GOSSIP FROM ALL PARTS.

Waikato Times, Volume 103, Issue 17384, 21 April 1928, Page 19 (Supplement)

GOSSIP FROM ALL PARTS.

The Hawke's Bay and South Canterbury Clubs will race on Friday and Saturday.

The Marlborough Club will conclude its meeting on Monday.

The Waikato Club will open its Autumn fixture at Te Rapa next Saturday and will conclude it on the following Monday.

Many sportsmen with an eye to a prospective 'chaser nominated Wharncliffe as likely to be a big success over country this year. They will derive pleasure from seeing the crack hurdler in a steeplechase contest on the second day at Timaru.

Perception, who is among the two year olds entered at the Waikato meeting is a nice type of galloper. The son of Psychology and Amyrin has figured in a place of recent times and is advancing in racing condition. It may not be long before Perception goes on to improved deeds.

Shirley, who won the Great Easter Handicap in 1927, and who was a competitor in this month's event, has been retired to the stud.

Master Doon has proved a useful galloper when the sting is out of the ground. Te Rapa is a track on which the LucuHus—Lassie Doon gelding has done well in the past. He figures among the horses weighted for the coming meeting and as his recent racing is bringing him forward his prospects may have to be given some consideration from this out.

Micrometer is paying her way well this season. The daughter of Romeo and Bouvardia had none the best of the running in the Oakley Handicap on the first day at Avondale, in which event she was up fourth. Micrometer registered a good performance in winning the Mt. Roskill Handicap on Wednesday. She was some way back as the straight was entered but the two furlong run home gave her her chance and she won nicely by a length. Micrometer will be seen out at Te Rapa next week-end.

The news that Rapier is to enjoy a iong spell does not come as a surprise for the last New Zealand Gup winner was obviously far removed from himself when he contested the Great Autumn Handicap at Riccarton.

Branson registered his most important victory to date when he won the Foley Memorial Handicap at the Avondale meeting. It was a sound performance on the part of the son of Greyspear and Garston, who was prominent throughout the ten furlongs. Branson was installed second favourite for the Autumn Handicap on the second day and, although he had to be content with fourth place it was, nevertheless, a good effort. Branson will be in action at Te Rapa next week-end. ,

The latest member of A. Tinker's loam at Te Bapa to sport silk is Valuation, who was produced in the Vurserv Handicap on the second day at Avondale. Valuation, who is by Valkyrian from a mare by Gravitation, carries the colours of Mr J. Fraser Smith.

ohinemuri is galloping in fine style „,> now She had a very convmc■,'./success at a mile on the first day nt ih" ~nd meeting and when produced in higher company on the rst day at Avondale the Paeroa owned mare won easily onco again. The full sister to Te Monanui has taken some time to cornc solid but St * now in fine racing shape and to n'nt likely to be neglected in whatJjJr happens to be her mission at the Waikatn meeting.

British King earned good support at the Avondale meeting but he failed to get anywhere near the money. The King Sol—Lys Rouge chestnut three year old colt need not be dismissed on this' score as he is capable of better deeds.

Luminary, the winner of the Dominion Handicap at Avondale on Wednesday, accomplished his task in attractive style from a big field of hacks. Thurnlinc, the dam of Luminary, was won by a Hamilton sportsman in a raffle at the Thames. Luminary, who is by Day Cornet, is a good stamp of a galloper who is likely to do a lot better. lie carries the colours of the Prankton sportsman, W. Mills, who also trains him.

There were only five starters in the hurdles on the second day of the Avondale meeting, the honours going to the aged Hymettus gelding, Karamu, who previously gained notoriety by a batten victory on this oourse which gave his few supporters a dividend, the dimensions* of which are still talked about. Karamu was the only one of the quintette who jumped decently on Wednesday. Lady Spalpeen and Lady Cintra, who filled the places, fenced very erratically, while Uralfca and Pekatahi, other starters, came to grief.

Royal Tea who has done most of his recent racing in Australia, was produced at the Avondale meeting where he won the sprint event on Wednesday. The Tea Tray—Duchess Eudorus chestnut jumped out well but lost his position. The long straight gave him his opportunity, however, and finishing with great dash Royal Tea prevailed in attractive style. He is likely to be seen out at Te Rapa.

The Te Aroha trained Lady's Boy has been displaying promising form since the New Year, when the four year old gelding by Some Boy II — Lady Potoa was introduced to racing. In the Mt. Eden Handicap at Avondale, which was his latest appearance, Lady's Boy put up a good performance in finishing second to a useful field of sprinters. He took charge after the first furlong and held on in fine style, Royal Tea getting up in the last few strides to defeat him. Lady's Boy is to race at Te Rapa next week-end.

