THE RACING WORLD

Dominion, Volume 20, Issue 51, 24 November 1926, Page 16

THE RACING WORLD

NOTES AND COMMENTS

(By “

“The Watcher.”)

Th® annual race meeting of the Asli-hurst-Pobangina Club will be held at Ashliurst to-day. Latest information from Palmerston North is to the effect that Gold Box S reported trouble is not anything serious, and he can be regarded as a likely starter at Ashhurst to-day. Two well-known geldings formerly prominent on the New Zealand turf appeared as recent winners at a meeting held bv the Griffith Racing Club. They were Vespucci and King’s Trumpeter, and the prize competed for was under £5O. The majority of racing people here would find it hard to place Griffith on the map of Australia. A feature of the district meetings lately has been the large number of acceptances. A really extraordinary response was forthcoming front owners for the first day of the Feilding meeting, and the number of, runners to be accommodated will prove embarrassing in some cases. The smallest field is 13 in the Hurdles, while there are three fields of 24, 26, and 29 respectively. The chief handicap event, the Feilding Cup, sees a field of 18 standing their ground, and in the Flying Handicap 14. There has been a tendency during the past lew seasons for clubs, in the interest of their finances, to delete weight-for-age or other classic events from their programmes and _to substitute handicap races. The Feilding Club turned its Oroua Stakes into the Oroua Nursery Handicap this year, but with an acceptance of 17 first-class horses for its Feilding Stakes the first day it must be now regretting the change. Instead of a second fine contest between horses like Lady Cavendish. Lysander, Oration, Grand Knight, The Hawk, Glentruin, Tamatete, Limited, and one or two smart two-year-olds, there will be on the second day a race between some moderate youngsters. The period during which a champion like Gloaming rules the roost and reduces fields in classics and weight-for-age races to a poverty point soon expires, and in any case a good horse is always a public attraction. Perhaps the club may see its way to re-establishing a race which has in the past seen some fine horses iti action.

The outstanding feature of the Turf in this country at present, is the incompetent riding, and on all sides one iiears pessimistic views expressed regarding the future. It is hard to understand why more lads are not offering in the jockeys’ profession, for there are few walks of life where success is accompanied by so much financial gain. The present register of licensed apprentices shows some 130 lads given permission to ride, and it is safe to conclude that amongst them only a very small percentage will ever made jockeys. Amongst the full-fledged jockeys themselves it has to be said that there is at the present time an unduly large number of incompetents. Perhaps there is room for hope, in spite of the existing outlook. At any rate, it would appear that there have been similar periods in the past, and reading a chapter of that most interesting book “The Racehorse in Training,” by William Day, one of the most noted of English trainers, published in 1880, one comes across a criticism of the young men of the saddle of that time, every word of which might have been written to-day. The chapter which is devoted to “Jockevs” says, inter alia: “The difficulties of the trainer do not end when he has had the happy fortune to secure a good horse and bring him fit and well to the post, for then conies the all-important and difficult-to-be-answered question, ‘Who is to ride him?’ In times gone bv . . . there were men of talent in the profession who rode scientifically. To-dav, with a few brilliant exceptions, the charge often heard that our jockeys are ‘a host of butcher bovs’ is, unfortunately. not far from the truth, for they are for the most part precocious lads who neither know tlieir own business nor will submit to be taught it by those who do. If you have weight to spare, von may chance to secure the services of an experienced jockey, but the chance is a very slender one, and more often von have to put up a useless boy, and bear as best you can the inevitable defeat. ... At the start, boys (for I allude to them—the lightweights of the present day) are gencrally left at the post, or get badly off, and ride their horses to a standstill before half the distance has been gone over, in the vain hope of regaining tljcir

