Racing and Trotting

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17030, 2 May 1923, Page 2

Racing and Trotting

Notes by “Argus.”

FIXTURES. May 4, s—Marlborough Racing Club. May s—Thames Trotting Club. May 5, 7—Forburv Park Trotting Club. May 9. 10—Egmont Racing Club. May .11, 12—Ashburton County Racing Club. May 17, 19-Wanganui Jockey Club. May 25, 2b—Oamaru Jockey Club. Juno 2, 4—Otaki Maori Racing Club. June 2, I—Canterbury Park Trotting Club. June 2, -1. G—Dunedin Jockey Club. June 2.4, C- Auckland Racing Club. June 4—South \\ airarapa . Trotting Club. NOMINATIONS. ray 4—Forbury Park Trotting Club (Trotting Staked, 1921). May B—Oamaru Jockey Club. May io—Canterbury Park Trotting Club. -May 10 —South Wairarapa Trotting Club. May 11—. Auckland Racing Club. May 11—Dunedin Jockey Club. May 11—Otaki Maori Racing Club. HANDICAPS. May 4—Wanganui Jockey Club. May 11—Wanganui Jockey Club. May 11—-Auckland Racing Club. May 13—Oamaru Jockey Club. May 17—South Wairarapa Trotting Club. May 21—Canterbury Park Trotting Club. May 21—Dunedin Jockey Club. May 21— Auckland Racing Club. May 22—Otaki Maori Racing Club. ACCEPTANCES. May 4—-.Ashburton County Racing Club. May 4—Egmont Racing Club. .May 14—Wanganui Jockey Club. May 19—Oamaru Jockey Club. May 24—South Wairarapa Trotting Club. May 25-—Auckland Racing Club. May 25—Otaki Maori Racing Club. May 28 —Dunedin Jockey Club.

HANDICAPPING.

Mention was made recently of the fact that the local Breeders’ and Owners’ Association intended making ail effort to deal with the handicapping question. The importance of the matter was stated and a suggestion was made that the time had arrived when certain points would he freely allowed. The handicapping of all maiden horses on the same mark, and that no horse should he handicapped slower than his l est time for the distance, were two of the principal planks of a programme in which there was unanimity. At the meeting held last week the Breeders’ and Owners’ Association had under discussion a revision of its rules, and this business took so long that the handicapping question was only partially discussed. It is satisfactory to know that rbe meeting promptly agreed on the question of the handicapping of maiden horses, and lias received the assurance of Mr H. Brinkman that in the future he will adopt the suggestion. So far the Breeders’ and Owners’ Association lias done good work, as Air Brinkman is the leading handicapper in the Dominion, hut it would b<i of greater advantage if the matter was placed fie - lore the Trotting Conference and that body issued a mandate io all handicappers on the same lines on which Mr Brinkman has; agreed to act. The ■: ■ dors’ and Owners’ Association is I to he congratulated on its step forward, and also on the manner in which it has approached this important question. If it will, at its next meeting, deal with the question of letting out of horses from their best times in the same manner it has a splendid chance o r success, and then, with two import<ant points in a much vexed question dealt with, it can approach other and more difficult features with confidence. Possibly before the more intricate details of the handicapping question are. put forward officially, the local association would be well advised if it consulted the associations of Auckland and Otago, the former of which has recently been taking a prominent part i i its own district on this question. Acceptances for the first day of the Ashburton County Racing Club's meeting are due on Friday. Nominations of two-vear-old trotters for the New Zealand Trotting Stakes, to he decided at Forburv Park next February, will close on Friday. The annual meeting of the Canterbury Jockey Club will be held on Thursday, May 24. It is proposed to ! alter the rules so that the ballot-box 1 for the election of office.-bearers will ; close at noon on the day of the meetI ing. the committee to have power to ■ appoint scrutineers to deal with the j votes. A proposal will also come for- ! ward to limit the number of members lof the club. Nominations for the j | various offices will close on Thursday 1 of next week. ! Cutts Brothers have made a start on the half-dozen yearlings in their stable and some of them are now well forward in the first stages of their education. They look a useful lot. T. H. (iillett has broken in the yearling colt by Kolferino from Bon Bord, the dam of King's Trumpeter, and will get him ready to carry the colours of ! Mr J. S. Barrett next season.