It was unfortunate that Kerry Dance should go lame after his victory in the opening event at the Avondale meeting. The good looking three year old chestnut by Nassau from Glissando, who is in M. J. Garroll's team at Te Rapa, won his race in attractive style and now that he has opened his stake earning account he can be looked •to for further deeds. The trouble developed in the hocks and Kerry Dance still shows effects of the mishap but it appears to be clearing up.

Those on the look-out for a likely winner of an important handicap in the spring, the New Zealand Cim for instance, should make a note o_ the- Riccarton three year old Starflight (says "The Watcher"). Starflight has not done a great deal of racing but he looks certain to develop into a very useful handicap horse. He is by Archery from Stardancer, the dam of Limelight and Paperchase, and shows all the resolute galloping qualities of the family, besides shaping like a real stayer.

The name of The Gay Duke has been applied for and sanctioned by the authorities for the Lord Quex —Salve tte gelding in M. J. Carroll's team, who was purchased at the January sales at Trentharn. The nomenclature is very appropriate. The Gay Duke who has made his appearance at Te Rapa has developed considerably since reaching the Waikato.

In the Shade is right back to his best form. He gave a genuine taste of his worth by a sensational win in the Easter Handicap at Auckland, which he followed up with a second placing to Satrap in the Great Northern St. Leger Stakes. The Aus-tralian-bred gelding was saddled up for the Foley Memorial Handicap at Avpndale but, being the reverse way when the barrier rose, his prospects in that event were effectively settled from the start. In the Shade made amends in winning the Autumn Handicap on Wednesday, when he ran the mile in the fast time of 1.38 after losing a good deal of ground in the opening stages of the race. If he is brought to the Waikato meeting In the Shade will have many friends.

Te Atiawa, the winner of the Nursery Handicap at Avondale, promises to sec a better day. This two year old gelding is by Chief Ruler from Wake Up and races .in the interests of Mrs W. D. Graham, of New Plymouth, who owns that good handicapper, Te .Monanui. Te Atiawa lias a lot' of pace .while he will stay on better with more racing.

King Merv was produced in the VVaitakerei Handicap at the Avondale meeting, for which the Te Rapa trained galloper was installed favourite. King Merv jumped off well, running along in fourth position for the greater part of the seven furlongs. When A. Tinker moved on him in the straight his mount responded in ready fashion and got the honours by a length. The Quin Abbey gelding is in good heart just now and is likely to bo heard from again before the season runs ouU

If Queen Arch had moved off at all well the Te Aroha representative would have proved very hard to dispose of in the Morningside Handicap, with which the programme at the Avondale meeting was concluded. The Marble Arch—Miss Amans mare lost many lengths at tbe start of the race but she was travelling at a great rate over the closing stages when she was in third place, two lengths behind the winner, Lc Ghoucas. Que'en Arch is partial to the condition the galloping surfaces are likely to be in from this out.

Although he did not reach a place, a two year old who impressed by his display in the Nursery Handicap at Avondale was Fancy Boy. Fancy Boy was slow to find his feet but he ran up to second position inside two furlongs. The Tea Tray—Wee Rene gelding tired in the latter stages of the contest, as would be expected after his earlier effort, but it was form worth taking notice of.

Paganelli is to be turned out for a spell and it may be decided to send the Lord Quex —Ringdove three year old to the Taranaki district, to the property of his part-owner (Mr R. W. Roberts). Paganelli's victories this season comprise three sprint events, at Takapuna, Wanganui and Te Aroha respectively, while he has the noteworthy distinction of downing a strong field in the Wellington Stakes and being, as the outcome, the initial Te Rapa prepared candidate to be first home in a southern classic. Paganelli should return to M. J. Carroll's team further equipped to continue the good deeds he has so well introduced in the galloping ranks over [he past two 'seasons.

Messrs Wright Stephenson and Co., Ltd., purchased for clients at the Sydney Easter sales several yearlings which will be shipped immediately to the Dominion. Among these is a bay gelding by Sun Cure, a close relative to the leading English sire Buclian, both being by Sunstar, while Sun Cure is from a daughter and Buchan from a grand-daughter of the famous Sceptre. Curia, the dam of Sun Cure, is by Cicero. The Sun Cure yearling, a gelding Is a half brother to Dal Eaton and Uralla. He is, therefore, a close relative to Ladoga, a Thompson Handicap winner, Bloodshot unci Reflector, both Great Northern Foal Stakes winners, the New Zealand Cup winner, Fusilade, etc. Another yearling purchased is a colt by Biplane from Comedia, a half-sister to that good horse, Radnor, who won the A. J. C. Sires Produce Stakes, V.R.C. St. Leger, the Champion Race (in record time), etc. Comedia is by St. Alwyne, sire of the dams of Sunart, Valwyne, Valdoona, Valorem, etc. Comedia claims as her dam that pood mare, Burletta, which is by Wallace from La Tosca, the sister to the dam of the famous mare, Wakeful.

