ON AND OFF THE TRACK

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLVIII, Issue 21644, 3 May 1940, Page 8

ON AND OFF THE TRACK

A Buaget of News And Views FIXTURES Racing May 4—Egmont R.C. May 4—Southland R.C. May 4—Franklin R.C. May 11—Ashburton County R.C. May 11—Otaki Maori R.C. May 11, 13—Poverty Bay Turf C. May 16. 18—South Canterbury J.C. May 16,18— Manawatu R.C. May 18. 20—Waikato R.C. May 25—Foxton R.C. Trotting May 4—Oamaru T.C. May 9. 11—Forbury T.C. First race at Oamaru to-morrow at [2.15. Entries for the South Canterbury autumn meeting (May 18 and 20) are due on Monday. Mr F. H. Brittan, who died in Christchurch last week, owned Royalty when that gelding won the second New Zealand Grand National. Cherry Plum, who has been hunted in Hawke's Bay. is probably the first of the stock of Beau Pere to be taken over the open country. He Is stated to be likely to w . good jumping races later on.

Two horses who caught their connections. as well as the public, napping at Waverley were Kaiwaka and Devon, neither of whom was thoughv any-

where near forward enough to be seen to advantage.

The crack jumping horseman, A. Jenkins was at Waverley, but elected to stay on the ground although mounts were offering. He was back in the saddle on Clarion Call in the Egmont Steeplechase.

Lockit has won three highweight handicaps this season. He finished second at Oamaru with 11.7. and his second in the Timaru Cup will ensure him strong support in the highweight at the Amberley meeting, where his allotment is 11.4.

. ocket Venus disclosed fine form at Ellerslie last month, where, after winning the President’s Handicap (li miles) on the first day from Gamos and High Sea, she went under to Bronze Moth on the latter day of the fixture. She is to contest the President’s Handicap at Pukekohe and providing the going is firm she may prove one of the hardest to dispose of.

Jack Tar is in solid condition for racing at the Franklin meeting, a 1.47 mile at Takanini drawing attention to his prospects. After winning the McInnes Memorial (li miles) at Whangarei he was narrowly beaten by Clipper, over a mile, on the latter day of the fixture. Jack Tar has previously performed well on the Pukekohe course, and won the Franklin Cup there last month.

The war has had the effect of seeing more French horses in training in England than has been the case for many years. The ranks of owners, trainers, jockeys and stable lads have been seriously depleted owing to the calls for service, but racing has carried on much better than expected. It is estimated that there are about 4000 horses in training, as against the normal 5000. Most of the American owners who race in England have continued to do so.

G. Jones, who has been training horses in Melbourne for several years, has decided to live in Sydney, and will begin training there next month. In New Zealand, Jones numbered among his patrons Mr W. G. Stead, for whom he trained the New Zealand Cup winner. Sasanof; Mr W. H. Gaisford, for whom he trained the dual Derby winner, Commendation; and Mr T. H. Lowry, for whom he trained the Rosehill Guineas winner, Nigger Minstrel. In Melbourne. Jones was private trainer for Mr W. R. Kemball for several years.

Latest reports from England showed that the French colt Djebel was favourite for the New Derby, which is to be run at Newbury on June 12. Djebel won the Middle Park Stakes last season, but was not an entrant for the 1940 Derby. New entries had to be taken, however, when it was decided to transfer the classic from Epsom to Newbury, and this gave the owner of Djebel and of other French colts their opportunity to nominate. Fresh entries were taken for the Two Thousand and the One Thousand Guineas also, and Djebel has already won the Two Thousand.

Messrs J. S. and W. E. Hazlett keep a big team in work at Invercargill, and this season they have been reaping a reward for their enterprise. The team under the superintendance of Mr W. E. Hazlett, has already won 12955 this season. Sparkle who won four races, has been four times second and twice third in 13 starts, a very consistent record. Her successes, which included the Dunedin Cup and Winton Cup. were worth £1145. Spendthrift has been another consistent winner for £735 in stakes. Guste is the next of the stable's representatives on the list. In five appearances as a steeplechaser this season he has won three races and been once second. Colonel Rouge has two wins, two seconds, and two thirds to his credit in 10 starts.

