IN A NUTSHELL.

Otago Witness, Issue 4048, 13 October 1931, Page 49

IN A NUTSHELL.

Neither Filosol or Bachelor's Idol shaped up to expectations in the Kiikorai Handicap. Lord Argosy is developing a disinclination to face the barrier, but once on the way he races generously enough. Greenaway was staying on at the finish of the Shorts Handicap, and had to make up ground to run into third place. Town Major looked rather light when produced last week, and faded out a long way from home. B'ack Duke looks bright and blooming, and his recent racing should help to bring him back to form. Irish Chieftain is developing into a likely looking sort that should more than pay his way when more fully seasoned. Al Jolson built up a good deal during the winter, and when the bulk is converted into muscle should gather a race or two if the company is not too select. There was some support for Aspiring in the Shorts Handicap, but she had her chance completely settled by getting badly away at the rise of the barrier. Segrave started favourite for the Trial Stakes, but Ruling Light had him settled a long way from home, and the effort to go with the filly cost him second place. Sahno Salar could not pace it with the rest of the field in the early stages of the Ranfurly Handicap, and a mile from home had dropped several leitgths away.

Gallant Fox went down rather scratchily in his preliminary for the Kaikorai Handicap. and the fact lost him a few friends that would otherwise have supported him. With the exception of Masterpiece, who won in 1910, Wealth is the biggest two-year-old that has ever won tlie M'Lean Stakes.

Entries for the bloodstock sales to be held at Trentham are to close on October 20. in order to get a catalogue out as early as possible. The excellent list of entries received in connection with the Gore Racing Club’s spring meeting should supply good fields for each card on the programme. A. E. Ellis, who has resumed riding work at Riccarton, has been retained to ride Gay Crest in the New Zealand Cup and also at the Wellington spring meeting. The will of James Barden, the former Randwick trainer, has been proved at £10,063. His estate has been left for the benefit of his widow.

The Solferino gelding Sohnar is again in work at Wingatui. Th'e half-brother to Nightmarch has built up considerably during his spell.

Captain’s Gift gave W. Cooper a comfortable ride in the Waikari Hurdles, as the Waikari Hurdles, as the best of the opposition could not extend him at the finish.

El Boa was meeting Franeolin at 101 b worse than the handicap when they ran each other out in the Shorts Handicap. El Boa put up 51b overweight, and Franeolin had a 51b allowance.

Kerbside shows an improvement in her behaviour at the barrier, and as she ran solid races both at the Kurow and Wingatui meetings, may catch a stake or two during the season. All Smiles ran a. fair third in the Kaikorai Handicap, and those who remembered her ability t-o act in sloppy going went for her in the Clarendon Handicap, which she won in good style.

The re-handicapping conditions attached to the Caulfield Cup do not apply unless a horse has won a handicap of the value of 500 soys or more, a.n<l the maximum increase is limited to Ifrlb.

Master Anomaly has been, turned out for a spell, as he appears to have trained off a bit. He retains all his speed and a judicious spell should bring him back to racing shape. Royal Saxon was foaled in 1923, and finished full of resolution when he won last week, so that he has still plenty of courage. Hounslow and Whatnot are the only two others produced by Heath Lass that have raced.

Hula Belle had been in work only three or four weeks when she ran in the Dunedin Guineas, so that her appearance was a sporting assistance to make a field rather than a start with any hope of winning.

Mmerval started a £4i 10s better favourite than Gallant Fox in tlie Kaikorai Handicap, and they liad the race to themselves At the finish Gallant Fox stayed on better than Minerva!,, and won by half a length after an interesting race.

