Honour Leaves to Contest the Derby

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 750, 24 August 1929, Page 15

Honour Leaves to Contest the Derby

ACCOMPANIED BY JALEUX GOLD TINGE ALSO UNDER ORDERS (Special U> THE SUN) CHRISTCHURCH, Friday. Honour, New Zealand’s main hope in tho richly-endowed A.J.C. Derby, left for Wellington last evening en route to Randwick, where he will have the final polish put on him 'for his approaching classic engagement. He will be accompanied across the Tasman by his stable-mate, Jaleux, and the pair will bo in charge of Percy Mason. Honour has been undergoing a steady preparation for the £B,OOO Australian Jockey Club Derby since, he returned from his successful visit to Randwick in the autumn, and judging by his appearance it will not require many stringing-up gallops to bring him to his best. Won Four Out of Five The Riccarton crack has the enviable record of having won four out of his live engagements as a two-year-old, and those victories included such valuable classics as the C.J.C. Welcome Stakes, A.R.C. Royal Stakes, Wellington Stakes, and A.J.C. Sires’ Produce Stakes. He also ran second to Supremacy in tlie Great Northern Foal Stakes at Ellerslie. Honour’s most notable achievement last season was his A.J.C. Sires* Produce Stakes win. ’ln that race he narrowly defeated Comanche, who is now a popular Caulfield Cup fancy, and though his Sydney rival was gaining on him at the close the brilliant Limond colt fought with rare determination and just struggled home. Stamina Questioned Sydney critics are sceptical about Honour beating Comanche in the Derby, not to mention Parkwood, Holdfast, and other promising three-year-olds, but if tlie ground at Randwick is firm on Derby day they will see a different Honour in action. In the Sires’ Produce Stakes the Riccarton crack was under a great disadvantage in racing on heavy ground, but the fact that he triumphed over Sydney’s best juveniles is further proof of his class. Honour may develop into the season’s wonder horse if he makes tho improvement at three years that he as a youngster, and if ho fulfils his Caulfield Cup engagement lie may win that event. There is no doubting liis brilliance, but whether he will stay sufficiently well to win tho Derby is the only question his admirers have been pondering. By Limond out of an Absurd mare, his breeding certainly suggests speed rather than stamina, but it may be as well to remember that Agrion, bred in tho same way, by Limond from an Absurd mare, won the New Zealand Derby with ease, and as Honour is a distinctly better type of racehorse, lie may prove better than Agrion. Credit to Trainer To Percy Mason goes the credit of preparing Honour for his Australian engagements. The Riccarton trainer has been associated with the colt ever since ho was purchased at the Trentham sales for 2,300 guineas, and Mason will have the best wishes of the racing community in his Venture across the Tasman. His father, the astute R. J. Mason, is not to make the trip. He has l extreme confidence in son Percy, however,- and says that Honour will be hard to beat in tho Derby if he trains on well and stays tho distance. Tinge, who created a most profound impression when he won the A.J.C. Breeders’ Plate last spring, is in steady work at Riccarton. and present intentions are to send him over to Sydney for the Rosehill Guineas and A.J.C. Derby. Although tlie Paper Money gelding was a dismal failure after his return from his successful trip to Sydney last season, he has developed into a very fine three-year-old, and the fact that his owner thinks he is sufficiently forward to send to Randwick to compete against the cracks may be an indication that he does not fear the opposition. At present he is being trained by the wellknown trotting mentor, W. J. Tom* kinson. Mr. O. J. Barton, owner of Gold Tinge, is desirous of that trainer taking the three-year-old to Sydney, but as Tomkinson is a very busy man these days with trotters and pacers it is very doubtful whether he will be able to make the trip. Gold Tinge is due to leave here in September. OPOTIKI JOCKEY CLUB ANNUAL MEETING HELD (Special to THE SUN) OPOTIKI, Thursday. The following officers were elected at the annual meeting of the Opotiki Jockey Club, held on Wednesday evening:—Patron, Mr. K. S. Williams, M.P.; president, Mr. A. Young; vicepresidents, Messrs. F. Reid and E. Reece; committee, Messrs. J. J. Moody, F. Appleton, C. T. Clark, J. T. Clark, F. J. Short, J. T. Tabb, S. D. Abbot, R. Hedley, G. A. Hathaway, J O’Sullivan, W. Butler, G. S. Moody. A letter was received from the New Zealand Racing Conference appealing for donations to defray the cost of effecting damage to the Westport Racing Club’s property by the recent earthquakes. The matter was referred to the incoming committee with a recommendation that the request should receive favourable consideration. A Successful Year The president, ME Young, in his annual report stated that the past season had been a successful one. The current funds had decreased by £IBO. Extraordinary expenditure which had to be met during the year _ being: Amusement tax, 1920-27, £57; final totalisator payment, £25; starting barrier, £39; cartage on horses, £23; improvements, £67. Membership was higher than tlie previous year, but the gate takings were lower by an equal amount. The sum of £52 13s Id which had been refunded out of taxes by th.e Government had been expended in improvements. Tlie cartage of horses by the club had assisted in securing further nominations. Extensive alterations have been carried out during the past year by the Domain Board, at the request of the : club. Extra accommodation has been ! provided at the main stand and a new stand for members has been built. Support is being extended to the suggested legislation whereby investments may be telegraphed to racecourses and for the publication of dividends. and a petition is being freely signed. Should the legislation be granted there would be an increase in revenue to the club. The balance sheet showed that the club had a credit balance at the end of the year of £549 is. A recommendation was made to the incoming committee that, an application should be made for an alteration in the date of the annual meeting-from March 10 to March 26, owing to clashing of dates. Mr, W. A. Smith was elected a life member.