lost ground. After the race the youngster has the audacity, with smiling face, to tell you he was first away to a very good start; at anv rate he will never admit being farther from the first horse than a length or two. . . . What possible chance has your horse in a race (for two-year-olds or over six furlongs) with twenty or thirty runners in which the loss of a few lengths would seriously jeopardise your chance in the hands of an experienced jockey, if, with a mere boy up, treble that distance be lost? The horse in reality would be much better in his stable. . . It is unfortunately not much better in long-distance races. It is true that in these the start is not so ill-important. The lost ground may be made up, and your hopes momentarily raised at the prospect of success; yet before the lad’s assistance is needed he is too tired to urge his horse to the utmost speed. He Joses a race he ought to have won, and vou receive the heartfelt condolence of your friends on your bad luck. If, nettled at the result, you venture a remonstrance, the youth, with a confident audacity, will lay the blame upon the horse. ... He will probably look you in the face and declare that the horse was not fit. and that beat him. This is the result of trials and months of watchfulness at home. Your calculations are upset by the woeful exhibitions of these pygmies, when your horse, in primest condition, comes to run in public.” There is a great deal more on the same subject, and it would not come amiss to the aspiring horsemen of to-day to read and inwardly digest the wisdom of that old English trainer, a master in his profession. But perhaps it would be a case of seed falling upon barren ground. The pictures and a “fag,* to say nothing of other confirmed habits of indulgence, exert a powerful influence on the younger generation of to-day, and they frequently leave employment without notice where a master is a strict disciplinarian. If they knew it, he is often their onlv real friend.

Racing at Ashhurst to-day will commence with the hack hurdles. The field is not a strong one. Killoch has been schooling at Hawera and according to all reports doing well. She may be equal to to-day's field on the little amount of experience she has had. Good Mark has shown form worth notice, and so has Tamakana, a double winner at Dannevirke. Of the lightweights Tempean and Blood Red may do best.

There is a large field in the Maiden Stakes, and post positions and jockeys will have something to do with the result. In fact this applies to the majority of the races at the meeting. John Nod and Powhiri may show up in a field which is not strong in quality.

Form points to the three topweights in the Pohangina Handicap, and Polyphemus may not be able to concede either Gold Box or Penman 131 b. On the turning course Bonideer may be a possibility. Lin Arlington should run well in the Komako -Handicap and General Wai and Kilmezzo, on Levin form, should be well forward.

The field in the Ashhurst Cup is hardly as strong as that which competed at Levin on Saturday, so with Diogenes and Hipo absent both Nukumai and Kilfaire should again be prominent. Killocra is a fresh horse whose form at Riccartou will not be forgotten. Penman may run in this race. A capable lightweight would materially assist him in running prominently, but his chance looks better in the sprint with a stronger horseman. Horomea has not had a race for a long time, her last start being at Bulls in March last, but she would only need to be in form to have a good chance in the Siberia Hack Handicap, for her class is above the others. Cerf and Royal Land may show up.

