ON AND OFF THE TRACK

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLV, Issue 21185, 4 November 1938, Page 6

ON AND OFF THE TRACK

A Budget of News And Views FIXTURES Racing Nov. 4, s—Whangarei R.C. Nov. s—Napier Park R.C. Nov. 5,7, 9, 12—Canterbury J.C. Nov. 12—Napier Park R.C. Nov. 12, 14—Avondale J.C. Nov. 19—Levin R.C. Nov. 19—Southland R.C. Nov. 19, 21—Waikato R.C. Nov. 26—Ashburton County R.C. Nov. 26, 28—Auckland R.C. Nov. 26, 28—Fellding R.C. Trotting Nov. s—Thames T.C. Nov. 8. 10 t 11—N.Z. Metropolitan T.C NoV. 19—Wellington T.C. Nov. 24, 26—Forbury Park T C. Dec. 3—Waikato T.C. New Zealand Cup to-morrow. The first race at Riccarton to-mor-row is timed to start at 12 o'clock. There will be racing to-morrow at Riccarton, Hnstlhgs ahd Whangarei, and trotting at Thames. It is understood that F. J. Smith will drive King’s Warrior in the Trotting Cup, in which the stable has ahothet candidate in Ironside. Silver Streak and the other members ot T. Hobbs's team for the Cup meeting travelled north yesterday, all in excellent order. Several New Zealand Cup horses ran indifferently at Motukarara, but most of them did just as well as Cerne Abbas last year, and she won the Cup. The Crooner, Who would have been heavily supported in the Riccarton Handicap, met with a slight mishap at Awapuni and will not attend the meeting. Queen of Song had a new rider in the Veteran Stakes at Flemington yesterday, Ashley Reed being in the saddle, but she was not at any stage dangerous and finished sixth.

Owing to A hitch in telephoning, Catalogue's entries for the Caulfield Cup and Moonee Valley Cup were missed, and he had perforce to run in the Melbourne Cup, a race for which he apparently had no credentials.

One of the three partners in Ajax would like to send the champion to England to race, but the trip is not likely to eventuate. The other owners

favour putting the horse to the stud after another season in Australia.

Indications point to the Tasmanian pacer Van Derby starting at a short price in the Goldfields Cup at Thames, but he Will have to be bn his best behaviour if he is to dispose of Equipoise and Transwell.

When Catalogue went into Mrs A. W. McDonald’s stable aftfer winning Only £23 in two seasons, the idea was to make a hurdler of him, and he was actually schooled over jumps and was exhibited at shows. At that time he was eligible for hack races, but it was not long before he began to show a return of ability to gallop on the flat.

Last week Arctic King was given a local anaesthetic while a cyst was removed from the under lid of one of his eyes. The growth, which had been noticeable for months, was beginning to press on the eyeball, and it was decided to remove it. The operation did not upset the horse, who missed neither fbod nor exercise.

At present 329 bookmakers are registered with the V.R.C. to operate at Flemington. They are split up between the Paddock (76), the Hill (115), thfe Flat (130), and the Little Flat (8). it would be folly to make any positive assertions about the investments these men handle for the CUp Day card, bill it is estimated that it would be about three times the totalisator total—that is, roughly £350,000 to £400,000.

Catalogue's win in the Melbourne Cup was only his twelfth in seven seasons, but several of his successes were achieved in valuable races, two Winter Cups and a Jockey Club Handicap being included. In 81 starts, the Lord Quex gelding has won 12 times, been 14 times second and 9 times third, and 42 times unplaced. His Cup victory raised his total earnings by £7200, to £11,273.

Unless an assumed name in the early days of the race disguised the Identity of a woman, only three of the sex have owned a Melbourne Cup winner. Nim-' blefoot, the dream horse, rah in the interests of Mrs Craig, whose husband died two days before the race; Patrobas who won the Derby and Cup, was owned by Mrs E. A. Wlddis; and Catalogue ran in the name of Mrs A. Jamieson. Needless to say Catalogue is the first winner from the stable of a woman trainer, but he had been in charge of A. McDonald for two months prior to the race.

