Topics of the Turf

Star (Christchurch), Volume LXVI, Issue 20283, 18 April 1934, Page 9

Topics of the Turf

A. S/oTESAND NEWS FROM EVERYWHERC

for the Amberley Racing Club's meeting close at 8 p.m. on Friday at the C.J.C. offices. Nominations for the Great Northern Hurdle Race and Steeplechase, Cornwall, York and King George Handicaps and Winter Steeplechase, to be run at the Auckland winter meeting on June 2, 4 and 6, close at 5 p.m. on Friday. * * * * Nominations for the Southland winter meeting on May 11 and 12 close at 5 p.m. on Friday. * " * * a AMATEUR RIDER KILLED. The National Hunt Steeplechase at Cheltenham (England) on March 7 was marred by a fatal accident. Killadar, owned by Lady Harrington, fell at the first fence, and his amateur rider, Mr Heber-Percy, was killed instantly. lie broke his neck. Mr Heber-Percv, who was an officer in the Welsh Guards, was a brilliant rider to hounds. ENGLISH OWNER DEAD. Mr John Reid Walker, who died on March 6 at his heme at Albrighton. Salop, after a long illness, was a great supporter of English racing. He had a large measure of success as an owner. Among his notable performers were Dinna Forget, Dinneford, Mount Prospect, Square Matthew, Elizabetta. Tom Pepper, Inkerman and Invershin. All of these horses won important events, which included the Ascot Gold Cup (twice), Derby Cup, Chester Cup (twice), Liverpool Summer Cup ■(thrice), Liverpool Autumn Cup, Doncaster Stakes, Royal Hunt Cup (twice). Jockey Club Stakes, the Kempton Park Stakes. Many of his best horses were bred at his stud farms in Ireland and Shropshire. Mr John Reid Walker was elected a member of the English Jockey Club in 1920. His three brothers—Lord Wavertree, Sir Peter W alker, and Mr Barclay Walker were all stalwart supporters of racing. In his day Mr J. R. Walker was a good amateur rider. At the Barton Polo Club races at Lichfield in 1884, he rode six winners, and his brother, Lord vVavertree, rode the remaining two. FOUND NEW OWNER Diamond de Rouge, four-year-old chestnut gelding by Hunting Song from Perle de Rouge, was sold at auction in Sydney on April 9 for 110 guineas. He was taken to Sydney as a two-year-old by Mr H. J. Palmer, who won several races with him. Hi s new OJ sTw ) S W ‘ Williams > of Tamworth NEW ZEALAND’S SHARE During the four days of its autumn meeting at Randwick, the Australian Jockey Club distributed £27,460 in stakes Of this amount, Victorians K2- £42 u m ew Zealar »d owners ~0045, while £4OO went to Queensland. IN A DOUBLE ROLE. " ' J- Tomkins °n, assisted by his son, has gradually got together a large team of gallopers, who have been housed at Tom&inson's trotting establishment at Addington. AH have now however, been transferred to Riccarton where Tomkinson has leased the stables formerly occupied by G. J. Pine. The horses comprise Advance Camp, Arcade, Grecian Prince, Moonbeam, Emissary (by Legionnaire) and a three-year-old by Polazel from Precious. GAINE CARRINGTON Latest reports from Melbourne indicate that there is still a doubt as to whether Gaine Carrington will race again. His near foreleg was to have been fired recently, but as the veterinary surgeon doubted whether even that would enable the horse to stand another preparation, the operation was postponed. A consultation is to be held with another veterinary surgeon. A GENEROUS OWNER. Some months ago W. M’Gee, trainer of the Sydney Cup winner. Broad Arrow, leased the stables of J. Gainsford in Lower Randwick with the option of purchase. Mr C. J. Withycombe, owner of Broad Arrow, who races under the assumed name of “ M. Brook” (an abbreviation of Muswelibrook, where he was born), last week purchased the stables and presented them to W. M’Gee. MAY WIN TWO CUPS. Hall. Mark really looked better in the King s Cup than when he ran in the St Leger, but. with 51b in excess of weight-for-age, he was not good enough to make a bid for winning honours (says “Pilot”). His autumn failures may, however, to some extent, prove fortunate for his owner and trainer, as they may cause him to be weighted in a manner that will give him a good chance of winning one of the important handicaps of the spring. Archer is the only horse with two Melbourne Cups to his credit, but Lord Cardigan w_ent close, winning with 6.8 as a three-year-old and running second with 9.6 the following year. Sooner or later Flemington’s big race will again be won twice by the same horse, and there are greater improbabilities than that, in the Centenary Melbourne Cup, Hall Mark will accomplish that feat. AUSTRALIA’S COMEBACK. A significant point in connection with the improved, returns all round achieved by the Australian Jockey Club at its recent autumn meeting concerns the totalisator. Investments on the machine showed an increase of £22,593 10s, and to this total £20,773 was the contribution of the totalisator in the paddock. This result suggests that some of those patrons who during the worst of the depression deserted the paddock for the leger or flat are returning to the most' costly enclosure.

