GIVEN AWAY—CIVILITY

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 22, 18 April 1927, Page 8

GIVEN AWAY —CIVILITY

ROMANCE OF SALE RING EASTER HANDICAP WINNER RARE BARGAIN What must Mr. W. H. Gaisford have felt when he saw Civility score in the Easter Handicap on Saturday in such convincing fashion! For it was not so very long ago that the squire of Oringi sold off his thoroughbred stock, and among the lot offered and sold for a mere song—the munificent sum of £26, If memory serves one correctly—was the brood mare Civilisation with a foal at foot, and in foal to Elysian. The foal was ultimately named Civility, and her younger brother, the later arrival, came to be known as Siaosi. Mr. Gaisford was present at Ellerslie when Civility won, and incidentally Siaosi at almost the same hour captured the open sprint at Tauherenikau for Mr. H. L. Russell, who was the successful buyer at the Oringi sale. Two years ago Civility and Siaosi were taken to Riccarton by their owner to contest the Great Easter Handicap, and it was the irony of racing that the latter should win, the stable fancy, Civility, being beaten by a head. THE LUCK CHANGES Twelve months ago Civility was again sent South, and again filled second berth, this time to Grand Knight. The same trip was to be undertaken this month, but the date, of nominations was overlooked, and that’s how it came about that Civility was a runner at Ellerslie on Saturday. That missing of the entries was a happy circumstance for the followers of the Wanganui mare, and no doubt they profited by the good price received. A little over a year ago Civility was purchased by her present owner, Mr. H. M. Speed, for 750 guineas at auction, and the mare has done him good service, for since then she has won something like £3,000. Truly a bargain of the sale ring. SMALL BUT GAME For a long time past Civility has been working in great style at Wanganui, and at last her admirers have been rewarded for their loyalty. Only small, what Civility lacks in size is made up for in gameness, for she is a hard one to acknowledge defeat. She has won some good races, but Saturday’s event was her richest prize; indeed, there are very few races worth more than the Easter Handicap. The weight-adjuster dropped her five pounds for her defeat in the Thompson Handicap at Trentham, and at the time it was thought that a risk was being taken, and so it proved. On the declaration of the weights a few weeks ago THE SUN summed the Easter Handicap up in four— Reremoana, Civility, Joy King and Hipo. The last-named was scratched on the day of the race, while Civility won, Joy King was second, and Reremoana fourth. So that the racing game is not so difficult as it would seem. MAN BEHIND THE GUNS While due tribute has been paid Civility, one cannot resist the temptation to pay more than a meed of praise to her trainer, Frank Lind, whom many old racegoers—perhaps not so old either —will remember best as a rider some years ago over the jumps. He has been superintending the preparation of the mare since procured by her present owner, and after the most exasperating luck he had the pleasure of leading her in the winner of a big race. Mr. Gaisford may derive some consolation from the fact that he has the gallant Commendation to compensate him for the loss of the winner of the Auckland Easter Handicap, but what of jockey B. H. Morris, who usually rides Civility, but on this occasion accepted engagements for mounts at Feilding the first day, and in consequence missed the ride on Saturday. His loss was Wally Bagby’s gain, and a very tangible gain it was, too. It might be accounted as something in the nature of a coincidence that B. H. Morris should be due in Auckland to-day to ride Commendation in the St. Leger in place of his brother, who was recently injured at the Wanganui trots. OFF TO AUSSIE ELLERSLIE JUMPERS ARCHIBALD AND PENTAGRAM Ellerslie trainer J. Williamson leaves this week, probably on Wednesday, for Sydney, and he will take with him the jumpers, Archibald and Pentagram. Both these horses ran second in their engagements on Saturday, so they are forward for whatever events they are sent for on the other side. There are some good rac 3S to be won on the other side by horses that can clear the battens and the country, and at Randwick especially the fences are not as difficult as some of those to be encountered on New Zealand courses. The Australian Jockey Club holds its winter meeting in June, so if Archibald and Pentagram compete they will miss the Auckland fixture the same month. It is not very often that jumpers are shipped across to the other side, so that the best wishes of Dominion sportsmen will be extended to J. Williamson in his raid on foreign ground, as one might almost refer to Australia’s racecourses. That is, foreign from the racing point of view.