RACING NOTES

Evening Star, Issue 22440, 10 September 1936, Page 13

RACING NOTES

DESERT CHIEF IMPRESSIVE The New Zealand owner, Mr G. JBarton, has always held a high opinion of the merits of Desert Chief, but the horso had failed so often when expected to do well that there was a suspicion that Desert Chief had been rather over-rated (writes “ Chatham,” in tho ‘Australasian’). He, however, lived up to his homo reputation bv winning the Epsom Gup in the manner of a really good horse. Tomison rode him a peculiar race, as ho kept Desert Chief a long way out of his ground in the early stages of the race, and six furlongs from home he must have been at least a dozen lengths behind the leaders. Tomison, no doubt, was riding to orders. When ho did set Desert Chief going the horse made a very ready response and moved so fast that ho was close to the loaders turning for home. There Donaster was going so easily that it seemed to bo merely a matter of by how far he would win. It was his first outing since winning the King’s Cup in May, and his condition gave out in tho straight. Darren Corn tried to win all the way, and Jeldiwallah tried to go witli him. Jeldiwallah, however, gave up the fight turning for home, and Donaster followed Barron Corn into the straight. Donaster soon settled with Barren Corn, but there was not much fight left in him when Orford and Desert Chief tackled him. Orford fought on with great tenacity, hut Desert Chief held him very safely and won fairly comfortably. There was a great light between Donaster and Kitty O’Shea for third place, and - Donaster just gained it. The form of Donaster was quite satisfactory, as although he did not win he made a good fight as long as Ins condition lasted, and ho will not Jose any of his Caulfield Cup friends m consequence of his failure here. Desert Chief is a Caulfield Cup candidate, having 7.7 in that race, hut whereas he is pretty fit now, Donaster is not, and is certaip to make the greater improvement during the next few weeks. Desert Chief is closely related to Cold Rod, who won his race at Warwick Farm on Saturday, as both are sons of Chief Ruler from half-sisters. Gold Rod is from Oreum, who is hy King John from Desert Gold, and Pure Gold, the dam of Desert Chief, is by Psychology from Desert Gold. THE WARWICK STAKES The following is “ Chatham’s ” description in the ‘ Australasian of Cuddle’s running in the W arwick Stakes For the Warwick Stakes, a weightrace with allowances, the New Zealand mare Cuddle was a pronounced favourite. Having won the last A.J.C. Doncaster Handicap with 9.4, she was the logical favourite, seeing that she had' only 8.12 in this race, but, like many mares, Cuddle in the autumn was a different mare to what she was on Saturday. Talking, never having previously won a race worth £SOO, had a 101 b allowance, and he started second favourite, closely attended in the betting by Sarcherie; whilst the other 11 runners were at long prices. When the barrier lifted puddle was quickly into Ixer stride, with Talking next, and then in a bunch came Lough Neagh, High, Sylvandale, and Kinnoull. There was very little alteration into the straight, except that Talking then passed Cuddle, with Lough Neagh four lengths behind them. To the surprise of everybody, Cuddle had not a struggle left, and Talking went on to win by three lengths from old Lough Neagh, who ran past Cuddle to beat her for second place by two lengths and a-half. Then came Sylvandale. who ran a good race without ever looking a likely winner. It was intended by the Rosehili trainer, A. G. Papworth, to give his son the mount on Talking, whom he trains for Mr S. Cash. The stewards, however, considered a more experienced iockey should have the mount, and advised Papworth to that effect. J. O’Sullivan was secured, and this caused the colt to be heavily supported. JOTTINGS Nightbdund, who is being trained by D. O’Connor for Mr H. Elworthy, is destined for a jumping career, but he will be raced on. the flat this season. By Night Raid from En Parole, a sister to Bobrikoff, he is a big four-year-old, and is going on well. At the Warwick Farm Meeting held on August 29, tho Wingatui horseman, A. E. Didham, rode Kinnoull in the Warwick Stakes and Rebel Lad in the Glenlee Handicap. Kinnoull was fourth favourite, but Rebel Lad was not mentioned in the betting. Thirty-four different sires are represented in this year’s nominations Tor the New Zealand Cup. Paladin and Shambles each have three representatives, and Hunting Song, Rampion, Colossus, Australian Sun, Silverado, Paper Money, Limond, Lord Quex, Greyspear, Mnsketoon, Polozel, Cockpit, and Arausio two each. Referring to Silver Streak’s running in the Campbolltown Handicap at the Warwick Farm Meeting, “ Chatham,” in the ‘Australasian.’ says: ‘‘Third place wont to Silver Streak, who came home full of running, and is sure to be heard of before long. It was bis first outing since coming from New Zealand. He is a, very plain-looking aged gelding by Paper Money from Fuliea.” Tho ‘Southland News’ reports that the ex-Dunedin Cup winner, Queen Balboa, has slipped a foal to Nigger Minstrel. Mr H. S. Moss, secretary to the 'awke’s Bay Jockey Club, has informed he committee of the club that he itends to resign from office at tho nnmenceraent of the new year. Handicaps for the Ashburton Meeting i be held on Saturday of next week re due next Saturday, and acceptances ose on Tuesday at 8 p.m. hat stable.

[By St. Clair.]

