RACING NOTES

Southland Times, Issue 23380, 11 December 1937, Page 10

RACING NOTES

Petersham’s Excellent Credentials

M. McCARTEN’S EVENTFUL SEASON Wingatui reports credit Song Boy and Daring Deed as working well. Sir Hugh’s rider, E. A. Jones, at Hororata today will claim a 71b allowance. Nominations for the Southland Racing Club’s meeting close on Wednesday next at 5 p.m. Double Gift was regarded as unlucky in being beaten by Nolana at Ashburton and he will have a chance to make amends today. The Washdyke trainer, P. T. Hogan, will be represented by a team of six at Southland holiday meetings. When Roy Bun was beaten over seven furlongs at Ashburton by Rabble, the time for the distance was Imin 25sec. The track was fast but at the same time it was a very useful effort among these ranks.

The weight of Cerne Abbas in the Auckland Cup is still causing much comment and some critics are branding her as a certainty. The bone of contention is that the New Zealand Cup winner has been risen only 51b on the weight she carried at Riccarton but. it has been overlooked that the majority of those she defeated in the New Zealand Cup come in on a much lighter scale, and some to the extent of a stone. Petersham is unlikely to find the open company he will be opposed to in the Wyndham Cup beyond him as his record in recent months is a convincing one. He was placed at the Cup meeting over six furlongs when he finished third behind Triune and Invoice in Imin 12sec. Prior to the Riccarton carnival he had won four races on end and carried big weights in doing so. He won a double over sev.en furlongs at Wingatui with 8.13 and 9.9 while at Washdyke over a mile and 35yds he also carried 9.9 and won. Later in the meeting and over the same distance he carried 10.4 when he beat Recollection (8.2) and Pink Robe (8.3). The Shambles gelding is likely to have little difficulty in seeing out a mile and a-quarter, and will be one of the early favourites.

Rebel Chief, who is engaged in the Knight Memorial Handicap at Hororata today, won the corresponding event two years ago and was second last year to Fiord. He will be one of the favourites for today’s race. Rebel Chief will probably do his holiday racing on the West Coast.

The prize money at the summer meeting at Riccarton will total £2OOO. The only alterations from last year are additions of £25 to the Brush Hurdles and the Trial Stakes.

Argentic is due to contest the open seven furlongs Knight Memorial Handicap at Hororata today. He had a similar preliminary before the Auckland Cup last year and ran last, but only Cuddle beat him at Ellerslie.

At the three meetings to be held today, racing at Woodville and Hororata and trotting at Reefton, the single pool system of betting will operate. The New Zealand and Australian successes of the young sire Beau Pere appears to have attracted the attention of English breeders. His owner, Mr W. J. Smith, now in England, has had several inquiries about the horse, and it seems likely that a few English mares will be sent to Australia to be mated with the son of Son-in-Law, who is at Mr Smith’s St. Aubin’s stud, Hunter River district, New South Wales. Beau Pere blood is now highly prized in England, and it is stated that breeders regret the horse’s departure from that country.

Mr John Porter, of Little River, Banks Peninsula, has received advice from the British Blood Stock Agency that two young English mares have been purchased on his account. They have been mated with the young and well-performed stallion Blandonian, and will be shipped when they have returned positive results to the pregnancy test. Particulars of the breeding of these mares are expected by air mail in a few weeks. They were selected by Captain J. Crawford on lines that will be suitable for mating to Mr Porter’s Martian stallion Martarma.

M. McCarten, regarded as one of the fairest jockeys in Australia, is not likely to forget the spring of 1937, states an exchange. A month’s suspension received when riding Talking in the Caulfield Cup cost him at least six winning rides at the Melbourne Cup meeting. He had been back in the saddle for two racing days when he was awarded a further two months. Thus by the Victorian and New South Wales stewards he has been stood down for three months out of three months and ten days. M. McCarten’s Sydney suspension came as a bombshell, for it resulted from a fall at Victoria Park last week, when E. McMenamin finished up over the rails in the centre of the course. The action of the A.J.C. stewards has aroused considerable, comment, for McCarten was in front and McMenamin was trying to push up bn the inside well in the rear of McCarten.

The Australian jockey, W. Little, arrived at Trentham during the week to do some of the holiday riding for T. R. George’s stable.

The Wellington Racing Club will distribute £10,400 at its summer meeting next month. This is an increase of £lO5O over last year’s total. The Birchwood Hunt Club has drawn up its programme for its annual fixture at Invercargill on March 26. It has been decided that the Hunters’ Flat for qualified hunters, be a race for licensed gentlemen riders. The Riverton Racing Club has donated a 15guinea trophy to the club, and this will be attached to the Gardner Memorial Steeplechase. Officials have been appointed as follows.—Mr W. F. Young (Gore) judge; Messrs C. E. Hassall (Timaru) and H. A. Pierce (Winton), galloping and trotting handicappers respectively; and Mr T. Marshall (Invercargill), starter. Stakes have been increased by £55 and will be distributed as follows: Hunters’ Flat £75, Otautau Hamess Trot £9O, Birchwood Novice Handicap £75, Turi Steeplechase £lO5, President’s Handicap £lOO, Wallace Harness Trot £BB, Gardner Memorial Steeplechase £125 and £l5 15/- trophy, Kennels Hack Handicap £9O. AUSTRALIANHORSES FOR DOMINION (Received December 10, 8.30 p.m.) SYDNEY, December 10. Mr D. F. Glanville, who was sent to Australia by the Metropolitan Trotting Club, Christchurch, to recruit entries for the inter-Dominion race at Easter, visited New South Wales, Victoria and South Australia and secured 17 nominations of the best horses of the three states. They include Wrinkle, Dan’s Son, Speedy Boy, Lawn Derby, Logan Derby and Marble Bath.

Mr Glanville will return by the Awatea tonight.