FROM TRACK AND STABLE

Taranaki Daily News, 26 January 1934, Page 4

FROM TRACK AND STABLE

SIDELIGHTS FROM TRENTHAM GOOD TOTALISATOR INCREASE. SEVERAL PROMISING HORSES; • (By “Hurry On.”) Big money was won over the success of Royal' on the final day at Trentham. He arrived from Riccarton only on the morning of the race, having made the trip just for the one event. The five-furlong journey suited him and he landed a coup for his connection. Promising .Two-Year-Old. Dismiss, decisive winner of the Hopeful Stakes at Trentham on Wednesday, is. a big chestnut by Paladin from March Off, a mare by Markhope from Officious by Finland. His trainer put up 41b overweight to secure the services of L. J. Ellis- ■ Though the opposition was not strong more should - be heard of Dismiss before the season closes. From a Good Family. Final Shot, winner of the Thomdon Handicap at Trentham on Wednesday, is a three-year-old filly by Winning Hit from Rivalry, a mare by Antagonist from Equipment by Martian—To-morrow, thus being a full sister to Battle Eve. Equipment is the dam of Cricket Bat, Full Feather and Ball Dress. Final Shot was expected to run prominently in the Apprentices’ Plate on the opening day and her showing on Wednesday suggests that all was not well with her in that event. Totalisator at Trentham. Despite all the criticism of the win and place betting the Wellington Racing Club showed an increase of over £15,000 in the turnover at the recent gathering at Trentham. But for the heavy rain that fell during the afternoon on Monday this would certainly have been over £2O 000. The recent wool sales may have had* something to do with this increase but it was so marked that perhaps the public’s dissatisfaction with the two pools is more imaginary than real. In Compris’ Colours, Davolo, the winner of the Dourd Cup at Trentham on Monday, is a three-year-old by Pombal from Imprudence, a mare by the English St. Leger winner Royal Lancer from Joanfax, the dam of Jona-

than. On the occasions of both his last two starts at Trentham Davolo was staying on solidly and, bred as he is, it would occasion no surprise to find . him performing prominently over a middle distance in the near future. He carries the colours of Mr. P. F. Campbell, who used to race Compris. Half Brother to Tigerism.

At the Pakenham races in Victoria on January 21 the Maiden was won by Shere Khan. This three-year-old, which carries the colours of D. H. McLeod, is a half brother by Gainscourt to Tigerism and Royal Bengal. He started third favourite and, ridden by J. Barry, won neatly by a length. Strict Officials.

The officials on the Melbourne courses are very strict. No trainer is allowed in the birdcake unless he has a horse competing in the particular race. A New Zealand trainer was anxious to have a word with an apprentice who was ndmg his ’ horse two races later but the gatekeeper was adamant. He could go in when his race arrived but not before. He mentioned the fact to the boy when he saw him. The youth’s reply was most expressive. “Him!” he said. He shard all right. He wouldn’t let the wind past if he could help it!” . Peter Pan’s Condition.

Peter Pan will not go through his preparation for the autumn racing without causing his trainer, Frank McGrath, some anxiety. After his work at Randwick last week there were distinct signs of a recurrence of the muscular trouble which caused him to miss racing during the spring meetings. With the approval of R R Dangar, the services of the veterinary surgeon, J. Pottie, were called in by McGrath. Mr. Pottie diagnosed the trouble as due to there being too much uric acid in the blood of the horse. It apparently is yielding to treatment. as Peter Pan worked on the Randwick tracks on Tuesday morning and moved quite freely. It will be remembered Mr. ■Pottie successfully treated Chatham for his wind infirmity and enabled him to resume racing instead of being retire to the stud. The National Sales.

It is becoming apparent that it is useless sending any but the best yearlings to the national bloodstock sales at Trentham. Buyers are looking for the progeny of proved sires from the best-brea mares. Anything else goes at gift prices. This does not mean that many of those sold cheaply will not turn out bargains; some are sure to, but it is not worth the while of any breeders using any but the best of sires with mares from successful families. This really means that before long these sales will be. confined to those yearlings bred at the big studs and that independent entries will go to the wall. Another fact brought out was that there is still a market for horses in training with good performances to their credit but no matter how good the breeding, buyers are not. prepared to bid. for any horse that has not displayed promise.

Totalisator in England. In England the totalisator is growing in popularity. The turnover for the flat racing season last year was a little over £4,250,000. Thalt was nearly £500,000 more than for the corresponding period the previous year. While exceptionally fine weather conditions in the summer were partly responsible, English papers say it was also an indication of general trade revival. During the flat racing in, 1933 an average of 1,000,000 2s “unit” bets a week was maintained—a record for the racecourse tote in England. There has been a deal of reorganisation in connection with the totalisator. Various highly-paid officers have been dispensed with, and other economies are being carried out. Money was so freely expended in connection with the totalisator in England in the past hat there is now a debt of £2,000,000 associated with it, and it may be a very long time before the machine directly benefits racing and breeding in the Old Country. ’ ■ Unusual Action.

