RACING AND TROTTING

Southland Times, Issue 22859, 7 April 1936, Page 10

RACING AND TROTTING

: News —Prospects—Results i

Good old Red Boa is commencing to move with some freedom as the winter season looms up. Milford put in an impressive late run in the Macaulay Memorial Handicap at O. meeting. Northern visitors, who know him, say that the going at Otautau did not suit jumper Velvet. Coat of Arms has been racing unluckily since he came south, but he can gallop fast. R. Beale has evidently recovered from his fall with Panocha at the Birchwood Hunt fixture, at Invercargill recently, as he has been seeking mounts at the Riverton R.C.’s meeting, which opens on Saturday. Beale’s services are likely to be in demand. The Riccarton lightweight, A. Messervy, will ride the Balboa gelding, Concertpitch, in the C.J.C. Great Easter Handicap, and McHeath in the Great Autumn Handicap. McHeath promises to see out one mile and a half in the Great Autumn event. C. Low escaped serious injury when Pallaform came to grief with him in the Otautau Steeplechase on Saturday. The S.R.C. jockey was busy riding in work yesterday morning, with Dazzling Eyes, Topsy Wood, and Clara Bow preparing for Central Otago Easter racing. Signaller (T. Boyle) was schooled alone over four flights of hurdles on the S.R.C.’s course proper (outside) yesterday morning. The son of Balboa jumped carefully but surely. It will be interesting to see how he behaves with the colours up and the pace full on in public. The Hon. G. R. Hunter and the Hon. P. C. Webb’s three-year-old gelding, Forum, started as seventh fancy in the Maiden Race (6f. 55yds), on the opening day of the Pahiatua R.C. meeting, and ran into second place behind Cloudy Bay, who was sent out as third selection. Forum won on the second day. In connection with the Makuri Hack Handicap, on the opening day of the Pahiatua R.C. meeting, S. Wilson, rider of Brown Pearl (third), was fined £1 for cribbing on his barrier position. This practice obtains elsewhere, and it has been put into force by jockeys at more than one southern fixture during the current season. A deserving horseman was seen in winning form when G. Barclay piloted Wall Street to victory in the Macaulay Memorial Handicap (Im.) at Otautau R.C. meeting on Saturday. Barclay’s success was due, as he was treated to a compulsory holiday some time ago, and it is generally understood that he was more sinned against than sinning on the unfortunate occasion which brought about his standing down orders. Mr J. P- Stratton, president of the West Australian Trotting Association, is evidently interested in heavy horses, for he recently commissioned Mr Robert A. Smith, of Los Angeles, to purchase a two-year-old Percheron colt for him. The colt left America by the Maunganui for Sydney, and will be transhipped at that port for Fremantle. Mr Smith is better known in this country as the selector and exporter of pacing and trotting horses, as he selected Jack Potts, Wrack, Estella Amos, Princess Ann, Judge Hancock, Worthy Bond, Bill B. and Starwyn for Nev/ Zealand sportsmen. In view of the fact that the Auckland mare, Gay Blonde, is in the A.J.C. Doncaster Handicap (one mile), on Saturday next, it is interesting to remember that she recently carried 9.0 and won the Railway Handicap (seven furlongs) at Rosehill (Syd.) in 1.25 f. Her success in the race referred to would confound at least one Sydney critic, who, prior to her win, wrote as follows:—“Gay Blonde is getting very, very light now, and if they ever put her in a movie they will have to get some such title as ‘Tire Phantom Filly’ or ‘The Gilded Ghost.’ She is one of the steel and wire sort, and she might come back and win a big race, but she will have to face fearful odds to do it.” It is officially pointed out that the Masterton trainer-owner, B. Burgess, missed his three Riverton R.C. entries by one hour 50min, not “a few minutes,” as stated. It is understood that on a busy night in the North Island Burgess found a difficulty in gaining connection with the far south. In connection with failures to make entry for the R.R.C. fixture one Canterbury would-be nominator was twenty-four hours late—his entry was not forthcoming until Tuesday night (March 17), whereas nominations closed the previous evening (March 16). Two of the many problems which may confront a worried secretary in receiving entries for his meeting are here presented from behind the scenes. The crack Queenslander, Lough Neagh, (9.9) was beaten into third place in the Westmead Handicap (six furlongs) at Rosehill (Syd.), on March 21, whereupon a well-known N.S.W. scribe headed up an article, “No Lough Neagh Brilliance This Autumn,” and summed up as follows: —“Saturday’s form suggested that Lough Neagh has lost all his brilliance and has become a slow old plodder.” Then, v/ithin a week Lough Neagh bobbed up at Rosehill again as winner of the Rawson Stakes, wi.a. (one mile and a furlong) and, on Saturday last, scored in the Chipping Norton Plate, w.f.a., with penalties and allowances (Um.) at Warwick Farm, beating Hall Mark by half a head, with Silver Ring a head away, third, and the ten furlongs were carved out in 2min s;]sec., with real weight on top all round. Hurry On, unbeaten as a racehorse and famous as a sire, has been destroyed on occount of age infirmities at the Lavington Park Stud, Petworth. He was 23. The late Lord Woolavington bought Hurry On as a yearling for 500 gns. Hurry On could not run as a two-year-old owing to unsoundness, but the following season he proved to be one of the best of his age by winning all of his six races. These included the substitute for the St. Leger, which was run at Newmarket in 1916, the Newmarket St Leger, and the Jockey Club Cup. Hurry On did not run again being retired to the stud in 1918 at a fee of 400 guineas. He was the sire of three Derby winners, Captain Cuttie (1922), Coronach (1926), and Call Boy (1927). He also sired two winners of the Oaks, Toboggan (1928) and Pennycomequick (1929), two winners of the One Thousand Guineas, Plack (1924) and Cresta Run (1927); and one St. Leger winner, Coronach (1926). Hurry On was the leading sire in 1926, when his progeny credited him with £59,109. His stock had won £304,152 in stakes to the end of last flat-racing season. Te Aroha, the most successful country club in the North Island, is understood to have made a profit of over £3OOO on its recent two-day meeting. Te Aroha is a small place, unable to run a big meeting on its own population, and it sets out to attract outsiders by a very liberal distribution of complimentary tickets. For this year’s fixture it is

Racing, .April 11, 13, 14—Riverton R.C. April 11—Tuapeka County J.C. April 11—Greymouth J.C. April 11, 13—Auckland R.C. April 11, 13—Feilding J.C. April 11. 13—Wairarapa R.C. April 13—Beaumont R.CApril 13, 14—Canterbury J.C. April 13—Waipukurau J.C. April 13—Kumara R.C. May 16—Southland R.C. Trotting. April 11, 13—Hawera T.C. April 11. 