The three-year-old filly Carette, by Clarenceux—Ventalera, has finished racing for this season and she is to be turned out for a few months. She has shown a. good turn of speed in her races, but she is still growing and she may prove a useful stake-earner next Samura is the latest horse to be tried as a jumper at Iviccartou. »So far he iias tackled only the pony hurdles, but iie has cleared them in great style on more than one occasion. Judged on his early efforts, lie seems likely to make a ‘ good hurdler. It. Emerson contemplates trying Jazz as a jumper. The Solferino—Stardancer gelding is a smart galloper and just the sort who might do well over h urdles. Slmdy Way, by Bonny Glen from an Artillery mare, is booked to join S. Trilford’s stable, to be prepared for hunters’ races. The two-year old colt Consequence has rejoined Cutts Brothers’ team, after a spell. He is a useful looking customer by Treadmill from Helter Skelter, by Antagonist from Fleetfoot. A. Hendrieksen is taking the pacers Grand Denver and Friendship and the trotter Sunny Jim to Dunedin, where they have engagements at the Forbury Park Trotting Club’s meet- **• The last has probably been seen of that consistent trotter Colonel Havelock on a race track. He has been more or less unsound for some time and he broke down badly after his lastrace at Addington at Faster. J. N. Clarke is working a useful thtee-year-old by Bogan Pointer from that good mare InnisfaiJ, which lie purchased at a low figure when Mr J. Farrell sold several of his horses a few weeks ago. The youngster is a good pacer and looks like staying well. W. Warren has made another start with the Cathedral Chimes—Soda filly. The young pacer, when first put into work, went sore and it was found nee essary to throw her out of training. She is apparently now quite sound. W. Smith has Royal Oak pacing in good form at New Brighton. Since be. ing purchased by his trainer Royal Oak has improved in speed and manJ. H. Wilson is giving the pacer Wet Day plenty of work in saddle, but it is doubtful if she will improve sufficiently to have much chance in a- race from the mark on which she is now handicapped. Mireusonta was very lame before he won the Hawke’s Bay Stakes. The Absurd gelding has frequently shown unsoundness this season, but the trouble has not prevented him from racing well. The Australian trotting trainer, P. Riddle, is returning to Sydney this week, but it is understood he will be back in Auckland soon with another team pf horses, his intention being to settle permanently in New Zealand. The trotter Pete Peter, who raced well at New Brighton last month, changed owners during the recent meeting of the Auckland Trotting Club and it is understood lie has joined Yv. J. Tom kin soil's team. Auckland reports state that Oakleigh is going on well in his work and ho is expected to play his part in good style in big cross-country events during the winter. A very attractive exhibition of trotting was given at Addington this week by The Triumph, a recently imported American trotting stallion by Exponent. one of the best of Bingen's sons. The Triumph is an inmate of B. Jarden's stable, and in order to see how eh would shape over a mile, his trainer took lum to Addington on Monday alternoon ancl sent him over the jour ney. After occupying lmin 6 4-osec over the first half mile, he ran home the second half in lmin ssee, making 2min 11 4-osec for the full distance. The track, though in fair order, was not at its best, and from the manner in which The Triumph accomplished his task, it seems certain that he only requires favourable conditions to set. a new mark for a trotting horse ovei a mile on a New Zealand track. In his trial at Addington he went in a hold, free style. the general opinion being that lie is an exceptionally hfcdi class trotter. Negotiations were in progress lor The Triumph to make an attack on Revenue's mile record of 2min 11 4-osec at the Forbury Park Trotting Club’s meeting on Saturday or Monday. The club has since varied the conditions, however, stipulating that the horse should do 2min Bsec oi I better, ancl under the circumstance* the connections of The Triumph have cancelled the trip.

Mr James French, who was the first caretaker of the Trotting Grounds at Addington, and who only resigned about a year ago, to leave for England, has evidently tired of the Old Land, as lie is on his way back to the Dominion. The pacer Gleaming is again under IV. Warren’s charge, but no- attempt will be made to train the brilliant pacer for some time. It is intended to jog him about all through the winter months, and if he remains sound ho will be put into work to race next November. The old injury behind is apparently quite right again ancl the splint on his foreleg is not so troublesome as when it caused his retirement.

