RACING AND TROTTING NOTES

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18452, 1 May 1928, Page 2

RACING AND TROTTING NOTES

RACING FIXTURES.

Mkt 8, s—Nelson Jockey Club. May 10, 3 B—Egmont Racing: Club. May 12—Ashburton County Racing Club. May 17. 19—Wanganui Jockey Club. May 1 6—Amber ley Racing Club. Jnne 2,4, 6—Dunedin Jockey Club. June 2,4 t 6—Auckland Racing Club. NOMINATIONS. May 4—Auckland Racing Club. May 11 — Dunedin Jockey Club. HANDICAPS. May 4—Auckland Racing Club. May 7—Wanganui Jockey Club. May 18—Dunedin Jockey Club. May 21—Auckland Racing Club. ACCEPTANCES. May 4—Egmont Racing Club. Mas' 7—Ashburton County Racing Club. May 11—Wanganui Jockey Club. May 25—Dunedin Jockey Club. May 25—Auckland Racing Club. TROTTING FIXTURES. May 3. s—Forbury Park Trotting Club. May 3, s—Nelson Jockey Club. May 5 Cambridge Trotting Club. May 13—Ashburton County Racing Club. May 19—Oamaru Trotting Club. June 2, 4—-Canterbury Park Trotting Club. June 4—Hawke’s Bay Trotting Club. June 23, 27—Auckland Trotting Club. NOMINATIONS. May 14—Hawke’s Bay Trotting Club. May 17—Canterbury Park Trotting Club. June 7—Auckland Trotting Club. HANDICAPS. May B—Oamaru Trotting Club. May 21—Hawke’s Bay Trotting Club. May 22—Canterbury Park Trotting Club. June 12—Auckland Trotting Club. ACCEPTANCES. May 7—Ashburton County Raring Club. May 14—-Oamaru Trotting Club. May 28—Hawke's Bay Trotting Club. May 29—Canterbury Park Trotting Club. June 15—Auckland Trotting Club. RACING NOTES. The conditions were very unpleasant for training operations at Riccarton this morning. The heavy rain which fell during the night made the tracks and their surroundings very soft. Some of the trainers contented themselves with exercises on the roads, and those who patronised the course gave their charges steady pacing on the sand.

Mr J. Bridges, who was knocked down by one of the horses in the hurdle race, on the first day of the South Canterbury meeting last week, is making a good recovery from his mishap. A thorough examination, after his return home, showed that his injuries were confined to a few bruises.

The Amberiey Racing Club will distribute £955 in stakes at the meeting to be held at Amberiey on Saturday, May 26. The chief event is the G. B. Starky Memorial Handicap, of 150 sovs, and a gold cup valued at 50 sovs, presented by Mr J. B. Starky.

Carrigallen is being schooled over hurdles at Trentham, and will probably make his first public appearance as a jumper at the Otaki winter meeting. Carrigallen. a five-year-old by Joculator, is a speedy hack, but»a pronounced non-stayer on the flat.

A. Goodman has decided to try Cerf over hurdles, and he gave the gelding his initial lesson over the pony hurdles at Trentham on Saturday. Cerf acquitted himself remarkably well, and is apparently going to take easily to jumping.

Three years ago The Hawk ran second to Gloaming in their memorable match for the Ormond Gold Cup. and on Saturday he again occupied the role of runner-up to Hynanna. Hynanna is a good horse, but he could do no better than fourth in the Awapuni Gold Cup, and the fact that The Hawk now ten years old, ran him so close on Saturday, and defeated all the others, including Joy King and Reremoana, does not make the form out to be near the best weigh t-for-age standard. The chances are that Star Stranger would have been a much better representative for Mr A. B. Williams than Joy King, and even he would be no match for Limerick. » * 8 * The Trentham owner-trainer, J. W. Lowe, has left on a short holiday trip ♦o Sydney. * * * * It is reported that the well-known Poverty Bay studmaster, Mr Gaine Carrington, contemplates taking over the old Te Mahanga stud property in Hawke’s Bay. If the arrangements at present in negotiation are completed, the Hurry On sire Hunting Song and the Polymelus horse Colossus will be at the service of Hawke’s Bay breeders this coming season. * * * * Red Fuchsia, who was a winner at the Hawke’s Bay meeting last week, continues to give evidence that he is likely to earn high honours as a jumper this winter. In twenty-one starts this season he has won nine times and has been out of the money only on five occasions. Amongst the entrants for the big jumping events at Auckland in June is Desert Glow. The flat performances of this gelding are sufficient to say that if he takes to the jumping game he should win many a over fences.

