SPORTING.

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 19180, 10 December 1927, Page 18

SPORTING.

RACING FIXTURES. Dec. 10, 12—Taumarnnui R.O. Dee. 17 —Waipa R.C. Dec. 17—Oamaru J.C. (at Vringatui). Dec. 26—Alexandra R.C. Dec. 26 —St. Bathans R.C. Dec. 26—Kaikoura R.C. Dec. 2fi—Waipukurau J.C. D ec 26 —Hurunui Turf Club. Dec! 26, 27—Dunedin J.C. Dec. 26, 27—Westland R.C. Dec. 26, 27—Taranaki J.C. Dec. 26, 27, 29—Manawatu R.C. Dec. 26, 28, Jan. 2. 3—Auckland R.C. Dec. 30, 31, Jan. 2—Greymouth J.C'. Dec. 31, Jan. 2—Wnirarapa R.C. Dec. 31, Jan. 2—Hawke's Bay JX. TROTTING FIXTURES. Dec. lU—Northland T.C. Dec. 10—Wellington T.C. Dec. 15, 17—New Brighton T.C. Dec. 26—Asliburton T.C. Dec. 26, 27—Wtstport T.C. Dec 20, 27—South Wairarapa i.e. December 26—Gore T.C. Annual. Dec. 27, 29. 31 —Auckland I.C. Dec! 29—Winton T.C. Jan. 2, 3—Canterbury Park T.C. Jan. 3 —Westland T.C. Jan. 4, s—Greymouth T.C. Jan. 26, 28 —Forbury Park T.C. Jan. 28—Hawke's Bay T.C. Jan. 31, Feb. I—Nelson T.C. Feb. 2—Takaka T.C. Feb. 11— X.Z. Metropolitan T.C. TURF GOSSIP.

Nominations for the Greymouth und Reef ton Meetings close at 9 p.m. today. Nominations for the Wairarapa and Wyndham Meetings close on Monday. Nominations for the Waiau Meeting close on Tuesday.

Wayward, tho latest of Mr J. M. Samsou's big string, is attached to R. C. Keeper's stable at Orari. The Dunedin owner must now hold a world's record for the number of trainers he has working for him. He certainly deserves all tho success that should come the way of such an enterprising purchaser. «•

Footfall was given a couple of rounds of easy work on the plough at Riocarton yesterday without showing any signs of lameness, and he walked off the track in satisfactory order. The three-year-old Chelone, who won the first division of the Trial Plate at Woodville on Wednesday, is a half brother by Leighton to the Riccarton trained Nincompoop. Chelone is trained by his owner, Mr W. H. Gaisford.

An unnamed two-year-old halfbrother to the last English Derby winner, Call Boy, was recently disposed of to an American buyer. Admiral Cary T. Cary for £12,000. The youngster, who has won twice out of three starts, is by Grand Parade, who has a son racing in the Dominion in Grand Knight. The owner of the winner of the Auckland Cup receives 2000 sovs, and a gold cup (valued at 100 sovs, tho second and third stakes being respectively 600 and 300 sovs. The Riccarton apprentice, A. H. Eastwood, bids fair to go a long way as a rider of winners and in this, his

second season, he has had a large number of mounts, with seven successes. He is improving with experience, but one of his few failings of looking round if he is on the leader when the final stages are being entered is a serious habit he is inclined to follow. Both at Dunedin and Timaru his mounts, Taboo and Battle Colours respectively, were well out in front half-way down the running, and Eastwood in each case turned round in the saddle to see

how his pursuers were faring. This action may some day, under stringent supervision, lead to trouble. J. MoOombe intends to patronise the Oamaru Meeting at Wingatui' with Amorist and Court Jester, who will be the sole representatives of the Riccarton stable at the fixture. Both will

probably raco in the south during the holidays, and • McCombe will send 1 Cupid's Bow and Understudy, both from Leading Lady, to the West Coast Meetings. The latter filly was sold some time hack to an Australian buyer, hut was recently sent back from Sydney and rejoined McCombe's stable. Overhaul and Black Duke ■ were struck out of their engagements at the Oamaru Meeting on the appearance of the handicaps. Booster was also struck out of the Oamaru Cup. Mr J. M. Samson has decided to place three or four horses with E. J. _ Ellis, who is starting as a public trainer. The horses will be temporarily trained at Wingatui, and later may be transferred to Timaru, where EHis contemplates establishing his stable. The ex-Riccarton apprentice, R. Beale, who is now attached to A. Goodman's stable at Trentham, had the mount on Ring Boy, when the Kilboy gelding ran a dead heat and a second at the Woodville Meeting this week.-

