TOPICS OF THE TURF

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Volume 59, Issue 34, 12 March 1930, Page 3

TOPICS OF THE TURF

(By "The Squire.")

JOTT1NGS ' DAY BY DAY.

J. H. Jefferd and W. Griffith, with tive and two horses, respectively, left Hastings this morning for Trentham. * * * The Dannevirke jockey, M. Gilmore, has been engaged to ride several con testants at Trentham, amongst them being Hunting Day in the Thompson Handicap. ^ * It was under J. H. Jefferd, the trainer of Hunting Day. that Gilmore, who is a son of Mrs A. Gilmore, ownertrainer of Taranto and Moepai, served his apprenticeship. * ♦ * The weights just issued for the Sydney Gold Cup will prove of interest to sports in the Dominion, on account of the number of New Zealand-bred horses who have come under the handicapper's notice. more. particularly Nightmarc/h and Chide. * * * The former heads the page as regards the distribution of poundage in the event with lOst 31b, while Chide is on the 9st 91b line. * * * In the case of Nightmavch it is fitteen pounds more than he carried -sYhen !ie annexed the Melbourne Cup, while Chide is set to carry thirty-three pourds in excess of what was on his back when victory was achieved by him in the New Zealand Cup. * * * Taking into consideration the weights carried by the pair in their respective two mile victories, it looks as if Chide is not too well treated at being withiu eight pounds of Nightmarch, who, by winning the Melbourne Cup with two pounds over weight-for-age, proved what a champion he is, and by doing so ranks as one of the quartette of four-year-olds who won the Melbourne Cup carrying in excess of the standard impost. The other trio who were responsihle for a similar performance were Glencoe, Patron and Windbag. * ■* * Chide, when successful in the New ' Zealand Cup, was carrying twenty-four pounds less than would have been the case had the conditions attached to. the event been framed on the weight-for-age^ distribution of poundage. * * * Since the Sydney Cup was first com peted for in 1866 but upon one occasion has over 10 stone been borne to victory, the equine to whom that credit, is due being The Barb (popularly known as John Tait's Black Demon), who, when he won his second Sydney Cup in 1869, had lOst. 8lb. in the saddle. - ♦ * * It is quite a space of years since the first New Zealand-bred competitor was victorious in the race, this occurring wlien Carbine, as a three-year-old, won in 1899 with 9 stone, and the following season again scored with 9st. 91b. * * *

Since then no representative of the Land of the Maori and Moa has proved a conqueror, although Areh Marell secpred third place m 1919, dnd two years later on acted as runner-up to Eurythmic, a position also oceupied by Limerick three years ago. * * * The Sydney Cup is worth winning; as the owner of the winner receives £4200, a gold cup valued at £200, and a ' sweepstake of £30 from each acceptor. * * * Second- and third horses are well pyp-. vided for, as their respective owners -receive £1200 and £600. * * * Ma'yhap, in view of the rich weight-for-age events that are to be decidel at Randwick during the Autumn gathering of the Australian Jackey Club, Nightmarch and Chide may not see the post for the Sydney Cup. . * * * The events to be competecl for under the' standard weights at the four days fixture are : — The Autumn Stakes, £2500, 14 miles ; All Aged Stakes, £3000, 1 mile, and Cumberland Stakes, £2000, 1| miles. * ♦ * In the Doncaster Handicap, Nightmarch has been allotted lOst 41b, Amounis occupying the leading position with a pound more. . * * * The Cvent, whieh will be run over 1 mile, has £3000 attached, of which the winner receives £2,100. * * ♦ It will come up for decision on the same afternoon as the Autumn Stakes, so that Nightmarch will consequently not be in evidence if he is destined to be a contestant in the weight-for-age race. * * * When in Sydney in the Spring, Nightmarch was successful in the Epsom Handicap, run over the same distance as the Doncaster when he carried 9st. 41b. or a stone less than has been placed against his name in the Doncaster, so that the likelihood of his being an absentee does not seem remote. * * * None of the placed horses, Keddar, Freehold and Cimabue, in the contest for the Raihvay Handicap at the Autumn meeting of the Wellington Racing Clnb, are engaged in the event that will be decided at Trentham on Saturday, the top weiglit being held by Meadow Lark with 9st- 51b., he having to give the next on the page, . The Raider, sixteen pounds. * * * It looks as if Richfield, 7st. 131b., will be preferred to either of them. * * * When Richfield last met Meadow Lark, which was in the Telegraph Handicap at Trentham, he was in receipt of sixteen pounds from him and then only went down 'by half a head. * * * On Saturday Meadow Lark, under a higher scale of weights, will have to allow Richfield twenty pounds and in the Telegraph it was a sure thing that Meadow Lark did not give Richfield a four pounds' beating.