RACING NOTES.

Star (Christchurch), Volume XLIV, Issue 193, 15 August 1931, Page 20

RACING NOTES.

The Grand National Hurdle winner, Callamart, was used as a hunter in Taranaki before he commenced racing as a five-year-old. Since then he has competed in forty-two races, of which he has won four, earning £lOls in stakes. * * * * Callamart, the winner of the Grand National Hurdles, was raised 161 b in the Sydenham Hurdles, but declined the engagement, as did Carinthia, Make Up, Antrim Boy, Lancer and Llyn Dhu, who were in the field that Callamart beat on Thursday. * * * * Aberfeldy caused some trouble at the start of the Jumpers’ Flat Handicap on Tuesday and the stipendiary stewards subsequently recommended that he should be placed on the schooling list. He is to go out for a six months’ spell and it would occasion no surprise if his racing career was nearly at an end. * * * * R. Beale deserves great credit for his handling of Thurina in the Hunt Cup on Thursday. In all his previous steeplechases Thurina had fallen, but on this occasion he got round without making a mistake, after being very capably ridden. Beale has only recently taken on the riding of jumpers and he shapes like being a great success in that department. * * * * Mr J. Bull, who has not been much in evidence as an owner lately, has placed the Nigger Minstrel—Trade Wind two-year-old Copper King in F. Davis’s care at Woodville, to be prepared for future engagements. 5(5 sfc * * Bonny Boy and Mountain Lava, two candidates for hunters’ events at the Pakuranga meeting, were schooled over the big fences on the fiat at Ellerslie a few mornings ago and both gave safe displays. So far little is known regarding their galloping ability, but they will probably be tried out before the meeting takes place. * * * * It is reported from Auckland that Bennie has been steadily improving in condition since he raced at the Tauitjarunui meeting and is now well for ward for early engagements. He shaped well in a work-out over six furlongs at Ellerslie during the week and proper ly placed should earn some stakemoney when the company is not too select. *** ' * At the present time Wild Country is one of the best-conditioned hacks in work at Ellerslie and she should have good prospects of winning further races. So far, the daughter of Antagonist and Country Picnic has won only one race but she has been in the money in her last six contests, and has never been better than at present. Wild Country is engaged in the Auckland Handicap at the Pakuranga meeting and if she goes to the post is sure to get solid support. * * * * At Woodville the speedy Golden VVings is putting plenty of dash into his work and is expected to be in the front rank of sprinters this season. During the winter months the Lackham gelding has built up into an attractive-looking three-year-old. Since racing at the Taumarunui meeting, Excella Tea has hardened up in condition and continues to show steady improvement in her work at Ellerslie. This filly has not had much racing, but she is a promising sort and when thoroughly seasoned should be capable of winning in hack company. She is a four-year-old sister to the Riccarton three-year-old Grecian Prince.

With three wins to his credit in the past season, besides several minor placings, Catoma won £690 in stake-money, but as the actual sum attached to his three successes amounts to only £490, he can still compete in hack company. Catoma is one of the most improved gallopers at Ellerslie and judged on the way he is shaping in his track work, it will not be long before he extends his winning record.

An Auckland report states that one of the most attractive of the two-year-olds in work at Ellerslie at present is the filly by Tea Tray from Taiamai, who was purchased at the yearling sales at Trentham last January by the Hon E. W. Alison for 100 guineas. She has not been in work more than a month, but she has settled down splendidly and should come to hand quickfy when she is ready to commence sprinting. She is a nice lengthy filly and an interesting fact about her is that she is the only one of Taiamai’s first six foals to resemble the dam in colour.

Diamalt, one of England’s speediest two-year-old fillies, and winner of the Queen Mary Stakes at Ascot, boasts an interesting history. Her dam, Zarate, died twelve davs after foaling the daughter of Diomedes, and she was brought up by hand on a malt preparation—hence her name. She is stated to be one of the most tractable and best-tempered juveniles in training. * * * *

The annual report of the Manawatu Racing Club expresses regret that the financial position is not so satisfactory as usual. “ The income and expenditure account includes the two days’ winter race meeting, conducted by the club in 1930, the figures, therefore, covering seven days’ racing this year, as against five days in previous years,” states the report. “ The decrease in all classes of revenue received by the club can be attributed to the unprecedented world-wide financial depression, from which our own country has not escaped. The totalisator turnover for the two days’ winter meeting, 1930, amounted to £25,692. The turnover for the summer meeting, 1930, and the autumn meeting, 1931, was £110,132, against £171,124 for these two meetings in the previous season, the decrease being £60,992, or approximately 35.6 per cent. The turnover for these two meetings is the lowest recorded since 1911. The income and expenditure account shows a loss on the year’s working of £1954 11s 9d, after writing-off the sum of £782 for depreciation.”

