WAR BUOY BACK IN WORK

Southland Times, Issue 23540, 21 June 1938, Page 10

WAR BUOY BACK IN WORK

MARKET FOR HORSES IN AUSTRALIA

TRAINER RECALLS EARLY

RECORDS

Several clubs have applied for additional racing days for the new season.

Likely Youngster The Winton trainer, W. Cosgrove, is handling a good type of yearling by Royal Silk from a John Dillon mare, and ranking as a half-brother to Dewey Cloud, a good winner this season. Notable Records

The writer has received the following interesting letter from J. McLennan, one of the Dominion’s leading horsemen of a few seasons ago and now a public trainer at Invercargill:—“Without wishing to detract in any way from the splendid performance of F. J. Smith in training all the placed horses at Auckland lately, I can recall two similar performances. Some years ago, the late M. B. Edwards filled the three places in a mile saddle event at Addington. The runners and riders were—Miss Florrie C (A. Pringle) 1, Viewmont (M. B. Edwards) 2 and Scottish Mac (J. McLennan) 3. I might also say that Viewmont was a trotter. Later on at Forbury Park Free Holmes went one better, providing the first four in a mile saddle event. Law Chimes (E. C. McDermott) was first, Dalwhinnie (J. McLennan) second, 0.1. C. (F. G. Holmes) third and Queen Patch (A. Butterfield) fourth. While heartily congratulating Mr Smith, I thought it only right not to forget my old friends.”

M. Holmes’s Winnings M. Holmes has had a successful train-, ing season. Since August horses from his stable have won £8067 10/- in stakes. For this amount they were 54 times in the money. The biggest stakeearner was Pot Luck, which won £3315. During the season, he won three races, was six times second and ones third. His principal victory was in the Grand Final of the Inter-Dominion Championship. He qualified for the event by running second in two heats and won a total of £lBOO at the meeting. Market In Australia

The success of New Zealand-bred trotters and pacers in Australia is creating a market for horses that have passed the. zenith of their careers in this country. Under the Commonwealth system of handicapping, New. Zealand horses receive liberal concessions, and this has made them attractive propositions for Australian sportsmen. During the past three years, a big number has crossed the Tasman. Among them art, Logan Park, Wrecker, Homeward, Rustle, Great Way, Tommy Dillon, Sunny Morn, Vesuvius, Stand By, Torquemada,. Cloudy Range and Temoest. The most successful of the horses mentioned is Logan Park, who, although he is 19 years old, won again at Wayville, Adelaide. War Buoy Back , ;

It is reported that after a fairly long spell away from the tracks, War Buoy has been placed back in work at Yaldhurst by M. B. Edwards, and he has done well during his absence. Although he had been eased in his training on several occasions, this represented War Buoy’s first real holiday since he commenced racing as a two-year-old, and it is to be hoped that the change finds him racing with renewed vigour. It is probable that he will have his next outing at the local meeting at Addington next August. Gamble, who broke down just before the recent championship meeting, is making a good recovery, and there is every prospect that he will stand up to another preparation. A Great Trio With Harold Logan and Roi l’Or in retirement and Indianapolis apparently past his best, the sun has set for the three greatest pacers New Zealand has produced, and in some quarters (states The Timaru Herald) there seems to be an idea that we shall never look on their like again. There is nothing to justify this pessimistic view. With a three-year-old like Horsepower, a four-year-old like Parisienne, a:-d five-year-olds such as Lucky Jack, Pot Luck, Ginger Jack and Blair Athol in sight, the outlook was never brighter. U Scott has only to become solid to be rated in the top class, and up to a middle distance Supertax is a champion. Willow Wave has performed brilliantly this season, and with horses like King’s Warrior, King’s Play, Nervie’s Last and others to support the stars, there is no cause for lamentation. The times registered in the intermediate classes by horses like Donor are sufficient indication that good ones are coming along, and if the sport does not thrive it will be because of lack of vision in framing programmes. Vesuvius Vesuvius won the Parliamentary Handicap at Perth on May 30. He began from 36yds behind in a mile and five furlongs race, which was for horses that could go that distance at the rate of 2minlssectothemile. In a field of 13, which included other former New Zealand horses in Homeward and Tommy Dillon, Vesuvius was favourite, and he won easily in 3min 39jsec—a 2min 13]sec rate to the mile. Vesuvius was responsible for several brilliant performances in New Zealand, and although he won over two miles, he was not a real stayer. Over a mile and five furlongs he should do his Australian owner further service. A Great Producer Although the best racehorses do not always make the best stud propositions, one who has left her mark as a pacer and appears likely to prove a most successful brood mare is Waitaki Girl, by Harold Dillon from Stanley’s Child, winner of innumerable races and one of the most brilliant pacers ever bred in the Dominion. Before retiring to the stud in 1930 Waitaki Girl, who was particularly partial to soft going, won over various distances and held the unique distinction of having won the King George Handicap at Addington on four consecutive occasions. As this is one of the most important events in the trotting calendar, the merit of her record is apparent. Her best times included:—Two miles in 4min 22sec and one mile and a-quar-ter in 2min 41 3-ssec. Only seven mares have succeeded in bettering 4min 22sec for two miles, and they are: Silver de Oro, Regal Voyage, Dilworth, Mountain Dell (4min 19 4-ssec), Parisienne (4min 20 3-ssec), Free Advice (4min 21sec) and Enawah (4min 21 2-ssec). Now Waitaki Girl is represented on the race track by Waitaki Power, said to be one of the speediest improvers up to a mile and a-half in commission (he has already taken a record of 3min 15sec), and Red Ranger, another pacy customer with a mile and a-quarter in 2min 41 2-ssec to his credit.