TURF NEWS & NOTES

Wairarapa Times-Age, 27 September 1938, Page 11

TURF NEWS & NOTES

CURRENT TOPICS FROM STABLE & COURSE

Views on Racing Facts and Fancies

ENGE ON THE UP-GRADE

(By

“The Cynic.”)

Enge indicated a return to winning form in the near future by his forward showing in the Plumpton Handicap on the second day at Avondale. After leading into the straight in line with Kena, Ned Cuttie and Francis Drake he hit the front at the distance and when it looked as if he might win he stopped quickly to eventually finish fourth. Enge has been nominated for the Poland Handicap at Paeroa and benefited as he is sure to be with racing at Avondale he may be seen to better advantage this week. A Rider Kicked. A. rider of Wine Card in the Geraldine Cup, was walking his mount at the starting point, when he was kicked on the leg by Milford, who has usually given trouble in this way at the barrier. Parsons immediately dismounted, and had to receive treatment for a few minutes before he was able to regain use of his limb. Although the “all-clear” signal was given, the starter, Mr A. J. Hastings, 1 delayed calling the . horses in until Parsons was fit enough to remount, and until he received an assurance that the boy was able to carry on. Parsons was called upon to engage in a hard tussle, and as he had to have medical attention a few minutes after dismounting, it was realised that he displayed distinct gameness in so sticking to his task under a big disadvantage. He was unable to ride again during the afternoon, and may require a few days’ respite. A Big Difference. A London writer says that after a judge’s verdict had been disputed at Ripon last month, he went into that official’s box to get an idea of the angle. He says he came away convinced that if every racegoer could see the finish from a judge’s box he would never argue again. Epsom Riders. In the last 20 years jockeys from Victoria have been on five Epsom Handicap winners. P. Kelly won# on Rostrum, W. Duncan on Metellus (aead heat with Boaster), H. Jones on Vaals, A. Reed on Cathmar, and K. Voitre on Synagogue. Skidmore, as rider of Nightguard, has a good chance of adding to the number this year. Over the period named, J. Munro has the best record of Sydney jockeys, with three wins and a dead heat —Amounis (2), Silver Ring, and Boaster (», S. Cracknell (Claro and Capris) and M. McCarten (Autopay and Gold Rod) are nearest to Munro. Pink Robe. Pink Robe, the winner of the Geraldine Cup, was got by Pink Coat from Loch Lava, by Grafton Loch—Oratava, by Kilchei’an—Poltava, by Stepniak from Tempest, the winner of the Dunedin Cup in 1893. Wee PatWinner of the 1934 Great Northern Hurdles, Wee Pat broke down while contesting the Grey Lynn Hurdles on the second day of the Avondale Jockey Club’s meeting, and is to be retired to the stud. Prior to being brought back into training Wee Pat was mated with Autopay two seasons ago, and has a yearling colt by that sire.

A Legal Debt.

In England the Gaming Act can be successfully pleaded where betting debts with bookmakers are concerned, but it is not so where debts are incurred through totalisator betting. Judge Hildesley gave this ruling when Tote Investors, Ltd., sued a man for £3O 13s, which, they said, was money paid as bets with the totalisator at his request. The debtor pleaded the Gaming Act, and said the money was not legally a debt because it was incurred as tne result of betting transactions. In giving judgment against the debtor for the amount claimed with costs, the judge said that if the debt had resulted from an ordinary betting transaction it would have been a debt of honour, but betting by means of a totalisator was a legal transaction. Salamagundi. The imported sire Salamagundi is being well patronised this season, and amongst the mares booked to him are Surge, Dalzura, Dazzling Light, Lucky Light, Ruling Light, mare by Colonel Cygnus —Dazzling Light, Full Swing, Balrazie, Miss Redowa, Royal Silk, Gold Silk, Fleet Lady (dam of Spendthrift), Waiau Maid, Honest Maid, Flicker and Roman Lake. Twins were produced by Roman Lake; a filly foal is on the dam, and the colt is being hand fed. Keelie. Keelie, an imported horse who is engaged in the Caulfield Cup and Melbourne Cup, won the Lichfield Welter Handicap at Ascot run recently in England, Keelie had fair middle distance form, and although the field he beat at Ascot was not up to Cup standard, further improvement may be expected. As a three-year-old last season in England, Keelie won the Nottinghamshire Handicap, run over a mile and a-quarter at Nottingham, but he was beaten in four subsequent races before his departure for Australia. Keelie’s sire, Cameronian, won the English Derby in 1931, and his dam, Lovely Peg, is by the 1922 Derby winner, Captain Cuttie, so Keelie is bred to stay. Keelie is owned by “Mr Vernon Winn,” for whom he is trained by S. W. Phillips. King Rey. King Rey gave another solid performance at Avondale when in a thrilling finish in the Cup event the first day he accounted for all but Tidewaiter and Kena, only heads separating the first half-dozen to cross the line. At the distance it appeared momentarily as if King Rey would carry the day but he failed only in the last couple of yards to go on with it. King Rey is in solid condition just now and if produced in the Poland Cup at Paeroa next month he will claim an optimistic following.

