TURF TOPICS.

Taranaki Daily News, 7 May 1921, Page 3

TURF TOPICS.

(By "Moturoa.”) Concluding day at Blenheim. Races at Hawera on Wednesday and Thursday. A. Tricklebank has been schooling Mattock at Hawera, but the big horse does not show much dash in his work. First Line is shaping as well as anything over the big fences, and the Wellington Steeplechase winner should take some beating this winter. Coolpan was given a run with the. Rangitikei Hunt last week, and jumped splendidly. His owner, Mr. J. McDonell, won good money with the hunter Papatere last season, and possibly Cool pan will do even better for the Marton sportsman.

E. Copestake will ride Jutland and Battletide in their Hawera engagements, ana N. Rowe will pilot Daloopin. Enforced holidays will see Ben Deeley “farming” in the Waikato, while Roy Reed will run out his “spell” by taking a trip to Honolulu. The Egmont meeting promises to be a record one in all respects. The tracks are in fine order, and the attendance of the Dominion’s best jumpers, and hurdle and crosscountry horsemen, will make the gathering a thtng not to be missed at any cost. Tte English-bred horse Catmint has arrived safely in Wellington, and he is said to be a magnificent cut of a stallion. Catmint is. the sire of that disappointing mare Catalini, only too well known by Hawera punters.

There is an opening for a really live racecourse detective in New Zealand at present “Sam” Kraetzer has resigned his position with the clubs he was connected with, and intends settling in Sydney. All the guessers, bag snatchers, and leg-pullers will be pleased to near that "Sam” has pulled out of the game in Noo Zee. Weights for the Wanganui Steeples contain nothing startling, but it is interesting to note tl at Mr. Coyle still respects the older ’ division, such as Coalition, Bon Reve, and . Master Strowan, more than he does more recent winners like Manawaponga, Luperino, First Line and Slowcoach. Hawera running should throw some light on the Wanganui race. I

The Century Hurdles is a race that will take some picking. Fisher should have a chance with 11.3, and Luperino 11.0, Omahu 10.9, Paddington Green 10.8, and Lord Nagar 10.2 should command respect. Ngata is well cared for with 10.2, and several lower on the list have more to their credit than Mr.J. Bull’s much boomed neddy.

A Melbourne paper reports that the erstwhile New Zealander, Stan. Reid, has recovered from his recent accident, and is riding work again at Flemington. Reid is recognised as one of the be.4t riders of jumpers in the State.

A Sydney writer deplores the fact that the best horoses in New Zealand are geldings, and instances Gloaming, Sasanof, Duo, The Hawk, Rational, Tamatete and Absurdum. Nevertheless, it is admitted that R. J. Manon told the writer that it was no certainty that Gloaming would have ever raced if he had not been gelded. Possibly In the case of the others > mentioned 'equally good reasons for unsexing them might be advanced, and it would be a thousand pities if any one of these notable winners were lost to the turf.

After reading this nobody should lose money at races:—How to bet. In a recent issue of a London paper I dropped across some hints to punters, and they tfcere sound. They Mid not indicate Vie best way to find winners. but the advice given Included: “Don’t bet on every race; wait until you think you know something, and have a substantial wager.”. The writer went on to point out the astonishing amount of money frittered away, without a backer standing a chance of winning anything worth while. This is undoubtedly the case with most small bettors, many of whom will come home losers after backing a couple of winners in a six or seven event programme. Few punters are patient, and, even if they believe they have “a good thing”, late in the day) will not wait for it. They cannot refrain from dabbling.. Only recently a small punier confided to me that he had a fair thing for a pony meeting. It duly came off, and when I met him the following day the natural enquiry was: "Weli, a good day yesterday?” “No," was the reply, "I was trying to get something out of the other races to put on my 'good thing,' and I was practically broke before its race came round.” That is a common experience, as with the programmes at our pony meetings so lengthy, it is easy for a bettor tb go through all his cash before the race on which he specially purposes punting is reached. However, with most people who go racing the desire to pick the programme is upper meet, and they really get more pleasure out of that than they would by saving up for one good bet.

An evenly matched pair, Ina Eaton and All Irish, dead-heated for first in the Flying Haud cap at Victoria Park (Aus.) recently. Both owners being confident, It was resolved to run-off the event at the conclusion of lie day’s races. In the second “go” Ina Eaton led by a couple of lengths, but was joined by All Irish at the turn. The pair raced neck and neck all the way up the straight. All Irish gaining the verdict by a short half head. Ina Eaton’s owner was still not satisfied, and entered a protest for interference, which was dismissed.

Concerning the Auckland jumpers likely to be seen out at Hawera next week, an Auckland scribe writes: —Daloopin does not jump as well in training as in a race. . . . Slowcoach Is doing splendidly, and will carry a lot of Auckland money in big steeplechases this season. . . . Signature appears to be striking form, and should be dangerous. . . . Jutland is a promising sort over the small

In ths last six years Totalisator investments at the Auckland R.C. Autumn meetings have more than doubled, the figures being as follow: 1916, £94,283; 1917, £104,189; 1918, £121,543; 1919, £146,520 10s; 1920, £195,855 10s; 1921, £210,406 10s. It was generally anticipated there would be a decrease at the recent meeting, so an advance of nearly £15,000 was a pleasant surprise for the club. For the three meetings held at Ellerslie this year Tote investments amount to £874,230 10s, which is £119,981 more than, for the corresponding fixtures last season. In a recent issue of the London Sportsman the Special Commissioner wrote interestingly on **fashion” in breeding. In doing so he referred to the present demand for the Herod line, of which Chrysolaus and The Destroyer are representatives in Australia. Sixteen years ago the Herod line was almost in danger of extinction in England, its leading representatives at the stud in that country being Grey Leg and Dinna Forget, whose respective stud fees were 40gns. and 16gns. Then Roi Herode was imported to Ireland, and through him and the achievements of his son. The Tetrarch, a line that, in tail male succession, was condemned by breeding authorities less than twenty years ago, is now the craze in England. Twenty years hence some other line not seriously regarded at present may be the fashion. It is the same everywhere. In Sydney and Melbourne breeders are always anxious that the sire, or'sires, in which they are most interested should be represented by a good winner or two just before the yearling sales. Even with most of the recognised (or alleged, in some eases) good judges, "the latest Is best.”