RACING

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 68, 11 June 1927, Page 8

RACING

By

“EARLY BIRD.”

Included in W. Donaldson’s team at Thames is the 'chaser Totara JackThe son of Spalpeen has not had any racing for a considerable period, but is now reported to be going well over country. The Thames trainer has also Miss Mischief and King Leslie in strong work, as well as Thurnrosae, and some of his team are likely to be seen in evidence at the forthcoming Gisborne meeting. For the National?

When he scored his surprise victory in the Winter Steeplechase at Ellerslie on Wednesday, Tuki gave an ideal display of jumping, and it seems that the Southerner will once again have

to be reckoned with in the Grand National Steeplechase a couple of months hence. His fencing was without blemish, while his finishing run was irresistible. Indeed, he sprinted over the last half-mile in a style not at all suggestive that thef race was over a three-mile course. Tuki won the Grand National two years ago with 9.4£, and last year was unplaced with 10.7. He carried 9.11 on Wednesday.

Many Placings Kawini continues to race unluckily, a third in the Great Northern Steeplechase being followed by a second in the Winter Steeplechase on Wednesday. on the latter occasion conceding Tuki 151 b. The Formative gelding has yet to w'in a really important jumping contest, his best efforts to date being his seconds last year in the Great Northern Hurdles and Steeplechase and Grand National Steeplechase. Perhaps he may make amends when the Grand National comes round again, for it is quite likely that the owner and trainer of the horse will not keep him at home when there is good money about at Riccarton. Then, of course, there is the Wellington Steeplechase next month.

Zircon’s Promise The fine initial schooling effort over the bigger fences registered at Ellerslie by Zircon before the Auckland meeting commenced was repeated in the Great Northern Steeplechase, in which the Merry Moment gelding finished fifth without having a chance of winning—as did all the other runners except Beau Cavalier. Zircon had his chance in the Tamaki Steeplechase the concluding day, and he won well. Pendavies. who had won the Hunt Cup on Saturday, proved his most formidable opponent, and the pair fought out a good finish, Zircon hanging on to w r in. Seeing that he carried 11.8 he put up a good performance, for obviously Pendavies is a better horse over country than was thought. Zircon should win good races over the big fences this winter. Good Jumper

Pendavies tried to win the Tamaki Steeplechase all the way, and only just failed to see it out. He jumped cleverly, but over the hill the last time Zircon outjumped him at every fence. Nevertheless they were together all the way up the straight, Bowden's stronger finishing powers landing his mount a winner. The quartette, horses and riders, were a tired lot at the end. Zircon carried Pendavies out a bit under pressure, and near the post the rider of the latter pulled behind and then went for the inner, making the affair appear to be worse than it was. The subsequent protest was dismissed. It was a hundred to one chance that did not come off. for no one could say hat the trouble had any effect on the issue. Faulty Jump Stops Him

After winning so nicely on the opening day of the Great Northern meeting it was expected that Waiau Lad would make a race of it on the concluding day, but he failed badly. He hit the fence near the six furlongs the second time, and that was the ad of him, for after this he was right out of the race. The rise in weight, 181 b, with a higher scale, told the tale. Nevertheless Waiau Lad will win some jumping events before the winter is over. Could Do Better Two horses who failed badly at Ellerslie and who should have done better were Ravo and Prince Rufus. The former was the winner of the Grandstand Steeplechase at Wanganui three furlongs from home, but since he arrived at Ellerslie he fenced badly ;;nd obviously didn’t like the fences Prince Rufus schooled well prior to the gathering, and in his races could not muster up a great deal of pace, failing badly. Ancho red Anchor found the conditions at Ellerslie not much to his liking, and he fp.i ed to do himself justice in his three starts, and third on the middle day being his best effort. He has the

pace and the jumping ability, and considering that he is only a four-year-old it will be recognised that he has a long way to go before being classed as an experienced performer over the sticks. Anchor is the first of the Acre tribe to be tried over the battens, and they look as if they will be able to jump. One of the best of them is the “Iron Horse,” First Acre, and he is just the cut of a jumper. Heavy Entries for Classics

The Auckland Racing Club and Avondale Jockey Club both report very heavy entries, received last evening, for forthcoming classic events. The Takapuna Plate, for hacks at time of starting, special weights, attracted no less than 114 nominations. Steadily Improving At one stage of the Orakei Hurdles on Wednesday it appeared as if Tall Timber would bring off a big surprise. He went to the front passing the stands, but a couple of furlongs further on he was in the rear, and only scrambled over the last hurdle to complete the course. Tall Timber is ver erratic in his jumping, but when he gets more experienced he can be ticked off ’ as the likely winner of a race or two. He has more than the average pace for hurdling. Kamehameha’s Success The fact that Kamehameha won the hack hurdles at Ellerslie on Wednesday bore out the writer’s conten*' n that his owner missed the chance of a good win by sending him for tlie Great Northern Hurdles instead of the minor event on the opening day. n Wednesday he and Potoanui cleared out from the opposition at the six furlongs, and they had to fall to stand any chance of defeat. Even then they might have been so far in front that they would have had time to get up and go on again. Kamehameha won like a good one, and his success 'as very popular. Next year, Mr. Moraghan will have a mych better prospect of winning the Great Northern Hurdles with Kamehameha than he did on this occasion.

