Mercury (Hobart, Tas. : 1860 - 1954), Thursday 18 December 1941, page 10


.THAT sportsmen in England have the utmost faith in the ;

ability of their country to overcome the enemy is emphasised by the high prices paid at the bloodstock sales at New-

market in October. "Some truly astonishing prices were rea- , lised," says "Rapier" in the "Sporting and Dramatic News," "and whatever the causes, the effects may make a profound impression on dealers in bloodstock throughout the world."

" A MERICAN Impressions, I hope, will be

favourable. They will appreciate two facts; one, that we in England visw the future with optimism, and two, that there ls no lack of good blood here-at a price. News of thc sales will reach the Argentine, and (I'll bet) France and Germany. I hope, In the case of France, they will take courage from the fact that our racehorses are not being slaughtered for food. I hope, In the case of Germany, the prices realised and the obvious inferences relating thereto, will give them a pain in the neck."

Features of the sales were thc 14,000 gns. paid for the brood mare Carpet Slipper, who was bought for Ireland, and the 8.200 gns. paid on behalf of the Aga Khan fori a yearling brother to Sun Castle. Carpet Slipper was bred at.thc National Stud and ls by Phalaris from Simon's Shoes.

"jVTENTION of France and Germany

."-*. reminds that when the Ger-mans over-ran France they "acquired" most of the famous French horses. News of some of them ls given in the American "Blood Horse" from reports In the German Press. Eclair au Chocolat, thc best three-year-old of the 1937 season, and Tricameron, a win-ner in England and on the Continent, were sent to the Gradltz Stud. The German Army breeding establishment at Altefeld se-cured Antonym, by Vatout (sire of Mr. S. Green's Actor), who was a winner In Eng-land, Franco, and Belgium; Mirza II. (Blenhelm-Mumtaz Mahal), and Bafur, a promis-ing sire in Poland. The Isarland Stud in Bavaria gained the stallions Biribí (by Ra-belais), Bokbul (by Blandford), and many excellent brood mares. Including Honey Sweet (dam of Eclair au Chocolat).

* * * *

A FTER having begun thc

season on the wrong leg, so to speak, three of Hobart's most ex-perienced cricketers-Cliff Jeffrey, Owen Burrows, and Sid Pittman-have run into form in thc past two or three weeks. Jeffrey has made 104 and 79 fn successive innings, and took four wic-kets for 27 in thc last match. Saving

Ms team from collapse with each In-nings, Burrows broke a lean spell with 41 not out last Saturday week, and 81 not out last Saturday. A fortnight ago Pittman made. 53, his liest score for ai long time, and followed it last Saturday with four wickets for 50, lils most suc-cessful holding of thc season.

. * * . *

A RECENT visitor to Tasmania

was "Mick" Byron, who. with his brother "Jerry," was a popular candi-date in steer riding contests at Tasmanian shows before the war. Both have lived much of their life among cattle, and arc expert horsemen. "Mick" Bvron Is now on a Royal Australian Air Force station In Victoria, where he plays cricket with A. Pearsall, the former A" grade cricketer and Tasmanian League footballer. There are four turf wickets In the town near thc R.A.A.F. station, and the residents look to the Air Force men to provide teams for the local competition.

"Mick" Byron, discussing the question of sport In war-time, said that if a vote were taken, thc big majority of the men on his station would favour Hs continu-ance. They enjoyed reading about the competitions at home, and followed horse racing keenly. They considered sport

necessary for relaxation.

. ' * * *

AUSTRALIAN rules football has

been accorded its fair share of popularity In Malaya, as was shown in a letter written home recently by Sgt. P. C. Hay. of the R.A.A.F. Phil was formerlv a member of the Clemes College Old Bovs* Football Club In Hobart, and of the Der-went Rowing Club. He played football last year in Launceston with the Old Scotch College team. He recently was chosen for tho combined R.A.A.F. side against thc A.I.F. in Malaya. Thc' latter were select-ed from the Army Medical Corpi. and de-feated the R.A.A.F. by about four goals, the standard being high. Thc A.I.F. team was captained by Harold Ball, formerly of the Melbourne Football Club, and included eood players from other Australian States. The R.A.A.F. was under the leadership of

Darrell !Sproule, formerly of the Cananore leam In Hobart, and included Stan Jailer, who used to play with North Adelaide, and was a former vice-captain of South Aus-' tralla, Barry Brown, Olympic middle dis-tance runner, and numerous other wellknown Australians.

« .' ? * * «

its position at thc top of the T.C.A. premiership list this season, Glenorchy has much for which to thank Fred Hay. The team owes its sue-' cess almost entirely to the work ol three or four men-other competent players have failed to strike their ? ? _

true form. Hay ls prominent among the

stalwarts.

Preyloûsly consid-ered a useful batsman of the solid type and an . average wicket-keeper, he has made a marked advance In both branches of the game. Hla batting, particularly, has im-proved out of sight. Nearly three years ago he made his first century in senior cricket- 109 not out. He had to wait until

last Saturday for his second, an Invaluable

113 not out.

This score raised his average for the sea-son to 56-280 runs for five dismissals- and placed him third on the list, to M. Combes and Rodwell. .

? . » .. * .

A DOPTION of thc suggestion that ."? daylight caving be introduced in Australia would do "much to solve the problem which confronts the Hobart and Launceston Greyhound Racing Clubs con-sequent on the introduction of lighting re-strictions. Putting the clock back even by an hour would enable lt to continue early evening meetings for several months. The firm basis on which thc sport has been es-tablished was strikingly evidenced last Sat-urday, when at'less than 24 hours' notice a successful meeting was conducted be-tween 6 p.m. and 8.15 p.m.

The - club has net decided definitely to abandon the Hobart £1,000, the richest race of Its, kind .in .the Commonwealth, and is awaiting events before coming to a decision. Adoption of the principle of daylight sav-ing would enable tho carnival to be held, and Judging-.from the results of previous years a considerable sum would accrue for patriotic purposes. Daylight meetings wi li be held on Boxing Day and the following day next week.