RACING.

Waikato Times, Volume 112, Issue 18777, 27 October 1932, Page 13

RACING.

FROM TRACK AND STABLE. i ßy •' Martian.”) FIXTURES AHEAD. Octobed 29 —Poverty Bay. Uctoner ‘ii) — ; Uanks peninsula. November 5, 7 —Auckland. November .5, 7,9, 12 — Canterbury. November 10, 12— Whangarei. November 12 — Hawke’s Bay. November 18, 19 —Winton. November 19 — Carterton. November .19, 21 — Waikato. November 26 —Levin. November 26, 28 — ITakapuna. 1 Takapuna. November 30, December 1— Fending Now south Wale*> October 29— Canterbury Victoria. October 29—V.R.G. NOTES AND COMMENTS. THE WELLINGTON MEETING. \ 4AUTOPAY AND THE STEWARDS.

Grecian Prince and Silver Ring, who raced unsuccessfully In Sydney, Are being exercised on the tracKS at Rlccarton. The latter is booked to contest the Stewards’ Handicap, and A. Messervy ha 3 been engaged to ride 10m.

Arikitea, the winner of the Hlghv/elght Handicap at Waverley, is train»d at Feildlng hy W. A. Jorgensen. The six-year-old gelding by Damloff Vivarini has contested four races and has won on three occasions.

At the West Australian Turf Club's meeting on October 8 the Initial Stakes, for two-year-olds, was won by Agriflora, who Is by the New Zealand Derby winner Agrlon. On the same day the Chief Ruler mare Valpro won the Bellevue Handicap, one mile.

Te Hola, who went amiss on the eve of the Avondale Cup, when bn the •oene for the raoe, is again In work At Te Rapa. The recent set baoa was due to tendon trouble. If be continues on the right way this member of L. Everson's team will race in the Mltchelson Cup, .

The Doncaster blood stock sales, which ran throughout the St. Leger meeting, show that the turf Is In a Erosperous state of health, and that etler times are in store for breeders (says the London Sporting Life). Practically every session showed an increase against the corresponding sales of last year, while the total for the four days was over 155,000 guineas, compared with 143,778 guineas 12 months ago.

The Viotorian Government, In search of revenue from raolng, has imposed a new betting tax, which has come in for severe orlticism. Its provisions are as follows: —On wagers of £3 and up to and not including £lO, Is; £lO and up to-but-note -including £20,.55; on £25 and up to and not including •£SO, 3s; on £SO and up to and not inoludlng £IOO, 4s; on £IOO and up to and not Including £250, ss; on £250 or more, 10s.

Prize-money was well distributed during the Wellington meeting. The Rlocartoh stable of Sir Charles Clifford had a good Innings, winning three races with Fast Passage, Fracas and Drum Fire, while Fast Passage and Drum Fire also ran seoond and Cricket Bat was- third in the Ilarcourt Cup. This brought his total up to £555, whloh gave him a substantial lead on B. Burgess, who won the Wellington Handicap with Cluny; Mrs M. g. curie, who won the Wellesley Stakes with Red Manfred; and Mr V. Riddiford, who was successful In the Harcourt Cup with Historic. The leading amounts are:—Sir Charles Clifford, £555; V, Riddiford, £280; B. Burgess; £280; Mrs M. S. Curie, £2BO ; Dr. Mj G, Loulsson, £210; Mrs w. D. Graham, £175; C. T. Keeble, £175; R. Graoe, £175.

Autopay ran the raoe of his life In Ihe A.J.C. Epsom. He was last halfway, but finished fourth. Autopay

lad 9.8 in that event. He has 9.2 In the Stewards’ Handicap at Rlccarton, end he Is certainly a candidate that the connections of other horses in the race will have to consider seriously. •He carried 8.12 when he won the C.J.C. Great Easter in March. His trainer, C. Pritchard, said that there was no doubt that Autopay was doped on the eve of the Craven Plate, but he did not get sufficient to do him permanent harm. He was physicked and Is now- quite himself again. Mr Norman Altken, part-owner of the horse, told a Wellington Interviewer that he thought that the man who gave the dope Intended It for Chatham or Galne Carrington and gave It In mistake to Autopay, who, as a matter of fact, was not expected to win. It was his first run over the distance.

