TURF NEWS AND NOTES

Wairarapa Times-Age, 5 September 1939, Page 9

TURF NEWS AND NOTES

CURRENT TOPICS FROM STABLE AND COURSE Outstanding Stud Record of Heroic SIRE OF MANY GREAT AUSTRALIAN WINNERS ANNEXED OVER £38,000 IN STAKES DURING RACING CAREER (BY “CARBINE.”) From a Daiefield subscriber comes a letter asking for some particulars relating to Heroic who again headed the winning sires ’list in Australia for the 1938-39 season. “I understand that Heroic has created a new Australian record; could you inform me whether or not this is the position.” Heroic created a record by eclipsing his own. The record was held for some years by Valais who led for five seasons in succession. His son equalled this record in 1937, and surpassed it in 1938. Up to the end of last season Heroic had sired winners of 818 races worth something like £255,581. In his first season he had 10 winners valued at £7,550. In his second he had 29 winners valued at £14,935. He has led in every season since.

The outstanding horses sired by Heroic were Ajax, Hall Mark, Hua, and Nuffield. With the exception of Ajax (who was probably unlucky) these were Derby winners. Other good winners for Heroic were Gallantic (Oaks), Cereza, Heroic Prince, Valiant Chief (one of the best milers of his day), Heros, and Vauntry. His only Melbourne Cup winner was Hall Mark.

Heroic (by Valais out of Chersonese, by Cylgad, son of Cyllene, out of Chelandry) is closely inbred to Bend Or. He was. bred at the Arrowfield stud, N.S.W., by the Moses Brothers in 1921. As a yearling he was admired for his great quality and class as an individual and he was bought by C. T. Godby (acting for J. R. Corteen) for 1800gns. In his first start he won the A.J.C. Breeders’ Plate. He proved a great racehorse and that was what he always looked.

Heroic did not run in the Victoria Derby or Melbourne Cup—he had beaten Spearfelt in the A.J.C. Derby and Spearfelt went on to win the Victoria Derby. He missed the St Legers. Had it not been for this interference with his three-year-old racing Heroic would doubtless have been, next to Phar Lap, the largest stake-winner in Australia. He won over £38,000.

When under disqualification he was bought by Mr C. B. Kellow for 16,000 gns. This was the highest price paid for a racehorse in Australia until the dual Derby winner, Talking, was sold for 19,000. For his new owner Heroic won the Newmarket Handicap carrying 9.8 as a four-year-old, one of his best performances. Another great performance was when, with 9.7 as a four-year-old, he finished within half a length of the winner in the Sydney Cup after stumbling in the straight.

In’ the matter of conformation and class Heroic had' few equals in Australia. He transmitted his class to the great majority of his stock. It should be noted that Malster and Lochiel each headed the winning sires’ list for five seasons, but not in successive years, as did Valais and Hunting Song, in New Zealand.

These are the days of the young man of the turf, and race club executives with a sprinking of young blood generally find their meetings gaining in popularity (says the Sydney Referee). At” recent fixtures in the Sydney and provincial areas, it has been noticeable that added attractions bring their own reward. Competitions for jockeys, trainers, fashion parades, full broadcasting of interstate meeting and special gallops by high-class performers between races, are all important with keen enthusiasts, and the more staid of New South Wales committees are beginning to sit up and take notice of the new era. Instead of making a profit out of the totalisator during the year, the South Australian Jockey Club actually lost £223. That was the amount which had to be paid to the Automatic Totalisator Company to save it from losing on its operations during the period. Here is a machine (says a Melbourne paper) which is unprofitable to the club because the people will not patronise it. Racegoers are convinced that there is little hope of winning by betting on the totalisator when there is a deduction of 12? per cent. Before the days of licensed bookmakers people wishing to bet in a legal way had no option but to submit to the heavy deduction. Now, with bookmakers operating, the totalisator is being shunned. Investments are dropping year by year. It is not surprising, except perhaps to Victorians. The position in Victoria is reversed. Since the introduction of the totalisator —which for so long they had been denied —people have flocked to the machine, and the ranks of the bookmakers have been depleted. “A vanishing. race” is how one Melbourne writer views the bookmakers. RACING FIXTURES September 7, 9 —Wanganui Jockey Club. September 16 —Foxtnn Racing Club. September 16 —Ashburton County Racing Club. September 16, 18—Avondale Jockey

