RACING & TROTTING

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXIII, 13 October 1926, Page 4

RACING & TROTTING

On and Off the Track.

Racing. Oct. 13, 16 —-V.A.T.C. (Caullleld). Oct. 14, 1G —Dunedin J.C. Oct 16—Carterton R.C. Oct. 23, 25 —-Wellington R.C. Oct. 23, 25— Waverley R.C. Oct. 2 s—Waikato Hunt Club. Oct. 25—Waipawa County R.C. Oct. 2 s—North Canterbury R.C. Oct. 25, 27 —Gore R.C. Oct. 2S, 30—Poverty Bay Turf Club. Oct! 29, 30—Mastcrton R.C. Oct’ 30—Banka Peninsula R.C. Oct. 30, Nov. I—Thames J.C. Nov. 2, 3—Cromwell J.C. Nov. 3 —Birchwood Hunt. Club. Nov. G, B—Auckland R.C. Nov. G, 8, 10— Canterbury J.C. Dec. 4 —Methven R.C. Dec. 10, 11—South Canterbury J.C. Trotting. Oct. 10, 20 —Auckland T.C. Oct, 23, 25 —Grevinouth T.C. Oct! 25 —Oamaru T.C. Oct. 30—Timaru T.C. Nov. 9, 11, 12—N.Z. Metropolitan I.C.

Caulfield Cup on Saturday. Dunedin meeting Thursday and Saturday. Auckland trots Saturday and Wednesday next. Acceptances for the Oamaru Plotting Club’s meeting are due on MonVictoria Amateur Turf Club’s spring meeting will be continued today and concluded on Saturday. The Forbury Park Trotting Club proposes to distribute £SOOO in stakes at its spring meeting on 26th and 27th November. Nominations for the Timaru Tiotting Club’s spring meeting (October 30) must be in the hands of the secretary by 8 o’clock to-night. Mainspring fell from grace by refusing an easy fence at Kurow. After baulking a second time he was not persevered with. Pando Pointer displayed considerable promise in the harness trot at Kurow, and should not be overlooked for liis future engagements. C. Emerson failed-to win a race at Oamaa’u on Saturday. Emerson is not partial to riding in the mud, but it was not lack of vigour that kept him from saluting the Judge at Oamaru. - , . Jarretiere evidently is a bit of a jade. She defeated her opponents pointlesa on the second day of the Geraldine meeting, but ran very indifferently in a weaker field at Kurow. ~, . Sir Roy won decisively on a sottish track at Kurow, but apparently could not raise a gallop in the heavy SO> n S at Oamaru. There will be another day for the Olarenceux gelding, who probably, requires a strong rider to gat the best out of Ulmi Rank Note (Paper Money—Equitas), who showed considerable promise as a two-year-old when trained by F, D. .Tones, was solidly supported for the Maiden at Otaki, and wen without difficulty. Bank Note, who is now in F. Tilley’s stable at Fordell, is expected to win again. Mr G. A. Bridges has been engaged in surveying work at the Oamaru racecourse, where it is proposed to lay out a six-furlong trotting track, and later a racing track of nine furlongs, with a common straight and winning post. The location of the stands is already indicated by flapAfter the horses had done their preliminaries In most of the races at Oamaru on Saturday, their riders were allowed to take them, under escort of the clerk of the course, to tho shelter of the stalls. Naturally this was mush appreciated by the riders, who had to work in most disagreeable conditions. . . Raron, who finished third in the AJ C, Derby, 13 by the crack sire Valais, from Poyferre, a sister to the champion stayer Poitrel. With such a pedigree, it was only to be exPectod that he cost a fair amount, and Mr A. T. Craig had to go to 1600 guineas to oocuro him as a yearling. He is trained by J. Scobie, who won a Mclbourno Cup for Mr Craig with Bltalli. . . .. White Fang, who recently left for Australia, has been nominated for the weight-for-age events and principal handicaps at the Melbourne Cup meeting. Possibly the smart Gisborne hack has been taken to the Commonwealth for sale, and his entry in the same class as Windbag, Heroic, Manfred and Co., may be part of an advertising campaign. One tiling certain is that it will not be overlooked by the handicappers. The South Canterbury Jockey Club has adopted a programme for a summer meeting, to he held on Friday and Saturday, 10th and 11th December. The sum of £2820 is allocated for prize money, the principal events being the Teschemaker Handicap (1$ miles) worth £4OO, and the South Canterbury Handicap (1 mile) of £3OO. The sprinters are catered for in the Flying Handicap, worth £230, and the Farewell Handicap, of £225. There is an open welter on each day’s card, and a hurdle race, a hack welter, and the usual events for maidens and juveniles will be run on both days. Star Stranger is to contest the New Zealand Cup, and if all goes well with him in the interval, the Martian gelding is likely to start a pronounced favourite. It may be contended that the history of the race is against him, as no horse has won the Cup with more than 8.9. On the other hand the minimum is now 71bs higher than it used to be, and not many horses liaVe been seasoned by racing as Star Stranger has been so early in the season. The New Zealand Cup with 9.0 looks an easier task than the Metropolitan with 8.9, when allowance is made for the half stone difference in the minimum. The imported mare Eulogy must be ranked as the greatest producer of early speed we have had in the Dominion. Her first foal, to Absurd, was Pennon, a smart galloper, who is now in the limelight as dam of Lysander. Then came Yarradool, a good winner in Australia, followed by the flying Humbug and Epitaph, both champion Homage did not maintain the family standard, but Commendation and Eulalie have been top class. With -the exception of Commendation, who is by Llmond, all the above were the 10sult of matings with Absurd, aiul none of them had extended careers on the track. It will be interesting to boo whether Commendation will last longer and stay better than liis relatives. Tho news that Windbag lias been scratched for Victorian spring engagements, was not altogether unexpected. The Magpie gelding lias always been a source of anxiety to his trainer, and even if lie never races again, Price is entitled to the greatest credit for the manner In which he has kept his champion going. Windbag was bought as a yearling liy Mr [, (}. Duncan for 150 guineas, on behalf of Mr F. Earl, of Auckland, but on inspecting his purchase, he liked his appearance so little that he resold him to the auctioneers for 120 guineas, and Mr R. Millar (present owner) got him for a little more. Since then he has won well over 30 000 guineas. His latest disability no doubt, is due to his three gruelling races this spring—one with Valicare and two with Limerick,