WANGANUI notes

(Special to the “ Star.”) WANGANUI, May 1. There was some interesting work on the track tnis morning. Malingerer and Aiouiu were sent six furlongs together, the former having a slight advantage at the end. The time registered was lmin 18 i-bsec, a gooa gallop. San Franette and Pirouette were associated in a spin over seven furlongs, tne latter being in front in lmin Jlsec, the last six furlongs taking lmin 18sec. Veil and Listowel ran half a mile, the former pleasing most. The sister to Rational and The Monk lias put on a lot of condition lately and is galloping well. Alaric slipped over lour furlongs by himself in fine style in 49sec, which time he could have improved upon. He promises to be a very cheap horse at 250 so vs, which \Y. ii. Dwyer is said lo have paid for him. Naughty and Whipcord were sent for a round over the big fencas. Both horses jumped the first two obstacles well, Naughty doing better than her companion, but at the first fence of the double Naughty got a bit too close in ancl struck it with her hind legs. She got over all right but fell on landing. Her rider remounted and tho mare was put over the fence again, jumping all right. Whipcord went round without making a mistake. M. Gardner is sending Lively Fire home. The son of Campfire is fast enough bxft he cannot be. kept well. The two Absurd youngsters that W. Raynor lias in hand—Menu in’s brother and the filly from Pennon—are coming along nicely. The colt is a handsome looking chestnut of sturdy build and looks like developing into a splendid stamp of a two-vear-old. The lillv is a racy-looking sort, who will probably come to band more quickly than the colt, but both promise to make good.

ENGLISH NOTES

(Special to the “ Star.”) LONDON, March Id. Gerald L has firmly established himself as favourite for the Grand National, for whereas he emerged triumphant from the severest trial outside Ain tree- liis nearest opponents in the betting market—Arravale and Fly Mask—both failed in their trials—trials, too, which were by no means so stiff. The race which Gerald L won—his filth in succession, by the way—was the one which Music Hall captured a year ago before going on to success at Liverpool—the Hurst Park Trial .Steeplechase, of four miles. Carrying top weight of 12st 71b, he won right gallantly by a neck, after being hard pressed in the last hundred yards by Sir Francis Price’s Chin Chin, and his trainer. E. Gwilt, was soon out in the paddock to meet horse and jockey returning to the unsaddling enclosure. A few others had hurried down from the stands ancl they must have seen what semed to overwhelm the trainer for a second or two. Gerald L. was walking dead lame! There was no doubt about it. A foreleg appeared to have “ gone.” so to say. and all Gwilt coukl murmur, staggered as lie must have been at the mwnent. was “ He’s broken down !” “ No. T don’t think he has,” said Isaarc Morgan, the iockev on liis back, “ I think he is just leg weary.” Tt looked 100 to 1 on his being lama and that was how he passed into the enclosure. He could not have been there five minutes while being unsaddled and awaiting the signal that the jockey had passed the scales, and yet the_extraordinarv tiling was that lie walked awav a sound horse. Half an hour Inter lie was walking round the naddock outs’de the stables away from the public gaze and lie was perfectly all right. His trainer sighed his relief and the good news passed round among the horse’s many admirers. Meanwhile,/ winged messengers had carried tho first bad news to the gentlemen who are so accommodating on the rails, and 10 to 1 was immediately on offer about the horse for the Grand National. Those who accepted the odds are to be congratulated upon -(heir staunchness, for his price has already dwindled to 7 to I as T write, and it will he still shorter on the day of the race. Such a very fine performer this season and holding, too, such an outstanding chance and sound beyond suspicion should surely start favourite, since practically everything has been sifted in the matter of public form prior to the event. At Hurst Park Gerald L. again re-

