; Haze. Night March, and Corinthia may also be fancied if included amongst the acceptors. THE OLD SCHOOL. During, the course of an interesting article by Mr P. E. Baldwin on two notable trainers, the late H. Goodman and the evergreen S. Waddell, some mistakes occur, and are no doubt due to a lapse of memory. Mr Baldwin refers to the old steeplechase course at Forbury Park, and states that the horses ran up the sandhills and went round a post. As a matter of fact, two post and rail fences had to be jumped on the sandhills. They remained there for many years, an'd were used as a schooling ground., W. (“Percy”) White was never-associated with Goodman’s stable. The best riders that rode for him were C. Rudings, J. M'Combe. L. H. Hewitt, T. Buddicombe, and D. J. Price, who were all attached to the stable.. Blizzard was trained by

Goodman and not by S. Waddell. iSuvermark contracted strangles, and became useless for racing purposes. The closing of Forbury Park as a racecourse was a severe blow to Goodman, who resolutely declined to set up a stable at Wingatui for reasons that remain good to the present day. When Forbury Park closed he had a big team, and he took his horses to Riccarton. Goodman experienced a run of bad luck after the closing of Forbury Park, and an ever-present and unfortunate fascination for hazards cost him a mint of money during his career. In later years he trained and developed Solution, and as private trainer to the late Mr St. John Buckley, won races with Convoy, Master Alix. Lady Langdon, and others. It was on his advice that after training All Red as a youngster the son of Stepniak was sent to Porirua to get the benefit of the beach training which allowed him to stand up,and win the Auckland Cup in two consecutive attempts. The last horse of note handled by H. Goodman was Opei, whom many thought was entitled to the verdict in the Dunedin Cup of 1913, instead of Warstep. Mr Baldwin is quite right when he said Goodman could turn out good riders. Not only did he manufacture good riders in his own stable, but he also gave very valuable instruction to others. In fact, he taught one of the best riders of his day how to hold the reins after many years of success in the saddle. Fancy a successful rider for years and years not knowing how to hold the reins! Mr Baldwin states that Goodman was very severe on his horses, but no one knew how to train better than the man under notice, and anyone who thinks a horse kept in a glass case can develop the apex of form is labouring under a delusion. THE TOP WEIGHT. Star Stranger, who provides the peg on which the handicap of the New Zealand Cup is hung this -year, ranks as a genuine and proved stayer. This very desirable trait he inherits from Martian, one of the best sires of stayers ever identified with the New Zealand turf. He also comes from a good staying family on the dam’s side, as he traces to the Yattenden mare Guida, who proved herself a great source of stamina. Star Stranger, although a great stayer, has not succeeded in winning either the New Zealand Cup or Auckland Cup, which represent the two richest stakes decided over a distance. He ran second in the New Zealand Cup last year when attempting to give Rapier 201 b. Footfall beat him in the • Canterbury’ Cup when Limerick piloted both of them past the post, and Rapier beat him again in the Auckland Cup at just half the poundage which separated them in the New Zealand Cup. Star Stranger Von the A.R.C. Handicap when in receipt of 71b from Count Cavour, and his next winning effort came in the Wellington Cup, which he won with 9.8 from Pink Note (7.1) and Set Sail (8.3) in the smart time of 2.31. Then came four unplaced performances leading to a win in the Trentham Gold Cup, which he won with 9.4 in 3.22J —an Australasian record. Rapier was third. Star Stranger was unplaced with 10.3 in the A.R.C. Autumn Handicap, and ran second with 10.1 in the Foley' Handicap. He wound up the season by winning the Awapuni Gold Cup with 9.2 in 2.7 2-5 from Satrap (8.6), Mask (9.2), Hynanna (9.0), and Laughing Prince (8.6). Sometimes the top weight is the best treated horse in a handicap, but that is rarely the case in a race run over a distance. This is due to the fact that exposed form is generally loaded up to the hilt by castiron handicapping methods, which does not recognise x the fact that form rises and falls like the tides. Nor does it sufficient notice of the fact that the top weights with fully exposed form such as Star Stranger may be asked to give far too much weight to potential champions at the other end of the handicap. Still Star Stranger as a genuine stayer is always worthy of respect, but in this case he will probably share the fate of others who have been made top weights in races decided over a two-mile course. AN EXPLODED IDEA. Some few years ago there was an outcry in both Australia and this country which called a demand for a later publication of the weights for the Melbourne Cup and New Zealand Cup. It was held that the handicaps should not be declared until much nearer the date of the race. The writer helped to explode that 'opinion by stating that a handicap for the Melbourne Cup or New Zealand Cup could not be framed on early spring form. Take, for instance, Sta, Stranger’s form. He is regarded as the best stayer in New Zealand. He ran last week at Wanganui, when his form could not supply the remotest idea in the world as to what he should receive in the New Zealand Cup. He had to be handicapped on last season’s form, and so had every other horse in the race. Some of the critics with a tendency to proclaim opinions in block type overlook the fact that a trainer is not likely to subject a horse to a necessarily searching preparation for . a long race unless he can see a chance on paper. Hence the sooner the handicaps are declared the, better, because a good handicap tempts a trainer to get a horse ready, and the preparation -of a New Zealand Clip horse is not the matter of a few weeks., In the

