TOPICS OF THE TURF

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Volume 58, Issue 274, 20 December 1929, Page 3

TOPICS OF THE TURF

(By "The Squire.")

JOTTINGS DAY BY DAY,

The victory of Tea Taster in the Trial Hack at the Egmont fixture yesterday adds half a stone to liis weight in the Taihoa Handic-ap, at AVaipukurau, on Boxmg Daj'. Tea Taster is the property of AJr J. H. AlacDonald. president of the Ashhurst Racing Club. He was sired by Tea Tray from the Australian-bred mare Graceful. C * * Acceptances for the Auckland Cup and Eailway Handicap should see tlie light to-morrow. There were a dozen starters m the former event lasb Boxing Day, 16 going out to do battle in the sprint event. * * * Alr S. J. Barrett, owner of Count Cavour, who passed through here yesterday, greatly favours the cliances of the gelding in the Auckland Cup, as lie avers that the son of Solferino and Bon Bord was never better than he is at tlie present, and witli his light inipost, wlien compared with what he has previously c-arried in the event, he will be going on with the business wlii'e others will be wishing the job was finlshed. * * * The acceptances received bv the iYai pukurau Joekev Club last nigbt ivere well up to tlie standard of preyious vears. Out of 119 nommations listed 89 have niade good. Given liue weather it appears as if the country club will wind up on Boxing Day witli a successful re-union. * * * The inclement climate played havoc with the two-days' venture of the Egmont Racing CJub, from the speculative point of observation, for when compared with the investments registered at a similar fixture last season a drop of L13,U95 was shown. + * * The success of Gosliawk at the Egmont meeting yesterday was the first that has come his way since he was operated on for wind trouble some time back. TJio Australian-bred gelding did nofc have much to settle in his conquest, as there were only a brace opposed to him in the Waimate Handicap. Gosliawk was a good stakeearner for trainer-owner J. Af. Cauieron last season. his seven essays producrng three wins and a second, liis last three wins being registered m sequence. * * *

Referring to the absurd names hestowed upon racehorses. an English sporting writer remarks tliat ill-named ectuines rarely succeed. It does not niatter in that direction, as that has n r. bearing on the cases of ridiculous ncmenclature that some owners bestow upon their horses. * * * About the worst-named liorse in training at the present time is ."Haven't tbe Eoggiest." ■* * * The writer states that in Australia the naming of racehorses is an improvement on that in England from the apt point of consideration. He might have added tliat the nomenclature given to Thoroughbreds in New Zealand, generally speaking, is very appropriate from the lineage matter of observation.

There is a bnsy time ahead of sporting folk, for during the coming week there will be eleven meetings. However, as far as local sports are concerned, their attentions will be most likely focused on the district fixture, the Summer meeting of the Waipukurau Jockey Club, while witli locallyowned and trained horses in action at Awapuni and Ellerslie interest will in all probahility be also extended to those fixtures. * * * In reference to the sale (to Mr Trautwein) of Chide for 6000 guineas it was stated by a Svdney writer tliat the highest price paid for a gelding- in Australia was 3200 guineas for Star d'Or. Over 40 years ago Afr E. G. Brodribb paid 4600 guineas for tbe gelding Titan, tlien tbe cliampion two-year-old of Australia. In slieer value, based on purcliasing power, £4600 in tliose days was about equivalent to £10,000 now. Gloainng, it is understood, could have been solcl for £10,000. but a veterinary certificate of soundness was not at tlie time forthcoming. No doubt Pliar Lap could liave beeu sold for £10,000 before the race for the Afelbourne Cup. * * * The wealtbv Aga Ivlian has been a successful brecder and owner, and this year for the first time beaded tlie list of winning owners in England. But the Indian potentate's luck is not always good. Some years ago he paid tbe rec-ord price of 17,000 guineas for a yearling from the National Stud. The horse was called Feridoon. He did no good 011 the raeecourse and was recently sold in France for 13 guineas. * * Sydncy papers now to liand show tliat Star God was responsible for a surprise victory when be defeated The Banker in the Warwick Handicap on Hecember 7. Star God is considered to have a good chance of playing his part well in tbe decision of the Summer Cup at Randwick on Boxing Day.