Failure of Royal Bachelor. The failure of Royal Bachelor in the open sprint the first day at Avondale came as a big shock to his army of supporters. Jumping out smartly from his position on the rails he soon opened up a break of several lengths on the field and he held that position until half-way down the running where he commenced to tire—and that quickly. Maori Song challenged and then Erndale ranged on the scene and in a good finish, Erndale, Maori Song and Philcourt all ran past the Te Rapa sprinter to cut him out of a place. No excuse can be made for Royal Bachelor as he had all the best of the jump out and covered not a yard of extra ground.

Blandford. Leads. Blandford looks like being again leading sire in England this season. The son of Swynford and Blanche died about four years ago, in his fifteenth year. At the beginning of August he had 13 winner? of 19 races valued at £28,822. His best winner was Pasch. Felstead (Spion Kop—Felkington) was second with nine winners of 14 races worth £22,575. His chief contributor was the champion filly Rockfel, winner of the One Thousand Guineas and the Oaks. Solario (leading sire last season) was third, Sansovino fourth, Pharos fifth, Mi 1 Jinks (Tetratemt—False Piety) sixth, Caerleon (brother to Colorado) seventh, Sir Cosmo eighth, Fairway ninth, and Son-in-Law tenth. Solario was leading sire last season. Five of the first 10 on the list come of the Bend Or line. Blandford was leading sire in 1934 with the record figures of £75,706, and again in 1935 with winners of £57,538. At Caulfield. A profit of £14,796 12s 3d was made by the Victoria Amateur Turf Club for the year ended August 31, according to the balance sheet. For the year the revenue amounted to £150,263, the principal items being:—Entries, acceptances, admittances, registrations, totalisator commission, etc., £126,553; sundry fees, £5595; members’ entrance fees and subscriptions, £7733; and rents £lO2l. In his report the chairman (Mr Clive Leonard) stated that the stakes paid away during the year amounted to £65,830 —an increase of £2230 on the previous year. Since the club was formed in November, 1875, the total stakes disbursed amounted to £2,144,355. Best Ever. • Imported Actor was recently sent back to Victoria to his owner, Mr S. Green, who will use him for stud purposes next season. J. T. Jamieson was very regretful he was unable to stand a preparation. “He was the best horse I ever trained,” was a comment he made concerning Actor. “Sprinting was not his game,” he continued, “but from a moving start, he proved himself able to run over Sretto at the finish of a short trip, and that giws a fair idea of how he could gallop.” St Magnus. The announcement is made that Lord Derby has sold St Magnus to go to Australia. His sire is the Derby winner Sansovino, and his dam that good mare Fair Isle, sister to Fairway and Pharos. St Magnus won the Queen Anne Stakes at Ascot and it then became known that he might be sent to another part of the Empire. He has won two Liverpool Cups, and there is every reason for believing that he will develop into an imposing stallion.

RACING FIXTURES.

October 1. —Otaki-Maori Racing Club. October 1. —Kurow Jockey Club. October 1, 3—Ohinemuri Jockey Club. October 6, 8. —Dunedin Jockey Club. October 7, B.—Auckland Racing Club. October 8, 10.—Hawke’s Bay Jockey Club. October 12 and 13.—Masterton Racing Club. October 15. —South Canterbury Jockey Club. October 24. —Waikato Hunt Club. October 20, 22, 24. —Wellington R.C. October 22, 24. —Gore Racing Club. October 24. —North Canterbury J.C. October 24. —Waverley R.C.