TALK OF THE DAY.

Otago Witness, Issue 4029, 2 June 1931, Page 52

TALK OF THE DAY.

By Sentinel. THE DUNEDIN WINTER MEETING. There seems to be every prospect of the Dunedin Jockey Club’s winter meeting of 1931 proving a rather enjoyable gathering-. The fields promise to provide excement sport, although some of them may !■<>;- run to any great numerical strength. Tii- club found it compulsory to make a drastic cut in the prize money as corn-y-red with last year’s programme, but owners rallied round and came up with excellent nominations, and followed on . by making an equally pleasin" response in the way of acceptances. Southland, ■ as usual, lends strong support to the programme, and it may be taken for granted that the southern district will be well represented by horses, men, and money. • More assistance from Canterbury would have been pleasing, it must be said, without, however, any desire to criticise the ' sportsmen in that part of the world. From the racegoer’s point of view, the opening card leaves very little to be desired. Fields are fairly even in quality, and , followers of a race will not be confused . by numbers, although there will be plenty on hand to supply some enjoyable sporting and spectacular events. The track promises to provide just the right sort of going for a cross-country meeting, and - even if the weather should break, Wingatui provides the accommodation to allow 1 spectators to enjoy the racin'g with a minimum of discomfort. The card will open with the Hack and Hunters’ Steeplechase, in which a field of ten claims engagement. HACK AND HUNTERS’ STEEPLECHASE. ' Two miles and a-quarter. st. lb. st. lb.

i What would be regarded as two of the most dangerous horses in the above - field are Tractarian and Heather Lad. Unfortunately both have had an interrupted preparation. Tractarian is a * beautiful jumper, and Heather Lad was schooling well when he had to be eased up ; through suffering from a damaged le". . Naturally an interrupted preparation will not help them to see out a race, but they cannot be entirely discarded. Tuna- ’ moe started three times last season, and * ran second on each occasion. He was ' second to Diamond Jack at the Timaru ■ winter meeting, second at the same fixture . to Valves, when beat half a length giving 161 b to the winner, and second again to Radiate at Ashburton. This makes him * worthy' of respect, particularly in view of the form Valves subsequently displayed. In addition, Tunamoe displayed galloping ability by running second to Good Gift in the High Weight Handicap at Gore. Terehu has been shaping disappointingly. Star Tractor has a placed performance ’ by running second in the Winton Stecple- . chase, but when the final selections are . made on the totalisator, it may be found that West Dome will start a better favourite than Tractarian and Tunamoe.

BRIGHTON HANDICAP. One mile.

The Smuggler is the one that will probably appeal most in the above field, as he fills the eye as one of the most promising hacks produced in Southland for some time. Balance and Sailing Home are both doing good track work, and so is Shipshape. The Smuggler may start favourite. w-ith Balance next in demand, and Slim Jim may be selected as the best of the lightweights on his second at Invercargill.

BIRTHDAY HANDICAP. One mile and a-quarter.

The time-honoured Birthday Handicap forms the principal flat race at the meeting. It made its entry into racing history in 1873 and has always formed a popular link with the Tradesmen’s Handicap. It is interesting to note that each horse in the above field has displayed winning form this season. Town Major won the Easter Handicap at Riverton, beating Camisader, Charmaine. Salmo Salar, and Night Maid. This he followed up by running a creditable race in the Teschemaker Handicap, when he finished close up to Compris, Night Effort, and Inevitable. Mount Boa and Starsbooter were unplaced. Town Major now meets Mount Boa and Starshoooter on better terms. Ball Dress preceded her second to Black Duke in the Sockburn Handicap by winning the Douro Cup and other races in the North Island. She is reported to be galloping well, but does not look favourably treated in the handicap by being placed on a par with Mount Boa and Starshooter, who have both much better performances to their credit than the filly by Winning Hit from Equipment. Starshooter gave evidence of coming back to form by his recent display at Riccarton, and if he pleases the eye when in the birdcage, will win additional friends. Charmaine won over a mile and a-quarter at Gore, but both Town Major and Salmo Salar are preferred. Camisader won the Riverton Gold Cup with 7.10, and reads nicely enough treated with only 21b more on his back. Salmo Salar should be able to account for Night Maid on their form at Invercargill, although the former may put up overweight to secure the service of L. J. Ellis. Town Major may start a better favourite than Starshooter, and with the assistance of vigorous riding, Salmo Salar may be deemed sure of support

OTAGO STEEPLECHASE. Two miles and a-half.

