Topic of the Turf

Star (Christchurch), Volume LXVI, Issue 20298, 7 May 1934, Page 10

Topic of the Turf

AND NEWS FROM EVERYWHERE

DOMINATIONS for all events at the “*■ Ashburton County Racing Club’s meeting on Saturday, May 19, close at eight o'clock this evening. * * * * Acceptances for the first day of the Te Ivuiti Racing Club’s meeting close at 5 p.m. on Frida}'. GANG AWRY IS RIGHT. Recently there was a supposed “ good thing ” in a race at Menangle Park, about forty miles from Sydney. The trouble about it was that there seemed no prospect-of obtaining a price about it. There were only five acceptors, and the “ good thing ” was no dark horse. It opened, in fact, at three to one on, but no stable support came for it, and the price eased to six to four on. It was subsequently learned that the stable had invested £6O on the horse away from the course at tote odds. To make doubly sure, they invested the sum of £3O on the other four candidates on the totalisator. Up to a point, the scheme worked well. When the tote closed, the “ good thing ” was paying five to two against. The only thing that did go wrong was. however, a serious defect. The “ good thing ” cut tip badly in running and failed to gain even a place. HOLIDAY DATES. If the idea of the Dunedin Jockey Club’s committee in regard to a redistribution of holiday dates amongst the various clubs could be carried into effect, it would prove a great boon to racing (remarks the “ Otago Daily Times.’* It would mean that clubs in the best position to cater on the most liberal and progressive lines would have a holiday date. At the present time some small clubs hold dates which cannot be used to the best advantage so far as racing is concerned, but it would be a hard fight to get the clubs concerned to consider the general welfare of the sport instead of the individual club. We have had the clash between the New Zealand Cup meeting and the Auckland spring meeting to show how a club considers itself and not the general welfare of owners and racing. Still, the D.J.C. committee idea is a step in the right direction, and should be strongly supported bv those who are out to promote the welfare of tbie sport. OTAGO RArTXG DATES. At the monthly meeting of the District Committee last week the following applications for dates next season were approved: Dunedin Jockey Club: October 4 and 6. December 26 and 27, February 14 and 16. June 1. 3 and 4. Oamaru Jockev Club: January 2, March 21 and 23. June 29. Kurow Jockey Club: September 29. Otago Hunt: September 1. Waikouaiti Racing Club: Tanuary l. Tapanui Racing Club: February 6. Vincent Jockey Club: January 12 and 14. Tuapeka County Jockey Club: April 20. Beaumont Racing Club: April 22. No application was received from the Cromwell Tockev Club. Waikouaiti’s application for'an extra day was recommended if a day is available. TE KUITI WEIGHTS. Make Up, 11-13, is top weight in the King Country Steeplechase, to be run at the Te Kuiti meeting at Te Rapa on May 19. Riccarton has two representatives in this event. Speakeasy was awarded 9.7 and Royal Limond 9.0. 3 n the Te Kuiti Hurdle Race. MakeUp is again the top-weight with 1110. Hounslow has 11.0 and Royal Limona 9.2.