Padishah's Grand National Hurdles win is quoted in support of his New Zealand CUp prospects. Actually it reveals nothing. He was receiving 241 b from Jolly Beggar, a horse that would be at extreme odds with the minimum in a Cup, in which Padishah has 8.6, or 201 b above what Jolly Beggar would have received. In the Hurdles, Padishah was only 81b above Fireguard, who requires to win two or three flat races to emerge from the hack division. Erin-

| ation, who would not receive weight I from Padishah in a hurdle race, is a I long Way from the top of the handicaps lin hack flat events. The real line on j Padishah’s chance is found in his win in the Wellington Cup ivith 7.9 from Catalogue 8.3.

the Riccarton track is 11 furlongs and 160 yards in circumference, just 60 yards short of 14 miles, and is the biggest in Nbw Zealand or Australia. The largest in the Commonwealth ate Morphettville (S.A.) 11 furlongs 144 yards, and Flemington 11 furlongs 111 yards, and ifeither is so WfelJ-shaped as Riccarton. Six furlong events at Riccarton are run over a special course with a slight elbow, the horses reaching the main track after going about three furlongs. Four and five-furlong races are run down a straight track, the last three furlongs of which are the ordinary straight. Special starting points at nine furlongs and a mile and a quarter allow races over these distances to be run with only one bend (a spacious one) to be encountered.

Riding arrangements made for Saturday’s programme Include:— G. Humphries, Winning Rival, Great Flight, Wild Chase, Counterblast, Argentic; A. E. Ellis, Willie Win, Paper Slipper; D. Mackie, Scuffle; R. Register, Flashlight; G. Ridgway, Silver Sight; S. Wilson, Arctic Kilig, Rakahanga; M. Caddy, Mungatoon, Cocksure, Toro Koura; A. Messervy, Nightfalm, Happy Night, Rousseau, Master Hotspiir, Disdain; H Wiggins, Malagigi, Surmount; C. J. Cameron. Happy Landliig, Elaine Queen; W. McDowell, Suhee; J. VeeVbrs, Sir Rosehor; J. Mutfitt, Redolent; A. Parsons, Gay Parade, The Masquerader, Miracle; J. Mctnally, Sly Fox; P. Atkins, Gay Son; G. Tattersall, Peter Beckford; W. Grifidley, Glenvane; S. Edwards, Prime Quality; P. Butgess, Wotan, Lord Cavendish; D. Lamb, Race Call; A. Stove, Top Rank; H. Hibberd, Wagner, Cape Gabo, Moorsotis, Nightwings, Tantivy; C. 'Wilson, Valantua, Night Hawk; A Jenkins, Lady Montana, Gay Chou; J. Chaplin, Saki; A. Leach, Metal Bird; W. Broughton, Siegmund, Alunga, Thermidor; B. H. Morris, The Buzzer. Rebel Mate, Sovereign Lady; W. F. Ellis, Land Raid, Foxglove; T. Boyle. Mount Vai; A. E. Didham, Kinnoull. Gold Salute.

There has been some controversy as to the potentialities of the progeny of Hunting Song as stayers. Clarion Call Won the Grand National Steeplechase, and Huntique won the Grand National Hurdles. Both of these horses were by Hunting Song, but, over fences is different from racing over the flat. No representative of Hunting Song has won either the New Zealand Clip Or the Auckland Cup, or in fact any race of two miles on the flat. No Hunting Song has ever won the New Zealand Cup but no Hunting Song has ever started in that event, although two years ago Hunting Cat, a son of Hunting Song, was the pre-post favourite, but went amiss shortly before the race. As far as the Auckland Cup is concerned, there has only been one Hunting Song to contest that race, Sporting Blood, a full-brother to Sly Fox, who ran unplaced in 1936. Few represen-

tatives of Hunting Song have started in two miles races. Sporting Blood and Gaine Carrington being the exceptions. Sporting Blood contested the Melbourne Cup In 1935, for which he was an early favourite, but he went lame about a week before the race, and it was doubtful whether he would start. However, ridden by the late Roy Reed, he finished in seventh place, in a field of 22. The following year he again contested the Melbourne Cup, and with 9.0 was In 13th position at the finish. Gaine Carrington built up an imposing record in Australia, winning amongst other races, the Chelmsford Stakes, Sydney Tatts Cup, C. M. Lloyd Stakes and the Caulfield Cup. For his win in the Caillfield Cup, he was penalised six pounds fol- the Melbourne Cup of 1933, and he went under by two heads to Hall Mark and Shadow King, dead-heating with Tropical King for third place. He carried 9.4 and conceded the winner and the second horse 24 pounds ahd nine pounds respectively. It can thus be claimed that Hunting Song has had few representatives in two-mile races, bitt this fact seems to ftttnlsh proof that he has sired only a small number of stayers.