TOPICS

Te Awamutu Courier, Volume 66, Issue 5600, 2 April 1943, Page 3

TOPICS

(By

“PILOT”)

TE AWAMUTU SPORT

The forward running of Viola Blonde, third in the first division at Paeroa last Saturday, is an indication that Owner-trainer Alf. Rowan is i still on deck, and it is on the cards | that this attractive Dink-Transaction filly will go one better next start.

Alf has had a lot of fun on the turf, and has raced some good horses, including Cheval de Volee, dual Auckland Cup winner, En Volee, Tonnerre, Musquil, Protomint, Cheval de Bataille, and Fils de Vaals, a winner in India. He also owned Ugly Duckling. Our picture shows him receiving an Auckland Cup, and Alf. has high hopes of receiving another later on.

SERIOUS PROBLEM

UNWIELDY FIELDS At both the Ohinemuri and the Bay of Plenty meetings at Paeroa unwieldy fields made a strenuous day for officials and punters. In each case 11 races were decided, and this in spite of the fact that there were more than 110 scratchings for the Bay of Plenty meeting. Fortunately, the Ohinemuri Club had originally arranged for a seven-race programme, and it was thus possible to make the Awaiti Stakes two separate races prior to the day. However, it was not possible to follow the same course where the Cup contest, the juvenile, and the hack nine-furlongs events were involved.

With 30 or more horses going to the post for any particular event owners are faced with the problem of making suitable ridiYig arrangements, for the really capable horsemen are somewhat limited to-day. Then there is time lost in the posting of particulars on the notice board.

Naturally enough, backers wait to ascertain the rider of their fancy and what marble he has drawn. Frequently it means much to secure a good barrier position, and the backer cannot be blamed if he delays making his investment until the necessary particulars are on the notice board. Then there is another aspect: Where there are division races the stake return to the winners is materially reduced, and an owner can hardly be blamed should he prefer to sidestep a hack event where the prize is * well below that originally allowed for. They may go through with the engagement, but they may not be genuine triers.

At the Ohinemuri Meeting the unusual spectacle was witnessed of the Cup race being run in divisions. Good as the stake-money originally was, the addition of another £lBO hardly fittingly compensated the owners of the respective winning horses. For a Cup race to be run in divisions is approaching the farcical. The consensus of opinion is that regular patrons of racing do not appreciate division races. That can be well understood in view of the fact that they involve greater outlays with restricted chances and reduced dividends.

Admittedly, there is always the possibility—just as at Awapuni—of a bracketed pair winning both divisions. Tn such an instance the monetary return is all the more pleasing, but such instances are somewhat rare.

Unfortunately, the place-dividends are paid by the first and second horses only—and that only under the win-and-place system. True, a backer can have two chances of a dividend in each division, if he elects to make the necessary outlay, but the place-pool is divided into four instead of three.

The question now arises: Is the sport benefiting by division lt is very problematical. Admittedly, it is hard to shut out horses from opportunities of racing, and the only practical means of solving the problem appears to be to have compulsory draws or to grade the equines according to calibre. Meantime there are all sorts of horses filling the acceptance lists, and whether many of them will ever prove capable of meeting the oat bill is very doubtful. Unhappily, even under the balloting system their presence might mean the exclusion of much better-performed equines as a result of the luck of the draw.

Unfortunately, there is not sufficient racing at present to merit the introduction of grades in racing as a means to .overcoming the difficulty, but if the boom continues after the

war such a course might to be enforced.

Another solution suggested is a minimum of seven furlongs for hack races. This, it is claimed, would eliminate may out for training, and would also improve the stamina of those that did start.

Finished for Season Virtuoso has finished his racing for the present season and has been turned out. It was intended to send him to Riccarton at Easter, but it was discovered that he was not entered for the Champagne Stakes. A Grand National Winner

Foxiana, the hero of the Grand Nationals last year, has been brought in from his holiday spell in good order, and ready to undergo preparation for the Dominion’s crosscountry events.

Huntiiig King Since winning at the Te Aroha meeting Hunting King has not been seen out in public, but will probably compete at the Auckland Easter fixture. Now a four-year-old, he was bred at Onehunga by the late Mr W. Kemp, and at the dispersal sale of the latter’s thoroughbreds was purchased as a foal by Mr J. Pohlen for 185 guineas. His dam, Queen Emerald, is by Quin Abbey from Miss Ethel, by Wairiki from Miss Rose, by Dreadnought.

High-Class Additions R. S. Bagby’s Ellerslie team has been increased by the addition of a rising two-year-old colt by Bulandshar—The Begum, therefore a full brother to the brilliant High Caste, and a filly by Chatsworth from Rulette. This juvenile is a half-sister to Sudabar. They are owned by Mr and Mrs A. J. McGovern, of Te Awamutu. For Second Time

Winner of the 1942 Hawke’s Bay Cup under 7.6, Full Hand returned to Hastings last Saturday to win the big race for the second year in succession with 7.8, Yogi and Rakanui filling the minor placings. The second day of the meeting will be held tomorrow.

Promising Colt Another promising galloper by Mr Standfast was produced at Paeroa last Saturday. This was Atatu, who finished third in the Second Jack Tanner Memorial Handicap. Only for the fact that he came out very wide in the straight, finishing out almost along the lawn rail, Atatu would have been closer than he was. It was a very encouraging effort, more especially as he was not as forward as many of the others, and more should be heard of him later. Atatu is an outstanding black colt and he is trained at Matamgta by A. McArthur for Mr F. Rose.

Avondale MeetingStakes amounting to £3700 have been arranged for the Avondale Jockey Club’s Autumn Meeting at Ellerslie on May 1. The leading event will be the Foley Memorial Handicap, of £BOO, 1 mile and 3 furlongs. Other good races are the Morningside Steeplechase, of £5OO, about 2i miles, and the Mount Eden Handicap, of £5OO, 6 furlongs.

TROTTING

TO-MORROW’S PROSPECTS Prospects - for the South Auckland Trotting Club’s meeting at Te Rapa to-morrow are:— Introductory Handicap— FOREWARNED, TWICE WORTHY, ETTA GIRL Frankton Handicap— OUR GAIL, STUART LEE, VOLO SENWOOD Thames Handicap— MIGHTY, CERTIFY, KARNAK R. T. Reid Memorial— NUMBA, APRIL DIRECT, PETER’S FIND Cambridge Handicap— WORTHY BELWIN, ROBTE, ECHOIST Claudelands Handicap— ALBERT TRACEY, STUART LEE, JOAN’S JEWEL Hamilton Handicap— BLACK LABEL, HIGH PLAY HIGHLAND SCOTT Farewell Handicap— PACING POWER, INTEGRITY, PARSHALL