Turf Notes

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 71, 15 June 1927, Page 6

Turf Notes

By

“EARLY BIRD”

CANTERBURY APPEALS

TO RACE WITHOUT OPPOSITION SOUTHERN CLUB’S CHANCE TO IMPROVE ITSELF CT'HE Canterbury Jockey Club is leaving no stone unturned in an effort to hold its New Zealand Cup meeting without opposition. It is now appealing to the Racing Conference.

True, the affairs of the Canterbury Jockey Club are by no means as bright as they should ne, and right or wrong, Auckland in a measure is being made the “chopping block.’’ As often as not the spring meetings of the Auckland and Canterbury Clubs clash, and while the northern body generally registers a successful fixture, Canterbury does not. There have been many heartburnings of late over the business, but matters appear to be now coming to a head, for the Canterbury Jockey Club is using the Racing Conference in an attempt to force the issue. SAME DATES CHOSEN For the new racing year, commencing on August 1, Auckland has applied for November 5 and 7, and Canterbury has put forward November 5,7, 9 and 12. This is a clash with a vengeance, for if these dates are adhered to horses cannot possibly do both meetings, and Aucklanders will stick to their “consolation” gathering—if they can produce their horses as fit as those from other parts of the island. For horses to do both meetings there must be ten to fourteen days clear between, and so it.matters little should there be a week separating the two fixtures. Both clubs have chosen the same dates for their opening days, and so the best way out of the difficulty is to see which body can best find dates later—or earlier. AVAILABLE DAYS Apparently the aim of the Canterbury Jockey Club is to get the Auckland Racing Club to give up November 5 and 7, but a glance through the dates recommended for the new season makes it practically impossible for the northern body to obtain others sufficiently near. Round about this period there are many meetings in the North Island, and the Auckland Club would have little chance of fitting in with these without opposition even more strenuous —and certainly more justifiable—than that advanced by the Canterbury Jockey Club. From Labour Lay onwards there are two or more meetings in each week for some considerable time, and therefore it appears to"be impossible to upset all the dates so as to give Auckland days that will not clash with Riccarton. Eon mark Out Again Eonmark has failed to stand up to his -work, and H. Lorigan will blister him and turn him out. He will therefore be missing from his Napier engagement. Fit For Napier Hokioi, with P. Mcßrearty up, was schooled twice over the steeplechase fences on the inside of the course at Trentham on Saturday. The pace was on, and Hokioi schooled perfectly. He will, all going well, fulfil his engagement at Napier. Consignment For Australia From the entries made in New Zealand it looks as if the Dominion team in Australia in the spring will be larger than usual. Both Limerick arid Commendation have been entered for plenty of races, and there is no doubt that, bar accidents, Limerick will be on the scene. In addition to the known horses there are a number of juveniles engaged in the early classic races who possibly will enter into calculations. No doubt only a small number of those entered will journey across the Tasman, but the horses engaged will be of quality and ' sufficient quantity to keep the New Zealand flag flying. Back Home The Trentham quartet, Degage, Black Mint, Indian Sage and Nadarino, have returned from Ellerslie none the worse for their racing there. No excuses are offered for their failure, but so far as Degage and S. Reid’s pair are concerned, there was something in the track conditions which prevented them from showing their true form. A. Goodman is very pleased at the good race Black Mint ran the last day. He gave the leaders an impossible start over the last half, and finished well into third place. After this race a prominent Auckland stable inquired for Black Mint, but were not prepared to give the price asked for him. Gaming Bill According to reports from Wellington there is* a chance of a Gaming Amendment Bill coming up for discussion during the coming session. The restoration of the “double” totalisator and the telegraphing of bets to a racecourse would mean an increase of revenue which may get the proposed Bill made into law. The legalisation of sweeps on a few important races would stop a tremendous amount of ready money going out of the country, and is a matter worthy of serious consideration. “Sentinel” comments: New Zealand ranks as a particularly rich patron of Tattersall’s sweeps, and as the Government swallowed a gnat in the shape of “Giant Art Unions,” a camel in the shape of sweeps, and consequent revenue should be equally digestible, and also a very welcome diet. Family Double An unusual double was brought up in England on April 19 last. Steve Donoghue won the fourth and fifth races of the afternoon at Epsom, while on the same afternoon his son Pat piloted the winners of the fourth and fifth races at Newcastle. The father's first success was on Kinnaird, in the Great Metropolitan, of 2k miles, one of the few long races run in England. The winner, Kinnaird, is an aged hurdler, who completely outstayed the younger horses. Thirteen years have elapsed since Donoghue rode his first winner of the Great Metropolitan; this time he drew No. 13 at the barrier. There are people who draw deductions from such a coincidence in figures—generally after the event. Ascot Gold Cup

