On and Off the Track

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLV, Issue 21088, 14 July 1938, Page 11

On and Off the Track

A BUDGET OF NEWS AND VIEWS FIXTURES Racing: July 16—Hawke's Bay Hunt Club. July 16—Waimate Hunt Club. July 23—Raugitikel Hunt Club. July 23—South Canterbury Hunt Club. July 23—Matamata R.C. July 28, 30—Poverty Bay Tur! Club. July 30—Christchurch Hunt Club. July 30—Taranaki J.C. August 6—Poverty Bay Hunt Club. August 9. 11, 13—Canterbury J.C.

August 6, 10, 12—New Zealand Metropolitan T.C. August 27—Auckland T.C. September’ 3 —New Brighton T.C.

Silk Sox broke down during the running of the Trantham Hurdles and will need a long spell. One of U Scott’s feet has been giving trouble, and the American pacer will not be nominated for the August meeting at Addington.

The Wrecker is booked to race at Washdyke next week, and it depends on how he shapes there whether he sails for Sydney with Royal Chief and Cerne Abbas on August 3.

Flashlight’s three wins in hack company appear to have made an impression. In the Grand National he is within 61b of Santoft, winner of last year’s Wellington Steeplechase and second again this year.

Dunmure, who has been nominated for the Grand National, has not won for over three years. His last win was in the Great Western at Riverton in 1925, and on his showing in the same race this season he does not look a National prospect with 9.9.

In the Grand National, Valpeen, has been awarded 181 b more than he carried when he won the Great Northern. Bryce Street, second in that race, has gone up 41b, and will meet Valpeen on 51b better terms than when he beat him subsequently at Te Rapa.

It is rather noteworthy that many New Zealanders who take horses to Australia now concentrate on Melbourne Instead of on Sydney as formerly. Willie Win is to leave after the Grand National meeting, and Raeburn at the beginning of September, but neither is to race in New South Wales.

Clarion Call improved his Grand National prospects by his excellent showing in the July Steeplechase on Saturday. In spite of the fact that he is not at his best on a heavy track, he might have won had he not hit the fence at the five furlongs. On top of the ground at Riccarton his fast, clean jumping will be a great asset.

Bryce Street's defeat in the July Steeplechase came as a shock to his supporters and also to many good judges of Auckland form. The race in the Wellington Steeplechase could not have got to the bottom of him as he did not last long enough, and it is possible that, being a young horse, he was feeling the effects of hard racing at Waikato and Auckland.

Mr C. Hamilton, of Sydney, appears to have done well with a batch of Australian yearlings which he purchased at the Randwick sales and disposed of at Trantham. A Caledon colt secured for 140 gns in Australia realised 525 gns at Trantham. A Brazen colt advanced from 130 gns to 450 gns., and a Constant Son filly from 200 gns to 400 gns.

Following his treble at Ellerslie and his success in the Trantham Hurdles at his next start. Full o’ Scotch was far from disgraced in the Winter Hurdles race on Saturday. He hit one hurdle very hard and that took a lot of sting out of him, but he made a gallant effort right to the last fence and held off all but Court Yard. Full o' Scotch is a horse of possibilities.

Brigadore was backed with confidence by his party in the Wellington Steeplechase and was going nicely when he hit the sod-wall the second time round. His Marton owner, Mr E. C. Haddock, took him straight home and let him down for a short spell, but, provided he freshens up as expected, he is to be brought in again at the end of this week and tuned up for the National.

The connections of Chaste were asking a lot of her when they raced her in the Winter Hurdles on Saturday, after she had already run a mile and threequarters in the Talavera Hurdles. As might have been expected, she did not show up and tailed the field for the greater portion of the Journey. In all this mare covered seven miles in her four outings at the meeting, and it was not surprising to see her failing on Saturday.

An owner, who is reported to have purchased a half share in a horse, for less than £lO before a recent race, gave his daughter five pounds to put on him for a place. The young lady made a mistake and put it on for a win, but it turned out all right, for the horse won. Imagine the smile on the face of the owner when, in addition to a half share in a £3OO stake he collected nearly another £lOO for the mistake of his daughter. • ♦ • » Arctic King was responsible for two pleasing performances at Trentham, and he was one of the few horses r ' r 7 to appreciate the appalling conditions that prevailed underfoot. No matter how heavy the going this gelding is at home, and it was noticeable that he was doing his best work when the others were feeling the pinch. Arctic King was not nominated for the Winter Cup, but it is intended to start him in the longer races at the meeting.

With a lead of 15 winning rides from C. G. Goulsbro, who is second on the

'' inning jockeys’ list in the Dominion. L. J. Ellis must win the championship this season. The figures are as follows: L. J. Ellis 87, C. G. Goulsbro 72, B. H. Morris 56, W. J. Broughton 50, S. Wilson 48, R. W. McTavish and P. Atkins 37, G. R. Tattersail 35, J. W. Jennings 33, and M. Caddy 30. In the 1932-33