Turf Notes

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 116, 6 August 1927, Page 6

Turf Notes

By

“EARLY BIRD”

Campfire Gelding The chestnut Fiery Lad is moving along at Ellerslie in bold style for P. Conway, and it would not come as a surprise to see him paying his way this season. Although in the past he has not been more than a moderate, his recent track work presages him doing better. Two Hard Races To run a hurdle race of a mile and a-half, win it, and then three races later enter the open steeplechase and run into second place, less than a length behind the winner, is a performance that not every jumper could do. Nor would many be asked to do it, but it was the feat achieved by Royal Heather at Gisborne on Saturday', and he carried over 11 stone on each journey'. He is by Heather Mixture from Gazeen, and lias passed the age when his years are recorded on the race card. In each event he was ridden by an amateur, Mr. H. Dodds. Ready For The Fray Kawini made friends by his exhibition of jumping while schooling oyer the steeplechase fences on the course proper at Riccarton on Tuesday. It was through no fault of his own that he ran off at the fence near the entrance to the straight, and throughout the schooling gallop he cleared the obstacles in great style. His clean legs are the best possible tribute to his ability as a jumper. Kawini bears a well-trained appearance, and on looks there will be no fitter horse in the Grand National field. Minister and Licences “The extra permit for the second day was allocated by the New Zealand Racing Conference to this club. The Minister advised the club to apply to the Racing Conference for the permit. The Minister of Internal Affairs now sees fit to go back on his suggestions, and he has decided that the licences granted to the Waimarino and Mdtueka Racing Clubs (which licences were abandoned by these respective clubs), should be held by the Minister as floating permits. Also that the allocation of permits should be removed from the jurisdiction of the New Zealand Racing Conference and placed under political control. All correspondence with the Minister lias been placed in the hands of the New Zealand Racing Conference.”—Extract from the annual report of the Waverley Racing Club. An Ellerslie Chaser Glenotus was galloped usefully on the sand at Ellerslie yesterday morning, and the chaser appeared to relish in the task allotted him. E. Rae is

keeping him in good order, as well as the other members of his team, Simplicitas and Blue Sky', though the latter, who slightly injured a leg a week or so ago, is not being asked to do a great deal. White Bird Retires The imported mare White Bird, who recently was taken to Sydney from New Zealand by her trainer, T. R. George, has finished racing, and is to be sent to the stud. However, she is not returning to the Dominion for some time, as she lias been booked to visit the imported Phalaris stallion L’egionnaire, who is standing at Mr. Percy Miller’s Kia-Ora stud at a lee of 150 guineas. A four-year-old by White Eagle from Southampton, White Bird started only four times in Sydney for two seconds at Menangle, and as she possesses fair pace the progeny of the mating with Legionnaire should be a pretty smart galloper. Sydney—New Zealand—Sydney Sand d’Or and Dal Eaton, who won at Victoria Park last week, have wandered about a bit since they came to Sydney as yearlings in 1923 and 1924 respectively. Both were bought by New Zealanders, and went to the Dominion for their early racing. Dal Eaton won only one race over the water, but he caught the eye of one man, was broqght back to Sydney and is now one of the best performers over a distance on the pony tracks. Sand d’Or, who raced as Tutankhamen, and met with success on many tracks in New Zealand, also came back to his homeland for pony racing, but has not been as great a success as Dal Eaton, and his victory last week was the first he has recorded in Sydney. New Zealand performers are held in great favour by Sydney pony men, and they win their share of races. Hathor Out For Good? The Egypt mare Hathor and her connections arrived in Wellington on Wednesday from Riccarton. Hathor, who showed signs of lameness off and on prior to running in the Brabazon Handicap on Saturday, was worse than usual after the race. Mr. J. McCartin, who holds her on lease from Mr. T. E. Whelch, has decided on the advice of his trainer, T. F. Quinlivan, to return her to her owner, as the opinion is held that she is unlikely to stand any further racing. To take Plathor’s place, Mr. McCartin has in work a two-year-old filly by Absurd from Hinepango, called Dark Girl. Dark Girl is also held on lease. Hunt and Racing Clubs It will be very interesting to note the finality that is reached in connection with the granting of the Labour Day permit as between the Waikato Racing Club and the Waikato Hunt Club (says the Dunedin writer “Sentinel”). The Hon, R. F. Bollard, Minister of Internal Affairs, has decided to override the Racing Conference, and in doing so he travels outside the bounds of discretion, although probably he Ms still within the powers held by him as Minister. To adopt such an attitude is, however, beyond the spirit of sport. In the first place permits to use the totalisator primarily belong to racing and trotting clubs. Hunt clubs run third, and allowing them to foist themselves by political influence into a dominating position is repugnant to all ideas of fair play and sportsmanship. Hunt clubs have gathered strength simply because racing clubs granted them the use of well-equipped racecourses; otherwise they would have been forced to hold their race meetings with an obvious result, in an open paddock. Now, however, that same hunt clubs have got well on their legs they evince toward the racing clubs anything but a sportsmanlike spirit. Another point to be considered is that if any club disobeys the dictates of the Racing Conference the latter has power to withhold the right to hold a race meeting.