SPRING MARKET

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 728, 30 July 1929, Page 12

SPRING MARKET

DOMINION HORSES BACKED SEATOWN SOUGHT Included in the contingent of New Zealand horses expected In Svdnev this morning is Seatown, says the “S.M. Herald” of Tuesday of last week Last week Seatown was joined with Gay Ballerina for a large amount at a small outlay for the Epsom Handicap and The Metropolitan. Yesterday there was a further move on behalf of the New Zealander, but in this instance the race selected was the Caulfield Cup, for which Seatown was backed both straight-out and in doubles, the horse to which most attention was given fo" the “second leg” being imported Burnewang, in L. Robertson’s stables. The horses were backed to win in the neighbourhood of £20.000, and the inquiries began at the Canterbury Park meeting on Saturday. One operator reported that there was also “good money” for Karuma for the Caulfield Cup, who was befriended straight out and in doubles. As a result of her good win in the Canterbury Handicap on Saturday, the New Zealand mare Oratrix is now a clear-cut favourite for The Metropolitan. One of the best-backed doubles for the A.J.C. spring handicaps is Ramulus and Oratrix, and j'esterday they were again coupled in more than one quarter to win £2,000. Imported Star d’Or, who has been a hard horse to train, had admirers for The Metropolitan, and he was joined with Cleave for £S,OOO and with Reonui for £G,OOO. In some instances long prices are on offer about certain doubles, and included in the business recorded by a leading firm in the past few days was the St. Ardent-Catkin double for £30,000. Another pre-post bookmaker stated that he had laid Cleave, Ramulus. Adrian’s March, and Don Moon witly Crucis, Inducement, and Oratrix for small four-figure amounts.

STATEMENT REFUTED ELIGIBILITY OF LORIENT 11. Imported Lorient IT. was eligible for the first division of the Flying Welter Handicap, which he won, at Canterbury Park on Saturday week last. Statements to the contrary were made in sporting circles yesterday, commented a Sydney writer last Tuesday. Evidently the fact that a certificate for the horse had not been received from New Zealand led many backers of Shankara to form the opinion that they should have collected on the race. Lorient 11. was here early in the season and although the question of his eligibility to start on Saturday was raised before the race, the stewards exercised the discretionary powers conferred on them by rule 46 of the A.J.C. Rules of Racing and permitted the horse to take his place in the field. They were no doubt guided in their decision by the fact that the horse was not a stranger to them. The rule reads:—“No horse foaled out of the Commonwealth shall run for any race until the owner or nominator (if required) has produced a satisfactory certificate or declaration stating when and "where it was foaled, its name, description, pedigree, and the marks by which it is distinguishable.”

Jockey’s Mounts H. Dulieu will ride Waitaunaha and Just John at the Christchurch Hunt meeting, and in addition to this pair will pilot Mangani at the big Riccarton meeting a week later. Going South Kawini’s rider, R. Olive, will leave by express en route for Riccarton tonight, while H. Goldfinch intends motoring through on Thursday. Both these jockeys will be engaged at the Hunt meeting at Riccarton on Saturday. Ellerslie Schooling There was a bit of schooling at Ellerslie this morning, but the doings of the jumpers provided little interest. In a bout over two schooling hurdles Mountain Guide (Jones), led Charitane (Garrett), the former giving easily the best display, whereas Charitane showed lack of confidence. Charitane was then sent over two more obstacles. Stonewall (Kendall) negotiated four of the schooling hurdles satisfactorily, albeit a trifle high. General Maniapoto (Kendall) was given a similar task but failed to impress. This might have been due to the fact that there was no pace on. Why? From all parts of New Zealand and with no uncertain voice there was a big demand in Wellington on Friday in unofficial circles for Glendowie in the Grand National Steeplechase. It seems pertinent to ask why this sudden desire to support a horse who has performed in ignominious fashion throughout the season. He is not pitchforked into the big steeplechase by any means, and if he has any chance of winning the National he must have improved very considerably since taking the country air. However, it is sufficient to say that he has now ad vanced to favouritism for the crosscountry blue riband. The next thing will be to see whether he shows the improvement his backing forecasts.— “Vedette.”