ON AND OFF THE TRACK

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLVIII, Issue 21555, 18 January 1940, Page 9

ON AND OFF THE TRACK

A Budget of News And Views FIXTURES Racing: Jan. 19—Wairio R.C. Jan. 18, 20, 22—Wellington R.C. Jan. 20, 22—Thames J.C. Jan. 22—Ashhurst-Pohangina R.C. Jan. 26, 27—Pahlatua J.C. Jan. 27, 29—Auckland R.C. Feb. 1, 3—Wairoa. Feb. 1, 3—Wanganui. Feb. 3—Canterbury Feb. 3—Tapanui Feb. 3—Matamata. Feb. 8, 10—Egmont. Feb. 10, 12—Poverty Bay. Feb. 10, 12—Gore. Feb. 10, 12—Rotorua. Feb. 16, 17—Winton. Feb. 17—Tolaga Bay. Feb. 17—Opunake. Feb. 17, 19—Waikato. Feb. 22, 24—Dunedin. Trotting: Jan. 20, 22—Wanganui T.C. Jan. 25, 27—Forbury Park T.C. Jan. 27—Marlborough T.C. Jan. 31, Feb. 3—Wellington T.C. Feb. 10—Canterbury Park T.C. Feb. 10, 14—Auckland T.C. Feb. 17, 19— Manawatu T.C. Feb. 17—New Brighton T.C. Wellington Cup to-day. H. N. Wiggins is to ride Sir Beau in the Wellington Stakes. This will entail five or six pounds overweight. Shy, Cymric, and Phil, are unlikely starters in the Highweight, the opening event at Trentham. Oragon and Saxon Tor have been scratched for all engagements at the Wellington meeting. • • • • The Wrecker, who was paid up for in the Wellington Cup and the Anniversary Handicap, is to start in the big race, with C. Fox as his pilot. * « • • Norseman will not impress North Islanders by his appearance, but like many of Valkyrlan’s stock he races best minus a lot of condition. He does his work with nothing on his feet, and races in the lightest of plates. Mr Farquhar McKay, who rode the winner of the Great Western Steeplechase at Riverton four times in the “nineties,” has offered a trophy to the rider of the winner of the Hunt Steeplechase at the Birchwood meeting if the rider is an amateur.

Amigo was a bit seedy after his Auckland trip, but he has freshened up rapidly, and should give L. J. Ellis a good run in the Telegraph. He is down 31b on the weight he carried into third place in the Railway, and will meet Bronwen, who beat him at Ellerslie, on 131 b better terms. Grandora, topweight with 241 b above the minimum in the two-year-old handicap at Trentham to-day, is still a maiden. His place in the weights is due to a second in the Welcome Stakes at Auckland and third in the Royal Stakes.

The time record for the Wellington Cup is 2.29, made by Compris in 1932. This was recognised as a New Zealand record until a few months ago, when it was revealed that most of the distances at Trentham were short, and seven alleged Dominion records were expunged from the list. When Cetewayo won a handicap at Trentham in October on his first appearance he was hailed as a two-year-old of unusual possibilities. The Phaleron Bay colt caught a cold and was eased up, but G. W. New plans to produce him again on later days of the Wellington meeting. • • • • Cymsca, the first three-year-old to win the Wellington Cup over the present distance of li miles, carried only 7.1, but she was successful in the two following years with 7.12 and 8.12, and her achievement has never been equalled in the subsequent fifty years. In fact, no other horse has won the race more than once.

With only two seasons at the stud, the Foxlaw horse, Foxbridge, has been an outstanding success. This season he has sired 11 winners of 23 races and 22 places in New Zealand, and has been represented in Australia by winners in John Peel, Fearless Fox and Manurere. The two-year-old Lou Rose is his most notable performer in the Dominion.

In returning a win dividend in the vicinity of a century at the Cambridge Trotting Club's meeting, Bingen’s Best owned by Mrs E. E. Raynor and trained by J. Garnett, who drove her, furnished the biggest surprise for some time at a trotting fixture in the Auckland district. The place price was close on a score.

Australians were more active than had been anticipated at the Trentham sales, but they were not such spectacular bidders as in past years. A considerable number of youngsters went at low prices, there were more than the usual number of passings, and in several cases no bid was forthcoming. Several lots appear to have been disposed of below value, and buyers should benefit later on. The colt which realised 2000gns—the only four-figure lot at the Trentham sales—is by Bulandshar from Tea Tattle. Bulandshar, of course, is the sire of High Caste, Tea Tattle is by Tea Tray from the Marble Arch mare Bouvardia. Bouvardia traces back to Winnie, a good producer, but Tea Tray has not built up an impressive record as a sire.

Queen of Song will have to make rapid improvement if she is to repeat her Wellington Cup win of four years ago. Over a mile at Dunedin Thermidor gave her 31b and was galloping much faster at the finish. (Since then Thermidor has captured the Waikouaiti Cup). In the Wellington Cup, Queen of Song will meet Thermidor on 81b worse terms. When Norseman won at Dunedin he was conceding the Washdyke mare 41b; at Trentham he receives 41b.

A statement has received fairly wide circulation that the Telegraph Handicap to be run to-day will be the first £lOOO sprint at Trentham. That is a long way from correct. The race carried a four-figure stake from 1919 to 1929, the winners being Statuette (twice), The Hawk, Tamatete, Parody, Hipo, Cawnpore, Booster, Paperchase, and Meadolo Lark (twice). When Silver Ring won in 1934 the prize had dropped to £3OO and it was only £5OO when Rakahanga was successful last year.