Turf Notes

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 839, 6 December 1929, Page 12

Turf Notes

CONDUCTED BY

“EARLY BIRD"

Auckland Fixture General entries, also first forfeit for the three classics on the A.R.C. summer programme, close at 5 p.m. today. A Difference In last week’s Alison Cup, Prodice, in receipt of 51b from In the Shade beat the latter pointless. For the St. Andrew’s Handicap on the second day Prodice was asked to concede In the Shade 101 b, and neither started. In the Auckland Cup In the Shade comes in on 201 b worse terms than provided for in the latter race, and implies in no uncertain fashion that In the Shade is regarded as the better stayer. In the New Zealand Cup there was SAlb be- ; tween them; on Boxing Day Prodice i is allowed another 6*lb for her Ricj carton defeat. Calcutta Sweep According to a Calcutta message appearing in a Sydney exchange, the ownership of 14 lakhs of rupees (at current rate, £105,000), part of the prize money of a winning ticket in a sweep on the last English Derby, is disputed, and criminal proceedings are being instituted against three men. It is alleged that the fact that a certain ticket had drawn the winning horse was concealed from the legal owner of the ticket. Ready For Woodville According to the “Tribune,” Mountain Heath, who if anything bears an improved appearance after his recent effort in the Devin Cup, when he finished second to Talisker, was given a working gallop alone over seven furlongs at Hastings the other morning, which he accomplished in 1.37£. The next race he will compete in is the Bolton Handicap at Woodville. Promising Youngsters

In addition to the horses he has in w ork in preparation for engagements near at hand, the Riccarton trainer, G. Murray Aynsley, has a trio of two-year-olds, of his own breeding, who are being got ready to carry his colours later on. Kakara is a brown filly by Paladin from Orange Blossom, by Nassau from Nantes, by Stepniak from Huguenot. This Ally is from the same family as Nightmarch, her dam, Orange Blossom, being a half-sister to the Martian mare Marsa, who produced the Melbourne Cup winner. The second youngster is PJri. a brother to Chide, by Paladin from Reproachful, by Bonny Glen from Lady Disdain. The last of the trio is Hoa, by Martian from Contempt, a sister to Chicle's dam. So far these three have not been hurried, but it is probable that Ivakaia and Riri will be tried out in the autumn. In the case of Hoa the patient policy will be extented still further. He is the last of Martian’s progeny, and he is very like his famous sire in appearance. His owner has had a lot of experience with Martian’s stock, and he has realised that they are worth a waiting policy. For this reason Hoa will not be raced until he is three years old, and it is hoped that later in his career he will develop into a good stayer.

Hastings Work-Outs Head Serang and Royal Parade (in receipt of a stone and a-half) did the best of the morning by running half a mile in 49*. reports the “Tribune” of recent Hastings gallops. Both the Chief Ruler three-year-olds are very forward, and should give a good account of themselves at Woodville next week. Brown Sugar, getting a couple of lengths the best of the start, defeated Te Awha over five furlongs in 1.3*. Repay appeared to be going better than Tahoma a.t the finish of their half-mile gallop, which occupied 51. Crown Emblem (Crown Imperial 11., imp.—Hymengusta) and Cher Amie (Arrowsmith from a Wormwood— Kooya mare), with the latter getting the worst of the start, ran five furlongs in 1.4*. Both these are promising sorts. Out Of the Cart

The importance of having luck on your side in dealing with racehorses is best exemplified by relating the history of Isinglass, the largest stakewinner in the history of the English turf (remarks a London writer). Lord Alington owned a Denlock mare named Deadlock, which he thought so little of that he sold her to Captain Machell for £2O, but a sovereign of that amount was returned for luck. Captain Machell soon parted with Deadlock, but later on he recognised her pulling a farmer’s cart. He made a deal with the farmer, and exchanged a cart colt for the mare. Mating her with Isonoray, he bred Isinglass, who W’on him the Derby and St. Leger and stakes amounting to over £57,000 as well as a fortune in bets. “Handsome Jim”

The widely-known and universallvrespected trainer James Scobie se~ts forth his racing experiences in a book just published. A Melbourne sporting journalist who writes under the penname of “Khedive,” induced Mr. Scobie to relate his experiences, and the result is a book which will be read with interest by all those who admire what energy and intelligence can achieve in the training of thoroughbreds. In his younger days, Jim Scobie was a jockey of great repute over cros-coun-try, and was known as “Handsome Jim, the jockey with the perfect seat.” Later on, he sprang into fame as a trainer, and among his patrons were the leading Victorian owners of racehorses. “Handsome Jim” lias trained the winners of most of the principal races of Victoria, New South Wales, and South Australia, and so successful was he in 3 901 with the late Sir Rupert Clarke’s horses that a wag suggested that among the list of the next birthday honours the name of Jim Scobie should appear with C.M.G. after it. “Why C.M.G. ?” was asked. “Crocks Made Gallopers” was the answer. While Scobie would not claim to be able to make a silk purse out of a sow’s ear, he certainly got the best out of every thoroughbred under his care, and his name became a household word in the realms of racing. The book contains many interesting anecdotes, some of which I remember well (says “Musket”), especially the one referring to the Western Australian bookmaker, Bob Phillips, and Sir Rupert Clarke’s Lochiel gelding Paul Pry. Mr. E. E. D. Clarke, brother of Sir Rupert, has been Jim Scobie’s principal patron during the last 29 years, and for that gentleman he won £128,935 3s 4d, the biggest stake-earner being Trivalve, with £28,212. In view of the criticism levelled at Bob Lewis lately over his riding of Phar Lap in the Melbourne Cup, it should be interesting to his critics to read in this book what a man who should know thinks of him. As a record of a trainer of vast experience and stupendous success, the book can be recommended.