The Perth stipendiary stewards established a precedent on January 13 when they refused to allow The Dimmer to be started in the Peron Handicap at the W.A.T.C. meeting, because in their opinion the horse was not in a fi‘ condition to race, states The Australasian. The Dimmer has never been a really sound horse, and he has only recently returned to work after having had an extended spell. At his best he was one of the best stayers we had racing in Australia at the time, and after winning the Sydney Cup three years ago he won the two long-distance weight-for-age races on the last days of the meeting. The stewards took a heavy responsibility upon themselves in asserting that The Dimmer was not in a fit condition to race, because it is sometimes difficult to say when a horse is fit and when it is not. Some horses are very deceptive in that respect, and although seemingly carrying much adipose tissue are naturally clean-winded, and therefore are fitter than they look. Still many horses are raced in a condition which would not leave experienced men like stipendiary stewards in any doubt as to their fitness, and if the example set by the Perth stewards could be followed more often the practice of running well-known performers in races when palpably out of condition for the sole purpose of “giving them a run,” would

be discouraged, as it rightly, should be. Too many horses are trained in races instead of on the training tracks. The Mighty Fallen. Sold on Tuesday for 15 guineas, Phar Lap’s brother Nightguard made a quick return to his new owner, J. J. Corry, Blenheim, by dead-heating for second in the Wallaceville Highweight Handicap at Trentham on Wednesday and gaming £22 10s. in stake money. - Nightguard was purchased as a yearling by A. Louisson, Christchurch, for 1500 guineas, and in view of the fact that his form has been very disappointing it is not surprising that he was allowed, to go cheaply when submitted to auction on Tuesday. Another high-priced yearling, Zetes, was sold for a mere 50 guineas on Tuesday. Vivian Riddiford paid a record price of 2400 guineas for this son of Limond and Waterwings at the yearling sales of 1929. Recovery of Rogilla. Rogilla, one of the outstanding Australian racehorses of the past two years, has made a complete recovery from the serious head injuries that he suffered in an accident on Newcastle racecourse in mid-December, and he has just returned from the veterinary hospital to the Newcastle stables of his lessee-trainer, L. Haigh. Despite the accident and the delicate operation, that he subsequently underwent, Rogilla lost very little condition and he will shortly be given ‘easy exercise in preparation, for the contemplated engagements in the autumn. It was feared after the accident that a resultant depression of the bone over the right eye might destroy the sight of the eye, and so make the gelding ineligible to compete in metropolitan racing. In an interview, however, Haigh said that the vision of Rogilla’s right eye was now as good as ever. He had never heard of a more wonderful operation being performed on a horse anywhere. His own opinion, just after the accident, had been that he would never be able to race Rogilla again. Fast Two-mile Hurdles. Perhaps it may be owing to the going, but hurdle races are not run as fast in England as in New Zealand or Australia. At Newbury on October 29, the Pommern gelding Story of Eden won a two-mile hurdle race in 3m 43s with 10.10. That fact was productive of a deal of comment in English papers, the time being so unusual that Story of Eden was referred to as one of the fastest hurdlers seen for years. Meyrick Good, of London Sporting Life, says it was the fastest hurdle race he ever timed at Newbury, and he has had long experience with the watch. In New Zealand there are' not many two-mile hurdles outside thte Auckland province, but some years ago Red Fuchsia did the two-mile journey over fences in 3m 37 4-ss, and 3m 40s is common time now at Ellerslie. In Australia the record has been reduced to 3m 355, Eatonwood having registered this tune at Randwick last April in winning the First Hurdles under 9.12 on Doncaster Handicap Day. Reminders.

Acceptances for all events for the first day of the Egmont Racing Club’s meet-' ing on February 1 and 3 will close with the secretary, Mr. A. K. Fyson, at 9 p.m. to-night. Nominations for all events for the Taranaki Jockey Club’s autumn meeting will close with the secretary, Mr. C. B. Webster, at 9 p.m. to-hight. Entries for all events at the Wanganui Jockey Club’s autumn meeting will close with the secretary, Mr. S. R. McCallum, at 9 p.m. to-night. HAWERA TRACK WORK FIRST VISITING HORSE ARRIVES. AGA KHAN WORKS WELL. Qnce again both weather and track conditions were ideal for work at Hawera yesterday morning. Proceedings were fairly quiet for there was very little galloping done. Practically all of the work was done on the plough, which was hard and fast. As the local trainers returned from Wellington yesterday galloping in earnest will be commenced immediately and during the next few days track work should be interesting. Aga Khan (Vaughan) was responsible for easily, the best effort of the morning when he covered a mile in Im 435. Diagano (Robinson) assisted him over the first half, which was run in 50 4-ss, but was then pulled up. Aga Khan continued in great style, his sectional times being five furlongs in Im 3 l-ss, six m Im 16j|s; naturally, he was stopping slightly at the close. It was easily the smartest mile performed at Hawera for some time and indicates that the Chief Ruler gelding has struck form again. He has met with very little success so far this season but he should go close to making amends in the next two or three weeks. Diagano worked neatly for his half-mile. . No Doubt (Vaughan) was anxious to go faster than the working gallop apportioned him, and, proving difficult to restrain, he registered Im 6 l-ss. Chief Line (Shield) was a couple ox lengths ahead of Waiwhetu (Vaughan) to occupy 37 for three furlongs. Chief Line worked fairly well, but Waiwhetu did not show nearly as much pace as usual. . With a substantial advantage in the weights Benedictine (Vaughan) finished half a length in front of Taitoru (Grindley) after covering five furlongs in Im ss. Benedictine has fined down considerably since running during the holidays, and after a little more racing his prospects will be much better. Taitoru was not asked to do his best and had something in hand at the finish. , Hitting out boldly, Silver Wings (Vaughan) dashed over three furlongs in 36 l-ss. It was a smart work-out.