There was sufficient support for Gavoma to make him second favourite for the Waikari Hurdles, but he save a vet v poor display. Gayoma lost ground at every hurdle, and was soon tai,cd off into a hopeless position. Judging by the good show Lord Buehan made in the Clarendon Handicap he would have given the opposition a lot of trouble in the race had it been run on a firm track. The sloppy going and weather was dead against such a long striding horse. It is reported that this year the Southland Racing Club has decid-.l to give 400sovs in stakes with the In'. ■•r. , ai •;!!! Cup. and 390sovs with the principal event on the second day’s card. The lowest stake on the programme will be 120sovs. One of the Irish Free State’s big sweeps is on the Manchester November Handicap, and this year, to show its appreciation of the Manchester meeting, the Free State is giving a stake of £3OO and trophies for the Amateur Riders’ Hajidicap Hurdle. L. J. Ellis came to Wingatui with the intention of riding only in the M'Lean Stakes, but was persuaded to accept other rides, including a winning effort on All Smiles. It was a popular win. and a pleasing welcome to mark his return to the saddle.

The handicaps for the Timaru meeting, carried a good tip for Minerva] in the Kaikorai Handicap, but it failed to materialise. Over a mile and 35-yds at Timaru Minerval was handicapped to give Gallant Fox 121 b, but could not concede 41b at Wingatui.

Wealth and her rider (H. Gray) were greeted with a round of applause as they returned after winning the M'Lean Stakes. The applause could be interpreted as a recognition of the excellent horsemanship as_ well as the popularity of the colours carried by tlie winner. Stingo, one of the fastest horses seen in England for many years, has been retired from the turf. In three seasons he won eight races. A mateli between Stingo and the French horse Xandover, was mooted, but the breakdown of Stingo fcas prevented it. Precious Gift, the winner of the A.J.C. Gimcrack Stakes, is a black filly by Moabite from Flying Shower, by Tvessedy— Skyland, by The Welkin—Fairland, by Bill o’ Portland. All For Australia, who ran second, was got by Leighton from Cheloma, the dam of Nincompoop. Red Racer did not run into a place in any of his engagements this season prior to winning the Ranfurly Handicap. He ran a fair fourth in the Kurow Cup, but even so his form appeared to give him a remote chance of beating Admiral Drake.

Princess Argosy, who finished second to Ruling Light, ran a good race after getting badly away at the start. She is an imported filly got by Haki from Little Spitfire, by Argosy. Princess Argosy shows signs of lameness every morning, but throws it off, aaid if she stands training would soon be a winner.

Ruling Light won the Trial Stakes full of running, and the fact suggests that she will win in much better company. She was unplaced in. her races, at the Geraldine and Kurow meetings, and had evidently benefited by experience. Ruling Light is a half-sister to good, performers in Gold Light and Razzle Dazzle. Last March has not been in work very long, and as he came up looking light after being gelded, could not be in anything like racing shape when produced, last week. He shows a retention of bis two-year-old speed, and may prove a real bargain at the price paid by his present owner.

Night Maid shaped well enough at the Geraldine meeting to give her an outside chance in the Ranfurly Handicap. She started third favourite, and at a much shorter price than her form warranted, but she managed te run .a good second and return a small profit to her supporters.

With 85 wins to his credit. G. Richards had maintained his position at the head of the winning jockeys’ list in Eng-

