Topics of the Turf

Star (Christchurch), Volume LXVI, Issue 20577, 30 March 1935, Page 18

Topics of the Turf

A/SUVSFROM EVERYWHERE

for the C.J.C. Great Easter and Great Autumn Handicaps are due on Monday. * * * * Acceptances for the Waimate meeting close at 8 o’clock this evening. For the South Canterbury meeting acceptances will close at 8 p.m. on Tuesday. * * * * General entries for the Canterbury Jockey Club’s autumn meeting on April 22 and 23 close next Friday at 8 p.m. First forfeits for the C.J.C. Champagne Stakes and 43rd Challenge Stakes are due by the same hour. A.J.C. MEETING. First acceptances for the A.J.C. Doncaster Handicap and Sydney Cup and first payments for the A.J.C. Sires’ Produce Stakes, Champagne Stakes, Easter Stakes and St Leger are due before 4 p.m. on Tuesday. That is also the closing time for general entries for the A.J.C. autumn meeting. RICH SPECIAL EVENT. At its special Royal Jubilee meeting at Randwick on May 6, the Australian Jockey Club will run the Jubilee Cup, of £1750 and a gold cup valued at £IOO. The distance will be a mile and a half. The maximum weight will be 9st 71b and the minimum not less than 6st 101 b. Entries close at 4 p.m. on Tuesday. TURNER’S ENGAGEMENTS. H. Turner has been engaged to ride Grecian Prince in the Studholme High Weight Handicap at Waimate and Palmary in the Tekapo Hurdle race at Washdyke. ❖ ❖ * * Gay Grest is to fulfil his engagements at Waimate and Washdyke next week. He will be ridden by A. E. Ellis. CRANFORD LOOKS WELL. T. H. Gillett has Cranford looking very nice and this chestnut should on appearances get into the picture at Easter. On the outside of the course proper at Riccarton this morning, Cranford ran half a mile in 51 4-ssec. and did it comfortably. He has not raced since his unplaced effort at Ellerslie on January 2, but he will reappear at Washdyke next Saturday. HOLIDAYS OVER. C. Emerson has begun work again with the three-year-old Marcus Cicero and the two-vear-old Hine Ra. Each of these young horses has had a good spell and will necessarily require time to get into real racing trim. * * * V Gold Pit (Cockpit-Gold Bound) has been mated with Pink Coat. AUCKLAND TRIP LIKELY. - Variant survived the forfeit yesterday for the Great Northern Oaks and St Leger. P. V. Mason is likely to take both this filly and Hostis to Auckland at Easter and they ran a mile in lmin 4osec, going the reverse . way, on the outside of the course proper at Riccarton this morning. BIG ENTRY. Forty-one nominations have been received for the Champion Hack Cup at Riverton. The stake is £350 plus a sweepstake. * * $ The Wanganui Jockey Club has decided to apply for the dates May 9 and 11 for its winter meeting. OLD FIRM TO DISAPPEAR. Last year, the Sydney firm of William Inglis and Son absorbed its rival bloodstock firm of H. Chisholm and Company. In Melbourne, this month, MacKinnon and Cox, Pty., Ltd., bought the name and goodwill of their bloodstock rivals William C. Yuiile and Company. The latter firm was established in 1873. Next Wednesday. Yuiile and Company will hold the Melton Stud disposal sale and that will be their last sale. Mr William C. Yuiile, founder of the firm, and his son Archibald, were the founders of the Australian Stud Book. Mr Loddon Yuiile, a grandson of William Yuiile, is nowadays the Keeper of that Stud Book. N.Z. MARE’S SON. In January, 1928, Mr E. E. Jolly, of Adelaide, purchased a yearling filly by Absurd from the King Rufus mare Rose Queen for 1075 guineas. She was named Roseglow and raced a few times as a two and three-year-old, winning one race. On March 16 Mr Jolly won the Sires’ Produce Stakes at the Port Adelaide meeting with Beamish Bov, a colt by Windbag from Roseglow. Beamish Boy may be sent to Sydney to run in the A.J.C. Sires’ Produce Stakes. Roseglow, who was bred by Mr G. M. Currie, is a sister to Ruanui, Thespis and Palm Queen.

