GOSSIP FROM ALL PARTS.

Waikato Times, Volume 109, Issue 18342, 30 May 1931, Page 19 (Supplement)

GOSSIP FROM ALL PARTS.

The Auckland Club’s Winter meeting will be opened at Ellerslie on Wednesday. Saturday and Monday are the other days of the fixture, The big hurdles and the Cornwall Handicap will bo the chief attractions on the first day of the Auckland meeting. The Great Northern Steeplechase will be decided on Saturday. -The Olalci and Dunedin Clubs will race on Wednesday and Thursday, while the latter will conclude its Winter meeting on Saturday. Goshawk has again joined up with J. M. Cameron’s team, at Hastings. Although carrying a heavy winter coat, he looks ns if he has been very well done during his holiday in the paddock. Snow Prince made his initial appearances as a steeplechaser at the Te Knili meeting. .On the first day he fell before a mile had been covered, but he got round safely the next time. The Snow King—Gipsy Quin gelding should turn out useful at the game with experience. Ills next engagement is in the Greenlane Steeplechase at Ellerslie. Wako King will require to be given some consideration in the Gr.eenlane Steeplechase, on the first day or the Auckland, Racing Club’s Winter meeting. The King Lupin—Karitea chestnut has had a useful measure of experience and he handies the big country rather well. Ho ran two aood races in the division at Te Awamutu. where he was in fifth placo at his first start and improved upon the effort to be third at Ills next appearance. Wako King has had some experience of the Ellerslie 'country, which is not too formidable for him,

•Hunting Cry Is striding along well In his work at Hastings, Now that the tracks are on the soft side and likely to be for at least another two months, he will reoelve the opportunity of being thoroughly well before they harden up. The ex-Walkato owned j gelding, Aberftldy, makes a welcome addition to the ranks of steeplechasers. He has been schooled over the big fences at Riccarton and has given some excellent displays. He Is to be afforded every opportunity to master the art and will probably be given his Arst race at the South Canterbury meeting next month. KOzan, who has been brought north from Blenheim, was given a race at Te Awamutu prior to going on to Ellerslie. The Tea Tray—Rachael gelding, who has been a consistent stake earner In the south this year, contested the sprint event, the Stewards' Handicap, on Saturday. ,• After being prominent to the straight he stopped rather quickly and Was One of the last to Anlsh on that six furlong journey. Kozan Is better than that form disclosed. Re is lh the Members’ Handicap at Ellerslie on Wednesday.

Spalplko Is a much improved jumper of the big country. The Spalpeen gelding gave dashing displays in 'both his starts at Te Awamutu, where he Ainished In third place on Saturday and won on Monday, j On each occasion he was in a forward position throughout the two miles and a half. Spalpiko has., more pace than the average cross-country, horse which,/ allied to his clever fencing, ■ stamps him as a useful proposition. Spalplko la engaged In the Great Northern Steeplechase at the minimum.

Head Serang has now thrown off the soreness that was the means of him being taken out of work some few months back, The big son of Chief Buler and Chemise, who Is trained at Hastings, has now furnished Into a much more powerful horse, and his owner should get a further return before long.

One of the surprises of the opening day of the Masterton meeting was the win of Red Ruchsia in the hurdle race, for it was felt that the All Red gelding would not be able to give of his best. He did not gallop with his customary freedom, but after being nursed till the last fence was cleared he came on strongly to beat Full Mark and Princess Elizabeth In the last couple of strides. The rider of Full Mark, M. H. Nlcol, did not appear to realise his danger until too late, and the stewards fined him £2 for careless riding.

Pangolin, who Is an acceptor for the Greenlane Steeplechase at Ellerslle, Is owned in Christchurch, but has been placed under L, Knapp’s charge at Awapunl to he prepared for crosscountry racing. Tile Pailmure—Bengallne gelding contested the steeplechase each day at tho recent meeting at To Awamutu, which were his first appearance's In the division, lie finished sixth at his first start after nearly unseating his rider at a fence In the middle stages of the trip. Next time out, Pangolin went well and beat all but Spalpiko. Pangolin was a useful type of hurdler and he looks like paying his way over the country.

King Ford, a double winner at the recent meeting of the Te KulH Club, Is to go to Ellerslie where he will contest the second division of the Jervols Handicap on Wednesday. The King Lupin—Miss Ford gelding was at odds on when he,won the second division of tho Te Kumi Hack Handicap at Te Awamutu by two lengths. The measure of public support eased to some extent when King Ford paraded for the Hangatlkl Hack Handicap on Monday. The verdict on the latest occasion was even more readily gained than%t his first start, 'while the effort proved his ability to handle soft ground. J. F. Tutehen has been very painstaking with the three-year-old and it was pleasing to chronicle this reward to the efforts of the local trainer. King Ford will have a furlong further to traverse in the Jervois Handicap, but there arc very reasonable prospects of Ibis speedy back answering the staying requirements.

