TURF AND STUD.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume IV, Issue 962, 12 March 1917, Page 2

TURF AND STUD.

AUTUMN RACING PROSPECTS. By Petronel. Now that the entries for the Great Easter Handicap and the Great Autumn Handicap are in, we may form some idea about the destination of some of the •racks of the season. As somebody said in some play or other, " I don't know nothink"; but it looks to me that Bicearton will not have the presence of the best three-year-olds, .lust at the moment, it seems odds on on the appearance of Sasanof and The Toff e.t Elleslie, in the Great Northern St. Leger; and perhaps Kilboy may go north also, though, in Ids case, we might look for his running at Bicearton if he races at. all at Easter time. Probably he is »ot yet thoroughly wound up for a long race, and a gallop in the Great Easter 'Handicap would help on his preparation for the New Zealand St. Leger and the Trentham Gold Cup, if it should be desired to send him for these races. Without doubt, all sportsmen want to see Kilbo.v, Sasanof and The Tort running against each other before the season closes- Leaving handicap races out of the calculation, there are four distance races in which they can oppose each other: —The Legers at Ellerslie and Trentham, the Gold Cup at Wellington, run over two miles, and tiie Gold Cup at Awapuni, run over one mile and a-quar-ter. All being well, we may confidently look for the appearance of Desert. Gold at Awapuni; but though I have noted definite statements about the Burencss of her running in the. Trentham Gold Cup, I have my doubts on this point. Still, given a hard and fast course at Trentham next month, I -would be a little bit hopeful about Mr Lowry's filly's start in the Gold Cup; but it is against all precedent to expect anything but a rather sticky and keavy course at Trentham in St. Leger •week, and, therefore, I will not be certain on this point until the numbers go up. Desert Gold has not raced at Bicearton this season, and the South Island people are hopeful that she will journey to headquarters to take part in the Challenge Stakes. Every racing nan who is keen on the highest class sport believes in races, of the Challenge Stakes order, and, therefore, the desire that Desert Gold may compete against the, best two-year-olds is very general.

The Canterbury Entries. There is a very satisfactory entry for the Great Easter Handicap,, and also for the Great Autumn Handicap, and it is almost certain that, despite the very strong counter-attractions offered at, EJlerslie, the autumn racing at Riecartoii will be as interesting as usual.. Though the name of The Toff is absent from both races the Australian winners Kilboy and Sasanof have been engaged in the two races, and, though Murray Hobbs has no others entered in the Great Autumn, he has Shrill, Cheloma, and Sweet Corn in the Great Easter. Mr T. II- Lowry has named four in the Great Easter and three in the mile and a-half race, Tete-a-Tete, Bjorneborg, Egypt, and Beltane being the seven furloug possibles, while all but Tete-a-Tete are in the Great Autumn. We may take it is certain that Mr Lowry will be represented at Riccarton, because only . accident should prevent Desert Gold's appearance in the Challenge Stakes, and the crack filly will have some travelling companions on her journey to the south. Hawke's Bay will hold a strong hand in the Easter, for, in addition to Mr Lowry's horses, Bunting, Llanishen, Form Up, and Cro> bus, are in, and the three last-named stand out distinctly as likely ones. Ko-?-Bian, Pamnure, Nystad, Oxenhope, and Rangitero are all much more than use ful, if not absolutely in the first flight of the sprinting brigade, and it will be very interesting to sec what Mr Henrys thinks of the field. The Great Autumn field will be composed of several proved horses—proved, that is to say, as distance horses—and we are very likely to see our old friends Bee, Rorke 's Drift, Adjutant, Wishful, Marc Anthony, Snub, Fiery Cross, and Toa Tore, among the competitors. I see Bunting is named as a sure goer at Ellerslie in preference to Riccarton; but surely it is a 'Wit early to make such a positive statement. Tho winning of the Easter and Autumn double is a consummation most delectable to any trainer, and I am sure that T. F. Quinlivan will never throw away a chance of securing such a triumph. Bunting was a bit unlucky to lose the Wanganui Cup, and some people tell me he is the best mile and a-half handicap horse at present in commission. Knowing his form, we may discount a little of the enthusiasm and still leave the All Black gelding with a jiiee winning prospect. For the other "leg" of the double Llanishen is the. one frequently and favourably spoken of, and Mr Watt's luck is of such a constant order that winner-hunters are never likely to lease any of the "blue and white" horses right out of consideration. With all respect for Llanishen, one cannot regard her as the "moral" Ventura was a few years ago in the same colours, and if Mr Wilfred Stead sends one of his English-bred fillies or Sweet Corn I should say Mr Watt's mare will have a very severe contract on hand. Always supposing the weights are suitable, I believe we shall see a nice field in each of the two big races, and it is quite unnecessary to imagine that Ellerslie is going to get all the cream of the Easter racing season.