Much interest was aroused in London last month by the announcement that Frenchmen have issued a direct challenge to English racing prestige by setting their crack stayer, Biribi, for the Ascot Gold Cup this week. While French horses have during tne past few years won important handicaps in England—two or three weeks ago they filled the first three places in the 2k miles "Chester Cup—English racing men have urged with as much com-

CANTERBURY’S CHANCE Racing men will agree that to seek new dates the Auckland Racing Club will be meeting with strenuous opposition from many quarters. Perhaps it would be well for the Canterbury Club to take a look around on its own behalf, instead of overdoing the Auckland bugbear. There are other dates on hand in the South that will suit the Canterbury Club as well as, or even better, than November 5 to 12. There is only one meeting after, this up to the end pf November, so what is to prevent the C.J.C. racing during that period? Probably the fact that they have laid the cause of their present position at Auckland’s feet has blinded the Canterbury Jockey Club to the opportunities that await it at its very own door. Will they seize the opportunity? FOR THE BEST No doubt both the Auckland and Canterbury Clubs are out to do the best they.can to get over the difficulty in the matter of dates for their spring meetings, and as it lias been shown that the Auckland body is severely restricted in its choice, it is now up to the Canterbury Club to see what it can do. The Canterbury Jockey Club, by the way, has the following notice of motion on the order paper at the Racing Conference’s annual session next month:

“That except on an occasion of a national holiday, it is undesirable that metropolitan meetings, which include classic races, should occur simultaneously, and the dates committee is therefore requested to exercise its powers in preventing such clashing of dates of metropolitan meetings.”

Surely such a motion is superfluous, for has this not been one of the reasons that the dates committee should exist? It almost amounts to a vote of no-confidence.

Auckland’s dates have been fixed, and to alter them now would mean revising practically the whole list of North Island fixtures for November. With Canterbury lies the line of least resistance. Therefore, it is surely up to them.

placency as they could assume that the invaders did not often tackle w.f.a. races. However, their Massine did win the Gold Cup in 1924. A meeting between Biribi and Coronach, last season’s crack three-year-old in England will arouse tremendous interest on both sides of the Channel. Biribi is of Galopin descent, by Rabelois, now 27 years of age, who won the Goodwood Cup, of two miles five furlongs, as a three-year-old. Biribi finished second a neck away in last year’s Grand Prix, but won other races which have caused his countrymen to regard him as the best horse foaled in France since the war. Biribi is a powerful horse, and last season stood 16.2 He has a greyish coat, derived from his great grand dam, Semendria, who won the French Oaks. No Negotiations A telegram from Tauranga published on Monday stated that Mr. M. Wells had sold Memsahib to Mr. A. Brown, president of the Bay of Plenty Jockey Club. Mr. Wells telegraphs stating that Mr. Brown has never negotiated directly or indirectly. Set for the Cup Te Monanui, a first-class racehorse, but not favoured with the best of luck, will be put into training within the next week or so. His mission will probably be the New Zealand Cup in November. A.R.C. Committee A meeting of the Auckland Racing Club Committee was held yesterday, Sir Edwin Mitchelson presiding. It was agreed to subscribe £ 5 5s to the funds being raised to assist the widow of the late R. Whiteside. Transfers were approved as follow: —R. J. Harper to A. D. Potter, 1924, br. f. Nassau —Culross; T. H. Lowry to .T. M. Buchanan, Brampton; A. F. Lawrie to E. T. Yuile, 1924, br * g, Cynic—The Hook. Accounts totalling £1,464 were passed for payment. Leading F»air A comparison of the successes gained by Stan Davidson, the New South Wales leading jockey, and W. Duncan, who heads the list in Victoria, is interesting, comments a Melbourne critic. Davidson has ridden 97 winners this season, and looks like reaching the century mark, while Duncan’s victories number These figures are for t!tie whole of the two States, including metropolitan and country fixtures. In the city and suburban area in New South Wales the Newcastle lightweight has piloted 51 winners, and Victoria’s leader has 39& to his credit. Duncan’s success has been pronounced but this has been a phenomenal season for Davidson. There would seem to be quite as many opportunities in Victoria, and the remarkable riding figures of Davidson give the impression that he is more consistent than the leaders, in Victoria: Few horsemen can claim so many victories in a season as Davidson, and as he does most of his riding in the metropolitan area, where he naturally has stronger opposition, the perfortnanco is full of merit. Davidson has visited Melbourne on one or two occasions, but he has hot yet done anything of note here. He was over for the last spring meeting, but did not ride a winner in the few races in which he had a mount.

