Racing and Trotting.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18889, 12 October 1929, Page 12

Racing and Trotting.

(BY “

ARGUS.")

RACING NOTES. The opinion is offered in the North Island that Star Stranger will be a very fit horse for engagements at Riccarton next month. * * * * It was intended to race Historic at the Wellington Racing Club’s meeting, but his nomination was missed through an oversight and he will not have another race until he lines up in the New Zealand Cup, unless he is sent to one of the small meetings, where he would receive a crushing weight. He is well seasoned, so the lack of another race may not affect him. * * * * Reports from Awapuni state that Commendation is training on well and the opinion is offered that he will make a bold bid to come back. He is fully engaged at Trentham and Riccarton. * * ♦ * Pacjdon is engaged at Trentharp, but i he will not be a runner unless the tracks • become soft. * * * * Chrysology and Cylinder are twoyear olds from powerful North Island stables that have so far failed to justify the high opinions held of them by their connections. Both are improving, however, and later in the season will be disputing high honours. * * * * It is reported that Mr V. Riqdiford’s two-year-olds Lineage and Appeal went shin sore in Auckland, which accounts for their poor showing in the Welcofne Stakes. * * * * Piuthair ran disappointingly at Ellerslie, although she did not perform badly in the Mitchelson Cup. R. Hatch was not quite satisfied with her condition on Monday, and his judgment was confirmed by her running. the mare was not suited by the Ellerslie track, for she failed there during the season when she was carrying all before her, and freshened up she may soon be prominent once more. * * * * While Nightmarch and Pliar Lap have been bringing their once despised sire Nightraid well into the limelight, Chief Ruler’s sons and daughters have done well for him during the past month in New Zealand. Eaglet, with her five wins in succession, has been a great advertisement for Mr John Donald’s sire, while Royal fouler (Auckland Welcome Stakes and Avondale Nursery Handicap) and Chief Link (Musket Stakes and second in Welcome Stakes) have played their parts well in the four of the two-year-old races to date. Watch Officer, who was credited with a minor place at Avondale, and Princess Betty, who scored at Napier Park, are al so both by Chief Ruler. Thus of the six two-year-old races in the North Island to date, four have been won by Chief Ruler’s stock, the other two going to Simba, by Psychology. Eaglet has carried off the three three-yearroid races, at Wanganui, Avondale, and Ellerslie, and handicap winners are Zarene and Eaglet. It is a fine record for the Westmere sire. * * * * The first crop of foals by Grand Knight are now arriving, and among Mr John Donald's mares to drop colts to the imported son of the English Derby winner. Grand Parade, White Tulip, an English mare by White Magic, and Rapture. Among the early foals by Chief .Ruler is a brother to Oil King and a sister to Tenterden, the l3oogns colt at last year’s National sales. Sprig of Erin has a filly foal. Merry Twinkle, an imported mare by Blink has a colt, and Podokes has foaled a full-sister to Polyxena. Mr Donald’s own mares have so far dropped him a very high percentage of colts. Amongst these is a very attractive chestnut out of a young Comedy King mare Mr Donald P ur ' chased in Australia. Hyades, dam of Prodice, on a visit to Chief Ruler, has dropped a filly foal to the service of Limond. Mr Donald announced recently that Diacquenod, whose first 'colt to face the starter is the youngster recently designated as Hard Words, is fully booked for the present season. Captain Bunsby, the latest importation to Westmere, and who is tp join Chief Ruler, Diacquenod, and Grand Knight at the stud next year, is reported to be furnishing splendidly, in fact Mr Donald is delighted with the way the threequarter brother to the English Derby winner, Coronach, has developed since reaching Westmere. * * * • Looking back at the race for the Great Northern Guineas, the form is hall-marked as of the highest class, writes “ Vedette.” Pink Coat undoubtedly should have won. A. E. Ellis, his rider, said that the colt pulled very hard with him, and Leader really cost him the race. He could not get Pink Coat back behind Leader, and the result was that the southerner wanted to race Leader all the way. This was of decided advantage to Goldfinch and Eaglet, for that combinatjpn “ had the drop ” on the opposition,. The feature of the race was the courageous manner in which Pink Coat finished, and he went down with flying colours. There is no wish to detract from Eaglet’s effort, for she cast the mile behind in record time for the race, Imin 38 3-ssec, against the fmin 38 4-ssec of Thespian, but the remodelled course at Ellerslie now is faster than it was in Thespian’s year. Hunting Cry ran a much better race in the Guineas than most people realised, and he confirmed it by beating a good handicap field on the second day. He had a bad run early in the Guineas, and was checked at the critical moment, when Eaglet went up to challenge Pink Coat. When Keesing realised that the chase was hopeless, he did not knock Hunting Cry about unduly, and took a moderate third place Ridden right out. Hunting Cry could have been much closer. The manner in which he stalled off Vertigern at the end of a mile and a quarter on Monday showed that Hunting Cry will be a good middle distance performer later on. Although lightly built, he appears to be able to carrv weight in his own category, but in the best class among all ages a bit of avoirdupois may find him out. Hunting Cry is not in the Derby, but Pink Coat and Eaglet are both engaged, and look worthy opponents of Honour, who followed Phar Lap and Carradale home at Randwick.

