TURF NEWS AND NOTES

Wairarapa Times-Age, 15 November 1939, Page 9

TURF NEWS AND NOTES

CURRENT TOPICS FROM STABLE AND COURSE New Zealand and Australian Horse Names DUPLICATIONS SHOULD BE AVOIDED

(BY

"CARBINE.”)

The duplication of the names of New Zealand and Australian racehorses has caused considerable confusion in the past, and lately the position has been further aggravated. For instance, last week at the Melbourne blood-stock sale, one of the fillies submitted was a two-year-old named Asia, claiming Ringmaster as sire and Jewel of Asia as dam. This filly is a half sister to Asia who ran unsuccessfully in the Stonyhurst Handicap at the Riccarton Racing carnival on Saturday. It is certainly time that the bodies who control racing in the Dominion and the Commonwealth held a conference for the purpose of bringing to and end a state of affairs which has led to confusion. One has only to realise the awkward position wh.ch would arise if a horse from New Zealand and another from Australia were to compete in the same race. As there are plenty of names available for racehorses other than duplications it seems absurd to allow the present system to exist.

A Cheap Horse. Beaulivre has proved himself a cheap horse at 2900 guineas, as he has won over £3OOO, and with ordinary luck should add to his list of wins. Something Rare. It is somewhat rare, if not a record, in the way of handicap to find a convincing winner such as Dark Flight raised 11b for his win in the Avon Handicap. Taking weight off one horse is equivalent to putting it on another, but this does not apply when horses are running at a light scale of weights. Duncannon’s Bruised Foot. With a run of three consecutive wins to his credit Duncannon went out favourite for the Cressy Handicap. He went to the front approaching the home turn and came on looking a winner, but was beaten a furlong from home. Duncannon was suffering from a bruised foot, and the fact did not help him to see out a race on hard going. A Fine Record. Knight Commander completed a fine run of four wins in a row when he outstayed a goqd field in the Otaio Plate, the leading event for the hacks at the C.J.C. meeting and of a value sufficient in itself to remove a horse from hack ranks. This Nightmarch six-year-old must be accepted as one of the most improved horses about and he should not be troubled to make the step to open victories. Arctic King to be Spelled. Arctic King’s breakdown in the New Zealand Cup last Saturday was due to a tendon going, not to a burst foot, as at first reported. He was in a bad way over the weekend, and it is doubtful if he will ever race again. His ownertrainer, W. J. Wood, sent him home on Tuesday, and when he recovers sufficiently will turn him out for a long spell. Once An Unlucky Pacer. Once known as the unluckiest pacer in New Zealand because of his succession of minor placings, Blair Athol on Friday set a new world's race record by pacing a mile and a-hali m 3.11 3-5

at Addington. This horse has been a model of consistency and his performance was meritorious, the race being run in a strong wind.

Bred by the late Mr F. -Stanley, of Christchurch, Blair Athol now races under the colours of his son. Mr B. T. Stanley, as also does Janeworthy, a sprinter. His dam was Molly Pointer, who had no performances on the race track. In the 1937'38 season. S. A. Edwards drove him to victory in three of his 19 races. Blair Athol was out of a place in only three starts; in his last 11 outings that reason he failed to earn place-money once only. ‘•He was an unlucky horse before he was sent to me to train," said R. J. Humphreys, when asked if he had found anything constitutionally wrong with Blair Athol to account for his run of placings. Blair Athol was transferred to Humphrey's stable a year ago, since when he has won five races. After winning the Gold Cup Handicap at the Wellington meeting, he was turned lout and was placed in training again just before the August meeting. Blair Athol is good all round and a very game horse when he is right, said Humphreys.

