RACING

Waikato Times, Volume 108, Issue 18169, 6 November 1930, Page 11

RACING

GREAT HORSES.' HOW CARBINE LOST. DERRETT’S DERBY ERROR. Warm controversy has been proceeding' in Australia as to whether Phar Lap is entitled to rank as a greater galloper than Carbine was, 40 years ago. After Phar Lap’s brilliant win in the Melbourne Cup on Tuesday his army of admirers will have Increased vastly. Carbine did not race as a three-year-old until he started in the Victoria Derby of 1888. Ilis juvenile achievements in New Zealand caused the son of Musket to be made favourite at 7 to 4, but Melos, who had captured the Hawkesbury Guineas and A. J. C. Derby, pressed him closely, being quoted at 5 to 2. Odds of 7 to 1 were on offer against Ensign, whose stablemate, Volley, had started at 5 to 4 on in the A.J.C. Derby, and lost by a'length. Many reasons have been advanced for Carbine losing the Victoria Derby to Ensign by a head. It has been variously claimed that Derrett was caught napping, that lie struck Carbine in a tender spot, and that« Ensig- really was the better horse. I prefer to rely on what the late Dab O’Brien, who owned Carbine, told me in the course of a Sydney interview, many years ago (says “Khedive” in the Melbourne Sporting Globe.”) Dropped His Reins. ' Here is what O’Brien said:—“Derrett asked me whether he should go to the front. I replied, ‘No, ride Carbine as if you were riding work, and never be farther than a distance I indicated (about four lengths) from the leader.’ It is no use telling a jockey to be first, second, or third, as that is no guide if the held gets strung out.

“The first quarter of a mile was run at a very slow pace. Carbine was last then; yet, at the abbatoirs, five furlongs from home, he was in front. Carbine, and the filly on which Mick O’Brien won the Oaks, Pearlshell, came right away from the others at that point. In the straight, Mick stopped riding Pearlshell, and Mr C. G. Murray, who was standing alongside me, observed, ‘lt is all oyer.’ My rejoinder was: ‘lie rode a hell of a race.’ ,

“Derrett looked round when Pearlshell was beaten, and let one of his reins dr.op. This caused Carbine to slow down, and Tom Hales seized the opportunity to make his run on Ensign. When Derrett caught hold of his rein again, he struck backward with his whip, and Carbine turned his head half round. “On returning to scale, Derrett asked me whether I thought he was caught napping, and I replied, ‘No. You were not caught napping.’ The jockey had double reins, and should have ridden the colt out without fumbling for the one ? he had' dn other circumstances, Carbine could have won by 50 yards. Derrett was a good horseman, but they all make mistakes. ILv

NOTES AND COMMENTS.

NEW ZF.ALAND CUP MEETING. GOLD MONEY’S ENGAGEMENT. R. Reed will have the mount on Parateo in the New Zealand Derby. This is one of the important events in which Reed has not yet had a win. W. H. Jones, the AucKland lightweight horseman, is to ride Admiral Drake in the Stewards’ Handicap at Ricoarton. This will be Jones’ first visit to Canterbury headquarters. ' The Te Awamutu horseman, A. C. Dick, is to ride Courageous in the New Zealand Cup. Courageous failed In the Mitchelson Cup last month and, on that form, does not look a favourable prospect at two miles.

H.- Gray is to ride Star Stranger, Cylinder and the others of J. H. Jefferd’s stable at Riccarton. If Hunting Day does not start in the Stewards’ Handicap, Gray will pilot Havering.

The Taranaki-owned horses Ridgemount and The Swell, accompanied by the Wellington-owned hurdler,* Conjuror, returned to the southern port by to-day’s boat after a visit to Australia. It was not a very successful trip.

T. Green will be required for Courtesy in the Stewards’ Handicap, and at the Carterton meeting Mr E. Riddifo'rd engaged R. J. Mackie to fide Staghunter in Saturday’s big splint. Another riding engagement for the six furlongs is R. T. McTavish and White Fang. White Fang (8.0) won the race last year. He has 8.8 for the coming test.

The two-year-olds, Chief Link and : Irish Chieftain, in E. Scoullar’s stable, look none the worse for their trip to Trentham, where both showed useful form. They were a pair of attractive juveniles, who look certain to win races later on, says a Christchurch writer.

K. Voitre is to ride In the Shade in the New Zealand Cup. In the Shade is very forward in condition, chieily as the result of a regular but' not over-strenuous campaign of racing in Australia. Voitre is a capable horseman and the pair will have many followers on : Saturday.

When Stanchion ran third to Make Up and Habit at Carterton on Saturday he was having his first raoe since last EasLer, so that his forward showing against good form horses suggests that he .will not be long in winning a race. Stanchion appears to have mended his unruly ways under the care of G. Neich.

False Scent, winner of the Maiden Race at the Waipawa meeting on Labour Day, was secured by his present owner, Mr H. S. Rathbone, for less than 20 sovs. He carried the colours made famous in years gone by when Merganser and other good ones won important races for the late Mr W. Rathbone. False Scent was highly regarded by J. H. Jefferd until he went in the wind.

A New Zealander remained in Australia and went to Melbourne for the Caulfield and Melbourne Cups, states that McAulay (Nighlmarch) and Jamieson (In the Shade), missed a great chance in the Caulfield Cup. Eric Connolly told a well-known New Zealander that In the Shade would have been a certainty, but of course nobody at the time had any other idea than that Phar Lap would be a runner. !