BIG RACES

ENTRIES FOR AUSTRALIA COMMENDATION IN MELBOURNE CUP Following: are the entries placed with Mr. J. M. Griffiths, secretary of the Wellington Racing Club, for important events in the spring in Australia. It will be noted that Commendation has been freely engaged: AUSTRALIAN JOCKEY CLUB Metropolitan.—Battlement, Limerick, Count Cavour, Merry Mint, Commendation, Beau Geste, Piuthair, Clarinda, True Blood, First Acre and The Hawk. Epsom Handicap.—Merry Mint, Commendation, Bachelor, Penman, True Blood. First Acre, The Hawk and Goshawk. WARWICK FARM R.C. Spring Handicap.—Battlement, Count Cavour, Merry Mint, Commendation, Piuthair and Clarinda. Campbelltown Handicap. Merry Mint and Commendation. VICTORIA RACING CLUB Melbourne Cup.—Royal Lineage, Stretton, The Hawk, Goshawk, Merry Mint, Commendation, Piuthair, Clarinda, Catkin, First Acre and Alloway. Cantala Stakes.—Goshawk, The Hawk and Commendation. VICTORIA AMATEUR turf club Caulfield Cup.—Royal Lineage, The Hawk, Goshawk, Cdmmendation, Piuthair, Catkin, First Acre. Toorak Handicap.—Commendation. HAWKE’S BAY MEETING ENTRIES FOR NEXT WEEK Nominations for the Hawke’s Bay Jockey Club’s winter meeting next week have been received as follow: FIRST DAY WOODLANDS STEEPLECHA SE. (hack), 2 miles.—Panchito, Sir Wai, Rangi Sarto, Handy, Kirkwood, Crown Coin, Scornful, Banjuke, Hokioi, Goodmark, Fairfield, Little River, Potara, Merry Singer, Garzon, Waioeka Jack, Taitaiata, Woden, Oak Rose, Hautawa. WHAKATU HURDLES (hack), l'i miles.—Peshwa, Raka.uponga, Good Sport, Blissfulness, Olymphus, Alaric, Copper Nod, Ballyfarnon, Lombardo, Peneuo, Mixed Heather, Perle de Leon. HAWKE’S BAY HURDLES, If miles.— Comedy Prince, Highway, Sottana, Matu, Lombardo. Peneus, Waioeka Jack, Prince Albyn, PeWe de Leon, Gaze.

