RACING NOTES

Evening Star, Issue 21752, 21 June 1934, Page 12

RACING NOTES

RACING. June 23.—Napier Park R.C. Ju«« 23.—Ashburton C.R.C. Jun* 30.—Oamaru J.C. ' July B.—Daantrirk* Hunt Club. July 10, 12, 14.—TTslliaston R.C. July 81.—Havrka’s Bay Bunt Club. July 21.— Franklin Racing Club. July 26.—Waimatn Hunt Club. July 28.—South Canterbury J.C., July 28.—Manawatu B.C. — Season, 1934-35. — August 4. —Poverty Bay Hunt Club. SO NO LUCK. Two important events on the Australian turf that have yet to be won by New Zealand-bred horses are the Victoria Racing Club’s Grand National Hurdle Race and Grand National Steeplechase. The' fact that several horses hailing from the dominion figure among the entrants this year revives recollections of unsuccessful attempts that have been made to win these races (writes “ Phaeton ”). Forty-four ‘ years ago the Ejlerslio trainer E. J. Rae journeyed to Victoria with Donald ' and Titokowaru in the hope of landing the double, and each horse ran second in bis race. In the hurdles Donald was defeated by Ellerslie, .and Titokowaru beat all except Fearless 11. in the steeplechase. In 1915 Mr G. L. Stead was represented in the steeplechase by Tim Doolan. whose prospects were considered so good that he was sent out favourite. Tim Doolan made a game bid for Victory, but the luck was against him, and he was beaten by three-quarters of a length by Flash Jack, who scored a surprise victory. Two years later the sportsman Mr T. Wilson sent Waimai to Flemington in quest of Grand National Steeplechase honours, but the best he could do was to run third to Old Mungindi and Cambye. In 1930 the Victoria Racing Club raised the a'dded money in the Grand National Steeplechase to £5,000, but subsequently ‘ the stake was reduced to, £2,500, at which it remains. JOTTINGS. In reply to “ Win and Place ” the Railway Department advise that the special train to be run from Dunedin in connection with the Oamaru Races on June 30 will leave at 8.45 a.m. Grand Review, Imperial Spear, and Cleaner are the local favourites for the Mayfield Hack Handicap to be run over a mile and a-quarter at Ashburton on Saturday. It is reported that A.ro Arc was recently measured and goes under the pony standard. This may mean a trip to Melbourne. Greenstone, who won the Great Western Steeplechase in 1928, gained two firsts, two seconds, and a third prizes in the jumping competitions recently held by the Birchwood Hunt Club as Mossburn. The straight-out trotter Stanley T. (imptd), who has been out for a long spell, is reported to have been taken in hand again by J. Young with a view to racing at the August meeting at Addington. If L. J. Ellis decides to ride at the Ashburton meeting, instead of going to Napier, he will be on Grampian and Isight Form. A. Ei "Ellis has been engaged to ride Cleaner and Red Dance; A. H. Eastwood, Star Raider, Quietly, and Doiran; and D. O’Connor, Fleeting Glance. > Mr G. J. Barton’s horses, Chenwood, Tempest, and Compass, will be driven by J. Fraser, jun., at the Auckland Trotting Club’s Meeting, the first day of which had to be postponed yesterday on account of bad weather. Membo has been paid up for in the Didmore Steeplechase to be run at Ashburton next Saturday. This indicates that he has made • a satisfactory recovery from the injury he sustained while hunting with. the Birchwood Hounds last month. Master Anomaly is the only one of A. S. M'Kay’s team being kept going, and if all goes well with him in the meantime the Anomaly gelding may bo nominated for the sprint events at the National Meeting. The Invercargill trainer R. M‘Kay has decided to shift his quarters to Wingatui, and. having procured suitable accommodation will take possession, at the beginning of next month. It is understood that he will start with a team" of five horses for a local owner. Guarantee and Black Duke will probably form D. P. Wilson’s team for Trentham next month. Both horses handle soft going well, and Trentham in July generally presents a yielding or worn track. Guarantee is engaged in the Grange Handicap, one mile, to be run nt Oamaru on 30th inst. Willow Glen, who was ridden in the steeplechase at Timaru last Saturday by D. O’Connor, has now joined that trainer’s stable at Riccarton. Hitherto Willow Glen, who is by Buff Gauntlet from an Obsono marc, has been home trained. He should be useful in hunters’ races and a very safe jumper. In discussing totalisator systems .the secretary of the Hawke’s Bay Jockey Club (Mr H. S. Moss) stated that he believed there were less than 10 per cent, of racegoers in his district who wanted a continuance of win and place. His committee would consider the point of going back to a single pool made after the present meeting. The lease of Hostage, who was for a time in C. Gieseler’s stable, has been terminated, and Mr E. B. Newton, owner of the Night Raid gelding, has sent him to Orari to F.,0. Pratt, who will try him as a jumper. Hostage is a half-brother to Royal Tractor, a big horse who showed speed and weightcarrying ability until he went wrong in the wind. Martian Chief was well fancied by his trainer in the six-furlong race at Washdyke last Saturday, but never looked like a winner. Mobile and Great Star, who finished first and second, are not engaged in the Maronan Handicap, to be run over seven furlongs at Ashburton on Saturday, and Water Power, who finished third, will meet Martian Chief on 71b worse terms. Those who have seen the Lord Warden—Kerb gelding, now rising two years old, in D. P. Wilson’s stable, have all sorts of good things to say about him. He is unquestionably a good-looking youngster, and not nearly so high-strung as the other members of Kerb’s progeny. He has been broken in, and is ready for work when the tracks are suitable. Father’s Choice, a two-year-old by Lord Quex from Charlady, and therefore a brother to Cleaner, was having his first start when he contested the Maiden Plate at Hastings last Thursday. He failed to show up, but his work on the track prior to the meeting was good. Charlady raced well in Auckland in the colours of the late Mr 11. Friedlander. She is a sister -to Chignon, winner of the A.J.C. Gimcrack Stakes. Father’s Choice was acquired from the estate of the late Mr W. G. Stead by Mr F. B. Allen, of Hastings.

