THE TURF

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 77, Issue 107, 8 May 1934, Page 8

THE TURF

STEEPLECHASE EVENTS

TWO WANGANUI RACES SHE GRANDSTAND FIELD (By Kestrel”) No winter rate meeting at Wanganui would be complete w ithout a crosscountry event, though the days are gone by when the fixture could boast of four, and even six, steeplechase events. For the meeting to be held on Thursday and Saturday of this week there are two races over what are termed the big fences, these being the Grandstand Steeplechase on the opening day and the Wanganui Steeplechase on the second day of the meeting. For the first day ’s steeplechase a stake of £175 was offered, while for the second day £3OO was allocated for this cross-country race. The distance on Thursday is about two miles, while on Saturday the Wanganui .Steeplechase contestants will have to traverse a distance of about two and ahalf miles. This compares with the three miles to which the event used to extend until a few years ago, while in the “good old days’’ the obstacles, mostly of a permanent character, were of a very formidable nature compared with those which will have to be negotiated by the 1934 Steeplechase candidates. Cross-country races these days, however, are run at a much faster clip than was the case a couple of decades ago, mainly because the fences nowadays may be risked by fast, proficient jumpers. A field of seven promises to saddle ■up for the Grandstand Steeplechase on Thursday, the indications being that all those for whom the acceptance was paid will sport silk on the opening day of the meeting. It may be that the field for the Wanganui Steeplechase will be a little larger, for Brown Abbey and Makeup are two new horses engaged, and there is always the chance that their respective owners may elect to have a “flutter” at the old-established Wanganui {Steeplechase. Topweight s Promise To carry number one saddle-cluth on Thursday, Riotous is to have the him, prohibitive impost of 11.3, which is only 101 b. more than he earned to an easy victory in the Egmont Steeplechase a week ago. Only a five-year-• old as yet, Riotous has proved himself a useful sort at all phases of the racing game, for he won in hack, ranks earlier in his career and then was successful over the battens last season for his owner-trainer, L. Knapp, of Awapuiri. At Ellerslie during the Easter meeting six weeks ago Riotous gave a taste of his Quality by winning over the Ellerslie hili, defeating, among others, Brown Abbey, whom he accounted for again last week at Hawera. He is a fast, reliable jumper and gets away quickly from nis fences,

a factor which must count in his favour in a race like the Grandstand {Steeplechase. Riotous is well bred, ahe is a son of -Birkdale (son of Birkenhead from a Musket source), oui •of Cross Words, by All Black from Wordy Warfare, by Camp Fire from Palaver, by Apremont from Flatter, by St. George from Flattery, by Tradueer. About the Opposition As was the case in the Egmont {Steeplechase, the opposition to the topweight does not appear to be very dangerous. Manuiri is i- recruit from the hurdle ranks. On the first day at Hawera, making his debut over the big fences, Manuiri was going well until he slipped on lauding over the first of the brush double in front ot the stands and lost his rider. He jumped well on the second day of that meeting, but hit one obstacle —the hencoop—rather hard, and as a result is now sporting a “knee.” {Still, the experience has evidently dune him good and more should be heard of him this season, even if he does not win at Wanganui. Next on the list, Royal Reign was under a cloud at the Egmont meeting and consequently was not produced, while it was slated that he was to be regarded as a doubtful runner at the Wanganui fixture. This Chaminade mare has shown that she is a splendid jumper and if produced her display will be watched with interest. Aa the winner of the Marton Steeple chase, Tunbridge will engage attention, despite the fact that he has hitherto been regarded as lacking in staying ability. He was, of course, aided in his Marton win by the fatal accident to Acervate and the fall of Royston, but it is likely that he has improved a good deal in the meantime. Yesterday morning he was seen in a clean display over the steeplechase fences, and he promises to be one of the fancied candidates at the Wanganui meeting. Don Erma is better known as a hurdler than as a 'chaser, but as he carries the Nukumai colours and is reported to have done well in the hunting field, there is no reason why he should not prove a success over the larger obstacles here. He very nearly brought off a surprise last Thursday at Hawera, and on that occasion the opposition was really stiff. AS ith but 9.2 to carry on Thursday, Don Erma may provide a surprise for those who do not recall his successful display on this course last year. Bon Aryan was seen out at Marton and Hawera but will have to improve a good deal to carry off the major share of the Wanganui prizes. Royston is a tearaway sort of customer, but if he could be induced to settle down and fence more carefully the chances are that he would prove himself the steeplechaser find of the season. Altogether, the 'chasers to be seen out at Wanganui will be expected to provide a decent display, leading up to the important cross-country event next Saturday. Perhaps Riotous, Tunbridge and .Manuiri v. ; i! do be st.

