RACING.

Waikato Times, Volume 105, Issue 17712, 16 May 1929, Page 3

RACING.

NOTES AND COMMENTS. GOSSIP OF TRACK AND STABLE. (By "Martian.”) It Is reported from Melbourne that the champion Victorian steeplechaser Gian Robert will not race again. George Price has ten yearlings in his stables at Randwiclc, in preparation Tor juvenile events in Australia’ next season. • , Kaikahu is booked to make his first appearance as a steeplechaser at the Dunedin meeting. His first exhibition over the Riccarton schooling fences was very attractive, and he may develop into a good class performer over country. Apparently the idea of bringing Troilus north for the Auckland meeting has been abandoned. He has been nominated for the Dunedin meeting, figuring in hurdle races, as well as on the flat. Beau Geste has shown sig.. of soreness lately, and he has been on the easy list. His Riccarton trainer, E. P. Claridge, does not view the position seriously, and the Boniform gelding will be striding along again very soon, with a view to racing at the Dunedin meeting, early next month. A New Zealand-bred six-year-old gelding, Limoka, by , Limond —Oka, won the Midland Purse over a mile at the Helena Vale Racing Club’s meeting in Western Australia recently. Oka was bred by Mr ,f. F. Reid, being a’ daughter of Stepniak and foaled in 1908. Magna Charta'has pleased his admirers in his early schooling efforts over the hurdles at Riccarton, and he may make up in that department for his disappointments on the flat. Provided he goes on all right during the next few weeks, he will be a competitor in hurdle races at the Dunedin meeting.

An important step taken by the Victoria Racing Club Committee is the removal of the aHowance for geldings in” the Victoria Racing Club Sires’ Produce Stakes, Ascotyale Stakes and Maribyrn'ong Plate. In future geldings will be required to carry the same .weight as colts in those races.

The three-year-old colt Bulolo, who arrived at Riccarton recently, is now a regular worker with R. Ellis’s team, lie is by Bisognc from Footstep, by the Stepniak horse, De Witte. Though not a big one, he has good looks to recommend him (says the Star). He 'showed useful hack form in Auckland, and he looks a likely sort to improve. Bulolo has been nominated for hack events at the Dunedin meeting.

P. V. Mason has broken in a couple of Mr G. D. Greenwood’s yearlings. The Limond —Eulogy filly (sister to Commendation) has been ridden, and she is a daily attendant at the Riccarton tracks. The Sajtash —Aries youngster, purchased in Sydney last month, was gelded after being broken in, and he is having a spell before he goes into work.

Melbourne exchanges record: the death recently of the well-known Victorian trainer, .Justin Curr, who specialised with jumpers. - Among noted horses of this class trained by him were Danjiuro, Officer. Confederate (winner iof the Australian;' Steeplechase), No Trouble, Eclipse, ' Alcuin, Ungala (winner of the ’ Australian Steeplechase), and Chaumont.

Broxt, who brought off a surprise victory on the concluding day at Hawera, is a l'our T year-old black gelding by Arrowsmith l'r.om Ambitious, a mare bred by Mr G. M. Currie by Absurd from Ursula, the latter bred in Australia by Grafton —Ural, by Grand Flaneur. She won several races a few years back for her owner-trainer, H. E. Connop. Broxt did not race as a two or three-year-old, and prior to Saturday had started this season only three times, all unplaced performances. He ran in the Trial Plate at the Marton Spring meeting in the Te Matai Malden Plate at the Manawatu Hunt Steeplechase meeting, and in the Aorangi Trial Plate at the 'Feilding Spring meeting. Broxt will ■win plenty more hack sprints.

England’s greatest race for “gentlemen” riders is the National Hunt Steeplechase, four miles, run at Cheltenham. It was decided last month, first money being £1403, second £l5O, third £IOO, and fourth £SO There is never any lack of riders, and, as there were 32 starters plenty were needed. The size of the field did not scare the admirers of Big Wonder, who was ridden by Captain Weber, and he started at 7 to 2. •• We won by a length from the 14 to 1 chance, Samonde, ridden by Major Benson, and Sir Jasper (10 to 1) was third; bis rider being Mr R Bennett. Each of the 32 runners carried 12.3, and the trip , took Bmin 54sec. It is of interest that Big Wonder’s dam, Miss Bloomfield, is by The Victory, winner of the 1902 Melbourne Cup.'

The Maoriland flve-year-okl pony Lighthearted (Greyspear-Sweet Smile) still- pursues his victorious way round Sydney. Following on his win in the •principal event at the Ascot meeting on the previous Wednesday, he last Saturday week easily accounted for a division of the big race at Kensington Park which he won by two lengths. Writing on this latest success a Sydney exchange says: “As'a miler, Lighthearted is the Carbine or the pony tracks Last Wednesday he carried 8 11 to victory in the Ascot Handicap. Weights for the Kensington Handicap were declared before the Ascot c\ent, and as no penalties wore, entailed, he was called upon to carry only 8.0 in the first division of the Kensington Handicap, run yesterday. This impost" was reduced to (.12, when an allowance of 21b was claimed lor the apprentice P. Guttendge, the usual rider of the gelding. Backers received ' additional confidence when a well-known, owner of A..J.C. horses was entrusted with a heavy commission. Several limes this sportsman laid the odds on to the tune -of hundreds. ■Eventually Lighthearted started at odds on, and not at any part did he cause his backers the least

There are some large breeding establishments in Germany and \ol. 18 of the German Stud Book shows that last season’s total of thoroughbred foals in that country was about 1000. The English stallions, Flamboyant (by Tracery) and Poisoned Arrow (by Spearmint), did well with 70 per cent of foals from their matings, but only 33 per cent of Caligula’s mares foaled. He was not regarded as a sure foal-getter when in England, and a change to another country has not improved him.

DARGAVILLE RACING CLUB. NEW RULES ADOPTED. DARGAVILLE, Wednesday. At a special general meeting of members of the Dargaville Racing Club held last night a new set of rules, as submitted by the stewards, was approved and adopted.