early spring of the season horses with important engagements ahead are not fully tuned up when saddled for races which are really part of their preparation. They are, in fact, not in condition to reproduce their best form, and hence it would be ridiculous to frame a handicap oil a false basis. It may be regarded as a mistake to run rich stakes early in the season, but it should be remembered that the best time to train a horse is when the sting is out of the going, and such a desirable state of affairs is not likely to be obtained during the summer months. A DOMINANT LINE. The following paragraph has been going the rounds and published without comment:— When the Duke of Portland .on? 11 , . Car P’ne privately for 13,500gns in 1 ? 9 ?' r ln s object in taking the great son ot Musket to England was to mate him with daughters of St. Simon, which were then accumulating in the Welbeck Stud paddocks. Carbine did fairly well on mares of the Galopin strain, though his outstanding success in Great Britain was to get Spearmint from a mare who was entirely devoid of that blood. It has always piqued the curiosity of students '? a i s bnowden ” in the Australasian J of breeding that the success of Carbine on mares of St. Simon blood was a lon.’ way below that achieved by St. Simon oil mares of Carbine or Musket strain. ny this should have been so is far from obvious.” ■ln regard to the above it is interesting to recall the opinion of an old-time authority who claimed that a horse of sluggish temperament never made a good sire.° "St. Simon himself, and most of his stock, were at times overburdened with vitality and so much so was that the case that some of them could be got fit to race on walking exercise alone. It was for this reason that the Duke of Portland bought Carbine in order to infuse the more phlegmatic Musket strain into the fiery St. Simon blood with the hope of balancing things in a pedigree. A horse of very high-strung temperament and full of vitality is very apt to~have a dominating influence, and that is perhaps why St. Simon on Musket did better than the reverse way in a pedigree. In other words St. Simon represents a more vital force than Musket. This must be obvious to anyone who gives the matter sufficient consideration. Musket represents stamina and a steadying influence in a pedigree, whilst St. Simon represents powder and power. Some of the best winners in England during recent years have-been inbred to St. Simon .with a steadying influence of more phlegmatic strains. One of them is Fairway, who has just won the St. Leger, and another is Book Law, who won the same race last year. THE GELDING ALLOWANCE. The fallacy of allowing geldings 31b in u eight-for-age races was again illustrated in the Warwick Stakes, one mile. Limerick, the acknowledged champion of Australasia, is a five-year-old gelding, and has proved himself to be equal to giving most entries weight and a beating over any distance. But because the Maorilander has been unsexed the four-year-old Winalot had to carry the same weight (9.0) as this super-gelding. During the last 20 years the New Zealanders have sent geldings to Sydney which over and over again have shown that they are al’ the better as racing propositions for being operated on. For instance, Gloaming, Sasanof, Rapine, Pilliewinkie, and Ballymena were all geldings that could more than hold their own with the entries', who had to concede them 31b in weight-for-age races, and consequently found the concession beyond them. Limerick had four opponents in the Warwick Stakes, a weight-for-age race, with allowances for horses not having won a race of the value of £lOOO to the winner. With the exception of Limerick and Winalot. the other three starters —Statesman, Satrap, and Jocelyn—claimed 51b for not having won that much, while Limerick and Satrap had the gelding allowance. The race was just an exercise canter for the crack Maorilander (says “Musket”), who went to the front .early _ and remained there to the end, but Limerick went serenely on his way to beat his challenger by a length, with Statesman a moderate third. Winalot is being trained for the Melbourne Cup and it is hardly to be expected that he would have any chance of beating Limerick at a mile; yet his form was very pleasing to those who have sup- ' ported him to win the big two-mile event at Flemington. He has thickened out a lot, and looks well able to carry the 9.4 allotted him in that event. Limerick won so well that there is no telling how much he had in reserve at the finish: but in the longer w;f.a. races at Randwick Winalot will most likely put a break to Limerick’s . sequence of victories, which now number 10 since the opening of last season. B BIC BETS. - Many are the stories of huge betting coups being landed over “ t’Leger ” (as the Yorkshiremen call it) and of supposed “ certainties ” that were beaten. One thousand pounds to a walking stick was laid against Theodore, the St. Leger winner of 1822, whose nominal starting price was 100 to 1. Betting ou races

