ON AND OFF THE TRACK

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLVIII, Issue 21556, 19 January 1940, Page 9

ON AND OFF THE TRACK

A Budget of News And Views FIXTURES Racing: Jan. 20, 28—Wellington R.C. Jan. 19—Wairio R.C. Jan. 20. 22—Thain.s J.C. Jan. ;'2—Ashhurst-Pohangina R.C. Jan. : 8, 27—Pahiatua 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. L. Wilson, who trains Old Bill, won the Wellington Cup in 1908 on Molock and again in 1912 on Undecided. The horses which failed to survive thfe £l3 payment at scale for the Wellington Clip were Catalogue, Du Maurler and Blonde Princess. Kentucky, second in the Wellington Stakes, has been placed seven times in nine starts this season, but has yet to win a race. Stencil, who won the two-year-olds’ handicap at Trentham yesterday, is by the Chief Ruler horse Rulanut, and is one of the first of this sire’s stock to race. Rulanut won the Thompson Handicap four or five years ago. Old Bill, winner of the Wellington Cup, is by Siegfried from Liaison; and Beau Vite, runner-up, is by Beau Pere from Dominant. Both Siegfried and Beau Pere arj by Son-in-Law; and Liaison is a daughter of Lovematch, a sister to Dominant.

Including the trophy, the Wellington Centennial Cup was worth £3200, but it is not correct to suppose that this was the most valuable race run in the Dominion. That distinction belongs to the 1921 Auckland Cup won by Malaga, the cash prizes totalling £3500. Owing to the totalisator face being unable to accommodate the full number of starters in the Wellington Cup, Tooley Street and Tidewaiter; Laughing Lass and Globe Trotter; Mona's Song and Raeburn; and The Wrecker and Windsor Chief were bracketed. Sir Crusoe, topweight ip the Ruapehu Handicap at Trentham. scored Uls third successive win when he beat off Gold Dale and Phenomenal. Sir Crusoe is a three-year-old colt by Defoe from Hine Wehl (by Arausio), and is half-brother to Meamea. He has run himself out of the hack ranks, but looks quite up to open class. The erratic Te Hero, who has been trained for some time in Sydney, has been purchased by the Te Awamutu breeder and owner, Mr A. R. Kay, and will be returned to the Dominion. Te Hero is a fine-looking four-year-old

by Heroic from Prodice, and is to be retained by Mr Kay for use as a sire at his private stud. Mr Kay is owner of the crack sprinter Suleiman. After running in the Wellington Cup, The Wrecker was saddled again to compete in the Anniversary Handicap. * • • • W. J. Shean, who trains for Mr Alan Cooper at Brisbane, is undecided whether to go to Melbourne to prepare Gold Salute, or to stay at home with his large team. Shean thinks Gold Salute is one of the best horses he has seen, and says that it will take a real champion to beat him over a mile. The Anniversary Handicap winner Sleeveless (Valkyrian-Chivalry), was bred by Mr E. B. Newton, of Ashburton, who sold her, before she had raced, at a modest price to Messrs Katranski and Nausbaum. Sleeveless made a quick exit from the hack ranks, and finished second to Beaulivre in the Stewards’ Handicap, Stemchase (Lord Quex-Enchant-ment), who captured the Telegraph Handicap at Trentham, is owned by Mr G. D. Beatson, who trains him. Sternchase was a raging favourite at Riccarton in November for the Spring Plate, a race which appeared to be at his mercy, but unaccountably collapsed, and after two later unplaced performances at the meeting he was spelled, and did not reappear until he won a hack handicap at Hastings during the holidays. • • • • Beau Vite’s meritorious second in the Wellington Cup can be accepted as evidence that he has improved very greatly since his return from Australia, and it will encourage his owner to embark on another trip across the Tasman. In his present form Reading and High Caste would find him a much tougher proposition. There can be no argument regarding his right to be classed as the best three-year-old in New Zealand. • • • • Old Bill, winner of the Wellington Centennial Cup, has been sparingly raced this season, having started only five times this season. His one appearance during the holidays was a successful one in a sprint race at Awapuni. Trained by L. Wilson at Awapuni for Mr H. H. Pharazyn, Old Bill is a four-year-old horse by Siegfried from Liaison (Lord Quex-Love-match), and comes from the wonderfully successful Hebrew Maid family, which has produced Nones, Menelaus. Prince Paladin, Peter Jackson, Gaine Carrington, Wotan, Beau Vite, Quadroon and a host of other winners. Sir Beau, who easily won the Wellington Stakes after causing a lot of delay at the start, is by Beau Pere from Rose Bay (Chief Ruler-Rosle Desmond), and is raced by his breeder, Mr I. Lupton. He is trained at Wanganui by W. H. Dwyer. Sir Beau made his first appearance at Awapuni on Boxing Day, when carrying 7.12 he finished second to Absolve 8.13. Next day he registered a very easy win from King’s Mark and Absolve. Sir Beau yesterday carried 51b overweight, and the easy manner in which he streaked past Doria and Absolve suggests that he may be the best two-year-old of the season.

The pay-out on the Wellington Cup was held up for about half an hour while a protest against Old Bill was being considered, the allegation being that he had interfered with Beau Vite near the finish. It is not usual for the placings to be altered in a big race, although Gay Crest was deprived of first money in the Auckland Cup for alleged interference with Motere. One of the most famous charges of interference in a big race was heard when Canteen beat Wairlki in a New Zealand Cup. The grey was allowed to retain first money, but his rider, J. McCombe, was disqualified for two years for foul riding. It is a coincidence that Mr Pharazyn was part owner of Motere, so that he has been on the right end of two inquiries.