RACING & TROTTING

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXIII, 14 April 1926, Page 4

RACING & TROTTING

On and Off the Track.

A BUDGET OF. NEWS AND VIEWS FIXTURES. RACING. April 14 —Reefton J.C. April J 5, IT—Wellington R.C. April 21, 22- Manawatu R.C. April 22 —Waipapakauri R.C. April 24 —Wangarei R.C. April 28, 29—S.C.J.C. April 30, May I—Hawke’s Bay J.C. May 1, 3 —Waikato R.C. May s—Waverleys—Waverley R.C. May 7, B—Marlborough R.C. May 8-—Amberlev R.C. May 33, 35 —Egmonb E.O. May 15 —North Canterbury R.C. May 20, 22 —Wanganui J.C. June 1,3, s—Dunedin5 —Dunedin J.C. Juno 3, s—Otaki5 —Otaki Maori R.C. June 3,5, 7 —Auckland R.C. TROTTING. April 17—-Ellesmere T.C. April 17 —Cambridge T.C. April 21 —Ashburton T.C. April 30, May I—Forburyl—Forbury Park T.C. May 22 —Oamarti T.C. June 3, s—Canterbury Park T.C. June 32 —Ashburton T.C. Juno 19, 23 —Auckland T.C.

Wellington autumn meeting Thursday and Saturday. Nominations for the South Canterbury Jockey Club’s autumn meeting ai'e duo by 8 p.m. to-day. The acceptances for the St. Lcgor Stakes at Wellington comprise Star Stranger and three others, two of whom arc doubtful starters. T. Wallis, the Washdvke trainer, and D. Withers. with seven wins apiece, have acliieved most success with unhoppled trotter's this season. A mile free-for-all with Waitaki Girl. Minton Derby and Acron engaged woujd have provided a feast for trotting fans last week. The Waimato Trotting Club was allotted April 22 by the Dates Committee, but no programme lias been issued, and it is not likely that a meeting will be held this month. The three South Canterbury unliopplcd trotter's which raced at Addington at Easter all paid travelling expenses. ■ Engagernent won £'2oo in the Harvest Handicap; Blue Thorpe received £6O as second money in the Preliminary Handicap, and Bonny Spec collected £75 for third in the Summer Handicap. Mask, the Great Northern St. Leger winner, is a son of Cowl, the damj of Rational and The Monk. Most of Cowl’s progeny have been sired by Absurd, and have ranked as sprinter's, and tire success of Mask over a. mile and tbrce-fiuarters suggests that Limond is likely to leave a fair percentage of stayers. Jack Potts was shut in at ono .stage in tlit: final round of the President's Handicap at Addington, and did not get clear until about three furlongs from home. The American pacer finished brilliantly, «nd with a bit more luck in the running mignt have made the winner go faster. dcr on was discarded from the calculations of backers in his onty start at Addington last week, and attracted little attention in the race, but Ire demonstrated that he has not lost his extreme speed. Minton Derby established an Australasian record in tho High Class Handicap, but over tho last mile did not travel to fast as Acron, who had not begun so well as the (Back champion. At the Auckland summer meeting, Mr A. B. Williams’s horses had a great innings, and credited the ' East Coast

sportsman with over £6OOO. The team bad a less fortunate experience at Easter, filling .second place in several important events. ' Rapine, the topnotchcr of the party, did not suffer any loss of prestige by his defeat on his only appearance, as it, Was a sterling effort to carry 9.11 into second place over a mile and a half.

| Kohara was primarily responsible for this wonderful times registered in the big race at Addington on Wednesday. The Onkhampton four-year-old led from the rise of the barrier until about a furlpng from home, and was only about three lengths behind the winner at the judge's box; Had he been given a run on day lie v ould have been desperately hard to heat, and in any case can bo ticked off as a prospective winner next season. ''

iMurray Kifig was' the greatest outsider that over won an important race at Randwick. So little was thought of his chance that he started friendless at hundreds to one, and pulled the bookmakers out of a liole. Yalicarc won the Epsom, but her price was so short that the race could not have greatly depletes! the layers’ rolls, and they wou’d have a complete skinner over the Cup and the big double.

