Turf Topics

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 2, Issue 109, 12 January 1940, Page 8

Turf Topics

(By Zetland)

: CENTENNIAL CUP HANDICAPS With an entry oT ?>{) for the Wellington Centennial Cup and the prob al)ility of a field of ,30 contestants this £:{()<)() event should he quite one of the best of the 3 939-1! MO season, \*a tu rally for such, an important race the handicaps have been very carefully considered, and it is pleasing to note that no candidate lias im any ay ay been unduly weighted. Royal Chief, 9.(5, heads the list, I his season lie Avon the RandAvick Plate of tAvo miles, in Sydney, and shortly after his return to Canterbury he prevailed in the Canterbury Cup. one mile and a half. With all his weight his chance must be considered in a favourable light, for he is certainly a class performer. Catalogue 9.:*, may be just a little on the down grade, or should have raced more prominently at the Auck land meeting recently. Beaupartir 8.11 should be nearly at his best, and even now is in the favourite division. Centrepoisc S.lO and Sly Fox 8.7, are Hunting Song representatives, Avhich do not take kindly to hard tracks, and it must be remembered that the Trentham course in January is usually very firm indeed. Malagigi 8.9 represents the J. T. Jamieson Sydney stable, and is being sent over especially to contest this race, in which he will be ridden by M. McCarten, and Avill therefore be AA r ell served on the scorc of | horsemanship, Cheval de Volec 8.5, is asked to carry lOLbs-more than his Auckland Cup allotment, but as he has plenty of size his chance will not be materially affected on this account. Beau Vite, 8.7, consequent upon his defeat of Beaulivre at Ellerslic, aa*ill be largely fancied, and may start first favourite. Royevrus, 8.2 is nicely assessed, but is another that does not relish a hard track.

A shower of rain on the morning of the race would greatly enhance his chance. Old Bill is undergoing a special preparation for the event. Gladynev, 7.11 lias Avon twice over a mile and a quarter, but is an improving candidate that should get the further two furlongs. Beau Repaire 7.9 and Fils de Vaals should run well, and of the lesser lights Tidewaiter, Doubledeck, and Mona's Song may be the best. The favourite division prior to the acceptances being listed may comprise Royal Chief, Beau Vite, Beaupartir, and Malagigi. TE HERO AT BARRIER The Heroic representative, To Hero, owned at Te Awamutu, was one of the high lights as a oarrier performer at the Kensington (Sydney) meeting last week. It was fully expected by his trainer that it was more than probable he would refuse to leave the starting barrier with the field. In order to ensure a proper get away the services of a sheep dog were enlisted. The latter dul his part but Te Hero simply propped and turned round to face the enemy. The trainer was lined £5 for the (log incident, and Te Hero is lo return to these shores next week. He is one that may well be termed "a determined jibber." Many years ago there were in New Zealand expert horsemen who effectively used a light rope apparatus in the mode of a rupper, but arranged also to pass through the rings of the bridle bit. By this means jibbers were quickly cured ol their waywardness. If this had been used on Te Hero, and there is no Racing Conference Tide against its use. he would p.mbabljy have won many more races, and incidentally some thousands of pounds of stake money.

A SALE BARGAIN Some months ago, and :ifler he had won the Champion Uack Handicap at the Waikato meeting, ISTr Bridgens, president, of Ihe Auckland Trotting Club, offered to nnvie • > pre sent of the Gaj r ShjVid representative to the Hons G. R. Hunter aid P. C. Webb. These sportsmen preferred not to accept him as a gift, but to seal a bargain contributed one shilling each, and Gay Rebel duly entered into the new ownership. At the WesMand meeting last week he won one .of the principal events, se 's yet another to be included in the 'b;'. of rale ba--gn ; r>s. 'Co;.tinv.'-d 'it fojt of ne\*. col ro 0