WANGANUI MEETING

ACCEPTANCES FOR THURSDAY. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) WANGANUI, This Day. Following are the acceptances for the first day of the Wanganui Jockey Club’s spring meeting on September 7 and 9:—11.45—

GRIGG STAKES. FINAL FORFEITS. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) ASHBURTON. September 4. _ After the final .forfeits the following are in the Grigg Stakes. 1939:— Wild Fox Sunny Queen Gold Flight Tatting ch f Iliad — b c RingmasterPrincess Doreen Anklet Shikari ch c, Myosotis — Noko Skyrest

HUNTERS’ STEEPLECHASE. Two miles. Lady Callaghan Ohanga Hunter’s Morn Ruenzori .. .. 10 9 9 9 Blue Steel .... 9 9 3 Dozie Boy .. ..9 0 12 Longfellow ....9 0 Bimbo .'. 1 9 0 9 Postillion M 9 gid. 9 0 12.25— MAIDEN RACE. Skx furlongs. Colibri 8 5 Malik Kafur 7 12 Air Shot 8 9 Surmise 7 12 Night Scandal 7 12 Eruption 8 5 Race Away .. 7 12 Golden Hawk 8 h Kriemhild .. 7 12 Glen Douai .. 8 5 Gothic 7 12 Desert Hariua 7 12 Column 8 □ Leighton Rei 7 12 Dynasty 7 12 Hasten 7 12 Caution 7 12 b.g. Acre — Split Second 7 12 Complex m 7 12 1.5— OKEHU HACK HURDLES. One mile, four furlongs and a quarter. Erebus 11 G Sir Nigel 9 0 Toper 10 1 Glenthawn .. .90 Misurina .. .. 10 0 Prinihia 9 0 Primak 9 12 Sunbeam 9 0 Dorado 9 9 Hethers 9 0 Golden Memory 9 2 1.45— PUTIKI HACK HANDICAP. One mile and 110 yards. Raana 9 7 Portal 7 7 Hagen incl 4 Hunting lb pen 9 2 Moments 7 7 Lord Moutoa 8 13 Bronze Step ..7 7 Aurora’s Star 8 7 Mother-in-Amatory 8 7 Law 7 7 Raeburn .. .. 8 4 Richelieu Auto Sweep .. 8 0 Pearl 7 7 Donegal 8 0 Haile Selassie 7 7 Seyfried 7 13 Maturity 7 7 High Test .. .. 7 11 Doctor Defoe 7 7 Hunting Lore 7 7 2.30— s MARANGAI HANDICAP. Ono mile and a quarter. Dungarvan .. 9 0 Might 7 7 Lowenberg .. 8 8 Conveyer .. ..7 7 Entail 8 4 Centrepoise ..7 3 Kena' 7 12 Nereus 7 0 Windsor Chief incl 51b pen 7 8 3.15— SEAFIELD HANDICAP. Seven furlongs and a quarter. Lucullus Lad 9 •2 Might 7 12 Homily 8 9 Gayest Son .. 7 10 The Bigot .. .. 8 7 Flying Acre .. 7 10 Notium 8 5 Pin Money ..7 8 Old Bill 8 3 Blonde Mittie 8 o Princess 7 7 Rollicker .. .. 7 12 4.0— DURIE HACK HANDICAP. Six furlongs. Fiancee 9 0 Le Marquis .... 7 8 Rhodesian .. .. 8 12 Eurotas 7 8 Counter 8 3 Daisy Chain ..7 7 Dainty Dell .. 8 0 Night Kobi 7 13 Eruption 7 7 Sam's Choice 7 13 Baron Bold ..7 7 Vadanoe 7 13 Noble Fox .... 7 7 Patahi 7 10 4.45— FLYING HANDICAP. Six furlongs. Black Thread 9 0 Florence Mills 7 11 Gay Son .. .. 8 9 Mittie 7 10 Race Call .. .. 8 6 Solaria 7 7 Sly Fox 8 0 Hunt’s Blood 7 6 .. 7 12 Ecstatic 7 0