The Winter King, sire of the Grand Prix de Paris winner, Barneveldt, was bred by Lord Rosebery, and was by Son-in-Law out of the Derby and Oaks winner Signorinetta. For a long time The Winter King stood at The Durdans, at Epsom, but was sold at the December sales of 1929 to Mr Burn for 200 guineas and now stands at that owner’s Badersby Park Stud at a fee of 20 guineas.

Cypress, the brother to Cylinder, by Limond from Cymene, made a very favourable impression when he won his first race in Sydney, early this month. J. 11. Jefferd had galloped him well at Randwick before the race and had him .at the barrier three times. He was very green at the machine and also when working, while he bored out in the race. He should improve with experience and he is being discussed freely now as a Derby prospect.

Revenue fell short of expenditure by £26,367, according to the statement of accounts disclosed by the committee of the Australian Jockey Club in its annual report. The balance of £220,921 from previous years is brought into the surplus account, and to this sum is added a transfer of £BBI9 from the fidelity fund, for which no specific use was found. The year’s deficiency reduces the total surplus of £209,740 to £183.373, to be carried forward. There were fifteen days’ racing at Randwick, and the added money was £97,200, to which was added £20,302 in forfeits and sweepstakes, making a total of £117,502. The previous season the added money was £125,150, and the contributions by owners £22,007, making a total of £147,157. For the nine days’ racing at Warwick Farm the total prize money distributed was £23,265, compared with £24,534 the previous season, added money dropping from £19,650 to £18,550, and sweepstakes from £4884 to £4715. Thus the club distributed in prize money £140,767, compared with £171,691 the previous season. The amount passed through the totalisator at Randwick was £740,221 10s, and at Warwick Farm £81,337 ss, making a total of £821,55.8 15s, as against £1,040,939 for the previous year. The State received by way of revenue £73,940 6s lOd, in addition to which the State and Federal Governments received in respect of racecourses admission tax one-half of the fees paid to the club by bookmakers and entertainments tax, the sum of £54,809 15s 6d, making in all £128,750 2s 4d. The totalisator investments decreased by £219,380 5s for the year. However, since the introduction of the win and place totalisators at Randwick racecourse at the autumn meeting the investments at that course have improved.

The New Zealand-bred Waterline is one of the early short-priced candidates for the big spring handicaps at Randwick. Of him “ Pilot ”of the Sydney

“Referee” writes:—On form Waterline looked a good thing for the last Doncaster Handicap with 9.2, and Mr G. F. Wilson is evidently of opinion that if he had kept right he would have gone close to winning. He has given him 9.9 in the Epsom Handicap, while Casque d’Or, who ran third, has only gone up 71b. Another thing is that the handicapper now regards him as a better sprinter than stayer. In the Sydney Cup Waterline had 8.11, but though the Metropolitan is run at three furlongs shorter, he has gone up 21b less in that than in the Epsom. The probabilities are that the Metropolitan or Caulfield Cup will be chosen for him in preference to the Epsom, and in the Cantala he has 51b less than in the latter. At present he does not read like a good horse with which to commence an Epsom and Metropolitan double. TROTTING NOTES. Nominations for the New Brighton Trotting Club’s meeting, to be held on September 5, will close at noon on Thursday. * * sft * The Palmerston North mare, Native Star, who was making her first appearance at the meeting, trotted a fine race in the Addington Handicap, in which she finished second, but she had no chance with Sir Voyage. sft * sft * After putting up a good race in the mile saddle event, the Auckland-owned and trained pacer. Great Ballin, came out and finished second in the Federal Handicap. It looks as though the racing is doing the Aucklander a lot of good. * * * * Lifebuoy, who is usually very erratic in his gait, paced very solidly in the Islington Handicap and saw out the two miles better than was expected. He is one of the few representatives that the defunct sire, Harold Dillon, now has racing. 5f- 5fC 5fC sfc Steel All is now racing better than at any other time since his arrivel in the Dominion. He came with a fine dash in the last quarter of the Heathcote Handicap, and although he had no chance with the winner, he beat the rest of the field. *-* * * Roi l’Or went another sound race when he finished second to Harold Thorpe in the National Handicap. He occupied a similar position in the King George Handicap on the second day, when Glenrossie beat him. Roi l’Or is in his best form at present and if it is retained he seems certain to win a good race in the near future. * sf: * * Repute trotted very steadily in the Midwinter Handicap, after a smart beginning, but she did not put much dash into her work over the last furlong. H. Frost has persevered with the Great Audubon mare and has improved her speed, but she now seems to lack stamina and gameness. Her dam, Renown, was a very fine stayer, although somewhat erratic in. her gait *s+: sfs s*t Meteor finished second to Warplane in the Queen Mary Handicap, after having a poor run over the two miles. On the second day he was fourth in the Canterbury Handicap and he finished up on the last day by winning the Lightning Handicap, a mile event in saddle. The Southland pacer is a smart performer in saddle and has been racing well also in harness events. He is a much in-bred pacer, as his sire, Sungod, is by Harold Dillon, while His dam is by Adonis, a Harold Dillon horse.