Probably never in the history of trotting in New Zealand have so many horses bettered their handicap times in an important event ns in the President’s Handicap on the second dnv of the Metropolitan meeting. Minton Derby registered 4.22 2-5 (off a. 4.26 mark), AYaitaki (Jill stepped 4.22 (nit 4.26), and Jack Potts was timed to go 4.21 3-5 (off 4.28). Countryman, who finished fourth, did 4.28 (0ff’4.31). 'the others were not officially timed, but Kohara paced home in about 4.29 1-5 (off 4.32). Loganwood dii approximately 4.27 2-5 foil' 4.30), end Queen’s Own, Logan Lou, fflaek Admiral and Logan Chief all must have dono better time than their handicaps. ... Native Chief’s ridiculously easy win in the Champion Stakes last week provided convincing evidence that the Logan Pointer gelding is the best three-year-old so fur raced in the Dominion. During the race he stepped a mile in 2.10, and it was obvious that had ho been allowed to run along another three furlongs he could have registered better than 4.30 for two miles. Native Chief could qualify for the ..Trotting Cup any day provided, he left the mark -smartly, hut until he sobers down ho null not hi; a. reliable horse for’handicap racing. Once on the journey fie comports himself like a true champion. Minton Derby, on the second day of the Metropolitan meeting, achieved the distinction of making two records. His 4.22 2-5 ranks as the fastest winning pent roe; nee ever pot up on the track, ate! in the High Class Handicap lie estab’ished best figures under any conditions for New Zealand or Australia. W. J. Tomkinson Inis done well with the black, stallion, who is anything hut a sound hnrs'e. It is understood that the trni n;:r secured Minton Derby on very easy leas n* terms, owing to the difhoulty of training him,, and lie has had the fortunate experience of winning two thousand pounders with him tvithin a. few months. ’llu* horse is an excellent beginner, as well as a brilliant pacer, ami it he were thoroughly hound, he might prove to he tlm best id'-round performer sooth of the line. Limerick lias been responsible for two .surprises this season. He upset calculations by winning this Champagne Stake* at AVnigatui, and on S-’aster Tuesday unexpectedly brought about tin; downfall of Commendation. Jt cannot bo claimed that bo defeated Commendation on his merits, as be was ill receipt of 51bs from bis rival, and the. race was not a true test of <mlloping ability.. It can lie said, however, tout Jjjmvi'icrk’s record jis ji two-vour-old is hotter than tlmt of bis 'halfbrother jlullymena, who subsecmontly won the A.J.CI. Derby, and at the monpoifc he looks to bo as good a Derby I'i’Ospeeb ■as any of the juveniles who ly 7“ nerfornuHl with more distinction flits season. Ail idea prevails in some (UUU'lers that as a resiiS. of the Jlovn! .Despatch affair, Mr H. A. Knight’ is Hof likely again to run hors y, in’SvdI'cv, but it will prob-iblv be found that w Im has anything good onoe.gh nothing would give him greater satisfaction than to smito the enemy by winning Uieir best races

Mythology changed hands for llgns. ill a Christchurch salo ring last week... Volant, Coch-y-bondhu and New Day will be R. C. Keeper’s representatives at the Timaru meeting. . - ■ . : Grand Knight was scratched..for the Thompson Handicap at 9.30 a.lit. on Thursday last.'. .. ; \ • It is reported :thiit Mr G. F. Moore refused an offer of £4OOO for Here-' inoaha, made by an Australian a short

time ago. It is understood that Enare has gone to the North Island, to be trained by O. Cox, whose stable at Hawera also shelters Reiemoana and Lady Cavendish. When Income collected first money in the vuluablc Autumn Handicap at Auckland, the Guianforte gelding was making his 106th appearance in a race. Air J. JJ. Nie'oll lias been appointed secretary to the Ashburton County Racing Club and tins Ashburton Trotting Club. Ho will take over bis 'duties oil May 1. Carnot, who was sold during Easter week by Mr G. I). Greenwood, the new owner being Mr J. Boyle, of Hakatara•mea, is. now prepared by J. Boyd. ! It is expected that the Invercargill' trainer, F. W. Ellis will have four or five homes racing at Washdyke this month. P. T. Hogan expects to start five horses —Aiandriike, Snatcher, Captain Sarto, Fairy Tidings, and Balasor—at the S.C.J.O. meeting. G. Young’s run of luck .•reeciyotl'.atemporary check at Randwick, as be failed to win any of 'the important events. . Roscnor and Corn: Money, returned to Wingatui after the C.J.C. meeting, but Los Ambus and’ Rocpipt remained at Riccarton to wait for the Wellington meeting. "• ’,,.; ■;... It is reported that if Happy: Itosa docs not reproduce her track form at Forbury, she will he - tried at- tho tpaging gait. The mare is a, 2.10 trotter in private, but mixes rather badly in., her races. • , - ; The Waimato Racing C'ub’s meeting resulted in a deficit of something over £‘loo, which is not . considered disastrous when the effects oft the.'-Ex-' hibition are taken into account.’ The Wingatui owner-trainer, J):' 1 P. Wilson, had a run of .success, at'Beaumont. where ho saddled - up four winners. He-won a double with King Sol, and also scored witjie . Buoyant ,and Black Duke. . . f i *ri ' ' Ribbonwood's Last, v who. won , Dip, Sydney Thousand trot last week, was brought to Auckland a year or two. ago by the Sydney reinsman, J. Robber, but returned homo without being asked to race in the Dominion. r \ Darknito has filled second place in his last four starts, and his record for the season is six seconds and a third out of 10 starts, without a win. He has gone 2.11 4-5, and is on such a bad mark that only about £SO was offered for the Australian last week at auc- ■ lion.

