ON AND OFF THE TRACK

Timaru Herald, Volume CL, Issue 22064, 10 September 1941, Page 7

ON AND OFF THE TRACK

A Budget Of News And Views FIXTURES Racing Sept. 13—Ashburton R.C. Sept, 13—Carterton R.C, Sept. 13, 15—Avondale J.C. Sept. 20—Marton J.C. Sept. 20, 22—Poverty Bay R.C Sept. 25, 27—Geraldine R.C. Sept. 27—Foxton R.C. Sept. 27, 29—Ohlnemurl J.C. Trotting Sept. 18, 20—Wellington T.C. The spring campaign in Canterbury is to open on Saturday at Ashburton. Weights for the New Zealand Cup are due to appear on September 26.

With Merry Simon (2) and Remembo, P. J. Boyle has won all three hunters’ plates run in the South Island this winter.

Foreign Coin, who won the Wanganui Guineas, Is now trained by J. Bromby, formerly attendant to Beau Vite.

Six mares were selected for the American pacer Josedale Grattan last season, and ohe of them, Del Potts (Jack Potts-Delco) has produced a foal.

Orphan Bingen, the big dividend payer at the Otago Hunt meeting, had not won a race for seven years, his last win being ih the County Handicap at Greymouth in April, 1935. His only placing since then was a third at Forbury Park in November, 1936.

Gay Boa was not sold as previously reported. An offer had been made, but it was not confirmed and the gelding raced in the colours of his owner, Mr Frank Langford, at the Otago Hunt meeting. Gay Boa will probably be taken to Wellington this month. * 4 • • Only five horses were saddled for the Debutant Stakes, the first race of the season for two-year-olds, but the stake was worth only £lOO gross, and the going was not of a nature to tempt owners to start green juveniles. Still Damask won so easily that she may prove capable of ifting the hoodoo on Debutant winners.

Commenting on the Otago Hunt meeting, a southern paper says: “For the first time in Otago and Southland win and place tickets were sold at the one window of the inside totalisator house, but unfortunately for the club the system of selling was not a success and much money was shut out on the early races.”

In the earlier half of last season Bird of Prey and Monetary ranked high among South Island two-year-olds, but in the autumn Palfrey was on top. All three are engaged in the John Grigg Stakes, although there is a slight doubt whether Bird of Prey will get to the post. The only winner this season of the Grigg Stakes field is Sir Gundl, but his success was gained in a division of a maiden plate, and in a handicap he would have to get a good deal of weight from Palfrey. » « ♦ •

Kindergarten’s winnings up till the time of what may prove to be his final retirement were £7720. As a two-year-old he won only £365 in three minor events at Hastings ahd Gisborne. Last season he compiled the fine total of £7330, the result of 10 wins, including the Alison Cup, Great Northern Derby, Wellington Cup, North Island Challenge Stakes, New Zealand St. Leger, Awapunl Gold Cup, Auckland Easter Handicap and Great Northern St. Leger.

Reading, who defeated High Caste in the Canterbury Stakes, is something of a conundrum. At three years old he Won the A.J.C. and VlctoHa Derbies and St. Legers, and appeared to be a stayer above the average. Last season he seemed to be deficient in stamina, leading in the early part of his races and fading at the business end. In spite of his superiority over High Qaste over a distance as a three-year-old it is not certain that more ground will'suit him now.

The trouble which has overtaken Kindergarten may mean the end of his career. It is reported that if he is not given a spell he will break down hopelessly, but if the ailment is at all serious it is unlikely that he will ever do much more racing. A fortnight ago Mr E. N. Fitzgerald had a horse for which, it was suggested, more than £20,000 would be paid; now all he is sure of is a horse under suspicion of unsoundness and apparently with no stud value. Kindergarten’s withdrawal from spring engagements will rob Australian racing of a good deal of interest for New Zealanders.

H. N. Wiggins was a trifle restrained concerning the merits of Kindergarten after his defeat at Randwick, but it should be remembered that neither Wiggins nor trainer Bagby was responsible for the better-than-Gloam-ing chatter. Wiggins said in Auckland and repeated in Australia that Kindergarten was the best horse he had ridden, and this was immediately construed as an assertion that he was better than High caste or Beau Vite. Wiggins rode these horses only when they were two-year-olds, and before they had achieved more than local fame. The better-than-Gloaming story emanated from "a well-known trainer” at Ellerslie. It was not good business for Bagby or Wiggins to boom Kindergarten, as neither is anxious that he should be sold.

In a speech at the opening of the bloockstock sales at Newmarket, Major Gerald Deane pointed out that the Government accepted the fact that bloodstock breeding was an important national industry, and was anxious for it to survive the war. . After the war many countries would have to come to Britain to replenish their stock. The British thoroughbred was the best in the world, but was apt to deteriorate in foreign countries, and had consequently to be continually renewed. This does not seem altogether correct so far as New Zealand is concerned, at any rate in the first generation. Without going into the history of Limond, Lucullus and others, Kincardine, Bulandshar and Beau Pere—sires of the moment—can be referred to. Kincardine was practically given away in England, Bulandshar at one period failed to elicit a bid of £4O, and Beau Pere was bought for 100 gns. Obviously these horses have done better in New Zealand than they were expected to do in England.