such as the Derby and St. Leger wag just as heavy a century ago as it is now—probably the individual betting was on a larger scale. James Bland won £30,000 over Tarrare in 1826, and two years previously George Payne, a young gentleman of fashion, lost £33,000 by Jerry’s victory in the St. Leger. George Greville, who inveighed in hypocritical fashion against the votaries of the turf in his celebrated “ Memoirs,” had a single wager of £50,000 to £lOOO about Daniel O’Rourke for the Derby of 1852. “Bill” Davies, the “leviathan” bookmaker of his day, was the layer of this wager, and he did not alter the odds until he had laid £lOO,OOO against Daniel O'Rourke. Davies lost £30,000 over the race, yet he retrieved his losses with interest by “going for” Stockwell in the St. Leger _ and “ peppering ” the favourites, Daniel O’Rourke and Songstress. Even old Elwes, the miser, who was. known to eat nothing all day but a piece of crushed pancake (which had been made two months before, and which he would persist in styling “as good as new ”), would stand to lose £7OOO on a race, and the Sporting Magazine could write two months previous to Fyldener’s St. Leger, 1806: “ There is little doubt that upwards of one million guineas has already been laid.” With scarcely an exception, these heavy plungers came to dire grief in the long run. A fitting illustration of the high play and heavy betting, that prevailed is to be found in the career of Lord Foley. “He was as liberal a patron as the turf ever nad, amiable, beloved, kind in all the relations of life; he left behind him a stainless name but a bankrupt exchequer and an encumbered estate. He began his career on the turf with £lOO,OOO in ready money and a clear estate of £lB,OOO a year. By disastrous speculation he ran through all his fortune and parted with all the interest he had in his landed estate.” A FAMOUS ENGLISH STUD. Mr Percy Miller’s Kia-ora stud occupies an important place in the Australian thoroughbred breeding industry, and Lord Astor's Cliveden stud is on a correspondingly high plane in England. Curiously enough (writes the Sydney Mail’s London correspondent) the two establishments are linked in blood, for from Cliveden came two of Mr Miller’s stallions, Magpie and Saltash. A recent visitor to Cliveden has some interesting things to say. All the present brood mares are descendants of three mares —Conjure, Popinjay, and Maid of the Mist. Of these Popinjay is of most interest to Australians, for she was the dam of Magpie, who was responsible for Windbag’s appearance on Australian tracks. For that reason alone Popinjay deserves the kind thoughts of all turf-lovers in the Commonwealth. She is still alive, at the age of 23. Lord Astor acquired her in 1906 from Lord Rosebery, and she has produced a notable succession of racehorses for him. She was barren to Gay Crusader this year, but has been mated with him again. It was from Maid of the Mist that the other Kia-ora stallions descended. Saltash is by Sunstar from Hamoaze, who was by Torpoint from Maid of the Mist. The latter was a daughter, by Cyllene, of the great Sceptre. Maid of the Mist came into Lord Astor’s possession in 1911. Although she is dead her influence in the Cliveden stud is still great, for Lord Astor’s leading stallions are Buchan (a full brother to Saltash) and Craig an Eran. Maid of the Mist’s own son by Sunstar. Buchan has already proved himself as a sire, and Craig an Eran is rapidly achieving a reputation. To save the stud from being too full of his own blood Lord Astor is sending most of his mares to outside sires. At present at Cliveden are six yearling colts aud three yearling fillies. The best three of the colts are said by an expert to be Writ, by Papyrus from. Popingaol; Trews, by Buchan fr'-m Long Suit; ..nd Breadcrumb, by Manna from Pinprick. The best of the fillies is judged to be S.P., by Swynford from Plymstock, the others being by Papyrus and Captain Cuttie. There are seven co’t foa’s and six filly foals of 1928 at Cliveden by the following sires:—Hurry On, Bruleur, Teddy, i Manna. Phalarie. Buchan. Son-in-law, Gay Crusader. Ksar. Swynford, and that great horse Solario. The extent to which Lord Astor is going to outside sires for fresh blood can be judged from this list. Three of them—Bruleur, Teddy, and Ksar —are French. THE OLDEST “CLASSIC” RACE. Just 150 years ago, when George 111 was king and the American War of Independence was drawing to a close, a select little party of English sportsmen were dining together at Doncaster, when a question of some historical importance was settled. Discussing the name of a race which had first been run on Cantley Common. Doncaster, in 1776, simply as a sweepstakes of 25gns each, for three-year-old colts and fillies, 7.12, two miles, the Marquis of Rockingham- (twice Prime Minister of England) proposed that the compliment of naming the race after him should be paid to Colonel Anthony St. Leger. of Park Hill, in recognition of his services in the cause of sport. The proposition was enthusiastically received, and in due course the first St. Leger was run in 1778, thus ante-dating the first

Derby by two years, or by four, if we count the two unnamed races. Up to the time of writing this note I have not seen (says “ Touchstone ”) any cabled report of the betting on the St. Leger, but the Derby winner, Felstead, probably will start a hot favourite,- although Lord Derby’s Eclipse Stakes winner, Fairway, ■will not lack, support. Fairway’s pronounced failure in the Derby is attributed by his admirers to the colt having been unnerved by the ordeal of having to thread his way through a seething crowd on the journey from the paddock to the starting post. But it is possible that the main reason for Fairway’s poor display at Epsom lies in his inability to stay the distance, a point that should be cleared up this week. [Felstead was scratched, and Fairway won.]

