ON AND OFF THE TRACK

Timaru Herald, Volume CLVII, Issue 23181, 20 April 1945, Page 2

ON AND OFF THE TRACK

Rakanui and Reorapa have been visitors to the tracks at Greenmeadows since Easter. Both bear a bright appearance and are to be prepared tor winter racing. The report tnat Rakanui is to be prepared for hurdle events is incorrect. If the age limit of 10 years is continued in connection with the next Trotting Cup, Double Peter and Loyal Friend, now rising 11, will be ineligible. Highland Fling is not in tire SaplingStakes, but it is expected that Auckland will be represented in the two-year-old "classic" at Ashburton by Doctor Ted. F. J. Smith has trained 27 winners this season and driven 24. He has won the trainers’ premiership six times and the reinsmen's five. His top scores were 52 and 51 respectively, both Dominion records. Two of the winners at the Canterbury patriotic meeting on Saturday, Tagore and Eagle Flight, are three-year-olds by Golden Eagle, who lived only three months after his arrival in New Zealand in 1940. and whose death was a loss to the breeding industry. The steeplechaser Indian Sun, who has been off the scene for nearly two years, resumed racing at Hastings, where he contested the Autumn Handicap. He is very big in condition, and it may take a lot of racing to fine him down. He is now trained for R. Marsh by L. M. Cullen at Hastings. Coupled horses at Trentham on Saturday are:—Kaitoke Handicap, Ripley and Bel Esprit, Playful and King Parrish, Woburn Handicap. Red Setter and Stammel; Wairarapa Handicap, Nola Scott and Scottish Emperor; Silverstream Handicap, Playful and King Parrish; Wainui Handicap, Red Setter and Stammel, Opaque and Lucky Scott; Advance Handicap, Rose o’ Day and Toushay; Dominion Handicap, Netherby and Gay Pal, Dinghy and Frances Easton. , Australia is again to have mid-week racing, all restrictions having been lifted so far as country clubs are concerned. Tlie only fly in the ointment is that there will be no easing of the position as far as transport is concerned. The ban on the publication of certain classes of racing news has been lifted.

Jack Potts has at last passed Logan Pointers long-standing record of £229,076. He has sired 185 individual winners, which have amassed over £230.000 to date. The Australian and New Zealand record for winners is held by Globe Derby at about 310, and Rothschild sired 306. but neither approached the money record of Jack Potts or Logan Pointer. Jack Potts is 24 years old, but foals by him are due to appear next season. Murray Hobbs is not always credited with saddling Sasanof to win the Melbourne Cup. When he took the Challenge winner, Kilboy. to Sydney on account of Mr J. B. Reid, the Kilbroney colt was sold prior to winning the A.J.C. Derby to Messrs W. G. Stead and E. Luttrell for £6OOO. Sasanof had been taken to Australia for this combination by T. E. Quinlivan, but was removed to the South Islander’s charge. Kilboy was regarded as a certainty for the Victoria Derby and Melbourne Cup, but met with a minor accident. Sasanof was sore at the time, but a week’s postponement of the Cup was caused by floods and the week’s respite enabled M. H. to get Sasanof to the post sound enough to win. After his return Sasanof went to Hawke’s Bay to be trained by G. Jones. Kilboy was got to the post for the Great Autumn and revealed his excellence by winning with 8.10 although not nearly tuned up. It was a tragedy that he did not get the opportunity to reveal his greatness. Late M. Hobbs The late Murray Hobbs was well known to early Timaruvians, and in association with his brother Campbell trained a very large number of horses here. They made considerable use of the Saltwater Creek flat, and were firm believers in swimming exercise for not too sound horses. M. & C. Hobbs, as the "firm" was known, in 1886-7 took over Moody, Borderman, Playboy. Melville and Jack from their brother F. Hobbs, and later in the season raced also Jackall and Effigy. Moody was a versatile and hardy gelding who won on the flat, over hurdles and in steeplechases, and enrolled his name among Grand National winners. By 1890 Hobbs brothers had leased Prime Warden from Mr E. Gates, and with this good but rather savage horse won a great many races, including Canterbury Cup, Great Autumn and Metropolitan. From the same owner they leased Lady Zetland, who commenced winning at three and when nine captured the New Zealand and Canterbury Cups. In addition she won the Great Easter and Autumn double, and the Wanganui Cup. It was during the Prime Warden-Lady Zetland regime that the brothers removed first to Ashburton and next to Riccarton, where Murray eventually carried on on his own account. He was successful with Dundas, Ivanoff, Tresham, Benzoin, Starshot and others in his own name, and won the Great Easter with Reval, Great Autumn with Punka and many handicaps and classics lor patrons, who included Messrs Richard Allan, J. C. N. Grigg and J. B. Reed. It was on Mr J. B. Reed’s behalf that he took Kilboy to Sydney to win the A.J.C. Derby. Before the race Kilbov was sold to Messrs Stead and Luttrell, and for this partnership Hobbs won the Melbourne Cup with Sasanof.