SPORTING.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 11505, 29 September 1915, Page 5

SPORTING.

RACING AD TROTTING. NOTES BY "ARGUS." FIXTURES September 30 —Kurow Jockey Cjub. S«pt«rab*r 80—Horowhenua Racing Club. Th« GeraMino Racing Club's fixture, which was held Last, week, was a very quict affair. To commence with, there was a .shortage of horses. On idle first day there were thirty-fivo starters for five galloping events, but on the* second day; the total dropped to twentysix. Even the trots failed to till, there being only thirty-one competitors m tho four races. There was'a time when tho Geraldine meeting was one of the big events of the early spring in the South Island, and it wa> frequently chosen to give a prominent Ncnv Zealand Ctip candidate a race before tackling Riccarton. Those wore tho days, however, before thero were so many other fixtures available to owners. Ihe Geraldine Racing Club has failed to hold its place in tho matter of stakes, for one thing, and with better prize money to bo won elsewhere there is 110 great inducement now for owners to send their good horses there. I have ofton thought the club would bo weli advised to choose fresh dates. Considering all tho circumstances, it does not seem a good arrangement to come in a fortnight after Ashburton, which is more accessible for Christ-church owner.?, while those who want another race! near the November carnival can get it at Dnnedin or Timaru in October, and with better prize money. There is, in fact, too much racing at this period, tho result being that Geraldin<v suffers. At a slacker time the club might easily attract big fields and have a very successful fixture, even without taking tho risk of increasing stakes. It is really time the club did something, unless it wishes the meeting to go further back, I have been attending the Geraldine fixtures regularly for a number of years, but. last week's was one of tho dullest I havo witnessed on the Orarf course. In some respects it was particularly unsatisfactory, and some of the form would not stand too close scrutiny. The meeting was a financial success, but that is not everything.

The Soutli Canterbury Jockey Club should have a successful meeting next month. The stakes for tho two days total £2OOO, the total being practically the same as last year, though there has been a slight readjustment in several directions. Tlie South Canterbury Handicap has been reduced from £2-50 to £2OO, but the Jockey Cub Handicap is now of equal value, having had £25 added to last year's stake of £125. Another alteration, so far as these two events are concerned, is that they have been transposed on the programme, the mile race figuring on the first day and tho mile and a quarter race on the second day. Altogether, it is a very even programme, catering for horses oi all classes. The great fault I find with it is that there is too great a preponderance of sprint racing, with three races run at six furlongs, two at five and one at four during the two days. Results eliow that they suit owners, however, and the club is not likely to abandon them while that is tho case. The arrangement for racing on Thursday and Saturday seems to have caught on in Timaru, and it will be tried again on this occasion, the dates being October 21 and 23. There will sti/1 be plenty of time after the meeting before horses are required to race at Riccarton, so that the fixture is pretty certain to attract largo nominations. Tins part of the business will soon require tho attention of owners, as they close next Monday.

A question put to G. Murray-Ayns-ley, the trainer of Warstep, elicited the information that the present intention was to start the Martian mare in the Mosgiel Handicap, at the Dunedin Jockey Club's meeting next week. With lOst sib to carry over a mile and a quarter, Warstep appears to have been set a big task for her first race of the sea?on. Most of the other candidates with any claims to form have also received a fair share of weight, however, and Mr Daltsety's mare will not lack admirers if sue goes to the post. There seems to he a misunderstanding in some quarters as to the effect of a win by Warstep at Wingatui, and it should bo noted that the would incur no penalty for the New eZaland Cup. Having already been handicapped above weight-for-age, there can be no further no penalty for the Now Zealand Cup. Weight, no matter how many races she. may win in the meantime.

A payment for the New Zealand Trotting Cup is due tonight at eight o'clock. It is considered improbable that Emmeline. Albert H. and Muricata will have their engagements continued. Rumour is also busv with the name of last year's ivinner. Win Soon. She has drifted to a long price in the betting and is reported to bo a very unlikely starter. She will be mated this season with Logan Pointer, and it is po-sible that she will shortly leave the race track for good.

The Kurow Jockey Club's meeting will be held to-morrow. The fields are large for most of the events, but very few competitors have been attracted from Canterbury stables.

The Southland I—se, Copper Boy, by General Averag;- S Iver Maid, is now an inmat-o of R, M'Kay's stable at Oamaru.

Judging from latest news from Sidney, it seems probable that the New Zealand horses will play a prominent part in some of the lead in or events at the Australian Jockey Club's spring meeting, which will oj>en at Raridwick on Saturday. Reputation and Colonel Soult are both moving along well on the training tracks.

Happiness and Chakwana, both of whom were successful at Otaki this week, are full-sisters, by liierarch (Cyrenian—Miss Annie) from Peace, by The, Officer—Content. They are sisters to Valhalla, who showed a lot of pace while racing hi Mr G. D. Greenwood's colours.

