RAGING IN AUSTRALIA

Evening Post, Volume CXIV, Issue 126, 24 November 1932, Page 10

RAGING IN AUSTRALIA

"FLOURISHING AT PRESENT"

HAWERA TRAINER'S VIEW

-' -"Racing in Australia, especially in Melbourne, is flourishing at present, despite the depression," Mr. J. Fryer, the Hawera trainer, said when asked for his opinion about the condition of the sport in the Commonwealth on his return from Melbourne'and Sydney last week. "I attribute this in large measure to the progressive . policy of the ' clubs, which offer every encouragement to : owners and trainers."

In both Victoria and New South Wales, Mr., Fryer continued, horses are conveyed fo.and from thff meetings at the expense of. the clubs, which realise that to draw the. crowd theynw-st have the horses at their meetings,- anu '^.ey spare no pains to get them there. This reduces the expense of. racing to a minimum, whereas in New Zealand a trainer has to secure at least one win to pay the expenses of the team to a meeting. -*-

.The.facilities for betting are also.much better. It is possible to back a horse to win £5000 or £6000 even in a minor event, and the framing of conditions, especially for novice and maiden events, is much better'than in New Zealand. Place betting on the totalisator.-is very popular, but lie did not consider that this method of speculation was.likely to be very successful in New Zealand, unless . the fields improved. It is useless when there are less than seven or eight starters. * SPLENDID ATTENDANCES. . Continuing, Sir. 'Fryer said that the attendances, more especially at Melbourne, were splendid, the crowd on Cup Day and Derby Day being equal to those of the best days in the past. Melbourne, judged by its racing, seemed scarcely to have, felt the depression. Mr. Fryer formed a very high opinion of the Australian jockeys, whom he described as a splendid lot of men who put their physical fitness before everything, ■ leading fine, clean lives. : Ivan Tucker, whom he sent over to prepare and ride Copey last June, was doing exceedingly well and -was regarded as one of the best cross-country riders at Melbourne, scarcely a meeting passing without his riding a winner. He was justly proud of his success as, he said with... a , smile, "I was the only one to give him a chance over here."- Tucker had offered to come over at Christmas to ride for him, but he; declined;the offer as he had .no hurdlers'in;".training. . .' ■ The wonderful spirit of comradeship and friendliness that existed among the trainers greatly impressed him. All seemed out to assist the other at every possible opportunity, and he said that this spirit was extended to him.- - '. His lightweight apprentice, G.. Duncan, -returned with him. Duncan's /riding impressed the Sydney critics, and he had benefited very considerably as a result of his experience. '.'A GREAT COLT." _Mr. Fryer was full'of-praise for Peter Pan, who was a great colt, and, as he remarked, . "None: but' a really good horse . could have done what he did in the Melbourne Cup after being nearly down." He ■was a big, raking sort who would improve yet and much stronger with age. Referring to-the three horses (Peter Jackson, Game Carrington, and Splutter), he had taken across with him when he left in July, he- said that they had a very rough trip, and it was fully a fortnight after their arrival before he could start to work them in earnest. Though Game : Carrington won ■ the Chelmsford Stakes in good style, he-was possibly not quite ready at Sydney, and his form at Melbounre was much better. He was very unlucky, in the: A.J.C. "Derby, .as in addition: to receiving two ■ bad bumps early he got his tongue over the bit and was:never: going kindly. He ehaped mucK'better, in the Craven Plate, which he might have won but for his tend- ; ency to run out. ..' . ...,-.-"' ' . . .1 In the Melbourne Cup the three-year-old ran a really splendid race. He was pocketed on the rails nearly all the way, and never got clear until the race was over, ■when he was running over everything in the final furlong. With'a'better run he ■would have, finished in the money, as he . was finishing better than anything in the -' race. He is now in C. T.'Godby's stable, and-as he is improving all the time he will, • without much doubt, be a still better colt in the autumn. The four-year-old Peter Jackson had been troubled with his teeth all the time, as is not unusual with horses of that age. In addition to'this he never really struck a hard track, and Peter Jackson will not show his best unless the going is fast. .He expects him to do a lot better later on; Splutter had been leased before his departure to Mr. D. H. McLeod, the owner of Araunah. This "three-year-old Tea Tray • filly would dp her future racing at the .suburban meetings in Melbourne,, and properly placed should pay her way- in minor sprint contests.

Mr. Fryer has benefited very consider-, ably in health as a result of his four months in Australia. He intends to remain in KVw Zealand for the present, but he may be tempted to' go across the Tasman again next season, provided, of course, he has "the goods." "It is no use otherwise," he added, "as there are plenty o£ good "horses in Australia, and all races take Winning." ; . ■