DEEDS OF SANS PEINE. The last race in which Sans Peine ran in England was the St Leger won by Hyperion. He was with Hyperion as they turned into the straight but weakened to finish seventh. Sans Peine was started in the Goodwood Cup to act as pacemaker for his stable mate Foxhunter. The latter broke down and Sans Peine won the race from Brown Jack, Ximenes and Brulette. At Ascot he won the King Edward VII. Stakes, 1J miles, and Felicitation was one of those he beat. Sans Peine, who was awarded equal top-weight (9.7) in the Sydney Cup to be run on Easter Monday, has been acquired as a stallion for the Elderslie Stud. HOME FROM INDIA. James Munro will reach Sydney on his return from India to-morrow and he proposes to resume riding in the New South Wales capital. WHENUAKURA TO REAPPEAR. Whenuakura was a brilliant two-year-old early last season, but he broke down and was in a bad way for a long time, he has made a good recovery, and he is to be tried again in a few weeks’ time. His wins as a two-year-old included the Avondale and Wellington Stakes, and he literally ran away with the latter event. IS RIDING WELL. The Auckland apprentice G. Cameron continues to ride in good form and he did well at Tauranga, where he rode three winners in four rides, his successful mounts being Keith Lu (2) and Scotland. Cameron has come to the fore rapidly in the past few months and his services are now in very keen demand. WASHDYKE TRAINS. The Railway Department will provide a good service in connection with the South Canterbury Jockey Club’s meeting next Saturday. A special train, taking passengers at specially reduced fares, will leave Christchurch at 7.20 a.m., Addington 7.34 a.m., Ashburton 9.37 a.m., arriving at the racecourse at 11.10 a.m. This train will also convey horses from Christchurch, Addington, Sockburn, Rakaia and Ashburton. The return train will leave Timaru at 5.45 p.m. and is due in Christchurch at 9.20 p.m. The 8.35 a.m. express train will also convey passengers from Christchurch at specially reduced fares and will stop at Washdyke to set down passengers, who will be able to connect with a race special for* die racecourse. TAIL SWISHERS. Count Ito, winner of the Newmarket Handicap, C. M. Lloyd Stakes and other races in Melbourne this autumn, is a confirmed tail-swisher. It is generally argued that when a horse commences to swish his tail when racing it is a sign that he has had enough or that he does not relish the task ahead. Neither applies to Count Ito, who has proved himself a real bulldog. Count Ito’s habit prompted inquiries in Melbourne as to other genuine performers who had the same trick, and quite a long list was evolved. Heroic (occasionally), Whittier, Coolstone, Quintus, Lochano, Emir, Valicare, Beppinson and Cadonia—all horses who paid their way well—were instanced. WOULDN’T PAY HERE. Although it is really “ buying ” money, it is remarkable the number of people who bet in a rather big way on supposed good things on the place machines at Melbourne meetings (says the Melbourne “Herald”). It is becoming increasingly popular, but on March 2 a backer found to his cost that the system is far from being infallible. In several bets he placed £l5O on Arachne for a place only in the Newmarket, and he left his money there. He had £IOO on Vintage (second) and a similar amount on Farndale (second), but was still a bad loser on the day. ENGLISH SIRES’ SUCCESS. Imported stallions in Australia hold such a commanding advantage through being installed in leading breeding establishments that it is only to be expected their progeny should stand out prominently in regard to number of successes. This was pointedly illustrated at the recent autumn meeting of the Victoria Racing Club at Flemington. Of the nineteen races decided, the progeny of imported sires won fifteen, while the progeny of colonialbred sires, apart from winning the remaining four races, gained only four placings. As a rule colonial-bred sires are represented in the jumping events, but in the three hurdle races at the recent meeting all the places were filled by horses sired by imported stallions.

RACE WORTH £25,400.

Azucar’s Success in California. Fifty thousand spectators saw the Irish-bred Azucaf win the Santa Anita Handicap at Santa Anita Park, at Arcadia, California, on February 23. lie covered the mile and a quarter in 2min 2 l-ssec, a track record. The race was worth 127,000 dollars (£25.400). This has been surpassed in America only by the 1929 Futurity at Belmont Park. The value of that race was 130,260 dollars (£26,052). However Azucar’s share of the stake, viz 109,500 dollars (£21,900), is a record for America. Equipoise played up at tho post and got away poorly. He finished seventh, just behind Mate, but three places ahead of Twenty Grand. Ted (’lark, who acted as pacemaker, ran the first two furlongs in 0.22 3-ssec, and the first mile in lmin 36 4-ssec. The totalisator (pari-mutene) aggregate for the day’s racing was 750,000 dollars (£150,000). Young Trainer’s Success. Azucar was smartly ridden by George Woolf and had been brought up to race in fine condition by his young trainer. Lex Wilson, a Canadian from Tecumseh, Essex County, Canada, who had ridden twice in the Grand National Steeplechase at Aintree and had been training thoroughbreds for only two years. Did Not Like Fuss. Azucar did not relish the role of the winner. After he was brought back to the winner’s circle to receive the floral horseshoe from Miss Anita Baldwin, daughter of the great horse breeder who owned four American Derby winners in the ’9o’s, all buried on a hill overlooking the course, he became excited. He dragged one of the stable boys holding his bridle

CLASSIC RACES.

