TURF NEWS & NOTES

Wairarapa Times-Age, 12 August 1938, Page 9

TURF NEWS & NOTES

♦ CURRENT TOPICS FROM STABLE & COURSE Views on Racing Facts and Fancies CONSISTENT CLARION CALL (By “The Cynic.”)

It was fitting that Clarion Call, who commenced his winning career by a victory in the Trial Hunters' Steeplechase at New Plymouth as a five-year-old in 1935, should have achieved a great triumph in the Grand National Steeplechase at Riccarton. Clarion Call has proved a very versatile performer, having won over country, hurdles and on the flat. He has been trained by L. G. Morris and with an ounce of luck he would have had a much better record than he possesses. The greatest misfortune of his career was when he had the Great Northern Hurdles in 1936 at his mercy only to unseat his rider at the last fence. A Class Hurdler. On that occasion Clarion Call demonstrated his class as a hurdler and even though he did not share in the prize the performance brought him a considerable increase in weight, with which he rose to the occasion by several days later winning the Remuera Hurdles with 10.5 in the Ellerslie course record time of 3.36 4-5. Subsequently he ran two seconds in the Grand National Hurdles and he has proved beyond doubt that he is one of the most brilliant performers in the Dominion as a hurdler and as a steeplechaser. Foaled in 1930, Clarion Call is a bay gelding by Hunting Song from Saxon Saint, by Hallowmas from Formless, by Multiform from Dreamer, by Mostyn from Moorooroo, by Trenton. Saxon Saint was bred by R. D. O’Donnell, for many years private trainer to Mr G. L. Stead, and now training in Melbourne. O’Donnell was associated with many good horses during his career in New Zealand and among them was Los Angelos, with whom he won the Great Autumn Handicap at Riccarton. Dreamer was the dam of the good performer, Bon Reve. Up to the present Clarion Call has contested 33 races for 11 firsts, five seconds and three thirds. His earnings amount to £3763.

Steeplechaser Destroyed. Royal Banquet stifled the last fence in the Grand National Steeplechase yesterday, and was soon in a bad way. A veterinary examination revealed a broken pelvis, and as he commenced to bleed inwardly, he was at once destroyed. Royal Banquet was only recently sold by his owner, Mr J. Macrae, of the Wairoa district, to the Government to be used under the remount encouragement scheme, and was to have been taken over by the Egmont-Wanganui Hunt Club at the conclusion of this week’s meeting.

No Part. The supporters of Silver Slipper in the Winter Cup yesterday did not get much satisfaction, as she backed out just as the barrier went up, and took no part in the race. Coming On. Paper Slipper shaped better than previously in the Winter Cup, and if the present condition of the track is maintained, he will earn distinction before the meeting concludes. Successful Jockeys.. Four jockeys—T. Lyford, W. Clarke, G. Hope and H. McSweeney—have ridden three winners of the Grand National Steeplechase. Clarke also won the Hurdle Race on three occasions, the only other rider to achieve this being W. Young. A. E. Ellis, who has won the Grand National Steeplechase on two occasions, has a similar number of wins in the Hurdle Race, and with three victories in the Winter Cup to his credit he has an unchallenged record in the big August treble. A Surprise Winner. Top Rank has had a varied career, without being a very prolific stakeearner. Before yesterday’s success, his best performances last season were to run third to Grampian and Superex over brush hurdles at Riccarton in February, and in the same month to run second to Master Anomaly at Wingatui. He had school twice, with Padishah before this meeting, and although he jumped the better of the pair, Padishah appeared to hold him quite safe in each of their tasks. Top Rank is a well-bred gelding by Chief Ruler from Comedy Queen by Comedy King, and as a yearling, at Trentham, was purchased by the Riccarton trainer, C. Emerson, for Messrs W. O. and D. O. Rutherford, for 210