If His Grace started in the St. Leger Stakes yesterday he would carry the colours of Mr J. V. Rank, who purchased him last month from Lord Carnarvon. His Grace is a full brother to Blenheim, who won the Derby of 1930.

Lowenbcrg, by Lord Quex—Zarene, last year’s New Zealand Derby winner, has come in after a good spell and has resumed work at Hawera after a course of preliminary road work. __ Lowenbcrg has been, entered for the New Zealand Cup. Tho Maharaja of Kolhapur probably has a bigger team in training than any other owner in India. V. V. Powar trains for him, and in the fist of horses for which course fees were paid by that trainer for tho Poona racing season there were 42 the property of the Maharaja.

Uruba, who ran a dead heat with Gaybrooke at Mooneo Valley last month, was impounded by the V.R.C. stipendiary stewards on the following Thursday. They visited tho stable of her trainer, D. M‘Kcnzie, and, taking charge of Urnba, removed her in a horse float to the police barracks at St. Kilda road. She will form the subject of an inquiry by the stewards of the V.R.C.

The National Breeders’ Produce Stakes, tho richest two-year-old race in England, was worth £5,520 to this year’s winner, Lord Rosebery’s Full Sail, by Fairway from Fancy Free, by Stefan the Great. Tho winner paid nearly a century on the totalisator. The, favourite was The Hour, hy Horns, on the strength of three successes, but he was well beaten. Subsequently, it was announced that Sir Laurence Philipps bad decided to turn out The Hour for the rest of tho season, a course he adopted with Flamingo, who in the following year won the Two Thousand and was runner-up to Fclstead in the Derby.

Writing of handicapping recalls other ideas than those adopted in Australia. Some believe that 12yds to the second is not a correct estimate of a paceEs or trotter’s speed. It is not, but it is near enough to provide a satisfactory working basis (says a Sydney writer), and as such is accepted by all practical men, As a matter of fact, a horse travelling at a 2.26' gait to the mile covers 36ft 2in every second. This is as near as possible to 12yds, but 2.26 to the mile is too slow a time to win the great majority of races.

A novel suggestion regarding the handicapping of hurdlers was made in a letter received by the Christchurch branch of the S.P.C.A.: “As a lover of horses, I have often been distressed by the crashing of horses in hurdle races. I feel the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty ot Animals should protest against the cruel method of weight handicapping in hurdle races. It may be a world-wide method of handicapping, but that dges not justify it. I suggest that the societies. for the prevention of cruelty to animals throughout the world recommend to racing clubs the more humane method of handicapping in hurdle races by distance, as in trotting events. It seems quite clear to me that, however superb a horse may be, it cannot lift a heavy weight over the hurdles at the pace it must go to bo a winner. This suggestion should appeal to owners, who must lose heavily when, as so often happens, a first-class horse has to be destroyed.”

Cecil Selby, who returned to Adelaide after a successful time in India, where he was associated with the leading stables, says that Australian jockeys should not think of going to India unless they bold a contract. Selby went to France to try his luck, and, although he was under contract to Comte Rivaud, who had a big stable, he could not secure a permit to ride. French jockeys, he said, had refused to ride in races if foreigners were allowed to take mounts. They had formed an association, and an exception they made was “Togo ” Johnstone. “ Any way,” added Selby, “it is a good place for an Australian to be out of, as on some courses where favourites were beaten the crowd thought nothing of pulling pickets off the fences and smashing everything within range.”

Unequivocal opposition to betting shops was expressed by the chairman of the Victoria Racing Club, Mr H. A. Currie, at the annual meeting. Mr Currie said he felt sure all members of the club would agree with the statement oh the Queensland Betting Commission that the betting shop was a corruptive and destroying influence, and had nothing to recommend it ethically, socially, or economically. Kvery mem-

ber of that commission, except one, had united in condemning the betting shops. The commission had also ver commended that ott'-the-course betting should not receive State recognition by the licensing and l registration of betting shops.

■The fact that the Auckland province, which represents a large trotting interest, is without representation on the executive of the New Zealand Trotting Conference is causing concern to some a the country clubs as well as the Auckland _ Trotting Olub, and is strengthening the idea for a separate controlling organisation. The Waikato ■Club s executive received at a recent meeting a communication from the Thames Club, expressing .the opinion that the time was opportune for clubs to form some association for the promotion of the sport and the safeguarding of interests .of clubs collectively and individually. The Waikato Club concurred and decided to co-operate with the Thames Club in furthering tbe_ project. Members were definite in their assertion that clubs in Auckland were not receiving the treatment they were entitled to from the controlling body.

Born in 1882 and still a jockey. The record of Sam Heapy, the English jockey who has spent most pf his life m Belgium, is one of the most remark co'c in the history of racing on the Continent. A month ago he won th< Ostend Derby, which he first won in 1903, and his total of winning ride? then stood at 2,916, thus beating F. Archer’s figures. In addition he has trained over 2,000 winners. Heapy went to Belgium in 1900 and he re mained in that country. In his first season lie was the leading jockey, and his best tally for one year is 196. Heapy’s ambition is to ride 3,000 winners, and this lie expects to attain in the course of the next two years. His patron is 'Baron Brugmann de Walzin, with whom he has been associated for 24 years, and for whom he trains a /•stable of 70 horses, riding several gallops himself every morning—he rides at S.G comfortably—and supervising the racing, which in the season takes place on several afternoons a week.