IN A NUTSHELL.

The Solferino mare Lava will visit Paper Money this season. Handicaps for the Dunedin spring meeting are due on the 29th inst. . Pink Note beat Set Sail in a gallop oxer seven furlongs on Acceptances for the Ashburton spring meeting are due to-day, the 18th inst.' Acceptances for the Geraldine meeting are due on Monday next, the 24th inst. Local stables are well represented in the nominations for the Geraldine meeting.

Rotorex is training on nicely, and the brothel’ to Rotor may prove useful next season.

The Solferino gelding Volant broke down so badly last week that hehad to be destroyed.

Camisader is bowling along freely in his work, and should soon rejoin the winning ranks. Lucy Locket is now bigger and more robust in condition than at any part of her career.

Killorna is commencing to smarten up in her work, and should soon pick up a race or two.

The Australasian Turf Register shows that .nearly 10,000 horses raced in Australia last season.

Episode was made a short-priced favourite for the Wanganui Guineas, but failed to stay out a mile. During the past season 843,11350 vs in is takes were distributed in England, Ire-land,-and Scotland.

Booster is going on nicely in his preparation. and a few sharp gallops would find him ready to race. The smart mare Solrose is in work again, and seemed to be quite sound after working on Saturday last. Arch Lassie, the dam of Young Lochinvar, has produced a filly to Tea Tray, and will visit Paper Money. The Michaela filly Nedda is doing well, ■and after working on Saturday morning endeavoured to kick the sky. Very satisfactory nominations were received for the Kurow meeting. Handicaps are due on the 24th inst.

Mr Sol Green, the owner of Gothic, is anxious to match his horse against Limerick for lOOOsovs aside over a mile.

Quite a number of horses with engagements in the N.Z. Cup have been nominated for the Dunedin spring meeting.

Set Sail continues to get through • i fairly solid preparation, and will saddle up fit and well when next asked to race

The Dunedin spring programme met •with a liberal support from owners, and good fields are assured for the meeting. Happy Warrior has rejoined the active brigade at Wingatui, and seems to have benefited by a lengthy spell and treat ment to his legs. Tembroney now wears a bandage on his hear hind lesr as a result of being galloped on during his race at the Otagc Hunt Club’s meeting

The Victorian owner, Mr Sol Green, has stated that he is prepared to match Gothic against Limerick for lOOOsovs aside wager. Rampion has again been thrown out of training, and it is doubtful if he will stand another preparation. He won 26.48450 vs in stakes.

Red Fuchsia continues on the _sick list, but is making slow recovery. It 'will be some months before the All Red gelding is seen under silk again. It is stated that Raasay sold at 4000gns, and not 3000gns, as originally stated. Mr J. S. M'Leod lost a foal brother to Raasay a few days ago. Footfall has been handicapped to meet Rapier on 101 b better terms than when the latter beat him out of a" place in the Auckland Cup. T. Metcalf .rode the winning double on the first day of the Wanganui meeting, and has done very well in the north since deserting Wingatui. Consent, the winner of this year’s Wanganui Guineas, won a race last season, and also gained a place in four other races out of seven starts.

Apple Dighton was kicked just below the hock by a stablemate last week, but fortunately only a superficial wound remains as a result of the blow.

_ Mr J. M. Samson appears to have established a record by having a horse nominated for every race on the Dunedin spring programme.

Comic Song strode out freely in a halfmile sprint on Saturday morning, and is keeping fairly sound under a lot of slow pticing work.

Oratrix should have won the Great Autumn Handicap last season, and so has to be regarded as a possibility for the N.Z. Cup.

Hynanna is one of the principal picks for the Caulfield Cup, but it is doubtful if such a long strider will be seen to the best advantage on the Caulfield track. It does not seem to have struck anybody that Beau Cavalier is inclined to quit when challenged, a result of being overraced.

The Ministry of Agriculture in Moscow has recently published- a Russian Stud Book. It is the first work of its kind issued since 1916. R. C. N, Reed has Rotorex and Killorna in good shape, and both of them should more than pay their way. this season. The Paper Money gelding Cashier, who won at Wanganui last week, is a descendant of St. Frusquin through his sire, and -his second dam was got by San Francisco, a brother of St. Frusquin. Footfall finished in front of Star Stranger when they followed Limerick home, and in the New Zealand Cup Footfall meets Star Stranger on 151 - better terms. Within the next few days a start will be made in laying down a tan track at Wingatui. It will prove a great boon to trainers and assist them in training a team. Despite the remarkable development of mechanical methods of transport there are, it is authoritatively stated, more horses working to-day in London than there were in 1913. Battlement ran third to Rapier ana Count Cavour in the Auckland Cup. He has been handicapped to meet Count Cavour cn 511 b worse terms in the N.Z. Cup. Catkin, the winner -of the principal handicap run at Wanganui last week, was got by Catmint from Hukapapa, by Snow King from the Imported mare Marie Odile, by St. Amant. The Australian-bred colt Laughing Prince has been a cheap horse at the lOOOgns paid for him by his present owner. He was got by Quantock from Martian Princess, by Martian—Two Step, by Stepniak. C. Dawson left for Australia last week in charge of Tholomon, Cartoon, a Night Raid—Miss Muriel two-year-old, and a Tractor —Miss Muriel four-year-old horse. The shipment is booked to join U. Christie’s team at West Australia. The English mare Love Oil has proved a gold mine since purchased by Lord Furness at 7100 guineas. A Gay Crusader filly from her made 13,000 guineas at the Doncaster sales, and three of her foals have made a' total of 35,175 guineas. Only five horses have been handicapped to carry over Bst in the N.Z. Cup. and capable light weights could command a good fee for their services. It would be so in “England, but here thej- are glad to accent a mount on anything with a chance Rotor has been a rather unlucky horse. He just missed the Winter Cup, and also another race at the Grand National meeting. Last season he had nine placed performances and three wins out of 21 starts.

