Racing and Trotting.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17835, 1 May 1926, Page 7

Racing and Trotting.

NOTES BY

The training work at Riccarton this morning did not provide much interest. The number six grass track was open, but it was dead, from the effects of tre recent rain. A large number of horses made their appearance, but most of those who raced at the South Canterbury meeting were given an easy time. Only a few horses were sent along at a strong pace, and altogether it was a quiet morning for the track watchers.

Mr J. S. Barrett was at Riccarton this morning to see his steeplechaser Charlatan schooled. Ridden by E Shaw, he was sent over seven fences, missing out the sod wall. The pace was not particularly fast, but he gave a finished exhibition of lumping. The Winkie gelding, who looks well, will prabably start his winter campaign at the Egmont meeting.

The North Island lightweight rider, T. Green, will be at Riccarton next Saturday, for the Amberley Racing Club's meeting. One of his mounts will be the two-year-old Zarisee, in the Novice Stakes.

Miss L. Doyle's four-year-old gelding Gay Jim, by Ga\- Lad from Silverina, has been placed under the care of F. P. Claridge, who brought the gelding back from Washdyke this week.

The five yearlings which J. M’Combe purchased in Australia were ail broken in before he left Sydney, and they are ready to start on a preparation for next season's racing. They include two youngsters by Rossendale and one each by Comedy King, Governor General and Baverstock. The Governor General colt was on the track this morning. He is a well-grown black, tipped with white hairs, which he inherits from his sire, who is a son of The Tetrarch.

The steeplechaser King Abey is very sore as a result of his two falls at the South Canterbury meeting, and some time will elapse before he can resume work.

Blue Hall was very sore after his race in the Otipua Steeplechase at the South Canterbury meeting, but J. B. Pearson hopes to have him all right again shortly. It is not certain, however, where he will have his next race.

Cutts Brothers have* only Centrepiece, Rivalry, Serotina and Retrospect in active work at present, but they are being kept busy with the batch of yearlings, who are all making fair progress in their early education.

The light-weight jockey,C. Eastwood, has made a good recovery from his fall at the Manawatu meeting and he will be at work again next week.

The hurdler Projector has made a good recovery from the mishap which prevented him from racing at the Canterbury Jockey Club’s Autumn meeting. H. Nurse has him going along nicely in his preparation for winter jumping eventt.

H. Nurse has Chickwbeat and Rapier going well at present, and they have only to repeat their track form to be prominent in early engagements. Chickwheat, in particular, is in fine fettle.

Kilris looks none the worse for her two hard races at the South Canterbury meeting and further improvement may be expected from her before the end of the season.

Miss Minerva was a disappoitment at the South Cauterbury meeting, especially on the second day. She was unlucky, however, and she should atone for her failure very soon, as she is in rare good fettle.

Centrqpiece gave further evidence of his usefulness at South Canterbury. The racing he has had lately should prove beneficial and he may do well next season in better company. He has plenty of speed and his breediing suggests that he may shine over a distance later on. He will be kept steadily in work, though he will not race again for a few months.

G. Murray-AynsJey has four yearlings in his stable at present, and all of them have been ridden. Two of them are by Archery', from Stardancer and her sister, Warlove, while the third of Mr C. G. Dalgety’s lot is by Thurnham from Nantville. The fourth youngster, the trainer s own property, is by Paladin from Disdainful. They are a promising quartette. * % * a

Starmist and Goldstep are in regular work at Riccarton. These two fillies had to be retired some time ago as a result of mishaps, from which they appear to have fully recovered, but only time and the test which will come with training can show if the accidents have left any permanent ill-effects. Provided she trains on, Starmist should pay her way next season in races round about a mile. As for Goldstep, G. Murray-Aynsley has hopes that this daughter of Autumnus and Warstep may’ with age develop into a good performer over long journeys.

Footfall and Paperchase have been spelling since the autumn meeting of the Canterbury Jockey* Club. They will continue their rest for a couple of months, when they will be got ready for spring engagements. The speedy two-year-old Paperchase, by Paper Money from Stardancer, comes from a family that requires time, so it is reasonable to expect that she will be more than useful next season.

A y’ear ago Tarieton won the Timaru Cup with Bst 131 bon his back. He has been a failure this season, and with only 7st 121 b to carry this week he never looked like a winner, though he eventually finished fourth.