According to a cable received in 'Now, Plymouth, To Alonanui was on the* ground ready for the Sydney Cup, but lie was unable to start owing to Jr Pikfc being unable to make the weight. A. and F,. Trilford are working Mountain Lion, Frisco Mail, Moratorium, Fairy Herald, Golden Prince, Roekfellow, Muzzle, Princess Alafckla, and a St. Petersburg—Fanfare gelding’ with a view to racing thorn at the! South Canterbury Jockey Club’s fixi ture.

New Zealander G. Price continues to havo a profitable time in Sydney. Wind bay; is apparently as good as ever, and Pi ice produced a surprise packet in the Sydney Cup in the 200 to 1 chanco Murray King. As he scored in the Melbourne Cup with Windbag, the ox-Palmerstonian has prepared the winners of the two biggest handicaps in Australia tliis- season.The Australian pacer Black Lila, who won on .the first day of the Metro-, pplitah meeting off . 4.39, on the Second day-was brought back to liar- Auckland: mark of 4.31. To have won on tins occasion Black Lila would have had to do 4.27, Although .she was well bcatefi," she actua.’ly went well under 4.30. and it is evident that she is able to qualify for the Trotting Cup under favourable conditions. Some northern critics ascribe Mask’s victory in the Auckland St. Leger to the horsemanship of L. G. Morris, who is alleged to have outgeneral'cd R. Reed on Star Stranger. It will be remembered that many North Islanders were aggrieved when southern scribes lnnted that MeCartou had shaded Reed when Rapine was twice beaten at Riccarton earlier in the season.

Three crack juveniles lost caste to some extent during the Easter campaign. At Randwick Rampion was not among the place-getters in the Sires’ Produce Stakes, in which it is presumed ho was a i'unner, and a. similar fate befell Jov King at ElJerslio. The Comedy .King colt, who is credited with being a rather headstrong youngster, lost ground at the start, and faded out at the finish after making up his leeway quickly. At Rioeartou Commendation, who. contrary to expectations, comported himself ; excellently at the barrier, for some inexplicable reason threw away his chance in the Challenge by a lapse at the business end of the contest. It- has been suggested' that feeding methods may have something to do with the vagaries of so many brilliant voting horses both in Australia and Now .Zealand.'

The eablegrammor in Sydney left New Zealand in the dark concerning the fate of Rampion in the Sires’ Produce Stakes at Randwick. It iV ho presumed that the Rosscndaln. com was a starter, hut no information was vouchsafed as to whether lie was left at the post or beaten on his merits. The fart that he annexed tho Champagne Stakes'on the third dav-seems to indicate that there was nothing .seriously amiss with the Now South Wales champion two-year-old. Tho brothers L. G. and B. H. Morris had a profitable time at tbe Easter meetings. At Auckland L. G. Morris won the Easter Handicap on Reremoana, rode Lvsander in tbe Champagne Stakes, Mask in the jit. Leg or, Income in the Autumn Handicap, and Tbe Thorn in the Islington Welter. B. H. Morris steered Orchid to victory at Kei'ding, and at Riccarton won tbe Great Easter and Autumn double on Grand Knight, besides winning two lesser events on Footfall and Young Loebinvnr.

An actual clash between tiro Forlmry Park Trotting Club’s meeting and the South Canterbury fixture, lias been obviated b.v a. rearrangement of dates, but the position is still far from satisfactory so far as the S.C.J.C. is concerned. Tbe close proximity of the two meetings is bound to have some effect on both, but tin; most ’ serious consequences will be felt by tho Timaru Club, which will lose the benefit of tbe Saturday half-hobday. Tbe action of tho Forbury commit too —or the majority of them- —in jumping South Canterbury dates and totalisator facilities, is likely to prove expensive to the Jockey Club, which lias a distinct grievance in the, matter.