It is understood that the profit on the Ashburton meeting at Riccarton was about £BOO. Fairy Herald has won over £SO 0 during the last few months, and has run out of his hack qualification. A surprise nomination for the Canterbury Cup . is Reremoana, whose best distance is a mile. W. Cooper, the Otago jockey, who is willing to ride in any class of race, won the chief event at Kurow and again at Oamaru. Mountain Lion is looking particularly well, and the first time the black gelding gets a track to his liking, he will be very hard to beat. Several horses which were on the course at Oamaru on Saturday were withdrawn from their engagements, as a result of the heavy going. Gay Sonnet finished very gamely in the Trial Plate at Oamaru, and should be heard of again. Gay Sonnet is trained by her owner, but the latter lias! had the benefit of the advice of S. Trilford, a past-master at the business. Since he secured a license ten weeks ago, T. Humpliris has steered thirteen winners. He has been successful on the flat, in hurdle races, and in steeplechases, and undoubtedly is the South Island’s best allround horseman. Kosenor could not win tlio Kuiow “Cup” with seven stone. This has not deterred his owner from nominating the English horse for the Canterbury Cup, in which he would have to carry nine stone, against such gal-, lopers as Rapine and Star Stranger. Briglitling was all at sea m the mud at Oamaru, and with a prospect of heavy tracks at Wingatui, his connections decided that it would be useless incurring the extra expense of taking him on to Dunedin. Brightling’s next outing is likely to be de- | ferred until the tracks are dry. Several Riccarton-trained horses which ran at Kurow and Oamaru without success, are unlikely to face the starter at Dunedin. , As one j trainer put it, “If I can’t win a race , in the mud in the country, what is the use of wasting more money to try and beat stronger fields at Wingatin." , , Lysander’s Derby -prospects have been canvassed fairly freely, since he dead-heated at Avondale with Commendation. The Absurd colt was not entered for the C.J.C. race. He is in the Auckland Derby, but is a very unlikely starter. . . When Rapine, Star. Strangei, Battlemdnt, Count Cavour, Young Lochinvar, Eulalie, Agrion and Expense are saddled up at Riccarton next month, they w-11l have a considerable advantage in condition over horses which have not been raced in Australia this spring. - A good many owners appear to have* spent a sovereign on a Canterbury Cup nomination on the off chance of the field being small, with some easy money for third horse. On one occasion, it will be remembered, Mortham collected second prize in the Stead Cup, In which all cracks had-declined a meeting with Desert Gold. . Tarleton’s win at Oamaru on Saturday was his first since he established a course record in the Tlmaru Cup in April, 19 26. Tarleton was kept in behind until lie received an opening on the rails at the last turn, arid under his light;,Weight, finished with' more determination than usual. He was steered by the Invercargill apprentice, N. C. Dwyer, who received the hearty congratulations of F. E. Jones, the horse’s usual pilot, on his success. Dubious was galloping well until a week before the Kurow meeting, but had to be eased up as a result of a pricked foot. Despite this ho nearly effected a surprise In the Hakataramea Welter, making nearly all the running, and then participating m a neck finish with John Bradbury and Ronaki. Dubious was lame on thb following day, but was able to start at Oamaru. The doubtfully-bred gelding should pay his way over hurdles in this island. When it was announced definitely that Limerick was going to Melbourne, the opinion was freely expressed that the New Zealand Derby would be a jog for Commendation. Last week, however, Battlement won two thousand pound han*.cnps in Sydney, one over 12 miles, and his return to the Dominion will be awaited with interest. If Commendation has the soft spot some people suspect, Battlement is good enough to find it out. Battlement cost the Jones stable and its followers a considerable amount at meetings prior to the A.J.C. fixture, his track work having been of such a nature as to encourage them to plank down a portion of their Reonui-Young Loehinvar-Lim-erick winnings pretty solidly. Evidently the trouble was that the journeys were too short for the Martian coit, who has made ample amends by a couple of wins and some places worth all told well over £ISOO. There are 24 horses engaged in the Canterbury Cup, hut only a fraction of the unmber have any credentials for a race run over two miles and a quarter. Rosenor, Full Swing, Desert Glow, Diogenes, Opa, Goosestep, Hynanna, High Gear, Kalakaua, Clarinda, Seatoun, Perle de Leon, Mah Jong, and David Garrick all would need over two stone from Rapine or Star Stranger- in a handicap, yet have been entered for a contest in which most of them would have to meet the pair at a difference of a few pounds. . Corn Money missed the jump, out In the Flying Handicap at Oamaru, and this cost him several lengths. The Paper Money gelding’s prospects were not bright when the field had gone a furlong, but he put in a great run from the first turn for home, and won handsomely. Corn Money, who can adapt himself to any kind of go- . jug foreshadowed his success at Oamaru by an excellent display at Orari when not ready, and he should win good sprint races in the south this season. ’ . Jupiter Pluvius, or whoever it is that directs the reticulation of the heavens, once more dealt in dastardly fashion with the North Otago meetings last week. The Kurow fixture retains in large degree the flavour of the old-timo picnic gatherings. Not that there is anything of he picnic character about the course oi its appointments, as all the modern equipment is there and the racing- is conducted under the same rules as at metropolitan tracks, but race day in tlm Upper Waitaki is the festival of the year, and*attracts hundreds of sports from the high lands of South Canterbury and North Otago, who regard the affair purely from the -porting point of view. It is regrettable that misfortune continues to dog the Club, and the same remark applies to the Oamaru Club, which has had more than its share of rough weather during recent years. It is not suggested that the boring and crossing to which Goodform was subjected in the steeplechase at Kurow, cost the ex-Mackenzie hunter the race, but the verdict of the judicial committee that the rldmg ot both Jockeys contributed to the interference was distinctly ungenerous to R. McSeveny, who was on Goodform. McSeveny did not appear to be In any way responsible for the boring at the top o£ the straight or for the cross which his mount suffered right under the judge’s box, and It is just possible that had De Cruse performed Ills Anal stop and swerve in the opposite direction, GepcUorm might )in,Y9 Won.

