SPORTING

Press, Volume LXXIX, Issue 23970, 10 June 1943, Page 7

SPORTING

TURF GOSSIP Good Jumping Garonne has returned to work and he is quite sound after a long absence. He jumped the pony hurdles yesterday, giving a lead to two novices, who also shaped satisfactorily. They were Synthetic and Beefeater. The last-named, who is new to the training track, is F. A. Nelson's latest venture, and he is a promising, gelding, six years old, by Lord Warden —Colueur de Rose, by Solferino —Elysium. Change of Quarters Mybel, who is the latest addition to A. McMuilan’s stable, is to be tried as a steeplechaser. She was sent over three brush fences yesterday and performed well enough to encourage the idea that she will pay her way over country. Promising Jumper The Southland gelding, Waitoru, is now at Riccarton, where he is having a spell for a few weeks. His trainer, R. E. McLellan, contemplates racing Sing Sing at the Manawatu meeting next week, and then will bring tire mare to Riccarton, where she and Waitoru will be prepared for Trentham and then the Grand National meeting. In the meantime. C, G. Humphries has Waitoru under his care. He showed promise as a hurdler when raced at Wingatui. Resumed Scottish Dale and Burberry, who have had a spell for a month, have been brought back by F. D. Jones. They will soon be ready to take on serious galloping, and they may be racing again in August. Riding Well The jockey, J, McFarlane, has made arrangements to move from the Waikato to Trentham, where he will be attached to H. Telford’s stable. McFarlane has been associated with recent successes of Gay Lally in the Auckland district. Improving Hurdler Town Survey, the winner of the Great Northern Hurdles, is a six-year-old gelding by Surveyor from Marbletown, by Archiestown from Lady Marble, by Marble Arch. Prior to this success his form over hurdles had not been of a high standard, but he was helped by' his improved jumping, which was excellent throughout. He stays well and more wins for him seem assured, while he may be a top-notch performer among the jumpers before the close of the winter campaign. Favourable Debut Mountain Fox was making his, first appearance in this role when lie won the Wanganui Century Hurdles. He did not have a specially good field to beat, but he shaped in most encouraging style and he looks likely to compensate in this branch of racing for his- long list of failures on the flat since he won the Feilding Cup last year. He is a six-year-old gelding by Foxbridge from Abbey Queen, and he carries the colours of the New Plymouth owner, Mr A. Lile, who raced the successful steeplechaser, Omeo, some years ago. Unlucky Imperium, who was at one time trained . t Riccarton, was very unlucky in the Century Hurdles at the Wanganui meeting, held at Marton. After being kept well back in the early stages, he was still giving the leaders a long, start turning for home, where his chance looked hopeless. However, when he put in his claim he raced .past the beaten lot very easily and just failed to catch Mountain Fox before the winning post was reached. Imperium’s turn may come soon. Busy Day Gay Fox, a six-year-old gelding by Foxbridge, was set an unusual task at Marton, where he ran fourth in the Century Hurdles as a preliminary to starting, two races later, in the Wanganui Steeplechase, in which he was third. His form in the hurdle race was patchy, but he was always handy In the steeplechase. fvpular Result lanover had a very popular win in tuc Wanganui Steeplechase. He is owned in the district and he was ridden by W. J. McDowell, who has made only fleeting appearances in the saddle in the last three years, though he was attached to L. Knapp’s stable at Awapuni when Hanover began his education. The jockey had to take stringent methods to get his weight down to 9-5. Although he is a brilliant jumper, Hanover is not an easy horse to ride and McDowell was bleeding at the nose on returning to scale. No wa farmer,'he is not often seen at race meetings, but he hopes to get more riding in the near future, in preparation for a visit to Riccarton for the Grand National meeting in August. TROTTING NOTES Royal Worthy In the Mayfield Handicap at Ashburton on Monday, Royal Worthy was driven by M. C. McTlgue, and though he won nicely, he did not give his best display. Turning into the straight, he broke, but the long stretch gave him a chance to find his feet again and beat the remainder for speed. A brilliant trotter, Royal Worthy has caused his owner-trainer, A. J. Wilson. 9 lot of trouble through developing a splint which has prevented him from starting in more than one race Death of Sportsman Mr “Tommy” Clare, who was one of those killed in the Central Otago railway smash, was a son of the late John Clare, of Omakau, and for many years was well known, both in the Otago Central and Oamaru districts as an owner, driver, and trainer of light harness horses. He was a popular figure, and a very clever blacksmith, specialising in shoeing racehorses. Handicapping Suggestion , . ~ J The special committee of the Auckland Owners and Trainers’ Association has drawn up a scale providing for the separating of sprint from distance races when the faster classes are reached, This means that sprinters will not be penalised at two miles for winning a mile or mile and a quarter race, and winners of distance races will not alter their sprint marks. The suggested table aims at concessions for horses which have reached the tightest lines, when competing in races of reasonably loose limits, the idea being to give the best class horses more opportunities to race. Payment of Dividends Holders of tickets on winners at the Ashburton meeting may secure their dividends To-day or To-morrcw, at the Totalisator Branch of the N.Z. Metropolltan Trotting Club. -6