Royal Damon, who won the Oete Handicap at Woodville on Wednesday, is to go to Ellerslie to fulfil his engagements at the Auckland Summer Meeting. Royal Damon does not appeal as being up to Railway Handicap class, but he is a very useful horse who might win a race at the Meeting if well placed. Beacon Light, Shirley, and Flicker are intended to race at Manawatu during the holidays. Beacon, Light has been doing some solid work since returning from the New Zealand Cup Meeting, but he is not putting much dash into it. Shirley has done little or nothing on the tracks lately. V. H. Colello, trainer of Bennanee, had practically decided at Woodville upon taking the Catmint gelding to Auckland to run in the Cup and other engagements. Bonnanee's failure on Thursday is not likely to effect any change in the plan, as good excuses can be made for his failure.

One or two interesting gallops took place on the course proper at Woodville after the racing on Wednesday. Gascony, carrying round about' 6.7, slipped very smartly over six furlongs in the presenece of his owner, Mr T. H. Lowry. Gascony has lately been showing signs of a return to'form, and this particular gallop was very encouraging in view of his Railway Handicap engagement. So far no rider has been engaged for him in that event. On Thursday Ridgemount, with R. Reed up, and therefore carrying over 8.0, got away in frout of The Earth in a spin over four furlongs. Ridgemount ran in the region of 4f)secg for the half, good time for'Woodville, and it indicates that he has gone on the right way since he returned from Sydney. Ridgemount did not Btart on the opening day at Woodville, Mr Stead scratching all his horses when it rained so hard, and he was not engaged on the second day, so that New Zealanders still have to wait to see him in action in public. As he is rated highly by those who saw him in Australia, he will add considerable interest to the contest in the Great Northern Foal Stakes, and it is apparent that he is a youngster much above the average.

Grand Knight and Staghunter galloped six furlongs on Thursday evening, and. without being after time, accomplished a pleasing performance. Staghunter has done really well lately, and he is another who enters -into calculations in the Foal Stakes on Boxing Day.

The three-year-old Paper Money filly, Expense, has failed to stand up to her training so well as she should, and J. H. Jefferd has decided not to persevere with her. Expense will be taken over by Mr I. G. Duncan, ana most likely will enter the brood mares paddock at Elderslie. The three-year-old gelding Ten', recently purchased bv Mr W. T. Hume from Mrs M. A. Perry, ricked himself in training, and he has had to be put aside for a while.

