TOPICS OF THE TURF

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Volume 58, Issue 142, 18 July 1929, Page 3

TOPICS OF THE TURF

(By "The Squire.")

JOTTINGS DAY BY DAY.

A South Island owner recently askecl Ytr 'Ttod"- McKenzie, of Palmerston Xovth, to put a price on Rioghail, the two-yeairold son of Grandcourt and Cleasanta. The quote, a thousand guineas, stopped iurtlier business in connection with the subject. In the Gaelic language lliogliail means ltoyal. The owner of that consistent performer, Arrow Lad, ihformed ine the otlier day that he lias done well during his retirement. He certainly should liave for lie was liot turned out to cut liis own grass, but lias been fed and well attended during liis lay olf, and Mr Collins who, by the way, was represented at Trentham by Mister Gamp, is quite sanguine next season Arrow Lad wili furtker justify the opinion that be is above the average. ijc sjc A coming two-year-old balf-sister ta hira, by Arausio, is, like her relative, under the guidance of J. Sullivan at Woodville. * * ❖ "All's well tliat ends well," and tlie bother anent the right descent _ of Prinee Humpbrey, on the dam's side, lias been satisfactoriiy settled, bearing out wliat the one-time Hawke's Bay resident, Mr R. Tait, asserted, that he was foaled by Princess Hazel, and not by Sbeplierd' s Princess. Presumably ihe only person wbo will not be satislied is "the Sydnev owner wbo gave a big price at tlie recent yearling saies for a colt out of Sbepherd's Princess, on the assumption that he was purchasing a relative of Prince Humphrey. * * * The shares of Sbepherd's Princess will certainly go down, as lier son, Cragsman, who was sold at tlie same time as Prince Humplirey, lias turned out an absolute duffer at the racing industry. * * :'- Maunga has been allotted_ nine pounds niore in the Grand National Steeplechase tlian he carried to victorv in the Julv Steeplechase, at Trentham, last week, when lie was on the minimum. The last time that Haunga contested in "the Grand National Steeplechase was in the 192728 term, wlien, with lOst. olb., he finished outside of a place. * * * A few days prior to that performance he wo'n tlie Homebush Steeplechase, at tlie Christchurch Hunt Club meeting, when carrying top weight, 11st. 91b. * * Glendowie, who was one of the failures at Trentham last week, has been shipped to Christchurch for the purpose of contesting at the Grand National meeting. The Auckland owned gelding got well beaten in the l'irst Haek Steeplechase, a fate that also overtook him in the July Steeplechase, about fliree miles, in wliich he carried lOst 121b. In the Grand National Steeplechase he lias had lOst 131b placed against his name, with 3£ miles tc travel. * * * When Stormy won the Second Division of the Canterbury Cup, at the Canterbury (Sydnev) meeting recently, he was not greatly fancied by the majority of backers, as he went out a liberal qnotation, occupying the position of fourth favourite. His supporters had a close call, as he just managed ro succeed by a :head from the hot favourite, Talparaiso. * * * Amongst those competing against Stormy was the one-time Taradale owned and trained Green Grocer, who was one of tlie forlorn hopes in area of speculation. * * * At the end of tlie week information will be available as to those equines who have niade the first payments in connection with tlie Grand National Steeplechase, Grand National Hurdles and Winter Cup. * * * Prior to winning the Y.R.C. Grand National Hurdle race, at Flemington (Victoria) Kentle scored in the Mayne Jumpers' Flat race. He carried top weight and lieat a big lot of competitcrs easily. Like his 'half-brother, imorist, he evfdenfly has got a lot of pace, as the latter has won several events on the flat in the Dominion and last week, at Trentham, succceeded over the obstacles.

* * . * On many occasions it has occured in New Zealand and Australia that a jockey lias riden the majority of winr.ers at a day's racing, but the wreatli must certainly he accorded to the Queensland jockey, W. Thomas, who .>t, a recent lixture in Queensland had thc winning mount in each of the scven events that constituted the afternoon's programme. He has been nssociated with racing for about ten vears, and during that time has ridden 900 winners in Queensland. * * * In the greater number of instances racing ciubs are anxious to extend tbeir membersliip, hut evidently such is. not the case with tlie executive of the Queensland Turf Club, which has _ a limit of 800 memhers. It is not giving satisfactiou to the waiting list. which i> considerablv over a lumdred, and agitation is being made to increase the membersliip to 1000. * * * Probahly the cheap rate at which members can attend tlie meetings has a great deal to do with the matteiy as the club liolds 30 meetings a year, the entrance fee of members being £10 10s, with an amiual. subscription of £'! 3s, whiclf entitles a member to acbuission and three ladies' tickets for each gatliering.