Alunga maintained his consistency by winning the sprint race at Hawera yesterday. Including a dead-heat at Waverley, he has notched five victories in his last six starts.

Twenty-nine maidens have been nominated for the novice event at Ashburton next week. The safety number is 19 at the six furlongs barrier, and unless there are a good many non-acceptors a division will be necessary.

English breeders have not been slow to take advantage of the fact that Windsor Lad is back at stud again, and a number of good mares have been sent to him at the Bruntwood Stud. Among the most interesting of these is Athasi, now 23 years old. During her career at stud she was six times sent to Blandford and produced by him Trigo, winner of the Derby and St. Leger in 1929, Athford, Centeno, Harinero, Primero and Harina. Blandford is now dead, but Windsor Lad has often been considered one of his best sons, and it will be interesting to see if Athasi's next foal is up to the usual standard. Windsor Lad's stock ought to be good. Both his career on the racecourse and his subsequent grand fight against an illness which many thought would be fatal, show that he is a horse of great courage.

The following riding engagements have been made for the Amberley meeting: C. G. Humphries, Cymric. Second Innings; M. Caddy, Dranoel, Raceaway. Anchusa, Cape Gabo; R. Caddy, Chanteur, Shangri-La, Copyist; V. Barrington, Ryetown; C. T. Wilson. Wild Talk. Great Heart. Great Swoop. Great Flight. Pink Lad; W. J. Johnston, Hurry Girl; J. Wadley, Ageratum; E. Shaw, Shanghai Lily. Greenbank; D. R. Mackie. Gay Thread, Synthetic; G. Elliott, Donadea; A. Johnson, Coup d’Etat; R. J. Mackie, Lockit, Baldoon; L. Gough. In the Dark; H. W. Hibberd, Lady Middleham. Kilrobe, Winchelsea; R. Register, The Duel; C. Stokes, Blue Abbey, Good Health; P. Spratt. Benevolent, Grey Silk. Grey Honour, Sham Boy; L. J. Ellis, Skyrena, Disdain. King's Toast, Scarteen, Valcron; J. W. Jennings, Ann Mie, Settlement. Prudent Prince; J. Fraser. Knight Commander, Flame Queen. Papemilla, Holt; A. E. Ellis, Rebel Chief, Guilder. Queen Linda; M. Billington, The Vulture, Capricious, Rebellion; A. T. Stokes. Ferriby, Symbol, St. Cloud; A. Messervy, Ripley, Dispense, Sweet Mystery, Rebel Star; C. Fox, Trench Fight. Improvident; S. Green, Gold Nugget. Clarion Call: Clarion Call, who yesterday won his second Egmont Steeplechase, ranks next to Padishah as the Dominion’s best all-round jumper. The Hunting Song gelding, after winning three hack hurdle races and a trial plate on the flat, came into prominence through a sensational performance in the Great Northern Hurdles four years ago. He was leading by a street when he blundered and lost his rider after landing over the last fence. Raised more than the winner (Prince of Orange) on the second day he won easily. Next season he gave evidence of versatility by winning the Wanganui Steeplechase and Century Hurdles double; and a year later he accounted for the Egmont Steeplechase 110.12), the Wanganui Steeplechase again (11.9), and the Homeby Steeplechase (11.9). He went on to win the Grand National (11.1), at the same time disposing of the theory that he could not stay and lifting the hoodoo that had followed Homeby winners in the National. After finishing third with 11.3 in the Grand National Hurdles. Clarion Call was turned out, and unsoundness prevented him from racing last winter. He reappeared in the spring, to win a hurdle race at Trentham with 12.1 and at his last start prior to yesterday scored at Ellerslie with 12.9. A brilliant fencer and a good weight-carrier, he will add a lot of interest to the big steeplechases this winter.