guineas. Although he won some races, including the Cashmere Plate at Riccarton, he did not perform up to his early promise. As a three-year-old he won a hack six furlong race at Ashburton from Knockfin, but because of interference with Knockfin, the placings were reversed. f ““ i Slow Run Race. The time for the Grand National Steeplechase was the slowest since Aurora Borealis won in 1930. The track was not solely to blame for this, a strong wind seriously affecting the competitors for half of the long journey. A Decisive Winner. Strip, winner of the concluding event at Riccarton on Tuesday, is a brother by Valkyrian to Dissemble, another speedy galloper trained at Wingatui. Their dam, Dismantle, is by Tractor from Take Down, dam of some good horses, including Overhaul and Master Anomaly. Strip’s stablemate, Half and Half, was engaged in the same race yesterday, but was not produced. If he had been started he 'would have been bracketed with Rockingham, who ran third to Strip and paid a big price. A Hopeless Case. After Tuesday’s performance, investors who put their trust in Royal Limond have only themselves to blame. In spite of his refusal to tackle the top brush, not only on many previous occasions, but when he was tried out last week, he carried no less than £564 in Tuesday’s race. It has always been the accepted rule to follow up a horse in case he makes amends for a defeat or two, but it can be taken for granted that Tuesday’s supporters of Royal Limond will not be keen to risk much money on him again.

The Winter Cup. The Winter Cup was first run in 1899. Up till 1888 the programme included a race known as the Winter Handicap, but it was not regarded as of any importance. In 1899 the stake was more than doubled, and the name of the event was changed to Winter Cup, the first winner being Jupiter. A. Oliver and A. E. Ellis have been the most successful Winter Cup riders, each having won the race on three occasions. Oliver secured his wins in successive seasons, on Penates, NorthEast and Nyland. The highest weight carried by a winner of the Winter Cup is 11.5, Toxeuma’s impost in 1930., That record is not likely to be eclipsed, as the 9.0 minimum was then in force. The Winter Cup has not . been a good race for favourites. During the last 23 years only one outright favourite, Fast Passage, has won the big mile handicap, and some very big dividends have been paid by Magdala, Parky, King Star, Solferite, Mount Boa, Princess Doreen and others.

Colt to First Lap. The first foaling of the season reported in Auckland comes from the Mardella Stud, Otahuhu,, where First Lap produced a colt to Vaals on Sunday. First Lap is by Lapidary from Trill. For Melbourne. Although some of the owners interested in the team earlier proposed to be taken to Melbourne by P. T. Hogan are not now keen on the trip, Hogan has made arrangements to ship his own horses, Queen of Song and the Colossus two-year-old Aranui, on September 1. Three Victories. The Agent 12.0, 12.7, and 12.6, is the only horse to win the Grand National three times, but only two of these victories were gained at Riccarton. Those with two wins to their names are Mutiny, Coalition, Oakleigh. Wiltshire and Valpeen, each gaining its two victories in successive years. Courtcraft. Courtcraft is expected to come into work again this month. He has been hacked about on his owners’ property for the last couple of months, and is now showing no signs of any leg trouble. Courtcraft will probably be seen out again in public at Christmas and is likely to be sent to Sydney in company with Coronation in the autumn. Backed for Metropolitan. Gold Rod, who was not entered for the Epsom Handicap, was backed in Sydney last week for the Metropolitan, a move that surprised bookmakers and backers, who justifiably were doubtful of the ability of the brilliant chestnut to run out 13 furlongs.

First Start After Spell. Black Coat had his first start for over a season at the Christchurch Hunt Club’s meeting, but, as was to be expected, failed to show up in the Maiden Stakes. Black Coat looks as though he will need racing before showing form. He is owned by Mr Donald Grant, and is by Pink Coat from The Geisha, by Tea Tray from Stardancer. At the late Mr C. G. Dalgety’s stud Stardancer, which was by Martian, proved a prolific foalgetter, among her progeny being Starland, Limelight, Starmist, Paperchase, Starshooter and Metal Bird. In 17 seasons at the stud Stardancer produced 15 foals.

Grand National Steeples. The Grand National Steeplechase has not always been run by the Canterbury Jockey Club, which took over the control of the race in 1884. Prior to that date it was controlled by the New Zealand Grand National Club, a body of about 50 jumping enthusiasts, many of them from South Canterbury, where the president, Mr M. Studholme, resided. The races run by the club and the location of the course, prior to Riccarton becoming the venue, were won as follows: —1875, Willowbridge, Medora; 1876, Christchurch, Royalty; 1877, Timaru, Fakir; 1878, Christchurch, Mousetrap; 1879, Oamaru, The Agent; 1880, Christcljurch, The Agent; 1881, Washdyke, Clarence; 1882, Riccarton, Katerfelto; 1883, Washdyke, Kosiuscko.