BIGGER TUMPS WILL SUIT. Don Erma is a hunter who is showing very good form among fairly strong hurdling class. lie is a good jumper and has the pace, but he looks like being better placed among the crosscountry horses. * ❖ * * Count Lendorff created a favourable impression b} r his running the second day at Ilawera. lie apparently likes winter conditions, but he. too, may do better over the big fences. Being out of a Lupin mare is a lecommendation in that direction. EQUIPOISE AND PITAR LAP. By his success in the Dixie Handicap "at Baltimore on Saturday, Equipoise is creditad with passing Phar Lap on the world's winning list of racehorses and being second only to Sun Beau, another American. The total of Equipoise is now £66,592. According to American lists, Phar Lap won £66,450, but tht Australian authority, “ Miller’s Guide,” make the total of Phar Lap £66,738, which leaves him still ahead of Equipoise. Sun Beau, who won 33 of his 74 races, is generally credited with £75,348. Some lists, however, credit him with winning £7B,4SS. Equipoise is bv Pennant, son of Peter Pan (U.S.A.), from the English mare Royal Rose by Royal Hampton. NIGHT RAID’S WINNERS. Night Raid, as a sire, is having a good season, and his three-year-olds have advertised him well. Blixten, who is trained by G. Price for Messrs “ F. Smithden ” and “ G. Stanell,” was successful in the Denham Court Handicap at Warwick Farm on Saturday. THU RINA DOING WELL. Thurina is reported to be more forward now than he was at this time last season. As was the case last year, he is undergoing the preliminary stages of his preparation at Doyleston under the charge of his part-owner, Mr W. J. Doyle. Later he will again join the team of Mrs J. Campbell at Riccarton. SEARCH FOR BATTERY. A Press Association message from Melbourne states that when the horses were going to the barrier for the Encourage Handicap at Ascot on Saturday, the stipendiary stewards ordered the jockey of one l'Orse to dismount. They searched his clothing and made a thorough inspection of his whip, but nothing was discovered. The horse ran unplaced. COMTNG INTO TITS OWN. Esteem, who finished third in the Egmont hurdle races each day, is having his first season as a jumper. He is performing very creditably tinder difficulties, remarks the “ Dominion,” and it is no exaggeration to say that he should have won more than one hurdle race before now. Had he kept a straighter course either day at Ilawera he would have won, and at the last fence each day he gave away much more ground than the wanning margin. There is no need to extol Esteem’s breeding, seeing that he is by Pombal from Eulogy, the foundress of one of the greatest wanning families in the New Zealand stud book. There is a tendency to depreciate Esteem and call him unreliable, but when he meets with more luck than has lately come his way he will confound his detractors. GREYMOUTH RAGES, The programme for the Greymouth Jockey Club’s winter meeting, to be held on June 9, consists of five galloping and tw’o trotting events, the former comprising: Kaimata Hack Handicap, of 50 sovs, six furlongs and a half: Grandstand Handicap, of 80 sovs, ctie mile and a quarter: Flying Handicap, of 50 sovs, five furlongs and a half; Winter Hack Handicap, of 60 sovs, one mile: and Final Handicap, of 50 sovs, six furlongs and a half. Nominations for all events will close on Saturday, May 26. JOCKEY'S RECOVERY, Having received permission from his medical adviser to school horses over hurdles, the champion Australian crosscountry jockey R. Inkson, w T ho was seriously injured when Redditch fell with him at Flemington last August, was in charge of the gelding at Mentone in a school over hurdles on April 24. BIT OF THEIR OWN BACK. From time to time New Zealand sportsmen have had the opportunity of expatiating on the growing list of Dominion-bred winners of classic races in Australia, and the record certainly is an imposing one. Particularly in the last few years, however, the list of Commonwealth-bred winners of the Dominion’s juvenile classics has been growing, and is now of considerable length. Red Manfred is the last to subscribe his name, and he has the distinction of being the first Australian bred wdnner of the Great Northern St Leger and the third foreign horse to win both Derbies. The three-year-old record is as follow's:—New Zealand Dcrbv: Gloaming, by The Welkin, 1918; Black Ronald, by Magpie, 1923: Bronze Eagle, by Brazen. 1931. Great Northern Derby: Tim Whiffler, by Tim Whiffler (S.). 1881: Fitz-Hercules, by Yattendon, 1882; yelson, by King Cole. 1884: Sextant, by Robinson Crusoe, 1888: Gloaming, 1919: Bronze Eagle. 1932; Red Manfred, by Manfred. 1934. New Zealand Oaks: Punka, by Cooltrim, 1918; Korokio. by Redfern. 1931. Great Northern Oaks: Helen Portland, by Dorchester, 1907; Tressida, by Tressadv. 1917. Great Northern St Leger: Red Manfred. 1934 Wanganui Guineas: Achilles, bv Medallion, 1902: Ladv Medallist. 'bv St Alwyne. 1909: Gloaming. 1919:' Red Manfred, 1933. Avondale Guineas: Landslide, bv Kenilworth, 1920: Laughing Prince, by Quantock, 1927. H'r-rxr; F'XTI’IIKS. May 10, 12—Wanganui J.C. May 11. 12—Southland R.C. May ]<*—Ashburton C. R.C. May 10—Rangitikei R.C. May 10. 21—Te Kuiti R.C. May 20—South Canterbury J.C. .Tune 2. 4—Otnki-Maori R.C. June 2. 4. o—Dunedin J.C. June 2, 4. 6 Auckland R.C. June o—Grevmoutb Jockey Club June o—Foxton R.C. June 14. 10—Hawke's Rav J.C. June is— s. Canterbury J.C. .June 21. 2" Napier Park R.C. .June 2.°, Ashburton C.R.C. June JO—Oamaru J.C.