Autumn Leaf (Mills) was given a run down the straight on the two-year-old track. He was having his first strong work and shaped very pleasingly. . Beau' Star (Grindley) traversed a couple of furlongs ix% 25 3-ss. Richfield (Mills), with Fantastic (Grylls) as a companion, set out from the seven furlongs peg at a strong threequarter pace which was maintained for five furlongs. They then cracked on the pace to run home the last two furlongs in 25 l-ss, with Richfield going slightly the better. Both worked attractively. Fantastic showed little signs of soreness. Miss Louvain (Conway), Fantastic (Grylls) and Autumn Leaf (Mills) were later given barrier practice. At the first attempt the first-mentioned pair hopped away together slightly ahead of the two-year-old, who was facing the tapes for the first time. Miss Louvain and Fantastic were taken back and again left the mark in excellent fashion. The first of the visiting horses to arrive for the Egmont meeting, Cawbeen (Hunting Song—Wallaby), came at a very early hour yesterday. Cawbeen is owned and trained by W. H. Corlett, Hastings, and has been showing good form among the hack sprinters around the Hawke’s Bay district recently. She was a winner at Waipukurau on Boxing Day. Carfex, Haunui, Sandlark, Cawbeen, Omariri, Ingenuity, Royal Peak, Friesland, Hilary, St. Clara, Peter Jackson and Colenso were all given useful tasks on the main plough. Golden Hair, Rose Day, Paparua and the Danillof gelding were allotted pacework on the inside plough.

Eara, Rollovant, Radiant Star, Colossus colt and the Sandstar gelding made use of the two-year-old track. The Tiger exercised on the oval. On Wednesday morning The < Tiger (Edgecombe) sprinted half a mile in 50 Js.

FAST MILE AT ELLERSLIE PSYCHOLOGIST’S PERFORMANCE. BEST SEEN FOR SEVERAL YEARS. By Telegraph—Press Association. Auckland, Jan. 25. The final gallops for the . Takapuna meeting were held at Ellerslie on the course proper with the poles 25 feet from the rails. The going was perfect and some fast times were recorded. Morehu and Hawthorn opened proceedings by running six furlongs in Im 19 3-ss, the former finishing in front. Royal Appellant covered five furlongs in Im 5 4-ss, running on nicely. Gay Broney, with Bam Dance over the last five furlongs, completed six furlongs in Im 19 3-ss, going evenly throughout. Imamint and Puriri Park galloped five furlongs in lm 4 4-5 s with little between them at the end. United was holding Wee Musk comfortably. after a mile. They ran the first half in 52 3-5 s and the full distance in lm 45 3-ss, Courthaven and Ornamental worked .over a mile, the first half being done in 54 3-ss, and the whole distance completed in lm 49 l-ss. Courthaven held the lead at the finish. Over a similar distance Bright Flower finished in front of Zane Grey in lm 51 4-ss. The two-year-olds Seven Seas and Horotiu covered half a mile in 51 3-ss, finishing on terms. Timorous and Horowhenua after the first furlong in 14 l-5s recorded lm 4 4-5 s for five furlongs. Both worked, well. King Musk accomplished a first-class gallop over six furlongs. He ran the. first three in 37s and completed in lm 18 l-5s running on strongly.. Glenromney and Kelly, after the first furlong in 12 l-ss, reeled off half a mile in 50 3-ss. They were together at the conclusion. , Master Brierly and Baroscope worked over a round with Jewelled Girdle. The full distance took 2m 6 l-ss, the last seven furlongs lm 35 3-ss, and the final six lm 23 2-ss. Master Brierly performed well, drawing clear of the other pair in the straight to finish several lengths in front. Barograph and Foreign Money were sent half a mile and completed the task in 51 2-ss. Psychologist was sent a mile putting up an attractive performance. He ran the first two furlongs in 23 3-ss, four furlongs in 49 4-ss, five furlongs in lm 1 3-ss, and registered lm 42s for the full distance. It was one of the best performances at Ellerslie for. a number of years over the distance. Alpinus worked over seven furlongs, covering the first four in 52 2-ss, and completing the gallop in lm 33 3-ss. On No. 3 grass Glenrata ran the last three furlongs in 39 4-ss.