Evidently A. D. Webster and his friends won some money over the success of Movie Star on the final day at Randwick. The following paragraph is from an Australian newspaper:—“Associated with the success of Movie Star in the Final Handicap Rt Randwick on Saturday >vas a tilt at the ring reminiscent of notable betting roups previously landed by visiting New Zealanders. The gelding was hacked for a fortune, and though it just scrambled home from New King, ills half-neck victory was sufficient, jo believe the ring of a colossal sum." This i? probably exaggerated language, hut no doubt, the New Zealanders had fl substantial win. This Is what the Sydney Herald writer has to say about It':—“A. D. Webster had not found his present trip to Australia as profitable as several of hi? previous sojourns, but be made up a considerable amount, of leeway when Movie. Star accounted for the Final Handicap. The gelding was strongly supported on Ihe third day of the meeting, luil suffered Inlerferenee. This notwithstanding, he finished on well enough lo encourage his party to go for a good win on Saturday. There was a good market, for Movie Slar. and his parly was not averse lo taking the opportunity. the gelding firming from 7 lo 1. ’ lie was nicely handled by K. Britt, who •nursed’ him for Ihe run in the straight, as the gelding had not lillherlo shown his .fbilily lo run out Hie distance. Entering the straight K was almost any horse's race. Tren- j etto then gradually forged ahead, and s he was well clear entering the last furlong. Movie Star, howeved, issued his challenge at the right time, but he had to be hard ridden to Ihe judge to stall off a late run by the lightweight. New King."

Persham was well supported for sprint honours at Cambridge. The Lackham—Persis four-year-old was in fifth position as the field raced ;*iong the back, but he was never capable of improving on that and headed only one of the nine runners nome. This was Persham’s first appearance since the meeting at Te Kuiti in April. The member of A. Tinker’s team is likely to do a lot better as the season advances. He is due to do hie next racing at the Auckland Club’s Spring meeting.

High Commissioner was backed down to little better than ’’evens’’ for the Hack Hurdles at the Waverley meeting, and won like the good thing he appeared to be. Passing the stands the first time Callapat, Just an Idea, Calamine, High Commissioner and Day Lass were racing In that order. Air Laddie was rushed into the lead going into the back but lost his position at the obstacle near the six furlongs. High Commissioner then held command from Day LasS ■Calamine and Just an Idea, hut Day Lass soon placed a margin of four lengths between herself and High Commissioner. hue latter was up with Day Lass at the last hurdle, with Calamine and Callapat next. Once over, the favourite came away to win easily by eight lengths, with Calamine two lengths ahead of Day Lass. Then came Callapat, Coma and Just a:i Idea. Ngareta fell four furlongs from home.

Simeon, who was raced at the Waikato Hunt meeting, is to remain in the north for the Sp'CTig fixtures at which the Gisborne representative will oontest jumping events. Simeon was a starter in the chief cross-country race at Cambridge. The Gazeley—Theorem gelding made an error, due to the slippery ground, at the fence turning to the back, about six furlongs from home. He was handy to the pacemaker, Jen, at the time. But for this mishap,.Simeon would have been In at the final issue, although he would not' have healen Trouble, to whom lie was conceding 91b.

The Wellington Racing Club is certain to he a heavy financial loser o\e.* the meeting just concluded. The stakes for the two days totalled £3790, and to pay this sum the club will have to dip well into reserves, for Its gross share of the totalisator turnover amounts only to £3433, and the net sum, after deducting tolalisator working expenses, will only be about £2BOO. The Government’s share by way of taxation Is naturally very much less than last year, for not ■only Is the totalisator turnover nearly 35 per cent down, hut there is also a rebate of 1 per cent to racing clubs, oonoeded last April, to be taken into aocount. The approximate sum to be paid in taxation, without amusement tax, the amount of which is not yet available le' £3572 against £5985 In 1931 and £8474 in 1930. In these three Items the Treasury has . thus dropped the sum of £2413, on last year's amount taken by way of taxation, and the sum of £4902 on the amount taken two years ( ago.

An escapade of R.' Rama's twof year-old Acre—Country Picnic gelding Horowhenua before the running of the Canonbury Stakes- at Randwlck proved somewhat costly to the Australian Jockey Club. The New Zealander careered once round the course, and was then declared a non-starter, but the decision was not made known until some time afterwards. In the meantime the totalisator officials and the bookmakers had regarded the colt as. a starter, and the dividends in each enclosure were calculated with the Horowhe nu at lek Cts iholuded In the ’aggregates. Backers of the youngster were, however, entitled to a refund. Altogether 134 tlokets were taken out on him on the paddock machine and nearly double that number on the leger and flat. The belated notification of his being a non-starter thus cost the olub more than £IOO.

