SPORTING.

Taranaki Daily News, 27 August 1921, Page 11

SPORTING.

VICTORIES FOR GRAY,

NEWMARKET FEATURES. London, July 6. Hector Gray continued his success on the second day of the first July meeting at Newmarket. The centre of interest was the Duke of Cambridge Handicap, which .attracted a field whose quality aid not fall greatly below that of the Royal Hunt Cup; indeed, it included some of the most prominent competitors for the big Ascot handicap, notably Orpheus, Lacrosse, Valescure, and Tete-a-tete.

In the first event of the day, the Plantation Stakes (division I.), of five furlongs, for two-year-olds, Gray rode Captain S. H. Darling’s Morossa colt. The race was won by Joy Girl, ridden by Donoghue, for Colonel Innes Hopkins. This filly made a good start, and led Gray’s mount for the whole distance, though the margin in her favor was only a neck from the Morossa colt, who was putting in some good work at the finish. In the second division of the Plantation Stakes, Gray brought Lady Cun-liffe-Owen’s Isle of Wight home to victory. The winner, who was the favorite. and Inns of Court, got away ahead of the rest of the field, the favorite winning easily.

Sir IL Gunliffe-Owen’s Orpheus was the favorite in the Duke of Cambridge Handicap, of 1000 sovs., distance one mile. Adherents of Lacrosse declared that he could not be beaten, while admirers of Orpheus were convinced that he would readily give the 101 b wnieh separated them. Valescure had a rollowing in spite of the fact that she had appeared to find the mile too far for her at Ascot, but the chief question was correctly supposed to be Orpheus or Lacrosse. It was most decisively answered. At the distance Gray asked Orpheus to go on and win his race, a call to which his mount immediately responded. The verdict was three lengths, and various opinion? were expressed as to how much Orpheus had in hand. All agreed that a substantial addition would not have made any difference to the result. To Mint leaf, who finished third, the winner was giving 351 b. Orpheus has not merely confirmed, but largely strengthened, his reputation. JUDGMENT AND KNOWLEDGE. Of this race the special commissioner of the Sportsman says; “The outstanding feature of the afternoon was the brilliant form shown by Orpheus, who never looked nearly so well as he did to-day. Big and—for him—lusty, he was in the brightest bloom of health, and I should think the New Zealand jockey (Gray) never had a pleasanter ride. Gray rode a well-judged race from start to finish, and will continue to ride winners, for he has judgment and knowledge of how to usg it.” According to the Daily Telegraph: “The New Zealand jockey rode a quiet and confident race on the winner, giving ■him plenty of time to get into his big. sweeping stride, and then keeping him perfectly balanced. The jockey made a distinctly favorable impression, as he also did when winning division two of the Ph.ntation Stakes on Lady GunliffeOwen’s Isle of Wight.” “AVhenever the New Zealander Gray, is concerned in a tight finish,” says the sporting correspondent of the Daily Express, “and happens to be beaten by Donoghue or another of our best-known men, it is amusing to hear the criticism directed against his powers. I hold no special brief for the experienced new- . comer, but the same criticism might be made of Donoghue, who has been worsted by many heads and necks this season. Nor am 1 putting up Gray as such an artistic finisher as Donoghue or the 1 other noted men from Gray’s part of the world, but I should like those who carp at him when beaten to give him praise in proportion when he reveals what a great judge of pace he undoubtedly is. “When Gray followed his second in the first race to-day with two winners, I only wished that my double had 'been Isle of Wight and Orpheus instead of the Wight youngster and Lacrosse. To be candid, I preferred Gray’s judgment on Orpheus to that displayed by Carslake on Mr. Sol Joel’s Ascot failure in the Duke of Cambridge Handicap.”

“H. Gray, the New Zealander,” says the Daily Sketch, “has shot to the front in a very short time. His average must be wonderful since he started riding at Ascot. He just missed the ‘hat trick’ yesterday. He would have won fhe first three races had Donoghue not beatpn him a neck in the opening event. Here let me give the opinion of a gentleman for whom Gray rode ‘down under.’ This is to the effect that Gray is really a top-notcher, with the exception that he has not a finish. I am inclined to think that about meets the case. He was certainly outridden by ‘Steve’ in the opening race, and that is only the second occasion he has had anything to do at the finish. In the Soham Stakes Gray mistook the winning post, and he kept on with the whip for some time after the judge’s box had been passed. But he te new to the course, and I suppose lie will take care the same mistake doem’t happen again. Not that it made any difference to the result in this case.” CAUTIONS AND EXPLANATIONS. Gray was unplaced in the Soham Stakes, in which he was riding Lord Londonderry’s Mount Stewart. The owner complained to the stewards of the manner in which the New Zealander rode his horse, alleging that he made unnecessary use of the whip. Again, next day, he was unplaced in the Exeter Stakes when riding Sir 11. GunliffeOwen’s White Satin. It did not appear to the stewards that he made sufficient use of his horse, and they heard the evidence of the owner and the trainer.