Manawatu Meeting Entries for the Manawatu meeting close tonight. Payment for the Palj merston North Stakes has to be made j at the same time. Racing At Marton The Marton Jockey Club summer fixture is to be held on January 1 and 2. Nominations close on Friday next. May Change Hands The brilliant Southern sprinter, Caterpillar, is at present under offer to a Riccarton trainer, and it is quite possible that she will change hands. Rider For Prodice With her light impost in the Auckland Cup, the connections of Prodice have been given every inducement to start the daughter of Catmint in the big event at Ellersli© on Boxing Bay. It is probable that the Southern lightweight, L •. J. Ellis, who rode Prodice in the New Zealand Cup, will be in the saddle in the Auckland Cup. For Ellerslie White Fang is a daily visitor to the Hastings tracks, but is only doing light work. The trip to Australia for the summer meetings is still in the air, and it will not surprise to see him taking his place in the A.R.C. Railway Handicap on next Boxing Day. Will Take the Chance Tattersall’s Club. Sydney, recently subscribed £9OO for a local hospital. The following morsel is taken from the speech-making: —“It is characteristic of the spirit of the community,” said one speaker in thanking the members of the club, “and if when I come to the end of this mortal span, I am faced with choice of going down below where the sports are, or in upper realms where I may not be known, I will choose to go below.” “Do you infer that all we sports will be down below?” asked a club member jokingly. “Not to be punished, I hope,” w r as the reply, “but your sportsman will always take a chance on that.” (Daughter.) Hampton Park The breeding of the winner of the Rakino Handicap at Takapuna is of * more than passing interest in this part of the world, quite apart from the fact that he was bred in Australia and purchased at the last Sydney yearling sales by Mr. E. Alison at 100 guineas, writes “Sir Modred” in the “Southland Times.” The youngster in question, Hampton Park, was got by the imported sire Tarquin

(Phalaris —Perfect Peach, by Persimmon), from the imported English mare Marcovara, by Marco—Vara, by St. Angelo—Cheap Doaf, by Isohomy— Breadfinder. The Auckland winner’s dam, Marcovara, who was not raced, ranks as a full sister to Varco, who during his short career at the stud in New Zealand sired the Southland stallion Balboa, to say nothing of the dam of Limerick and Ballymena. It is very interesting to note, too, that Vara, the dam of Varco (sire of Balboa) was a half-sister to Semmel and Farola (dam of Winkel, a good hurdle race winner in England). It can thus be seen that Balboa’s descendants come from a jumping strain on the sire’s side of the house. Imported Roydon Mr. J. R. McKenzie’s imported colt 1 Roydon, by Ellangowan, from 'Vibration, is understood to be training on satisfactorily at Riccarton, but it may be some time before he assumes racing condition. He is a big fellow with an awkward-looking action, but nevertheless he has shown that he can sprint smartly. According to New Zealand time, Roydon is a three-year-old, but, of course, he is much younger than that, and until he becomes thoroughly acclimatised he may not be seen to advantage in his races. Entered for Randwick There is a fair sprinkling of New Zealand horses in the two leading events to be decided at the summer meeting of the Australian Jockey Club at Randwick on December 21 and 26. Strangely enough, Goshawk, as expected. is not included in the entry for the Villiers Stakes, one mile. The entries include Gay Ballerina. White Fang, Crown Area. Commendation, Flicker, Dalston, Perception, Rassay and Coolmint. The mile and five-fur-long event, the Summer Cup, has the following engaged:—White Fang, Commendation, Patadown, Papatu, Star God and Rassay. If Commendation is a runner his efforts will hold most interest for Dominion racing folk.

WAIPA PLATE

WEIGHTS TO BE CARRIED The following is the list of horses engaged in the Waipa Plate, six furlongs, with the weights to be carried : Sir Kay ... 9 1 Queenstown S 9 Parfait Perennis ..80 Amour ... 9 1 Ruby Dawn 8 9 Tukaha ... 9 1 Praetor ... S 4 Master Latour 9 0 Caulis ... 8 4 Welcome Boy 9 0 Trig .... 84 Te Hoia ..90 Prairie King 8 4 Asmodeus ..90 Royal Visitor 8 4 Townsman ..90 Tenakoe ... 8 4 Mangatei. ..9 0 Belle Star 713 Creina’s King 9 0 Lady Day . 7 13 Valkyrian Tasty . . .. 7 13 Wake ... 9 0 Miss Albyn . 713 Rangitown . 8 10 Biddy Comet 7 13 Onewhero . . SlO Norval Tea . 7 13 Terrapeen . . 810 Berry Belle 713 Lady Eustace 8 9' Kiritohanga. 713 Uluminagh . 6 9

ANSWER TO CORRESPONDENT

J.K., Penrose.—Prince Humphrey has won only two races at Ellerslie, these being the Welcome Stakes, five furlongs, on October 8, 1927, for which he was third favourite, and the Royal Stakes, six furlongs, on January 3, 1928. In the latter race he was the outsider of the field of four and paid a double-figure dividend.