RACING NOTES

Evening Star, Issue 23379, 23 September 1939, Page 11

RACING NOTES

RACING. September 30.—Otabi-Maori Racing Club. September 30, October 2.- Obmemun locbey Club. ... , October 5, ,7.—Hawkee Bay Jockey Club. October Dunedin Jockey Club. October 7.—Bay of Plenty Racing Club. , October 9.—Rotorua anti Bay of Plenty lunt Club. ■ . , October 12, 14.—Masterton Racing Club. October 14.—South Canterbury Jockey October 19, 21.—Poverty Bay Turf Club., October 19, 21, 23.—Wellington Racing Club. , October 21, 23.—Gore Racing Club.

SMALL, BUT GOOD “I would not take 2,000 gs for Vergure,” exclaimed his owner, Mr A. Frauenf elder,, after the horse had won at Canterbury Park on Saturday, September 2. Vergure won the second division of the Progressive Handicap so impressively that there,were several inquiries s about his price after the ra.ce, states the Sydney ‘ Daily Telegraph. Mr Franenfelder was.not interested. “He is a really good horse,” he said. “He has great possibilities and might win the .Newmarket or Doncaster next year. Yet when he arrived and was shown to visitors one said: ‘ Fancy importing polo ponies from England.’ We

[By St. Claie.]

TROTTING. September 30.—Methven T.C. October 7.—New Brighton T.C. October 21, 23.—Greymouth T.C. October 21, 23, or 25. —Auckland T.C. October 23.—Oamaru T.C. October 25, 28.—Wellington T.C. October 25, 28.—Invercargill T.C. November 7,9, 10.—N.Z. Metropolitan T.C. November 23, 25. —Forbury Park T.C. December 2.—Wairio T.C. December 2. —New Brighton T.C. December 2.—Waikato T.C. December 9.—Roxburgh T.C.

have raced him only three times in Australia for three wins, and, although the prices have always been short, we are now, ahead on the bargain.” Vergure was purchased in a threehanded way. Mr Frauenf elder wanted to import a horse, so he gave a commission to Peter Keith, a former Sydney trainer. Keith cabled to J. (Russell, an English trainer, who bought Vergure for 610 gs at the Doncaster sales in 1938. Vergure was little more than a pony at the time, and, although still oh the low side, he has built up remarkably since his arrival in Australia. ■ It is estimated that it cost more than £BOO to land him in Australia, and three wins have yielded only £206, hut there are bigger stakes ahead of him.

Trainer M. Laidlaw’s instructions to E. M'Menamin were very simple. “If ho wants to dash away with a big lead, let him,” he said;’ “but if he wants to drop in behind a horse or two, don’t worry; he will be all right.” Backers wanted nothing else but Vergure, and backed him from even money to odds on. Vergure jumped out first, and, although in front sll the way, M'Menamin did not allow him to gain a big break and he could have wen by more than two lengths. JOTTINGS Wagner Amiss. Wagner struck himself on the eve of the Geraldine meeting, and had to be withdrawn from the Cup, for which he was one of the ante-post favourites. Not Eligible. By her success in the Ohajfii Handicap’at Orari on Thursday, Lady Don is now ineligible to start in the Novice Handicap at Wingatui next month, but she has also been engaged in the Kaikorai Handicap, six furlongs. Cannot Handle Firm Going. Mount Val ran quite a good race in the Ashburton Handicap last week, but on the harder going at Orari on Thursday he was not able to get near the leader at any stage of the First Hurdles, and finished last with Contract. Mount Val has repeatedly shown that he does not like firm going. No Use to Valantua, Valantua was ridden in the Geraldine Cup by the stable apprentice, but the 71b allowance he claimed was of no use to him. Valantua got chopped out at the barrier; and his rider was never able to get him up into a position that would have given Phar Lap a chance of winning from. For Melbourne. According to Melbourne reports accommodation has been booked for Catalogue and Conveyer at W. Howick’s stable at Mentone. They were to have left on September 14, but the date now allotted is toward the end of the month. Randwick Favourites. In Sydney last week Adios was the favourite for the Epsom Handicap, with Micawber next. Sedenham ■ and Te Hero were in the next line. For the Metropolitan, Cooranga, was the straight-out favourite with Feminist and Royal Chief next, then Buzalong and Malagigi, followed by Respirator. Consistent. On their form at Ashburton two horses at Orari on Thursday looked almost “ racecourse certainties.” and each scored comfortably. Though again beginning slowly the extra furlong was in Shanghai Lily’s favour and she won well from Capricious. Gay Parade was the other good thing, and he was never off the bit to win over six furlongs.

Unlucky., Nightwings was unlucky in the Geraldine Cup. Her rider drew No. 16, the extreme outside berth, at the barrier which, in such a big field on _a turning track like Orari, is a big handicap. She was in a good position approaching the home turn and, just as she was commencing her run, was carried out into the centre of the track turning into the straight. This completely spoiled any chance she might have had of winning.