Rowley, who broke down on the eve of the Feilding Cup, is pretty seriously amiss, and it wiU be twelve months before he is seen again. Another slice of bad luck for the stable occurred on the same day when Vesperus went sore in a shoulder, and he also will be off the scene for a while. It is probable that the trouble with Vesperus has been developing for some time, for he has in his races this spring been very cramped in his action. It is bad luck to lose the services of Rowley, who was showing good form, and had prospects of winning a substantial stake during the holidays. Mr McDonald will have to fall back upon Polyphemus, Royal Ceres, and his Australian two-year-olds. Polyphemus showed very promising form as a hurdler at Woodville, and in addition should be able to win a flat race during the holiday racing. High Disdain. Flying Hero, and St. Melba are youngsters of promise, though not in the first flight. Flving Hero, by Flying King—Samian Flirt, showed pleasing form in his first start at Woodville this week. He is an attractive black colt showing size and quality and should not prove costly at the 260 guineas which Mr McDonald gave for him at the Sydney sales last year. St. Melba, a bay gelding by Australian Sun —St. Rosaline, looks as if he will require a bit of time. Gasbag's stock have so far not done a great deal of racing, but Blimp and one or two others promise to do him good service. The latest to come under uotice is Gold Uag, out of Bradamante, by Charlemagne ll.—Hamattan, by Stepniak—Brisa. Brisa was the dam of \ that former good galloper John Barley- ] corn, and Bradamante herself was a i very smart mare. Gold Bag showed I good speed in his initial effort at Wood-1 villa on Thursday. Will Cimabue stay? This is a ques- , tion that his Woodville running did not satisfactorily settle, but the chances are that he will be quite capable of seeing out the Derby distance at Ellerslie on New Year's Day. Whether he will be equal to Agrion is another matter, but from what could bo gathered at Woodville his connexions are quite ] prepared to join issue with the lticcar- i ton representative. In tho meantime j it is cloar that Cimabue has returned to racing with his speed unimpaired, and he will be one of tho favourites in the Railway Handicap on Boxing Day, in which nis weight has now been raised to 8-1. Mr R. A. McKenzie has not yet reached a decision aa to whether Piuthair will race at Ellerslie or Awapuni ] on Boxing Day. He is well satisfied with the mare's weight in the Auckland Cup, but Piuthair has, to date, failed to show her best form at Ellerslie. Sho ran a good race in the open sprint at Woodville on Wednesday over a course that is too short for her.

Mr W. R. Kemball has put Hymgrcat to hurdling much oarlier than horses usually take on the jumping game, but judging by the gelding's display at Woodvillo on Thursday, tho policy is likely to meet with an oarly reward. l

Mr W. H. Gaisford was not able to do much with Chelono after purchasing him from his breeder, Mr W. G. Stead, last season, and he was turned out. Chelone has come in this season greatly benefited, and by the style in which he got away with his race at Woodville this week, some good stakes are ahead of him.

One of the most improved hack sprinters in commission is the three-year-old Lucullus filly, Helotis. She is a halfsister to Astinome, and sister to Licinius, and nothing is more probable than that she will go on winning and develop much better form than she showed this week.

The Sarchodon three-year-old, Sarchee, was disappointing at Woodville after his good showing at Feilding, but he should certainly be able to win during the holidays. Another sprinter who can be ticked off for success when the topnotchers are elsewhero engaged, is Epistle.

Gold Box showed fair form at Woodville, and should be worth consideration at some of tho minor Meetings during the holidays. The showings of Kalos at Woodville leave very little doubt that he will appreciate a distance. He is having an exasperating run of placed performanceS; but his turn should soon come. At the same time Kalos does not seem to have developed the form that his earlier showings promised. Millais, who won the two-year-old event on tho opening day at Woodville, is a half-brother to Kilmiss. Several of the Greenmeadows track watchers wore prepared for' his forward Bhowing and participated in the good price returned. Wild Pigeon's race at Woodville on Thursday makes the New Zealand Oaks form look exceedingly poor. She had every chance in a field of moderate class and failed badly. She will probably do better over a longer journey, but there is little doubt that the non-staying qualities of her opponents at Riccarton contributed in a large measure to her classic victory. Grand Knight and Staghunter go to Ellerslie, and Wild Pigeon and Shot Silk will race at Awapuni. At the conclusion of tho Manawatu Meeting they will join the other pair at Auckland. Mr W. G. Stead provided a lot of interest at Woodville with his young and untried Leighton stock. Eliminator, a three-year-old half-sister to Hypnotic, and bred on similar lines to Sir Kay, ran second in the maiden event to Eoyal Picture, and showed promise, but Amplifier, the two-year-old halfsister to Chignon, is likely to develop better form. Chignon waß by Absurd and she won tho A.J.C. Gimcrack Stakes in 1924. She had a brief career on the turf, but she was good, and definitely placed her dam, Lady D, on the map, as a brood marc. With ordinary luck Amplifier should develop good form with experience, and her initial showing as a racing proposition was highly creditable. Her stableltnate Pari, did not show up in the race, but this halfbrother to Almoner will no doubt get an opportunity at Auckland to prove his capabilities. Chelone, Cimabue, Eliminator, Amplifier and Shot Silk kept Leighton well to the fore at Woodville on Thursday. For their wins at Woodville, Royal Damon and Cimabue have been raised 21b each in the Railway Handicap, to be run at Ellerslie on Boxing Day. The new weights are: Royal Damon 8.2, Cimabue 8.1. —Press Association.