The Bezonian mare Satisfaction has a very creditable record at the stud. The four oldest of her progeny are Receipt, Battle Colours, Pull Flight and Satisfy, and they are all winners, the latest to appear being the two-year-old filly Satisfy, who captured the M’Lean Stakes oo Thursday. A 3'earling colt, a brother to Satisfy, is also owned by the Riccarton trainer, D. Campbell. who has found the family very profitable. C. Emerson scored his seventh success in the M'Lean Stakes when he won on Satisfy this week. His pre vious victories were gained on Nones, Meteorite, Top Score, Count Cavoui, Childsplay and Aspiring. He has won the race the last three years in srn. cession. F. E. Jones also piloted three winners of this race op end, his mounts being Countermine, Masterpiece and Autumnus, all owned by Sir George Clifford. * * * * The Riccarton trainer, D. Campbell must be congratulated on his success with Satisfy in the M’Lean Stakea. Though he has done well with older horses he has not had much experience in the preparation of two-year-olds, but he turned Satisfy out in excellent con dition. Incidentally this was the first time he had turned out a classic winner, _ and he derived the double satisfaction of being the owner as well as the trainer. * * * * Beau Geste has gone sore, and F. p. Claridge has eased ffim off in his work. This accounts for his being allowed to drop put of the New Zealand Cup, a race in which he finished fourth last year. * * * * The two-year-old colt, King Musket by Shambles from Hornbeam, has been in work for some time, and he has shown good form in his training. He is a big fellow who looks as if he would be benefited by time, and it was decided to reserve him for autumn engage ments, but it is possible this programme may be varied. He was left in the Wellesley Stakes through an oversight, and he may be allowed to take his chance in the Trentham race prior to being eased up.

“ The weight-for-age limits imposed on the New Zealand Cup Handicap has made Mr Henrys’s task of‘ rehandicapping winners a rather delicate one. He has now raised Historic a stone for his wins at Avondale and Ellerslie, and although this is going to the limit of weight-for-age, he could hardly hav* done less,” says a northern writer. “ At the same time this limitation is made to look lopsided by the performances of. Nightmarch in Australia The Nightraid colt got his 21b up to weight-for-age early in the month, whei he wop the Spring Handicap at Tat tersali's Randwick meeting, and despite his better form in the Epsom and Metropolitan he can get no more weight at Riccarton. The fact that he is not likely to start iq the New Zea land Cup does not alter the position that the weight-for-age limit i« this big handicap is not justified*''