Rene, the winner of the chief event at Otaki yesterday, comes from a family whose "origin is untraced, her dam, Miss Frisco/heine by San Francisco— Athel, bv Muskapeer—Bay Bess, by St Leger—Cautmiere, by Musket—Queen Bess, by Nutwith from a mare of unknown pedigree. Rene's sire is Milltifid, bv Multiform—Ueriot, by Grafton— Gfafin, by Carbine. The pedigree thus contains two strains of (ialopin, through San Francisco and Grafton. Us most notable feature, however, is the strong infusion of Musket blood, M ult i fid introducing two. through Multiform and Carbine, while Musket himself figures in Miss Frisco't* pedigree, in addit'on to his son. Muskapeer. Rene won six races last season, including two at Otaki a year ago, but her successes were all gained in moderate company, and her paribrniance this week is "the best the has been responsible for.

N.aupata, who Tt-on the Te Ringi Hack and Hunters-' Steeplechase ut Otaki yesterdav, ia only a younp horse at cross-country racing, and his form up to the present is only moderate. He raced unsuccessfully at the Grand National meeting, his jumping leaving room for improvement, not only in his races but also in his schooling efforts. He is ; however, a. horse of considerable promise, and under the guidance of the Porirua trainer, J. H. Prosser, he maj dev^lo* - into a. sood ova

country next winter. So far as breeding is concornecl he has a lot to recommend him, his sire, Mahaki, being a half-brother to Btepnink, while his dam, Lorelei, was by Cruiser (son of Robinson Crusoe) from Laurel, the dam of Advance.

Botanist raced consistently at Otaki this week, winning a hack race on the first day and finishing second to Rene in the chief event vestnrday. Ho is a four-year-old by treadmill from the Clanranald mare, Bonnie Brae, and is thus a brother to lleatherbrae. a usetill galloper, and to Gnwanbrae, who has shown *mart form on the tracks at Riccarton. Last- .season Botanist was successful four times, and as ho appears to stay fairly well, ho should do well in open company this seat-on.

Th<* win of Mystified in tho Otaki Hack Handicap yesterday did not come out ei its turn. She is a five-year-old mare by Mystification—Stepdaughter, by Stopniak—M.irion, by Maribyrnong -Peeress, but she h«.s not proved nearly so useful as her full-brother, Mysteriarch, cr her half-brother, Lord Renown, as this was her first success. At three years old she started eighteen times, and was only once placed, while at four years she did not even gain p'ace honours out. of twelve starts. A tew weeks ago, at Dnnnovirke. she finished second to Sea Lord in n seven furlong hack race, and her latest effort suggests-that she may do even better yet, though she may never rise above useful class.

Taringamutu, winner of the Railway Handicap at Otaki yesterday, did not start on the first day of the meeting, but she showed smart form last week at Wangaaui, whero slie ran third to Mia Cara and Dimeter in the Flying Handicap and second to Master Achilles in tho Owen Handicap. She is a three-year-old filly by Charlemagne ll.—Arai-te-uru, by Birkenhead—Fair Nell, by Aprcmont—ldnlia. Last season, after three unplaced efforts, she won twice, winding up with four more placed performances.

Lady Allnutt, who is a half-sister to that fast pacer Andy Regan, and who is also the dam of Perle d'Or, was purchased recently by Mr H. Reynolds, who intends mating her with Driftwood.

The pacer General Wvlie is now being trained by E. M'Oa-nn at Tai Tapu. It is a "Teat pity that this promising pacer is unsound.

Amongst the mares that have been mated with the American trotting stallion El Orbine this season are Bonny Jenny, Woodlander and the dam of Masterpiece.

The trotting mare Mvall, by Wildwood—Davbreak, by Vanclere, was seat to Australia some time ago to be mated with Mr J. A. Buckland's horse California. A. Prinele, who owns Myall, has a three-year-old named St Louis from the mare, tho youngster being by California. Myall is in foal this vear to El Carbine.

Tho Oamaru-owned trotter Rostrebor, who created such a favourable impression when raced at Forbury Park, has not. improved as much as was expected. The horse has been in A. Pringle's stable for some time, but that trainer has returned him to his owner.

Clarewood. who is a half-sister to that good trotter Master Raymond, has foaled a filly to El Carbine.

The three-year-old filly Sally Brass, by Abbey Bells—Sal Tasker, who was bred by Mrs R. O. Duncan, is in work at Ashburton, being trained there by J. Brankin. The filly is a full sister to Coldstream Bells.

The Amercan trotting mare Neeratte, who was brought here by Mr J. Conway, was sold recently. Neeratte has only started once and has been practically unsound since her arrival here. She ha 3 been mated with the American stallion Van Coronado this season, and she will in all probability be reserved as a brood mare by her new owner.