On and Off the Track

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLII, Issue 20492, 10 August 1936, Page 9

On and Off the Track

*> BUDGET OF NEWS AND VIEWS FIXTURES Racing \ug 11, 13, 15—Grand National. Aug 22—Pakuranga Hunt ClubAug 27 —Egmont-Wanganui Hunt Cluu Aug. 29—Taranaki Hunt Club. Sept. s—Otago Hunt Club. Trotting Aug. 12, 14—Metropolitan T.C. Aug 15—Cambridge T.C. Aug. 29 —Auckland T.C. Sept. s—New Brighton T.C. Sept. 12—Wellington T.C. Grand National to-morrow. The Metropolitan Trotting Club’s meeting will be continued on Wednesday. • • • • L. G. Morris states that the recent backing of Oratory in connection with the Caulfield Cup and coupling in doubles with the Melbourne Cup has nothing to do with any stable move. Willow Wave began correctly in the August Handicap at Addington, and was going well when Queen Author compounded and went back on him after turning into the back stretch the last time round.

W. J. McDowell will probably have the ride of Forest Glow in the Grand National, as C. Thomson is suffering from the facial injuries received when Forest Glow fell at the first fence in the July Steeplechase at Trentham.

M. Holmes was seen at his best when driving Village Guy at Addington’. Behind a horse not really capable of seeing out two miles, and on a track against a long striding pacer, Holmes went to the front, set a slow pace, and picked the best of the going. Gallant Knight was toiling along at the tail of the bunch in the Advance Handicap at Addington in a way that suggested he could not handle the going, but the American horse came home fast in third place, and he should win before the week expires.

P. T. Hogan has been laid up at Christchurch, and no announcement has been made regarding a rider for Queen of Song in the Winter Cup. J. W. Jennings is available, but no surprise will be expressed if W. Hogan Is weighed out.

Big Author and Noble Prince broke at the start at Addington on Saturday, but it is doubtful if this affected the results in the slightest degree. Each of the big geldings paced very indifferently, and apparently neither is of much account in heavy going.

Frisco Lady was backed as if unbeatable in the Advance Handicap on Saturday, but she never threatened serious danger. M. B. Edwatds’s stable provied another hot favourite in Gamble, who could not do more than return his place backers a small profit. The first four-year-old appearances of last season’s star three-year-olds was expensive to backers. At Addington on Saturday Gamble 1367, Frisco Lady 1257 and Blair Athol 1157 were all win favourites, and all were beaten. Pot Luck did not start, M. Holmes taking the drive behind Village Guy, According to an Australian exchange the price paid for the New Zea-land-bred colt Bengal Lancer was 1500 guineas. He was purchased on behalf of Mr W. Cannon, a Queensland sportsman. As Bengal Lancer is still a maiden, the price obtained must be regarded as a substantial one. Clarion Call failed at Trentham in mud, but his trainer L. G. Morris is confident that he will make a better showing on the better ground that is probable at Riccarton. Although Clarion Call is by Hunting Song he is an exception to the general run of that breed, for he likes the going firm. Grand Mogul paced a sound race in the August Handicap, but C. Dunlevey was not enamoured of his chance in the soft going, and the chestnut may go better this week if the track is in better order. If he starts in the feature events he will, however, have to give away 12 yards to compete. Isobel Derby, now trained by her owner (J. J. Kennerley) on behalf of her lessee (Mr H. M. Lynch) gave another poor display at Addington on Saturday, drifting until she was over a furlong behind the field. Possibly the going upset her, but it is difficult to understand how she acquired a reputation last season. It takes a good horse to contest the lead all the way and win a big twomiler at Addington, as De Soto did on Saturday. The Kirwee pacer did not receive all the credit he was entitled to for his performance at Ashburton when he finished second after losing at least 50 yards at the start and being bustled up to the leaders in the first half mile. Legislation and other conditions affecting racing in France have induced many owners to send their horses to England. Mr C. Wertheimer is sending nearly all his 1936 yearlings to be trained by F. Hartigan. W. R. Johnstone, the former Australian jockey, holds a retainer from this owner, so it is probable he will do some riding in England next year. The Christchurch Hunt meeting has been abandoned. It was proposed to issue a new programme for August 29, but it is understood that the Otago Hunt, whose date is September sth, objected that a meeting a week earlier would prejudice its hunters’ races, and the Christchurch committee has decided not to proceed any further. Although it was not shown in the race book, Rustle (the winner) and Kuini were bracketed on the totalisators in the Introductory Handicap at Addington on Saturday. Rustle is now | trained by J. S. Shaw for Mr W. Hoskings, the northern owner, who has the gallopers Greek Gold and Royal Gallant in the same stable.