Some Leap Some excellent exhibitions of jumping were given over steeplechase brush fences at Randwick one morning last week. Pay Day and Prince A rim went at a fast pace over six obstacles. Of the pair Pay Day gave the cleaner display, but both showed capital form. Minterne went over six fences. He ran down the first three, but took off 15 feet away from one of the others, and cleared it like a bird. These three horses are engaged in the A.J.C. Steeplechase this afternoon.

Knows Way Home If you are standing about near Victoria Park racecourse, and sec a grey pony trotting down the street without bridle or rider, don’t bother about attempting any movie stunts in an effort to catch the wanderer. It is only the speedy 14.0 pony Lar Web, running home from the track. Lar Web knows a thing or two, especially how to get back to his stable for eats. Nobody is needed to show him the way to go home, and if you look back a few yards down the street you will see his trainer, the genial Harry Foy, driving along in his trap, while the grey goes ahead like an outrider.

Rampion’s Brother Rampion’s yearling brother has been at work at Randwick for some weeks now. This is f he youngster for which the breeders. Messrs. J. E. and C. H. Brien, refused an offer of 3,000 guineas at the sales at Randwick during the Easter dispersals. George Price is putting him through his education, and present indications are that he may take part in the early two-year-old racing of the season, as his brother did. Rampion won the Breeders’ Plate, the first event of the season. Some of the youngsters who carried a lot of condition at the sales have fallen away considerably. But Rampion’s brother holds Lis. and this is regarded as a good sign. He looks just as ‘•‘olid a colt as Rampion did at this ago.

Added Money In Classics This year the winning stake in the Derby was £12,115, £1,165 more than last year. The high stake is due £o the fact that, although of 334 entries only 31 signified acceptance, most of the remaining 313 scratched late in the year and pai * the higher forfeits. The Derby is a sweepstake of 100 sovereigns each, 50sovs. forfeit if declared by the Tuesday in the week before running, 25 sovs. forfeit if declared by the last Tuesday in March, 1927, or five sovs. only if declared by the first Tuesday in July, 1926; with 3,ooosovs added; for entire and fillies foaled in 1924; colts 9st, fillies Bst 91b; breeder of winner 500sovs., owner of second horse 400sovs., owner of third 200sovs. Distance, about 1 mile and a-half. The Australian Jockey Club Derby fs a sweepstake of 30sovs.,- with £ 8,000 added money, is run over exactly a mile and a-half, colts and geldings carry Bst 101 b, fillies carry Bst 51b. For the 1927 Australian classic, 613 horses have been nominated. Al. Fancied Sickle is fit, but is not ' a second Sansovino. I onlv wish he was,” declared his owner, Lord Derby, at the Press Club’s Derby luncheon in London on the eve of the great Epsom classic, which was attended by owners, trainers and jockeys, including B. Carslake, the Australian. The guests included Mr Theodore Fink, of Melbourne. Lord Derby added: “1 hope I will win. The trainer and the jockey are satisfied, but every owner. trainer and jockey is equally hopeful.” Mr. Curzon, owner of the favourite, said: “Callboy is all right. I believe he will be battling over the last furlong, because he is five to seven pounds better than any other three-year-old.” Sir Victor Sassoon, the owner, expressed the opinion: “Hot Night is no longer temperamental or like a well-known film star. He is saving up his temperament for Wednesday.” Lord Lascelles confessed: “Nothing has ever put the fear of God in me so much as when ihe Press declared that I was backing Adam’s Apple, which 1 couldn't see losing.” Lord Birkenhead said: “We’ve heard a lot about everyone wanting the best horse to win. People do not want the best horse to win; they want their own horse to win. They don’t care a brass farthing whether it is the best or worst Neither do I.” Steve Donoghue, jumping on a chair, exclaimed: “No horse has made greater improvement in the last three months than Lone Knight. I think an outsider will win, and Lone Knight is the best outsider. Trek to Australia There are several Auckland horses in Australia just now, and their number was added to yesterday when Cawnpore was sent across for his second trip. The Randwick trainer, P. Keith, was in charge, F. Gilchrist following later. Before the end of the present month many more will be on the water, for W. Kirk some time ago announced his intention to take True Blood. Royal Blood and the two-year-old White Wings, a full brother to the brilliant Agrion, who will contest the juvenile races in the spring. T. Clark may also go with White Bird, while N. Cunningham will be taking four or five horses. In addition there will be the Southern trainers, R. J. Mason and F. D. Jones, with their teams.