TURF-TOPICS

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 4, Issue 193, 15 December 1941, Page 8

TURF-TOPICS

A WITHDRAWAL The Buzzer, an Auckland Cup winner, and much fancied for this year's big event at Ellerslie, has been withdrawn from all engagements at the meeting. BEAU VITE'S THIRD Asked if lie had any excuse to make for Beau Vitc's defeat in the Melbourne Cup, trainer Frank McGrath said "If Skipton and Son of Aurous Star had not started Beau Vite would have wen." MONTE CRISTO UNLUCKY It is reported from Sydney that Monte Cristo was for a fortune" to win the Kensington Handicap, in which he finished sixth. He was chopped out at the start and was actually the last horse to enter the straight. In the last hundred yards he put in a phenomenal run, but was knocked against the rails and nearly fell. CHANGE OF STABLES Sharmin and Frustration owned by Mr Geo. Gardiner at Tc Arolia, have been transferred from R. H. Martin's stable at Matamata to 11. Dulieu at New Plymouth. When training Royal Secret for the same owner, Dulieu had more than a fair measure of success. LADY'S HACK The black Philamor gelding, Philemup will no longer grace the racing tracks and he has been given awav as) a lady's hack. He has been a distinct disappointment since his two year old days when he displayed promise above the average. UNDER A CLOUD Iceland Spar who ran poor races at the Canterbury Spring Meeting after being one of the carl}' favourites for the New Zealand Cup, is troubled with one of his legs, and he is doing light exercise. No hoiiilay plans arc being made for him In the meantime. KING REY RECOVERING When King Rev met with an accident whilst schooling prior to the Wellington Spring Meeting, where it was intended to race him in the steeplechase event, his recovery was considered doubtful. He is now moving about and is apparently sound, and his trainer, 11. li. Martin, is hopeful that he will soon be racing again.

RAILWAY HORSE UNSOUND Brazen Bold is sore and causing his trainer some anxiety, so much so that H. Gray stated a few days ago! that, unless the horse recovered quickly, he would hesitate to continue his preparation. Brazen Bolil is a pre-post fancy for the Railway Handicap, but his chances of fulfilling his engagement arc not regarded very hopefully. He has developed a knee weakness. MAKING STEADY PROGRESS H. N*. Wiggins is making steady progress from the injuries he received in the fall sustained at the Wellington Spring Meeting. He is still in hospital at Wellington and he is not likely to resume riding till late in the racing season. A NICE WIN Mr J. J. Kitson, husband of the owner of Skipton the Melbourne Cup winner, who made a present of the colt to his wife, admitted after the event that he had landed his biggest turf win. "I backed him to win £8000," he said with a broad smile. OFFER FOR LLANDAFF Last week-end Mr A. D. Potter received a four-figure offer from Australia for the sprinter Llandaff, but he replied that the horse was not for sale. Llandaff has won five of the ten races he has contested. OLD BILL'S GOOD EFFORT Although beaten into second place,. Old Bill, one of the favourites for the Auckland Cup, put up a good performance when he carried in the Bolton Handicap at the \Yoo<lville meeting. Two oilier Chip candidates. Yogi (third), and Khurju (unplaced), were also in the race, hut all were comfortably beaten by Mr (r. AL- (Illrrie's posterity ueiding Dynasty, who was nicely placed in the handicap at 7.S and Avas In receipt of 32'.b from Old Bill. 1 his was Dynasty's first win this season, but a week ago he was second !<* Ketua in the Manchester Handicap ul Feilding.

AUCKLAND CUP AND RAILWAY Early favourites for the Auckland Cup are Beau Leon, Lou Rosa, Yogi, Lambourn and Old Bill, while for the Railway Handicap the most fancied arc Llandaff, Route March, Bronwen. Burra Sahib and Premature .

SUNNY KNIGHT Sunny Knight lias taken g'real benefit from the spell he had in the late winter and has come back better than ever. He won both open sprints at Levin last month in convincing stj'le and he should be an excellent prospect for a big sprint during the holidays. POOR JUDGMENT The ride on Skipton, the winner of the last Melbourne Cup was offered first to 11. Badger, then to J. Purtell and J. McLoud and declin-< ed by -each. The Sydney lightweight, W. Cook, was engaged on the eve of the race. LIMITED TIME At the Woodville meeting the candidates were paraded in the saddling paddock for ten minutes before entering the birdcage where they stayed only the brief space of two minutes before executing their preliminaries. SIR BEAU AT ELLERSLIE On the Wanganui tracks Sir Beau i by Beau Pere, is executing very sat- j isfactory work. It is thought that the objective oT his party be one of the mile events at Ellerslie. IMPROVING WITH RACING The Hnwke's Bay owned Lambourn is reported to have definitely improved by liis efforts at Trentham nnd Riccarton, and is highly regarded in Hastings as an Auckland Cup prospect. A LITTLE INCONSISTENT After winning a sprint event at Feilding Premature was highly faneied in the Flying Handicap at Woodville. Not well served at the starting barrier she failed to get to the leaders at any stage. In the matter of speed Premature is admittedly brilliant, and may do better at Ellerslie next week. BURRA SAHIB Since winning a sprint handicap at Woodville Burra Sahib has come into favour for the: Auckland Railway Handicap. His time for the six furlongs 1.14 2-5 sees, does not^make him a "really good thing" for Ellerslie, where the distance is .gener ally traversed in about 1.12. MORE TROUBLE In the running of the Canterbury Cup Kentucky broke a blood vessel, and this discounted any winning chance he may have had at Ellerslie. Word is now to hand to the effect that he is not likely to race for same time owing to injuries received in a short bout with Croupier. A FIRST FAVOURITE The position of first favourite for the Auckland Railway Handicap is still held by Mr A. D. Potter's Llandaff, who in respect to her weight 7.13 is considered to be the pick of the handicap. Llandaff, however, is best suited to a' firm track, and it is therefore generally believed that if there be rain on Christmas night or Boxing Day, the entrant will'be withdrawn. Therefore it may be said that Llantlaff's winning chance depends upon the weather conditions