RACING.

Otago Witness, Issue 4066, 16 February 1932, Page 49

RACING.

FIXTURES. February 17.—Clifden. February 18. —Tolaga Bay. February 18„ 20.—Wanganui. February 20. —Canterbury. February 20, 22.—Waikato. February 2'4, 25. —Woodville. February 25.—Waiapu. February 27, 29.—Te Aroha. March 2, 3.—Rangitikei. March 4, sc—Napier Park. TALK OF THE DAY. By Sentinel THE DUNEDIN CUP. The Dunedin Cup meeing. of 1932 proved to be one of the most successful ever held at Wingatui. The weather was favourable on both, days, and good luibty fields supplied some excellent sport. There was a good attendance each, day, and on ail sides one heard pleasure expressed at being able to participate in such an enjoyable gathering. The field of 11 that saddled up for the Dunedin Cup saw a representative lot hailing from Riccarton and Southland, and the local stables were well represented. Judging by the betting, the race was regarded as very open, and it came as a bit of a shock to see -ne of the rank outsiders in Bed Racer leading from end to end- The Smuggler made an effort to head off the Solferino gelding, but the latter was always bowling along with something in reserve. Compns ran a sterling good race under 9.8, and just cut Admiral Drake out of second place. The winner is a very plain ge.ding, who does not fill the eye as anything like a cup horse. He was got by Solferino from Soldier’s Fancy, by Soldier’s Chorus from Red Start, by Casket —Red Ridfhg Hood, by Le Loup—Lass of the Hills, by Talk of the Hills. Soldier s Chorus was one of the best horses of his day, and could both sprint and stay. Casket won the Dunedin Cup of 1894 when the raee was run over a mile and three-quarters. Le Loup was a handsome son of Traducer, who won the Canterbury Jockey Club Handicap (now known as the New Zealand Cup). He also won the Canterbury Cup, and just missed landing a great coup for the late Mr G. G. Stead, who backed liirn to win 80,000sovs over Darriwell’s Melbourne Cup. Darriwell was a stablemate of Le Loup r and the latter proved himself much superior on the track, but his saddle broke during the race. Red Racer is the second winner of the Dunedin Cup got by Solferino, but his aristocratic lineage is not suggested by conformation, as he supplies another proof of the old saying that they run in all shapes.

THE JAMES HAZLETT GOLD CUP. The James Hazlett Gold Cup has provided a surprise or two in the past, and it furnished another one this year when Cricket Bat, who ranked as fifth in the order of betting, won in handsome style. Cricket Bat was meeting Silver Paper on worse terms than when they met in the Publicans’ Handicap, when the latter won by less than a length. According to the book. Silver Paper should have beaten Cricket Bat in the James Hazlett Gold Cup, but instead of doing so he -was unable to gain a place. Last year an outsider in Compensation upset things by starting fifth favourite and running away from the oppositionin 1939 Nightmarch had a fairly comfortable win after starting a pronounced favourite in a field of four. There was another surprise in store in connection with the race of 1929, as Aussie downed a strong fancy in Limerick when Rapier supplied the rest of the field. Aussie was the outsider of the party, and it will be seen that punters have not been particularly hap_py in their efforts to pick the winner. Limerick had an easy win in 1923, when only three runners ■went to the post. Countersign created a. surprise when she won in 1927, as she started the outsider of a field of five in which Count Cavour started favourite. Previous winners include some of the most notable performers ever raced in New Zealand. Warstep, who won in 1915,- was unquestionably one of the greatest mares ever raced in this country, and Amythas, who won in 1920, has had few to equal him on the turf. Amythas was one of the

best of his day, and it is rather interesting to recall the fact that he was originally purchased to make a jumper, but. proved such a champion that he was never asked to face a fence. At times there seems, a risk of not getting, a field for the James Hazlett Gold Cup, and there ; would be a better chance if the high-class, handicap system was adopted, the same asi the King’s Gold Cup, which is run in Australia.

