Topics of the Turf

Star (Christchurch), Volume XLIV, Issue 256, 28 October 1931, Page 10

Topics of the Turf

YO Motes and news from everywhere _ .. _r

QAPTAIN GIFT, who beat Quinopal well twice at Trentham, is engaged in the hurdle races at the C.J.C. Metropolitan meeting. PIIAR LAP SOLVES A PROBLEM. The Victorian racing authorities have been at much pains in recent times to find a way to limit fields. To Phar Lap appears to be the real solution. Two years ago, he was an acceptor for the Melbourne Cup, and the field numbered only fourteen, the smallest for the race since 1863. Again last year, tvhen Phar Lap was a runner —and incidentally the winner—the field numbered fifteen, the third smallest on record. This year Phar Lap is once more a final acceptor, and if all those left in go to the post the field will be the fourth smallest in the history of the race. * * * Hs There were 292 nominations for the 1931 Melbourne Cup and 276 of them have fallen by the wayside. With only sixteen final acceptors, it is rather remarkable to find that the first three home in 1930 and four of the first five are again eligible to run. These horses

FROM AWAPUNT. G. New expects to leave Awapuni for Riccarton in a few days with King .Colossus and the Australian-bred two-year-old Top Flier, by Top Gallant. King Colossus divided View Halloo and Golden Wings in the Avondale Guineas last month. Mrs A. M’Donald, also of Awapuni, will bring La Poupee, Chief Cook, the two-year-olds Inflation and La Moderne and, possibly, the hurdle racer King’s Counsel. There is evidently no certainty that Kahikatoa will fulfil his engagement in the New Zealand Cup as he has been nominated for two events to be run at Hawke’s Bay on November 7. TOTALISATOR TAXES. Taxes paid by the totalisator investor out of his dividend include 5 per cent deducted by the Government for a war tax, which was imposed in 1916 and which is still in force. Another tax is the 21 per cent deduction which came into force last year, -when impositions were placed on a number of other things coming under the category of luxuries. Dividends are not subject to unemployment tax before they are paid out to the investor, but it is necessary for totalisator winnings to be shown on returns of income that must be declared under the Unemployment Amendment Act. * h= * * Due here from Wellington to-morrow are Fiji, in charge of L. G. Morris, and Nightmare, in the care of J. T. Morris. Nightmare has won promotion from hack class. Fiji, who has scored three wins in as many starts this season, is engaged in the Derby and other events. He is by Nigger Minstrel from the New Zealand Oaks w’inner Isabel, by Hallowmas. ❖ * * * Concentrate will be the only New Zealand owned, trained, and bred representative in the Melbourne Cup, but Phar Lap, Second Wind, and Veilmond are other final acceptors who were bred in the Dominion. AT MOTUKARARA. Only fine weather should be needed to ensure the success of the Banks Peninsula Racing Club’s meeting at Motukarara on Saturday. The acceptances are large and include many candidates for Riccarton. The invitation extended by the club to RearAdmiral Blake and the officers of H.M.S. Diomede to be present has been accepted. A special train will leave Christchurch at 11.15 a.m. and on the return journey is due in the city at 7.1 p.m. Judged on their Trentham form, Joie de Val (Kilbroney—Miss de Val), In Vain (Weathervane—Miss Ellice) and Zeebrugge are likely winners in the near future. * * * * O. Cox, the Hawera trainer, will bring the hack sprinter Barbacan and the speedy two-year-old Merry Ruler to Riccarton for the C.J.C. metropolitan meeting. * * * * Caulfield Cup winners of the past have been owned in England and in India, but Denis Boy struck a new note. His owner and breeder Mr R. Wallace lives in Ireland. TOTE ON CAULFIELD CUP. The totalisator in Victoria is merely an alternative form of w’agering on a racecourse. The bookmakers still control the bulk of the betting there and will continue to do so as far as not only the big bettors, but the majority of the regular racing men are concerned. It is none the less interesting to note that on the first occasion in Melbourne in which machine-betting has been available for a really big race, it proved popular w T ith the general public. On the Caulfield Cup, the machine handled £8405 10s. The straight-out totalisator carried £3325 and the place-machine £SOBO 10s. This is a record for one race in Victoria, but it will not be for long with the Melbourne Cup due next week. * * * * P. T. Hogan with Golden King and E. J. Ellis with Gold Pit, Pakitere, and Quinopal passed through Christchurch yesterday homeward bound from Wellington. % H< H*. * M. M’Carten’s engagements at the V.R.C. spring meeting include Carry On (Melbourne Cup), Ammon Ra (Derby) and Baccha Sakao (Cantala Stakes). A. Reed will be on Concentrate in the Cup. UNIQUE RECORD. R. Lewis, when he takes the mount on Prince Dayton in the Melbourne Cup on Tuesday will be having his thirtyTourth ride in the race. He is fifty-two years of age and had his first Melbourne Cup ride on Onward unplaced in the 1895 race. Lew’is has ridden four winners (The Victory, Patrobas, Artilleryman, and Trivalve) of the race, been second four times and third once. * * * He An interesting point about the pedigree of the Caulfield Cup winner, Denis Boy, is that Winkipop, dam of his maternal grandsire, is a sister to Winkie, sire of Phar Lap’s dam.

• Esteem, a candidate for the New Zealand Derby, failed when a hot favourite for the Tararua Handicap at Trentham on Monday, but he is coming to Riccarton. He is owned by Mr W. H. Gaisford and is trained by F. Davis, of Woodville. FIXTURES. October 29, 31—Poverty Bay Turf Club. October 31—Banks Peninsula R.C. October 31—Carterton Racing Club. November 5, 7—Whangarei Racing Club. November 7—Hawke's Bay Jockey Club. November 7. 9. 11, 14—C.J.C.

and their weights are appended:— 1930. 1931. st lb st lb Phar Lap (1) .... 9 12 10 10 Second Wind (2) .. 8 12 9 5 Shadow King (3) .. 8 4 8 7 Veilmond (5) 7 7 8 13