A writer in “Smith’s Weekly” makes •some pungent remarks concerning recent plunges at Sydney meetings. i-Je asks; “Was it just a coincidence that Lausanne’s Rosehill victory was achieved because other good horses were 'unlucky’? If not, who engineered the big bets? And was there any connection; between ' this plunge, and the strange interference to several dangerous rivals? Whose is the hand, in fact, behind several big coups made on Sydney courses in the lasi, six weeks? Not on good judgment of form or lucky speculation have these oeeurred apparently, but .seemingly hv a remarlcalde prescience concerning what was going to occur during the course of the race. When a. coterie of baekers step in and back one animal, irrespective of price or form, and it wins, and they do it with another another day, and so on ad libitum, Iho shrewd critic begins to realise Unit lliere’ is something doing on the turf. What the average punter should do in the cir-

erinstances is to shut his eyes to form and follow the money.”

As recently as Alnrch 13, Waitaki Girl started in the Timaru Trotting Cup off 4.32. Three weeks later she was placed, on 1.22, an almost unprecedented tightening up of a handicap for a pacer in this class. Unfortunately for her owner, her sparkling efforts did net net tho amount of prize money her times warranted, nml it might have been more profitable had she been raced over two miles instead of ten furlongs on the first day of the Metropolitan fixture. Now that Onyx has seen her best day, Waitaki Girl is likely to be crowned as queen of the Dominion trotting tracks, and it is 'pWsing to note that she seems to have east aside her waywardness at the barrier. Had siie beeu'as patiently driven a« was Minton Derby in tbe Rresidcnt’s Handicap, it is possible she might have deleaied her rival, and perhaps broken Author Dillon’s race record of 4.21 4-5. Half a mile from home she, commenced a dazzling run, which carried her from about eighth or ninth, to second,’ in less than two furlongs, and she was left with nothing in reserve when Alinton Derby, who was nursed for a final effort in the straight, came along. The Australian Jockey Club’s autumn meeting proved-one of the learn, est fixtures at Randwick for many years so ..far as New, Zealand was concerned., Pillio.winkie and Riinnyniede, althoughi representiTig Sydney owners, are still regarded in a measure as representatives of the Dominion, and their doings were, eagerly followed by, New Zealand sportsmen. The lameness that overtook Ruiinymrde evidently proved .serious, an,the. King' John gelding shirked his task in the St. Leger. PiTliewinkie also failed to run up to expectations after finishing second in the Autumn Stakes, and there may be something in the contention of many Sydneyite;-; that he is not so .much at homo at Randwick a.s cm the left-hand*' ed course at Flemington. The twq longer w.f.a. events, however, were not true tests of staying ability, both being converted into sprint contests by the tactics of the riders. This played into tin; hands of Heroic, who otherwise might have found the trip too far. Windbag added two more victories to bis fine record, but tbe outstanding performer at the meeting was the tliroe-ycar-old Vnlicare, who lias an unbeaten record in seven starts. 'That her deeds leave made a profound impression is indicated by the fact that a buyer has been willing to pay the mammoth sum of &500gus for a yearling brother to the Valais filly.

It will be interesl ing to seo what retimi the buyer (whoso name was not thought of sufficient interest to cable), of the yearling brother to Yaliearo secures for liis investment of ooOOgus, which will bo- increased 1 to at least £6OOO before the youngster is ready to race, always supposing that ho. turns out worth training. Valais horses are such speedy gallopers as a rule that there is not a great risk in paying consult rable sums for them, but the mammoth prices given last week iiu%o yearling buying more of a gamble than ever. II is customary for purchasers to' give themselves airs in the matter of selection of baby ocpiincs, but it is illuminating to recall that it is generally a relative to a reigning champion that brings out the high bids, and some of tin- worst bargains in horseflesh have been made as a result. The jNlelhi.iivne Cup winner Newhaven had. a brother named I 1 ’rondo, who as a. raeehorsc was not worth the proverbial row of pins. Achilles was followed by a

brother dubbed Saa Lion, who was more like a mouse as a racing proposition. Most of Gloaming’s brothers and sisters have proved rank failures on the course, and scores of similar eases could be quoted. A classic instance was that of I’osiodon, who. .won the Melbourne- Cup, Caulfield . Cup, Derbies;! and other races, and was the Windbag of bis day. - Sir Hugh Denisoif,.: M’lio was fortunate enough to.oWlVthbr son of Jacinth, paid 305l)gns for a yearling brother who was christened QrctiV butlearned later that one brother''-was as, bad as the other was good. Orcus’s price stood as a. yearling, .i .ecord for Australia until the Valais youngsters appeared, pn the scene. .