KING'S CUP. LARGE ENTRIES EXPECTED. SYDNEY, December 9. The Jockey Club has fixed the King's Cup to be run at the autumn Doncaster Meeting on April 14th. The added money will be £2OOO, in addition to a gold cup valued at £IOO, the gift of the King. The distance will be one mile and a half, the highest weight 9.5, and the lowest T-0. Entries clbse on January 17th. The coveted prize is expected to draw large entries.

TROTTING NOTES.

Nominations for the Westland T.C.'s Annual Meeting close to-day. Acceptances for the New Brighton T.C.'s Summer Meeting close on Monday.

F. Holmes and J. Bryce left for the north last night and will be in action at the Wellington Trotting Club's Meeting to-day. Bell Somerton, one of H. Frost's pupils, is an unlikely starter at Wellington to-day. J. Bryce has sold his interest tin Great Hope and the Great Audubon horse is now in T. G. Fox's stable. Peter Swift is under treatment for unsoundness anct is an unlikely starter for some time to come. He was trotting particularly well and looked like picking up a good stake in the near future.

F. Holmes has a strong team engaged at Wellington to-day, including Pointalena, Donard, Royal Authoress, and Bonny Logan. Real the Great and Dolores will be allowed to forfeit their Auckland engagements, and it is doubtful if Peter Swift will make the trip. Mr J. R. McKenzie's team will therefore be reduced to Great Bingen and Great Actress.

WELLINGTON T.C. TO-DAY'S MEETING.

Given fine weather the Wellington Trotting Club's Summer Meeting to be held to-day should mark a further advance in the progress of the light harness sport in Wellington. A big number of Canterbury horses were sent to Wellington within the past couple of days, and the southerners should secure a good proportion of the stake money allotted. The good prizes offered by the club have had the effect of attracting to the Meeting a particularly good class of horses, _ and the principal events should provide stirring contests. Particular interest will centre in the efforts of the Auckland Cup candidates, Ahuriri and Logan Park, and the latter, who is the property of Wellington sportsmen, though trained at Addington, is assured of very, strong support. The day's programme is as follows: HUTT PARK TRIAL HANDICAP (in harness), of 150 sovs. 3.4 class. 11m. Sir Author .. scr Homelight .. scr Golden Morn .. sitr Nor'weßter .. scr Welcome Pearl .. scr Bnnkhend .. scr Pageant .'. scr Shirley McKinney scr Theckln Boy .. bcr Neerson .. scr Henry Tracey .. scr Mary Brown .. 48 Bell Somerton .. scr Donard .. 60 The .three-year-old Donard, from 60 yards behind, has been set a hard task, but he is endowed with a good burst of speed and can handle a grass track to advantage. He may find some difficulty in giving such a big start to Bankhead and Pageant.

NAI NAI HANDICAP (in harness), of 200 sovs. 3.36 class. l}m.

Hardy G rattan .. scr Swiftbine .. DC Little Johnnie .. 12 Nelson McKinney 48 Lady Fan .. 24 Tamerlane .. 60 Native Star .. 86

Hardiy Grattan, Little Johnnie, Swiftbine, and Nelson McKinney, who figure in tho Nai Nai Handicap, are also engaged in tho Wilford Handicap later in the day. The distance should suit Nelson McKinney, whose most formidable opponent may be Lady Fan.

RAILWAY HANDICAP (In harness), of 200 sovs. 3.36 class, l&m. George the Item .. '2l Fourth scr Exclusive .. 30 Royal Authoreas scr Vestas .. 36 Tetanus '.. scr Logon King .. 36 Steel Wire .. scr Patsy Phegan .. 36 Nor'wester .. scr Syringa .. 36 Wee Otis .. 12 Lincoln Huon .. 48 Jackie Audubon 12 Dillon Gold .. 60 Nothing of outstanding class appears in the Railway Handicap, but there ai - e several promising horses engaged. Patsy Phegan is a likely sort for the Wellington track, and on this occasion Jackie Audubon may justify the private reputation he enjoys. 'Vestas is unreliable, but possessed of great speed.