Gold Bag, winner ©1 the two-year-old handicap at Hastings on Frida}*, is by Gasbag from Bradamante. He was successful at Feilding at Easter, and is trained bv G Orange at Woodville. Gold Bag is a half-brother to the Tren-tham-trained Riverna and Tatrina.

The Auckland steeplechaser Simplicitas, a five-year-old by Chesterfield (sire of Beau C avalier) from Peggy, owned and trained by E. J. Rae, was run into by a motor lorry last week and sustained injuries which led to his destruction. E. C. Rae was riding him to a Pakuranga meet at the time, and fortunately landed clear.

Although Lochella has been in work at Wingatui for some considerable time, he does not figure amongst the nominations for the Great Northern Steeplechase. The fact lends colour to the rumour that he, in company with Cartoon and Tholomon, may be seen at the Flemington Grand National meeting in July.

Perle de Leon was one of the most promising hurdlers seen out last winter. The Polydamon gelding made a good start as a jumper by capturing a couple of minor events at Hastings and soon after that he gave further proof of his ability by running third among the best horses in the Winter Hurdle Handicap at Trentham. As a result of that performance he was one of the favourites for the Grand National Hurdle Handicap, and he disappointed his admirers by falling. Subsequently he made amends by finishing a good second to Aberfeldy in the Sydenham Hurdle Handicap. Perle de Leon then went off the scene for some months, but he has lately been racing very creditably in flat events, and that augurs well for his winter prospects.

Two years ago Gaze won the Century Hurdle Handicap -with great ease, and he was expected to go on to further important victories. Unfortunately he met with an accident while schooling at Ellerslie after that success, and his injuries kept him off the scene for about twelve months. On resuming racing Gaze took some time to show any form, but he won a flat handicap at Foxton a couple of months ago, and looks likely to come back to his best this winter. The racing he has been having on the flat should make him thoroughly seasoned, and when the important jumping events roll round the Gazelev gelding should again be in the limelight.

Racegoers have seen the last of Pilliewinkie. Last week he was sent to Sir Samuel Hordern’s Petwyn Yale Stud at Wingen, where he will spend the rest of his davs. Eight years old. Pilliewinkie won £l7 450 in stakes, of which £12,375 was for Sir Samuel Hordern. The gelding did his early racing in New Zealand, and after winning the Rosehill Cup in 1925 was purchased by his present owner for 2500 guineas. Pilliewinkie was one of the best stayers of recent years, his victories including the Australian Cup, with 9.6, Melbourne Stakes and C. B. Fisher Plate.

One of the outstanding features of the Australian' Jockey Club’s Easter racing at Randwick was Trivalve, and the question is now being asked, did the Melbourne Cup knock him out? It was difficult to And fault with Trivalve’s appearance when he ran in the Cumberland Stakes (writes “Pilot”). He looked better trained and more solid than when he won the A.J.C. Derby, but his galloping ability of the spring was missing. The track was in sufficiently good order on the third day to dispose of excuses on the score of heavy going, though, at the same time, a soft track will always bp against him. I particularly noticed that when he ran here in the autumn of last yeas. Trivalve is not the first Victorian Derby and Melbourne Cup winner that has been a failure in Sydney the subsequent autumn, a fact that will be remembered by R. Lewis. Patrobas won the 1915 Derby and Melbourne Cup. and also the 1916 V.R.C. St Leger. Lewis riding him in the last-mentioned two races. In the autumn' Patrobas won the V.R.C. St Leger and rah nowhere in the Australian .Cup. On coming to Sydney, Patrobas was unplaced in the Rosehill Rawson Stakes, was third of four runners in the A.J.C. St Leger, and missed a place in the Cumberland Stakes. Strangely enough. Artilleryman, another on whom Lewis won the Melbourne Cup and V.R.C. St Leger, also found the A.J.C. St Leger a stumblingf-block. Odds were laid on him, but he was beaten by Millieme. The moral of it all would appear to be that if any trainer has a three-year-old sufficiently strung up to win a Melbourne Cup, and races him again in Melbourne in the autumn, the strain of his earlier efforts is nearly sure to tell against him if, after that, he is also asked to race in Sydney. There are exceptions, of course, but I have mentioned three notable three-vear-olds in connection with whom this idea has worked out correctly. Of course it can be pointed out that Limerick raced in Sydney and Melbourne in the spring as a three-year-old, and then showed first-class form here in the autumn, but it must not be overlooked t£at the fact of not having to be ready to race at the end of February gave him a few more weeks’ easy time than three-year-olds prepared for the Victoria Racing Club’s autumn meeting.

