AUSTRALIAN TURF NOTES

Taranaki Daily News, 20 September 1929, Page 5

AUSTRALIAN TURF NOTES

THE CHELMSFORD STAKES NEW ZEALAND’S FAVOURITE. LIMERICK NOT STARTED. When the result of the Chelmsford Stakes filtered across the ether on Saturday night and Limerick’s name was not even mentioned amongst the placed horses, surprise was expressed, but the appearance of Monday morning’s paper allayed all fears that something was amiss with the New Zealand champion, who had been scratched at the eleventh hour.

Fred Jones is reported to have stated that Limerick would be a runner, despite his 71b penalty, but apparently wiser counsels prevailed, and Jones was impressed with the danger of tackling such a good one as Mollison under such disadvantageous terms. Mollison tired to a walk in the Warwick Stakes but would be a fitter horse on Saturday and, with richer prizes on the Randwick horizon, it was advisable, to take no risks with the mighty New Zealander. Still, one would have liked to have seen Limerick register his fourth victory in the Chelmsford!

The Chelmsford Stakes was inaugurated in 1906, the first being won by a New Zealander, Solution triumphing under 8.13. In 1911 Los Angelos scored with 9.8; in 1916 Sasanof with 7.6; in 1918 Gloaming with the feather-weight of 6.10, this being his first victory on any course; and in 1923 Rapine led the field home with 9.4. Limerick scored his first success in the Chelmsford in 1926, when he carried 7.13, and followed it up by winning with 9.4 in 1927 and with 9:8 in 1928. So that in a period of

24 years New Zealand horses have won the race no less than eight times. Such a remarkable series of wins does not mean that New Zealanders are so much superior to Australian-bred horses, but horses nurtured in the Dominion come to hand more quickly than their brothers and sisters across the sea, and New Zealand training methods appear to be just a little better than those adopted by mentors on the other side. At Menangle last week the three-year-old handicap was won by the bay filly Promissory Note, by Paper Money —Robur; the . Novice Handicap went, to Wise Miss, an aged mare by Solferino —Kawaba; and the High-weight Handicap fell to the six-year-old Kilbroney gelding Kilperon. At the Canterbury Park races on September 7 Goldminer, the three-year-old brown gelding by Paper Money Secret Link, won the first division of the Flyino- Welter. Goldminer has been a great stake-earner lately for his ownertrainer, Mr.- W. Tindall. He closed his two-year-old career -with three wins, and Canterbury Park marked his first lun in open company. Sporting scribes of Western Austra.ia are enthusiastic about the performance of Pure Blend, the four-year-old daughter of Tea Tray and Takahau, who recently carried top-weight in the Goodwood Plate and romped home on odds on favourite by six lengths. The time, Imin 13 4-ssec, was good for the day. “Melville,” in the Referee, considers her the faster sprinter that has raced in Western Australia for some time. She is another of owner E. Lee Sterre s lucky New Zealand bred purchases. Jemidar, who won the last Perth Cup, ran fourth in the race and should soon be ready to show his best form.

Several New Zealanders raced prominently at the V.A.T.C. meeting at Moonee Valley on September 7. Mystic Peak, the three-year-old gelding who claims the parentage of Romeo and Refinement, is still winning and with topweight, fist 31b, in the Whittier Handicap, scored from a big field.. He was neglected in the betting quotations, in spite of his recent form, and started at long double figure odds. By winning the Whittier Handicap from No. 16 at- the barrier with top 'weight, Mystic Peak put up a remarkably good performance. He was well back until half-way up the straight, but then shot through to finish too well for the favourite Brockwood. Mystic Peak incidentally performed a hat trick, for he had won at his previous two starts. Later in the day another Maorilander, Waicullus (Ducullus-Waiputere), registered a brilliant performance in winning the Warriston Mile under a stiff impost of 10.12. “To carry 10.12 over a mile and beat a Moonee Valley Quality Handicap winner with 26!'b less by a neck in a punishing finish was surely a great performance by the former New Zealand gelding, writes “Clifden.” Joo Connolly must be regretting that he became impatient enough to get rid of the gelding after a run of minor placings, for at two starts since his sale Waicullus has won both times. The second of his wins was in the Warriston Welter on Saturday, but, although he had won the Aspendale Park Handicap a week earlier, the majority of backers thought the handicapper had obtained his measure w’hen he allotted him 10.12. Many trainers would have tried to make the burden less severe by utilising an apprentice with a good allowance, but not so J. O’Dwyer, the trainer of the

gelding. He again entrusted the mount to' Bob Lewis, and it was only ..due to the veteran’s vigorous riding that Waicullus was able to beat Nereus home. Because of an excellent track gallop the connections of Parsee threw in for a good win, but that gelding found his task of trying to lead all the way with 10.5 beyond him. Actually Waicullus was first to get going, but he was headed very quickly by Malinche, and then Parsee. For the greater part of the way Waicullus was seventh or eighth, and on the rails, but he was let through on the rails at the turn. At that stage Nereus had set out after Parsee, and apparently had him beaten when Waicullus slipped up on the inside and tackled him within 50 yards of the post.” Besides having been engaged for Valparaiso in the Metropolitan, E. Bartie has accepted the mount on Violin Solo for the colt’s Spring engagements, which include the Derbies and two Cups. So far he has not definitely decided on an Epsom mount, but, failing his accepting the ride on Poitiers, he will probably bo on W. Booth’s candidate, Don doon. Though J. Munro may not have as successful a time this Spring as last, when ho won the A.J.C. Derby, Epsom, Breeders’ Plate, Grimcrack Stakes, Craven Plate and Melbourne Cup, as well as other less valuable races, his services are certain to be greatly in demand. He will ride Loquacious and Inducement in their engagements, and his Derby mount will be Magnifier, who is raced in partnership by Mr. P. Miller and trainer P. Riddle. Karuma, in tho Caulfield Cup, z is another of Munro’s engagements.