With The Gallopers

Rotorua Morning Post, 1 March 1933, Page 7

With The Gallopers

"CANARD")

(NOTES BY

*mm ■■■■■■ " " Perhaps the chief topic of conversation among raeing and trotting club officials of late is the success of the win ia.nd place maehine and the wonder as to the reason it had not been adopted earlier. It i© probable that it will go a long way to set raeing upon its legs again, for most of the smaller country clubs "were contemplating putting up the shuttcrs unless. so-mething turned up. Be that as it may, there is certainly some camse for congratulation that the attendanees and tote figures are going up. There is, however, a lot to be said for the elimination of some country clubs, for they draw p'oor fields and there are f ew horses trained in their district, so tliat they 'are really merely tax-gathering machines for the Government. Without particularising, it may he mentioned that at one country fixture there were only 17 horses present to contest eight races, and at another 22. This, of course, is reducing it to an absurdity 'and these clubs would be wise to consider the example of Te Kuiti and th'ink of amalgamating with some larger club. Te Aroha, as ever, was a liuge succcs,s and the increased turnover will, so President Somers informed "Canard," result in even better stakes next year. A well-known Palmerston North trainer informed the writer that this was his first visit to Te Aroha and it would not be his last. and would in future bring a team each year. The general i*unning was a revelation to him. * * 4--Both Bert Hihkler and British Columhia, for their exploits at Rotorua, have been placed npon the schooling list. As far as Bert Hinlcler is concerned, that will hardly he much of a loss, for he has not much form to warrant him being kept in work, but British Columbia was very promising so it is to be hoped that after a course of training the Top Gallant — Columbia gelding who, by the way, is an imported three-year-old, will quieten sufficiently to take his place in a field again. ❖ ❖ # That horses can be quietened i s shown by the experience of Bell Topper. As a two-year-old he was a perfect outlaw and gave Hector Gray the hardest ride of hi© career at Takanini one day, but he is now quite well-behaved at the barrier. 4: 4. 4. n: That the win of Chang, witjr its i enormous dividend, was no fluke was shown by his comfortable victory on the second day at Herriesville. Chang has not been overworked and is as yet only six year® old, He can jump and there should be a good future before him. Two days before the Te Aroha meeting he did a private gallop of sueh brilliancy that a Waikato trainer who witnessed it was doubtful of the accuraey of his watch. However, two. others made it the same, and the three persons who were present shared in the dividend. * * * Thespis, who was expected to run well bothi days, had apparently trained off and( he is to be spelled for a while. ■■!= -e * :I: Bugle Call has not much to eommend him with the exception of his breeding. He seems to be one of Wenzl Sehollum's had bai'gains. ^ * sj: The forward showing! of the Great North'ern Steeples winner, Copey, seems to indicate thiat he will be well up in form by the time the big prizcs are up for decision. * * * Though the Absurd — Commerce gelding* Slump did not run prominently in the Hurdles on Monday, he fenced very soundly. He has only been up a fortnight, but will probably pay his way during the winter. ❖ * 4: Emancipation has proved himself over t'he sticks in minox* company. When the Misses Corbett bought him as a yearling* in Australia from, the profifcs of- a win in a well-known consultation they were at a loss what to call; the son of Sir Dighton Patrine. One of them" remarked that the consultation meant tbait they would be free of wori*y for some time and the name Emancipation was suggested and given to the colt. Another colt was imported to Hikutaia at the same time but has never sported silk, having been la failure. * :i: $ The ex-Great North'ern Hurdles winner Mangani showed up well, better than was expected, in fact, in the