Wild Voyage, who raced well in sprint events last season, got second to Meteor in the Lightning Handicap. The Ashburton mare gave promise early in her career of being a good stayer, but speed instead of stamina is now her forte. She may have been a little lucky in gaining second place in the Lightning Handicap, as Sunchild looked certain for that position close to the post, where he stumbled and settled his chance.

Ayrmont Chimes followed up his success of the first day by winning the Islington Handicap in convincing style He was not hurried over the first part oi the journey, but showing plenty of stamina, he came along at a fast rate in the last half-mile. Ayrmont Chimes

started last season with a couple of successes and later was twice placed in ten starts. He is a fine stayer and is now showing the form that was expected of him last season.

The well-known sire, John Dillon, will be offered at the National trotting stock sale, to be held in Tattersail’s on Monday, on behalf of Mr D. Rodgers, of Rangiora. This is a great opportunity for a man acquiring a horse of this class. The following wellknown performers will also be submitted: Logan Park, Morrison, Granite City, Rebel, and a number of promising young trotters and pacers by fashionably-bred sires, such as The Triumph, First Fashion, John Dillon, Guy Parrish, Harold Dillon, Logan Pointer, Matchlight and Wrack.

Belinda’s easy victory in the Belgium Handicap, on the second day, was responsible for her being a hot favourite for the Heathcote Handicap. She was slow to begin, but she is never fast away from the barrier. Before a mile was covered she was in front and her great stamina gave her an easy victory. Belinda is by Oinako and she has been out of commission more than once through slight ailments, but she is now at her best. She is one of the best stayers in commission and she has won her last three races.

Sir Voyage improved with his racing at the meeting. On the first day he could only finish third to Stanley T. and Quickfire, but he won the Avon Handicap on the second day while he had a very easy victory in the Addington Handicap. Sir Voyage has not been long in the Dominion, as he won his first race at the Waikato meeting in June. Later in the month he was successful at Ashburton, so that in his first five starts he has been four times first and once third. He is not a particularly fast beginner but he possesses great stamina and looks as though he will have further successes.

* * * * Glenrossie raced very consistently at the meeting. On the first day he was second to Regal Voyage in the August Handicap and on Wednesday he won the King George Handicap rather easily. He wound up the meeting among the sprinters, getting second place to Harold Logan in the Farewell Handicap. When Glenrossie last raced on the course he misbehaved at the start, failing to go away in any of his races, but at the meeting just concluded he began well on each occasion and proved himself to be a high-grade pacer, both in two mile events and over a sprint course.

After winning the Introductory Handicap on the first day and finishing second to Boneta in the Improvers’ Handicap, Gemlight gave further evidehce of his consistency by accounting for the Midwinter Handicap in fast time. He was on 36yds, but made a smart beginning, and was close to the leaders in the first half mile. He trotted very solidly in all his races and is back to the form he showed some time ago, when he trotted a very fast race at Ashburton. On his showing on the first tw’o days he should have been better backed. Gemlight started ten times last season without getting nto a place, but he has made an excellent beginning in the new season.

Milo Minto, who won the Federal Handicap, was second to Nelson de Oro in the Lincoln Handicap on Wednesday. He had a fair amount of luck in his last success, owing to a number in the race breaking and making his task easier. Milo Minto was bred in the Methven district and about two years ago he went into O. E. Hooper’s stable. Soon afterwards he contracted a serious illness and was not expected to race again. He gradually recovered and performed well last season, when he won five races and was placed in five others, winning £1483. He is a six-year-old by Oinako from Princess Minto and his sire’s progeny usually race well over a distance.

Harold Logan won the Farewell Handicap in hollow fashion. On the first day he started in the August Handicap but he was never prominent. On the second day he was fourth in the Speedway Handicap, of a mile and a quarter, finishing not far behind the leaders. In the National Handicap, of two miles, he came with a fine run in the final stages and got third. In the Farewell Handicap he had made up a lot of his handicap in the first hall mile and going down the back stretch put in fine run which carried him into fourth place a quarter of a mile from home. He paced on from there and won with ease. The two mile record holder is evidently in fine form and is racing much better in sprint events than he did formerly.

Harold Thorpe, who was not well backed in the National Handicap, was prominent throughout the race, and staying in fine style, he won decisively. He finished fourth in the King George Handicap on the second day. Since going into his present quarters Harold Thorpe has been a good stake earner. He possesses plenty of stamina, which is his greatest asset. He is by that once brilliant pacer Our Thorpe, from Play Soon, a mare by Harold Rothschild from Topsy, who has thoroughbred blood in her pedigree. Harold Thorpe was bred by Messrs Stevenson and M’Math in Southland and did his early racing there, afterwards going into M. B. Edwards’s stable. The Yaldhurst trainer, who drove him to victory, sold him to his present owner about two years ago. Harold Thorpe should have received more support, after his good showing in the King George Handicap.