The 1929 fiat racing season has been marked by the success of Irish-bred horses, and, in consequence, there is a boom in yearling and older horses who have come from the many studs in Ireland, says a London writer. Prices for yearlings at a recent Dublin sale eclipsed any previously paid in that city. The tendency for Ireland to take command of the thoroughbred industry may be traced to the presence of the leading sires there, and alsb to wonderful limestone country on which the foals are reared- The success of Irishbred horses in England has not been suddenly gained. Year by year their victories have been increasing; 1929 merely marks the culminating triumphs. In the opening week of the season, Ireland could claim to have bred the winners of the Lincolnshire Handicap and the Grand National with Elton and Gregalach respectively. That first rush of success was maintained by the wins of Trigo, Mr Jinks, Ashford, Parwiz, Kopi, Royal Minstrel, Brown Jack, Old Orkney and Fleeting Memory, among many others. The horses named include the winners of the most important races. They have left merely the pickings to horses bred in England. The sires most talked about at present e Tetratema, Blandford and Stratford. All are located in Ireland. Yet it is strange that the Irish yearlings which brought more than five figures at Doncaster last September have been, with one exception, Utter failures. Mr Esmond Harmsworth has not even a start a Gay Crusader filly for which he paid 13,000 gs: Lord Beaverbrook has given up hope of getting back a small proportion of the 9000 gs he paid for a Gay Crusader colt. Lord Woolavington, Sir Richard Garton, Major Courtauld and Mrs Whitburn are others with expensive Irish yearlings which have so far proved failures.

TROTTING NOTES. Nominations for the Greymouth Trotting Club’s spring meeting close on Monday. * * * * The training and race track at Addington has been in splendid order of late and a lot of useful work has been done there. There are a large number of horses trained at headquarters. * * * * Royal Comrade, who won so decisively at Methven last week, looks none the worse for his racing there He has improved a good deal both in speed and stamina and should be a good stake earner this season for D. Bennett. * * * * Prince Pointer is going on capitally in his cup preparation. He has never looked better than at present and although not asked to go at his best speed, gets through his work as though he likes it. He is still on the big side and will require to do a lot more work before he is ready for two miles. In the meantime he is greatly pleasing his trainer by his training work. * * * * Linkman has a capital stable mate in Vesuvius to work with for his Cup preparation. The Cup horse is usually driven by his owner, whilst A. Cox is behind Vesuvius. Although Vesuvius’s hoof is not yet right it is gradually growing down and improving The pair are worked over various distances up to a mile and a half and as they are rarely sent at top always finish together. The Cup horse would probabjy beat Vesuvius over two miles, but he would be kept busy up to a mile and Q- half. Linkman seems to take a lot of work, and the more he gets the better he geems to go. He has quickly reached th best class, but it is doubtful if he is at the limit of his power, lie will be a d an g«rous horse in the big November race.