Courtly Rose has developed very bad manners at the barrier. She assisted Prince Ferouz to cause a lot of trouble and delay* in the concluding event of the South Canterbury* meeting. Unless she mends her ways, she will earn drastic treatment from racing officials.

Corn Money* was a disappointment at South Canterbury, where he raced only once. lie showed plenty of speed, but only for half a mile, when he collapsed. This was not his real form.

“ARGUS.”

rain which has fallen during the jast two days has greatly* improved the North Canterbury Racing Club’s course at Rangiora. The seed which wa3 sown about two months ago has C'apne well and the track should be in the best of order for the meeting to be held in a fortnight. Nominations closed last night, when owners made a good response, so that the club should have a very successful fixture. * * * * The Timaru Cup winner, Fresco, is to have a spell for a couple of months, after which F. Christmas will take him in hand for spring engagements, with the New Zealand Cup as his special mission. Quite apart from the merit of his performance at Washdyke this week, Fresco gave evidence’ of his usefulness over a journey by finishing fourth in the Great Autumn Handicap, and it is .worth remembering, when other distance races are being discussed, that he was beaten by three good horses on that occasion—Grand Parade, Royal Divorce and Listening Post—whilt he was finishing faster than any of them.

Deucalion ran two good races at th< South Canterbury* meeting, and h< should soon make his reappearance a; a winner.

Some of the hurdlers who were racing at the South Canterbury* meeting this week will require careful placing, and even then their prospects of winning will not be bright.

In the absence of Mr R. H. Aldworth, who had an engagement this week at Hastings, Mr C. E. Hassall officiated as judge at the South Canterbury Jockey Club's meeting. He was well tested, as the racing each day was of a high standard, with big fields and a succession of wonderfully* close finishes, which must have gladdened the heart of the handicapper, Mr J. E. Henrys, but Mr Hassall emerged from the ordeal with great credit, his decisions having promptness to further recommend them.

The Beaconsfield Hack Handicap, on the second day of the South Canterbury Jockey Club’s meeting, was an exceptionally rough race. There were nine starters, and when the field reached the straight horses were being knocked about in all directions. An inquiry was held, the evidence of several jockeys being taken, but the only result was that the stipendiary steward tendered some advice to L. J. Ellis, on the need for steering a straight course in races, instead of allowing his mount to run about the course. This was all right so far as it went, but it was an inadequate method of dealing with the immediate case. The wholesale bumping and interference called for drastic action. It is quite probable that a cleanly-run race would have produced a different result. There is only one adequate method of dealing with offenders of this description, whether they err through carelessness of intentionally—they should have a holiday*.

Prince Ferouz has not improved his barrier manners since he has been on the West Coast; in fact, judging from his two exhibitions at the South Canterbury meeting this week, he has become more piggish than ever. After the Timaru Cup the judicial stewards instructed the starter that if he caused trouble in his race next day the clerk of the course should hold him. This was done, but even then the unruly gelding did his best to cause trouble. The leniency that is shown to outlaws like Prince Ferouz is one of the weaknesses of racing control in the Dominion. There is provision in the Rules of Racing for treatment which means their banishment from racing, but this course is seldom adopted. Racing officials appear disinclined to take such a drastic step, but the present lenient methods are unfair to owners of wellmannered horses, whose chances are frequently ruined while the starter is trying to get the unruly brutes off on fair terms with the other competitors.

The Wingatui trainer, J. Ruttledge, has a couple of Kilbroney yearlings under his care, in preparation for two-year-old races next season. One of them, owned by Mr J. A. Ainge, is from Filigree, by Boniform—Brocade, by Royal Fusilier—Finery*. The other, who will be raced by Mr W. Quirk, is from Pot Pourri, by Benzonian—Crimson Rose, by Roy*al Fusilier—Rose Madder, by Stepniak—Madder.

The Tea Tray two-year-old, Kiosk, is booked for a trip to Sydney. He will probably leave in June, under the care of W. H. Dwyer, who may also take Elthein as well.

Some of the West Coast owners who had horses racing at the South Canterbury meeting showed a total disregard for the work of the handicapper by putting up lumps of overweight, some of them carrying a stone more than was necessary*. Quite as capable riding might have been available without this extra penalty.