Blonde, Lin Arlington and Arataura may show form in the Raumai Handicap. In the Gorge Handicap Bonhomnie’s behaviour at the post is much against him, but he is well placed in this event. Brigadier Bill has not raced for some time, and may need some sharpening up. Peggy Ford and Mountain Star are likely lightweights. The latest news’ to hand about Mr. W. H. Wanklyn, from America, says an exchange, leaves little doubt in the minds of his friends that he is given small chance of recovery by the doctors attending him. Rapier, who showed a return to form on the concluding day of the New Zealand Cup meeting, is to be sent to compete at the Manawatu and Marton meetings during Christmas week, and all progressing well with the Greyspear stallion, he will form one of the field for the Manawatu Cup. Fairy Mark is the name that has been selected for the coming three-year-old filly by King Mark —Fairy Gold. She is a half-sister to those wellknown performers Maioha, Golden Sky, Hetaua, Toa Taua and Mountain Lion. The fact that Overdrawn’s name was missing from both the nominations and the handicaps for the Winton Cup has caused considerable comment in the racing world (writes “Sentinel” in the “Otago Daily Times”), but the trouble evidently arose through an oversight on the part of an official of the Winton Chib. The writer has been shown a copy of a letter, dated October 27, in which Overdrawn was nominated along with other members of Mr. L. C. Hazlett’s team. When the handicaps were declared Mr. Hazlett telegraphed to handicapper Pierce, of Winton, to the effect that Overdrawn’s name was missing, and the oversight was rectified. Mr. W. Nidd, of Christchurch, who was dangerously ill with pneumonia during New Zealand Cup week, is not yet out of danger, but he is showing signs of improvement, and his friends have every confidence that he will be about again in the course of a few weeks. . There are few veterans in the racing game who give more encouragement to apprentices than Richard Wootton, and those wto know him best will prefer to believe that he is actuated more by a desire to give the lads a leg-up in their calling than by any paltry consideration of weight concessions, says an Australian writer. Commencing on the lowest rung of the ladder (his first metropolitan racing was at old Lillie Bridge) Wootton, through sheer merit, forced in's way to the front as one of the leading trainers in Australia, then he made a raid on South Africa, and England, with equal success, and also had the satisfaction of seeing his two sons leading jockeys, and afterwards following him in his footsteps as capable trainers. Now that he can afford to be generous, his commendable weakness is to give the youngsters who deserve it a chance to win their spurs. At Randwick he sacrificed a good winning chance in Kalloni by putting up a little apprentice. AUCKLAND NOTES ELLERSLIE TRACK WORK Dominion Special. Auckland, November 23. The weather was fine for training operations at Ellerslie this morning, and No. 1 grass track was open for fast work and was in good order. Sir Gilbert ran five furlongs in Innn. lOsec. . Waitakohe and Ototoa ran six furlongs in Imin. 25 l-ssec. Golden Wedding beat Cornfield and Restaurant over four furlongs in 51 3-5 SC Royal Form and Boomerday were on terras at the end of a round in Imin. 55sec. Fair Abbey, Kamehameha and Blue Skv finished’ as named over a similar distance in the same time. Merry Damon and Gold Fem went four furlongs in 57 4-ssec. Pentagram covered the last six furlongs of a round in Imin. 22sec. Arch Arrow sprinted three furlongs, taking 40sec. Tall Timber and Uralla went six furlongs in Imin. 19 l-ssec. Abbey Day and Master Mind ran five furlongs in Imin. 6 l-ssec. Rahepoto went six furlongs in Imin. 22 2-ssec., the last four taking 52 3-5 sec. Baby Bun got to the end of half a mile in 50 4-ssec.

Star Comet and War Officer ran six furlongs in Imin. 19sec. Archibald and Charlady got to the end of seven furlongs in Imin. 31 2-5 sec.

Town Bank, Tresham, blaster Doon, and Right and Left started off over a round. Town Bank was well in the rear along the back, but finished about on terms with Tresham and Master Doon in Imin. 52 2-ssec., the last four furlongs taking 52 2-ssec. Queen Rewa and Nassock went five furlongs in Imin. 7 4-ssec. Scot' Free and Sea Comet started off over a round, being joined by Creation at the six-furlong post. The round took Imin. 57sec.

Dave and Clarus went five furlongs iu linin. 3sec.

Quondong was just in front of Royal Picture, Bizarro, and Corinax over six furlongs, which occupied Imin. 17 3-5 sec.

Muscari, Aurumavis, and King Merv went five furlongs in Imin. 3 2-ssec. Daddy’s Girl went a round in Imin. 58 2-ssec.

Newbury was just ahead of Pavo over five’ furlongs in Imin. 4sec. Schorr ran six furlongs in Imin. 19 l-ssec., and Prince Abbey the last five of six furlongs in Imin. 5 3-ssec. Mosaic went seven furlongs in Imin. 34 4-ssec. Nancy Lee took Imin. 37sec. for a similar distance, the last half-mile occupying 51 3-ssec.

After breakfast Miss Astron ran five furlongs in Imin. 9sec., and Archeno four furlongs in 52 3-ssec. Cliamour worked over six furlongs, but was not extended. Princess Ronnie went a round, being picked up by Harbour View at the four-furlong post. The distance was covered in Imin. 51 3-ssec., which was the best round of the morning. Namutere and Thursby went five furlongs in Imin. 3sec.

