VICTORIAN SPORTSMAN IS CENTRAL FIGURE

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 620, 23 March 1929, Page 10

VICTORIAN SPORTSMAN IS CENTRAL FIGURE

GOTHIC AND STREPHON If Strephon changes hands his new owner will not have an opportunity of running him in the Sydney Cup. His owner, Mr. Sol. Green, settled all doubts in this regard by personally attending to his withdrawal from the race last week. Thus a number of sportsmen who coupled Strephon with Doncaster candidates for the double lose their money, but hundreds of others are saved from backing a horse which in all probability would not face the starter. With such horses as Strephon and Gothic, Mr. Green is a central figure in the sporting firmament for the time. Viewed from the standpoint of the average sportsman, his position is indeed interesting. In the first instance came the intimation of the inquiry held by the V.R.C. stipendiary stewards concerning the running of one of his horses. My Lady Gay, and their acceptance of the explanation tendered by the owner. To Stand Out Following this, Mr. Green announced his dissatisfaction at the wording of the finding, stating that the stewards may have gone further and exonerated him. To the official verdict he took umbrage, and announced that he would not race a horse for three years, following the Randwick meeting. Then came the information that Strephon, who was installed favourite for the Sydney Cup, would not run if he remained in the present ownersnip, the inference being that the horse would remain in so that if a new owner were found he could exercise his own discretion. Strephon has not yet been sold, and Air. Green’s latest act, early as it was taken, is nevertheless one day late. Mr. Green has saved sportsmen the trouble of solving the probabilities of the first step—the sale of the colt. The value placed on Strephon is the secret of the owner. Undoubtedly it is high, for with Limerick ageing and no outstanding three-year-old coming on, Strephon’s prospects at four years, five years and possibly six years, are particularly bright. Then, too, there is a stud career. Not the Market It is questionable if in Australia the market exists for 'the sale at auction at an adequate figure of a horse of Strephon’s calibre. .Were his deeds,

performed in England, money would not buy him, but although in Australia there are men who will pay fancy prices for yearlings, and really good prices for sires, a racehorse in training, does not create keen competition, and. as a rule, the last bid is much below the value, and negotiations of a private nature follow. The case of Winalot, the last horse of note sold by auction, is an instance of a bargain missed. Air. Green has Gothic engaged in the principal handicaps and the weight-for-age races at the meeting. Gothic will retire to the stud at the end of the meeting, and the inten-'mi is that he will be a runner, altho S' his definite programme is not announced. RACING FIXTURES March 23—Bay of Plenty J.C. March 23 —Hororata R.C. March 23, 25—Westport J.C. March 30—Tuapeka J.C. March 30. April I—Wairarapa R.C. March 30, April I—E’eilding J.C. March 30, April 1, 2—Riverton R.C. March 30. April I—Auckland R.C. April l—Beaumont R.C. April I—Waipukurau J.C. April I—Kumara R.C. April 1, 2—Canterbury J.C. April 4—Westland R.C. April 6—Greymouth J.C.