Turf Topics

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 2, Issue 144, 8 April 1940, Page 8

Turf Topics

A BIG DIVIDEND One of the surprises expressed by sportsmen, especially those who saw him win at Tauranga last month was the splendid dividend resultant 011 the win of Pirate King in j the Railway Handicap at Avondaie, his supporters receiving the splendid return of over a quarter of a century. He Avar; turned out in tiptop form, and for a horse of his calibre the price was surprisingly liberal. COLOURS RESUMED The yellow" jacket and black cap carried for many years with great distinction by the racing candidates owned by the late Geo. G. Stead, of Christchurch, and later by those raced by Messrs Wilfred and G. L. Stead, but which for a considerable time have not been carried on New Zealand or Australian courses, are to be again put into use. Messrs Alec and Robert, sons of the late Mr Wilfred Stead, of Ilawke's Bay, have again registered the family colours, and they intend to purchase highly bred mares to be raced by them prior to grazing the luxuriant paddocks of the Sasanoft' sUU] property. I- ■ .. .. STABLE ACCESSORIES The Auckland sportsman,, Mr T. Impey, evidently intends to keep up his racing team to full strength. Last week he effected the purchase of two 3 r earling colts, which are full brothers to the winners Bronwen and Llandaff respectively. . MOULDING INTO FORM

Good reports are to hand from Ellerslie regarding that very proficient steeplechaser, All Irish. Although he has only been re-com-missioned a few Aveeks he ran a splendid race to finish in fourth place at the Auckland Autumn meeting, and went one better by running third at Avondale to Enjoyment and High Delight on Wednesday last. VERY SEVERE PRUNING The Wairarapa Racing Club, which holds meetings at New Year and Easter, recently decided to cut down the issu'i of complimentary tickets from 4000 to 700. But this drastic pruning of the list did not in any way make for betterment, for in the matter of attendance the meeting was the worst registered for years, the totalisator turnover showed a very large decrease, and the club experienced a loss. It would still 1 appear that the issue of complimentary tickets makes for popularity, while the cutting down of the issue under this heading may have quite the opposite effect. j I A SPLENDID OFFER Although Bcaulivrc has not yet had the luck to win a race in Australia. his owner,, Mr E. Harnett, of Wellington, has already refused ilie offer of 5000 guineas for the Beau Pere colt, not that he does not consider the offer a sufficiently large one* but merely because he Avishc.s to still maintain the pleasure of racing "a good one" himself. HIGH CLASS CANDIDATES Tt has long been an established fact that the Hastings trainer, J. JcfFerd,, has very little time for moderates, and even prefers to have under his charge horses of class that arc capable of running prominently in good open company. Last week he scored with Serennta at Avondale and at Easter with Areas at Riccartou.

PERHAPS A BARGAIN Trainer Hugh Scally, late of Whangarci, is now locritcd at Hawern. where he lias no Jess than 15 thoroughbreds in commission. He recently purchased for £75 the Australian bred Valroe, which as n yearling cost his previous owner (SCO guineas.