The last race at Addington on Saturday did not start until 53 minutes behin schedule time, and was run in a very bad light. The schedule was arranged on the basis of 35 minutes internals prescribed by the Rules of Trotting, but it is apparent that this is regarded as an ideal incapable of attainment under existing conditions, and the remedy seems to be an earlier starting hour. Blair Athol, carrying more “win” money than the combined investments on the other eleven starters in the Advance Handicap, looked to be going very easily three furlongs from home, and his supporters were still happy when he was half-way up the straight, but he had nothing in reserve when Golden Mist tackled him. Probably he was not quite ready for the task, and he may do better later in the meeting. Harold Logan was accorded a round of applause as he trailed the field the first time round in the August Handicap, and there was an excited roar when the old chap made a sudden adsh three furlongs from home. The erstwhile champion’s run was not long sustained, however, and although he finished fifth he was very tired and would not have been so forward had all the field been driven out. The five-year-old Blue Mountain King mare Bonny Azure played cat-and-mouse with a smart pacer like Avernus in the Queen Mary Handicap at Addington, and won so easily as to indicate that she was not over-rated in the north. She was making her first appearance since her transfer from F. J. Smith’s stable at Takanini to L. O. Thomas’s establishment at the Hutt, and it was her first race in the South Island. The veteran Rollo, w T ho had not raced for more than 18 months, sprang a surprise by defeating all except De Soto in the main event at Addington. The heavy going suited him admirably, and he finished so well that L. A. Maidens may win a race with him before long under ’ similar conditions. Rollo was let out a second in the new assessments, and thus was deprived of his Cup qualification if the “assesed at” system is continued. Discord appeared to throw away certain victory in the Stewards’ Handicap at Addington by a break in the soft track, after going half a furlong. Commencing the last round the Wrack mare was just behind the backmarker Sea Gift. When the pace was cracked on half a mile from home Discord trotted stride for stride with Sea Gift, and was only a couple of lengths behind the crack mare at the winning post. Beginning smoothly in the August Handicap, De Soto quickly breezed into a forward position, and after two furlongs had been traversed he was never farther back than second. He beat off two determined challenges by Grand Mogul, and the length by which he won from Rollo could have been increased had J. Bryce junr. desired. De Soto may now be put aside for the Trotting Cup, but if he starts again this week, particularly if the track is soft, he will be at a short price. The following riding engagements have been made for the first day of the Grand National meeting: L. J. Ellis, Wino, Bay Duke, Grey Honour, Autumn Wind; A. G. Parsons, Gaysome, Cape Gabo, Madam Pompadour; A. J. Peart, Signaller; R. K. Smith, Diamond, Royston; R. Beale, Royal Limond, Jolly Beggar; D. O’Connor, Courtyard; H. W. Hibberd, Polygraph; W. Cooper, The Smuggler; J. W. Jennings, Araboa; H. Goldfinch, Fair Weather, Emmeline Girl, Rousseau, Knockfin; F. E. Baker, Redolent, Silver Fox; W. Rennie, Billy Boy, Vai Watch (second day); R. E. Thomson, Travelling Agent; G. H. Humphries, Ponty, Rose of Tralee, Hororata, Recollection; G. Ridgway, Pahu, Burglar, Matoru, Polydora; A. Messervy, Royal Gallant and Dollar Bill; M. Kirwan, Jed Forest and Palmyra; A. E. Ellis. Concertpitch, Greek Gold; B. H. Morris, Sovereign Lady; J. Murfitt, Cyclonic; W. J. McDowell, Forest Glow; A. Jenkins, Clarion Call and John Ball; W. J. McKenzie, Adalene; G. Elliott, Coxcomb; E. A. Leckie, Derive, Epris.