land when the last mail left. He also had ridden 66 seconds and 63 thirds out ot 526 mounts. H. Wragg is second with 65 firsts, 50 seconds, and 48 thirds out of 404 mounts. j There was an impression abroad that the field saddled up for the M'Lean Stakes ranked as a record. Eighteen went to the post when Childsplay won in 1927, and the same number started in 19-9 when Satisfy scored. Thirteen started last year when Fair Weather won. The stakes were once up to 750sovs. The draw for positions at the barrier in the M'Lean Stakes were Elgindale 4, Golden King 1. Fair Vision 17, Worship 16 Mayam 8, Oratorious 7. Silver Streak Mobile 5, Vauemai 13. Arden’s Beauty 9, Fleeting Glance 11. Gold Paper 2, Molten 6, Wealth 3. Lady Zephyr la, Skysong 14, and Lochend 10. Red Racer, who created a surprise by winning the Ranfurly Handicap, started in fifteen races last season. He won three times and finished m a place on three other starts. His wins were also scored at the Beaumont meeting, and his best performance was a third in the Waimate Cup behind Straightcourse and Black Duke. The first “Derby” won by a New Zealand horse in Australia was the Liverpool Derby, won by Mr 11. Redwood’s Chevalier in 1852. Chevalier later annexed the St. Legcr at Homebush, where the A..T.C. raced prior to moving to Randwick. Chevalier’s “ Derby ” was the second run in New South Wales. A Sydney writer states that J. T. Jamieson wanted £lOOO to £450 about Ammon Ra's Derby chance before his Chelmsford win. but Sydney’s leading bookie wouldn’t budge beyond £lOOO to £5OO. After haggling for a time, the bookie decided not to do any further business on the race, and since the Chelmsford it was impossible to get a Derby bet. Concentrate ran fourth, to Loquacious, Nightmarch, and Paquito in the Metropolitan of 1929, and held a similar position behind Cragford. In the Shade, and Jeypore in the same race run last season. In 1928 the same owner’s Oratrix ran second with 7.12 in the Metropolitan, and came back and won the New Zealand Cup. The lengthy delay caused by Francolin and Lord Argosy suggests that a time limit should be made, particularly in bad weather, as to how long a field should be kept waiting on fractious horses. It is distinctly unfair to the majority of a field that they should be kept waiting fiat foot in heavy rain while one or two are playing up and ’eclining to face the barrier. After being kept standing several minutes in heavy rain it was not surprising that some of the field in the Shorts Handicap did not jump out with their usual dash. Charmaine, Rin Tin Tin. Caterpillar. Aspiring, and Al Jolson are usually good beginners, but they never" got near Francolin and El Boa when the latter pair set a hot pace from the rise of the barrier.

There was an unusual occurrence at the Auckland Stud Company’s farm at Otahuhu, when the brood mare Thurence, the dam of Full Measure, gave birth to triplets to Whirlwind. The first was a big foal, the second of medium size, and the third about the size of a collie dog. The three died, but the mare has recovered. Cione, a half-sister to Ammon Ra, foaled twins to the same sire.

Amongst the yearlings to be sent under the hammer at the annual bloodstock sales to be held at Trentham in January are 11 got by Limond. The list includes brothers to Commendation, Mask. Agrion, and Veilmond. The full list from the Koatanui Stud totals 17. A number by Night Raid will be offered, including a brother to Phar Lap. Hunting Song will be well represented by a brother to Aladdin. and purchasers will have a wide selection of youngsters, got by successful sires. Sir Charles Clifford was present at Wingatui to see his colt Cricket Bat win the Dunedin Guineas. The colt went out an odds on chance, but had to be kept fairly busy to stall off Convoy’s challenge. Cricket Bat stayed on well, and was helped by being more seasoned than the rest of the field. He was got by Winning Hit from Equipment, by Martian —Tomorrow, by Bill o’ Portland. Centrepiece and Full Feather were also produced by Equipment. Admiral Drake started a good favourite for the Ranfurly Handicap, but failed to get near the money. The hot pace set by Wingatui seemed to settle all the top weight division, and the three light weights who filled the places were all well clear of Latin Quarter, who finished fourth. It is interesting to recall that Red Racer was meeting Admiral Drake on 231 b better terms than when he fin ished in front of the latter in the Waimate Cup While Steven Donoghue was travelling to Haydock Park races one day in August the aeroplane in which he was a passenger had to make a forced lending in a field at Roby, near Liverpool. The pilot was unable to find his way through a bank of \ fog. Neither the pilot nor Donoghue was injured, and the jockey continued his journey to the racecourse by road. The aeroplane, which narrowly missed house top's and electric tram wires in landing, was not damaged. A leading Melbourne bookmaker has a widespread clientele, but he received something of a shock recently when (says the Ghobe) he received a cable from Hollywood (U.S.A.) to back Vigne i:. douoles with The Dimmer. Cypress, and Loquacity for the Caulfield and Melbourne Cups. The commission was placed and a cable to that effect sent to the client. This shows the widespread interest created by our big spring races. Ammon Ra has proved a great bargain at 3500gns. At the time he was sold he looked a rather good thing for the Sires’ Produce Stakes at Randwick, worth over £5OOO, and some surprise was expressed at the sale. It is not unlikely (says an exchange) that his badly shaped front legs were responsible for his Auckland owner’s willingness to sell. Mr C. Sheath, the ex-New Zealander whose colours Ammon Ra now carries, has been credited with about £14.000 by the Limond gelding in a little over half a year.