hurdles, but Lowe ihas had him in work for some time. Last year he developed ;a desire to run off and at his last appearance previous to Monday was ridden by an amateur rider, Mr Ritchie ' Mangani went otxt in front in the G.N. Hurdles like a train as far as the first fenee, wh'ere he stopped. Mr. Ritchie went on. * * * » Zane Grey does not seem ahle to catch one, but is always there or thereahouts. However-, Fred Gilchrist does well as a rule withi the jumpers, and his turn will come. Zane Grey is not a bad looker. * * * iRioyal England," who paid a sensational "diwie" at the Cambridge Hunt last winter, made a reappearance at Te Aroha. He ran sufficiently well to suggest that he might win a small race in th'e future. He has had a chequered career and depleted the pockets of one of his former party to the tune of more than he will ever win if he carries off both Nationals. * * * High Piteh will he ready for the Great North erns when they come along. The son of Sarchedon — Shrill is getting1 on in years, and as a onatter of fact is just coming to his best as a jumper. Jimmy Irwin told "Canard" that High Pitch was taldng the fences very cleanly and that with Foxhound as his second string he 1 hoped to have a say in the decision of j some of the big steeple© and hurdles this winter. As he is a very game owner and does ihis own training, it would be a pleasant thing if he did have -a. hit of good luck that way. * * 4 Trowbridge is a jumper which will pick up a minor stake in the circuit before long, perhaps at Hamilton. Owned by the well-known Wilson family, Trowbridge has Wiltshire and Wilton as hrother and sister. 4= =!: 4= Wee Prince is a recruit -to the jumping game and Kemp may make a few oats from the son of Prince Merriwee — Lady Rewa. "H =!= * A . The appearance of Inflation was for most people the first sight that they had of what must be regarded las the sprint champion of New Zealand when Silver Scorn has gone to Australia. His second to the "Flying Filly" with only a length separating* them in the record time of 1.9 2-5ths means that his time was roughly 1.9 3-5ths, or a fifth faster than the previous record. At Te Aroha he was contesting distance events and though he was unplaeed there is reason to hope that he will become possessed of stamina. He is probably being run in these events with a view to classics later in the year. King's Knave is evidently not so much at home in heavy going as in the top of the ground and he was defeated on his merits in th'e President's Handicap. '«* -»* Eager Rose is fast getting baclc to her earlier form and she will have to be reckoned with in future events such as the Ohinemuri Cup. She is equally at home in wet or dry going. 4: * * Gibraltar was unlucky to rneet a vastly improved Knight of Australia and will pay his way in these parts. * * * 4: The disqualification of the ownertrainer and rider of Chief Cook was one of the sensations of the meeting. It was not generally known that there were two stipendiary stewards at the course for the chief "stipe" took his usual place near the stewards, but the other "stipe" went laway up the course to the turn and as the result of his observations the inquiry was instituted. It is understood that there is the possibility of further action in another case which occurred at a recent meeting which is beirig -further reviewed. O Ned Winder has evidently got hold of a useful sort of hack in the case of Blandford. The son of Acre — Lady Sykesj has shown that he can act in either dry or heavy going. His party expressed uncertainty as to his ability to handle a soft track on Monday, but he ran a good second and the chips were in. H: * 4: One to watch is Don't Lap. He was unlucky in stopping a bad hump -at the back in the Piako Handicap when making a forward run land then had to come wide out to run fourfch but in any case would have had no show of beating Chang, who won with ease. 4: 4; K Baroscope is showing a bit of improvement since going into Anderton's stahle at Matamata and may earn more for "Nudger" Cucksey on lease than when he was raeed straigh't out. :'fi 4= * Desert Star paid a surpcrisingly good price considering the way he went down and this son of Sandstar — Rose Novis will pay to keep on one's side. Tirau was on him to a man. * 4- *■ 4 Sandy Dix is on the improve and Alf Coubrough has got a very useful sort there. Instalment, from the same stable, is lalso going to prove equal to winning on the country circuit soon. V : 4: Her win in the Shaftesbury Handicap on Saturday put Prolyxo out of hack company. The stake was £230, and this made her over the necessary lim.it. - Seton Otway is going* to find ;it Ihiard to place the fashionably-bred daughter of Limond — Hyades, for she is rather small to carry much weight. 5I i'fi W. E. (Bill) Hazlett, th'e ex-AH Biack footballer, who is a big station owner in Southland, has taken on raeing and has purchased -a useful sorfc called High Gear whlohi he is traini ing himself at Mossburn. As Haz- ( lett's weight was given as 14.7 in j the 1928 tour of South Africa if h'e l'ides work his horse i's well named. He

■ has not selected his old Rugby rig for his colours but white with; dark green sleeve® and black cap. * 4= 4: .Very aptly named is the Night Raid — Gay Round filly who has had the name Meyrick bestowted upon her, presumably after London's night club queen, Mi*s. Meyrick, who died recently.