Bahama ran six furlongs in Imin. 24sec.

Chips and Exalted finished in front of Carinthia at the end of half a mile in 50 2-ssec.

Arihana, the Sir Dighton two-year-old; and Auriculus ran three furlongs in 37 4-ssec.

Dr. C. C. Murphy, who has been on a visit to Melbourne to see his horse Cherry Ripe run at the V.R.C. meeting, returned to Auckland this morning by the Maunganui. Cherry Ripe won the Hurdle Race on Melbourne Cup day. ■ With the approach of the Takapuna Jockey Club’s spring meeting matters are beginning to liven up at Ellerslie. It is expected that- a good many horses will proceed to Devonport to-morrow, and they will be worked on the Takapuna course on Thursday. There was a little jumping at Ellerslie this morning. Golden Glass and Clockwork went for a round over tie schooling hurdles and gave a fair display. Daybell and Waiau Lad wer* given a similar task and went well. Among the riding engagements announced for the Takapuna Jockey Club’s spring meeting are R. McTavish (York Abbey, Golden Krist, Tinokoa, and Miss Astron), H. Dulieu (Rahepoto, Dave, Judge’s Box, Fair Abbey, and King Emerald), N. Rowe (Lord Bruce).

Dave is a useful sprinter. He has given a taste of his quality on more than one occasion this season. He has started in nine races, winning four and finishing second on another occasion. This morning at Ellerslie, with Clarus, he strode over five furlongs in good time.

Chips and Carinthia pleased by the way they got to the end of half a mile at 'Ellerslie this morning They both beat- Exalted in good time. Chips showed some good speed in her races at the Waikato meeting, and she must be among those considered in connection with the juvenile events to be run at the Takapuna meeting. Golden Wedding, a Kenilworth fill}' in F. Gilchrist’s stable, looks at though she is going to turn out useful. This morning she moved well over four furlongs on No. 1 grass track. Master Doon seems none the worse for his recent efforts at Ellerslie and Waikato, and if the going suits him he can be depended upon to run another good race in the Alison Cup. The name of Arihana has been claimed by Mr. E- W. Alison, Jun., for the Sir Dighton two-year-old. That is Maori for the owner’s surname. Arihana moved nicely over three furlongs at Ellerslie this morning. Mosaic showed good form at Thames and also the A.R.C. spring meeting this season, and this week he has worked well at Ellerslie. Ou Moudav morning lie did a good round on No. 2 grass track, and this morning went very nicely over seven furlongs on No. 1 grass track. J. Williamson has a couple of useful hacks in the Takapuna Plate in Quondong and Newbury, both winners this season. Newbury won a division of the Mount Albert Welter, six furlongs, at the Avondale spring . meeting, while Quondong scored decisively over seven furlongs at the recent Waikato meeting. Quondong went well over six furlongs at Ellerslie this morning, beating Royal Picture, Bizarro, and Corinax, while Newbury pleased over half a mile. The latter requires the going to be firm if he is to produce his best. Tresham continues to train on the right way, and, all going well, lie should give a good account of himself in the Alison Cup. Since running fourth in the King Edward Handicap at Ellerslie this month he has only had one outing, and that was when he dead-heated with Eden Hall for second place in the Waikato Cup. Tresham went nicely this morning at Ellerslie- over a round on No. 1 grass track, and he should strip a very fit horse on the dav. Town Bank pleased greatly this morning by the way he worked over a round of No. 1 grass track at Ellerslie. Along the back he must have been giving Master Doon, Tresham, and Right and Left fully eight lengths, and then, working his way round on the outside, finished with Tresham and Master Doon. It was a good performance, and if the ground the sting out of it on Saturday, lown Bank should be in the firing line at the finish of the Alison Cup. He will be ridden by C.McCarthy. FIXTURES. November 24— Ashlmrst-Poliangina R.C. November 27. December I—Takapuna J.C. November 30. December I—Feilding J.C. December 4 —Methven R.C. December 4—Taumaruntii R.C. December 8, 11—Wellington Trotting Club. December 8, o—Woodville District J.C. December 10, 11—Sou;h Canterbury J.C. December 11—Waipa R.C. December 1(1. 18—Dargaville R.C. December 27—Waipukurau J.C. December 27. 28—Westland R.C. December 27, 28—Taranaki J.C. Decnmber 27. 28—Du 'din J.C. December 27. 28. 30— Manawatu R C. December 27. 29. January 1. S—Auckland December 31. January I 4— Greymouth J.C. 1927. January I—Waikouaiti R.C. January I—Wyndham R.C.