Outstayed Pink Robe. Jewish Lad was ridden at the Ashburton meeting by R. Register but, being engaged to ride King Icel at Oran on Thursday, the mount on Jewish Lad was given to H. W. Hibberd. At Ashburton Jewish Lad, who is a hard puller, was kept well back,

but on Thursday Hibbcrd let him run along in front, and over the last two furlongs he outstayed Pink Robe. Jins was Hibberd’s first ride over hurdles in public, and there was only £l3_ lus invested on his chance on the straightout machine.

Engaged at Wingatui. Travenna was having his first start since running in the Grand National Hurdles when ho contested the hurdle race at Orari on Thursday. He looked well forward when paraded in the enclosure, and but for making a bad jump before half the journey bad been completed would have taken a closer part in the finish. Travenna is engaged at Wingatui next month, and the racing at Orari should do him good. Likely to do Better at Wingatui. Since being gelded Spartan has not done much racing, and when paraded for the Geraldine Cup looked big 111 condition. With Glenogil, Spartan was out in front forcing the pace for nearly a mile, then began to drift. Considering his condition it was a good performance, and should sharpen him up for his engagement in the Ranfurly Handicap next month. Spartan is also engaged in the New Zealand Cup, in which he has been weighted at 7.0.

Big Dividends Cause Decrease. Judging from the number of ntotor cars seen at the Orari course on Thursday, the easing up on the petrol restrictions has been appreciated by racegoers. The attendance was not quite as good as last year, but the motor enclosure was just as well filled. The three first winners—Jewish Lad, Lady Don, and Roy Bnn—each returned good dividends, and the only first favourites to win were Axspeav and Gay Parade. This, no doubt, had a good deal to do with the decrease in the totalisator turnover. A Good Race. Though the winner’s share of the stake for the Geraldine Cup was only £l5O and a £2O trophy, it attracted a field of 16 starters, and .one of the best contests one could wish for. Roy Bun, who had a 51b allowance, won his first race over a mile and a-quar-ter. Last season he started 25 times for five wins, four seconds, and four thirds, and two of his second placings were in mile and a-quarter races. In Thursday’s race he was well handled by the Invercargill apprentice, W. F. Ellis, who had him well placed all the way, and got a good run next the rails over the last three furlongs. Sly Fox,

Like Catalogue, Sly Fox, who has beep weighted at 8.2 in the New Zealand Cup, is also engaged in the Melbourne Cup, in which he has 7.13. His recent form has been good up to a mile and a-quarter. Last year he carried 7.10 in the New Zealand Cup and started favourite, but after leading for a mile and five furlongs ran_ out very wide turning into the straight and then stopped badly. He was made favourite again in the Fendalton Handicap, mile and a-quarter, hut again failed badly over the final stages.

Beau Vite. According to one Australian writer who saw T. George after Beau Vito had run second to Defaulter in the Chelmsford Stakes, the New Zealand trainer said: “ Beau Vite has the Derby won already.” The same writer also says that Bqau Vite is for sale at Mr Stewart’s price, which is not divulged. The 6,000-guinea offer was made before the Stakes, so with the colt’s form,in that race and his Derby chance also' taken into account there can be little doubt that the amount necessary to buy him would run into five figures.

Second Innings Unlucky. There was pood money at Orari on Thursday to say that Second Innings would win the Geraldine Cup, and those who backed him appeared to be unlucky. Starting ifrom next to the rails Second Innings got snowed in as the field raced through the straight, and though on the rails most of the way was always well back. Racing across the top Jennings had to leave the rails to get a' position and he turned into the straight about seventh. Then wide out he put in a great run, and was finishing so fast that had he been able to commence his run a little earlier it is odds on that he would have beaten both Roy Bun and the Sandwichman. Second Innihgs is not engaged at Wingatui next month, but The Sandwichman has been nominated in the hurdle race.

