NOTES AND COMMENTS

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 74, Issue 146, 23 June 1931, Page 4

NOTES AND COMMENTS

Sold in Sydney. Mr W. Scholium, who sent Little Gift, Manx Cat, Shine On and Kahukura to Sydney to race, has disposed of the four of them Well Bred. Among the entries for the Petane Hack Steeplechase at Napier Park is Rigoletto, a six-year-old son of King Mark and ths Birkenhead mare Hoy, and hence full-brother to Anomaly, Snatcher, King's Folly, King’s Jest and Last Mark, and half-brother to Shirley. Rigoletto was taken to the last Grand National meeting by W. McKinnon, and was raced in the Trial Hurdles ou the opening day, but he gave a very bad display. Belated to Seatown. Mr J, Frederic, the owner of Seatown, has two youngsters from his mare Seasprite, the dam of Seatown, that are spoken of as being particularly promising. They are a filly by Limond (rising two) and a yearling by Hunting Song. Mr Frederic is also breeding from his mare Sea Star, by Day Comet from Seasprite. Just Too Much, It is reported that a North Island owner priced the two-year-old Cricket Bat, and that the figure asked by Sir Charles Clifford for the Challenge Stakes winner stopped business. It is understood that the commissioner was A. McAulay, trainer of Night March, who was defeated by Cricket Bat in the Challenge Stakes, states the Timaru Herald. The value placed on Cricket . Bat was 2000gns., which was 500gns. more than the commissioner was authorised to go. Inevitable Fails. Although the South Island performer Inevitable failed to win a race at either Wanganui or Ellerslie when taken North for the winter meetings, he demonstrated that he is a very useful galloper and one likely to win at any time now. Inevitable’s second to Taneriri in the King George Handicap at Ellerslie was a fine effort, but he could not do better than finish third on Saturday in the Prince Edward Handicap at Timaru. May Go To Sydney. A trip to Sydney for the Wellingtonowned gelding Autopay is under consideration. Since winning the Stewards’ Handicap at Riccarton last November Autopay has developed into a fine horse. If he makes the trip his principal mission may be the big Randwiek mile race, the Epsom Handicap. Dark Prince. Nothing very strenuous has been exacted from Dark Prince since he raced at the Auckland Racing Club’s winter meeting, but he is getting through plenty of useful work and should be in capital trim for the Taumarunui meeting next month. If he comes through his racing at that meeting satisfactorily there is a possibility that Dark Prince might be taken to Trentham for the Wellington winter meeting, although J. D. Kemp has not yet made any definite plans regarding the southern trip. A Rest for Richfield. When Richfield won the Empire Handicap and the Farewell Handicap at the Wanganui meeting he looked as though he had come right back to form, but at Opunakc the best ho could do was to finish third in the Flying Handicap, while he was unplaced in the Raukawa Cup at Otaki. He is now being spelled, and reports from Hawera state that he is unlikely to start at the Wei lington winter meeting. Improving. Without winning Grand Talk ran a couple of good races at the Auckland Racing Club’s winter meeting and she is a hack who should be worth keeping in mind for the Taumarunui meeting next month. Grand Talk is steadily on the improve and, as she gives promise of staving fairly well, she should prove a good winner when her powers are fully developed. She has not done much racing and has yet a good way to go before reaching her very best. Lucullus a Bargain. Lucullus, sire of Carinthia, Lucess, Prince Lu and other winners of big jumping races as well as many winners on the flat, was bought in England for 25 guineas. Lucullus was bred in Ger many, whither his sire, Ard Patrick, went after winning the English Derby Since he camo to New Zealand Lucullus has sired-winners of £125,000 in stakes. N.Z. Yearlings in Chile. The safe transport to Valparaiso of the six yearling fillies purchased at the Trentham sales in January by the Chilian owner and studmaster, Scnor Mayor Braun, is announced in a letter received last week by Wright, Stephenson and Co., Ltd., who had arranged the shipment. Senor Braun expresses entire satisfaction with the condition in I which the youngsters were when tin'

reached Valparaiso after their sea trip of 35 days. The horses were embarked at Wellington on the Northumberland on February 23 for tho first stage of the voyage to Balboa. There they were transhipped to a Chilian vessel, the Santa Barbara, and after an uneventful trip down the South American coast arrived at their destination on March 30. In his letter, dated April 6, Scnor Braun states that “the horses all arrived in excellent condition, except the chestnut filly by Pombal, who received a slight knock on a hind leg during the voyage. In fact, the other five all looked improved as a result of the trip across the Pacific.” The horses purchased by Senor Braun were:—A brown filly by Chief Ruler from Prophet’s Mark (200 guineas); a brown filly bv Grand Knight from Baylock (150 guineas); a chestnut filly ‘bv Pombal from Pebble 11. (90 guineas); a bay filly by Thespian from Rose Queen (70 guineas); a bay filly by Grandeourt from d’Oro (70 guineas); and a black filly by Psychology from Miss Cute (50 guineas) It will be observed that the six arc all fillies, as Scnor Braun intends to use them at his stud after thev have finished their racing careers. Paid His Way. With three wins to his credit this season, besides half a dozen placed performances, Tetrarchate has more than paid his way, and there should still he further opportunities for him, judging by the way he is shaping in his track work at headquarters. Tetrarchate has been steadily improving throughout the season and is now one of the fittest horses in work at Ellerslie, and if produced at the Taumarunui meeting should give a good account of himself. Prodice Again. An interesting entrant for the sprint, events at the Taumarunui Racing Club’s winter meeting is Prodice, who has not raced since running unplaced in the New Zealand Cup last November. Prodice is now being trained by A. Cook and she is bound to receive plenty of attention when she makes her reappearance. When at her best Prodice is a really good mare and all going well in the meantime she should prove a strong contender for honours in some of the important spring handicaps. Fraught With Peril. In view of the present state of racing, a proposal to come before tho Racing Conference delegates next month, sponsored by the (Dunedin Jockey Club, is sure to create discussion. It appears to be fraught with peril for the smaller clubs, for if brought into operation it will attract most support to tho city clubs, which will want to race on the Saturdays that, country clubs require. According to the present rules, no club shall hold more than four meetings in the year, save with the consent of tho president. The Dunedin Club seeks the abolition of this portion of the rule. The passing of the remit would mean that clubs like Canterbury and Auckland, if they found it advisable could split up their four day fixture into more than one meeting. Wellington could, take a day away from its threeday winter fixture, and hold it on a more convenient date. Other clubs could no doubt make similar adjustments.