TURF-TOPICS

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 4, Issue 309, 23 May 1941, Page 8

TURF-TOPICS

THE WAIKATO MEETING Contesting at the Waikato meeting were several candidates from southern districts, and their presence was an added attraction especially in view of the majority of them being engaged at the Great Northern meeting at Ellerslie next month. Streamline, winner of the Waikato Hurdles, was turned out by G. Ridgway (who also rode him to victory) is in very forwarcl racing condition. Carrying 11.1 he got over the, mile and three-quarters in 3min 14sccs, notwithstanding the fact that tho back stretch was in a cutting up condition. Last year he accounted for the Great Northern Hurdles, and on June 2 should be running on prominently. By Day Comet—Sailor's Hope, he is a true stayer and has a powerful conformation. Arctic Dawn,. also owned by Mi J. H. Gregg, of Canterbury', is a three year colt by Defoe—Aurora Boreal is. He is a top grader in point of conformation and quality. His second to Esquire in the Horotiu Handicap, and victory in the Farewell Handicap, denotes, that he may be hard to beat at Ellerslie. Ruling Star, by Chief Ruler— Pharos, the runner-up nl the Hack andi Hunters' Steeplechase and who registered a third in the Waikato Steeples, is a lightly moulded thoroughbred, and not of the true crosscountry type. He has plenty of pace, but will be under a disadvantage under heavy weights on muddy tracks. The four year old Battlegain by Gains! Court—Conflicting, is a truly splendid type r-f a first flighter. He is up to any weight,, has plenty of speed His victory in the Otorohanga Hack was certainly full of merit. Kentucky, winner of the Canterbury Easter Handicap, competed in the President's Handicap, but could not go the pace set by the veteran, King Rey. On Monday lie scored a Victory in a somewhat weak field in the first division of the Te Rapa Handicap. Bridegroom, winner of tlu> Te Rapa Steeples, can be counted one of the most improved performers in the Dominion. He is from the Knapp stable at Awapuni, and after his stable companion Riotous had made play for over two miles, lie put in a splendid run entering the straight and scored very convincingly.

The heavily backed Circular Note, by Paper Money—Sister Radius, with five recent wins to his credit, me.t more. than his match in Gold Money Song. The latter jumped out from the barrier quickly, and when he does this there are perhaps few sprinters in New Zealand that, can catch him up to six furlongs. The four year old Black Majesty, by Defoe—Lucky Boy, was produced by the Hastings trainer, S. Green, in splendid condition. In the Otorohanga Hack he had the field well beaten a long way from home, and on the second day he scored a meritorious win in the Gordon ton Handicap. Taken altogether the southern contingent comprise a very nice lot, which on the score of condition rank especially high. LIKELY LIGHTWEIGHT Although only a low horses actually weighted on the minimum have Won the Great Northern Hurdles— Stanchion (who carried lib overweight) is the solitary case in the last 25 years—/i rough half of th;? winners have come from the nine-stone-odd seel ion. One in this group this year who will make early appeal is Esperaiice Bay, who has been awarded 9.8 and has more than once shown himself belter than his handicappers have assessed him. Esper- ? ance Bay has won six events over hurdles during the last two seasons, three of them at Trent ham and three of them at liiccarton, and he has also proved himself in highweight events at Trentham and Manawatu. His general record indicates that he does br?st on the metropolitan courses. He has succeeded up to two miles )C.J.G Sydenham Hurdles), and he has. only to manage the right-handed way of going to Avorry the best of the, southerners next month should his connections undertake the trip they have In view.

CHANGE. OF STABLE The sjirinter Trilliarcli has joined the team presided over by C. Carmont at Te Rap a. This mentor is very patient, and may in due course get the new addition into the pink of form. A BREAK DOWN A good performer in the Wellington district this season, Little Robin, broke doAvn very badly last week, and this probably means hi? good-bye to the racing track.

ONE TO REMEMBER A very nice type of colt, the three year old Arctic Dawn, was made a warm favourite for the - Farewell Hack, and it was a revelation to see him smother the opposition over the concluding stages of the race. He was running'sixth at the home turn, where he lost a little ground, but Wiggins then whipped him to the outside, and Arctic Dawn ran past the leaders in the last fifty yards as though they were standing still. A. JENKINS AND KING REY King Rey, ay ho won the President's Handicap at Te Rapa on Saturday, and is now one of the favourites for the Great Northern Hurdles, in which he has the handy weight of 10.3, is to be ridden in his Ellerslie engagement by the versatile horseman, Ashley Jenkins. A very fit horse and a first-class rider makes a great combination. RAN A FINE RACE Although beaten by King Rey in the chief flat race at the Wailcato meeting, the Night Raid gelding, The Cardinal r ran a slashing race, and it is evident that J. W. Cathro has him at the top of his form again. The chestnut is not the best of beginners, but he sticks on in his races, and with ordinary luck should get a good stake before the winter is out, CONSISTENT HURDLER In Gold Spot Mrs E,. M. Sloane passesses a hurdler who promises to reach a high grade. In four starts over the small fences he has won three times, and his easy win in t>2 Hamilton Hurdles on Monday has drawn attention to his prospects in . the Great' Northern - Hurdles, in which, with the 71b penalty he has incurred, he still has the light impost of 9.11. It may not have been a very strong field he disposed of on Monday, but he won by naif a dozen lengths and could", have made the margin more,. NOT ENCOURAGING The effort of All Irish in the Waikato Steeplechase on Monday was not encouraging to those who fancied the prospects of the Illumination fielding in the. Great Northern. He jumped as dashingly as ever, but under his steadier of 12.11 he never really looked like taking part, in the finish. In the Great Northern he has 71b less to carry, but the journey is fully a mile further, and his prospects of winning this important event are not over bright at the moment. WINNERS REHANDICAPPED Re,handicaps for the Auckland winter meeting have been announc- , cd as follows: — Great Northern Hurdles : Streamline, 71b, making 11.5; Gold Soot. , 71b making 9.11. Great Northern Steeples : Bridegroom, 71b making 10.3. } Cornwall Handicap : Kentucky. Gib making 9.0. j Esquire will not be rehandicapued , for the Cornwall Handicap. Dark Rose Avill not be rehandieapped for the Great Northern . Steeples. Surveyor-General Avill not be rej handicapped for the Cornwall Handicap. f RACING FIXTURES I , MAY ; 24—Foxton Raoing Club i 31—Napier Park Racing Club i 31—Wanganui Jockey Club 31— Dunedin Jcckey Club "