TURF NEWS AND NOTES

Wairarapa Times-Age, 6 July 1939, Page 11

TURF NEWS AND NOTES

CURRENT TOPICS FROM STABLE AND COURSE Maha's Outstanding Record HURDLER—SPRINTER—STAYER WON RACES OF ALL DESCRIPTIONS (By “CARBINE”) Perhaps the most remarkable horse that ever raced in Australia, or anywhere else, was Malua. He won sprint races, cups, weight-for-age events, and the Grand National Hurdle race at Flemington. At the stud he was not a great success, but he sired two good horses in Malvolio (Melbourne Cup) and Maluma, who could also sprint and stay. She won in Australia and England. Melua was bred in Tasmania in 1879, and died at Linwood Grange, Victoria, in 1896.

Malua raced for eight years in succession. He was not an idol of the Turf, for he sometimes ran indifferent races. In eight seasons he had only 47 starts, for 12 wins. His busiest season was his last. In that he had 12 starts for two wins. Malua first raced in the name of Bagot. He had three starts at two years for two wins. Excepting at four years, five years, and nine years, he was very sparingly raced, which probably accounted for the fact that he retained his great powers for so long. He showed his most consistent and his greatest form at five years. He had nine starts for three wins, but one of them was the Melbourne Cup. At this meeting the horse demonstrated his extraordinary versatility. Two days after winning the Cup he was beaten by a head in the Flying Stakes, six furlongs, against the best sprinters.

Sold for 500gns. At three years he was sent to Victoria. He was beaten at his first start and at his next won the V.R.C. Yan Yean Stakes, one mile, 7.4. At his next outing he»was unplaced in the 10 furlongs Spring Handicap. This was his last race for Mr T. Reibey. In November, 1882, ,he came into the sale ring in Melbourne and became the property of Mr J. O. Inglis (well known amateur rider) at 500gns. At the same sale his four-year-old brother, Stockwell, was bought by Mr W. Bailey for 660gns. He was unplaced at his first start for Mr Inglis and also at his second, in the Newmarket Handicap won by Tyropean. This was Bagot’s last race at three years. When next he raced it was as Malua, at four years. That season he had eight starts for three wins.

With 7.9 he missed a place in the Caulfield Cup and in three following races. Then, at Flemington in the autumn’, he revealed something of his real class for the first time in his new ownership. Carrying 8.7, and ridden by Ivemy, he was backed down to second favouritism for the great sprint event. Segenhoe was favourite at 3 to 1. Malua won by half a length from the great Queensland colt, Le Grand, Claptrap, and a field of 30 in what was then the fastest time on record, 1.154. Malua was heavily backed by his party. At his next start, 9.7, he was unplaced in the Bourne Handicap won by Soldiei’ Boy. He then easily beat a big field in the Oakleigh Plate at Caulfield carrying 9.7. He was favourite at 2 to 1. Going to South Australia, he won the Adelaide Cup, 13 furlongs, carrying 9st. At that period they had not realised that this brilliant sprinter was also a true stayer. He beat a field of 14 and conceded 391 b to the second horse, Conjecture, a four-year-old mare. Malua had a dazzling late run when at his best that was usually irresistible. He was finely pitched, with fairly short back, strongly ribbed, round barrel, good legs, shoulders and quarters. He had a very deep chest; he was lower in front than most horses of his size.

If Malua’s legs had not given trouble at times, his record would probably have been greater than it was. This would explain why he ran some very bad races. With such an infirmity the horse had to be raced sparingly, and it was a tribute to the skill and resource of his trainer (“Ike” Foulsham) that Malua was so often got to the post thoroughly fit. Personal. Mr Donald Grand, president of the South Canterbury Jockey Club and delegate of that body to the annual meeting of the New Zealand Racing Conference tomorrow will not be able to attend as he is confined to his bed in Sydney, suffering an attack of influenza. Mr Grant was to have sailed last Friday for Wellington, but in his absence the South Canterbury Jockey Club will send Mr C. L. Orbell as its representative to Wellington.

SPORT OF KINGS OVERSEAS PERSONAL AND OTHERWISE. In New York the State Racing Commission is receiving State support in its endeavour to suppress everything in the way of doping. Last month the Senate unanimously passed a Bill which endowed the State Racing Commission to the extent of £3,000 for laboratory facilities for making saliva and drug tests on horses. None of the placed horses in this year's Grand Prix de Paris was men-

tioned as racing prominently at two years cjjd. All the owners of the placed horses, M. Boussae, Baron E. de Rothschild, and R. Lazard, are very substantial supporters of racing and breeding in France. In the Grand Prix of 1938, the Italian champion colt, Nearco. beat Canot, owned by M. Lazard, and Bois Roussel, owned by the Hon. Peter Beatty, who had won the Epsom Derby a month earlier. The winner received 1,152.800 francs, second 150,000 francs, third 100,000 francs, and fourth 50.000 francs. The breeder of the second horse received 50,000 francs, but the breeders’ premium of 100,000 francs for the winner was not paid, as Nearco was not bred in France. RACING FIXTURES July 6. B—Wellington.8—Wellington. July 15 —Waimate District Hunt. July 15—Hawke’s Bay Hunt. July 22 —Rangitikei Hunt. July 22—South Canterbury Hunt. July 29 —Christchurch Hunt. July 29 —Manawatu Hunt. August 8, 10, 12.—Grand National meeting.