WINDFALL FOR TREASURY The Government has benefited to the extent of £17,609 19s by way of taxation from the Auckland Racing Club as the result of its recent winter meeting. The figures are as follows: Totalisator tax .. £5,654 9 6 Dividend duty . . 10,178 12 0 Privileges 232 14 3 Stakes 845 0 0 Amusements tax 699 3 3 Total £17,609 19 0 HAWKE’S BAY STEEPLECHASE, 3 miles. —Highway, Crown Coin, Passin’ Through, Fireblight, Lupineel, Bonny Rill, Little River, Maunga, Garzon, Waioeka Jack, San Forte, Comioal, Kovno, Cronleigh. WINTER HANDICAP (hack), 9 furlongs.—Grey Lady, Wolowee, Boy, Radiate, Highway, Crishna, Piperanz, Kilmezzo, Clbsefire, Hamblin Kid; Leviathan, Toka, Humorist, Calluna, Romantic, Merle. HASTINGS HANDICAP (hack), 5 furlongs.—Arrow Boy, High Heather, Inner Harbour, Break o’ Day, Green Grocer, Tom Byrne, Nastori, Wonderlust, Coot, Great Day, Eloquent, Heather Blend, Karutahi, Abisogne, Hollycombe, Watchman, Butter Scotch, Adjuster, Tameterangi, Ayun, Kara. HERETAUNGA HANDICAP, 6£ furlongs.—Lipsol, Royal Diadem, Gold Box, Buoyant, Haurangi, Huikai, Hipo, Wristlet, weet Heather, Riverna, Bennanee, Othon, Hoariri, Grand National, Rascal, Pop Off, Kaiti, Harbour Light, Vaccination, Hathor, Serenade. SECOND DAY HAVELOCK HURDLES (hack),' 11 miles.—Grey Lady, Wolowee, Peshwa, Rangi Sarto, Roman, Handy, Rakauponga, Maidos, Matu, Good Sport, Blissfulness, Great Day. Sweet Heather, Olympus, Alaric, Copper Nob, Ballyfarnon, Lombardo, Humorist, Arataura, Calluna, Garzon, Mixed Heather, Tinipouri, Perle de Leon, Mountain Top, Serenade. TURAMOE HURDLES, 1J miles.—Comedy Prince, Highway, Sottana, Matu, Good Sport, Lombardo, Peneus, Waioeka Jack, Gaze, Mountain Top. KIDNAPPERS’ FLAT (hack), 6i furlongs.—Arrow Boy, High Heather, Inner Harbour, Break o’ Day, Greengrocer, Tom Byrne, Nastori, Essential, Clavers, Coot, Eloquent, Heather Blend, Leviathan, Toka, Watchman, Great Day,. Butter Scotch, Romantic, Adjuster, Tameterangi, Jen. JUNE STEEPLECHASE, 2$ miles.— Sir Wai, Highway, Rangi Sarto, Kirkwood, Crown Coin, Scornful, Passin’ Through, Fireblight, Hokioi, Goodmark, Lupineel, Bonny Rill, Little River, Merry Singer, Maunga, Garzon, Waioeka Jack, Taitaiata. San Forte, Comical, Woden, Kovno, Hautawa. LADIES’ BRACELET, 1J miles.—Royal Diadem, Radiate, Mint Leaf, Blissfulness, Fairfield, Ballyfarnon, Leviathan, Merle, Tamaterangi, Tin Whistle, Ayun Kara, Oak Rose, Lightmore RAUKAWA HANDICAP, 9 furlongs.— Boy, Radiate, Highway, Crishna, Piperenzo, Kilmezzo, Clospfire, Ramblin Kid, Toka, Lombardo, Ponfola, Grand National, Romantic, Merle, Ayun Kara.

FINAL HANDICAP, furlongs.—Lipsol, Royal Diadem, Gold Box, Buoyant, Haurangi, Huikai, Hipo, Wristlet, Road Hog, Riverna, Bennanee, Othon, Watchman, Hoariri, Rascal, Pop Off, Waiti, Harbour Light, Hathor.

AUCKLAND CLASSICS HEAVY NOMINATIONS MANY AUSTRALIAN-BRED YOUNGSTERS The full figures connected with the entries lodged for clasisc events to be run at the Auckland Racing Club’s meetings are now available. In every case, with the exception of the St. Leger, an increase has to noted, and a fresh record is established. A feature of the nominations is the number of Australian-bred horses that figure as entrants. The following is a comparative statement of the number of entries received for the four most recent periods in connection with the* undermentioned events:

AGRION’S MISSION

THE A.J.C. DERBY

NOT A TYPICAL DERBY COLT, SAYS MASON (Special to THE SUN.) CHRISTCHURCH, Tuesday. Interviewed by THE SUN yesterday, the veteran trainer, R. J. Mason, said he had definitely decided to take Agrion and Phillipic to Sydney. The pair may be accompanied by the yearling Goblin Market, by Absurd from Cherry Mart, who had been entered for the Breeders’ Plate. Questioned as to Agrion’s prospects in the A.J.C. Derby, Mason replied: “Though I do not think he is atypical Derby colt, I expect him to run a big race at Randwick. The colt will receive the full penalty in the Chelmsford Stakes, and unless he is in top form he will not be a starter, for it would be useless knocking him about.” The team will leave Wellington for Sydney on July 1 by the Ulimaroa. NAPIER MEETING ACCEPTORS FOR SATURDAY Press Association. NAPIER, Tuesday. Acceptances for the Napier Park meeting on Saturday next are as follows: MOTEO HACK HURDLES Of 150sovs.; miles.