Kaokaoroa will contest the Greenlane Steeples on the Arst day at | Ellerslie, and the big steeples the second day. A Hastings writer says ■that 111 the Arst event he may have a chance, hut a race of the description of the big ’un seems a little too ambitious for the King Soult gelding at present. | Gay Cockade has been going along the right way at Ellerslie with his preparation for the Cornwall Handicap. As he has scored at a mile anti , a quarter and Is very partial to heavy ! ground, the Depredation—-Lethargic gelding looks like being in the order to make matters merry in the coming race in which lie is very handily placed with 7.0. J Pendavles was a starter in the Plo Pio Hurdles at Te Awamutu on Mon- . day, the local candidate being sent out third favourite. At no stage of ; the mile and a half was the Archies- ; town gelding going prominently and , Abbess was the only, one of the j twelve'.starters he beat home, Pen- , davles Is art acceptor for the Pen-' ro'se Hurdles on the opening day of the Auckland Club’s Whiter meeting. It will be necessary for'- him to improve on his latest display to reach the i.Toney.

It Is unusual for a non-winner over Jumps to open his account in an important steeplechase, but Impudent Barney scored bis maiden, win, in the Irish Grand National Steeplechase, of £776 1 Os, 3| miles, on April. G. He did not leave the result in doubt, beating the,, second horse by 40 lengths, the third horse being 25 lengths further back, As there were 11 runners, the Aeld must have been decidedly straggled when It reached the judge’s box. impudent Barney, who gave a lot of promise when young, broke down and for a long time was used as a hunter. Lupin Abbey finished fourth In both; his steeplechase engagements at the Te Kulti Axture, The King Lupin gelding fenced quite well but he was not able to hold on to the pace set in the opening stages. He was Anlshing on each time, The Te Rapa trained candidate is to contest the Greehlane Steeplechase at Ellerslie on Wednesday. The clrcut at provincial headquarters will suit him better- than the turning track he was oh at the week-end. He Is to be ridden next week by George Carmont, a son of the owner-trainer of Lupin Abbey. Carmont Intends to make his headquarters tills way. He should not want for riding as he is a strong horseman, '*,

Thu reduction of the New Zealand Cup stake this year to £I3OO 'brings the value below £2OOO for the second time since 1903. The stake In 1903, when Canteen won, was £ISOO. For 17 years the value stood at £2OOO, and In 1921 an inorease was made to £2500, Including a cup valued at £IOO. The stake was reduced to £2IOO in 1924 and to £1750 in 1927, since when it lias remained at £2OOO. The cup, which has formed part of the stake since 1921, is to be abolished. It Is 37 years since the stake was lower than this year’s value, but 'in the year in question, 1894, there was a sweepstake of £2O each besides the added money £IOOO. In Australia when a jockey is adjudged guilty of, causing an accident as a result of careless riding the least he can expect is suspension. It is different in England. The jockey Slrctt tried to squeeze • Nicrnan throtigh where there was no room in a race at Birmingham.. Nieman fed. and the stewards, being of opinion Slrctt was to blamo, lined him £2.> mm severely cautioned him ns to ins ruling in the future. As Sire it. * ul| Vrcd by his own carelessness pm h.il * _ h caused the stewards to m _ ' Many Australian jockeys (comments “Pilot” In me neferoe) would like to have the opportunity Of paying £25 i n preference |o two months’ suspension I ’or instance. W. Cook's absence iron’) riding as a result of gelling into trouble at Oosford will cost him considerably more than £25.

