Sir Roseberry Was Unlucky Horse

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 340, 28 April 1928, Page 6

Sir Roseberry Was Unlucky Horse

FRUITLESS JOURNEY TO ONKAPARINGA

A RECORD crowd of over 50,000 people—about 10,000 more than the number present at the last Auckland Cup—witnessed Epergne win the Great Eastern Steeplechase at Onkaparinga on Easter Monday. From what one has been told, had Sir Roseberry been able to start the race would have been regarded as a good thing for him.

That is the conclusion arrived at by a Sun man after chatting yesterday with Mr. Walter Garrett and his son, owner-trainer and rider respectively of the dual Great Northern winner. • It will be well remembered that Mr. Garrett left here six weeks ago with Sir Roseberry en route to Onkaparinga for the purpose of winning the Great Eastern Steeplechase, worth £ 3,000, and run over country that was not regarded as “stiff,” the distance being three and a-quarter miles, three times round the course, the number of jumps to be negotiated being 21. Tribute to Randwick Ut>on arrival at Sydney Sir Roseberry was taken out to Randwick, where he was worked for four days. Incidentally, Mr. Garrett paid a tribute to this splendid course, and had a special word to say for the tan track and the watering system, whereby the inside rails carried a water pipe right round the course, and when the tap was turned on the result was a continuous spray on the turf close in and well out from the rails. Leaving Sydney in continuation of the long journey to Adelaide was undertaken by boat. At Port Adelaide Mr. Garrett was met by Mr. Pullman, secretary of the Onkaparinga and other racing clubs. The efforts of this gentleman to make the small party feel at home, also the cordiality of the officials of this club, was much appreciated by the travellers, who stated that they could not do enough for them. One-Day Fixture Most of the work planned for Sir Roseberry was carried on at the Glenelg and Morphettville courses in Adelaide. At the latter tracks there were no less than 500 horses in training, but what was considered a bad feature was the necessity of horses to cross the public road to reach the three big scraping sheds. Glenelg was close to the beach, and a large number of the horses in work were indulged in swimming as part of their preparation. The conveyance of Sire Roseberry and other thoroughbreds Avazone, and King Midas. King Midas was not well placed early in the race, and should soon be able to do better. Another Surprise Another great dividend was returned in the Porangahau Handicap, for which First Acre, Royal Damon and Kaiti were the best backed. Soon after the start Jeanette rushed to the front, and she led into the straight from Plain Sailing, Kaiti, Royal Damon, Shirley apd First Acre. Jeanette had three lengths’ lead when she turned for home, and though First Acre finished well and reduced the gap, he was nearly two lengths behind her at the winning post. Plain Sailing, who was third, was three lengths behind First Acre; and Moa Bird, Royal Damon and Shirley were qext. First Acre got into trouble after going a furlong, otherwise he would have won. Concluding results: POUKAWA HANDICAP Of £140; 6 furlongs. 17—KEEN, J. Lawry’s, by King Mark —Venetian, 7.6 (C. Broughton) . 1 9 CALLANMORE, H. A. McKenzie’s. 7.3 (R. G. Stratton) 2 2—RAPIATA, F. G. Allen’s, 7.10 (T. Green) 3 Also started: 16 Saturn, Scutare, 15 Hinehohoro, 16 Maureen, 7.0; 3 Aston 10.4; 1 Fee Simple, 8.10; 2 Le Champ, 7 0; 7 Imitation, 8.9; 5 Taku Tama, B.S; 8 Kahu Ariki, 8.0; 4 Tom Byrne 7 12- 4 Hinekatorangi, 7.11; 11 Essential, 7*. 10; 7 Royal Picture, 7.9; 6 Airforce, 7.6; 14 Pale Star, 7.3; 12 Dreamy, 7.2; 16 Tragic, 13 Trisogne, 10 Chipchase, 14 Night Witch, 7.0. Won by a head, a head between second and third. Time, 1.15. AUTUMN HANDICAP Of £140; 1 mile and a furlong. I—VESPERUS, J. H. McLaren’s, by Autumnus—Cienowlet, 8.8 (R. Reed) 1 6 GAZE. W. G. Craig’s. 5.6 (L. G. Morris) 2 11—OTHON. G. Priest’s. 7.3 (W. H. Bell) 3 Also started: 3 King Midas, 9.0; 5 Huikai, 8.11; 9 Superb King, 7 Lin Arlington, 7.12; 2 Royal Time, 7.8; 12 Morose, 7.6; 4 Hypnotic, 7.3; 8 Avazone, 10 Princess Ngata, 13 Merry Singer, 7.0. Won by three-quarters of a length, a length between second and third. Time, 1.34 3-5. PORANGAHAU HANDICAP Of £190; 6 furlongs. 9—JEANETTE, F. Hall’s, by Romeo —Dixieland, 7.0 (N. Davis) ... 1 I—FIRST ACRE, A. Trevor’s, 7.4 (T. Webster) . . 2 7 PLAIN SAILING, H. R. Peacock’s, 7.3 (H. Wiggins) 3 Also started: 2 Royal Damon, 9.13; 4 Shirley, 8.10; 10 Epistle, 8.5; 4 Kaiti, 7.8; 6 Coot, 7.6; 8 Sarchee, 7.2; 5 Moa Bird, 11 Moepai, 7.0. Won by two lengths, three lengths between second and third. Time, 1.13 3-5.

