RACING NOTES

Evening Star, Issue 23380, 25 September 1939, Page 10

RACING NOTES

RACING. September 30.—Otaki-Maori Racing Club. September 30, October 2. Ohinemuri Jockey Club. October 5, 7. —Hawke’s Bay Jockey Club. October 7. —Dunedin Jockey Club. 1 October 7.—Bay of Plenty Racing Club. October 9.—Rotorua and Bay of Plenty Hunt Club. October 12, 14.—Masterton Racing Club. October 14.—South Canterbury Jockey Club. October 14, 16.—Auckland Racing Club. October T 9, 21.—Poverty Bay Turf Club. October 19, 21, 23.—Wellington Racing Club. October 21, 23l—Gore Racing Club. October 23. —Poverty Bay Hunt Club. October 23.—North Canterbury Racing Club. October 23.—Waverley Racing Club.

NEW ZEALAND GUP CANDIDATES No fewer than a dozen New Zealand Cup candidates were seen in action at the Geraldine meeting, but only one of them, Shanghai Lily, was returned a winner. This four-year-old filly is by Lord Warden, who has already sired one winner, of the Cup in Cernq Abbas, from Malmsey, a mare by Charmeux, and a useful performer up to a mile and a-quarter. Shanghai Lily won both times over nine furlongs at Geraldine, and finished on so stoutly at the end of each of her races as to suggest that a longer journey would not be beyond her stamina. But there is a great difference between a nine furlong hack race and the principal two-mile race of the Dominion, and it is likely that her owner will select a much easier task for her. Capricious, another four-year-old filly, finished second to Shanghai Lily in each of her races. She is by Night Raid, sire of Nightmarch, winner of the 1930 Cup, from Egotism, by Demosthenes. Capricious gave promise as a three-year-old of developing into a high class mare, but so far has not fulfilled that promise, and is still in hack class. Second Innings, by Winning Hit from Lady Clarenceux, put in a brilliant run in the Geraldine Cup to secure third money after getting a bad run over the early and middle stages of the race, but it was not impressive enough to suggest this six-year-old gelding having a winning chance in the Cup. Balmenter was the only other New Zealand Cup candidate to secure a place at Geraldine, and though there was merit in the performance, it was not up to Cup standard. Thermidor was only started on the second day, and under 9.4 J, was never prominent. She looks well, and though she has yet to show she can run out two miles under 7.11, her performances last seawn suggest this Robespierre— Lady Minerva six-year-old mare to have inherited the stamina from her dam’s side that helped Lady Zetland to win the New Zealand Cup in 1896. Thermidor looked well forward in condition.

[By St. Clair.]

October 23.—Waikato Hunt Club. October 28.—Banks Peninsula Racing Club. October 28.—Rangitikei Racing Club.

TROTTING. September 30.—Methven T.C. October 7.—New Brighton T.C. October 21, 23.—Groyrnouth 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, TO. —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.

Rabble, too, looked well, but in each of his races was ridden by a diminutive apprentice, who did not look strong enough to get the best out of his mount. Wagner was one of the disappointments at Geraldine. After his good performance in beating a high class field over nine furlongs at Riccarton last month, he was expected to run prominently, but was actually the first horse beaten, and was beginning to drift when five furlongs had been covered. Even with 101 b less to carry in the Riccarton race he does not appeal Passaform stripped on the big side, as at Ashburton, but the race would do him good. He finished fourth in the Cup after being badly placed until the home turn, and being by Balboa, a sire of many good stayers, and from Fairform, the 1 dam of another good stayer in Tauramai, there is every reason to assume that Passaform will be able to see out two miles. The Wrecker started each clay, but was never dangerous, and certainly does not look a New Zealand Cup proposition. Swordstick was also given a run each day, but, like The Wrecker, was never prominent.