Pink Note won the Dunedin Cup with 8.5, when the unplaced lot included Set Sail 9.8 and Countersign 7.12. In the New Zealand Cun. Set Sail meets Pink Note on 111 b better terms and Countersign on the same terms. Ten of the produce of Blue Tit were sold at auction for 45,765gn5, and they won £28,034 in stakes. On of them, in Blue Ensign, is now making good as a sire, and may save the family from being condemned as an expensive folly. Sentiment and hope cause owners to nominate for some races, and sense suggests a prompt cutting of expense. For that reason it is expected to find a big shrinkage when acceptances are declared for the N.Z. Cup. Paper Money was well represented at the Wanganui meeting by Speed Light and Cashier. Speed Light is a sister to Flicker and Lucky Light, and half-sister to Gold Light and Razzle Dazzle. Cashier is a son of Isabel by Hallowmas—Crucinella, by San Francisco. In France every owner who expends a sum amounting to 6000 francs per annum in entries receives a free pass to all meetings and all enclosures. An owner who has not an annual pass, but has a horse running, can obtain one entitling to entrance to all enclosures.

This year’s Goodwood Cup, run over two miles and five furlongs, was won by Kinchinjunga, a son of Juggernaut, who is the only son of St. Simon at the stud in England. Juggernaut spent the early part of his stud career in Ireland, but the success of his stock was responsible for a transfer to England. Judging by the nominations for the Dunedin spring meeting good fields are likely to be seen in the M'Lean Stakes and Dunedin Guineas. A big field of two-year-olds has been nominated for the Dominion Handicap, and quite a number engaged in the Dunedin Guineas has been booked to race on the first day of the fixture.

At the Menangle Park meeting, New South Wales, held recently, Deferential, ridden by M. M’Carten, was beaten a head by Quince in the Flying Welter. Evidently the trainer of Deferential (C. O. Scott) imagined his horse met with interference from the winner, and lodged a protest, but in place of the protest being upheld Scott was fined £5 for lodging a frivolous objection. According to figures compiled by the Police Department, the totalisator investments for the past season in South Australia were £118,733 less than in the previous year. Up to June 30 the total amount handled was £1,572.785, from which the clubs received £117,958. the Government tax amounting to £78,659. Dividends left unclaimed, which also go to the Treasury, amounted to £2303. . Gold Tinge was shipped to Sydney last week to run at the A.J.C. spring meseting; He is well forward in condition, and although only a week or so will elapse after his landing, the Paper Money gelding may be found keeping the best of them busy, as he has been shaping very well on the track. Narrative and Puff may help to pay expenses by winning at some of the minor meetings.

Fairway, the winner of this year’s St. Leger, is inbred to St. Simon. He was got by Phalaris from Scapa Flow, by Chaucer (sire of Arrowsmith) from Anchora. by Love Wisely—Enyholme, by Hazelhatch. Phalaris belongs to the same family taproot as Martian and Positano, two of the best sires of stayers we know, but nevertheless the sire of this

year’s'St. Leger winner has been generally condemned by English critics as a sire of non-stayers. Mr A.. B. Williams’s imported mare Sweet Charity, by Diadumenos—Maundy Thursday, has foaled a filly to Limond, and will be mated with Shambles. Sweet Charity is the dam of Knightlike and of Netley, a promising two-year-old filly by Martian, being got ready by G. Murray Aynsley to carry Mr C. G. Dalgety’s colours. Sweet Charity, with a Martian filly foal at foot and a service by Limond. made 800gns when sold at tho dispersal sale of the late Mr J. F. Buchanan’s stud. The price paid by “Mr Constable ” for the New Zealand three-year-old Raasay has not transpired, nor, I understand, is it likely to. “ Why the mystery? ” someone will ask;"but it is really a matter that only concerns the seller and buyer, and if Raasay should not turn out as well as anticipated, his owner will, in the absence of figures, avoid being twitted by his friends —and they wouldn’t forget to do it —on having made a bad bargain. [Raasay cost 4000gns.] . , The brood mare Legality, who is included among the purchases made by Mr H. R. Mackenzie in England on account of the Auckland Stud Company, was foaled in 1925. Legality, who is a daughter of Noblesse Oblige (son of The Tetrarch) and the Gallinule mare Honora, was mated this year with the Frenchbred horse Tonton (son of Prince Palatine), so that if produce results, there will be an important addition to the Stud Book.