AUSTRALIAN RACING

WAGGA GOLD CUP AMOUNIS FAILS (United P.A.—By Telegraph — Copyright) SYDNEY, Friday. The race for the Wagga Gold Cup resulted as follows: CHARLOT, 8.4 1 SAILING HOME, 10.0 2 REONUI, 8.11 3 There were nine starters, including Amounis. Won by two lengths. Time, 2.5 4-5.

to Onkaparinga was undertaken by float, the course being located at Oakbank, 26 miles from the city. With but one day’s racing at Onkaparinga the tracks were hardly good enough for training operations. The Try-Out With a view to giving the horse a knowledge of the obstacles to be negotiated at Onkaparinga, Sir Roseberry was sent twice round over the country, and he gave a capital display over 14 fences, such as to cause his owner to be most optimistic. Clan Robert, the crack over the other side, was asked to concede a couple of stone or more to Sir Roseberry, and referring to this Mr. Garrett’s eyes twinkled as he said that Clan Robert was a good horse. He might have added: “So is mine.” On the Thursday morning before the race Sir Roseberry was being worked on the tan when he knuckled over, and that was the cause of the tragedy that meant the blowing into the air of all the carefully laid plans for the coup. Left Behind Whether the horse actually put his foot in a hole on the Morphettville tan or just knuckled over is not known, but the fact remains that after racing here and galloping on the very hard tracks he was quite sound until that morning at Morphettville. Consequently the horse had to be scratched for the big jumping contest. Before leaving Mr. Garrett sold Sir Roseberry to the Morphettville trainer, B. Crocker. The price was not stated, but there are some contingencies through which the Auckland sportsman will materially benefit in the event of Sir Roseberry winning. An Easy Course The fences on the Onkaparinga course were not considered formidable by the New Zealand visitors, and not so difficult as at Ellerslie, with its tiring hill. There was an incline up which the horses had to go, but it was by no means so tiring as the one here. Strangely enough the horses went out of sight; whereas in flat races they were always visible. The fences comprised two gorse hedges, post and rails, fallen tree, pyramid something after the idea of a hencoop, and brushes. New Battle was Sir Roseherry’s schooling companion on the day mentioned, and was of little use to the Dominion representative. An Interesting Contest The steeplechase itself was a most interesting race, said Mr. Garrett. The winner, Epergne, was a hot favourite, Clan Robert, like Sir Roseberry, having gone wrong and being withdrawn. Epergne jumped every fence but one correctly, but he had to be ridden out to beat Unohoo, who had got in close to the last fence. Unohoo was indulged in swimming tasks only for some time prior to the race, and but for this might have won. His leg showed unmistakable signs of contact with the last obstacle. Epergne carried 11.6 and - ran the distance in 6.24 3-4, which is fast for three and aquarter miles, and nearly five seconds better than the previous best. Big Fees for Jockeys Mr. Garrett referred to the fees paid to jockeys at Onkaparinga. For losing mounts they received £lO over jumps and £5 on the flat, as against £2 to £ 5 8s and £1 to £ 3 4s respectively here.

Although naturally disappointed at the failure of the trip from the strictly racing viewpoint. Mr. Garrett was full of praise for the treatment meted out by the Onkaparinga officials, which in itself made the trip worth while. One would not be surprised were the New Zealand ownertrainer to make another journey to South Australia in the near future should he get hold of another horse as good or nearly as good as his favourite, Sir Roseberry.

RACING FIXTURES

April 27, 28. —S. Canterbury Jockey Club. April 27, 28.—Hawke’s Bay Jockey Club. April 28, SO. —Waikato Racing Club. May 3, s.—Nelson Jockey Club. May 10, 12.—Egmont Racing Club. May 12.—Ashburton Cty. Racing Club. May 17, 19.—Waliganui Jockey Club. May 26. —Amberley Racing Club. June 2, 4.—Otaki-Maor; Racing Club. June 2,4, 6.—Dunedin Jockey Club. June 2,4, 6.—Auckland Racing Club. June 16.—Napier Park Racing Club. June 20. —Hawke’s Bay Hunt Club. June 22, 23.—Hawke’s Bay Jockey Club. July 7.—Ashburton Cty. Racing Club. July 10, 12, 14.—Wellington Racing Club. July 19.—Waimate District Hunt Club. July 21.—S, Canterbury Hunt Club. July 28.—Christchurch Hunt Club. July 26, 28.—Gisborne Racing Club.