Racing and Trotting.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17781, 26 February 1926, Page 2

Racing and Trotting.

NOTES BY

ARGUS.

FIXTURES. February 25—Waiapu Racing Club. February 25, 27—Marlborough Racing Club. February 26—Marlborough Trotting Club. February 27—Taranaki Trotting Club. February 27. March I—Tc Aroha Jockey Club. March 3—Otautau «Racing Club. - March 3. 4 Racing Club. March 5, 6—Nelson Jockey Club. March 6—Banks Peninsula Racing Club. March 6—Waikato Trotting Club. March 6—Matamata Racfng Club. Marcli 10— Manawatu Trotting Club. March 10—Opotiki Jockey Club. March 10, 11—Southland* Racing gClub ' March 12, 13—Napier Park Racing Club March 13—Tlmaru Trotting Club. I March 13—Northland Trotting Club. I March 13, 3 7—Ohlncmuri lockcv Club. ; March 17—Opunake Racing "Club, j March 17—Wyndham Trotting Club. | March 18—Waimate Racing Club. March 18, 20—New Brighton Trotting Club. i March 20—Thames Trotting Club. March 20—Bay of Plenty Jockey Club. I March 20—Masterton Racing Club. I March 20, 22—Westport Jockey Club. ! March 23, 24—Oamaru Jockey Club. March 24, 25 —Rangitikei Racing Club. March 27—Wellington Trotting Club. April 3. s—Hawera Trotting Club. April 3, s—Wairafapa Racing Club. . April 3, s—Auckland Racing Club. April 3, s—Feilding Jockey Club. I April 3, 7—Metropolitan Trotting Club. April 5. 6—Canterbury Jockey Club. April 7—West-land Racing Club . April 10—Greymouth Jockey Club. NOMINATIONS. February 26 Trotting Club. February 26—Northland Trotting Club. February 26—-Napier Park Racing Club. February £6-*-Masterton Racing Club. February 26—Rangitikei Racing Club. March 2—Westport Jockey Club. March 3—Bay of Plenty Jockey Club. March 4—New Brighton Trotting Club. March 6—Wyndham Trotting Club. March 10—Wellington Trotting Club. March 12—Hawera Trotting Club. March 15—Walrarapa Racing Club. March Id—Feilding Jockey Club. March 22—Metropolitan Trotting Ciub. March 27—Greymouth Jockey Club. March 30—Westland Racing Club. _ HANDICAPS. February 26—Nelson Jockey Club. February 27 Manawatu Trotting Club, March I—Opunake Racing Club. March 3 —Opotiki Jockey Club. March 2—Waimate Racing Club. March 2—Oamaru Jockey Club. * March 3—Timaru Trotting Club. • March 3—Ohinemuri Jockey Club. March 4—Southland Racing Club. March s—Napier Park Racing Club. March 6—Rangitikei Racing Club. March B—Westport Jockey Club. March B—Northland Trotting Club. March o—New Brighton Trotting Club. March 9—" Wyndham Trotting Club. March 9—Bay of Plenty Jockey Club. March 15—Thames Trotting Club. March 22—Wellington Trotting Club. March 22—Walrarapa Racing Clbu. March 23—Hawera Trotting Club. March 26—Metropolitan Trottlrifc Club. March 26—Feilding Jockey Club. April s—Westland Racing Club. April B—Greymouth Jockey Club. ACCEPTANCES. February 26—Banks ’ Peninsula Racing Club. March I—Nelson Jockey Club. March I—Waikato Trotting Club. March 2—Matamata Racing Club. March s—Manawatu Trotting Club. Marc hi 6—Southland Racing Club. March B—Timaru Trotting Club. March B—Opunake Racing ClUb. March B—Ohinemuri Jockey Club. March 9—Waimate Racing Club. March 9—Oamaru Jockey Club. March 9—Napier Park Racing Club. March 10—Northland Trotting Club. March 12—Masterton Racing Club. •March 13—Wyndham Trotting Club. March 15—New Brighton Trotting Club March 15—Westport Jockey Club. March 15—Rangitikei Racing ClubMarch 16—Bay of Plenty Jockey Club. March 17—Thames Trotting Club. March 24—Wellington Trotting Club. March 29—Hawera Trotting Club. March 29—Walrarapa Racing Club. March 29—Feilding Jockey Club. March 30—Metropolitan Trotting Club April 6—Westland Racing Club. April S—‘■Greymouth Jockey Club. Acceptances for the Banks Peninsula Racing Club’s meeting will close at six o’clock this evening. Young B’ake, Sheik. Bell Harold and Nelson Derby arrived home this morninf, after their visit to Auckland for the Otahuhu Trottiur Club’s meeting. * , * * * F. D. Jones has nominated Murihatipo, Zaragoza, Calcite and Reonui for the Waimate meeting, while the first-named three and Economist are J engaged at Oamaru. From this lot the i Riccarton trainer should be able to secure a useful team for the southern ! trip next month. ❖ * * * J. B. Pearson has His Majesty and j Naughty Peter engaged in the hurdle races at the Oamaru meeting. His Majesty shapes well for a novice at the jumping game, and he may devel op into a better performer in that department than he has been on the flat. J * * *, * \* J J- Shanahan is still at Riccarton with Goosestep, who may d<s a few more meetings before he returns to the West is booked to compete at Motukarara next week, while he mav also be raced at Waimate and Oamaru * * * * M ’Combe has Forgery and Power doing useful work, and they may carry his colours at the Oamaru meeting next month. Later in the season they may be taken to Sydney. Power is a Tractor two-year-old, his dam being a halisister to Sunny Loch. * * * * Tarieton ran a good race in the Midsummer Handicap last Saturday, and a win may soon come his way. It is worth recalling that each season he has raced the big Nassau gelding has shown his best form in the autumn, so he should be worth keeping in mind for events ahead. * * * * The Rossendale colt Rampion, who stood out in the spring as the champion two-year-old of Australia, is booked to compete to-morrow in the Sires’ Produce Stakes, at the Victoria Racing Club’s meeting. It is a matter of regret that the Forbury Park Trotting Club has been practically compelled to cut the stake attached to the New Zealand Trotting Stakes by 350 sovs. The race was only saved by the casting vote of the chairman, and if breeders desire to keep it going they should wake up in the matter. It is a matter that should be taken up by the Owners and Breeders’ Association, writes “Sentinel.” Perhaps the best way to keep the race alive