Copey’s “Leg.” Copey’s defection from his engagements at Hawera was due io the fact ttat one of his hind legs filled. The trouble is yielding to treatment, and the improvement wag so marked on Thursday that J. Fryer was hopeful that he would be able to have a race at Wanganui, after which he may compete at Te Rapa.

’ RANGITIKEI RACING CLUB

MEETING AT BULLS NEXT WEEK’S NOMINATIONS The Rangitikei Racing Club will hold a one-day meeting at Bulls next Saturday week, atftl this follows on seven days after the Wanganui Jockey Club's winter meeting, it is likely to prove a popular fixture. The nominations received last night indicate that owners and trainers have patronised the meeting generously, there being a total of 114 nominations, as compared with 87 lor the one day meeting two months ago. Following is the list of nominations: Bandon Hack Hurdles, of £80; I. 1 , miles. Jayson, Million, Manawatu, Invictus, Don Erma, Chief Line, Thrasher Esteem, Headland, Constant Sun. Gran Chaco, Count Lendroff, Royston Transact, Araios, Azure, Knollmere, Little Maiden Plate, of £6O; six furlongs Wyndale, Chief Hanger, Umpire. Kaola Celeste. Onewhetu, Windscreen, Flaxen, Gold Mission, Even Money, Wharaurangi, Grand Joy, Lord Moiitoa, Balbus Sweet Music, La Sande, Warehi Star Acre, Hunting Song—Enthusiasm filly Diacquenod—Oratress filly, De Trop Maid of the Air, Ethiop, Le Rangi. ’ Rang tikei Handicap, of £100;° miles.—Atholspear, Chopin, Gibraltar Senegal, Aiguille, Copper King, La toupee, Royal Bengal, Little Doubt. Clifton Hack Handicap, of £75; six furlongs—Lady Ronald, Dick Whittington, Kaola, Land Tax, Bee Acre Mercian Prince, Chief Marionette Illuminate, Ythan, Arauline, Waipiro Artful Dodger, Bon Bapide, Host, All Spirit, De Trcp, Cawbeen, Pheon. ’ JEangitoto Steeplechase, of £120; 2-1 miles.—Bon Ayran, Tunbridge, Invictus, Don Erma, Copey, Curraiong Silent Bill, Blacksmith, Easterly, Koval Reign, Royston, Manuiri. Parewanui Hack Handicap of £7581 furlongs.—Wyndale, King Peg, Red Rufus, Dorado, Kalmuk, Lady Ronald Hark Forrard, Sandlark, Round Score’ Te Rangitumau, Ralphyllis, Bold Jim,’ Los Quex, Boudoir, Ythan, All Spirit’ Windward, Maid of the Air. ’ Good-bye Hack Handicap, of £6O- - furlongs.— King Peg, Chief Mariouette, Illuminate, Gold Mission, Even Money, Arauline, Waipiro, Wharaurangi. Bon Bapide, Lapel, Cawbeen Araios, Grand Joy, Boudoir. disqualification case JUDGMENT FOB NAYLOR A.J.C. HAD NO JURISDICTION Received May 7, 10.30 p.». SYDNEY, May 7. In the Equity Court to-day, Justice Long Innes gave judgment in the case of Naylor v. the Australian Jockey Club. He held that Naylor’s disqualification was invalid, that the A.J.C. had

