CURRENT TOPICS FROM STABLE AND COURSE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 1 March 1941, Page 3

CURRENT TOPICS FROM STABLE AND COURSE

A Good Move

(BY

"THE GRAFTER.”)

It is understood that Mr C. F. Hartland, stipendiary steward at the Dunedin Cup meeting, requested a rider to lengthen his stirrup leathers by three holes. Mr Hartland is worthy of praise for his action, and would confer a benefit on racing and reduce the risk of accident if he used his authority more frequently in the same direction. Far too many young riders adopt the sit-on-the-heels, cramped seat and so reduce control of their mounts. They get left at the post because they ride on the reins and so fail to give a horse its head and the necessary freedom to jump away at the rise iof the barrier. The starter gets the blame, and not the rider.

The late Mr H. Piper frequently compelled riders to loosen the reins instead of holding them with a tight grip tended to check a horse when the barrier rose, writes '•Sentinel" in the -Otago Daily Times.” A bump or a stumble generally drops the short leather rider, and the seat can also be blamed for the far too frequent galloping on other horses. The trainers are mostly to blame because they allow apprentices to adopt a dangerous seat. To bring about a much-to-be-desired improvement it is suggested that the stipendiary stewards should occasionally attend during training operations and note if young riders are using a seat likely to prove dangerous to themselves and,others during the course of a race. This would be preferable to making an alteration in the birdcage and compelling a change of seat to which a rider has become accustomed. The best riders ever seen in New Zealand did not ride as short as some budding Archers do at present, and the length of leather adopted by Derrit, Leeley. Emerson, Tommy and Walter Buddicombe. Percy White, Billy Sharpe. McCombe, R. King, R. Hatch, F. E. Jones, A. Oliver, and other highly capable horsemen should be a good guide to those now learning the business. Carterton Races at Clareville. The railway Department announcement giving particulars of special train arrangements for the forthcoming race meeting at Clareville will be found in the advertisement columns of this issue. A Notable Double. The recent Dunedin meeting was a memorable one for Mr E. Hay, Pigeon Bay, Akaroa, who won the Champagne Stakes with Palfrey and the Hazlett Memorial Cup with Doria. Palfrey, who is by Mans Pal from Vcnnachar. is a half-brbther to Scratchmere Scar and Bellaghy, had shown promise al the Dunedin Christmas meeting, when he was twice placed. He is the first representative of his sire to win a race of this kind. He is an upstanding colt of good lines and free action and he should be heard from again soon.

Doria had previously won the McLean Stakes and two handicap races at the Wingatui course, while al Riccarton her successes have included the Welcome Stakes and Middle Park Plate. With Greek Shepherd, Mr Hay won the Great Northern Derby and St. Leger.

Royal Chief. According to an tmofl'iqinl watchholder, the Jarnos Hazlett Gold Cup at the Dunedin meeting was cut out at a solid pace. The first half-mile was run in 50 2-ssec, and the second half in 48 3-sscc. This is a shade faster than the official time, but the different angle from which the timing took place would more than account for the difference. Attention is drawn to the timing because in some quarters Royal Chief seems to be regarded as a back number. He proved brilliant enough to give away a start and then run Doria to a neck at the end of half a mile inside 49sec. It would probably be wiser to recognise the fact that when at her best Doria takes some beating. Her, winning form includes the Stonyhurst. Handicap, won with 8.6 in Imin 37 3-5: sec. Royal Chief is still a good horse, and a snapshot of the finish of his last race shows that there was very little between him and the winner.

Mounting Up. High Caste, with £29.075 to his credit, is fourteenth on the list of Australian and New Zealand stake winners. His Futurity success took him past Cetigne, Spearfelt. Trivalve, The Hawk and. Manfred. Those just above him arc Carbine £29,626, Mollison £30.829. David £31,410, and Nightmarch £32,116 10s. These he may head before the season closes, but it wjll be more difficult to supplant Peter Pan, £34,938. in ninth place. Bristling With Cup Winners. The Riverton Cup field this Easter should fairly bristle with cup winners. Among the likely candidates there are Mona's Song, winner of the Invercargill Cup and the Southland Cup, Royal Lancer, winner of the Wairio Cup, Doubleack, winner of the Wyndham Cup and the Dunedin Cup. Waitoru, winner of the Winton Cup. Sparkle, winner of the 1940 Dunedin Cup. and Wild Career, winner of tw. Riverton Cups.

Thompson Handicap. The following arc the nominations for the Thompson Handicap, of £lOOO. one mile, at the Wellington meeting:— Monte Cristo. Doria. King’s Toast. Vcldcttc. Enrich, Siglow, Sir Crusoe. Kalhbella, Don't Forget, The Ring, Trench Fight. Amigo. Sparkle. Doubleack. Olympus, Pirate King. Hearth. Belle Cane. Kentucky, Serenata. Siegmund, Lambourn. Gold Dale. White Rajah. Augment.

Trentham Autumn Handicap. The nominations for the Autumn Handicap, of £750, one mile and three furlongs, at the Wellington meeting are:—Siglow. The Ring, Trench Fight. Sparkle. Doubleack. Belle Cane. Sanction. Piastre, Serenata. Siegmund, Wardress, Lambourn. Dainty Sue. Boatsong, Happy Ending. Augment. Hunting Cat.

M.Z. St. Lecjer Stakes. Entries have been received as follows for the N.Z. St. Leger Stakes, of £5OO, one mile and three-quarters, to be run at Trentham: —Kindergarten, Doria, The Monarch, Don't Forget, Lambourn, Kraal.