Long-distance racing is not favoured in America. It is mentioned by an exchange that in the New York circuit there are only two weight-for-age races in which a four year old can start at distance in excess of a mile and a half—the Saratoga Cup and the Jockey Club Gold Cup, and I hey are not of particular value. It adds that there are two other cup races run for in America, the Pimlico and Latonia Cups and one in Mexico, the Tijuana Cup,'the first two at 2J miles and the latter at 2 miles. If a four year old won the Saratoga Jockey Club. Latonia and Pimlico Cups his total earnings would be far less than those of the winner of the Kentucky Derby or Preakness Stakes.

There is a lot more money in being a successful jockey than a moderately successful trainer. That has been brought home to many jockeys when weight has ended their riding days. Some who were not too heavy were only too pleased to rejoin the jockeys' ranks after a comparatively short experience as a trainer. G. Harrison, a capable Victorian jockey, has not found horse-training a road to wealth, and intends again applying for a jockey's license. To that end he has been getting himself into condition by riding a lot of work at Flemington, writes "Pilot." Trainers are rarely rewarded by owners in the same manner as jockeys. A trainer may expend a year's care on a horse, and, when it is believed to be ready to win, will sec the jockey laid a big sum to nothing. The trainer is very lucky If he gets half the amount that goes to the jockey. I know of one occasion the amount an owner proposed to lay a jockey in a big race was so great that the trainer could not help ejaculating: "Are you mad? If you lay him that he is sure to fall off from excitement."

Recently, in his Random Notes of the Turf, "Touchstone" has told in the Australasian good stories of the Kings of England and their fondness or otherwise of the turf. King William IV is said to have had small liking for turf pursuits, the reason probably being that his brother, George IV, suffered heavy losses. However, William IV, while he had no direct sympathy with the national sports of his subjects, often entertained members of the Jockey Club at dinner. The story is told that during the dinner the conversation was mainly directed upon the Ascot meeting, to be held some few weeks later. . The Marquis of Westminster was present, and he was boasting of his celebrated horse Touchstone, and offering to back him for a large sum against anything that could be named. The King heard the offer, and exclaimed, "] accept the challenge, and will name one to beat him by a neck." The wager was at once concluded, and His Majesty, amidst a roar of laughter, named "Th£ Giraffe."

A strange epitaph is referred to by a writer in the Australasian. George Fordham, one of the greatest and most popular of English jockeys, is one of the few famous jockeys who retired from riding, and after being three 3cars out of the saddle made a successful "comeback." J. Pike, who rode Gothic in the Futurity Stakes at Caulflcld on Saturday, is one of the few Australian riders who, after being out of the saddle for one or two seasons, returned to racing, and was not long in again establishing himself as one of the greatest riders we have ever seen. Making weight has always been Pike's trouble, as for many years now thS lowest he has ridden has been 8.7. Fordham was never troubled with weight, as when he returned to the saddle in 1878 he could still ride 7.5. Fordham was a great public favourite, and when he won the English Derby on St. Bevys he was given a wonderful reception. He was known to English racing men as "the kidder," as he won numerous races by outwitting his brother jockeys. In 1884 he quit the saddle for good, and died in 1887. He selected his own epitaph for his tombstone, and it is most expressive, being: "It is the pace that kills."

According to special cabled reports received in Australia, the Aintree Grand National winner Tipperary Tim was regarded as rather a joke prior to the race. He is ten years old, a tubed horse, and had had seven minor successes in the last five years. The owner of the winner, Mr H. S. Kenyon, of Lancaster, is principally known for having taken over his dead brother's horses, including Tipperary Tim. The trainer, Dodd, is only in a small way of business in Shropshire. After apprenticeship as a jockey he entered the Merchant Service, and was wrecked on Dogger Bank during the war. Later he assisted his father in training. The jockey, an amateur named Uutton, recently passed bis solicitor's examination. He says the horse was magnificent. He did not put a foot wrong. The only anxious moment was at the last jump when a riderless horse got too near. Billy Barton was the American hope. He has a splendid winning record in Maryland, and was largely backed by Americans. The course was a quagmire. The mud was fetlock deep in some parts and very soft to fall on; consequently, although there w T as a record number of, falls, no one was seriously hurt. Easter Hero led at the start. There were many casualties at Beecher's Brook, including Sprig, last year's winner, and Koko. There was a further accumulation of disaster at the canal turn the first time round. Easter Hero, falling, brought down several, horses, who disappeared as if they had heen machine-gunned. Only six were left after Valentine's Brook, and only three were standing three fences from home. Several jockeys remounted and attempted to secure third place, but failed owing to further falls.