WORLD OF SPORT

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 127, Issue 127, 9 July 1941, Page 8

WORLD OF SPORT

RACING NOTES

FOXIANA'S FIVE HURDLE SUCCESSES UNBEATEN OVER FENCES Outstanding hurdler in the D0 1 - minion, among those up and coming, is without doubt Foxiana, Mr L. H. Gollinson's dashing, son of Hunting Song and Martuella. When tried at flat racing Foxiana was only so-so-just that—but he has caused history to be written recently by winning five hurdle races on end; in fact, the only jumping events he has competed in. He has progressed rapidly from the hack class to* open compam", and there appears toi be every •reason to be sanguine about his chances. It is not often, that brothers succeed in the same: race in successive years, but Foxiana followed the example set by Old Surrey a year ago by winning the Wanganui Century Hurdles on May 31. At one time the Century Hurdles, which was first contested in 1906, attracted many of the best hurdlers; in the Dominion, the raeei holding an important place in the racing calendar. Numbered among its winners are horses of the calibre of Waipu, Wimmera, Beireola, Sir Fish/ er, Loahella, Ngata, Poanui, Req Fucshia, Mister Gamp, Aurora Boreal is and Charade. Many of the Ilors.es mentioned were successful in other feature jumping races in the Dominion. It takes a horse above the average to win five hurdle raccs in, success sion, particularly -when the horse i? meeting better class fields, all the time, and not mediocre ones, as sometimes happens. Buti that what Foxiana has accomplished. When he ran down the leaders in the llangitira Hurdles i.ll effortless style at Awapuni he stamped him-, self as a hurdler of class. Ho thsn defeated a useful field which included Tidewaiter, Great Quex, Mataro:« Travail and Hot Shot. Foxiana is well enough bred to win any race either on the flat ov over hurdles, for he is by Hunting Song from that splendid handicappei Martuella, who also raced in the colours of Mr L. H. Collinson. Other.' of the* breed are Hunting Lore and Old Surrey. From the above records it will ho s,een that Foxiana has done all re auired of him this, season. The T'rentham and Grand National meetings will give him an opportunity to add some of the richer stakes ot fered to hurdlers.

DISTANCES RESTRICTED

After due consideration, consequenl upon the subjioct at issue being a niost unusual one, connected with the turf, the Auckland Racing Club has decided not to accept the nomination of the black gelding Esquire for races over a mile in distance. This is the outcome of the horse refusing to gallop over the crossing that has to be negotiated in mile and a quarter events. WHAT IS A PONY? References to the steeplechaser Whirr as a pony (actually he i: 14.3%) havei revoked inquiries as to what a pony really is, states a Sou, thern newspaper. Ponies are not mentioned in the Rules of Racing, and even in past clays when races for the lilliputians were legal there was no official definition. In the Rules of Trotting there is a provi's* ion that in saddle races the weight to be carried by ponies "under 14.2" is 9.0, but that does not mean that a 14.2 horse/ is not a pony. In Ansv tralia, when pony racing was booming, there were 14.3 ponies, the measurements being taken, if necessary, with the horse's shoes removed . IMPROVING Jewelled Girdle, one oT the highlights in winter contests last year, is improving very steadily at Te Rapa. He is a proved mudlark, but tliis year will be unable to show his cnpabilitj" in the Trcntham going.

ON THE LEAD Last year's winner of the Wellington Steeplechase, Ghat, is: being worked on the lead at Awapuni, and is expected to be in good trim to compete at the Canterbury National meeting. X ANOTHER DIVIDEND Dividend has had a fairly easy time since the Great Northern meeting at Ellerslie, but this work will take a more serious turn with a view to racing at Trentham. Dividend is in splendid shape after his trip, and if he can handle the heavy going peculiar to Trentham he should again race prominently. His engagements include the Trentham and Winter Hurdles and the High* weight Handicap. SPEAKING OF RECORDS At a country race meeting in Queensland, G. Bianchi (an amateur) rode six winners, T. Kilpatrick five seconds, and C. Crombie six thirds. That is only part of the sequence story. The six winners were from Gordon Downs station, the six seconds from Peak Downs, and the six thirds from Gordon Downs. Fields averaged six, and there were 18 other horses that could haw broken the sequence. ON THE IMPROVE Gay Parade brought his stake winnings for the season to £6fis 10s with his easy success in the Grange Handicap at the Oamaru Jockey Club*s winter meeting. Whem Gay Parade defeated Cymric in the Lewis Pass Handicap at Reefton earlietr in the season he waited on his opponent until three furlongs from home, and similar tactics were/ adopted by J. W. Jennings on Saturday, but on this occasion Cymric did not get ? place, Secret Flight being the run-, ner-up. BRED TO JUMP Henry of Huntingdon, who had bee;n showing some promise in schooling at Awapuni, made his de-. but in the Oringi Hurdles at Danne* virkc a few days ago, and his effoit was fair. He was inclined to jump too high for the first mile, but once he settled down to his, work he displaved improvement, and with a little more experience he may pav his way in this department. He is a four year old by a Cynic colt, and it is worth remembering that Cynic himself was, a winner of the Great Northern Hurdles. CONSISTENT 'CHASER The Colossus gelding Hyderabad is building up a consistent record ns a steeplechaser, and his three efforts! to date have yielded three con. secutive seconds. He is a smart fencer. but at times suffers from recurring soreness, which naturally restricts his preparation. However, he pulled up soundly after contesiing the Dannevirke Hunt Cup, and pro* viding he cap be kept at his' best hn should not be • long in making amends. BACK TO WORK The Canterbury trainer, F. Ellis has just recommissioned Wagner. This thoroughbred was presented to him by Mr Duncan Rutherford coitsequent upon a breakdown. He ha? been patched up, and may in due 1 course affect a surprise. RELATIVE TO PHAR LAP A very interesting yearling at the Inglewood Stur, Kaiapoi, is a fine colt by Solicitor-General from Raphis, a full sisitier to Phar Lap, who was injured as a two year old and not raced. She Avas presented by the breeder, Mr F. Armstrong, of Christchurch, to Mir Ken Austin. She is n, very fine type of thoroughbred, and is now the only sister to Phar Lap in the Dominion.

RACING FIXTURES

JULY 8, 10, 12 —Wellington Racing Club 19—Miannwalu Hunt Club 19—Waimate District Hunt Club 26—South Canterbury H.G. 26—Rangitikei Iluut Club