RACING & TROTTING

Timaru Herald, Volume CXL, Issue 20260, 8 November 1935, Page 11

RACING & TROTTING

On and Off the Track A BUDGET OF NEWS AND VIEWS FIXTURES Racing: Nov. 9—Whangarei R.C. Nov. 9—Hawke's Bay J.C. Nov. 9, 11, 13, 16—Canterbury J.C. Nov. 16—Carterton R.C. Nov. 16, IS—Waikato R.C. Nov, 23 —Bay of Islands R.C. Nov. 23—Levin R.C. Nov. 23 —Southland R.C. Nov. 30—Ashburton County R.C. Nov. 30, Dec. 2—Takapuna J.C. Nov. 30, Dec. 2—Fielding J.C. Dec. 7, 9—Dargaville R.C. Dec. 6, 7—Woodville District J.C. Dec. 14—Waipa R.C. Dec. 14—Hororata R.C. Trotting: Nov. 12. 14, 15—N.Z. Metropolitan T.C. Nov. 28, 30—Forbury Park T.C. Dec. 7—Te Aroha T.C, Dec. 7 —New Brighton T.C. Dec. 26 —Ashburton T.C. Dec. 26—Gore T.C. Sep, 26. 26 —Wairarapa T.C. Dec. 26, 27—Westport T.C. Dec. 27, 28, 31—Auckland T.C. Dec. 28—Winton T.C. The Cup meeting will begin tomorrow. • * * * Autopay, after a short season at the stud, is in training again at Trentham. The stake for this year’s Wyndham Cup has been increased by £SO to £3OO. * * * * Mr G. Gould has been elected chairman of the Canterbury District Committee in succession to the late Mr H. A. Knight. New Zealand jockeys had a day out at Remington yesterday, K. Vojtre and M. McCarten each riding two winners, and W. Jenkins one.

Suggestions have been made that M. Holmes may drive Indianapolis in the Trotting Cup, but it can be accepted as certain that J. Fraser will not be superseded.

The Ellerslie jockey H. N- Wiggins will miss the final day of the Cup meeting to return to ride at the Waikato meeting at Te Rapa on November 16 and 18.

When Phar Lap died in California it was alleged that he had been poisoned. paieinte. who is involved in a doping story from Riccarton, is a daughter from Fortune’s Wheel, a sister to Phar Lap.

Silver Sight is probably the most raced of the New Zealand Cup field, having started about 110 times in just over four years, but in his case, experience is not a recommendation for a race like the Cup.

The reduction by 4 per cent, in the stakes’ tax was made retrospective to August 1, and a refund of that amount is to be made to the clubs, who will adjust the matter with owners concerned.

Two years ago Nightly won the Riccarton Handicap, the Derby, and the Canterbury Cup, and Sporting Blood won the treble last year. The horses in the three races this season are Heritage and Plato.

Nightmarch 9.6 is the only horse to win a New Zealand Cup with more than 9.0. Count Cavour 8.13 is the only other which has succeeded with more than 8.9, Sasanof’s weight. These figures indicate the magnitude of the task Vintage is undertaking with 9.5 on a cautious preparation.

Horses returning from the inter-Do-minion trotting championship at Perth next February will be exempt from quarantine on return, provided that they are certified to be healthy and free from ticks before leaving Perth, according to advice received by Mr H. F. Nicoll, president of the Trotting Conference, from the Director-General of Agriculture.

The Te Rapa-trained gelding King Rey. who dropped out of the New Zealand Cup. has not raced since he finished third to Mungatoon and Kiltowyn in the King Edward Memorial at Ellerslie, but is training on satisfactorily. His last success was in the Avondale Cup and if he goes to the post in the Waikato Cup next week he is sure to command strong support. King Rey seldom runs a bad race on his home course.

The retirement of Trampfast from the Trotting Cup has not weakened the field. The last unhoppled performer to win was Reta Peter, who was first home in 1920, and was awarded a second cup a year later when she finished two lengths behind Sherwood, the placings being reversed after an inquiry into a charge of crossing. It is unlikely that Trampfast could trot 4.22, and there are pacers on his mark capable of doing 4.17 or thereabouts.

