RACING IN AUSTRALIA

Hokitika Guardian, 15 October 1924, Page 4

RACING IN AUSTRALIA

IMPRESSIONS OF NEW ZEALANDERS; AVEI.LIXGTOX. Oct. 13. There returned from Sydney to-day three of Xew Zealand’s best known racing men, Alessrs T. 11. Lowry, owner of Nigger Aliustrel. 11. A. Knight, in whose colours Ballymena ami Royal Despatch raced, and W. G. Stead, breeder of Nincompoop and Chignon. ATr Lowry appears to he exceedingly pleased with the showing of Nigger Aliustrel. hut a trille disappointed that lie did not win the Australian Jockey Club Derby, in which li? was beaten by a head hv the crack Australian colt Heroic. Afr Lowry says Nigger Alinstrel had to he eased in his work just before the race, and that in addition, in the course of the running lie met trouble and did not got the . ’smooth passage that was secured by his opponent. In the circumstances, lie considered his colt unlucky not to win. and to be fair to the Xew Zealanders there seems to he a good deal in the contention. Afr Lowry says that Nigger Aliustrel will bo hack in Xew Zealand this week, and after liis arrival it will .lie decided whether lie will take his place in the Champion Plate at Trentham this month. Air Lowry says that Ashley Reed, who is reported to have decided to settle in Australia, will return to Xew Zealand after the Alclliourne Cup meeting. Air Knight spoke of the disqualification of his horse Royal Despatch, and of Jones and APCarten. He made one point of considerable interest. He said lie had been unable to find ill the Xew Zealand Rules of Racing any reciprocal arrangement with Australia dealing with questions of the kind under consideration, though the rules of the Ausraliau Jockey Club stated definitely that disqualification Imre would operate automatically there, Air Knight went south to-night, and he will oil his arrival in Christchurch go into the question of the appeals by Jones and APCarten. He expressed the opinion that if the disqualifications were not enforced hy the Nc\v Zealand body a result would he that the Australian Jockey Club would reluxe licenses to Jones and APCarten, and perhaps to any of his horses. M illi regard to his appearance before the A..1.C. stipendiary stewards Mr Knight said that ho went through the evidence hcl’orehauil in the A.J.C. ofliee, but could find nothing against Junes. lie could see it was useless trying to do anything with the stipendiary stewards, and reserved all lie had to say lor his appeal to the A.J.C. There he was not allowed to re-open the ease, but was able to point out the letter which Jones had written to him, stating that Royal Despatch was disappointing, and suggesting his sale. 'I he A.J.C. committee implied that tho letter was written for a purpose, which Air Knight says, either made Jones an unmitigated scoundrel, taking down his own employer, or brought him (Air Knight) in as an accomplice. At that, liu thought, lie had not any need to go any further, and lie elected to leave the room. He stated that Julies and APCarten would he returning homo by the next Sydney boat, which comes via Auckland next week.

Air W. G. Stead spoke of the enthusiasm for rating in Australia, lie says the intersot in racing is extraordinary, and is an eye-opener to a Now Zealander. “I have made many trips In Sydney, and each year become more impressed with the great enthusiasm displayed hy our Australian cousins over the result of an important horse race,” ho said. “The owner ol (Mourning should indeed he a proud man. I don’t suppose that any horse in recent years has received the spontaneous reception our old champion got at Randwick as lie went out for each race. Tho enormous mu titiule cheered, and after lie had won the Spring Stakes and Craven Plate (two mucli-eoveteil prizes) the people cheered over and over again. I think this is proof of the splendid spoiling spirit of all Australians. , T furnished ret urns to the Sydney “Sub” showing that some thi rty-foilr specialweight race- had been won hy Xew Zealand-owned horses in the last seven years, vet. in spite of this huge sum of money leaving the Commonwealth for Xew Zealand, the racing folk arc such true sports that they forcibly express their appreciation ol our Xew Zealand champions. R. J. Alasoa is indeed a vunder in Hie nay lie _ has pi odii'i.’il (• lint milt" year alter year, jind lo cap this great effort, he turned out the winner of both the Breeders' Plate and the Cimraek Stakes, races for two-year-olds, of £2.290 each to tho wimic,*. Xo previous owner has won this di-uMi'. and <!. Voting was the first rider to do so. I natnrnllv felt proud In have Invil the cult and filly. Probably the most interesting subject of discussion during my visit is the endeavour to seek a solution ol the great success of New Zealand horses in Australia at the start of the season. Tit one coveted special weight, race our horses finished first, second and third. In the Craven Plate .!>3099. weight for age, four runners laced the starter, three of them being from New Zealand. Tu tho inert-piling races for class horses a New Zealander either won or was second on every oeeasion this spring. As before mentioned two-year-olds bred here won the two rich stakes. 1 had the pleasure of inspecting many studs in Xew South Males during mv recent visit. The season was good, and the mares, foals and yearlings looked splendid, certainly up to the end of the soring the young horses are .being reared under favourable conditions. r mu inclined to think that the hot summer days must in some way he a .set-hack. However, we are only guessing, hut the fact is admitted that Xew Zealand horses reign supremo in the special weight races. An enormous trade is developing between the two countries. Australians want the best, and we can deliver the goods, the result being very pleasing to Xew Zealand stud-owners. If our Government would only make some effort to bring Xew Zealand prominently before the Australian public, a good tourist traffic would result. I feel confident that many of my sporting friends are determined to come over here this summer and see for themselves the beautiful conditions under which our thoroughbreds are reared.”