The Otago Steeplechase has attracted a field that hold credentials as proved timber-toppers. In framing a handicap it is at times difficult, if not impossible, to obtain a line on form and then a guess has to be made. The writer makes a miess that at his best Tuki could not give 361 b to Deportment, and now that the former has been off the scene for some years it will require some public performance to bring him back to favour. Tuki won the Grand National Steeplechase -with 9.4 in 1925, and although cross-country horses wear well he seems to have received more than his full share of weight. Squatter in receipt of 111 b beat Maungamoe handsomely at Invercargill, and looks like doing so again at 71b worse terms. Squatter made a mistake when running in the Southland Steeplechase, otherwise he would have been a lot closer up to Matu instead of finishing fourth. Squatter also scored well when he won the Riverton Steeplechase. Radiac is a great jumper, and the distance will be more in his favour than the three miles attached to the Great Western Steeplechase in which he ran third to Deportment and Valves. If Deportment is sent to the post he should, as a young and promising jumper, be able to account for Radiac and Valves. He meets Radiac at 91b and Valves at 101 b worse than in the Great Western SteepleSquatter is preferred to Snowfall, but Kaikahu may prove dangerous under his light weight. The order of favouritism may be Deportment, Squatter, and Valves. TRADESMEN’S HANDICAP. Six furlongs.

Royal Saxon won in such convincing style at Invercargill- that if he is handled in a similar manner at Wingatui he must take a lot of beating. He gave Rin Tin Tin 111 b and a three-length beating. On the second day at Invercargill Palermo gave - Master Anomaly 91b and was in receipt of 151 b from Royal Saxon, who now meets Palermo on 81b and Master Anomaly on 31b better terms. He should give them a lot of trouble to finish in front of him at Wingatui. Waving Corn is nicely enough treated, but she finished unplaced behind Royal Saxon in the Pub-

licans’ Handicap, and now meets him on 41b better terms. However, Waving Corn beat Royal Saxon and Master Anomaly in the’ Flying Handicap at the same meeting. Mr J. Richardson would hold a strong hand with Caterpillar, and Rin Tin Tin if they were back to form, and the latter is preferred to the Paper Money mare. Aspiring has been doing a good deal of strong work, and a sharpening gallop or two would make her worthy of respect. She may do better after a race. Master Anomaly is smart under a light weight, and he may have an allowance claimed for him. Rascal is a good actor in soft going, and would be running on at the end if the track conditions suited him. 9 Royal Saxon may start as the popular pick, with Palermo next in demand. Rin Tin Tin may be deemed as the most dangerous of the others.

JUNE HURDLES. One mile and a-half.

Troilus won at Timaru with 9.12, but Membp represents stronger opposition than the former defeated on that occasion. Membo beat Troilus at the N.Z. Cup meeting and was handicapped to give him 81b in the Middleton Hurdles. Membo shaped well on the flat at Invercargill, and is preferred to the top weight. Hard Prince can make haste in a mile and a-half hurdle race, and will probably help to carry the field along. Gay Fashion beat Membo at Invercargill at 101 b, but lost the fruits of the win through crossing. She now meets him on 21b better terms. Guncase is not getting any younger, and the most danger to the topweights may come from Rameses and Captain’s Gift, but one would prefer them with more experience over hurdles. Membo may start, favourite, with Hard Prince and Gay Fashion also fancied.