N.Z. TROTTING GOLD CUP HANDICAP (in harness), of 500 govs. 4.34 class. 2m. Pan Ynn .. scr Bonny Logan .. 3G Stunt Artist .. scr Harold Thorpe .. 48 Menomber .. scr Logan Park .. 48 Silk Thread .. 12 Fight Ever .. 48 William the Great 24 Ahurlri .. 108

The field that will go to the post for the Gold Cup-is the ideal one in numbers, and class is well represented. Handicapped on 4.25 and giving away big starts, Ahuriri will have his work cut out, and horses farther out in the handicap are likely to be favoured. Logan- Park will probably go out favourite, but he will meet strong opposition in Harold Thorpe, "William the Great, and Silk Thread, while Stunt Artist has previously shown a liking for the Wellington course, and Bonny Logan, .though not a proved two-miler, may go well if the race is run to suit her. Logan Park, Harold Thorpe, and William the Great read the best. SHARPE HANDICAP (in saddle), of- 200 sovs. 2.18 class, lm. Epigram .. scr Caprice ~ 24 Ajax .. scr Bingen Lad .. 36 Pointalena .. 12 Hue Coronado .. 48 Kotuku Jack ... 24 Logan Chief .. 72 Racing in harness Logan Chief has much faster time to his credit than the 2.12 he is handicapped to do in the Sharpe Handicap, and if at his best he should find the race to his liking. Epigram and Pointalena may be the best of the others. WILFORD HANDICAP (in harness), of 250 sovs. For unhoppled trotters. 4.48 class. 2m. Miss Leda .. scr Native Star .. 36 Hardy Grattan .. scr Nelson MeKinney 48 Little Johnnie .. 12 Nourmahal .. 60 Swiftbine .. 36 Nourmahal has been going well in her work at Addingtori and even from GO yards behind must be dangerous in the Wilford Handicap, She looks the best of those engaged), and Little ] Johnnie and Swiftbine should keep her I doing her best. i

MIDDLE-CLASS HANDICAP (in harness), of 250 sovs. 4.50 class. 2m.

Crusader .. scr Logan King .. 24 Donard .. scr Pntsy Phegan .. 48 Tetanus .. scr Chimer .. 48 Rose Logan .. 12 Vestas .. 48 Jackie Audubon 24 Lincoln Huon .. '• 60 Glenaray .. 24 Dillon Gold .. 72

If started in the Middle-Class Handicap Rose Logon will carry some support and should run well, but the distance may suit Vestas, who is not a good beginner. Chimer has possibilities.

ELECTRIC HANDICAP (in harness), of 350 sovs. 2.46 class, ljm. Hue Coronado . scr Queen's Own .. 24 Logan Parle .. scr Logan Chief .. 24 Talent .. 12 Ahuriri .. 36 Brentloc .. 12 Bonny Logan .. 48 Fight Ever .. 12 Prince Pointer .. 60 Black Admiral .. 24

The Electric Handicap should see fast time registered, fop a number of high-class sprinters are engaged. Talent and Brentloc, off 12 yards, should set a merry pace and at the finish may have to off challenges from Black Admiral and" Bonny Logan.

AUCKLAND T.C. ACCEPTANCES. (PBIiS IItOCUTIOV TU.TQKAU.) AUCKLAND, December 9. INTRODUCTORY TROT HANDICAP, of 400 sovs. 8.42 clssb. 11m. Billy Carbine .. scr Roma Bingen .. scr Raima .. scr Roes .. 24 Quickfire .. scr Sean Triubhais 36 Nelson Boy .. ser Bingen Starr .. 48 Bright Light .. tcr Anseline .. 48 Dolores .. scr Leo Mauritius .. 48 Don Zolock .. scr Gold Sovereign 72 Bingen Boy .. scr Wimmera King 108