While returning to the enclosure after running in the Memsie Stakes at Caulfield that speedy little mare Lady Beth was kicked in the chest by Gothic. A swelling appeared almost immediately, and was showing signs of soreness, which, however, was expected to work off in a day or so. Gothic won the Memsie Stakes, and Lady Beth was second. Had the placmgs been reversed there may have been some excuse for Gothic’s display; but (says a Sydney scribe) to defeat a lady and then kick her does not say mucn for his manners.

A high-class racehorse (says “Mankato ’’) cannot have too much speed. The best class stayers are able to develop as much energy as any sprinter. John Osborne stated that Stockwell could have beaten anything in training -at half a mile. Where was the sprinter that could tackle St. Simon? Persimmon could beat smart sprinters. Bayardo and Gay Crusader both had great speed. These horses and many others were far superior to Musket, Merman, Wargrave. Warlingham, Willony, and the White Knight because they had better speed. There is no limit to Mr P. Miller’s operations where stallions are concerned. Magpie’s half-brother. Cross Bow (by Gay Crusader), went to auction in Johannesburg, and Mr Miller’s commission for the horse was 5000gns. It was insufficient (says “Pilot”) Cross Bow being sold for 5300gns, subject to the owner’s approval.' Cross Bow, who was favourite for the English Derby won by Manna, missed a place in that race. He won races subsequently, and was sold for 5000gns in 1926. Later, he was sent to South Africa for some of the big handicaps in that country, but was unsuccessful.

Rotor has been granted a chance in the New Zealand Cup in some quarters, but the stable may have better material in Countersign if she runs up to the promise displayed in the Fendalton Handicap. On that occasion she came from last place to finish on strongly behind loma and Bennanee, and she appeared unlucky in missing a win. Countersign has none the best of' it on paper becauseshe suffers through being one of the crowd on the minimum, but a mental photo of the run in the Fendalton Handicap suggests that she may be hard to beat in the big race at Riccart<Jb„ The Solferino mare Lava, owned by Mr J. M. Samson, will be bred to Paper Money this season. This mating will supply a St. Simon cross on to Musket through Multiform and Trenton on the Nightmare Taproot, which supplied Midnight Sqn. Noctuiform, Nightfall, Wakeful, and other first-class perforjners. Paper Money also brings in an infusion of Eager (sire of Gloaming’s dam) and also one of Sunshine, the best staying taproot in Australasia. The Sunshine line produced Martian. Positano, Limond. and Bonifonn. If Lava produces to Paper Money the result should be a rare combination of speed and stamina. In England there are 333 days of racing on the flat and 294 over the jumps in a year. According to some advocates of the totalisator, a turnover of £25,000,000 will result from the 627 days. It might be so if the betting shops were eliminated, but with those and the course bookmakers opposing it (says an exchange) the probabilities favour machine investments for the first year being comparatively light. Except on special occasions attendances are not really large at English meetings, and it_will take some time for followers of racing in the Old Country to become accustomed to machine betting.

It is not often that horses have a double running in this State (says a Pertn writer), and it is a rare occurrence in any State for an animal to win at second attempt in one day, more particularly when they are racing over a distance with which they are not familiar. The chestnut mare Duetto executed this feat on August 27, when she captured the handicap. (one mile and a quarter), after being beaten in the Plate. Duetto is a six-year-old mare by Elysian—Harmonious, who, after showing winning form here, was sold, when a three-year-old, by her ownerbreeder. Mr B. Gaisford, to Western Australia. . .

Rapier won the New Zealand Cup with 7.12, with Star Stranger 9.4 and Footfall 8.9 fighting out the places. Count Cavour. 9.6 and Pink Note 7.1 were amongst the unplaced lot. Rapier afterwards won the Auckland Cup with 8.10 by two and a-half J lengths from Count Cavour. 9.5. whilst Star Stranger 9.6 and Footfall 8.12 were amongst the unplaced division. Rapier, on Auckland Cup form, goes up 41b, Count Cavour is dropped 51b, Footfall drops 61b, and Star Stranger remains at 9.®. Count Cavour meets Rapier on 91b and Star Stranger on 51b better terms, and Footfall on lib worse terms. These figures make Count Cavour to be one of the picks of the top weights in the .New Zealand Cup.

The Gaming Bill before the South Australian Parliament aims at the complete suppression of the bookmakers, and the whole measure is cast on such drastic lines as to create, if passed, widespread concern in racing circles in the particular quarter of the Commonwealth where it would operate. The Bill sets out to place the onus upon the respective, clubs to suppress illegal betting on racecourses. If a club fails to carry out its obligations in -this respect it would be liable to have its" totalisator license taken away or else have it suspended. Racing officials, it is stated, are considerably perturbed over the Government’s action, as they realise they have a herculean task to stop a practice which the police were unable to suppress.

