SPORTING.

Waikato Times, Volume 96, Issue 15016, 12 August 1922, Page 16 (Supplement)

SPORTING.

COMING EVENT& 2 August 23—rDannevirke Hunt Club. 7 September 2 —North Taranaki Hunt ' Club. > September 6 —Egmont-Wanganui Hunt / Club. 5 September 9—Martop J.C. September 14, 16 —Wanganui J.C. September 20—Manawatu Hunt Club. ; . September 22, 23—Ashburton R.C, September 23, 25 —Avondale J.C. > September 23, 25 —Otaki-Maori R.C. S September 28, 29 —Geraldine R.C. September 30—Napier Park R.C.

ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS. “Carbine,” Hamilton. — (t) R. S. Bagby rode a winner of the Rangitikei Cup — Rose Wreath —in 10it. (2) Royal Scotch and Ventura, winners of the C.J.C. Great Easter Handicap in 1312 and 1013, were both 'owned by Mr E. J. Watt. “The Settler,” Puketaha. — (1; r.istowel and Thespian, winners of the Great'Northern Guineas in 1021 and 1922 respectively, are both by Absurd. (2) P. Grady had two wins in succession in this event —King Soult '1910) and General La lour (1913).

THE NATIONAL STEEPLECHASE. By his win in the Grand National Steeplechase, the Gordon ton--owned and Ellers'iie- trained Oakleigh set the seal to the claim to be placed among the class performers across country ■in the Dominion. On his Trentham running those who know the St. Aman’s gelding best looked with strong favour to his ability io play a leading part in the big cross-country event at Riccarton. By his performance he more than justified the faith reposed in his ability, winning decisively, and setting up a time record for. the event. Oakleigh, which can ho described as one of the bargains of the sale ring, has proved a great stake earner, his total now having advanced beyond the £5500 mark. He was tive years old before he was put to racing, and is now in his ninth year. During th3t comparatively short term Oakleigh vvo.n eleven times, was second six, third on five occasions, and twenty-four times unplaced. In the credit due to the latest prominent success, Oakleigh's trainer .CC. Coleman) and his rider (J. Roach), are rightly due to a marked share. With Waikarctn filling second jdacc, the honours were shared by Waikatoowned horses. Waikaretu made a lot of the running, hut reports show that the chanced some of his fences in the second round, and had lost some of his dash when the first struggle came. However, the Spalpeen jumper put up a good showing, and is of the material to go much further in company of the class encountered at Riccarton.

GLADFUL THE DOUBLE WINNER. When Gladful carried 11.2 to victory in the Grand National Hurdles at Riccarton on Thursday, the Birkenhead —Gladisla gelding earned the noted distinction of having Ills name attached to the coveted honour for i the second year in succession, and * ; justified the confidence reposed in ;vMiim.:by. a large circle of racing patrons. In the race of twelve months ago Gladful’s impost was exactly the same as he was asked to carry across the journey of about two miles and ahalf on Thursday. Last season Gladful started in twelve other races, but his only placed performances were a third in the Remuera Hurdles on the second day of the last Winter Meeting at Ellerslie, and similar berth in the . Winter Hurdles at the recent Trentham fixture, behind Rorke’s Drift and Penury Rose. Those who studiously surveyed his form on the latter occasion sorted Gladful out as one with strong claims in the contest this week, and their contentions were amply . borne out by results. Seeing that he has a victory t 0 his credit in the Great Northern Hurdles as far back as 1917, when a six-year-old, Gladful •must in the natural course of events be approaching the end of his term, but his convincing win on Thursday indicates that that day is not just yet.

