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Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 540, 18 December 1928, Page 10

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A Busy Day With acceptances due to-day for the first day of the Manuwutu, Marton and Waipukura (one day) holiday fixtures, the secretaries of those clubs will no doubt have their time fully occupied. Corinax’s Programme There. has been nothing to enthuse about in the track doings of Corinax of late, and unless the Magpie gelding makes the progress anticipated within the next week owner-trainer J. Williamson will withdraw his candidate. However, Corinax has an undoubted chance with his light-weight, and it is reasonable to suppose that having gone so far as to accept with him—and it costs money to do that —his connections will let the five-year-old have his chance. Bulolo’s Engagement It is likely that were Bulolo to reach the post in the Robinson Handicap he would be favourite, but Mr. A. D. Potter, the owner-trainer of the three-year-old, is only confining him to the easiest of exercise just now, and stated definitely yesterday that the Bisogne gelding will forfeit his engagement on Boxing Day. The racing he had at Te Kuiti has made an improvement in Bulolo, and he is looking really well. However, if present plans are adhered to, he will be kept in steady work until the approach of the Takapuna meeting a A the end of January. Will it be Sufficient?

At a disadvantage of 261 b., Aussie successfully fended off Nancy Lee iri the sprint at Te Awamutu. Now the pair are due to meet in the Railway Handicap at a difference of 291 b., Nancy Lee having 31b. the best of it as against their last encounter. In Saturday’s race Aussie was up where every ounce told, and as he comfortably defeated Nancy Lee, what chance has the latter got against him on Boxing Day? Notwithstanding, the daughter of Flagship was drawn badly last Saturday, and a better marble in the sprint at Ellerslie may enable her to reverse the positions with G. Paul’s representative.

Australian Bred Court Jester ran two good races at Ashburton. He seemed to be a trifle unlucky in the Winchmore Hack Handicap, in which he finished third. Later in the day he won the Moreton Hack Handicap, running out a mile in very satisfactory fashion. As he was receiving 101 b from the three-year-old Great Star, who finished close behind him, it would be unwise to rate the performance too highly, but it was an attractive performance. Court Jester is an Australian-bred four-year-old by Comedy King. At two years he showed some promise, but during most of last season lie was under treatment for a growth on his neck. This has now been cured, and the horse is gradually regaining his strength, which was seriously sapped. He may be a very useful customer in the autumn. Interesting Newcomer

An unnamed t\Vo-year-old filly will shortly bo put through the rudimentary stages of its education by the Remuera owner, Mr. D. Potter. The youngster, who recently arrived from Hawke’s Bay, has been well done, and although not overbig, stands over plenty of ground, a point in particular worth mentioning being the likeness to her sire, Grandcourt. On the maternal side she is nicely bred, being from Sequinette, by St. Ambrose—Sequin (the dam of Seadown, a fair performer in his day). If her breeding counts for anything the filly is essentially a stayer, for staying blood is predominant on both sides of her pedigree. Donoghue’s Trust Fund

It is understood, says the “Daily Express,” that a few prominent owners and representative racing men hope to form a trust fund of approximately £ 20,000, by which the financial future of the famous jockey, Steve Donogliue,, and his children will be assured. A* number of wealthy men for whom Donoghue has ridden or who have always had a great liking for the most remarkable little personality in the history of the Turf have already promised support. The formation of a committee to administer the trust fund, which would pay out only the interest on the money and make it impossible for the capital to be touched, is a matter of time, and thefe would be, it is understood, many matters in connection with the recent bankruptcy proceedings against Donoghue to be settled first. Donoghue has probably made more money than any other modern rider, and he has always been a generous man, without ever being a reckless spender on his personal tastes. 111-luck has, however, dogged his various investments. He seemed to be born with the gift of making money, but certainly not keeping it. His financial position has been a struggle for years. “Steve” still rides many brilliant races, but be naturally realises that he cannot go on for ever as a jockey. The confidence of the little man in himself, but not his horsemanship, is being shaken. He feels his present position acutely. Dip into History

Mr. Percy Miller has so many mares running at his Kia-Ora stud, Scone, New South Wales, that now and again he finds it necessary to curta’l the number in order to make room for younger matrons. In this manner several bargains have been secured from among the mares that Mr. Miller has submitted to auction, and the sale of Soldier’s March—dam of the Victoria Derby winner and Melbourne Cup runner-up, Strephon—for 17$gns was a notable instance, records a Sydney writer. And on the same afternoon that Soldier’s March found a new owner, Mr. A. W. Riddle, manager of the Kia-Ora stud, made a profitable purchase when he gave 155gns for Merry Margaret. At the time of the sale, Merry Margaret was stinted to Sarc.hedon, and the resultant foal was Merrydon, who won a Maiden Handicap and finished third in a Novice Handicap during the recent Great Northern Cup meeting at Newcastle. Merrydon is a grey three-year-old and races in the ownership of Mrs. Riddle. Mr. Riddle took Merry Margaret back to her former home at Kia-Ora and mated her with Magpie, and at Warwick Farm on Saturday we saw what that v union had produced. It was Margiana, who surprised backers by a lucky win over the favourite, Green Moth, in the second division of the Greystanes Nursery Handicap. Margiana was passed out of the sale ring unsold when bidding for her had ceased at 375gns last Easter, but subsequently she was purchased privately by Mr. H. J. Cameron, for the reported sum of 400gns and given into the care of the breeder’s brother, Peter Riddle. Nor has the Kia-Ora stud manager’s luck with Merry Margaret ended with Merrydon and Margiana. At the next yearling sales the mare will be represented by a Sarchedon colt, and this season she has a foal brother to Margiana, by Magpie, running at her side.