ST. CLAIR HANDICAP. Six furlongs.

Hot Tea and Ilkley are up in the weights, and neither would be fancied in heavy going. Ilkley came within an ace of landing a double at Timaru. where Tippling • just beat him. Tippling. Consono, and Miss Redowa may be amongst those most fancied. WINTER HANDICAP. One mile.

The first card of the meeting will conclude with the Winter Handicap, which reads a fairly open race. Red Boa has shown a partiality for Wingatui, but he is now fairly well up in the weights. He won at Invercargill with 8.7, and now 9.6 figures opposite his name. Red Boa outstayed Greenaway on that occasion and at the higher scale of weights doe not read badly treated at 41b worse terms. Ranelagh’s form in the spring appeal more than Red Boa has ever accomplished. He won the South Canterbury Handicap with 8.0 from Don Jose 7.10, Town Major 8.8, High Court 8.8, Mount Boa 7.0, and several others, and later won the Rangiora Cup with 8.13. Assemble was in winning form at Riverton, where she was handicapped to give Red Boa 71b. over seven furlongs. High Court has been a disappointment. He ran a bad race in a small field at Invercargill, and now meets Red Boa on 91b better terms. Red Boa ran second to Apache. Rascal is engaged in the Tradesmen’s, but would have a chance if reserved. First Raid has been a rather unlucky horse with several placed performances to his credit. He meets Night Effort on 151 b better terms than when he ran third to her—less than two lengths away—at Waimate. Greenaway is improving, but would be more fancied over less ground. Still, she galloped well on Saturday morning. Topere won the D.J.C. Handicap in soft going and similar conditions would again make him dangerous. Wingatui would cause a lot of trouble if she ran up to her best form and track work. Shortly won the Wyndham Cup, and Punchestown has recently been putting up some placed performances, the last being at Ashburton, where he ran second to Taragona. This form should make him hold more than an outside chance, as he carried 8.2 and ran the winner to a length in 2.6. Ranelagh, Assemble, and Greenaway or Punchestown may be fancied.

THE TIMBER TOPPERS. From a spectacular point of view patrons of. Wingatui this -week will be able to enjoy the cross-country races, as the fields include some particularly fine jumpers. Tuki, who is at the head of the list in the Otago Steeplechase, ranks as a winner of the Grand National Steeplechase, and has also won over the Riccarton country on another occasion. His

Grand National success is somewhat ancient in racing history, as it took place in 1925. Tuki is a great jumper, and will lend interest to the Otago Steeples from that point of view, although he reads rather flattered with 11.11 opposite his name. Maungamoe is another good fencer, and generally running on when others are inclined to stop at the end of a race. He won over hurdles and fences last season, and was only once out of a place in nine starts. This season Maungamoe ran in seven races, and scored twice. He was placed in the five other races he contested, and the fact suggests that he is a safe conveyance over country. Squatter is a very fine fencer, and a recent winner at both- Riverton and Invercargill. Radiac is one of the best jumpers in commission, and never turns his head at a fence. He won three times last season, including a dead heat. This season he won the Homeby Steeples at Ricearton. He followed on by winning the Enfield Steeples, and was second to Kapuna in the Beaufort Steeples. Radiac was also second to Maungamoe in the Brookville Steeples run at the Otago Hunt meeting, and at Riverton finished third to Deportment and Valves. Radiac gave a beautiful exhibition of schooling over the Wingatui steeplechase course a few days ago, and pulled up well. Snowfall won four times over fences last season, including two wins at Wingatui, so that he is a master of the fences at our racing headquarters. Valves won over fences it Timaru last season, and finished second to Deportment at Riverton. Kaikahu has won over Ricearton, and beat Birkbeck at 11.9 in the Hunt Cup Steeples. Deportment is a fine bold fencer, and never made the semblance of a mistake when he won the Great Western Steeples. It will be seen that each of the whole field in the Otago Steeplechase hold very high credentials as fencers, and it should be a race well worth witnessing. It should certainly prove a very interesting race, but how the weights will tell at the end of the race is another story.