vealed liiiqself as a vastly improved horse in every respect, showing hard, muscular condition in places that were destitute of it until this year. He was cool and confident and a big credit in every way to his trainer. It is quite remarkable licnv he, at nine years of age, lias developed in a physical sense and it follows that the effect has been seen in the bigger things he has been capable of performing in public. Carrying only 2lb less than he, was Turkey Buzzard, always a handsome horse and perhaps straighter in condition than ever he has been this season. Even bo, liis trainer believes he can get him a bit fitter by National day. Of all the others in a field of a dozen starters none looked better than Chin Chin and old Taft’ytus, now ten years of age, which is also- the- age of ‘Turkey Buzzard. Ohm Chin was turned out well, though giving the impression that he would be better and fitter for the race. Punt Gun disappointed and, perhaps, this Grand Sefton winner has trained off ; Daisy Cutter was out of his class and it may be the distance was more than lie cares about. Shaun Spadah, for a Grand National winner of two years ago, was scarcely taken seriously and he seemed to run accordingly. Forewarned was an absentee, which was a pity. It was Daisy Cutter that set a strong gallop from the outset and I should say that the race was run at a better pace than when Music Hall won. When tackling the open ditch near the stands Gerald L. made what appeared to be a bad mistake. But the big horse instantly recovered, and it may well be that it had the effect of sharpening him up and making him take the job more seriously. Throughout the last mile he was laways within easy reach of the leaders and halfway up the straight, when two fences or more from home, Morgan moved him alongside Chin Chin. The two jumped in compauy, but it was the favourite thathad got the race won as they came to the iast fence. He cleared it with ease and was halfway home in the run in, with most people putting their glasses down and some of them cheering a good horse home, when he was seen to falter and slow up. It may have been then that he hit himself. Chin Chin, of course, was able to gain stride by stride, and though Gerald L. was holding him again in the last few strides it was onlv by a neck that lie claimed the judge’s award. Taffytus was a very fair third, ancl those associated with him had every reason to be satisfied. Of course, he was getting as much as 281 b from the winner. It is a big lump of weight over four miles, but the point is that Taffy tus is essentially a plodder, with no knowledge apparently of how to fall, and at Liverpool he will, I expect, be galloping and jumping when most others have fallen by the wayside or are sobbing and sighing. Turkey Buzzard by no means ran badly, though he may not be as good as he once was. Still, I thought he showed signs of having settled clown more, compared- with the rather impetuous horse Vie was when he ran at Newbury in the race won by Arravale ! a couple of weeks or so ago. Chiu ; Chin, I fancy, will be ridden at Aintree by Frank Brown, the brother of Harry. But what chance can. lie have, all else being equal? At Hurst Park the winner was giving him 121 b : at Liverpool they meet afi level weights ! The fact- is that Gerald L. is the best handicapped horse in the Grand National and tlie chief danger to him must lie Forewarned, who meets him on 71b better terms for the Gatwick beating (recently described in these notes'). Duettiste fell once more —for the third time—and I cannot sec that any good can come of starting him in the big steeplechase. In such an event Escott, one of the best jockeys over fences, would be free to ride Libretto, Whitaker's second string to Arravale. The latter was turned out in a three miles ‘chase at Wolverhampton, but disappointed greatly, being beaten, after making one particularly bad blunder, by Pradliomme, the bottomweight, Alcazar, who a few days ago defeated Fly M.:i:k at Cheltenham, and Conjuror 11. (a stable companion of Fly Mask). Conjuror IT., like Sergeant Murphy and Taffytus, is renowned for faultless jumping and stamina, and his defeat over three miles can be excused, but for such as Arravale avid Fly Mask—especially noted for speed—to go under in such affairs as these mentioned was a staggering blow to their many admirers. Mr James White lias scratched both Granely (last year’s winner) and Clochnaben from the Lincoln Handicap, because of the trials they have had with the mystery horse, Tons of Money. The last-named is said to have simply smothered them and it is not unlikely that the four-year-old, who has yet to win a race, will now start favourite on the Car holmes next "Wednesday! Port Royal is another horse heavily hacked during the past few days, but I am anticipating that the finish will be fought out by Royal Alarm, Westmead and Crubemnore. Two very useful horses trained by Bert Lines at Newmarket have justbeen dispatched to India. They are Night "Watchman, a four-year-oid by Gentle Shepherd—Dusky Bride, and Wasp, a thee-ye • r-okl by Honey Bee "Wild Hag. The former won good races over five and six furlongs last year, and the latter was considered to be- a- class two-year-old, having five victories to h:s credit in his first