TROTTING NOTES. Tamerlane. Mac Dillon, Jean M’Elwvn, Great Triumph, Mercury, Black Admiral, Mate o’ Mine, Transport, Fair Dillon, Exclusive. Horotane, Honour Bright, Pageant, Logan Park, Loiterer, Matagouri and Marlindo arrived from the north this morning, after racing at the Wellington Trotting Club’s meeting. The Oamaru Trotting Club’s winter meeting, which will be held on Saturday, May 19, has attracted a very large list of nominations, every event on the programme having filled well. As usual. Christchurch stables arc strongly represented. * * * * The five-vear-old mare, Nancv M’Kinney. by Nelson Bingen from Annie Bells M’ Kinney, will be offered at auction at. Tattersalls on May 12, to close a partnership. She has not done much racing, but she was a winner at Methven. * * * Blue Mountain King, the sire of Free Advice, raced under three names. In Australia he first performed as Maori King and later as Mountain King. When he was sent to the Dominion he was renamed Blue Mountain King.

Messrs M'Kendrick Bros., the owners of the smart three-year-old filly. Free Advice, sold her dam soon after Free Advice was born. Intaglio, the dam of Free Advice, was a sister to Onyx, but was not raced. Her first foal met with an injury and was not trained, while her second failed to show any speed. 'Free Advice is Intaglio’s third foal.

Some time ago there were many complaints regarding the exits from the motor enclosure at the Wellington Trotting Club’s' grounds after a race meeting. Early last season the congestion was very bad, but it was improved somewhat later and up till last Saturday it -was very good. Last week, however, the old trouble returned and innumerable cars were kept fully half an hour getting on to the road. The paddock is very badly situated, as it is away past the course and all cars have to meet the returning traffic on a very narrow road. If the club could arrange for cars to be parked somewhere about the mile post or the top of the straight, patrons would not mind walking there, if they could make a good getaway afterwards. The club is not altogether to blame, as the road is a very narrow one, but in view of the large increase in attendances at the meetings something will have to be done for its road patrons. If the trains had not been running it is hard to know* how long it would have taken the public to reach town by road.

A useful sort of pacer in Mona Logan competed at the Wellington Trotting Club’s meeting last week. She started in the Trial Handicap and was prominent for about six furlongs, when she stopped. In the mile harness race she was always going well and she finished in fourth place. She is a four-year-old by Logan Pointer from Queen Child and is trained by L. F. Berkett at Nelson.

Binscarth was well backed for the mile and a half race at Wellington last week. He raced so well in his last effort at Addington that the support was thoroughly justified. At no stage of the race did Binscarth show any speed and L. Frost, who drove him, stated that the somewhat heavy going stopped the pacer altogether. Binscarth was not started in the Palmer Handicap.

Fight Ever went a couple of good races at Wellington last week. The sting was out of the ground and this suited the Australian-bred pacer. Fight Ever looks as though he is coming back to his best form.

Trimmer is becoming a bad horse at the barrier. In the chief tw’o-mile event at Wellington last Saturday he was very fractious and finally failed to go away at barrier release.