no junsuiction amt Naylor must be regarded as an ordinary member of the public entitled to go' upon the Bandwick racecourse. The Australian Jockey Club had contended that Naylor was not an ordinary member of the public but was a person plying his trade, and that plaintiff’s character was such that he might, under the club’s rules, be excluded from admission. In granting Naylor a continuation of the injunction the Judge said that there was nothing to prevent the A.J.C. taking such another course in excerise of its rights under statute, and it was satisfactory to know that the A.J.C. committee was not mistaken in its conclusions regarding the character of the evidence Naylor had given at the club’s inquiry. NOTES AND COMMENTS (By “Kestrel.”) The Wanganui Jockey Club’s ’ winter meeting on Thursday and Satur- , day promises to be a most successful 'fixture, and all that is required to enisure success is fine weather, for the ex|cellent fields should attract followers lof the racing game from over a wide area. Monaghan Breaks Down. Monaghan broke down the day before the opening of the Egmont meeting and is to be turned out. As he is now rising 13 years it is unlikely that he will ever race again. Only Two Dividends. With the single-pool totalizator in operation at the Wanganui meeting, ■ dividends will be paid out on first and second horses in the proportions of 75 and 25 per cent, respectively where there are five or more starters. No third dividend will be paid. This should certainly be appreciated by supporters of the first and second horses, whose share has hitherto had to suffer to the extent of at least 5 per cent. Winter Oats. The open sprint on the opening day of the Wanganui winter meeting is the Winter Oats, run over a distance of six furlongs. This old-established race has not always been run over a sprint course, for the writer has been shown a programme for the 1890 winter meeting. at which the Winter Oats was run over a mile and a-half. The winner was Mr. J. George’s Vendor, with Mr. J. Paul’s Boulanger second and Mr. Fred Watson’s Eileen third. At the same meeting Sir Garnet, carrying 9.13, won the Wanganui Steeplechase, beating Messrs McElwain, and O’Neill’s Oddfellow, with Mr. A. Shearsby’s Orient third. It is of interest to note ’ that the Consolation Steeplechase concluded the day’s programme and w,as ' scheduled to start at 4.30 p.m.. which would be considered too late for a flat ' race these davs.

Where Are the ’Chasers? “Wanganui offered generous stakes and yet there are not many steeple chasers engaged,” said a member of the Wanganui Jockey Club to the

writer on Saturday. It may have been that some of the Auckland district owners were not sufficiently interested, as may be gathered from the following list of entries for the Green Lane Steeplechase (of £250; 2| miles), to be run at the Ellerslie winter meeting:— Grant’s Opal, High Commissioner, Ruby Meteor, Solanio, Clontarf Bill, Gold Idem, Carlaris. High Pitch, Tudor. Tunbridge. Searcher, London, Sir Musk, Patutahi. Golden Royal Reign, Don Erma, On Approval. Silver (Division, Morley, M.anus£

Off to Sydney. The Otaki trainer, A, D. Webster, leaves Wellington this week for Sydney with a team of horses for winter and spring racing on the other side. One of his string will be that good hack Prostration, who Is owned by the Wellington sportsman, Mr H. W. Moss. Horses for Ellerslie. Unless present intentions are altered J. Brown will take Carfex to Ellerslie to contest the Cornwall Handicap next month. The Awapuni trainer L. Knapp also intends to be represented at Ellerslie, and his team will probably comprise Callamart, Tudor, Hauwai and Pan go. Riccarton Jumpers. T. H. Gillett stated at Hawera on Thursday that no definite decision had been made whether Hounslow and Tea Garden would race at Ellerslie, and the northern trip .would depend upon how the horses come through their engagements at Wanganui this week. Taitoru Improving. Taitoru (Duncan) hit out boldly over three furlongs at Hawera on Saturday. He now appears to have completely thrown off all signs of soreness, and provided everything goes satisfactorily with him in the interval he will take his place in the field for the Balgownie Hack at Wanganui on Thurs--<lay, states a Hawera writer. Distance Reduced. A decision to reduce the distance of the Great Northern Champagne Stakes, for two-year-olds, from seven to six furlongs was made by the committee of the Auckland Racing Club on Tuesday. From 1887 to .1929, inclusive, the distance was six furlongs, but from 1930 onwards it has been seven furlongs. The event is run annually at the autumn meeting, and this year there were only four starters and last year five. Ellerslie Entries. General entries for the Auckland Racing Club’s winter meeting closed on Friday and are the largest for many years. The total for the 15 “vents is 528, compared with 385 last year, an increase of 143. The increase is particularly noticeable in the open six furlongs races, which hitherto this season have not attracted large fields. Big Hack Feld. There are plenty of hacks in commission in the Auckland district, as may be gathered from the list of 70 nominated for the seven-furlong Jervois Handicap (£250) at the A.R.C. winter meeting. Here they arc:—Grand Sport. Adeline, Supreme Court, Loombination, Scarlet Rambler, Alpinus, Silver Brier, Boon, Bellkyrian. Con Fuoco, Red Rufus, Bonny Gay, Timorous, Aramis, Gay Sol, Cfaarsong, Allegretto. Gracette, Royal Secret, Moi.anui, Titanette, Mata Hari, Brown Lap, Mass Lu, Versant. Supreme Ruler, United, Valorous, Rebel Star, Tea Garden, Expectancy, Lord Willonyx. Muskon, King Musk. Conference, Winrama, Peter Paul, Solo Song, Etcetera, Anagram, Tin Lap, Engi, Record Flight, King Roy, Nigger Rill, Silk Socks, Master Musk, On Parade. Kanapa, Hunting Jay, Teddy ’s Boy, Gipsy Princess, Gipsy Moth,