The most valuable two-year-old race run in England is the Sandown National Breeders’ Produce Stakes. The added money is £lOOO. but though there were only 13 starters this year, owners’ forfeits were so heavy that the owner of the winner received £6802, iir addition to which there was £3OO for its breeder. Owner and breeder of the second horse got- £2OO each, and of the third horse £lOO each. The winner. Tiffin (Tetratema — Dawnwind, by Sunstar), who had scored at her only previous start, was backed dou n to a short price, and beat the favourite. Mr Jinks, by two lengths. Sir John Rutherford sold Tiffin as a foal to Lord Ellesmere for UOOgns. and her dam to Lord Dewar for 5000gus.

An English writer says that one of the best bargains a man ever made .was that of Mr Martinez de Hoz when he paid 30,000gns for the then three-vear-old Craganour in the summer of 1913. Most people know what the horse did when racing for Mr Bower Ismay, who bought him as a yearling from Sledmere at Doncaster for 3200gns, but many are probably not aware what a marvellous success Craganour has proved as a stallion in the Argentine. where his stock won over £500.000 in stakes. One of his best runners. the now 12-year-old Buen Ojo, won 2 out of the 28 races he contested, worth collectively £23.600. Craganour finished first in the bumping English Derby of 1912, and was disqualified. A Melbourne thinks a three-year-old may com linently into the market for the Cau.i.Jd Cup before the day. The difficulty is to pick the right one —with Mo.llison not engaged. It was much the same the year Whittier won. If only some good fairy could put us on to a three-year-old in this year's Cup as good as Whittier! The Caulfield race has often been won by three-year-olds. All the same, many high-class three-year-olds have made a very poor show in that race —among them Patrobas. who was good enough to win the Victoria Derby and Melbourne Cup in the same year. A good staying three-year-old. handicapped at something under w.f.a.. should always be dangerous if smart enough to secure a good position early. “ Australian polo ponies, as a whole, are a class above the American.” said Captain Skene, a Harden player, at Suva, who. with his wife, is returning to Australia after a visit to Honolulu. He sold his string of 25, then trained the team he had left. He enlisted two players in Honolulu, and entered the inter-island competition. His team won in four matches, carried off the inter-island event, and beat each team, including the Army (handicap 5), by four. Captain Skene has a fine property near The Rock, in Riverina. He recently sent a number of selected ponies to America for sale. There is some prospect of a good export trade being built up in this way, as the supply of horses of class in America is inadequate. and high prices are paid for suitable types. Gordon Richards, the crack English jockey, recently said he was ambitious to beat the records of all other jockeys. Commenting on this, a writer in the Daily Mail, London, says: “I have my doubts if ever he will surpass the late Fred Archer’s record of 246 winners in 1885. Last year Richards headed the list with 164. but many jockeys have ridden more winners than that in one season. He has, in fact, yet to catch up with Frank Wootton’s best of 187 in 1911. There is, of course, plenty of time for Gordon Richards, who is only 24 years old. Richards has a quick-thinking mind and an abnormal finishing power for one of his size, to which combination his success is due. Frank Bullock is the best type of all-round jockey the present generation has seen, and it is pleasing to hear that he may soon be with us again .as a trainer.” If the laws under discussion in the South Australian Parliament are passed, men who surreptitiously carry on bookmaking on racecourses are in for a pretty hot time. For a person who has had his ticket revoked because he was suspected of betting the penalty for re-entering the course is £5O. If caught actually wagering the fine for the first offence proposes £5O and not more than £2OO. and if the offence is repeated the punishment is imprisonment for not less than one month and not more than six months. More than that, the amendments provide that any person so convicted shall not be admitted to a racecourse for 12 months afterwards. The penalty for a first offence in this direction is a fine of £2O or up to £lOO, or gaol for one month or three months. Local bookmakers are given no loophope at all under the new Act if it is accepted by the higher House.

A man who is not in the habit of “ dreaming about horses ” is inquiring about the grey horses engaged in the Melbourne Cup. He says he saw a grey win that race. It is nearly up to a grey to win, but the outlook is not promising. The writer has known only one man who made a success of dreaming Cup winners. He did not' know what horses were in the Newmarket Handicap of a bygone day, but dreamed that Coronet won'. On inquiry, he found that 100 to 1 was being quoted about Coron.et, and backed him to win some thousands. A generation later the same man dreamed that Nightwatch won the Melbourne Cup. In the interim he had done no dreaming, and took no interest in racing, but he risked £5 on the sun of Wakeful. Trying to pick winners in the ordinary way is hard, but finding them through dreams is harder.

