SPORTING.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 23 August 1924, Page 3

SPORTING.

NOTES AND COMMENTS. {By Maecenas.) it is stated that Wassail cost his owner £45. If this is so, lie must he i-egariled as one of the great bargains of horse-Hesh. A lino judge says that the French betting machine (pari-mutuel) is very primitive as compared with the totalisator as worked m the southern hemisphere. The performance registered by Onyx in the National Trotting Cup at Add-

ington last week was a great one, and much better than it actually looks on paper. The times registered by Onyx tor the two miles was 4.25. A very competent watch-holder timed her to take 2.18 over the first mile : thus this fine mare went the last mile in the astounding time (considering she had gone a mile) of 2.7. Although Duo does not carry the same brightness as when winning classical races as a three-year-old, he proved by the great race lie ran in the Islington Handicap at Riccarton that he is far from a spent light, and if produced at some of the spring meetings Duo should at least pay expenses. The Stratford-owned Yoma failed to win a race at Riccarton, but his two seconds and a third earned him stake money to the value of £*23o, which appears a useful win; hut when one considers the weight Yoma earned through these “placed” performances, it takes much of the glamour off the trip. Still, Yoma’s form in the south was such that it will surprise many should this gelding not win over a distance later on. The ex-New Zealand .sportsman Mr. H. Nathan, who is best known as the present owner of that good jumper Chrysostum, has arrived in the Dominion on a short business visit. Mr. Nathan is now domiciled in Melbourne, and returns there early next month. When here last Mr. Nathan bought Penitent, brother to Rapine, on belialf of an Australian owner, but, unfortunately for the latter, Penitent went wrong just as he appeared to be coming right. He is at present spelling, and hopes are entertained that Penitent may yet act up to his good parentage. Speaking of Chrysostum, his owner describes the son of Demosthenes as a wonderfully clever jumper, and incidentally it may be stated that New Zealanders were almost afforded an opportunity of again seeing Chrysostum in action in this Dominion, as Mr. Nathan had almost decided on running him in the recent Grand National Steeplechase at Riccarton. Asked about the Royal Despatch case, over which F. D. Jones and M. McCarten recently lost their licenses, Mr. Nathan would not express an opinion, but stated that the general opinion was that the New Zealanders would have a hard job to get the decision reversed, so high does the opinion of Stipendiary Steward Higgins stand amongst the pillars of the turf in Australia.

Nigger Minstrel, the full brother to that once great galloper Desert Gold, leaves Wellington on Friday for Sydney, his chief mission being the richly endowed Australian Derby, an event in which New Zealand owned horses have more than held their own. As events turned out,,, the committee of the Egmont-Wanganui Hunt Club was unfortunate in the choice of date, for In addition to the clashing of the meeting with the Grand National meeting, it afiso lost many patrons who are just ,as keen on football, and for this reason did not make the trip to Wanganui. Then again, the climatic conditions were had, so the combination of unfavourable circumstances was much against our bunting friends.

That the Australian stipendiary stewards keep a sharp lookout for “sleepers” is apparent to anyone who follows Australian racing, and a recent ease of a horse showing much improved form came before the Y.R.0., for after Euphrates won the second division of the Crimea Trial at Caulfield on August 2 his trainer, the well-known C. T. God by, was asked to qxplain the horse’s poor showing at Lillimur on July T 9. After a. lengthy inquiry the committee decided to accept Godby’s explanation. Euphrates is owned by Mr. G. Tye and Air. J. R. Corteen. Mr. Tye is better known as owner of that brilliant colt The Monk.

Since he started racing a.s a two-year-old in 1916 Vagabond has run on no fewer than 148 occasions. Of these races Vagabond won 19, be ran second 22 times, and 9 times he has filled third place. This left him with 98 unplaced performances. Like most of the Martian breed, Vagabond carries his years well, more especially when one considers that the majority of bis races have been over lengthy courses, When Bullford won on the opening day of the Canterbury Jockey Club's meeting he ran his race in two seconds

faster time than {that. recorded ’byi Santiago in the Trial Hurdles immediately after; and while Santiago won by the biggest margin of daylight, Bullford’s win was a much easier one. Taking a line through the good showing of 'Santiago in the Grand National Hurdles. Bullford must, hold his own in open company.

TiVat hack races are often just as hard to win as open events at metropolitan meetings has often occurred to the writer, and the racing at the recent Canterbury meeting goes to strengthen that argument. -Vs cases in point. Barn Owl failed to win the Avonhead Hack Handicap oil the opening day. yet ran Wassail to a short length in the Selwyn Handicap on the third day. On Tussore's form in the Winter Cup (lie ran sixth in a field of twentythree) lie looked a certainly for the

.Sumner Had; Handicap, yet with all the luck of the race Tussore just heat Rivalry and Tiff by inches. Wapping, too, beat sixteen of the runners for the W inter Cup, yet when favourably handicapped for a hack race on the last day could only finish fourth. Kuhio was another that showed up just as prominently in his start amongst the open class as when running against hacks. The appeal of F. D. Jones and H. McCnrtcn against their disqualifications will ho hoard on Thursday next, and the decision of the Australian Jockov Club's committee will bo awaited with much interest by Xew Zealanders, for in well-informed circles it is generally believed that the New Zealanders are most uni nek v to have to face the charge. The ultimate result will largely depend on what has transpired since ,the incident tool; place, and if chief .stipendiary steward Higgins i c still convinced that his first impression is correct. then Jones and MrCarten will have some trouble to convince the committee to- the contrary. While not favoured with the heat of luck with horses .owned hy himself, the Wairnrapa sportsman Hr. 0. F. Valla nee has had particularly good luck with the animals that he leased and raced during the last few months. The pair to which T refer are Mahnru (leased hv AT •*. Vallanee from his son), whieh recently won the Petnne and Park Steeplechases at Napior Park,

and the Hawke's Bay Steeplechase at Hastings. The other to which I refer is the gelding Sturdee, which Mr. Yallanee leased a few months ago from a -Miss Miller, after that lady had done well with Sturdee in show ring jumping contests. Although only in Air. vallance’s possession a few months, Sturdee credited him with the June Steeplechase at Hastings and the Grand National Steeplechase at the recent Canterbury meeting. Thus in two mouths the leased pair credited Mr. \ allance with stakes totalling £2215. Of this amount Sturdee won £1590, and Mahuru £625.

Breeders in the Hawera district will have a good choice of sires this season. A recent arrival is the well-known sire Potoa. by Monoform. This horse stood in the Auckland district for some years, and lias proved himself already, as he has sired Hipo, Poanui. Seritineila, etc. Potoa is a blood bay. over sixteen hands in height, is a really well-pro-portioned horse-of great power, and is a true Musket. His grandsire, Hotchkiss, by Musket, was one of the best sires this Dominion ever possessed, and Mcnofornrs full brother. Multiform, needs no credentials, as his sons and daughters are famous. Black Watch, the dam of Potoa. was a daughter of Tasman, a great horse in his time. Potoa is a number 12 liorse, a. family rich in sires, such as Sheet Anchor. Weatherbit. Oxford, Sterling. Scottish Chief. Prince Charlie (sire cf Lochiel). Lexington (America’s greatest sire), Maxim, Torpedo, etc. Eclipse 'strains predominate to a marked degree in Potoa’s pedigree, although it is onite free from St. Simon blood. Altogether Potoa is a great acquisition, and should not be long in making his presence felt in the district.