A New Zealand Cup Candidate. , One of the New Zealand Cup candidates racing at Orari on Thursday that commanded attention was P.assaform. He is still big in condition, and was evidently not expected to run prominently, as there was little linancial support for him on either machine, Over the early stages, in fact until after the straight was entered, Passafom was nearer the tail than the front of the field, then he put in a great run and finished only two lengths behind the placed horses. Passafom, now four years old, has been allotted 7.1 in the New Zealand Cup, a race for which he is to receive a special preparation, and he will be given another race in the Ranfurly Handicap at Wingatui next month. A Dunedin Guineas Candidate. With a change of riders from the stable apprentice to P. Spratt there was solid support for King Gustavo in the seven-furlong hack race on Thursday, and he ran a much better race. Again, as at Ashburton, he was a little slow to find his feet, but the last ground was made up gradually and at the end of three furlonqs he was disputing the lead with Phenomenal. He had the latter beaten before reaching ft the home turn and then looked a sure winner, but was unable to hold off Fcrrihy in the run home. The race should do King Gustavo a lot of good for his engagement in the Dunedin Guineas next month, in which his most formidable opponents appear to be Nigger Boy and Prudent Prince. Fast Track Times Misleading. Many horses can register much faster times from moving starts than others, and naturally still more faster times than from flat-footed starts out of the barrier. Prior to the Geraldine meeting Skyrena was credited with putting up some unusually brilliant halfmiles on the training tracks at Riecarton, but, judging from her performance on Thursday, she must have been travelling fast at the post from which she was timed in these gallops. In a field of nine Skyrena started from No. 6 position at the harrier, and, with Swordstick, was slow to find her feet. She was raced up to the outside of the leaders rounding the far turn, and this effort was evidently too much for her, as she stopped badly in the run home. The New Zealand Cup Handicaps. As anticipated, Royal Chief has been placed at the top of the handicap of the New Zealand Cup, and with 9.6 has been assessed at weight-for-age. Should he win the Metropolitan Handicap in Sydney he will incur no penalty in the New Zealand Cup, as the condi-

tions of the race provide that no horse can be rehandicapped to carry more than weight-for-age. Having won three Winter Cups and a Melbourne Cup, Catalogue must be considered well treated with 9.2, and should his owner decide to keep him in the Dominion in preference to taking on the Melbourne Cup, Catalogue will have many friends for the Iliccarton race. Beaupartir at 8.13 has been given 11b below the weight-for-age scale, and as the outstanding best three-year-old in the Dominion last season he must be considered well treated. He won the last five races ho contested, and; as bo is to be given a special preparation for this race, will be one of the early favourites. Only 10 horses have been awarded more than 8.0, and between that mark and 7.0 there are 27, while no fewer than 31 horses have been allotted the rainjmum. The first acceptance next Friday will no doubt weed out the field. Two Surprises.

Though they had no chance of beating Gay Parade in the SquattSrs Handicap at Orari, Queen Dorothy, who was the extreme outsider of the field, and Toro-Koura affected surprises by filling the minor places. Queen Dorothy as usual gave some trouble at the barrier, but was looking the right way when the tapes were released and jumped out with Gay Parade. She stuck to him until the turn for home, where he drew oiit and Skyrena headed off the Oamaru mare. Skyrena was beaten halfway down the straight, and Queen Dorothy came again, just lasting long enough to beat Toro-Koura by a neck. The latter, too, was not fancied in the ( wagering on the race, and was well back at the turn into the straight. Finishing much more strongly than his condition would suggest, he proved that he has not lost any of the pace he showed in his races last season. Queen Dorothy was making her first appearance since she ran in the Riverton Cup last April, and Toro-Koura had not had a race since he ran in the Great Easter Handicap last April. Queen Dorothy is engaged in the Kanfurly Handicap and Toro-Koura in the Telegraph Handicap to be run at Wingatni next month. ' New Two-minute Pacer.

The first two-minute mile recorded in a race in America this year was accomplished by Blackstone, a threc-year-old unhoppled pacer by Volomite from Margaret Spangler, a 2min 2j;sec pacing daughter of the trotter Guy Axworthy. Blackstone won the three heats of the Amercau Stake of 2,517 dollars, in 2min 4sec, 2min, and 2min ssec, The racing was on the Old Orchard ‘‘ kite ” mile track July, and in winning the trotting division of the American Stake, Peter Astra, by Peter Vole, did the three heats in. 2min 3|sec, 2min 32sec, and 2min 24sec. Blackstone has a full sister in New Zealand. Blackstone is also fully related to Chief Counsel, who, as a three-year-old last season, created history by pacing his mile in imin 57Jsec. Spangled! Maiden, the New Zealand filly, was purchased for Mr J. R. M'Kenzie, by auction at the Walnut Hall auction a year ago, and to American time is a two-year-old. Spangled Maiden cost 5,500 dollars at the sale. Spangled Maiden is also by Volomite, 2min by Peter Vole from Cita Frisco. The dam of Blackstone and Spangled Maiden is Margaret Spangler, by Guy Axworthy, 2min B|sec.

A Severe Blow, Some idea of what the abandonment of racing in England meant to those in the game can bo gained from cable -messages to Australian papers just arrived in New Zealand by mail. The smaller racing men are in dire straits, for their horses are moderate and their successes usually confined) to smaller meetings, and several owners are considering emptying their stables and sending the horses to_ Australia and South Africa. They point out that the value of thoroughbreds has slumped heavily since September 9. It is a different matter for millionaire owners, who can afford to maintain stables throughout a long war, but even these owners reflect glumly that the yearling to-day may be an eight-year-old at the end of the war. Apart from the vast army of jockeys and stable boys, racecourse staffs and motor float contractors find themselves at a loose end. All bookmakers are idle. Many have enlisted in the various services. Offices of starting-price betting organisations with huge ramifications throughout the kingdom are closed. Staffs have been dispersed and instructed to await developments.