| Inevitable, Who Is ah acceptor for 1 the sprint race, the Members’ Handicap, on the opening day of the Auckland Club’s Winter meeting, has ■been galloping freely on the tracks sinno his arrival at provincial headquarters. The Thurnham—Comment I gelding, who has shown winning form at South Island meetings, is a free ! goer in soft ground and he will have a good following In his racing just ahead. Prince Val, although not successful in securing the principal portion of the stake, ran good races at Te Awamutu. He lost a lot of ground j in the early stages of his sprint enl gagement on Saturday, but he Anished 1 very fast to reach third place. The Valkyrian gelding again had his colours lowered by Lucky Alice on Monday, but he was within a length of the winner at the close of the six furlongs. Prince Val will be a starter in the Members’ Hahdlcap at Ellerslie on Wednesday in which the p’tospects of the Matamata owned and 'trained galloper can be Viewed with some favour with 7.3. Prince Lu made his appearance as a cross-country performer at Te AWamUtu. On the first day he was bowling along In dashing style In the lead when he ran off at the fence turning to the back of the course. Next time out Prince Lu was prominent for most of the two miles and a half, hut he was a tired horse when he went out of action at the final fence. The efforts over the big fehdes should have the effect of Improving the staying powers of the LUcUllUs gelding for hurdle racing. • He is an acceptor for the Great Northern' Hurdles in Which, with 9.4, he Will make affairs merry for the best of the opponents. P. V. Mason has had an important addition to his team at Riccarton, the Wellington owner, Mr R. J. Murphy, having placed the yearling gelding by Dlacquenod from oratress under his care. The youngster, who cost 500 guineas at the Trentham sales In January, Is a half-brother to Oratrlx, • Concentrate and Oratorlan, all of whom have carried the same owner’s oolourß with success. Another of Mr Murphy’s yearlings, a gelding by Tea Tray from the imported mare, Bonny Dawn, has joined IT. B. Loeigan’s stable at Trentham. The two yearlings have bec.i turned out at the Elderslle Stud since January. Twenty Grand, the Kentucky Derby Winner of this year, Is owned by Mrs H. Payne Whitney, and is by St. Germans (second in Sansovino’s English Derby) from Bonus by All Gold (a son of Persimmon). St Germans Is a half-brother by Swynford, to Saltash. Last year Twenty 'Grand ran In eight races, winning four, and ■his earnings were i£8276. Twenty Grand’s 2.1 4-5 was easily a record for the Derby, and he must have a special liking for Churchill Downs, as Is was on that track last year he did a mile in I.36—an American record for a two-year-old In a race. When Gallant Fox won the Kentucky Derby last year it carried £10,145 for first, and It was probably, worth at least as much this year, f*

Standfast has run his best races when the ground has been On the yielding side. The Valkyrian—Unity gelding is again approaching the right condition as the result of 'the racing he had at the recent meetings of the Franklin and the Te Kuitl Clubs. On the opening day of the latter fixture he finished in third place after meeting with ill luck at the barrier and agam in the straight. At his second day appearance he was in the role of runner-up to Grand Tea in the mile Waitomo Handicap, the chief fiat race of the card. Standfast is in at the minimum in the Cornwall Handicap. He has proved capable of seeing out a mile and a quarter with success and his prospects will be entitled to consideration at Ellerslie.

No doubt it will surprise many in this district and throughout the Dominion to learn that that_ One-time champion, Bobrikoft’, is still in the land of the living, running out on Mr T, H. Lowry’s estate at Okawa (says a Hastings writer). The Finland— Gossip black gelding is now in his 28th year, and is still able to career around the paddock when the humour becomes him. His owner, Mr Lowry, when questioned as to the best horse he ever owned or raced, without hesitation* will answer' “Bobl'ikoff,” and when one considers the great horses the Squire of Okawa has raced (including Desert Gold) little more need be said. In New Zealand he won all of the most important races, and when taken to Australia to compete against their then champion, Prince Foote, returned here with honours even. Had “Old Bob” not suffered from muscular trouble, which prevented him getting off the mark with the others, goodness knows what he would have done on the turf! Rocegoers of a couple of decades ago will rememb-'r his phenomenal runs at the end of a race, and one in particular, at Napier Park, when he entered the straight in a six-furlong race at least a hundred yards in the rear and then finished in front. This race Is oft-, limes ..repeated When discussing some horse’s great run at the end of a race. There is a little romance in connection with the ownership of BobrlkolT in the early stages of. his career. Put up for auction with many other yearlings in Christchurch, he fell under the hammer to Mr E. J. Watt, who had him sent up to his Longlahds Stud, where he ran out for some months, to be later brought in with a draft and submitted to auction in Hastings; but that day no bid was made for the black rising two-year-old, who was entered without reserve, and a twenty pound note would have bought him. He was later brought in again from Longlands, and one day Mr Watt, meeting F. Davis told him he had a decent sort of a horse in the makings, and if h° (Davis) cared for him he could purchase him and pay the amount when the horse won a race. The piice wa. not hard, and Davis, _ who was I hen ( private trainer lo Mr . 1 ’ accepted the terms and received the Finland— Gossip gelding into Ins l nnds U was not long ere Fred dis‘overed that lie had a rare galloper, nn d persuaded Mr Lowry to purchase Iho gelding, and that is how Mr Lowry canic to own Bobrikoff.