On The Turf And Off

Southland Times, Issue 23152, 19 March 1937, Page 12

On The Turf And Off

HORN’S REEF ON THE TRACK HERITAGE II IN INDIA (By Sir Modred) As a horse of the same name has already raced in India the numerals have been attached to the name of a New Zealander, winner and entire, Heritage 11. • If northern reports are correct as to the forward condition of Royal Limond, the Riccarton steeplechaser should make matters merry in racing over the Riverton country. With an acceptance list of nineteen eligibles, indications point to the Riverton Cup of Easter Saturday providing a contest that will present a difficult puzzle. The four-year-old gelding Latharna, winner of the Rosebery Mile in Sydney on Wednesday, is by Limond from Pomyris (imp.) and is trained by J. T. Jamieson, of New Zealand. To produce a winner and four seconds with his five pupils at Rosebery races this week was the good record of J. T. Jamieson’s stable at Randwick. According to the cablegram the In-vercargill-bred Prendergast, now a gelding, was racing unsuccessfully in Sydney this week. He is a promising galloper. In addition to Stolen March, Werden’s Queen and Red Dragon, the visiting trainer J. M. Pankhurst has a novice called Disclose entered for southern events. Ocean Singer’s Injury A gashed fore joint, a wound exposing tendons, was the principal injury suffered by Ocean Singer in his recent mishap. The tough little gelding may have to be rested for a lengthy period. It was the opinion of a number of experts that Horn’s Reef would not withstand another preparation, but his trainer, T. H Pankhurst, had the satisfaction yesterday morning of seeing the son of Day Comet—Brave Deed battle out at least one • searching gallop. Carrying a very light burden, the five-year-old kept Trebleack and Galleon very busy over an eight-furlong journey. z

The South Canterbury-trained four-year-old gelding Disclose, who is a member of J. W. Pankhurst’s Orari string, is well-bred and a promising galloper. A shapely bay in colour, he is by Captain Bunsby (imp. son of Captain Cuttie, winner of the Derby) from Reveal, by Leighton (imp. and by Roi Herode) from Glimpse (imp.) by Blink (by Sunstar) from Faverolle, by Gallinule from Maisie, by Minting from Summer Belle, by Hampton (represents a noted sire line). Captain Bunsby has sired several smart performers in New Zealand, but it is in Australia that his Dominion-foaled progeny have accomplished their best deeds. One of his daughters, known as Capris, scored in Auckland as a two-year-old, and was subsequently sent to Australia, winning in turn in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane. Her Queensland success was in the important Q.T.C. Steadbroke Handicap (6fur). In a task with Ardchoille yesterday Disclose revealed the fact that he is worth persevering with as a prospective galloper. The local trainer J. Gray has only one horse in hand at present, his attention being devoted to developing the five-year-old mare Paia Melba into a candidate capable of winning before the close of the current season, and he may succeed in his endeavours, as she has of' late improved in appearance and action. The chestnut is by Paladin from Madam Melba. The veteran thoroughbred trainer has been successful during the past few seasons with horses which have failed to make good in other hands. The Turf In Lidia Closely following a despondent note on the prospects of a New Zealandbred galloper abroad, out of the East comes the echo of a noted success at Bombay (India) by Heritage 11, a pupil of the former Southland horseman, L. H. Hewitt. Purchased at a high figure in the North Island, the Wanganui-bred horse did not look like making good for a long time on reaching his new home, but evidently he took a marked turn for the better and information is now to hand to the effect that Hewitt’s charge accounted for the third of the most important events of the turf in India. It was at the Bombay races, extending from late in January until February, that Heritage turned up trumps in convincing fashion. It was on January 30 that “the blue riband of the turf in India, the Eclipse Stakes, was won by H.H. the Maharajah of Idar’s Heritage H, and the owner was greeted with cheers as he led in the winner.” The Eclipse Stakes of India, which in addition to the stake carries a gold cup trophy valued £2OO, is for horses of 4, 5 and 6 years (one mile and a quarter). A field of 13 starters raced with the champion Mas d’Antibes (9.7), as first fancy, and the New Zealander grouped with a number of others as a third selection. Heritage H (H. Burn) carrying 8.11, battled up to a clear lead at the distance and stalled off a challenge from Mas d’Antibes and won by a length in 2min ssec. It is needless to say that the horse’s titled owner was pleased with his success. This was not the only event won by Hewitt’s stable at the fixture as at an earlier date he led in the Australianbred gelding Count Ito, by Spearhead (descendant of Carbine), winner of the Cheveley Handicap (one mile), starting an equal second favourite with Pongatchev (9.2), who was runner-up in a field of eleven. The race was run in Imin 39 3-ssec, and the winner (ridden by Burn) carried 8.12. It will be remembered that Count Ito won the Newmarket Handicap (6f.) and a number of other races in Melbourne before going to India. Breeding of Heritage H

But to return to Heritage 11, who was bred by Mr G. M. Currie and is a half-brother to the smart North Island two-year-old of the current season, Courtcraft, by Limond. The Indian winner comes from a great New Zealand maternal line, while his sire, Poserity (imp.), is by Son-in-Law, one of England’s noted stayers and sire of stout sons also successful at the stud. Heritage is from Homage (dam of Episode, Honour, Worship and Courtcraft) by Absurd (imp.) from Eulogy (dam of Pennon, Humbug, sire of the local racer All Humbug; while she also produced Epitaph, Commendation, Eulalie, Pedestal, Praise and others), by Cicero from Kelibia, by Upas, from Goletta, by Galopin (sire of St. Simon). In forwarding photographs of Heritage 11, his owner, the race, and himself to Mr George Dryden, of Invercargill, Hewitt said he was highly pleased with the success of his pupil and wished to be remembered to many old friends in Winton and elsewhere in New Zealand. The race-book issued for the meeting referred to runs to 150 odd pages and contains a mass of information instructive to sportsmen in New Zealand. The betting at Bombay is conducted by ringman, win and place totalizators, also treble and daily double totalizators. It would seem that Indian racegoers are widely catered for in the wagering line.