[By St. Cxajte.]

August 4.—Christchurch Hunt Club. August 14. 16. 18.—C.J.C. Grand National Meeting. August 18.—Pakuranga Hunt Club. August 18.—Egmont-Wanganui Hunt Club. .September I.—Otago Hunt Club. ( TROTTING. June 23. —Auckland T.C. June 24.—Hawke’s Bay T.S. Seratchmere Scar and Knoekfin are both very speedy sorts, and they are fully expected to make a bold showing in forthcoming races (says the ‘ Sun ’). The former is entered for Oamaru and Knoekfin will race at Ashburton. This morning they ran half a mile up the back, Seratchmere Scar securing the honours easily in 0.49 3-5. They were accompanied at an interval of two lengths by Sky Rest, who was bred and is to race for Mr R. Adamson, but she could not foot it over the last furlong with H. Nurse’s pair. The latest addition to J. S. Shaw’s stable is the two-year-old Wrack gelding, Ironside, who has been purchased by the Auckland sportsman, Mr W. Hosking, from Durbar Lodge Limited. Ironside ran third in the Sapling Stakes to Moana Tama and Subsidy, after being poorly served during the running, and he appears certain to develop into a good horse with more age. He has been in the money in each of his three races to date. Ironside is a typical Wrack to look at from Gatwich, by Logan Pointer from Precision, by St. Swithin from Kildasa, a thoroughbred mare. Though Gay Broney failed to race' as well as expected at the Great Northern Meeting, the heavy state' of the going at Ellerslie 'during that fixture was responsible for his mediocre displays. He has beeii in regular work since then, and no fault can be found with his condition. There is a possibility that this horse will be brought to Riccarton for the Grand National Meeting, and _if he strikes firm going he should win some ‘money on the trip. His efforts at the Auckland Autumn Meeting, when he ran second in the big handicap each , day, stamp him as a good horse when he gets the conditions to his liking, and his winning tether is not nearly reached yet. Mr J'. M, Samson has not had a bad season at all with the horses he has quartered at Riccarton (says the Christchurch ‘ Star ’). P. M‘Grath, his principal trainer here, has gathered in ten wins, thirteen seconds, and thirteen thirds, and £1,388 in'prize money. The horses who have contributed to this result are Cleaner, Red Dance, Cpp Bearer, Bell Hill, and Guarantee. The last-named was stationed here for part of the season only. In addition,, Southdown is here in the charge of A. M'Aulay. Southdown’s score for the season is four wins, three seconds, arid a third, with £BIO in prize money. The Riccarton total for Mr Samson since August 1 is, therefore, fourteen wins, sixteen seconds, fourteen thirds, and £2,198 in prize money. Last year’s Derby winner, Hyperion, the Italian champion, Crapom, and the Americans Mate and Gusto, were engaged in the Royal Hunt Cup, run at Ascot yesterday, but the cable nian does not state whether they were starters. 1 ' The stewards ‘of the • Hawke’s Bay Jockey Club were resposible for a very sporting action when they returned the investments on Bellbroney in the Hastings •'Handicap. Not only were the horses at the post, but the totalisator tickets on Bellbroney were actually balanced when she was withdrawn. Great Star was paraded at Riccarton on Tuesday heavily bandaged behind. The injury he received at Washdyke on Saturday has caused inflammation, but is not considered to be at all serious, and the gelding will carry out his engagement at Ashburton. On Post, winner of . the Newbury Summer Cup at Newbury (England) last Thursday, is a five-year-old bay horse by On Watch from Kippy, and he is owned by the American Mrs E. Ambrose Clark, whose horse Kellsbro’ Jack was victor in last year’s Grand National Steeplechase. “ He is doing his first racing in England this year. The Royal Hunt Cup Handicap, run at Ascot yesterday, is one of the important spring events, and invariably attracts a big field.’ Caymanus this year’s winner, was an unplaced starter 5n the 1933 Derby. He had ten starts last season, winning one, the Royal Plate, £1,260, run over a mile arid a-quarter. Highlander, who finished second, had one win out of eight starts. and Young Native, third, two wins out of nine starts. The four-year-old-filly, Pleasant Memory, by Day Comet from Retrospect, trained hy Cutts Bros, for Mr J. Stafford, gave a most attractive display over four hurdles at Riccartori ori Tuesday (says tbs ' Press ’). Ridden by J. Veevers she cleared each fence in her stride, and is undoubtedly one of the most natural jumpers produced at headquarters for some time. / The team controlled by A. S. Ellis at Riccarton has been reduced by both Aladdin and Speakeasy having to be put out of work. The former did not break down, but there seemed little prospect of him standing up to the necessary preparation to win steeplechases, and he is now doing duty as a hack. Speakeasy is suffering from ligament trouble, and it is doubtful if he will be in evidence again this winter. C. Leader, who at the end of last season succeeded the Hon. George Lambton as private trainer to Lord Derby, saddled up his first winner in bis new post at Newmarket on May 3. This was Hyperion, who won the March Stakes, one mile and a-quarter. Hyperion, 9.12, swerved near home, but won by a neck from the Solario four-year-old Angelico, 8.6. with H.H. Aga Khan’s Felicitation, 9.6, third, three lengths, away. Failure of a horse-racing venture caused a meeting of creditors to he called at Wellington on Monday to discuss the financial affairs of William George Keay, a Wellington hotel porter. The meeting lapsed through no creditors appearing. Bankrupt stated that some time ago he had bred a horse which he wanted to race; the horse failed, and he owed to various racing clubs, a horse-trainer, a saddler, and produce merchants, sums amounting to £37 17s 6d. He was unable to repay this, as his own wages had been £2 10s a week. Wee Pat has had an easy time since she raced at the Great Northern Meeting. She came through her racing in great order, and she looks better than ever. It is probable that she will make her next appearance in hurdle races at Trentham. Her performances at Ellerslie proved that she is one of the best hurdlers for her inches ever seen in the Auckland province, and despite the increased weight that she will have to carry in the future, further successes should not be beyond her. >

War Knight, by Paladin from Wartone. by Solferino from Warstep. is due to mnk\ liis first appearance in publio at Ashburton on Saturday. He is one of the biggest geldings in commission at Riccarton, and has shown a good turn of speed in track gallops. Ho may, however, be at a disadvantage through lack of experience on Saturday, but can be depended upon to attract more attention later. War Knight is trained by Mrs J. Campbell for his breeder, Mr B. G. Dalgety. who will arrive back in Christchurch to-day, after a trip to the Old Country. H. M. Parshall. a leading American trainer with headquarters at Urban a, Ohio, has more than 100 horses in work. No fewer than twenty-four from this stable will be raced on the Grand Circuit, which extends from June 23 to July 7. The match race between Calumet Crusader and Vansandt will take place on July 4. The race is for 2,500d01, and will be decided oh the best two out of three mile heats. In each day’s racing on the Grand Circuit a handicap event will conclude the racing, and while all the hig events are run over a mile these races vary in distance from Six furlongs to nine furlongs. Most of these handicaps are claiming races: The idea is to put a price on a horse and anyone may purchase at the amount advertised. The smaller the price the better the horse is handicapped. If lie is nominated for 700dol he starts off scratch, at l,ooodol he starts from 40ft behind, and at 1,200d0l lie is asked to concede 80ft start. Others may start in the race without a claiming fee, but in this case a penalty of 120 ft is imposed. The races are decided, on the two-heat system, but the winner of the first is penalised 40ft in the second.