TEACHING TIMBER TOPPERS. During the present week all the talk will be about hurdling, ’chasing, and the schooling and making of hurdlers and ’chasers. It may be an easy matter to make a natural jumper into a proficient performer in public, but the average horse requires to be brought along by a gradual education which starts at bedrock. It is said that a riderless horse never falls, and often, after dropping a rider, continues on and negotiates stiff fences in a race. The lesson to be learnt from this fact is that a rider should never hang on to a horse’s head when going into a fence. It also suggests that a horse’s education as a jumper should be commenced without a rider on his back. Starting at bedrock in schooling lessons, it should ‘be remembered that a horse from foalhood has been taught to regard posts and rails and brush hedges as something intended to confine him to a paddock or yard, and are not structures put up for him to jump. It is for this reason that green horses will continually refuse to face a fence until patiently taught to jump. Some that start by refusing to jinnp a straw will, when educated, face any fence of reasonable height. Away back in the dark ages Badminton, in the -hapters on steeplechasing, laid it down that at the start the obstacles cannot he too small, anything that will help to nake a.horse lift his legs, and from that >n to miniature fences. The novice should always be provided with a lead by a safe and steady horse. A schooling ring is considered the best method of starting the education of,a jumper, and even then a “ schoolmaster ” should be provided in order to give the novice a lead. In driving a horse in the ring it is important that the trainer should always be behind, and not at the side, when chasing over a fence. Some of the best ’chasers ever seen in England were made in schooling rings. In Ireland it is the common and very successful practice to drive the novice with long reins over the initial jumps, and extreme care taken that the horse’s mouth is not jerked on landing. When proficient in the schooling rin" a capable and experienced rider should be selected, and the foundation so laid will generally produce the desired results in the hunting field or when racing over hurdles or fences. Back to bedrock it should be remembered that a riderless horse never falls, and hence riders should be barred from riding too short and hanging on by the reins. It is quite common to hear about making a horse's jumping muscles, but as far as the writer knows students of equine anatomy have never discovered one with two sets of muscles. The leverage used in galloping is the same that propels a horse over a jump.

MUSKET BLOOD. Last year the Kentucky Derby was won by Gallant Fox, a son of the French-bred sire Sir Galahad 111, whose dam, Plucky Liege, was by the Carbine horse Spearmint. Though not a contender for the Kentucky Derby, Gallant Fox’s most formidable opponent in other events was Whichone, a son of the imported Spearmint horse Chicle. At two years Whichone had the better record, but at three he was shaded by Gallant Fox, who finished the season with a stake-earning

record better than any other horse in’the world (328,165d01), and then was re- - tired to the stud. Through Spearmint,therefore, both those colts carried the blood of Musket in thUir veins. This year’s Kentucky Derby, decided at Churchill Downs, Louisville, Kentucky, was won by the bay colt Twenty Grand, a son of the English-bred sire St. Germans' from Bonus, by imported All Gold, a horse by Persimmon from the Bend Or mare Dame d’Or. In American slang “ twenty grand " means 20,000d01, but this year’s Kentucky Derby winner appears to be worth a deal more than that sum. Like Gallant Fox and Whichone, he also inherits the Musket blood, for his sire is from Hamoaze (dam of Buchan and the imported horse Saltash), who was a daughter of the Trenton horse Torpoint, says a Sydney writer. Despite Dr Becker’s warnings to American breeders that they have better blood in their own studs than can be procured in England or elsewhere, the United States studmasters continue to import strains which appeal to them, and —again despite Becker’s declamations—• these “ degenerate ” importations provide the American turf with many winners of their best races. While the Musket blood has failed to establish a sire line in Australia, the expatriation of Carbine to England enabled that mighty son of Musket to create a male line which has become famous the world over.