A Prickly Problem. A handicapper's duty is to frame an adjustment of weights well balanced, so that every horse entered for the race Khali have an equal chance of success. But, though that may be the handicapper's duty, his work must necessarily show evidence of his own opinion, and though in theory the advantage of so many lengths or so many parts of a length can be represented by pounds, no arithmetical basis has yet been discovered, so that the handicapper may really become an automaton. Nobody will deny that now ami then a handicapper becomes prejudiced against a horse or an owner, and when either happening occurs "Good-bye Dolly" or

"Good-bye McGiniy" become the favourite songs of the particular owner. A few years ago i 1 was said of one of our most respected racehorse-owners that he knew two tunes by heart. One, "God Save the King," he hummed or whistled when he saw the work of one handicapper. The other, "Over the Hill to the Poorhnuse! " he used as a mind-consoler when he saw the weights' issued by another handicapper. Which may be taken as representing Ihc maximum and the zero of his hopes. There are many minds busy just now ■with the problem of how a good three-year-old should be treated in the Autumn so that he or she

shall have at least a reasonable chance of success in the big handicaps that stud the programmes of our racing clubs at this season of the year. Of course, the doings of Sasanof, Kilboy, and Tlie Tort' have brought about this state of affairs. Now, as a general rule, wo do 'not have more than one throe-year-old of outstanding merit, and therefore his or her crucifixion conies as a matter of course. But when there are three, as in the present year, people begin to ask themselves whether there is not some scheme which shall be effective enough to secure their presence in the big handicap races. I hear all sorts of suggestions. One is that no three-year-old shall be handicapped for mile and a-quartcr and mile and a-half races after March 1 at more than 51 o above weight-for-age. This idea is in a measure following out the conditions of the New Zealand Cup regarding penalties. But in the Cup it should be re\nembered there are so many untried performers. At this time of year form is exposed, and the "dark" horses are mostly those who from one cause or another belong to the "wait and see" brigade. I cannot see any way out, and I should think the best thing to do is to leave it to the discretion of the committee of the club, and to the handicappers. The question is one abounding with prickles, and is about as dangerous to tackle as the floating mine. The man who does find a solution must be a man of desperate valour, or one possessing the courage of an angel, and he is as worthy of reward as the old Cornish mackerel-catcher who knocked the "horns" off a floating mine with his boat-hook, and did not know he had beeu in any danger!