METHVEN HANDICAPS Bi Telegraph.—Pbess association. Christchurch, November S 3. The following handicaps for the Methven Racing Club's meeting on December 4 have been declared by Mr. Henrya:—

TERRITORIAL CAMP. « FIRST BATTALION AT TRENTHAM, Camp life holds no terrors for the military trainee. At least, this was the observation made by a dominion reporter yesterday when he visited Trentham, where some 1100 men of the First Battalion, Wellington Regiment, are at present undergoing their annual week’s training. A refresher course for the non-com-missioned officers was held during the latter part of last week, while the main body commenced their training on Saturday afternoon. Lieut.-Colonel R. L. Evatt, and Captain W. G. Gentry, Adjutant, are in charge of the battalion. A varied and interesting syllabus is being carried out, and the fact that a cup is to be awarded at the end of the camp to the best company in the battalion has resulted in very keen competition. Working wholeheartedly with their officers, the men have attained a very high standard indeed, and all are bent on winning the cup. Determined to outdo each other, many rise before reveille—six o'clock—for the purpose of putting their house, or rather their tents, in order. Beds have to be made, buttons polished, rifles cleaned, and a hundred and one other things have to be attended to before inspection, which takes place shortly after breakfast. A noticeable feature is the discipline of the men while on parade. Time does not hang heavily. In the evenings, hundreds find their way to the Y.M.C.A., either to play billiards, read, or join in the community singing. Dances are held practically nightly in the kiosk on the racecourse, while the local pictures are also well patronised. The camp will break up on Saturday next.

MOUNT HARDING HANDICAP, c 100 sovs. 0iio mile. Solrose 10 13 Clarenson 9 2 His Majesty . 10 11 Saxette 9 2 Coch-y-Bondhu 10 5 Royal Head .. 9 2 Sir Roy 10 3 Horatius 9 2 Thorndale 10 1 Tam Glen 9 0 Gaybird 9 5 METHVEN CUP, of 1655 sovs. One mile and a quarter. Red Wink 9 0 Kilris 7 0 Economist ... 8 5 Gay Juliet ... 7 0 Margaret Bir- ■ Gold Brick ... 7 0 ney 7 13 Radiac __ 7 0 John Bradbury 7 9 Coch-y-Bondhu 7 0 Moorland ... 7 9 ELECTRIO HACK HANDICAP, of 80 SOVS. Six furlongs. Sol rose 9 0 Bon Skirl 7 7 Precious 9 0 Gay Bird 7 0 Saggitarius ... 8 8 Weird 7 0 Gold Mint .... 8 3 Queen’s Bounty 7 0 Thorndale ... 7 9 Clantoi 7 0 VIEWPOINT HANDICAP, of 90 sovs. Seven furlongs. Sunny Loch ... 9 13 Gay Juliet ... 8 8 Economist ... 8 13 Coch-y-Bondhu 8 4 Will Oakland 8 13 Sir Roy 7 12 Gold Brick ... 8 10 Tam Glen 7 11 Kilris 8 8 MOUNT HUTT HANDICAP, of 100 Six furlongs. Nincompoop . 9 0 Finora „ 7 11 Moorland ... 8 11 Gold Brick .... 7 5 Economist ... 8 9 Gay Juliet .... 7 s Sunny Loch ..8 8