A POPULAR WIN. The James Hazlett Gold Cup proved to , be an unusually good betting race. As a , rule the weight-for-age scale doe® not favour a three-year-old when racing over less than a mile, but Cricket Bat not only won, but won in fine style with a formidable finish, which saw him get home by a good margin. Nightmareh showed that a brief spell of stud life has not impaired his racing prowness, as he ' put up a really creditable display, and headed off Gay Crest at the finish. Gay . Crest may not have been quite at his best, ■. because one of his legs had been causing his trainer some trouble, and in fact he was a doubtful starter at the meeting. The trouble arose before leaving Riecarton, and fortunately the Australianbred gelding was able to take his place in the field. Silver Paper did not shape particularly well, and the distance was too short for Compris. Cricket Bat was . got by Winning Hit (who won the race of 1922) from Equipment, by Martian — To-morrow, by Bill o’ Portland—Elusive, by Trenton. Crieket Bat is a brother to Ball Dress and Semper Paratus and a half-brother to Full Feather and Centrepiece. It has been a good breeding line for the Chokebore Lodge, stables and the means of providing several good winners. In fact it was a most successful venture made by the late Sir George Clifford when he sent Catherine Wheel over on a visit to Bill o’ Portland, and. purchased Elusive ' when in foal to the. some horse. Bill o’ ' ' Portland got Treadmill, who proved both a successful racehorse anj sire, and became one of the most valuable assets ever identified with the stud and stable. The 1 line has bred on principally through the female branch, but Winning Hit may establish a sire line, as his son Cricket Bat proved capable of earning classic distinction. AN EQUINE AMBASSADOR. Phar Lap has been making something in the nature of a triumphal march in his travels to conquer success in a new world. He has been getting more publicity than a grand opera star, and if he reproduces his Australian form in Mexico will rank as the superhorse of the world. Mr George Stewart (of Messrs J. K. Mooney and Co., Ltd) has kindly sent to the editor a brief account of Phar Lap’s voyage and his arrival in ’Frisco, where he received a welcome rivaling that bestowed on royalty. Mr Stewart has also sent a series of interesting photographs, which are reproduced in this issue- From all accounts Phar Lap is a particularly placid voyager, and made the long journey across the ocean without ruffling a hair except when being treated to a luxurious disportnient in a sand roll. Phar Lap held court all along the journey, and at Rarotonga and Tahiti it became necessary to fend off the crowd by placing a ship’s, net . round the. horse-box. . Phar Lap’s arrival in ’Frisco is featured ' with front page illustrations and lengthy “ write-ups.” One of Phar Lap’s attendants was on guard day and night, and every possible precaution taken towards landing him safe and sound. Phar Lap made a good journey, and gave no cause for anxiety to his attendants. Facilities for exercise were provided, and the commodious sand roll would allow the famous Night Raid gelding to disport himself to his heart’s content, and so get rid of any superfluous energy he might gather on the voyage. From all accounts Phar Lap is in good shape to be trained for a meeting with the American cracks, and should he make good against them, it will revive the interest in New Zealand as a nursery ground for the thoroughbred, as it did in the days when Sir Modred, Cheviot. Idalium, Maxim, and Artillery were bought for America, and proved particularly good value for the cost of purchase. The Canterbury-bred Sir Modred proved to be one of the most successful stallions of his day, when associated with- the late Mr J. B. Haggin’s Rancho Del Paso Stud, ■ which then ranked as the largest in the world. A MIGHTY LEAP. “ Old Timer,” in a letter to the Australasian on the merits of Carbine and Phar Lap, added the following note: — “ Several people claim to have witnessed Lizette’s jump at Caulfield one morning. I think I am the only survivor. Those present were Mr Sam Martin, my father, Tom Carslake, Bob Batty, and myself.. One party claiming to be present said Broadbridge, the ranger, measured the jump with a chain. I went to Broadbridge’s house and got a tape-measure. Broadbrid'ge was at breakfast, and never saw or measured the jump. It was lift 6in land and 25ft take-off over one of the former steeplechase fences.” • The incident occurred at Caulfield in the first week in July in 1887. At that time there was a fence on the hill near the milepost, and it was at this obstacle that Lizette, who was being schooled by

Bob Batty, stood off 25£t from the fence and landed lift 6hi beyond it, although she rapped the fence fairly hard. Lizette was an extraordinarilv good and safe fencer, but shortly after this happening she showed a strong aversion from jumping fences, and it was afterwards found that her eyesight had become affected. The morning she made her great leap she probably misjudged the distance owing to failing sight and took off much too soon. The hill 1 on which tlie fence stood has since been levelled. “ Old Timer ” is not quite correct in claiming to be the sole survivor of the party, as Mr Sam- Griffiths was on the track that morning, and. was near the fence at the time. He, however; had his bank turned at the time, and did not see the actual jump, although he took a hand in measuring it. Mr Griffiths, like another celebrity, is "still going strong,’ The jump made by Lizette is a world record, although it is. claimed that a horse named Chandler was credited with having jumped 39ft in the Hunt Cup Steeplechase at Warwick, England, on March 22, 1847. In the report of the raee the distance is given as 37ft, but owing to n misprint the distant"* was stretched a couple of feet until Captain Broadley, who rode Chandler, corrected the error. Mr William Allison, who was for many years the “ Special Commissioner ” of the London Sportsman, however, had doubts about the length of the jump, and was by no means certain that Chandler jumped at nil. OWNERS AND TRAINERS. The manner in which racing fortune can fluctuate is shown by the position the Duke of Portland holds in the winning owners’ list for the English racing season just over. He had only one winner (says an English writer), who credited him with one race- of the value of £3032. In the 1889 season the Duke of Portland headed the list of owners with the huge sum of £73,8581, collected in 33 races by eight horses. His principal winner was Donovan, who won seven races worth £38,660. his successes including the Derby and St. Leger. George Dawson was his trainer, but Dawson also had as patrons of his stable at that time Lord Hastings, and Lord Londonderry. Dawson headed the list of winning trainer's that season with over £77,000. The record stood until the season just over, when Joe Lawson, who- has taken over Manton since Alee Taylor retired, prepared winners of 69 races worth £93,899. Lawson trains, among many others, the Gainsborough—Golden Hair colt for Mr W. M. G. Singer. The colt, who raced unnamed as a two-year-old, was only once defeated last season, and is now the favourite for the Derby. He has been named Orwell. Mr J. A. Dewar is one of Fortune’s favourite sons, as be inherited most of the huge fortune of his uncle, the late Lord Dewar, as well as his racehorses. Among the horses was Cameronian. who won the Two Thousand Guineas and Derby. Mr Dewar’s horses during the season won just over £39,000 in stakes. Orwell won over £lB,OOO of the £27,764 credited to Mr Singer. Lord Astor, who is third in the list with nearly £27,000, has had a good year, although he did not figure so prominently as usual in the classic races. Lord Derby began the season badly, but he improved in the later 1 stages, and although his winnings were over £lB,OOO, he finished much lower in the list than usual. The Aga Khan did fairly well, and so did Lord Glanely, who have both spent fortunes in English racing. Since the death of his old partner, the late Mr Lionel Robinson, the other member of “ the firm ” has not raced on an extensive scale. Mr Clark had three winners during the season, and they won him only £1039 in stakes;