Although Blair Athol created a world’s race record, his trainer believed that Cantata would have beaten him if she had been able to get clear in the straight. The mare hurt a leg some months ago and, after a rest, is now returning to form. Humphreys has a very high opinion of Cantata. He also trained the former champion, Harold Logan, who holds the world's two miles race record of 4.12 2-5. Two Disappointments. Trench Fight and Paper Slipper ran well enough in their previous engagements at the New Zealand Cup meeting to suggest better results from them at the end of the week, but both failed badly on Saturday, and it is , probable that they may not be asked to do much more racing. An Unlucky Horse. Rabble was kicked at the post in his. second engagement at Trentham, and had to be eased up on his return. He suffered a similar mishap at the start of the Metropolitan Handicap on . Saturday, and was very lame on returning. Well Bred Yogi. Yogi, winner of the Stonyhurst ' Handicap at the C.J.C. meeting on Saturday. is a brother to Peerless. The dam Prestige was purchased at the . Westmere dispersal sale in 1937 by her present owner, Mr F. Ormond, of Hastings, for 900 guineas. She then had Kobi at foot, and was believed to be in foal to Beau Pere, but missed, and last season she was mated with Bulandshar. Prestige is by Limond from Homage by Absurd from Eulogy, and in the little racing she had she won a race in Sydney. Kobi, a stable mate of Yogi, was also bred by his owner. Mr Ormond. He is a three-year-old colt by Bulandshar from Lucinette, by Martian from Lady Lucy. The Ring at Last. The Ring, who has threatened to win a race for some time, succeeded in the Meanee Hack Handicap at the Napier Park meeting. This was her first success for over twelve months, her last win being at the Dannevirke Hunt meeting, in July, of last year. The Ring is by Siegfried, as are Lindrum and Classical who finished second and third respectively. The Ring also gave her apprentice jockey, L. S. Deeley, his first winning ride. Raeburn in Form. Raeburn was responsible for a spectacular win in the Seymour Hack Handicap at Riccarton on Saturday, and now looks like performing up to his early promise. Purchased as a yearling for 300 guineas by Mr O. F. Watson, of Christchurch, he was given to D. O'Connor to train as a two-year-old. and won one race. He promised so well as a three-year-old that he was taken by O'Connor to Melbourne, but failed to strike form on the trip. On his return, he was given a long spell, and was sent by Mr J. H. Watson, who leased him from his brother, to Mrs A. McDonald to train. He failed in his early races, but made amends by a win at Trentham. and his success on Saturday followed a third placing on the third day. Now that Raeburn has become more docile than when he was at Riccarton. ho should win some good races, as there is no doubt about his ability both as a galloper and stayer. He can claim some sound breeding, as he is by Colossus from Shuffler, by Shambles from Absurdity, by Absurd. Good Gallops. The best half-mile at Hawera yesterday was credited to Friesland (Sexton) and Kilometre (Ryan), who recorded 4!) 1-5. Both horses finished full of running. with Friesland working in dashing style, reminiscent of two seasons ago. when he had few superiors over a mile in the Dominion.'He promises to regain his best form. A brother to

Lickem, Kilometre is a vastly improved colt who may be seen to advantage over a middle distance before the season is far advanced.

Waikato Rehandicaps. Mr W. P. Russell has declared the following rehandicaps for the first day of the Waikato Racing Club’s meeting next Saturday:—Waimai Hack Hurdles. —Ureklaw, 41b. to 9.12; Hautapu Hack —Sebrof, 31b. to 8.13, Meadow, 91b to 8.10, Perillus, 51b to 7.12; Waikato Cup —Birthday Boy, 51b to 8.1; Claudelands Handicap.—Orate, Gib to 9.12, Ivy Willonyx, 131 b to 8.6; Tamahere Stakes. —Night Beam. 61b to 8.13; Cambridge Handicap.—Orate, 51b to 9.11. Carnival Week Betting. For the four days’ racing and three days’ trotting at Christchurch during Carnival Week, the totalisator handled £419.686, which was £1047 more than the investments for the previous November, and only £740 below the total of 1929. which was the highest since 1924.

Prior to Saturday, the concluding day of the fixtures, speculation was well maintained, but what promised to be a record turnover for the period referred to was negatived by a decline of £7252 at Riccarton the last day. The largest carnival week pool recorded was in the “boom" year 1920 the total reaching £599,217. There was a gradual falling off until in 1928. to £370,020. The £400.000 mark was passed in 1929, followed by decreases in the depression years, the smallest pool, £196.315, being recorded in 1932. The aggregate cost of betting to the public was £70,821. The Government, by its taxes, collected £39,345. represented by totalisator tax of £20,984. and dividend tax of £18,361. Apart from admission charges and other incidentals, those who went racing' contributed £31,476 to the funds of the clubs.

In addition to betting and entertainment taxes, the Government also levied £2BB 10s from owners as its share of the stakes. For the seven days, £28,850 in stakes was raced for. the Canterbury Jockey Chib giving £16.300 for its four days meeting, and the New Zealand Metropolitan Trotting Club’s stakes wore £l2 550. FIXTURES. November 18 —Levin. November 18 —Southland. November 18. 20 —Waikato. November 25—Ashburton. November 25 —Otaki Maori. November 25. 27 —Auckland. December 2—Kurow. December 9—Hororata. December 9. 11 —Woodville. December 10 —Waipa. December 23, 2G. 27 —Manawatu December 2G —Waipukurau. December 2G—Westland. December 26. 27 —Dunedin. December 26, 27 —Taranaki. December 2G, 28, January 1. 2—Auckland. December 30, January I—Wairarapa. December 30, January I—Greymouth. December 30, January I—Hawke's1 —Hawke's Bay.