AUCKLAND NOTES. (Special to the “Star”) AUCKLAND, April 30. Valkon was in both the principal handicaps at the Avondale meeting, and as proof of this the son of Valkyrian—Glacier scored a very impressive win in the Store}!’ Memorial Cup at Te Rapa on Saturday. Mr P. G. Harper’s gelding stripped well, and when backers got to w r ork they made him a £3OO better favourite than J. T. Jamieson’s bracket,; Eden Ilall and Le Choucas. E. Iveesing jumped the favourite out well and was never further back than third. For the greater part of the journey he was running second to Llandudno, on whom M’lnally was out in front, trying to win from end to end. Turning into the straight Llandudno was still going nicely in front, with a couple of lengths’ break, but then Keesing asked Valkon for an effort and in a few strides he was up with the leader. A furlong from home Valkon had the race won, but a fine finishing effort by Corinax compelled Keesing to hunt Valkon right out to get the stake. It was an impressive win, but he had to do his best to get the stake and the very fine gold cup for his owner. While High Pitch probably would have scored in the Puketaha HighWeight Handicap under any circumstances, the task was made easy for him through Day Guard failing to jump off with his usual brilliancy. Ridden by the apprentice, Brady, a 51b allowance was claimed, which meant that the Day Comet gelding carried 8.3, or only 31b above the minimum. Under the circumstances, Day Guard was in a good position to score and he ruled equal favourite with Mervette. However, instead of Day Guard being sighted out in front, as is characteristic of him, he dwelt slightly and when the field had gone a fttrlong he was a long way back. lie did not get in the picture till well into the straight, when he got a run on the fence, and just failed by half a length to reach Daylight, who was second. Better served at the start, Day Guard would certainly have been second and might have troubled the winner. High Pitch.

Backers of Respirator would be feeling anything but pleased just before the horses turned for home in the Linley Hack Handicap. The big Tea Tray gelding began well, but did not go out with the leading division, and racing across the top to the home turn, he was a good way back and on the outside of three horses. He had made a little progress at the straight, but still was lengths away. It was only then that Ludlow sat down and rode the favourite hard. Answering in good style, Respirator came along on the outside and gathering in the leaders he had the race won a dozen yards from the post. Then Ludlow ceased riding and finished up with only a neck to spare, but this could have been a length had Respirator been ridden out to the post. The victory was well received. as the popular Ellerslie trainer J. Buchanan has not had any luck for twelve months or thereabouts. No one can win if his horses are not good enough, no matter how well they may be presented. Ludlow later rode Kingfield in the President’s Handicap, and won rather comfortably, after being in the lead all the way. To the list of unlucky horses must be added Jolly Money in the Juvenile Handicap at Te Rapa on Saturday. The Paper Money—Jolie Fille colt was inclined to be on his toes in the pad--dock, but he gave no trouble at the start, lie was not prominent early, but showed a fine turn of speed, and, running past his field, he bowled into the straight, going easily, a couple of lengths in front. Suddenly he made across the course to the outside fence, and before Goldsbro could pull him together again the colt had lost many lengths and dropped out of the picture. When straightened up he got down to his galloping, to finish fourth. He should be a fine tliree-year-old next year. Had Corinax missed the bump he received just as the barrier rose, which caused him to stumble and lose a few lengths, it is likely he would have won the Storey Memorial Cup instead of being beaten a length by Valkon, although the latter was always travelling like a winner, in fact, a furlong from the finish he looked like scoring easily, but if the race could be run again Corinax. instead of being fourth fancy, would rule a short-priced favourite. The

son of Magpie was unlucky to get a bump just as the barrier rose, because it meant not only the loss of a few lengths, but Cammick had to hustle lim along to get a position. This he did, and at the end of a couple of furlongs he was sixth. A little later he was running along nicely fourth, and by the time the straight was reached he was third to Llandudno and Valkon. The last-named got first run in, and gained a couple of lengths, and a* furlong from the finish had a good start on Corinax and Llandudno. Then Cammick got to work in real earnest and Corinax. hard ridden, responded in fine style. He was a length behind Valkon at the judge, but had it not been for his bad luck at the barrier he would possibly have won. Corinax is going to win some, important handicaps.