would be to convert it into a Trotting j Sires’ Produce Stakes, and so get ‘stallion owners to assist. They should willingly do so, because there is not ' the slightest shadow of a doubt that j such races greatly enhance the value of promising young trotters. On the I other hand, owners will not care to tune up promising young trotters for a small stake, which may’- really prove a stumbling block to future success.

The Timaru Trotting Club’s meeting, to be held in a fortnight, has attracted a fine list of nominations. As usual, Christchurch starbles are well represented, while the list also includes strong support from southern training centres. There is thus ample material for a highly successful fixture.

The Waimate Cup frequently attracts a very useful field, and next month’s contest promises to be no exception. Riccarton stables are represented in the nominations by Retrospect, Rivalry, Sun L T p, Tarieton and Fresco, while the West Coaster, Goosestep, is also engaged. The Otago crack, Roseday, must be regarded as a doubtful starter, in view of the fact that he pulled up lame at Gore this week, tyit Ravenna, Overdrawn, Mountain Lion, The Cheat, Courtly Rose, Full Swing and Roman Archer should provide a strong team from southern stables.

The autumn meeting of the Victoria Racing Club will be commenced tomorrow, when several important events will be decided. The sprinters will be seen in the Newmarket Handicap, the weight-forage horses in the mile and a quarter Essendon Stakes’ the. three-year-olds in the St Leger, and the two-year-olds in > the Sires’ Produce Stakes.

In view of his win in the Caulfield Futurity Stakes last Saturday, the imported horse Top Gallant will be in strong favour to-morrow for the Newmarket Handicap, the six-furlong sprint at the Victoria Racing Club’s meeting. The weight-carrying record in this race is held by the New Zealandbred Soultline, who won with 9st 111 b in 1909, while three years earlier Pendant scored under 9st 71b. Top Gallant has lOst 21b, but he was a highclass horse in England, and as his win at Caulfield shows that he has retained his form he looks like keeping all his opponents very busy down the Flemington straight.

Although Marfred was beaten into third place in the Caulfield Futurity Stakes last Saturday, only three owners have had the temerity to tackle him in the St Leger, to be decided to-mor-row. On his spring form, the last of the Melbourne classics should not be hard for the Valais colt, unless his temper beats him.

