SPORTING NOTES.

Shannon News, 14 June 1921, Page 3

SPORTING NOTES.

There are 479 prpfessional jockeys in New Zealand, including . apprentices.

The Napier Park acceptances close to-day (Tuesday). The well known cross-country horse, Coalition, has the distinction of winning the Grand National, the Great Northern and the Wanganui Steeplechases. He was bred by Mr Foreman, ol' Taranaki, and was got by Patronus from Pauline, and was bought by Mr D. Riddiford. He was, used as a hunter, and sold to Mr £. Kiddil'ord, in whose colours he has won his races.

Jockey C. Stratton has recently joined the staff of C. Milien, the Weraroa trainer, and being able to scale 7.6, should get a fair amount of riding in these parts.

The Horowlienua Racing Club has had the track disced, harrowed and rolled, and-it Is now in tip-top order. The training circuit is also in good shape, and the club’s property is in better condition now than for -some years past. The next. New Zealand Cup will be worth £2500, including £IOO trophy. The penalty conditions this year will read: The winner, after the declaration of weights, of any race .or races of the collective value of £3OO to carry 51b, £SOO iolb, and £IOOO 141 b extra. Sportsmen from this end of the Island collected the biggest cheques from the Auckland Racing Club over .the recent, meeting at Ellerslie. Mr H. J. Palmer (owner of. Fisher) drew a.cheque for £1450’, Mr A. McDonald (Strategy's owner) £I4OO, and Mr E. Riddiford (Coalition) £I4OO.

It is worthy of remark that Coalition ran his first race over big country at Otaki four years ago, arid was ridden by J. Miles. Coalition fell on the first day, but ran into fourth place on the second.

Amythas, who is. owned by the Fox'on sportsman, Mr F. E. Easton, may be piit into work again shortly. : During the 1920-21 racing season, the Auckland Racing Club put £1.146,480 through the totalisaror, as against £1,052,146 the previous year.

The name Waterlea has been claim ed for the bay filly by Boniform from ihat good mare Sunbird, who form-' eriy carried Mr A. Alexander’s colours v o victory on many occasions. Sun■oird is by Martian—Mary of Argylc. Gamecock won' the Otago Hurdle Handicap, and San Sebastian the vVingatui Steeplechase at the recent Dunedin meeting.- These horses are full brothers, being by San Francisco —Brave Heart, .and. were bred by Sib Jieorge Clifford. . Mr J. W. Batchelar, the owner oi Lady lima, who ran third in the Maiden at Otaki, will be remembered 1 as the owner 'of Exotic (Explosion-r-Preinier mare), who won several good steeplechases in the North Island about ieven years ago, Mida, who won the Maiden race; at Otaki, is a half-sister to that good two-year-old Tamatete, the former being by Advance and the latter by Absurd.

The winner of the Ilahui Handicap at Otaki, Income, is a half-brother to the well-performed Play Off, who won many good races. The Shannon-owned Utuwai looked like havin ga winning chance when entering the straight in the Ohau Weller at Otaki, but faded out of the fight in the run to the post. ■ A. McAulay.has a good sort of a gelding in Deucalion (Demosthenes— Mocking Bird), who easily accounted for the opposition in the Finn I Hack Scurry at the Otaki meeting. The locally-trained Lord Desmond, who raced at Otaki., does nut appear to be ready yet. P. Johnson, who is now a trainer in Taranaki, has won the Great Northern Steeplechase on four occasions, his winning mounts being Jenup in 1890 Muscatel in 1898, Dummy .in 1899, and Kaitere in 1905.

Fisher’s 11.2 is the best weight yet carried to victory in the Great Northern Hurdles. Those who saw Azecta run at Otaki are of opinion that she will catch a win in the near future. The popular Levin owner, Mr R. A. McDonald, appears to have a smart performer in the Taitoko mare.

Orane did not shape at all well in the steeplechase at Otaki, and could stand a lot of schooling. Gay Boy, who ran second in both steeplechases at , Otaki ,made the journey from Gisborne to fulfil his engagements.