SPORTING

Press, Volume LXXIX, Issue 23977, 18 June 1943, Page 7

SPORTING

TURF GOSSIP Re-elected Mr A. S. Elworthy was re-elected chairman of the committee of the Canterbury Jockey Club, which met after the annual meeting on Wednesday. Soft Tracks The rain that has fallen this week has made the ground at Rlccarton very soft. All yesterday morning’s work was done on the sand, but there was very little of note, as not many trainers went to the course, most of them exercising their horses on the roads. Jumping Conditions T. H. Gillett has Dividend in strong work, and he is gradually getting into racing shape. He was given useful pacing yesterday morning, and he is ready for an early start in his education as a steeplechaser. It was with this in view that he was bought by Mr A. Syme, and he will have only the South Canterbury Hunt meeting for a race before the Grand National fixture. Programme Indefinite Arctic Dawn Is freely engaged at the Wellington meeting next month, as he is in the chief flat races, as well as in the principal hurdle events. His chance of starting among the jumpers seems doubtful, as he has not done any schooling since last winter, when he did not shape very well, For Australia Dominate will not do any more racing in New Zealand, The Phaleron Bay three-year-old, after showing good form last season, was a disappointment this term, the best he could do being to earn place money four times in his last six starts. He is spelling at Riccarton and he will continue that treatment until steamer accommodation becomes available, when he will be shipped to Melbourne, where his owner, Mr J. Wren, lives. Dominate stays pretty well, and if he wins races in future it will be over long journeys. A. E. EllisThe latest report from Auckland as to the condition of A, E. Ellis, who was injured in a fall with Evans Head in the Great Northern Hurdles, is that he is oft the seriously injured list and shows definite signs of recovery. It is expected, however, that he will remain an Inmate of the hospital for a few weeks yet. Another Jumper The useful Southland gelding. Spanish Lad. is among the recent recruits to hurdling. He is by Balboa, several of whose progeny were successful jumpers. Transferred When A. M. Wright, of Awapuni, came home from the Auckland meeting with the Great Northern winner, Chat, he also brought back the four-year-old Borak, and will train this gelding lor Mr C. Matthews, of Hamilton. Borak Is a four-year-old by Nlghtmarch from the Oaks winner, Variant, but he has not lived up to his excellent breeding, as he has not won a race since he was two-year-old. Yearling for Australia C. Boyle, who is again training a team at Awapuni, bought the Battle Song— Lady Graceful colt at the Trentham yearling sales in January. He was acting for a Victorian trainer, and he shipped the colt to Melbourne last week. Boyle is now handling a yearling filly of his own. She Is by Coronach from the Gay Lothario mare, Gay Step. Looks the Part Tara King, the Beau Pere—Zarene colt which P. Burgess is training at Trentham. is probably the biggest two-year-old to have raced this season. For all his size he is not coarse, and shows a lot of the Beau Pere quality. He is still gross in condition, and he is being taken along on a very easy preparation. His dam left a Derby winner in Lowenberg and another good performer in Algerian, a brother to Tara King. Successful Sire The English-bred sire, Valkyrlan. whose death occurred recently, was in South Canterbury for several years. He was foaled In 1917 and was Imported by Dr. W. C. Ring, of Auckland, in 1922. He was by William the Third, the best staying son of St. Simon. It was Intended to race him in New Zealand, but he met with an accident soon after msarrival. Valkyrlan sired many useful horses, both flat performers and Jumpers. Among them were Valpeen, winner of the Grand National Steeplechase twice, the Great Northern Steeplechase twice, and the Wellington Steeplechase; also Slayer, Prince of Orange, Strip, Valarth, Val Watch, Lord Val, while good performers by him on the flat were Sleeveless, Norseman, Shy, Prince Val. and Vail. Valkyrian’s most notable contribution to racing history should be Valadore, the dam of Kindergarten. TROTTING NOTES Trotting Statistics . Mr B. Grice Is an easy winner m the list of winning owners this season, for next to the £B2IO he won is the £2833 won by the Auckland sportsman, Mr Ji G. Bridgens. Third on the list is Mr G. Chesrpaf, whose total of £2410 1* the sole contribution of on* hone, Shadow Maid. In fourth place is Mr L. F. Berkett with £2162, followed by Mr G. Lancaster £2075, and Mr J. R. McKenzie £2035. Other winners of more than £IOOO number 23. Successful Horses . ... Haughty Is the biggest winner for the season with £3070, . With Shadow Maid £2410 in second place, followed by Pacing Power £IB4O, Parshall, and Joan Conquest each £I7BO, Hardy Oak £1770, Burt Scott £1678, Countless £1663, Douglas McElwyn £ISBB. Peter Smith £I4BO, Integrity £1420, Gold Bar f 1375, Sabu £I3QO, Coquette £1238, Kid. Wolf £ll3O, Scottish Lady £1075. Captain Morant £IO7O, Acropolis £IOBS, Accountant £IOSO, Parrish Lad £1045, Battle Colours £IO3O, and Josette £IOOO. Lending Relnsmen , . • F J. Smith, with 24 wins, has a good lead from R. B. Berry 19, in the list of successful trainers, and following the pair are J. B. Pringle 14, C, S. B. Grice, and J. Young each with 13, and M, Holmes and P. Gallagher, who have each won 12 races. Smith also leads in the winning horsemen’s list with 24, and following him closely is P. Gallagher with 21 wins. R. B. Berry 17, O. E. Hooper and M. Holmes 10 each, J. Bryce, fun. 12, and J. B. Pringle and L. F. Berkett 10 each, are next on the list. New Member Appointed Mr A. Pirie, a steward of the Wellington Trotting Club, has been appointed a member of the board of the New Zealand Trotting Association, MANAWATU MEETING DIVISIONS IN RUAHINE HANDICAP (P.A.) PALMERSTON NORTH, June 17. Following are the divisions of the'Ruahlne Handicap, which will be run as the second and sixth races at the Manawatu meeting:— ... _ Ruahine Handicap No. 1: Abbey Fox, Crispin, Skydonna, Foxcover, Kingcraft, Broiveine, Minko, Sandy Bay, Park Light, The Pied Piper, Lenardo, Mr Chips, Maungamiki, Statue, Camp Maid, Bronze Night, Pell Mali, Sporting Gold, Red Count, Benevo. Lady Oaklands, Donegal, Bay Irish, Chance. Ruahine Handicap No 2: Patu Po, Dungloe, Davilia, Noble Eagle, Killeymoon, Foxcatcher, Cheap Lodging. Siyana, Hinepo, Phalarla, Joy Night, Advocate, Irish Fox, Retort, Sovereign Lad, Crackerjack, Heatherdlne, Wheriki Lass. Rickie, Pikitararua, Skyette, Beech Hill. Starling times are; 11.30 a.m., 12.10 p.m., 12.50 p.m., 1.30 p.m., 2.10 p.m.. 2.50 p.m., 3.30 p.m., 4.10 p.m.