Gigantic, Gainful, Horowhcnua, Black Songster, Sir Vai. Hawthorn, Gold Pocket, Te Tana, West Tor, Leo Colossus, D’Artagnan. Bush Lawyer, Ballymoney, Morehu, Miss Rewa, Gay Rose, C'oronis. Sea Fox. A Satisfactory Move. The clashing of the dates of the Canterbury Jockey Club’s Now Zealand Cup meeting, and of the Auckland Racing Club’s meeting, which has occurred for many years, has probably been brought to an end, as the Auckland body has decided to race in October, and has applied to the dates committee for the New Zealand Racing Conference for October J 3 and 15 for the next spring fixture. The Avondale Club, which always raced in October, has applied for November 3 and 5, dates which the Auckland Club would have taken if the change had not been made. The alteration in dates will be appreciated by all concerned, as under the old arrangement there was no doubt both the Canterbury and Auckland Clubs were sufferers, in that several horses, especially classic perfomers, were not able to race at both centres. This will now be possible, and the clash of the Avondale meeting with Riccarton will not. have any serious effect on the southern programme. The Canterbury Club has been unceasing in its objection to the unfortunate clashing, and it considered all along that, as the Riccarton meeting could not be altered owing to its being part and parcel of Carnival Week, the Auckland body should make the desired change. Dividend Calculation. The prosecution of the editor of the Rotorua newspaper for publishing figures which would enable a very few people to calculate the dividend on a certain race serves once more (says the Timaru Herald) to draw attention to this piece of stupidity in New Zealand’s gaming laws. The only apparent advantage of non-repeal of this provision is that if newspapers are allowed to publish dividends, the telegraphic office will lose revenue in private telegrams which are despatched in contravention of the regulations. Just how farcical the thing can become is shown by the following:—lf 12 horses started in a race it. would be permissible to give the amount carried by 11 of them, without infringing the Jaw. and the twelfth would probably carry so little that, it would not effect the dividends which are declared te the nearest sixpence. RACING FIXTURES May 10, .12—Wanganui Racing Club. May 11, 12—Southland Racing Club. May 19 —Rangitikei Racing Club. Mav 19—Ashburton County Racing ‘ Club. May 19, 21—Te Kuiti, Racing Club. Mav 26—South Canterbury Jockey ‘ Club. June 2, 4 —Otaki Maori Racing Club June 2,4, s—Dunedin5 —Dunedin Jockey Club June 2, 4. 6 —Auckland Racing Club June 9—Foxton Racing Club. June 14, 16 —Hawke’s Bay Jockey Club June 16 —South Canterbury J.C. June 21, 23—Napier Park R-C. June 23—Ashburton County R.C. June 30—Oainaru Jockey Club. July 4—Dannevirke Hunt Club. July ]O, 12, 14—Wellington R.C. 1 July 21—Hawke’s Bay Hunt Club. July 26—Waimate District Hunt Club. July 26, 28—Poverty Bay Turf Club. July 28—South Canterbury Hunt Club. July 28— Manawatu Racing Club.