ON AND OFF THE TRACK

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLV, Issue 21156, 1 October 1938, Page 21

ON AND OFF THE TRACK

A Budget of News And Views /’ ■ > FIXTURES Racing October I—Otaki-Maorl R.C. October I—Kurow J.C. October 1, 3—Ohlnemuri J.C. October 6. B—Dunedin J.C. October 7, B—Hawke’s Bay JC. October 8, 10—Auckland R.C. October 12, 13—Masterton R.C. October 15, 17—Avondale J.C. October 20, 22, 24—Wellington R.C. October 22, 24—Gore R.C. October 24—North Canterbury R.C. October 24 —Waverley R.C. October 24—Waikato Hunt Club. October 27, 29—Poverty Bay Turf Club October 29—Banks Peninsula R.C. Trotting October I—Methven T.C. October B—New Brighton T.C. October 15—Waikato T.C. October 15— Manawatu T-C. October 22, 24—Greymouth T.C. October 22, 24—Auckland T.C. October 24—Oamaru T.C. October 29—Invercargill T.C. October 29—Thames T.C. KuroW races to-day. The A.J.C. “Derby” will be run this afternoon. Sky Pilot (Day Comet—Swoopalong) has been selected as the premium stallion for the Malvern—Selwyn district. After a long absence from racing Tudor Is expected to make his reappearance in the hurdle races at Paeroa. • « • * A novice-expected to run prominently at the Ohlnemuri meeting is Corato, whose New Plymouth efforts a month ago were very encouraging. He displayed speed in both outings and should be much improved as the result.

The Ohlnemuri Club’s course at Paeroa is all in favour of the speedsters, for first round the turn is more often than not first home. The top bend is on the down grade, particularly before making the home stretch, and this gives the leaders a great advantage.

Paddy the Rip, who won convincingly on either day at Avondale, to contest the Hack Cup on the first day of the Ohlnemuri meeting and on his Impressive form at Avondale he looks to be difficult to dispose of.

Mr G. J. Barton is at present in Australia, and it is expected that he will arrive back to Christchurch on the morning of the next New Zealand Trotting Cup. In the meantime it is unlikely that members of his team will be asked to do a great deal of racing. E. C. MsDermott has been confined to his bed for some time now through illness. He is now well on the road to recovery, and, while it will be several weeks before he can resume driving, it will not be long before he will be able to supervise his team’s activities.

The handicaps for Ellerslie reveal the fact that Royevrus’s two wins at Avondale were highly assessed. He has been awarded 8.4 in the Flying Handicap, and is ranked above several good winners, making the tact that he is not in classics very unfortunate. He is among the horses who may make the trip to Trentham.

Maxam displayed a fine turn of speed in the Spring Handicap on the latter day of the Avondale meeting, hitting the front practically from the outset and holding that position till the straight entrance. He was hanging on for third at the end. On the first day of the Ohlnemuri meeting he is an acceptor for the Kerepeehi Hack, of five furlongs.

Jan Ridd appears among the acceptors for the Hurdles at the Paeroa gathering and it will be interesting to note how he shapes. Jan Ridd has previously started over the obstacles, the occasion being the Papakura Hack Hurdles at the Franklin meeting in May. Jumping brilliantly, he led for three-quarters of a mile until his condition gave out.

Willow Wave, winner of the last Auckland Cup, recently met with an accident while running in the paddock, and it is possible that his racing days are over. It is reported that he became entangled in a fence, and before he could be removed suffered several cuts and one severe gash, the bone in one leg being exposed. An unreliable horse at the barrier, the Southlandbred pacer was a magnificent stayer, and when in the veteran stage worked his way back to one of the tightest marks in the assessment scale.