15—N.Z. Metropolitan T.C. April 15—Rotorua T.C. April 18—Ashburton T.C. April 18, 22— Manawatu T.C. April 30. Mav 2—Forbury Park T.C. May 2—Cambridge T.C. May 9—Waikato T.C. May s—Oamaru T.C. (By Sir Modred.) The Ascot Racing Club will hold a meeting in Sydney to-morrow (Wednesday) afternoon. The success of Acla at Otautau R.C. meeting hardly entitled a penalty at Riverton. Unbeaten as a racehorse and famous «ts a sire, Hurry On (Eng.) has been destroyed. Defunct sire Hurry On is known to New Zealanders as the progenitor of Hunting Song. It is agreed on all hands that Silver Ring ran well in Sydney on Saturday. Mr G. A. Kain’s imported sire, Lord Warden, is a son of the dead Hurry On. The Westport Cup winner, Golden Dart, was bred by the Riccarton trainer R. Ellis. Final payments and acceptances for the C.J.C. Autumn meeting are due on Wednesday. Successful in Australia, Silver Jubilee is to be sold in Auckland to close a partnership. Custos will have to be at his best to beat Wild Chase and Paper Slipper on Monday. The crack youngster pacer, _ Southern Chief, may resume racing in June in the Sapling Stakes. The three recently-appointed stipendiary stewards were to make their debut at Lincoln on March 23. The decision to appoint stipendiary stewards for the first time in England is being warmly welcomed. Trainer-jockey D. O’Connor was disgusted when Royal Limond dodged a fence at Otautau on Saturday. Wagering at the N.Z.M.T.C. meeting at Addington at Easter will be under win and place conditions. Pacer Lynwood led Wilbur White all the way at Addington on Saturday over twelve furlongs in 3.23. At Addington on Saturday morning Blue Mountain easily paced two miles in 4min 47 3-ssec. Southland light harness followers will be interested in the N.Z. Sapling Stakes, decided in June, at Ashburton. L. J. Ellis piloted three successive seconds and then a winner at the Waimate R.C. meeting on Saturday. The Waimate Cup winner of Saturday, Nightform, is still trained by E. J. Ellis at Washdyke. Very large fields have been listed for the Avondale Jockey Club’s Autumn meeting on April 18 and 20. On Parade displayed improving galloping ability on the opening day of the Whangarei R.C. meeting. Epris has been engaged to race at the Avondale Jockey Club's Autumn fixture this month. The American colt, Omaha, due to start in the Ascot Gold Cup (2im.) won £28,451 in stakes in U.S.A. America’s greatest winners rank as Sun Beau £78,488; Gallant Fox, £68,273; and Zeo, at over £60,200. The Newbury Spring Cup (Eng.), one mile, winner of last week, Finalist, is by Winalot (a son of Son-in-Law). Despite punching out the last fence in the Otautau Steeplechase, on Saturday, Parasang was uninjured. Lough Neagh, the w.f.a. Sydney winner of Saturday, has had 78 races for 21 wins, 14 seconds, and 10 thirds. Queenslander Lough Neagh has a double strain of Musket, through Hotchkiss and Carbine, on his dam’s side. Silver Ring’s great finish in the Chipping Norton Plate (Syd.) proves that he retains his form. Good racehorse Lough Neagh cost JOOgns as a yearling and has won over £lO,OOO in stakes. Mr H. Rama holds Tooley Street on lease and the agreement has about two years to run. On his return from the Auckland Easter meeting, Greek Shepherd will be put aside for the winter. Youngster Gold Rod (N.Z.) may race in the A.J.C. Sires’ Produce Stakes, £3OOO (7 fur.) on Saturday. The Sydney jockey W. Cook, has returned from India to ride at the A.J.C. Easter meeting. L. J. Ellis will be riding the Riccarton colt, Greek Shepherd, in his engagements at Auckland. Maorilander Theo, who has been a failure since his win in the V.R.C. Derby, is at work again. Honest Maid and Ocean Singer were moving freely in exercise, on the S.R.C. tracks yesterday. Egmont and Loud Applause are surprise entrants for w.f.a. honours at the A.J.C. meeting. , The crack Sydney filly, Fidelity, must have carried a big weight in her win on Saturday. Has S. G. Ware’s luck turned? In recent races in Victoria two of his pupils have finished second. The Queensland champion, Soft Step, is being reserved to compete in the Sydney Cup (two miles). Provided all goes well in the meantime, Travenna may race well at Riverton fixture. The steeplechaser Ecclefechan was to leave Invercargill' for Riverton with trainer F. Voight yesterday..

