Notable Performers on the New Zealand Turf.—No. 70 : WINDORAH.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Issue 1540, 30 October 1919, Page 18

Notable Performers on the New Zealand Turf. —No. 70 : WINDORAH.

Neither of the wonderful handicap horses, Wolaroi and Rebus, could make Gloaming gallop in the mile and a-quarter weight-for-age race, the Craven Plate (says a Sydney writer). He was simply cantering at the finish with the jockey looking round. Considering that he ran the last half mile in 47£sec. one wonders what he could have done if he had been ridden right out. His pronounced victory makes Poitrel’s defeat of him over a mile and a-half the more meritorious. It is satisfactory to know that while the Dominion representative has no equal in N.S.W. up to a mile and a-quarter, we have a better one here at a longer distance.

On the second day of the A.J.C. spring meeting, £88,633 10s. was passed through the totalisator —an Australasian record for six races. There were seven events on the concluding day. Bookmakers did considerable business, and most of them are said to have made a small profit. New Zealanders plunged heavily on Spanner when he was twice beaten, and the sable lost £2OOO. None of the punting brigade are thought to have been winners to any extent, and most lost money, followers of the Richmond-Stead stable coming out worst.

J. Mahoney, who rode in good form at the recent A.J.C. meeting, saluting the judge on two occasions, is to have the mount on Kenilford in the Melbourne Cup on Tuesday. Kenilford, who, with Nightwatch and Artilleryman, is one of the favourites for the big two-mile event at Flemington, acted as runner-up to Rebus in the Metropolitan Handicap (IS miles) and was subsequently purchased by Sir Samuel Hordern at a price which has not been made public, but which rumour places at 3500 guineas. Kenilford is a five-year-old brown gelding by Kenilworth Blueford, and has five wins to his credit, three of which have been registered this season. Should Artilleryman face the barrier in the Melbourne Cup, Sir Samuel Hordern will thus have two strings to his bow. as he is a half owner of that colt. Last year he had Arch Marella to carry his colours in the Melbourne Cup, but the Auckland-bred gelding was unable to do better than run twelfth, though later on he won the Summer Cup and Anniversary Handicap at Randwick in good style.

From Christchurch comes word of the death of Mr. G. B. Starky’s brood mare, Prudish, dam of Varnish and Mustard Pot.

So far nothing has been decided as to whether Bonnie Heather will run in the New Zealand Cup. The difficulty of getting a 6.7 boy may decide against running him. He is engaged in the Maiden Plate (one mile), run on the opening day of the C.J.C. meeting.

It is a rare occurrence to find a team of trotters from Canterbury competing without success at Alexandra Park, but such proved to be the case during the Auckland Troting Club’s recent meeting. A quartette of Christchurch-trained horses, in Star Queen, Pitaroa, Wonderland and Billy Parole, started on both days of the meeting, and three thirds were the best they were capable of in their various engagements. Star Queen ran third in the principal handicap on both days, while Billy Parole occupied a similar position in the Hillsboro’ Trotting Handicap on the second day.

Mr. A. C. Hanlon, president of the Dunedin Jockey Club, stated the other day that he had under consideration a proposal to plant the whole of the inside area encircled by the racecourse at Wingatui with daffodil bulbs. “This would in no way interfere with the grazing of sheep on the area concerned,” added Mr. Hanlon, “and the waving of a multitude of golden blooms would present a beautiful sight at the time of the spring meeting, and would greatly enhance the attractions already possessed by the course.”