One of the worst starts on the Trentham course for years was effected In the Spring Trial Stakes, and It looked as if half the field did' not know whether or not the race was on when the other half was scaling off for the judge, and for the dry shelter of their boxes, says ‘‘Rangatira" In the Post. The half that was (jaught all at sixes and sevens was out of the race at once, and It Included the favourite, Plateau, and the wellfancied Cottesmore and Azure. It was the horses on the inside who suffered. Minstrel Lad, the seoond favourite, was the winner, so the public fared better than they might have. He did not get all the best of the start, but he settled down Into fifth position, with not the best representatives in the field ahead of him. Grand Review and Copper King took over the running after going a couple of furlongs, and he was up In third place about three lengths behind them at the straight entrance. Grand Review soon weakened, and a little further on Minstrel Lad had Copper King’s measure. He finally won comfortably by nearly a length. He is a very promising three-year-old half-brother by Nigger Minstrel to Arrow Lad, and he has- now won three of his four races this season. He is described in race books as a colt, but he is now a gelding. He is owned and trained by his breeder, Mr C. Jones, of Awapunl.

Little Doubt and Grand Jury were best backed In the Waverley Cup on Labour Day, but the winner turned up In Refresher, who was fourth 'choice. Going out of the straight Refresher, Orby’s Choice and Marjoram were clear of Grand Jury and Sllvermlne, but entering the back stretch Orby’.s Choice held the lead, being followed by Refresher and Marjoram, with a gap of three lengths back to Grand Jury and Sllvermlne. Half a mile from home Orby’s Choice was several lengths ahead of Refresher and Marjoram, with another gap to Grand Jury, Silvermine and Eastertime. Turning for home Orby’s Choice was just in front of Refresher, Marjoram, and Grand Jury. Orby’.s Choice gave it up when they were in line for the judge, and Refresher went into the lead. Grand Jury challenged and in a great finish was beaten by a nose. A length and a half away was Orhy’s Choice, followed by Little Doubt, Calamine and Marjoram.

When only four horses went out to contest die Harcourt Cup, the welglit-for-age gem at the Wellington Spring meeting, It, looked as though il was going to lie a poor race, but il provided the public* with a real thrill, says “Rangatira.” Historic, recently back frn'm Sydney, was backed as though il was a purely one-horse affair, bill be bad lo give, bis last ounce of effort In win from Cay Crest. He stuck bis big head in front only in the last strides, and a few strides past Hie post Cay Crest was hack in the lead. With Hie victory Historic joins the ranks of Hiosj* horses who have won the race twice. He was successful two years ago. and was not a runner last year. Ollier horses who have scored more than slngie victories have been Insert Cold (three times), Gloaming (Ihree times), and Amythas (twice). The win was popular, and there was a big reception awaiting the chestnut as he returned to the birdcage all begrimed In mud after his fine effort. The victory brings Ills

stake-earnings to £8824 to date for nineteen wins and nineteen placings In 83 starts, all In the colours of Mr V. Riddiford. The race requires- little description. Gay Crest at once sottied down In the lead, with Cricket Bat on his quarters, Historio behind him on the fence, and Spearful on Historic’s quarters. So they ran till the straight was reached. At the false rail L. G. Morris sent Historic -up on the Inner of Cricket Bat, who was tiring, and began to creep up along the outside of Gay Crest. But Gay Crest was not yet beaten. B. H. Morris had him going well, and he never faltered. Historic was almost -level at the half distance but could not quite get up to terms. Than In the final hundred yards- came his last great effort, and he pushed his head in front for moments only as the post was being passed. It was a sterling performance, but so was Gay Crest’s-. The latter is reputed unable to handle heavy ground, but he made no bones about It on -this occasion. He Is coming to hand rapidly at present, and should be near his best on New Zealand Cup day. B. H. ■Morris seemed to get the best out of him, Just as In the past he has out ■of Historic, HUNTER’S MOON FOR CEYLON. WELLINGTON, Wednesday. The three-year-old gelding Hunter’s Moon, recently purchased by Mr G. L. Lyon, of Ceylon, will do no more racing In New Zealand. He Is to be shipped to Australia and \vlll u -,join Compris in Melbourne. Compels is to run at the Melbourne Cup meeting, starting on Saturday in Hie Ilotham Handicap. After the meeting both horses will be shipped to Ceylon..