reported to have sent out 8800 such tickets. Two thousand men’s and 4500 ladies’ were absolutely free, while 2300 gave admission to the lawn, but were subject to the ordinary charge of 2/at the outside gate. In relation to the totalisator turnover, £60,000, the gate receipts of £9OO for the two days look small, but that the attendance was large is indicated by the sales of racebooks—6ooo on the first day and 4500 on the second. The stakes for the two days totalled £3650 and a gold cup, and £3OO was spent on entertaining, but nominations and acceptances brought in £BB5 and privileges £343, and race books netted £337. The club s percentage on turnover would be approximately £3600 and with £9OO at the turnstiles it is easy to see that finance presents no difficulties. A number of onlookers at Strathmore track on Saturday expressed the opinion that V. Langford made his run too soon in the Otautau Steeplechase with Miss Winston, but a little reflection should lead to an understanding of the situation and the conclusion that this contention is hardly correct. Miss Winston was not jumping too surely during the early stages of the contest, while Parasang, Velvet, ana Royal Limond were carrying on speedily and clearing the obstacles correctly. Langford had to keep niggling at his novice mount to keep her within cooee of the experienced pacemakers and when he found them drawing away after crossing the logs going out into the country the second time he was compelled to take a hand in the proceedings, particularly when he noted a proved performer like Royal Limond going after the well-conditioned Parasang, who was jumping like a buck out in front Langford would know from recent encounters with Parasang what to expect. With Miss Winston to some degree more confident in her fencing her rider elected to go after his rivals, otherwise he would understand that his chance was hopeless unless they made mistakes. As it happened, it was Miss Winston who struck the first trouble, owing to slipping going into the second to last obstacle, where Royal Limond, remembering his experience of the previous season, darted off. Miss Winston made a remarkably clever leap to negotiate the fence referred to, but in the meantime Parasang stole away and was thus afforded ample time to recover his legs, when he, too, slithered at the last fence, punched out the brushed panels and then went on to score nicely. All things considered, Langford on a green ’chaser rode a good race and was beaten by a better horse on the day. CANTERBURY TURF NEWS THE GREAT EASTER CANDIDATES REVIEWED ("By The Rook.) Riccarton, April 4. The weather has been absolutely unreliable all the week. It has beendoing a quick change act. One day it has been summer heat, the next down to whiter, with rain and a demand for fires. Nobody can remember such a changeable autumn, which is usually the most dependable of our seasons. It is to be hoped that we get a fine patch of the autumn for the Easter holidays, but that is no certainty. Mrs J. Campbell left for Auckland last night (Friday) with Lady Graceful. The filly was in good health and in forward condition when she left here. If she continues to do as well during the next week as she has done since he returned from the Wellington R.C. Autumn meeting, she will be very hard to beat in any of her engagements at Ellerslie. If, however, she goes off her feed, as she has done before, then anything will beat her. Greek Shepherd Reported Well. Greek Shepherd left Awapuni for Ellerslie yesterday. T. H. Gillett received word two days ago that the colt had done well while at Awapuni. Gillett will leave here for Ellerslie tomorrow evening. The Oamaru trainer T. Hobbs has definitely decided to race Silver Streak at Riccarton instead of Ellerslie at Easter. Silver Streak is a definite starter in the Great Easter Handicap. He has been accepted for in the Great Autumn Handicap, but at the same time he was entered for the Templeton Handicap, to be run on the same day. This makes it appear that Hobbs will wait until he sees how Silver Streak will run in the Easter before deciding as to whether he will start him in the Great Autumn or the Templeton on the second day of the meeting. Lochlaggan’s Future Movements. Lochlaggan is a screaming hot favourite for the Great Easter Handicap, and is at a ridiculous price with anything in the Great Autumn