The English-bred horse High Art is now on the high seas, and may be expected to reach here some time this month. He was purchased in England (says a Sydney paper) by Mr A. W. Thompson, of Widden Stud, where he will do stud duty

after becoming acclimatised. Probably the reason Mr Thompson favoured High Art as a prospective sire was owing to the fact that he had two crosses of the invaluable Trenton blood in his veins, High Art being by Gainsborough from Whitetor, by Torpoint (son of Trenton) ; while Gainsborough is by Bayardo from Rosedrop, by St. Frusquin from Rosaline, by Trenton. Bayardo was by Bay Ronald, the grandsire of imported Magpie; so that Mr Thompson has in High Art a combination of the best line of Hampton merged with Musket’s strains through Trenton. Lily of the Valley, the dam of Whitetor. is also the dam of that exceptional sire, the defunct Valais, and here again js a strain of blood highly valued here.

Limerick began the 1928-29 season well on by winning the Warwick Stakes at M arwick Farm, and brought his stake-earnings up to £32.473. He is still £11,627 behind the phenomenal Gloaming, but should he race for as many years it is long odds that he will be far in front of The Welkin’s famous son, who laced until nine years old. whereas Limerick is just on the threshold of his .five-year-old career. Should the son of Limond go through his Randwick engagements unbeaten he will add over £5OOO to bis total; and if he remains sound for another two years he can be depended upon to win £lOOO each season. But where horseflesh is concerned it is difficult to look too far ahead, for racehorses are apt to go at any, time after turning file i cars of age. The record of Carbine (£29.626) defied all efforts for 32 years. Every now and again some equine' hero would draw close to Carbine’s total only to disappear from the track broken down’; and it may be the same, with Limerick. However (savs “Musket”), he has it in Ins f<i\ our that he is a gelding, and consequently may last just as long as Gloammg, also a gelding.

Horses from New Zealand showing decent form find a ready market in Sydney (says “Musket’), and the separate displays of tbh three-year-olds Raasay and Perception here so impressed that they have already changed hands, though they have been here but a few weeks. Raasay is a chestnut colt by the imported Lemberg horse Lord Quex (34) from Tressida (5) by imp. Tressady (2) from Princess Melton, by imp. Duke of Melton (27) from Chand Bee Bee (imp.), and is consequently related to that good horse Piastre, a son of Chand Bee Bee. Perception is by Psychology (4), an imported son of Tracery, from Amyrin (1), by imp. Bezonian (1) from Amyris, by imp. Hpld Reef (12) from Balm, by Dunlop (1). The respective prices of the pair have not been made public, but a cable from New Zealand stated that £2OOO and contingencies were secured for Perception. The gentleman who races as Mr “ Constable ” is the new owner of Raasay, and Mr F. J. Gore is the name of the purchaser of Perception, while both will be trained by Frank Marsden. The Maorilanders give the impression that they will be seem to advantage over middle and long distances, and should soon return their purchase money. Now, on the principal newspapers of Athens there was a racing man whose payroll was equal to that of an ambassador. owing to the fame and esteem in which he was held by the populace who attend the National Games. And every morning in his column he would ask in bold type: “Who gave you the winner last week? ” hoping and praying that no one would look up the files to cal] his bluff. In the evening he would roll along to his office in his Royce, distributing largesse among the sub-editors and other slaves who crowded, round him, and would dictate his column to a stenographic wench of surpassing beauty. And his raiment, being of exquisite texture, was a marvel to behold. Yet of a sudden he seemed to become poorer, selling his motor chariot, and his raiment became shabby, so that even the office staff marvelled until one day one of them approached him without a salaam, saying boldly: “How comes it that you no longer honour your humble servants with the sight of your motor car and your big cigar, which is even as that depicted in the cartoons of Thomas W. Ebster? ” And the great man hung his head shamefacedly, and said: “ I’ve been a fool, my boy, an ignoramus. I’ve been backing my own tips.” Moral: The shoemaker who says there’s nothing like leather usually wears carpet slippers.—Athletic News. The Acre gelding Consent, who beat a short-priced favourite in Episode in the Wanganui Guineas, started seven times as a two-year-old. He was unplaced in his first two races, and gained a win and places in his subsequent engagements. He beat a big field in a maiden race at Otaki. and at the Wellington Winter' meeting finished third to Toxeuma and Roscrea in the Trial Plate, and he afterwards ran second to Historic in the Novice Handicap. As this form occurred right at the back of the season, Consent could be considered fairly forward for early spring engagements. He was got by Acre from Lucky by Lucullus from Lady Nivelle by Soult —Merry Nif by Merry Hampton. Acre was got by Linacre from Miss Arlington, by Multiform —Lady Arlington, by Grafton —Loch Lava, by Lochiel —Lava, by Chester. Lucullus is a St. Simon line horse through Ard Patrick, a Derby winner, and there is also a further strain of St. Simon through Soult. Galopin, the sire of St. Simon, comes in through Grafton, so that Consent’s pedigree represents a strong infusion of St. Simon with Hampton and the unbeaten Barcaldine on top. Barcaldine to-day has become a dominant line through Hurry On. So that whilst Consent was a modest performer in his first season he should stay on as a three-year-old.