“ Martindale,” the veteran of Australian sporting writers, whose acquaintance with

racing dates back something like 60 years, recently stated that “ judged by the doings of its horses, New Zealand is the best country for the rearing of blood stock, and the real home of the thoroughbred south of the line.” There are, of course, other scribes in Australia to whom the mention of a New Zealand horse is like a red rag is supposed to be to a bull but Phar Lap, Ammon Ra, and Autopay recently provided further support for “ Martindale’s ” assertion.

Caramba, the winner of the A.J.C. Breeders’ Plate, is a brown colt got by Caravel from Nazetha. by Pistol (son of Carbine) from Marie Hall, by Sir Geoffrey—Stringband, by Barcaldine. Sir Geoffrey was got by St. Angelo (Galopin) from La Verge, by Hampton. Caravel was got by Cicero —My Dear, by Beppo— Silescia. by Spearmint—-Galicia, by Galopin. Galicia is the dam of Bayardo. Caramba is inbred to Barcaldine, Carbine, Galopin, and Hampton, so that his pedigree shows strong infusions of stamina backing individual speed that made him a rather decisive winner in smart time. There was never any doubt about C. Emerson’s ability in the saddle, and he was particularly good on a two-year-old. Judging by the manner in which he saddled Lady Zephyr for the M'Lean Stakes Emerson can also educate 'and prepare a youngster for early racing. He previously conveyed an idea of his ability in that direction by his production of Lochlaggin. Emerson has also two promising sorts in Oratorious and Sky Song, and judging by the way the former was staying on in the M’Lean Stakes he pro-

Racer won well and stayed on better than anything in the race. His previous form hardly prepared one for his win, although he ran a good race in the Waimate Cup. Red Racer was got by Solferino from Soldier’s Fancy, by Soldier’s Chorus (Martian) from Redstart, by Casket (Castor) --Red Riding Hood (Le Loup), from Lass o’ the Hills, by Talk of the Hill. Red Racer bore an improved appearance, as when racing last season he was decidedly lean and lathy in appearance. He is trained by J. J. Cursey, who was warmly congratulated on his success, which should bring him into further notice as a trajner.

Our most promising apprentice, says an English writer, is Rickaby, who represents the third generation of the family, and whose grandfather, first jockey in his time to the great Lord Durham, is still alive and well. Young Fred Rickaby’s father, who used to ride for Lord Derby, was killed in the war, and the widow was left in straitened circumstances and with two young children. She just lived for them, however, and that they should have a good education. took a little shanty on a farm just outside Newmarket, and subsequently a stableman's cottage in the town, the two boys being sent away to school. Their college days over, and as both were keen on becoming jockeys, they were apprenticed to their uncle, Walter Griggs, who has a small stable at the turf headquarters, and in this, his first season, the elder boy has already nearly a score of wins to his name.

Gordon Richards, certainly the best product of the young school of jockeys, is heading strongly once more for the socalled championship, which he had to surrender last season to the much older F. 1* ox. To say that Richards or Fox (says “ Friar Marcus ”) is champion is, of course, nonsense. They are very 7 good exponents of their craft, but there are others. So much depends upon the horse. Fox last year was free to admit that he had had the material. This year he has had to put up with a comparative shortage. A few years ago Donoghue and Elliott ran a dead-heat in the leadership. They had arrived at this very interesting state of things on the last morning of the season, and the one was engaged at Manchester and the other at Lingfield. At each of these meetings there was tremendous excitement. Donoghue had already made a name, while Elliott was not long out of his apprenticeship, and had forced his way to the front by sheer ability. But things so fell out on that final day that neither rode a winner, and so honours were even.