By way of explanation it is said that there is quite a wave of reformation sweeping over the racing world in England at the present time, and Gray was unfortunately caught in the maelstrom. He was “carpeted” at Newmarket for striking a horse after he had passed the judge’s box, and then for easing his horse after he saw that he had no chance of winning. The matters were not serious in themselves, and the stewards were not too severe in their admonition when Gray appeared before them. Gray explained that in the first instance he mistook the judge’s box — it is the custom on this course sometimes to have two finishing posts on the same course, one actually lying about 100 yards below the other. Hence Gray’s mistake. With regard to the charge of casing hl? hnr<u». White Sat’m is a green two-year-old. IT? hnd only started onoe before, and he was running

in a straight five furlongs. Gray had ail he could do to get him together, and the result was that the jockey was given a few kindly words and was exonerated. The whole matter rather disconcerted him, but Mr. J. M. Bell had a conversation with one of the stewards immediately after the inquiry, and was assured that it was simply a matter of form, for the stewards did not look upon the incident as a very serious dereliction of duty.

ANOTHER VICTORY FOR ORPHEUS.

So easy was the victory of Orpheus in the Cambridge Stakes on the second day at Newmarket, that this great three-year-old was picked out again for the Prince of Wales’s Stakes on the third day of the meeting, Gray again riding. It was generally supposed that his stable companion, Mount Royal, would run, but, as Orpheus was none the worse for his race on the previous day, he, as the better horse, was again called upon. There was a slight doubt in the minds of the public about Orpheus being able to stay one mile and a-half, but no other horse was supported with much confidence. If Orpheus did not canter home with the superlative ease with which he had won his race the day before, the result was never in the least doubt, and he obviously had pounds in hand of Franklin, his immediate pursuer. Copyright, the Ascot Gold Vase winner, came. next. At an early stage Orpheus could he seen holding fourth place, travelling very smoothly. Polymestor was in front when they were fairly in the straight, but not for long, as Orpheus gradually made his way into the lead. Once there he never looked like being headed, easily resisted Franklin’s efforts to overhaul him, and scored decisively amid the hearty cheering of the crowd. Copyright outstayed Monarch in the struggle for third place.

Since bringing off this very popular double for Orpheus, Gray has been inundated with offers to ride. At the present time he is in negotiation with a very prominent racing man regarding a second retainer. It is recorded that between them Orpheus and .Spearwort have won about £17,000 for Sir H. Cunliffe-Oweii. who gave 2410 guineas for them. Their value to-day runs into many thousands. I.ONDON CUP WINNER. The main attraction at Alexandra Park on Saturday was the London Cup, which was a mile and n-quarter handicap for horses that had been placed first, second, or third in a race at, any recognised meeting. It was won bjr Hector Gray for Mrs. Algeron Cox, mounted on Grandcotirt (CaptivationLa TTiippe), who got home three lengths ahead of Sir IT. Cunliffe Owen’s Dervish. Grandeourt looked beautifully trained, and he was on his toes and keen for his Job. It is considered that his speed and exceptional handiness to overcome the turns and eccentricities of this unorthodoxl racecourse gave the victory. He was smartly away at the start, and for a while raced in clo=e company with Vertigo (Lord Rosehery), and when the flying pack were viewed again he was there at the head with never the slightest danger of losing the position. Hi? success was extremely well received, even though there were better-backed ones with the general public.

Gray also rode Lady Cnnliff?-Owen’s Precious in the Public Sales Plate, but was not placed.

GOVERNMENT AND THE TOTALISATOR.

At the annual meeting of the New Zealand Trotting Association on August 110th, the president in his address dealt with the above subject as follows:—“I was much surprised to find at a meeting held early in the year that the Totalisator Inspector had refused the refund of investments made on a horse which, owing to the sulky being damaged before the start, could not take part in the race. This was so contrary to custom and the rules which give the stewards the power, that I referred to the matter at the nex«t board meeting. It was the first instance, so far as I knew, of an outside ruling clashing with our own rules, apd I suggested that representations should be made to the Minister of Interna) Affairs, who promised to give the matter consideration. As nothing has been heard from the , Minister, and the rule has since been carried out in more than one similar case—refunds having been made—l must conclude that it is acknowledged that the official over-reached himself. The Totalisator Inspector in his place is doing good work, calculated to give the investing public every confidence, but undue interference with well established custom and equity is bound to be resented-—just as the Government’s “grab-all” policy with respect to the totalisator fractions and unclaimed dividends is resented. It is all very welt to say that the Government requires money. This cannot be held as an excuse for appropriating sums that undoubtedly belong to a certain section of the public. Is it equitable that this money should be paid into the consolidated fund? Surely the rightful owners of the unclaimed dividends and tlie fractions ar? already very heavily taxed, added to which owners, clubs, and their patrons contribute very handsomely indeed to the consolidated fund, through the special taxation levied. I am of the opinion that clubs should contest the action of the Government in every possible legitimate manner. As the money is for the most part re-distributed in some shape or form for the benefit, of the sport, public opinion in support of any action would, I should say. be certain. Whether the Government—even in view of their anxiety just now to lay hands on all the money they can get—will insist on impounding unclaimed dividends I think is doubtful. I am not aware whether any representations have been made to the Minister. If not, 1 consider chibs should lay their case before Cabinet. There is nothing to prevent clubs paying dividends to the last penny. Some, I hear, intend paying to threepence.”

A well-known Christchurch sportsman had a rare bit of hick on the last day of the Grand National meeting, says the Sun. He went to the machine and, as he thought, got six tickets on Likelihood in the Longbeach Hunters’ Hurdle Race. V\ hat was his surprise, after the race had finished, to find that his tickets wore on Red Blaze, the winner, who returned a. dividend in the vicinity of half a century.