JOTTINGS. . The annual meeting of the Hamilton Racing Club has been fixed for Tuesday, August 22. The prominent Waikato cross-coun-try rider, W. Rennie, had the mount on Waikaretu at Riccarton 'on Tuesday. Vladimir, the winner of the 1903, and Kremlin, the winner in 1905, both hold the weight-carrying record for the Winter Cup with 10.12. Kilreid, which ran into third place in the August Handicap at Riccarton, on Thursday, was recently purchased by Mr Norton, well-known in Hamilton, who has made extensive purchases in the Dominion for India. At New South Wales meetings during the recently closed season, Beauford was the, greatest money-winner. He won eight races—five at Randwick, two at Rcsehill, and one at Newcastle —and their total value was £10,641. It is reported that a well-known Hawera sportsman has placed his team in the private sale list, with the idea of severing his connections with racing. . The Waikato Trotting Club will hold its annual meeting on the afternoon of Thursday, August 24. Red Blaxe, which broke its leg as a result of a fall in the Tallv-Ho Steeplechase at Riccarton, was an aged gelding by All Red—Clementine. He won a couple of moderate jumping events last season. Coalition galloped and jumped well in tlie Grand National Steeplechase, but the strong pace set and the big weight proved too much for him at the end of the third mile. The North Island jumper, Passenger, a winner at Riccarton, is a fast, vigorous fencer which should earn further prominence at the game. Waimai shaped very well in the big cross-country race at Riccarton to finish a good fourth, hut the old Spalpeen jumper lacked that extra shade of dash so essential when the concluding stages were entered on. The new employer of the southern apprentice, 0. Voight, who is now in England, is Captain 0. M D. Bell, of Lambourn, who has over fifty horses In training. The Matamata-owned mare, Passionless,’ by her win in the August Handicap, at Riccarton, on Thursday, is running her stake earnings to a substantial sum since leaving these parts for the. southern end of the Island. In twenty-two starts last -season, the Form by—Passive mare won five races, was second five times, and once third. When Thrace broke his leg at Riccarton on Thursday the career of a noted performer over fences came to an end. The imported horse won several good jumping races in this country during his term.

Master Strowan was making up ground very rapidly when the Grand National 'Si'eepleehase winner of five years ago got out of his stride when Kohu fell in front 'of him in Tuesday's race, and falling over the fence anci the prostrate opponent, the Strowan gelding received injuries which caused his destruction. Ben Spec’s victory in the Winter Cup came as a big surprise to the great majority of investors at Riccarton on Tuesday. C. Emerson hopped the Bonifonn—Signal gelding out smartly, to be never headed in a record run race. Last season Bon Spec won the Grand Stand Handicap at_ the Dunedin Summer meeting with 7.13, and the Flying Handicap at the Southland Summer meeting with 8.4*. Bon Spec had also a number of placed performances to his credit. It is nothing new for W. Booth to score more wins " than any oilier trainer at registered meetings in the Sydney area.' The 192i-r2 season again saw him on top in that respect with 21 wins,. 25 seconds, and 18 thirds, totalling £12,835* in prizemoney. Pistolier, the winner of the Australian Hurdles race on Saturday, was third in 1918 with 10.9, and two years ago was second with 10.4 to Silver Heart. The two New Zealanders,. Cupidon and Kick Off, have received some support for the Melbourne Cup, but so far their respective stables have made no move. Record Reign 12.12 holds the record weight-carrying record for die Grand National Hurdle race, and it. may be many years before Irs great feat is equalled. W. Young and W. Clarke have each three successes in the Grand National Hurdles to tlmir credit, the former’s successes having been attained on Shrapnel, P.aisano and Continuance.

When the last maii left Melbourne, Polytheist and Rostrum headed the quotations for the Caulfield Cup, while Crescendo. Harvest King, Stare and The Cypher were also in demand. For Inc Melbourne Cup Kenneppil field pride of place, with plenty of backing also for Beauford, Harvest King, Polytheist and Shillinglce. Another note struck with the future of racing in New Zealand was a remark made by the well-known Hawke’s Bay owner, Mr W. G. Stead, who, at the Hawke's Bay Jockey Club’s annual meeting, staled that owing to the absurd conditions prevading in the racing world of the Dominion, he was forced to send his team to Australia, where they would be sold after the spring mooting’.

Alto Chimes, hailing from ,T. Bryce’s stable, was thought to be unbeatable in the International Handicap, at /Aldington, on Saturday, and carried more money than any other horse that started through the day. He did not start any too well, and at the. end of the circuit was well in the ruck. Then lie made a brilliant run, only to meet with interference at the home turn. Jumping out smartly, the Aucklandowned Comedy Chief was in front all the way, and had plenty in reserve to stall off tile Anal runs of Agathos and Loeanda Dillon.

The Prix de Diane (French Oaks), of £4OOO, in which Frank Bullock was injured through a fall from Saint Ursule, was won by an outsider, Pellsie, whose tote dividend was at the rate of nearly 40 to 1. She is by Irish Lady from Lady Neil.