Vintage has been sent to the home of his owner, Mr D. W. Westenra, for a long spell. NEW ZEALAND-BRED. Two New Zealand-bred horses were successful at Moonee Valley on Tuesday of last week. The Trial Hurdle Race, tw T o miles and a furlong, was won by Spring Abbey, an aged gelding by Quin Abbey from Waiomi, and the Iligh-weight Handicap, seven furlongs, was won by the five-year-old gelding Beaconsfield (Diogenes Molly). Spring Abbey was a rank outsider, but Beaconsfield was favourite. A VETERAN NOW. Hopes of getting a race out of Hynanna are seemingly not yet abandoned. He appears among those nominated for Pahiatua. Hynanna will be eleven years old next foaling. His contemporaries and some-time opponents, Limerick and Commendation, have long since passed from the scene, but one of them in Seatown is still going. There were some great three-vears-olds about that year. * -Jfi * * In connection with the South Canterbury Jockey Club’s meeting next Saturday, the Railway Department will run a special passenger train, leaving Christchurch at 7.30 a.m. It will stop at intermediate stations and is due to arrive at Timaru at 11.10 a.m. The 8.35 a.m. Christchurch-Invercargill express will also stop to set down racegoers if required. A return train leaves Timaru at 5.54 p.m. and is due to arrive at Christchurch at 9.29 p.m. TEAM INCREASED. The Trentham trainer, J. M’Laughlin, who has had only Epigram to represent him this season, now has four other horses in his charge. One of this quartet is the Irish-bred Yutoi, a two-vear-old colt who belongs to a New Zealander now residing in England. The other three are by the Roi Herode horse Lackham. Two of these are yearlings, bred and are owned by Mr W. Higgins. A chestnut filly is out of the imported Argosy mare Joy Bird, winner of the Feilding Cup. A bay colt is out of Deborah, bv Martian. The remaining Lackham youngster is a three-year-old gelding from the All Red mare Redlogue. He was purchased bv M’Laughlin recently from W. Hawthorne. WAIMATE RIDERS. Riding engagements for Waimate to-morrow include: L. J. Ellis, Adult, Nightform and lan’s March; W. 11. J ones, Shamfight, A 1 Jolson and Star Raider, if he runs in the Waitangi Handicap; A. H. Eastwood, Cleaner and Red Dance; H. Mackinnon, Shatter and Eupator; D. O'Connor, Star Raider (High-Weight). * * * * Three yearling fillies, from Sir Charles Clifford’s Stony hurst Stud, have arrived at Riccarton, where Cutts Brothers will make an early start to break them in. They are a sister to Final Shot, by Winning Hit—Rivalry; sister to Fracas, by Winning HitScrimmage; and. half sister to Counterplay, by Day Comet—Counterscarp. RACING FIXTURES. April 19—Waimate R.C. April 19, 21—Whangarei R.C. April 21—Marton J.C. April 21—South Canterbury J.C. April 21. 23—Nelson J.C. April 27, 28—Pahiatua R.C. April 27. 28—Marlborough R.C. April 28—Amberley R.C. May 2. 3—Egmont R.C. .May 10, 12—Wanganui J.C. May 11. 12—Southland R.C. May 19—Ashburton C.R.C. May 19—Rangitikel R.C. May 19. 21—T e Kuiti R.C. May 26—South Canterbury J.C.