Spartan was only started in the Cup, and was one of tho leaders for a mile. He looks well forward, and is a fbur-year-old son of Dame Straightlace, who finished second to Rouen in tho Cup of 1923. Spartan will be seen in action at Wingatui next week, and a better line to his chance should be available after he has been tried out over IOJ furlongs in the Ranfurly Handicap. Valantua was started twice at the meeting, being ridden each day by the stable apprentice. He got chopped out at the start in the Cup, but in Saturday’s race was always in the picture over the last half-mile, and for a few strides inside the distance actually had his nose in front. In a bustling finish his little rider was outridden. Valantua’s dam, Mantua, was a great stayer herself and produced Palantua, who won tho New Zealand Cup in 1933 and holds the time record for the race. But Valantua is not as good as his half-sister, and does not appeal over two miles any more as a six-year-old than he did last year, when the distance proved too far for him.

It is doubtful if the New Zealand Cup winner was seen in action at Geraldine, but the three that appeal most are Passaform, Rabble, and Thermidor. NO PROTECTION FOR BACKERS Lady Don was a starter in the Novice Stakes at the Ashburton meeting, and appeared on the race card as trained by R. W. King. It must have been known to the stipendiary steward in attendance at that meeting that R. W. King 4)d not hold a license to train horses, a's that official is supplied each wceik with a list of trainers who have been licensed, but apparently no action was taken. In the Geraldine race cards Lady Don, who is trained at Riccarton, appeared on the race card as trained by her owner, who resides in Oamarfi. Immediately after Lady Don had won the Ohapi Handicap on Thursday there was plenty of talk to the effect that she was not entitled to the stake, and it is reported that the owner or trainer of St. Cloud, who ran second, would not lodge a protest, maintaining that their mare was fairly beaten in the running. Consequently those backers of St, Cloud, who sent her out an oddson chance, were deprived of a win dividend they were entitled to, and likewise the backers of Lady Don received a big dividend that did not belong to them. At a subsequent inquiry, held nearly 24 hours after the running of the race, Lady Don was disqualified for the race she had won and her engagement for the second day, and her owner and alleged trainer were each fined £5. There can be no objection to that decision. but if the stipendiary steward had drawn attention to the breach of the rules that had been committed at Ashburton the previous week there would have been no trouble at Geraldine, and backers of St. Cloud would not have been robbed of nearly . £3OO. THE DUNEDIN GUINEAS Though only six three-year-olds have been paid up for in the Dunedin Guineas they are an even and wellbred lot, and should provide a good contest for this classic, which was established 26 years ago. The breeding of those engaged is as follows : King Gustavo, eh c by Gustavo— Call Bird. Nigger Boy, hr c by Nigger Minstrel —Spcarraaid. Prudent Prince, blk g by Lord Quex —So ueeze. Asia, br f by Limond—Jewel of Asia. Blissful Lady, br f by Paper Money —Lady Blissful. ; Winning Rival, br f by Bulandshar— Rivalry King Gustavo started a dozen times as a two-year-old for one win, a second, and a third, and this season has had three starts for one second. Nigger Boy started twice last season for one win, and this season won at his only start. Prudent Prince started II times last season for one win and a third, and tins season has had two starts for one win. Asia had one win and a second out of eight starts last season, but in her three starts ns a three-year-old lias failed to get into a place. Blissful Lady had seven starts last season for one second, but has not started this season. W inning Rival won twice out of four starts last season, but in her only start this season failed to get into the money. Prudent Prince is the only one of the six candidates to have won over a mile, and recorded Irnin 41 sec when he won the Penscroft Hack Handicap at the Ashburton mooting this month.

JOTTINGS Dunedin Spring Meeting. Handicaps for the Dunedin Spring Meeting, to be held on Saturday week, are duo to-morrow, and acceptances will be taken at 6 p.m. next Monday.

Shortage of Riders. Both Ballad and Wine Card had to bo withdrawn from their engagements at Orari on Saturday on account of no suitable riders being available. In the President’s Handicap no fewer than a dozen of the 18 starters were ridden by apprentices.

