Views on Racing Facts and Fancies

Wairarapa Times-Age, 1 December 1938, Page 11

Views on Racing Facts and Fancies

TWO BRILLIANT JUVENILES

(By

“The Cynic.”)

Both two-year-old races at the Auckland Racing Club’s mid-Spring meeting were won by representatives of the Hawke’s Bay sire, Bulandshar. High Caste, a helf-brother to the brilliant Stretto, won the Cambria Handicap, on the first day in 59sec, time which has only been bettered on one occasion at Ellerslie, and Konneta, a filly from Sunny Hours, scored in the Rakino Handicap on Monday. In these two brilliant juveniles Stan z ßagby holds a strong hand for the • coming events at the Ellerslie Christmas meeting. They are still susceptible to considerable improvement, and the opinion has been expressed that they will finish up at the head of the list of two-year-olds for the season. Blonde Princess in Form. Blonde Princess, a four-year-old mare by Hunting Song, from Fair Queen, having only her second start, confirmed the good impression that is held of her in the Poverty Bay district by winning the Vauxhall Handicap at Auckland. It is expected that this mare will go on to further successes. Promising Three-year-old. Toro-Koura’s success at Ashburton on Saturday marked his third win this season, and the Pink Coat gelding has also three second placings to his credit. He is owned by the Hon G. R. Hunter and the Hon P. C. Webb, whose colours were also carried with success by Cocksure in the Wakanui Handicap at the same meeting.

Logan Derby. As Logan Derby is not to sail for Tasmania until Monday next, he will have a light let-up. On Saturday afternoon Mr Barnes was approached on behalf of the Wairio Trotting Club to allow his champion to appear in an exhibition mile at its meeting next Saturday. Mr Barnes said that he, his trainer and horse had been given such a wonderful time in the Dominion, that he would be glad to do something in return. He was informed that he would be leaving New Zealand without seeing the best part of the country if he did not make a tour of Southland, and the Wairio sportsmen are such good hosts that they will see to it that Mr Barnes. and party will be properly entertained. The Wairio course, about seven and a-half furlongs, was described by the Racing Conference’s stipendiary steward as the best grass track of its size that he had seen last year.

Recollection to go South. Recollection, with J. Murfitt as his rider, was schooled over four hurdles at Riccarton on Monday. He got round safely without going so fast as usual, but he did not jump in his customary bold style. He has shown on previous occasions, however, that he is an at= tractive fencer,, and his prospects are very bright. He will be one of a team that Barr intends to take to the Dunedin, Wyndham, and Southland meetings for the holidays. Sir Rosenor is another hurdler in the stable that may do the same trip. He goes with great dash, but lacks stamina.

Should do well in Hack Sprints. Flame Queen is booked for the southern meeting, and should race well in hack sprints, as she is in good order.

Flemington Tote Figures. During the Melbourne Cup meeting the totalisator figures showed a decline on each of the four days, the total turnover being £331,327, as against £357,689 10 last year, which represented a decrease for the meeting of £26,362 10s. Last year, however, was a record. To a large extent the drop in the totalisator returns was attributable to the fact that there was little betting on the weight-for-age races. Ajax so completely dominated them that there was’little wagering, either with the bookmakers or on totalisators in the three races contested by him. First Win in Three Years. The winner of the High-weight Handicap at-Ashburton turned up in Teak, a six-year-old gelding by Tea Tray— Kilcalm, by Kilbroney—Esther, by Santry. Teak had not won a race since November of 1935. Oriental Bay. Oriental Bay. the winner of the Takapuna Plate, did not strike winning form last season when racing as a two-year-old. This season he has won twice and been second twice out of five starts. Just Coining into Form. Benefited by his racing at Te Rapa, the improving four-year-old Bronze Trail won the Stanley Handicap at Auckland in good style, after being in front over the last half-mile. Bronze Trail ran on strongly when challenged by High Sea and Dauber in the straight and he is a big horse who is just coming to form after being very patiently handled. Falling From Grace. Te Hero is falling from grace. He failed in the Cheltenham Handicap, and his manners, rather than his lack of pace, seem to be his most serious. handicap. A Lost Art. The Melbourne Cup proved to be a most disappointing race, and when it was over, and Catalogue had been returned the winner, a Sydney visitor summed up the race rather well when he said it did not rise above the standard of a Sydney mid-week handicap. It could easily have been a great race, but as a spectacle and a thrill it was ruined by the shocking judgment of the jockeys. They made a present of the race to Catalogue (says the Australasian), just as the riders did the year Posinatus was successful. Both races were falsely run, and instead of becoming a real test of stamina, it degenerated into a sprint over a few furlongs. Posinatus was allowed to stride along at his leisure in the lead and sprint home over the last few furlongs, and that was the case with Catalogue. The horses, which had