A TALL TALE. Here is a story of a horse winning a race in which it never started. In a race meeting on the Suez Canal district in wartime there was a race of Spahis—■ coloured French cavalry—and about 30 of them came to the post, led by an officer who was the pink of perfection in turnout and horsemanship. As he was not engaged in the race (says “ Banjo ” Patterson), I wanted him to stay at the post and give me some help with the men, whose language I understood no better than they understood mine, but he made, some polite reply that he had “ affaire a quelq’un,” and cantered off down the track. Left to my own devices, I got the Spahis away pretty well, and jogged down the track to the winning post, where I found that everybody had adjourned for drinks except the judge’s assistant, a Cockney ex-jockey, who had been given the job on account of his strict sobriety. Just as a matter of curiosity I asked what had won the Spahis’ race, and was staggered when he said the officer had won it. “ The officer ! But he wasn’t in the race 1 ” “ Ho, wasn’t he ? Y’orter seen ’im. Come in two lengths ahead, ridin’ like Fred Archer and wavin’ his sword, and all the men ’owling like wolves be’ind ’im.” “ But I tell you he never started. He must have joined in the race somewhere down the track. We’ll have to fix this up somehow.’’ Well, you can’t beat a Cockney, and he fixed it up in short order. “I’ll just slip over to their lines,” he said, “ and tell them that on account of the judge not knowin’ the language ’e couldn’t place the ’orses, and they must just settle it among themselves.” This he did, and everything passed off satisfactorily. Toujours la politesse. Any readers who have had parallel experiences might send them along. At present the French are two up on us, and we must make some sort of effort to overhaul them. WHAT’S A STAYER? An Australian expert, in writing on “What is a Stayer?” says:—“The horse must, all things being equal, have good and sound heart and lungs and plenty of lung room for forced breathing. This is obtained in two ways, either by good depth or good ’spring’ (or roundness) of the whole of the ribs, and particularly so of the back ones. Where the ribs lack a litttle in depth, Nature can largely compensate, not only by aforesaid ' spring/ but by inclining the ribs to the rear and shortening the middle-piece. (A longbacked horse never stays well.) One of the chief reasons why the thorax and also the back ribs should be well shaped is that the sheet of muscle called the diaphragm durin" forced breathing pushes the stomach ana intestines well to the rear, thereby making more room for the lungs. Hence the necessity for good back ribs. “ So far we can see that conformation plays a very important part in staying ability, but not really so much so in that of stamina. The latter applies more to the animal born in rough inclement surroundings, with coarse fare, and yet able to perform great feats of hardihood year in and year out, which the well-matured racecourse stayer could not endure. Temperament ~of the kind amenable to the rider’s every command—therefore free of wilfulness—is another factor, and it has a large influence, together with the foregoing qualities, on action.” THE TOTE IN ENGLAND. Tn its comments on the totalisator the London sporting paper, the Jockey, stated that many millions had been borrowed from banks and private owners, and