Horses Left in Auckland Events. Per Press Association. AUCKLAND, March 29. After declaration of forfeits for classic races at the Auckland Racing Club’s autumn meeting, the following

1 twenty yards before he broke clear and I raced down the track. S Starting Incident. Norman Ulm, a prospector of the environs of Old Baldy, threw a monkey wrench into the machinery in the first f race. lie was so interested in the pro- . ceedings that he ran out on the track I at the head of the stretch and was ' knocked for a row of loops by War Over, which everybody thought was finishing the second race. 1 Ulm was removed to a hospital suffer- , ing from a wrenched back and facial f abrasions. Anton Pendergrass, jockey. 2 was unseated and badly shaken up.

TURF “CHARACTER.”

Man Who Was Wilier Than Many Bookmakers. If adventure is to the adventurous. Arthur “ Cock ” O’Halloran, who died in Melbourne recently, must have been doubly blessed with the trait, reports an Australian journal. Few ventured into so many and varied propositions as he did. A rough product of the racecourse, and with no trail of learning behind him, he nevertheless was instinctively a keen student of psychology. He could lure a bookmaker up a tree if he wasn’t careful. Beginning as a battling bookmaker himself, in West Australia’s early goldfield days, he acquired the wherewithal to venture into other avenues, and became a very rich man. It was then he began wresting big wagers from the other bookies by waiting for the tempting tit-bits of the racing game. The ramps and rascality of the early boom days in West Australia taught all there was to be learnt of racing. Later he travelled to Burmah. and then on to ; Calcutta. There the Royal Calcutta ! Turf Club employed only six books in competition against the tote. Arthur : Ollalloran shrewdly pulled the right I strings and became one of the chosen. Money proved easy under this limited competition. Books could lay even money each of two, and 6 to 4 a third - and, of course, he and his colleagues ’ became rich. t He often told that queer things happened there to stop a favourite, but : much as he knew about these tricks, he learned one new one. A man once r offered to stand at the top of the 5 straight and shoot for him every favourite that looked like winning. All he - wanted was a tenner for each! 1 Shrewd Tactics. It was the custom to await the advent of an obvious good thing, such as

Chatham in a sprint weight-for-age. Peter Pan in a long event, or Phar Lap j for the Derby. He knew that the j course price would at best be six to j four on. Sitting round the sporting centres days before the race, he would lead the conversation round to the subject of Saturday’s contest; and invariably some venturesome bookie would offer a set price on the spot. If he offered to take six to four, “ Cock ” would announce his readiness to accept even money. There would be a deadlock, but suddenlv “ Cock ” would pull out a roll of £SOO. throw it on the table, and dramatically declare that he would take an even £SOO for spot cash. Some bookmaker would succumb to the sight of so much ready money, and the bet would be made. “ The Jews always fell for it” was Mr O’Halloran’s comment. “They couldn't resist the pleasure of holding my money for two days free of interest, and they always bet me.” lie was a confirmed globe-trotter who knew the great capitals of the world and their bidden paths. Generous to the needy, he made a weekly tour of the poor districts of Melbourne to distribute largesse. He loved to extract from a bookmaker a point over the odds, but he would often pass on the profit to genuine cases of hardship. RACING FIXTURES. April 4—Waimate R.C. April 4, 6—Dargaville R.C. April 6—South Canterbury J.C. April 9, 10—Pahiatua R.C. April 11, 13—Whangarei R.C. April 13—Taranaki T.C. April 13—Otaut.au R.C. April 13. 15—Westport J.C. TROTTING FIXTURES, March 30, April 3—Mauawatu T.C April I—Waimate R.C. April 4, 6—Thames T.C. April 5, 6—Greymoutn T.C. April 6—Wanganui TO. April 6—South Canterbury J.C. April 13—Ashburton T.C. April 13—Wanganui r O. April 13. 15—Westport J C.

ENGLISH CLASSICS.