The aged mares Shrill and Cheloma, which were both sold at modest prices at the dispersal sale of the Flaxmere Stud held at Trentham last January, have both proved undoubted bargains, as these two English mares both proved to be in foal. Cheloma. who herself was foaled in 1913 and is a granddaughter of Famous Chelandry, has dropped a filly foal by Lord Quex, ami is this year on a visit to Night Raid. The dam of Nincompoop is now owned by Mr 11. P. Toose, of Wellington. Shrill, who was foaled in the same year, is also close to foaling to the service

mises to be a useful sort later in the season.

Some owners have- thought it necessary to retire from racing in England, but it is pointed out in the London Evening Standard that Mr Sofer Whitburn is the only one of these whose operations were on a large scale. It says that though the cost of ownership was never heavier in England than at present, really big men are not dropping out, though some have thought it necessary to reduce theiteams. Lord Glanely has something like 70 horses in training, and his outlay is much greater than his return, either from racing or breeding. Lord Astor is credited with being the only ownerbreeder in England who has made racing ends meet since the war.

.Mr R. M‘Gregor, of Canterbury, New Zealand, is at present in Melbourne organising a syndicate to purchase '.he Glenmark estate, 40 miles from Canterbury, and use it for the agistment of Australian brood mares and their progeny. Soil in the district contains limestone and other constituents that are especially favourable to the growing of grass. Noted performers raised there include Lochiel. Noctuiform, Multiform, Martian, Ballymena, Limerick, Rapine, Sasanof, The Hawk, Carlita, Kilboy, Nightmarch. Paquito, and Phar Lap, rhile Biplane and Gloaming went to the neighbourhood as yearlings. The nominal capital of the syndicate is 20,000. There are to be - -s than 20 shareholders. Each share ultimately will cost £250. It entitles the holder to send two mares to “ Glenmark ” in perpetuity. Upkeep is estimated at between £l2 and £l5 per annum per mare. Hyades, the dam of the Australian Derby winner, Ammon Ra, has no yearling to represent her this season, but she now has a filly foal at foot by Chief Ruler, and with her daughter, Phaola, by Catmint, this year visits the young Westmere sire. Captain Bunsby, who ranks as a three-quarter brother to Coronach, winner of the English Derby. Phaola will be represented at the yearling sales by a chestnut filly sired by the young Gay Crusader stallion, Gay Shield, whose first two-year-olds will make their appearance on the New Zealand turf this season. Dr Milsom, who owns Hyades and Phaola, will also be represented at the yearling sales by a bay colt by Chief Ruler from Hukapapa, the dam of Sargon, and by a chestnut colt from Shebang, the dam of Wild Time. The latter youngster is also by Gay Shield.

Among those who understand the racing public, the idea obtains in England that the Betting Control Board’s general reversion to the- pari-mutuel system of betting, as against the electric tote, and the heavier deductions from investments, will administer a knock-out blow to machine speculation. The London Sporting Life, while commending economy measures, says the board’s moves are false. It recommends that the assistance of experts should be requisitioned and the whole situation reviewed. The suggestion is made that all existing rules and conditions should be scrapped, and it is added that, properly controlled, the Newmarket tote would be certain to prove a paying proposition.

Those who endeavoured to pick the Ranfurly Handicap shot wide of the mark, as Red Racer and Town Major disputed matters as to who would be the rank outsider of the field. Finally Red Racer carried £2 more than Town Major. Red