FIXTURES MEETINGS TO COME June 18—Naplei Park R.C. June 22 —Hawke's Bay Hunt Club. June 24, 25—Hawke's Bay J C. June 25—Oaraaru J C July 2—Ashburton R.C. July 12. 14. 16—Wellington R.C. July 21—Waimate Hunt Club. July 23—Canterbury Hunt Club. July 28. 30—Gisborne R.C. July 30—Christchurch Hun* Club 1927-28 Season August 6.—Poverty Bay Hunt Club. August 9, 11, 13.—Canterbury J.C. August 20. —Pakuranga Hunt Club. September 3.—North Taranaki H.C. September 7, B.—Marton J.C. September 10.—Otago Hunt Club. September 14.—Dannevirke R.C. September 15.—Dannevirke Hunt Club. September 17. —Egmont-Wanganui H.C. September 24.—Ashburton County R.C. September 24, 26. —Napier Park R.C. September 24, 26.—Avondale J.C. September 29, 30.—Geraldine R.C. October I.—Hawke’s Bay J.C. October s.— Manawatu Hunt Club. October 6.—Kurow J.C. October 7, S.—Otaki-Maori R.C. October 8, 10.—Oamaru J.C. October 13, 15. —Wanganui J.C. October 13, 15.—Whangarei R.C. October 13, 15.—Dunedin J.C. October 15.—Carterton R.C.

1924. 1925. 1926. 1927. Welcome Stakes 98 75 93 136 Royal Stakes . . 155 165 167 184 G.N. Foal Stakes 131 129 144 178 G.N. Champagne 142 145 162 195 G.N. Guineas . . 157 153 178 G.N. Derby 185 1S1 222 238 G. X. Oaks .... 96 84 105 G.X. St. Leger 164 169 214 1128 1101 1285 1476

st. lb. st. lb. Arataura . . 9 . 9 12 Mountain Great Day . . 9 10 Top .... . 9 9 Raukauponga Sweet Ballyfarnon . Heather . . 9 8 PETANE HACK STEEPLECHASE Of 150sovs 2 miles. Rangi Sarto . 10 3 . 11 1 Hftkioi .... 10 2 . 10 13 Kirkwood . . 9 11 Merry Singer 10 10 Handy .... 2 Scornful . . . . 10 10 Fairfield .... 0 . 10 6 Good Mark . . 9 0 Vagabond . 10 3 MEEANEE HACK HANDICAP Of 125sovs. 5 furlongs . 10 6 Ari'ow Boy •• 9 3 . 10 2 Karutahi . . . 9 Green . 9 9 Grocer . . . 9 High . 9 8 Heather . . Hollycombe 9 Scotch . . 9 5 Breathless . . .9 NAPIER STEEPLECHASE Of 250sovs ; 2J miles. . 9 13 Waioeka Crown Coin 9 8 Jack .... Little River . 9 4 Woden .... Kovno .... 9 0 LADIES’ BRACELET Of lOOsovs. 1£ miles. . 12 11 Brigadier Bill 11 12 . 12 S Radiate .... 11 2 Serenade . . . 10 13 . 12 4 Blissfulness . 10 7 Tameterangi 10 'L STEWARDS HANDICAP Of 175sovs.; 1 mile. . 10 3 Gaze .... 9 9 . 10 3 Hathor .... « Huikai . . . . 9 Diadem . . 9 13 Road Hog . 9 2 Buoyant . . 9 9 Othon . . . . 9 0 SETTLERS’ HACK HANDICAP Of 125sovs. 7 furlongs Kilmezzo . . 10 11 Highway . . . 9 6 Merle . . . . 10 6 Heather Grand Blend . . . 9 2 National . 9 11 Toko .... 0 Calluna . . . 9 11 Piperer.zo . . 9 0 Coot . . . . 9 7