Handicap. Those of her supporters were somewhat perturbed when the Wingatuitrained mare was accepted for at Riverton and thought their money was gone. Since then she has not only been accepted for in the Great Easter at Riccarton, but she has been entered for in the Templeton Handicap on the second day. This fact has consoled them somewhat, and they have come to the conclusion that after racing at Riverton next Saturday the mare will either leave for Riccarton at once by float, or else will leave Invercargill on Sunday night by train, and arrive here in time to strip for the Great Easter Handicap on Monday. They quote as a precedent that Sinapis in November, 1913, came down from Wellington, arriving on Cup morning. The railway strike being on, she walked over the hills from Lyttelton, arrived at Riccarton in time to start in the N.Z. Cup, and duly won it. Queen of Song is expected to arrive from Riverton at the came time as Lochlaggan. Sweet Agnes, after racing at Westport to-day and on Monday, and everything being right with her, will come across from the West Coast to take her place in the Great Easter Handicap. How Sweet Agnes is nobody here knows. If, however, she is at or approaching her best, which is good indeed, she will give Lochlaggan, or any other runner in the Great Easter, reason to know that they have been racing before they beat her. With only 7.13 to carry and the sting out of the ground, she should run a grand race. Fracas, with 8.9 in the Great Easter Handicap, is not overloaded. Thoroughly seasoned with racing, she looks and is working well. As a rule this mare has plenty of friends among antepost bettors, but at present her friends have deserted her. Variant’s Form Patchy. Variant 7.8 in the Great Easter is continuing on her unlucky way. P. V. Mason cannot get a suitable rider for her. Without something unforeseen happening that will make some horseman available, Mason will put one of his stable lads up. Variant cannot be recommended for the Easter Handicap, or any other race; her form in public has been much too patchy. Davolo 7.4 in the Great Easter, reads well, very well. He does not look as well as he has done, and he is not working as well a- one could wish. He, however, appears to have got over the kicking in the stomach he got at Wingatui in February, and as he is a gelding that comes to hand very quickly, he may run a good race, if not in the Easter, then before the meeting closes.

Cranford, carrying 7.0 in the Great Easter Handicap, is as keen as one could wish in his work. He has been a long time coming to his best this season, but he appears to be just, about the top of his form now. He will be ridden by the Riccarton apprentice, H. Hibberd, who is a very capable youngster, and much awake at the barrier. Concertpitch has some friends for the Easter Handicap. He is working well, but is not doing better than any decent hack should do. A lover of mud, he might show a bold front on Easter Monday if it is wet, but on his form both in private and public an Easter Handicap looks a little beyond him as yet. Cottingham is a rather mean looking customer when judged from a side view, he having a mean middle piece. Taken from behind he is much better, being particularly good through the gaskin and thighs. His trainer H. Nurse has a good opinion of this gelding. He is not at all sanguine about winning the Great Easter with him, but intends starting him if only to get a line as to whether his opinion is based on facts or fancy. Given ordinaiy luck in running Cottingham will not finish last in the Easter, and he may win a race at the meeting. H. Nurse took a gelding to Waimate to-day that has for some time been doing splendid work without attracting much attention. As a matter of fact had he not beaten Rebel Chief over half a mile on Thursday morning, he would have gone to Waimate unheralded. Now he will be favourite. This gelding is Riposte, by Rapier— Warlove, and he is a nice horse, also he can gallop. His trainer had not intended producing him so soon, but he decided to give him a run at Waimate, and afterwards at Riccarton. It is a pity that Rapier did not live longer. Breeders would not use him when he was alive; now many of them are regretting their neglect. He had looks, and not only could he sprint, but he could stay as well. Possessed of outstanding courage he was the ideal