against the enormous liabilities there had Been only the percentage deduction on £3,000.000 turnover from 21 months’ working. On the subject of the tote, the paper quoted recently interviewed Mr F. Wilmot, who manages at Lingfield Park, and practically does the same at York, and that official said: “ I was not friendly to the tote, and ®nce never thought 1 would see it installed at Lingfield. In fact, the installation there yet is not what I hope for, as there have been delays in the board’s proposed elaborate expenditure on modernised buildings, etc., which is holding back the new Lingfield. So I am not speaking from any benefits we have had in that connection. “As an experienced racecourse official and member of the Racecourse Owners’ Association, I can, however, state with eonviction that we would all be up against a very serious proposition if the tote were to be removed from the racecourses. The public have, while criticising many things, got used to it—and being catered for on new lines —and undoubtedly it has brought a new force into racing. “.Whenever I look round at the new attendances—women and others —this is brought home to me. It is easy enough for the professional racegoer to say things would soon settle down again, but would they? Even the bookmaker must think twice before he imagines he would benefit in the long run. “ The public have become accustomed to many things which seem to me inseparable from the tote, and I can assure you that it would be bad for all of us if we were faced suddenly with the loss ef something which a few years back many of ’us did not want.” RACING IN AFRICA. Racing must be in rather a bad way in South Africa, when Sir Abe Bailey recently addressed the Turf Club as follows—" If we continue racing under existing conditions we shall leave a will similar to Rabelais, which was, in simple words: ‘I owe much, I have nothing, the rest I give to the poor.’ There is too much catering for bad horses. Everything should be done to attract to South Africa as much good blood as possible in order to improve our thoroughbred horse-breed-ing industry. Bear in mind that every horse is a potential asset for defence in South Africa. The breeders and owners should be allowed to lease on a limited scale their yearlings and horses. But breeders, through the present leasing system, are not only killing racing, but are destroying the thoroughbred horse-breed-ing industry of South Africa. All interested in racing are asking, ‘ What will it be in the end thereof? ’ It will not be a deputation to the Government to assist racing, or to assist breeding, but a deputation to abolish horse racing throughout South Africa. And it will receive greater support than we who love racing would wish to see. Let there be greater cohesion between the different racing clubs and racing centres; let them, with all those interested in racing, work together, purging the jockey club and racing clubs of stewards whose only interest in racing is leasing or betting. Do not have stewards who, when obviously a* horse is deliberately pulled, are asked, ‘ Did you see that?’ reply, ‘Yes’; and when asked, * What are you going to do? ’ reply, ‘ Back it the next time out.’ The jockey club . should bear in mind jockeys do -not pull their mounts for the love of the thing; they love winning races.”

' Traetarian 11 5 Star Tractor 9 4 Tunamoe 11 3 After Ten .. 9 4 Heather Lad 10 13 Umtali 9 4 West Dome 10 11 Cultivator .. 9 0 Terehu 9 6 Ouruhia 9 0

Ballance 9 0 Ohai 8 3 Sailing Home 8 12 High Speed 8 0 Bonrose 8 12 Palmary 7 8 Leading Boy 8 9 Slim Jim .. 7 7 The Smuggler 8 8 Spanish Maid 7 7 Shipshape .. 8 4 All Smiles .. 7 7

Town Major 8 10 Cliarmaine .. 8 1 Mount Boa 8 3 Caniisader .. 7 12 Ball Dress .. 8 3 Salmo Salar 7 2 Starshooter 8 3 Kight Maid 7 0

Tuki .. .. Maungamoe 11 11 Snowfall 10 1 10 13 Valves 9 7 Squatter 10 9 Kaikaliu 9 4 Radiac 10 6 Deportment 9 3

Royal Saxon 9 0 Aspiring . 7 11 Palermo 8 7 Master Waving Corn 8 3 Anomaly 7 7 Caterpillar .. 7 12 Rascal . 7 3 Rin Tin Tin 7 11

Troilus 10 7 Oriflamb 9 2 Membo 10 5 Ramesis 9 1 Hard Prince 10 2 Aladdin 9 0 Gay Fashion 9 7 High Gear .. 9 0 Guncase 9 3 Captain’s Gift 9 0

Hot Tea 8 12 Consono 8 2 Ilkley 8 11 Coroner 8 1 Winsome Genteel 8 0 Hind 8 9 Silver Salver 7 13 Miss Redowa 8 8 Tea Urn 7 13 Baby Bliss .. 8 7 Traction 7 13 Water Power 8 7 Banderilia .. 7 13 Tippling 8 6

Red Boa 9 6 Greenaway .. 8 7 Ranelagh 9 5 Topere 8 6 Assemble 9 3 Wingatui 8 6 High Court 8 11 Shortly 8 2 Rascal 8 10 Punchestown 8 2 First Raid .. 8 9 Battle Flag 7 13 Night Effort 8 9 Impertinence 7 13