The Toff at Home. Whilo I am thinking about the crack three-year-olds of the season I may as well say that I called on the "triple crown" hero at Yaldhurst the other (Jay and found The Toff very well indeed. Full of spirit after his full month's spell and with heaps of muscle to work on the "little gentleman" will no doubt do full justice to E. O'Donnell's care and attention when next he is called upon to carry silk. I did not know until the day of my recent visit that the injury The Toff received during the running of the Auckland Cup raeo was so extensive. It was known at the time that he was galloped on, but few people I imagine guessed that the back of liis near hind leg was "skinned" from hock to heel. There is a scar now right down just as if someone had made a very clean straight cut. Luckily there was no depth to the scratch or there would have been no gallant effort in the Great Northern Derby and no deserved success in the Auckland Plate. Tho Toff, is going north and I should like to.be one of the birds flying north again to see him in the St. Leger. But I am afraid I cannot do another trip to Auckland until June, so the knowledge that Eligible's brother will run well must eontent me. There is; no doubt that he is a great little bit of horse flesh, and it is quite likely that we have not yet seen his best endeavours. Wishful, who made so much of the running in the Auckland Cup and only succumbed to the ".daylight robbery" of Depredation, is in first-class order. He stays all right End I should like much to know what his nearest special mission may be. If The Toff has a good training time during the next fortnight-1 suppose we may be sure of his going to Auckland and it may be taken as carried that Wishful will remain at Yaldhurst if his Great Autumn weight is not an insuperable load. Wishful is a good looking customer, but he just seems to want that bit of individual merit that marks the difference between the good ai.d the very good. Perhaps a bit of age will give him his higher degree. Koesian, who has done very well this, season, looks ready for any fray that is t be encountered in her near future, and it is not unlikely that he will be able to go with comfort and profit more th; n five furlongs now that he knows the way. I have been one of the many who have thought five furlongs was the utmost journey he could cover with ease, but his seven furlongs at Dunedin put mo on the other side of the fence. The Rokeby filly Ample, good winner and generous galloper for Mr Gerald Stead, is all ready for the Easter racing, but I do not yet know whether she is going to Auckland or is to stay ft home for the C.J.C. meeting. She is a filly of taking appearance and she has strength and substance where they tre required. If some of the team at Yaldhurst are what people call small horses the hurdler Plymouth can make amends. Until I stood beside him in his box I had no idea he was such a big horse as he really is. He gets down to the ground when he gallo; s and therefore the casual observer may get a mistaken idea. Let me confess I had not previously been more than a casual observer of Plymouth who was not altogether ready for hard racing when I saw him at Ellerslie at Christmas time. But now 1 know the gentleman more intimately 1 shall be all on the qui vi e. In fact 1 will be one of the Plymouth Brethren! Out in the paddock —very bare of grass is Yaldhurst and all tho countryside around —I saw the Elysian—Cyirma youngster for whom Mr Gerald Stead gave ISO guineas at the Auckland Yearling Sales. Big he will be, and powerful too. The other coming two-year-olds in the stables are the Martian —Formless colt and the Boniform —Cassock colt, both exceptionally promising and worthy of a special paragraph to themselves ou another occasion. Some Other Swells.

We may live a long time before again seeing in a New Zealand training stable the respective winners of the year's A..1.C. Derby and the Melbourne Cup. Having seen The Toff in all the serene quietude of homo life, I was rather keen to have a look at his competitors in the race for three-year-old supremacy, Kilboy and Sasanof, and so went to Sockburn on one of last week's sunbeamy days. Murray Hobbs is now quartered in the place which, I, suppose, will l»e known for pretty nearly all time :is Bob Reay's, although the present owner has practically rebuilt the house ;iml remodelled the grounds. Saturday was the day of my visit, and Kilboy and Sasanof had earlier on got through a useful working gallop of a mile and a-quarter with credit. The Derby winner is very well to look al. The Killn'oticys are massively built, but they nrc not tall horses, and though Kilboy looks a very big fellow when in action he measures /just 15.2:|. He is tremendously powerful, and therefore souk; people might imagine him to be over big in condition. Not so, however, and I think he will prove very fit. when he is called upon to race. Let it be said at once that the Derby winner has a well-developed splint below the knee on

the inside of his near foreleg. But apparently this is no trouble just now, and his trainer believes tliat it is not going to l>e a hindrance in the future. And we hope not; for right back to A.-T.C. Derby form the Kilbroney colt would be hard fo beat for anything he might be sent for. I had not seen Sasanof since his brilliant and successful dash in the Hawke's Bay Stakes Last May until the Christmas racing at Ellerslie. The "mean little rat," as some of the Australians called him, was at Auckland showing some signs of his hard work on the "other side," but to-day the MartianUkraine* gelding is "light up lo the knocker." He is wonderfully well, as hard as a sleeper of ironbark, and I believe with heartiness that The Toff will now find him a bit harder fo beat than he diii in the Auckland Plate. Sasa7iof's Rood points are his quarters and length from hip to hock, shoulder and heart room, and any failings in the way of lack of beauty severe critics may discover are discounted by his really good points and his undoubted ability as a galloper. The imported fillies, Shrill, Cheloma, and Bayonnc, nre all in tip-top order, the last-named not so forward as the other two. Cheloma and Bayonnc look as if they would stay a bit, ami Shrill, we know, is very fast, and she too may go a further distance presently. The Maltster— Condiment filly, Sweet Corn, holder of the Australasian six furlongs record of 1 miii 11 l-ssee, is also very ready for racing, ami altogether the team under Murray Hobbs is a formidable eombination. Kilboy's two-year-old brother will be bigger than the Derby winner, lie is a light bay in colour, taking after the Seaton Dclavals in this respect, and he promises to make a very powerful horse.