Plans For Aga Khan’s Strong String. (Special to the "Star.") LONDON, February 28. At last preparations for the new flat-racing season aro being made. So far as the classic events are concerned. 1 interest is focused in the Aga Khan’s • horses, and I understand that one interesting decision has already been ■ reached. It is still impossible to say which is the best of the powerful string, and Bahrain. Ilairan, Theft, ! Vermeil II and Hindoo Holiday have 1 all been entered for the Two Thousand Guineas, but it has been arranged to l train Theft specially for the race. This is presumably because the colt’s • stamina is in question. It is further presumed that the preparation of Bahrain and Ilairan will be timed -for ' the Derby. 1 Unless the season has a surprise in ’ store, it seems as though only Lord ‘ Darby’s Bobsleigh will be a serious challenger to the Aga Khan’s horses. 2 pleasing that the colt is making excel--2 cent progress. Entrants for the chief handicaps are now being announced. After the fine array of talent for the Lincolnshire, it is disappointing that there should be no more then twenty-nine nominations for the City and Suburban. It is a prize of £2OOO, and is a very popular event. The Kempton Park Jubilee ha% been much better supported. Chief of those in the list is Easton, and I imagine that he may compete, on the ground that a win would substantially increase his stud value. But the main objective of Lord Woolavington’s horse is sure to be the Coronation Cup, in which there is the fascinating possibil ity of his again meeting Windsor Lad as well as Umidwar. On his back-end form, the latter was perhaps the best horse of last season.

ACCEPTANCES. *

Thames Trotting Club’s Meeting. Per Press Association. AUCKLAND. March 29. Following are acceptances for the first day of the Thames Trotting Club * meeting:— PURIRI HANDICAP, of 70 sovs; class 3.5: one mile and a quarter—Charters Bay scr. Cherrill scr. Dark Shadow scr. Derby Fame scr. Gloster scr. Kewpie’s Crest scr, Muriel Bond scr. Red Frontier scr, Ranfurly Lass scr. Roma Ctrl scr. Superfine scr. Tinokaha scr. Worthy Roy scr. Shining Metal 24yds. Olax 36vds. Star Pronto 48yds. TOTARA HANDICAP, of 85 sovs; class 3.36: one mile and a half—Min Bells scr. Star Pronto scr. Tryment scr, Winawav scr, Peter Junior 12yds, Bonnie Direct 24yds. Silver Watch 24yds. PAR A WAT HANDICAP, of <0 sovs; class 3.49; one mile and a half—Corona Belle scr. Happy Thought scr. Loyola scr. Nelson’s Glory scr, Peggy Bond scr, Scotch Reel scr. Sophy Bingen scr, Waskasu scr. Worthy Nor scr, Younr R©dnev 36vds. Mute 120yds. THAMES CUP, of 175 sovs; class 4.34; two miles—Jackie Thorpe scr, Manro scr. Nelson de Oro scr, Francis Lincoln 12yds, Nimbus 12yds, Prince Pedro 12vds. Pukemiro 24yds. PRESIDENT’S HANDICAP. of *© sovs: class 3.42; one mile and a halfHappy Thought, scr. Manna’s Son -4yd*. Gala Dav 36yds. Mute 36yds. KEREFEEHI HANDICAP, of 85 sovs; class 3.34; one mile and a half—Bonnie Direet scr, Gold Dredge scr. Silver Watch scr, Min Bells scr, Mazda 12yd*. King’s Warrior 24yds, Luminate 24vds. KOPU HANDICAP, of 100 sovs; class 2.47; nn2 mile and a quarter—Binge* Chief scr, Francis Lincoln scr, Horn#* ward scr, Jackie Thorpe scr. Lady < orI onado s<-r. Nelson de Oro scr. Puketnir* scr. War Taint scr. Prince Pedro 12yda. Kewpie’s Guy 24yds, Nimbus 24yda.

GREAT NORTHERN OAKS, o sovs. One mile and a half. 400 Namakia S 10 S iron a I ill Superior S 10 Li null us I IS GREAT NORTHERN CHAMPAGNE Gay Sheik' Money^Spi^ S 10 H Luce S 10 S 10 Tonnerre S 10 Plato S 10 I>u Barry s s 1 'Landing S 10 GREAT NORTHERN ST T-KGER STAKES, of 4 50 sovs. One mile and Em issary S 10Sir Abb S 10 Sporting Blood Standard S_ 10 Gay Blonde S/S Kelly _ S 10 Sirona i i Nun Nicer S 10