An analysis of the winning stallion returns in England for last year reveals a very pronounced setback for the St Simon line. In 1912 Persimmon sired winners who captured £21,993 in stakes, but last year descendants of nine of his sons only managed to win £7553. The decline of the St Simon line in England is held to be quite clear. In Australia, Comedy King (by Persimmon) and Rossendale (by St Frusquin) can be cited as the most noteworthy horses tracing to St Simon that will keep his name in a prominent place there. In New Zealand, Sol ferino (by Soliman), General Latour (by Soult), LucuUus (by Ard Patrick), and Limond (by Desmond) are playing a good part for the St Simon line, but there is nothing in sight likely to carry it on.

The Western India Turf Club offers an opportunity and a reason for ambitious owners in England, Australia, North and South America, and South Africa, to try their at Bombay in 1927. It invites entries from all these countries as well as India for the Eclipse Stakes, to be run at Bombay in February of next year. This is an event for five and four-year-olds at the time of starting. The prize money is 100,000 rupees, with a gold cup valued at 3000 rupees. At par value, these amounts are equivalent to a stake of £IO,OOO and a trophy worth £3OO. Second prize is 20,000 rupees (nominally £2000), third 10,000 rupees, with 10,000 rupees for the nominator of the winner. The distance of the race is one mile and a quarter. Nomination fee is 100 rupees (nominally £10), while it will cost 200 rupees to remain in after September 1, 1926, 300 rupees after January tional to start. English horses (with whom European and North American horses are classed) will carrj' the following weights: Five-year-old horses 9st, mares and geldings Bst 111 b, four-year-old horses Bst 101 b, mares and geldings Bst 71b. Australasian, African and South American five-year-olds carry the same as English horses, but four-year-olds have 21b more. Entries close with the Australian Jockey Club and Victoria Racing Club, also in London, Dublin, and Johannesburg, on June 1, and in Bombay on July 1. * * * • The Forbury Park Trotting Club’s committee has decided to limit the stakes for the winter meeting to 5000 sovs. This represents a.i cut of 150 sovs on the total for last season's winter meeting. It is to be hoped that the cut, if deemed absolutely necessary, will come off the bus-horse class, writes “Sentinel,” and not the racehorse class, which attracts both the coin and the crowd. In fact, in some quarters it was hoped that the 4.32 class would not be asked to step out after less than a 1000 sovs stake. The club should consider the advisability of shifting its winter meeting to be held in May to a date about three weeks earlier. By doing so it would reap the benefit of another Exhibition meeting, and as this could be done without clashing with any other fixture in the South Island, it seems a golden opportunity to make hay while the sun shines. The proposed change could be made to Saturday and Monday. April 10 and 12, and so follow the Addington meeting, which concludes on April 7. The proposed change would steer clear of any other trotting meeting and also' any race meeting, as the nearest meeting of importance is the Wellington Racing Club’s meeting on April 15 and 17: < * * * *

Comedy Prince, who won over hurdles at Wanganui, is fairly well on in his years. His dam, Ratfler, was foaled as far back as 1898, and ranks as a sister to Seahorse, who won the New Zealand Cup, Derby, and Canterbury Cup of 1899. Seahorse was subsequently taken to England, and terminated his career in a steeplechase run in the United States. Rattler was sold at the dispersal sale of the late Mr G. G. Stead’s stud to go to Australia. Whilst in Mr Stead’s stud she bred Nautiform and Vice-Admiral, who when racing in the colours represented by a partnership comprised by Messrs W. G. and G. L. Stead and Mr G. D. Greenwood won the New Zealand Cup, Metropolitan, and Canterbury Cup of 1911. In Australia Rattler was bred to Positano and produced Rathburnham, who won the Victoria Racing Club’s Grand National Hurdles of 1915.

The fact that The Hawk was ailowe to drop out of the Newmarket Handicap may mean the Martian gelding is not at his best, but there is another possible It was reported from Melbourne recently that he had made a good recovery from the trouble that prevented him from racing a few weeks ago, but J. M. Cameron maj r have decided to take on the weight-for-age horses to-morrow over a mile and a quarter, in the Essendon Stakes, a race he won last year, rather than try to win the big sprint event under 9st 121 b.