Information to hand .from the special correspondent of this paper at Riccarton, showed that Te Awhina was responsible for an attractive piece of work in training on Tuesday morning. The Paper Money—-Kilcalm mare, with about 8.0 up, ran sixHurlongs in 1,15. Those figures will cause Te Awhina’s prospects in the Stewards’ Handicap on Saturday to be given more than average consideration. • She has 8.1 for the race just ahead. It is In Te Awhina's favour that she can stay on.

Treasurers in search of money (says the “Australasian”) seem to regard racing, as ah inexhaustible souroe of revenue. " Any further. Impositions, however, mlghT- defeat the object in view, because the, people might not. be able to> afford increased prices, and there would be a decline in attendances. The burden of taxation is seriously affecting racing in New Zealand. It is making the cost of the sport prohibitive to the general public, owners, and trainers.

The success of horses by the imported sire, Hunting Song, has attracted the attention of the Australian breeder Mr P. Miller (says the Sydney “Sun”). It is understood that he contemplates sending some mares to the Dominion to be mated with Hunting Song, and they will be left there, together with the young stock, to obtain the benefit of the pastures. The tracts of limestone country in New Zealand are becoming recognised by Australians as presenting, many advantage's, and more and more' Commonwealth owners are being converted to the idea of rearing young bloodstock on them.

Gold Money has been nominated for the Waikato Cup and also for the Cambridge Handicap, the chief distance and sprint' events respectively, on the first day of the coming meeting at Te Rapa. The Paper Money— Miss Ethel mare. h§s had some rac'ing at a middle distance, but her successes have been mainly as a sprinter. She has been sent over journeys up to a mile on the Ellerslie tracks of late, which indicates that Gold Money may tackle the main item at local headquarters on Saturday week.

Two Elderslie* stud mares in Esther and Refinement were represented by winners on the final day of the Caulfield Cup meeting. Esther was represented by Galtantic, who won the Gwyn Nursery Handicap from 19 others. Galtantic is a result of the mare being sent across to l Australia on a visit to Heroic. Refinement is the dam of Mystic Peak, who beat Mollison and 1-7 others in the Windsor Handicap, Mystic Peak also won the Cantala Stakes at Flemington on Saturday. -

Silvermine won the Stewards’ Handicap at Riccarton two years ago, with 8.4, when he ran the journey in the smart time of 1.11 4-5. The Catmint —Silver Link "gelding is engaged in

Saturday’s big sprint item at the New Zealand Cup Carnival, with 8.10. Before leaving Hawera this week for the scene Silvermine was reported to have executed excellent work on the tracks, in which case he will again prove a formidable opponent for the best of the opposition down tho straight six at Riccarton.

Ephialtes, who created a sensational surprise when he won the Trial Plate-al Carterton on Saturday, comes from a very speedy family, ilis sire, Thomond is by poiydamon from Sweet Tipperary, who was good enough to wju a C.J-C. Welcome Slakes. Thomond went to the stud as a three-year-old subsequent to an accident. Rose of Athens, his dam, is by Demosthenes from Rose . Shield, by Hotchkiss from Rose of Wellington, a sister, to Royal Artillery, True Blue and Screw Gun. When Mr Dwan sold his breeding establishment at Lower Hutt he -'disposed of Rose of Athens to Mr J. Ormond, -and Mrs Dwan later purchased the yearling foal for 50 guineas. Ephialtes was running out till six months ago. - It was thought that he would, not be nearly ready to run out six furlongs, as he had never been sprinted more than three on the tracks.

La’Justice, with whom H. R. Telford won the Maribyrnong Stakes at Flemington on Saturday, is a filly by Chief Ruler out of Rapture. She was a winner at double figures at Moonee Valley' the previous Saturday, and in the Maribyrnong Stakes those odds were extended, so her win would ba a big surprise. Rapture is a Kilbroney mare from Ambrosian, a half-sister to Danube, who was the best of his year and went on to win both Derbies. La Justice was the first Ally to come up in the Westmere draft at the national sales last year, and she was the first of a considerable number that 'Telford bought. He paid 80 guineas for this Ally and stated that it would have taken a big sum to stop him from securing lierj La Justice had her Arst run at the A.J.G. meeting, where she was unlucky, but. nevertheless Anished close up to' the placed youngsters. Mr Donald is sending a colt from Rapture by Grand Knight to the January sales,this - season. This is reported to be a very promising youngster. Colts from this family have been much more successful than the Allies.

With so 1 many valuable horses competing at Flemington during the Cup carnival, the V.R.C. considered it necessary to take-every precaution to ensure that none of them were molested by unauthorised persons. A very serious view was naturally taken of the administering of a drug to Wise Force at the October meeting at Flemington, and the following notice issued to trainers over the. signature of Mb A. V. Kewney (secretary of the V.R.C.):

“Trainers are hereby Instructed that on race days at Flemington each horse brought on to the course must be In charge of an attendant, and that while his horse is in the saddling paddock, such attendant must remain constantly with it. Trainers are warned that it Is their obligation to see that these Instructions are carried out. If horsos are found unattended, the .matter will be at once reported to the stewards and severe penalties may be Imposed, not only on the attendants, who neglect their duty, but upon the trainer whose horses are so left unattended.”

DEATH OF BEST FRIEND

HASTINGS, Wednesday.

The trainer A. M. Wright, of Feilding, to-day sent a telephone message to Mr J. McCarten, owner, staling that Best Friend died to-day after a gallop-