Another case of sheltering behind Parliamentary privilege to make libellous assertions is reported from New South Wales. In the Legislative Council (Sydney) recently, Mr Alam while speaking on the amending Gaming and Betting Bill stated that it a select committee were appointed six leading jockeys could be called before it and asked why they won so many races. He said that these six leading jockeys, who included D. Munro, M. McCarten, J. O’Sullivan and E. Bartie, had won 32 out of every 33 races decided in the past four months, “it is because these jockeys on their way to the post say to the other boys, ‘You are on so much If I win.’ ”

Unless Avenger has made considerable improvement since the Chelmsford Stakes—and the plunge by the clever Holt “stable” in that race was an indication that the Victorian horse was not far from his best—Royal Chief should win the Colin Stephen Stakes at Randwick to-day. All going well, the New Zealander will tackle a big task in the Metropolitan on Monday. After that it will be necessary to finalise plans for the spring campaign. It it is intended to return home after the A.J.C. fixture, Royal Chief win

probably run in the- Craven Plate on Wednesday and the Randwick Plate on Saturday. If the Caulfield Cuprun on October 15—is selected, it is unlikely that he will be started on the last day at Randwick. The Me th ven track is about a mile in circumference and there is a fairly long straight, but the home turn Is an awkward one which often sends a horse to a break. First into the home stretch there is a very useful advantage.

Philario won so easily at Hutt Park that he (coupled with Zincali),- will perhaps be favourite for the Methven Cup to-day, but he may find Dark Hazard more formidable than at Wellington, and will clash With a high-class pacer in Donor, who, if he can manage the turns, looks the pick of the field.

At the first Kurow meeting in 1891 W. Sharp rode the winners of the six flat races on the card. This feat was equalled a few years ago at Tuapeka on Easter Saturday by J. W. Dooley, who went on to Beaumont (twelve miles away) on Easter Monday and finished second in the six galloping events.

The brilliant Victorian four-year-old Ajax has not yet won over a longer distance than nine furlongs, but that will not prevent him from starting' at odds on in the Flemington Stakes today. He should not experience any difficulty in running out a mile and a quarter, and the real test may not come until he encounters a horse like Royal Chief over a mile and a half. Gallopers as brilliant as Ajax seldom stay, and he has a habit of hanging out on the turns.

The first New Zealand-bred winner of the A.J.C. Derby was Nordenfeldt (by Musket), away back in 1885. The next were Bonnie Scotland, 1894, and Bob Ray, 1895. In 1905 came the wonder colt Noctuiform, with another in Kilboy In 1918. Cupidon, 1921, Ballymena 1922, Phar Lap 1929, Ammon Ra 1931, Theo 1934, and Homer 1935, complete this list, but Biplane, Gloaming and Prince Humphrey, bred in Australia and developed In New Zealand, brought the stake to the Dominion. In addition there have been many other winners by New Zealandbred sires, among them being Singapore, Trenchant, Charge, Amberite, Belah and Beragoon, all by horses of the Musket line. Still other Derby winners at Randwiek have been the produce of mares with New Zealand blood.

The Methven Trotting Club’s annual meeting will be held to-day, the totalisator system being win and place. The following should be in demand Drayton Handicap—lndian Scout, Native Ruler, Thor. Westward Ho Handicap—Mazaire, Tinker, Fragment. Methven Cup—Donor, Philario, Dark Hazard.

Avonmore Handicap Francisco, Quest, Token. Riverband Handicap Gentleman Joe, Indian Scout, Thor. Holmes Handicap—Fremont, Ferry Post, Lightning Lady. Mount Hutt Handicap—Panquetch, Repaid. Northern Lady.

The Otaki Maori Club’s meeting (single pool) has attracted some big fields. The following are fancied:— Puhi Maiden—Tom Tom, Maturity. Kapiti Hurdles—Southern Blood, and Alloa.

Ling Memorial— Boomerang, and Siegmund. Pahiko Hack—Vadanoe and Raceboy. Kntihiku Hack—Accomplice, Rustem Hema Te Ao Handicap—Gay Chou and Sylvanus.

Champion Hack —Earl Colossus and Barley Almond. Tuan Hack—Nelumbo and Huntino.

Fields at Randwick: Acceptors for the main events at Randwick to-day are:— A.J.C. DERBY—Respirator, Aeolus, Petruchio, Limulet, Nuffield, Sir Harold.

EPSOM HANDICAP—Young Idea, King’s Head, Stretto, Mohican, Spear Chief, Nightguard, Rodborough, Tliurlas Lad, St. Constant, Rival Hit, Jocular, Mark Antony, Amaranthus, Bobby, Cid, Geebung, Love from Maggie, Publicity. COLIN STEPHEN STAKES—Allunga 9.6, Genetout 9.6, Billy Boy 9.6, Sir Regent 9.2, Perimond 9.0, Royal Chief 9.0, Avenger 9.0, Bristol 9.0, I’Aiglon 9.0.