Pail- Exchange has the best public form of the McLean Stakes caudiFull Swing’s Geraldine performance seems to have frightened some of the others out of the Mosgiel Handicap. , There were thirteen starters in the Ling Memorial (1J miles) at Otaki. Dogage and Clarinda, two New Zealand Cup candidates, were the outsiders of the field. ' . ■ Corn Money’s recent racing lias worked considerable improvement in the condition of the Paper Money gelding, and even with 8.3 he will have a big following in the Electric Handicap to-morrow. Princess Mafalda notched another minor place at Oamaru. The washdyke mare is a speedy galloper in private, and probably has been a bit unlucky in having .had to do her recent racing on heavy tracks. Kid Logan, a half-sister to Waitaki Girl, was one of the fancied candidates in the harness trot at Kurow, but was unable to act on the slippery grass and gave her supporters a poor run.

Fairy Herald may find the company too select in the open class when the tracks become hard, but he should acquit himself with credit under winter conditions, when the weight scale is higher and the going heavy. Volant .was not started at Oamaru owing to the heavy going. The conditions may not be any more favourable at Wingatui this week, but directly the tracks dry up, the Orari gelding is likely to set his opponents a merry dance. Goosestep left his backers lamenting at Kurow, and will have to show marked improvement to be reckoned with in the New Zealand Cup. He was well enough handled,, but was stopping a furlong from home. Possibly the son of Warstep is hot at home on soft tracks, but in the meantime his prospects of taking the Cup trophy through the tunnel are not bright. His trainer decided not to start him again in the mud at Oamaru, and he is likely to follow a similar course at Dunedin.

The jockeys engaged at Oamaru had a trying time, between being soaked with rain and bespattered by flying mud. The judge was another who deserved sympathy, as the colours of the riders were hidden under waterproofs until the line-up, and were largely obliterated before the horses reached the winning post. In spite of the difficulties confronting him, Mr Aldwortli’s decisions were not open to question. It is customary for New Zealand horses to win a big share of the good stakes hung up at Randwick, and the recent meeting resulted in Dominion representatives accounting for over £IO,OOO. It is very unlikely, however, that this country’s gallopers will ever equal the record, in number of wins, established In 1905. In that year New Zealanders won exactly half the races on the four days’ programme—the whole card on the second day—and in addition won place money on several occasions. R. J. Mason saddled up eight winners for the late G. G. Stead —Noetuiform won the Derby (with his stable mate Sungod second), Isolt the Malden Plato, Nightfall the Squatters' Handicap, Sungod the New Stakes, Isolt the Wycombe Handicap, Nightfall the Randwick Plate, Sungod the Grantham Stakes, and Isolt the Members’ Handicap, For. other owners, Machine Gun scored in The Shorts, Maniapoto in the Metropolitan, and Sultana W'n both steeplechases.