Gore Racing Club. To fittingly commemorate the jubilee celebration of the Gore Racing Club a booklet lias been issued to members covering the history of the club and racing in the eastern district of Southland. The brochure makes most interesting reading, and is interspersed with many photographs of early officials and racing. Not a Starter. Survey, who has boon allotted the minimum weight in tlie New Zealand Cup, will not be ah acceptor when the first payment is made on Friday. He has been spelling since the • National meeting, and the injury .to one of his legs, which caused his. withdrawal from the Grand National Steeplechase on the eve of the meeting has made a good recovery. Loss To Gore Club and District. The death is announced from Gore of Mr D. L. Poppelwell, who had been a steward of the Gore Racing Club for 42 years and a member of the club for a longer period. Ever since the oppointment of the judicial system Mr Poppelwell had been a member of that committee. He was president in the seasons 1911-12, 1912-13. and 1925-2 G. Mr Poppelwell’s death will he a severe loss to the Gore Racing Club and the eastern district, of Southland. Poor Guide To Odds. There were many complaints at the Ashburton meeting that the manuallyworked totalisator did not show the correct odds during the betting, but it was not nearly so misleading as the figures shown on, the totalistors at the Geraldine meeting each day. This was no doubt often the cause of several unusually small dividends being paid on the place machine. In one instance backers lost sixpence on each Ids ticket, and in another race they only received their investment back. May Miss Wingatui. Unless E. J. Ellis’s Dunedin Guineas candidate, Asia, improves on the form she showed at the Geraldine and Ashburton meetings, during the next week she can he marked off ns a non-starter; If she is not brought down neither Passaforin nor Toura-Koura is likely, to make the trip. But it is quite on the cards that this pair will he raced at Gore next montn. Both ran well on the opening day,'aj; Orari, ,and:pulledi up sound. His trainer is pleased with the progress Passaform ’has made, and has little doubt regarding his ability to see out the New Zealand Cup journey. Out of Hack Class. Two mares passed out, of hack class by their wins at the Geraldine meeting, Wardress and Flame Queen, but both gave performances indicating that they will be quite able to hold their own in open company. Wardress won the principal handicap on Saturday in a very convincing manner, as there were several horses in front of her at the home turn, and it looked odds on that she would not get through. Her rider had to change his course twice in the short run home, but . she put in a splendid finishing run and scored a clear-cut win from Queen Dorothy. Flame Queen’ failed over six furlongs on the opening day, but in the more yielding going on Saturday was going right away from the opposition at the end of seven furlongs, and with both King .Soult and Birkenhead blood on her dam’s side should win over'longer distances than she has yet been raced at.

Inconsistent Running. There is a very common impression that inconsistent running only refers to horses improving on their form in a subsequent race after running indifferently in a previous event. But it is just as inconsistent to run badly

in a race after beating the same horses at the same meeting, unless, of course, the penalty imposed for winning is severe enough to provide a genuine excuse. There have been several examples of this form of inconsistency lately that have been allowed to go unquestioned—at least no official notification of any questions being asked has been supplied to Press rooms. This shows a lack of the control of racing that is in the interests of clean sport, and unless checked will encourage some owners and trainers to become even more , daring in their efforts, to hoodwink punters. At the present time it is most essential that the confidence of those who keep the game going should be safeguarded. Making Their Debuts Over Hurdles. Both H. W. Hibberd and E. J. Finn made their debuts as hurdle race riders at the Geraldine meeting, and the former had the satisfaction of winning in his first attempt. Hibberd has had difficulty in keeping his weight down this season, and owners of jumpers will appreciate a horseman of his ability taking on the jumping game. Finn’s debut was not so successful, as he had a spill at the second fence, but on Saturday he very nearly landed a winner. Taking Fundy Bay to the front early, he only just missed landing him a winner by the narrowest of margins, and had his horse not struck the second to last hurdle, which cost him at least a couple of lengths, Travenna would not have caught him in the last stride. Fundy Bay had only been schooled over hurdles four times before the Geraldine meeting, and looks like making good at the game. He is by Tidal from a Hunting Song mare, and is only live years old.