of Lord Quex, and is a granddaughter ot Gae, a half-sister to Chelandry. In all probability Shrill, who is the dam of Father's Voice and High Pitch and is now owned by Mr J. C. Gleeson, of Beil Block, will not be mated this season. Both Cheloma and Shrill are sired by Llangwm, who was a high-class two-year-old, and was considered the best of his year at three years. Llangwm is by Misslethrush, the sire of Thrush, who figures prominently in the pedigrees of both Laughing Prince and Autopay. Though Carbine was denied classic honours as a racehorse, he can claim a good Derby record as a sire. Two of his sons, Charge and Amberite, gained Blue Riband distinction at Randwick. Amberite followed up this success by showing the way home in the Victoria Derby, a race that also fell to another representative of Carbine in Wallace. As Carbine begat Spearmint, an English Derby winner, he can be said to have earned unique distinction as a sire of high-class three-year-olds on both sides of the world. If Carbine had remained in Australia, says “ Fernhill,” his Derby score would have been much higher, as he had only been a few seasons at the stud when he went to England. So far as the Australian Derbies are concerned, Carbine’s son, Wallace, proved a worthy successor at the stud, as he was responsible for Mountain King, F.J.A., and Lady Wallace, and Wolawa, who were successful in the big three-year-old event at Flemington. So that if Carbine was not destined to go down in history as a Derby hero, his descendents have taken full revenge for his unlucky defeat. Warplane, sire of Convoy, was a particularly brilliant son of Martian, and a fine type of horse that at one time showed

promise of carrying on his sire’s line, but he has not come up to expectations. Glenuse, the dam of Convoy, was got by Gienapp—-Lady Stockwell, by The Officer Temeraire, by Dreadnought—Sister Mary, by Tirgomar—Sister Agnes, by Rosicrucian. Convoy has an interesting pedigree and one that should produce a stayer. Both Martian and Gienapp are members of the Sunrise taproot family, which is a prolific source of stamina, and hence might be doubled with advantage. Some of the best stayers in Australia and New Zealand were sired by Positano and Martian, who, like Gienapp, trace to the same taproot. Gienapp did not have much opportunity at the stud, but he got one really good horse in Fiery Cross. There are only four Gienapp mares in the latest issue of the Stud Book. One of them in Glencross has produced only two foals. Glenluee has produced Red Heckle and Convoy, Waiorewa has produced nothing of note, and Waterspray is the dam of Pilliewinkie, Arikiwai, and Toawai.

In discussing yearling sales in Paris, “Faraway,” in his letter to the Horse and Hound (London), said they reopened on August 9. and the season was a complete fiasco. Of the 70 lots which were offered 42 belonged to Baron Maurice de Rothschild. “ Faraway ” then continued: “It cannot be said that the baron went about his business in a way likely to attract buyers. He had kept back a dozen or fifteen of what were presumably the best, sending up only the rubbish, at least one of which needed a pair of crutches to get round the ring, and was quickly ordered out by

the auctioneer. It is perfectly obvious that if it was desired to get rid of them, they should have been sent up for disposal without reserve. As a result of the circumstances that I have mentioned above, and for another reason, which it is unnecessary for me to give, buyers no doubt held entirely aloof, only five during the whole session changing hands. During the monotony of the proceedings, my ear only caught two definite sales, one at about £4 10s and the other at £9, although at about a ‘ monkey ’ I believe one found a buyer.”

The South Canterbury Jockey Club received an excellent list of acceptances for the spring meeting, which will take place on Saturday next. The Timaru Cup attracted a field of 12. Mount Boa ran good races at Geraldine and Kurow. At the Kurow meeting he finished well, and in the Timaru Cup meets Admiral Drake on 101 b better terms and Starshooter on 31b better terms. He has a good chance of turning the tables on both horses that beat him on that occasion. Desert Song won at Geraldine, and is not badly treated on meeting Mount Boa on 21b worse terms. Royal Love meets Mount Boa on 81b worse terms than in the Geraldine Cup, and the figures point to the latter being dangerous at Timaru. Topete showed a return to form at Geraldine, and on her form at Wingatui Night Maid cannot be overlooked. Mount Boa may start favourite with Admiral Drake and Black Duke also fancied. Nightmaid will probably be regarded as a lightweight with a chance. The minor events may find the following in favour: —Otaio Hurdles: Quinopal. Camisader; Tycho Handicap: Gallant Fox, Moorbird; Spring Stakes:

Hula Belle, Knoekalong; Kerry town Handicap: Nightguard, Adelphi; Flying Handicap. Shatter, Arrowmir, or Al Jolson.