■ been trained to run a solid two miles, ■ might just as well have been in their j stalls for all the chance they had of i winning. It must have been a period of : exasperation to those trainers who had given their horses a solid Cup pre- ; paration to see their work destroyed by the riders. They ran the first halfmile in 52 seconds, and the next two half-miles were run at exactly the same pace. Catalogue sprinted home from the half-mile post in 50} seconds. Mr Heath has been timing Melbourne Cups for longer than most of us care to remember. He remarked on Oaks Day that it was the worst Melbourne Cup he had ever timed. As the race was run, Catalogue must be given some credit for having won it, but he will not go down in history as one of the good winners of the Melbourne Cup. When the pace was very slow stayers like Royal Chief, Plectrum, Marauder, L’Aiglon, and Bourbon, who had all done a solid preparation and wanted a fast run race, were kept muddling about the tail-end of the field, and consequently when Catalogue sprinted away approaching the turn for home they vzere left in hopeless positions; Judgment of pace seems to be a lost art. Defaulter’s Visit. Although it has been announced that Defaulter is to visit Australia, says a Sydney newspaper, the intention is probably to bring him here in the spring of the coming year. As he has good engagements in the autumn in New Zealand, his owner • may decide it is better he should fulfil them and tackle Ajax and others of Australia’s best at weight-for-age later. In handicaps in Australia he is bound to get so much weight that in consequence, his efforts may be restricted to weight-for-age events.

Rushed up too soon. Argentic, for a stayer, was not handled to the best advantage in the Tinwald Handicap on Saturday, as he was rushed up to the leaders during the middle stages, and thus missed the advantage of his run being made on the long Ashburton straight. He did not suffer any ill effects from the effort, and is to go north to race at Awapuni and at Stratford during the holidays. Good Impression Created. • $ Keen Sight created a good impression by his success at Ashburton on Saturday. He has not done much racing and, bred as he Is, he may develop into a big winner next season. I Leading Horsemen. The Riccarton horseman, G. Humphries, had one winning ride at Ashburton on Saturday, bringing his total for the season to 22, or four more than B. H. Morris, who failed to have a success on the first day at Feilding. W. Broughton is next with 15, and P. Atkins, R. McTavish, and H. Wiggins follows with 14 wins each. The Government’s Share. Although Mrs A. Jameson, owner of Catalogue, and Mr A. K. Firth, owner of Royal Chief, won some good stake money in Australia, the deductions for taxation considerably reduced the amounts. It is stated that close on £IOOO was taken from Catalague’s Melbourne Cup prize, and Mr Firth was called upon to pay between £6OO and £7OO out of Royal Chief’s, winnings.

Riding Horses Out. “The stipendiary stewards have evidently decided that jockeys must strictly observe the regulation that horses must be ridden out,” writes “Pilot” in the Sydney “Referee.” “It is, however, something that calls for the exercise of discretion, and it will be interesting to note whether all offenders will be treated alike. “At Canterbury on November 12 an apprentice who was on a two-year-old that was having its first run was suspended for a month for not perservering with his mount right to the end in order to get third place. It had not the slightest chance of running first or second, but the stewards must have been of opinion that it could have finished third. A more experienced rider would probably have made it less obvious if he did not want a place. In the circumstances a caution would probably have met the case. “It is galling for tote backers to be deprived of a dividend they should have received, but whether a horse should be punished to get third in a small race is a matter of opinion. We have seen prominent jockeys let their mounts drop back from fourth oi- fifth to nearly last at the finish of a race when they found they were beaten, but the recent action by the stewards suggests they will have to be much more careful in future.”

Disdain Training Well. L. G. Morris says Disdain has settled down well in her new home and is training along nicely. No definite plans have been made for her next racing, but she cannot complain of her 7.4 in the Auckland Railway Handicap. Those who saw the racing at Riccarton would not care to support Surmount against her over six at a difference of 131 b with Disdain at her best which she is likely to be at Auckland if her present improvement continues.

Lot of Money Dropped. Mr W. R. Kemball (formerly of Masterton) disposed of half a dozen of his younger horses at the recent Melbourne Cup week sales, and on three offspring of Beau Pere whom he bought at the Trentham sales, he dropped a lot of money. The Beau Pere — Curtsey filly, named Benzonia, for whom he paid 650gns last January, was quit at 300 gins, and the Beau Pere — Slack Line filly, named Billie, for whom he had paid 400gns, was sold at only half that figure. Show Queen, a year older full-sister to Benzonia, brought 160gns, which was lOgns less than she originally cost Mr Kemball the January before last. To these losses must, of course, be added the cost of upkeep and training from the date of original purchase.

Round Up’s Form. After Round Up had won the St Andrew’s Handicap at Ellerslie on Monday the connections of the horse were asked to explain the horse’s reversal of form as compared with the first day. The stewards unanimously decided to accept the explanation given as entirely satisfactory.

Paddy the Rip. After having raced successfully under the care of the Takanini trainer, F. Smith, Paddy the Rip has been transferred to F. R. Foster’s stable in Pukekohe. Paddy the Rip is a seven-year-old chestnut gelding by Whirlwind from Danae and is owned by Mr B. Myers. He had his first race in Pukekohe last March and this season he has won rapid promotion from novice to open company. In his second start last season, Paddy the Rip ran third in Whangarei and his first win was achieved in the Maiden Plate at Avondale on September 17. On the second day he won the Spring Handicap and has since won the Hack Cup in Paeroa and the second division of the Gordon Handicap at Ellerslie, which was his fourth successive victory. To date he has won five races and his earnings total £935. When he ran unplaced in the Ngataranga Handicap on Monday it was the first time he had missed a place in 11 starts, *