Jockey Lee All Right Reported in the first instance to have sustained a broken collarbone when his mount fell at Te Awamutu, it is now pleasing to be able to record the fact that H. Lee received nothing worse than a shaking. He is to fulfil several engagements at Ellerslie on Boxing Day, but so far he has not got a full book. Eased Up Mr. C. M. Emanuel lias been compelled to ease his two-year-old, Tetrarchate owing to the colt showing signs of shin soreness. Tetrarchat had been doing nicely under his owner’s tuition, and although he has yet to race, appears as if he will be more than useful. New Minister The appointment of Mr. P. A. de la Perrelle as Minister of Internal Affairs will be received with great satisfaction in racing and trotting circles. Mr. de la Perrelle is a steward of the Winton Jockey Club, and has always been keenly interested in the welfare of sport. Much Discussed The ruling favourites locally for the Auckland Cup and Railway Handicap are IToylake and Paganelli. The former was not raced at Woodville last week, the heavy track being all against him. IToylake is inclined to be moody, and up to the present he has shown a distinct antipathy to soft ground. Eh Timi? , Much amusement has been caused through the acceptance of Eh Timi for the Auckland Cup, but even though his chances on form certainly appear negligible, it is well to remember that a race is never won until it is lost. In the event of Corinax failing to keep his engagement in this race Eli Timi will be ridden by J. Cammick. Backers can write their own ticket about the grey’s chances. Likely One For Sydney One of the smartest sprinters at present at Ricarton is the two-year-old tilly Arrow Shield, by Arrowsmith. from the All Red—Rose Shield mare Red Shield. The youngster is on the small side, but in recent tasks she has shown an ability to gallop, and may eventually be sent to Sydney to enter the pony ranks. Red Shield vis bred by her owner, Mr. N. Ruther \ d. and Big Field in Derby With only two —The Warden and Indolent —withdrawn from the Great Northern Derby, the Ellerslie classic still maintains an open aspect, and unless Prodice makes a poor showing in the Te Awamutu Cup this afternoon

RETURNING HOME T> RI NC E HUMPHREY, whose lec, was badly damaged in the V.R.C. Derby contest last month, has returned to Sydney from Melbourne, and will be shipped to New Zealand by the first available boat. Magdaff, one of George Price’s team, is also coming to New Zealand for bracing up. So records a Sydney cable to-day.

the daughter of Catmint will still be the ruling favourite. Cashier, Perception, Red Heckle and Toxeuma are a quartet also fancied, but with 19 engaged the race is voted to be very open. Just Temporarily All going well Beaumont will be a certain starter in hurdle events at Ellerslie over the holidays. On his arrival here he will be placed in charge of local trainer, T. Carmont, who will prepare the Boniform gelding during his stay at headquarters. Beaumont has secured a fair measure of success as a hurdler of late, and it is likely that he will not go through the meeting without gaining a few of the kudos at least. To Browse in Southland Local trainer, F. W. Ellis, is entertaining a stranger at present, a gelding who comes from Melbourne as the property of Mr. W. S. McDermott, owner of the two-year-old filly The Graphic, says the Invercargill writer, “Sir Modred.” The newcomer is known in his native land as Gold Cup, and ranks as a son of Woorah and Gilden Beauty, who cost Mr. McDermott 1,700 guineas as a yearling. He was not raced extensively as a two-year-old, as the idea was to produce him as a V.R.C. Derby candidate, but he went wrong prior to the day and was then added to the list and shipped over the Tasman Sea to Southland to get the benefit of the bracing weather and rich grasses of the home province. His new trainer will give Gold Cup his liberty during the summer months—a very wise decision —and will then try him out in the tracks to see if age and a change of scene have worked the desired improvement in his make-up. Our Jockeys Defended

Writes “Sir Modred” in the “Southland Times”: A New Zealand scribe writing in the “Sydney Sun” regarding the ability of Maoriland jockeys states that in reality A. R. Reed and R. S. Bagby are in a class by themselves, and of these Bagby and Tinker are heavy-weights, with limited opportunities. It will be noted that North Island riders are alone mentioned. Of course, C. Emerson, A. E. Ellis, L. G. Morris, B. 11. Morris, T. Green, B. Brodie, F. Voiglit, H. Goldfinch and L. J. Ellis cannot ride at all. Taken all round and with a larger population to draw upon, to say nothing of exceptional chances, the Commonwealth can produce more first-cl?'s jockeys than the Dominion, but to state that A. Tinker, R. Reed and R. S. Bagby are in a class by themselves, with a big drop then to a “bunch of moderates” is nonsense and quite untrue. Take C. Emerson, for example, who has proved himself in Australia, England and New Zealand. Is he to be classed as a moderate? Again, is not A. E. Ellis, Avho at present heads the list of winning jockeys in New Zealand, superior to A. Tinker ? It may also be said that the Morris Brothers can hold their own with any of the three glorified Maorilanders, and this is equally true of H. Goldfinch. The pressman who penned the remarks credited to the “Sydney Sun” and also some other observations of a like nature, does not “know his onions” and is simply adding fuel to the flames where a Sydney writer recejitly took exception to New Zealand jockeys being engaged to pilot New Zealand-owned horses when they are raced in Australia. The Australians thoroughly understand the game and conduct racing splendidly, but they have no monopoly in the production of horsemen and the jockeys of ability in New Zealand are not confined to a trio, and two of the number heavy-weights at that.