Kiowa was well backed at the last New Brighton meeting when he tailed to go away at the start. He put up a creditable performance last .■ ./** Methven when he finished third in the Cup to Lady Cello and Avenger. The Brent Locanda pacer, however, was stopping badly at the finish. Kiowa is very well at present and he may be seen to better advantage over a mile and a half journey. He is trained by J. M’Kendry at Addington. * * * * , ~ Royal Silk continues to please by the way he is working. The three-year-old won decisively at Geraldine and he looks like making a fine pacer over a journey. His sire Silk Thread is a fine stayer. *** * . Kreisler continues to train on satisfactorily. He has improved in his manners at the barrier and is racing more generously. At the last meeting at Addington he was responsible for a couple of good performances without winning, but the racing should do him a lot of * Trimmer is doing plenty of useful work in training. Some day this brilliant track worker may make up his mind to produce his best in a race when he will be hard to beat over any distance. R. J. Marshall has the pacer Re) Child going well in his work. Rey Child has had a good spell and should be a useful performer this season. * * * * Cqrfew Boy looked to have an excel lent chance in the Methven Cup last week, especially in the last quarter of a mile as he was going well within hinp self in a good position. About a furlong from the post for some reason he broke badly and finished a long way back. Curfew Boy has a good deal of speed and is also a capital stayer. He usually paces-very solidly in his races, so that it is possible the mistake he made may have been caused through the track. He can be ticked off Q& an early winner in a two-mile race, in # * * There was some useful work done at Addington this morning, although few of those worked were sent at their best * * * * Jolly Pet, who seems to be settling down to steady work, did about a mile and a quarter, the last quarter at a good speed. Dice and Royal Silk went nearly a mile and a half. The first part was at a medium speed, but the pair came up the straight at top speed, both pacing well. * * St * Locanda Boy, who did not seem to like the solid track, was worked by himself over about a mile and a half 4e * 4s 4= Young Blake went nearly two miles, but the trotter, who has not long resumed work, was not extended at any stage of the work-out. s#s * * Hinkler went away about two lengths in front of Wilma Dillon, witfi Prince Pointer about six lengths further back. The trio were worked right handed, and at the back of the course they were close together. Their journey was a mile and a quarter, and they turned on more speed over the last quarter of a mile. The three pacers all look well. » * * * Logan Brae commenced about four lengths in front of Country King in a work-out of nearly a mile and a half The first half of the journey was slow, but once in the straight Country King was moved along and finished levei with his companion. * * * * Zenith, w’ho looks particularly well, went a mile and a half, pacing with plenty of freedom all the way. He was not asked to do his best. * * * * The Nelson Bingen gelding Qreat Scott will take a better mark than the one he recorded at Kurow last week. He is only a four-year-old, and he takes the eye as one who will be weK served by time. * * * Tiny Bingen, who gathered a win and a second at Kurow, is a five-yeai old mare by Nelson Bingen from Gardenia, the dam of that useful trotter, Hawkesbury’s Pride. She left the impression that she might win in a better class field. * * * Sunspot was the unlucky horse in the event at the Birchwood Hunt Club’s meeting, and if he had gone away right he would have given the winner trouble to beat him. Once he got into his full stride he showed pace, which should land him a winner at one of the minor meetings.

A youngster by Wrack from a Prince Imperial mare arrived in Dunedin from the north last week, and is at present in W. Allan’s stable, at St Hilda

The Oinako Onoto, is now being trained by J. M’Lenpan who may get him to do his best in a race. He has a useful turn of speed-

Erin’s Fortune paced a nice even race to win at the Birchwood Hunt Club meeting, and added to the Impression she created in some of her races last season. If all that her supporters claim for her is true, she has shown gome very fast clips in her work. NAPIER NOTES. (Special to the “ Star ”) NAPIER, October 12. Mesvsrs P. P. Wall and H. R. Peacock have recently had erected near the Waipukurau racecourse a very up-to-date range of stables fcavjng six loose- 1 boxes. J. Hockley will act as private trainer to the two sportsmen named, and will take over their teams after the Waipawa meeting on Labour Day The Waipukurau course is a splendid one, and should prove excellent for training purposes. A two-year-old by Lackham—Ostend. owned by W Henderson, of Waipukyrau, is being trained on the course. The trainer, W. M’Kinnon, will leave for Trentham next week with Toxeuma and King’s Jest. Toxeuma is galloping in improved style, having apparently benefited by his gallops at Hastings and Napier Park, and he should be nearly at his best by the time the Trentham mooting comes round. The two-year-old Henry of Navarre by Arausio—Matty, knocked himseli the other day, and had to be eased in his work for a few days. It is understood that the Napier Park Racing Club's spring meeting^ resulted iq a profit being made. The Pabiatua Racing Club has appointed Mr Conner, of Woodville, as starter for its annual race meetings. Admiral Drake is going on the right way at Hastings, but, though a fair three-year-old, it is evident that he is not quite as good as at one time he was onsidered to be. (CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE.)