racehorse. New Zealand’s Leading Rider. L. J. Ellis is at Westport to-day, and will be there on Monday. On arriving back by car with others of the boys, a four-seater carries about eight of them, he will leave at once for Ellerslie. On Easter Monday evening he will leave by train for Palmerston North. On Tuesday morning he will catch the air mail which will land him at Sockburn about 11.15 a.m. in plenty of time to carry out his riding engagements during the day. One of these is Kinnoull in the Great Autumn Handicap. Kinnoull will be a starter in the Great Easter Handicap. It is said that M. Kirwan has been engaged to ride him in that race. At 8.8 he has not been overweighted. That is w.f.a., and he should be quite capable of carrying it well. The surprise is that he was let off with w.f.a. in the Great Easter, while in the Great Autumn he is set to carry 71b over w.f.a., which is 8.4. The South Canterbury-trained Epris is away to Ellerslie. The mile journey in the Eastei' there should suit him nicely, if he can gallop as well the reverse way, as he does left-handed. He will only have to produce the splendid finishing run at Ellerslie that he did at Timaru a week ago to be in the money at least. Custos Under Suspicion. Custos is causing F. D. Jones some uneasiness just now. He developed heat in his tendons in the middle of the week. Since then he has been on the easy list. Jones reports that the heat is fading, and that he hopes to get his big colt to the post for the Champagne Stakes and Challenge Stakes. It is to be hoped that he will do so, as his absence will rob these races of a lot of interest. It is very doubtful if Custos will get to the post. He is a big-topped, gross colt. It would not be any good starting him not at his best, and to be in that state he must gallop. Will the weak leg stand the necessary strain? Argentic is one of the ante-post favourites for the Great Autumn Handicap. He looks well, if perhaps a little bit too pretty. His work has not been of a very strenuous nature, perhaps he will get something extra during the next week. Rona Bay a couple of months ago was looked upon as a decided possibility for the Great Autumn Handicap. So little has been seen of her recently that she has practically dropped out of all calculations now when the various acceptors for that race are being considered. Knockfin has lost caste and friends. She is not showing her former great brilliancy in her work, neither does she look as muscular, also her manners are not improving. WESTPORT JOCKEY CLUB GOLDEN DART WINS (United Press Association.) Westport, April 6. The second day of the Westport Jockey Club’s meeting was held in fine weather. There was a good attendance. The totalisator handled £4664 10/-, against £5OOO 10/- on the second day last year, and £8903 10/- for the meeting, against £9357 last year. Details:— FLYING HANDICAP, £6O. Six furlongs. 5 Delium 7.13 (Rosewarne) 1 1 Needful 8.3 (Messervy) 2 3 Zionist 7.13 (T. J. Ellis) 3 Also started: 2 Universe 7.13, 4 Baffte 7.5, 6 Gay Spear 7.5. Won by a neck, third two lengths away. Time, Imin 16 l-ssec. DENNISTON TROT HANDICAP, £7O. Class 2.27. One mile. 5 Logan Palm scr (Simpson) 1 1 King Author scr (Lynch) 2 2 Brian Boru 24yds (J. Roche) 3 Also started: 10 Bon Huon scr, 8 Cling Clang scr, 1 Lady Ann 48yds (bracketed with winner), 7 Lisnacree scr, 9 Passport scr, 4 High Noon 12yds, 3 Kaitawa 12yds, 3 Parallax 24yds, 6 Welcome Stranger 24yds. Won by a neck each way. Time, 2min 20 l-ssec. WESTPORT HANDICAP, £125. One and a-quarter miles. 1 Golden Dart 8.11 (Ellis) 1 3 Sweet Agnes 9.1 (T. H. Jones) 2 6 Royal. Gallant 8.1 (Messervy) 3 Also started: 5 Carfex 7.12, 4 Sisterina 7.10, 2 Locksley 7.8. Won by a length, third two lengths away. Time, 2min lOsec. GRANDSTAND HANDICAP, £7O. Six furlongs. 2 Bon Tray 9.4 (Ellis) 1 1 Rebel Star 9.11 (Messervy) 2 3 Arrow Rose 9.1 (Harding) 3 Also started: 4 Pawky 7.13. Won by a length, third two lengths away. Time, Imin 15sec. WAIMANGAROA TROT HANDICAP, £7O. Class 3.43. One and a-half miles. 2 King Author scr (Lynch) 1 5 Kaitawa 24yds (Clark) 2 1 Red Flyer 48yds (Bryce) 3 Also started: 11 Bon Huon scr, 2 Decoy Bird 108yds (bracketed with winner), 8 Lisnacree scr, 7 Logan Palm scr and Bingen Palm 264yds (bracketed), 6 High Noon 12yds, 4 Parallax 36yds, 9 Welcome Stranger 36yds, 3 Brian Boru 36yds, 10 Travis Thorn 108yds.