NEXT AT TRENTHAM.

Star (Christchurch), Volume LXVI, Issue 20539, 14 February 1935, Page 12

NEXT AT TRENTHAM.

Several Changes Made in March Programme. An increase of £4O in stakes and several changes in conditions feature the programme for the Wellington Racing Club’s autumn meeting, to be held on March 16 and 18 next. The only stake that is less than last y'ear is that for the Champion Hack Cup, which will be £350 this year instead of £450 twelve months ago, when a specially donated £l5O trophy formed part of the prize. The specie portion, however, remains at £3OO, and the club has added a cup valued at £SO. The stakes for the Trial Handicap, St Leger Stakes and Hutt Handicap are up £4O, £SO and £SO respectively on last year, and no stake is now less than £2OO. In the first day conditions the only change is that the Tinakori Hack Handicap will now be run over seven furlongs instead of six furlongs, and a similar change has been made with the Belmont Hack Handicap on the second day. Only the open six furlong events and the two-year-old races will now be run on the straight tracks. Both high-weight events will now be run at the same distance, as the Ngaio High Weight on the second day has been extended from a mile to a mile and a quarter. The Hutt Handicap, the open mile on the second day, is without a minimum weight condition (last year the lowest weight was 8.0), and the event will be sixth race on the second day instead of last, the Belmont Flandicap, extended to seven furlongs, now becoming last event. Nominations do not close till March

GREAT BROOD MARE.

Seven Foals Sold for 39,600 Guineas. Considerable interest will be taken in the career this year in England of a two-year-old by Blandford out of the noted brood mare Waffles, who is by Buckwheat from the St Simon mare Lady Mischief. This youngster cost 6000 guineas at the Doncaster yearling sales in September.

Waffles was first mated with Great Sport, and the foal was the filly Bunworry, who won £823 in stakes before being exported to Italy, where she proved a success at the stud. Waffles next went to Phalaris and produced Manna. Mr H. E. Morris paid 6300 guineas for this horse as a yearling, and Manna won the Two Thousand Guineas, the Derby and £24,534 in stakes. The third mate of Waffles was Roi Herode, to whom she produced Chapatti. Sir Victor Sassoon paid 2300 guineas for Chapatti, who won £B9O in stakes. As a result of Manna’s successes, the Aga Khan had to go to 10,000 guineas to get the full brother, Parwiz. The colt did not earn his initial cost, but he did win £3897. and was then sold to go abroad. Waffles was then put to Sansovino. The result was Sandwich, for ■whom Lord Rosebery gave 3600 guineas. Sandwich won the St Leger and £17,019 in stakes. Miss Dorothy Paget was not so fortunate when she gave 6600 guineas for the next son of Waffles. This was Tuppence, by Spion Kop. His name was nearer his value than was his cost. The Aga Khan gave 4800 guineas for the seventh of the progenv of Waffles. This was Shami, a son of Sansovino, and he has done no good. To date, the progeny of Waffles have won nearly £48,000 in stakes. Fler last seven foals have realised an aggregate of 39,600 guineas when sold as yearlings, an average of 5657 guineas. The Blandford colt is the property of Lieutenant-Colonel Sir Wyndham Portal, who served with the Guards in the World War and won the D.S.O.

ENTERPRISE PAYS.

Pony Racing Flourishing in England. One of the outstanding features of English racing in the last few years has been the progress of Northolt Park, headquarters of the Pony Turf Club.’ This has been specially marked this year. Attendances during 1934 reached an aggregate of over 300.000. Northolt Park is being conducted on a most enterprising policy. Its appointments are excellent and what is certainly not always the case in England, the comfort of the public has been carefully studied and the crowd has a perfect view of the racing. It is stated that more than 95 per cent of the horses competing at Northolt Park during last year had already raced under Jockey Club rules. They were then handicapped by their lack of height. These horses have been augmented by the importation from France of a number of under-sized registered thoroughbreds; thus, large fields have been assured. The animals may be said to be competing in their proper class. It is recognised that to be able to win at Northolt denotes real racing ability. Close upon 700 thoroughbreds are in training at Northolt and adjacent centres. In the main these horses are in the ownership of sportsmen and sportswomen to whom the cost of racing is a serious consideration. Their enthusiasm, however, is tremendous. Minor Place Money. Over £35,000 has been distributed in | stakes this year. An unusual feature of racing under Pony Club Rules is the generous allowances for the owners of the second and third horses, and not infrequently the fourth has received an amount sufficient to cover the expenses of running at the meeting. Another inauguration which has attracted wide attention and appreciation was the institution of bonuses for the breeders of the chief winners. Commenting on the success attained, “London Sporting Life” states: — “ There is no question that pony racing has made the greatest possible progress. The class of racing provided has been higher than ever; attendances through the season have been on an increasing scale.”