The former champion Ammon Ra is credited with making what appears to be a comeback. After a long period of idleness R. Miller took him over and in a comparatively short time he is one of the best-conditioned horses on the Tawanini track. He is throwing all his former dash into his tasks, while some creditable half-mile sprints have been accomplished by him during recent weeks. Owing to the fact that Ammon Ra developed bleeding trouble his career was considered ended, and although it seems problematical whether he will reproduce his best form he has shown sufficient promise that it seems certain that he will again sport silk. No definite plans for his future have been made, but if all goes well he may again cross the Tasman to Australia, where the greater part of the £26,000 won by him in stakes was earned.

The Derby Unless Heritage gives a distinctive performance in the Riccarton Handicap, there seems no possible, probable shadow of doubt that, all going well in the meantime, Kinnoull will be backers’ No. 1 choice in the Derby on Monday. South Islanders will be staunch in their allegiance to the Washdyke colt, and their loyalty will be inspired by something more than mere sentiment. Since he finished second to Tuirau in the Spring Handicap at Ashburton, Kinnoull has been undefeated, and there have been features associated with all his performances that enhance his Derby prospects. At Ashburton Kinnoull carried 8.3, and defeated all his opponents except Tuirau 8.6. He last many lengths at the barrier, and at the home turn was still second last, six lengths behind Tuirau, a gap which he had reduced to two at the wire. Since then Tuirau has won the Ranfurly Handicap at Wingatui with 8.11, and the Buchanan Memorial at Banks Peninsula with 8.9, and may be favourite for the Cup. At Orari, Kinnoull carrying 8.3 finished brilliantly to beat Bon Tray 7.15, and cut a second off the record

for the course. Bon Tray won on the second day, and subsequently beat a strong field in the Shorts’ Handicap at Trentham, and is now in strong demand for the Stewards. After Greek Shepherd had won the Maungatua Handicap at Wingatui in 1.39 4-5 Kinnoull defeated him pointless in the Guineas in record time for the race. Greek Shepherd since then emphasised the merit of Kinnoull by winning ip open company at Trentham.

Kinpouil’s next and last appearance was made in the Rarcourt Stakes at Trentham. After being squeezed out at the start he trailed the field until his rider decided that he had accumulated overmuch flying mud, and then went round the field to notch a spectacular win which provided the highlight of the meeting. The ability of Kinnoull to gallop on firm tracks had been apparent, but as a two-year-old he sprawled rather badly in soft going in the McLean Stakes at Wingatui, and it was feared that his style of galloping' would place him at a disadvantage in mud- He overcame this disability at Trentham, and it now seems to be only a matter of health for him to go well under any conditions at Riccarton. The manner ip which he has finished in all his races seems to remove all reasonable doubts concerning his stamina, and he has demonstrated that he is up to Derby weight. Greek . Shepherd, apparently the strongest South Island opponent of Kinnoull, has tasted defeat each time they met, under different conditions, and will have to make rapid improvement if he is to reverse the position. The best of the northerners is considered to be Heritage, who is one of three Derby candidates trained at Woodville by F- Davis. Kinnpull and Heritage met twice last season, at Riccarton. In the Champagne Stakes Kinnoull defeated the northerner by a neck, while in the Challenge Stakes Kinnoull last a lot of ground at the Start and Heritage won by a head from Inflation. There was evidently not much between the pair then, though in the only real test the honours rested wjth Kinnoull. This season Heritage carrying 7.13 won a sprint race at Marton, and after finishing fourth from a slow start, in a similar class of event at Avondale, he beat Galilee by a neck ip the Guineas. Heritage was withdrawn from his Wellington engagements owing to the state of the track. The Posterity" colt undoubtedly is smart, but his record is not so impressive as that of Kinnoull, who also may be the more seasoned as well as more likely to carry weight. More will be known of Heritage after the Riccarton Handicap. Haut Monde, a stable-mate of Heritage, was rated highly early in the season, but has not fulfilled expectations, while Plato was well beaten by Kinnoull at Trentham. The Taranaki representative Lowenbury has some admirers, but has no public form indicative of Derby class.