SCRATCHINGS FOR TRENTHAM

Dominion, Volume 32, Issue 144, 14 March 1939, Page 13

SCRATCHINGS FOR TRENTHAM

Wotan’s Sister Looks Useful FORM IN TARANAKI Best Of Southerners For Wellington Meeting The following scratchings have been received for the Wellington autumn meeting:— Stern Chase, at 3T.0 p.m. yesterday lor the Tinakori Hack Handicap. Spartan and Master Hotspur at J.aU p.m. yesterday for all engagements. Vadanoe at 10 a.in. on March 10 toi a engagements. Unlikely Starter.

It is understood that Smoke Screen is an unlikely starter in the r l hornp«ou Handicap on Friday. Up till last weekend D. Marks was experiencing difheulty in securing a suitable rider for him. A Good Performance.

Corato’s performance, in winning the concluding event at New Plymouth on Saturday tinder 9.10 was particularly good for a three-year-old. Steady rain had fallen throughout the day and by the time this race wa« run the track had cut up considerably and was very greasy. Corato who on this occasion was ridden by B. 'H. Morris, got away smartly and showed brilliant speed to race up to the leader, Gold Petal. He had no sooner dropped Gold Petal than Silver Gift took him on, and he fought back courageously to go on and win easily. Corato i« by Oration, who has sired several smart sprinters, and is a horse who should not have much difficulty in holding his own in open company. An Improved Filly.

One of the most improved horses to graduate from the maiden ranks lately ie Fiancee, who carries the colours of Mr. H. E. Card. Wanganui. She has built up a good deal and her improvement in physique induced many people to suppor. her in the novice handicap at New Llymouth on Saturday. The class she had to deal with was not strong, but she disposed of them with the greatest of ea«e; in fact, her rider treated the opposition as though the filly had no chance of being beaten. His view was correct, for, after waiting till inside the last furlong, she walked past them and won with ease. Fiancee is bred to be pomething more than a sprinter and her performance at Taranaki suggested that she would run a good seven or mile.

Sister to Wotan. Kriemhild, a sister, to Wotan, who had had only two previous etarts, was reserved for the final day of the Taranaki meeting and there was a confident tone about the way she was backed. Had she not 'been ridden into the ground she probably would have won. She and Race Away cleared out from the field, leading by six lengths from the third horse at one stage. Race Away dropped out a furlong from home, leaving Kriemhild to it, but she was caught in the last stride by Fils de Vaals and Mountain Fox in the closest finish of thp meeting. Kriemhild resembles Peter Jackson more than Motan in conformation and is a good type of two-year-old who should win races for the Smith Brother,

Track Too Greasy. . Oratory ran an excellent race in the Taranaki Stakew on Saturday, specially as she has never been able to handle greasy going.

Has a “Knee.” Dawn Star, winner of the maiden event on the opening day at New Plymouth, is a five-year-old chestnut mare by Lord Warden from Gold Dawn, who was a full sister to the consistent performer, Bright Glow. Dawn Star showed much promise when tried three seasons ago, but went wrong. She was paraded last Thursday with an ugly knee, and was above herself in condition, but, she led practically all the way. On Saturday, under handicap conditions, she was the first horse beaten.

Made the Grade. Te Huia left a good impression when he led all the way with 9.9 in a hack race on the first day at Taranaki, and there was plenty of support for him when he took on the open sprinters on Saturday. In this event lie scored an easy win and it was not ail due merely to his ability to handle the greasy track better than his opponents. Te Huia is a lullbrother to Silk Sox, a good hurdler. Te Huia was tried ns a hurdler 12 mouths ago, but was too keen and appeared likely to knock himself about. Like Silk Sox, he may do well on the flat before finally being put to hurdling.

Not Long a Maiden. Among the two-year-olds to make an initial appearance at the Taranaki meeting was Mountain Fox, a brown gelding by Foxbridge from Abbey Dream, carrying the colours of the New Plymouth trainer, R. Barlow. Mountain Fox was hopelessly out of it from the start in the maiden event on the first day, and did remarkably well to finish sixth. On Saturday he took on the two-year-old race, and was beaten by a nose by Fils de Vaals, who has had much more racing experience. Mountain Fox is not likely to remain long a maiden. He is a halfbrother to Abbess of Whitby.

Coming to Trenthain. The Buoyant Bachelor three-year-old, Prime Quality, had only one race at New Plymouth, nnd lost by a neck through being forced out at the home turn, lie is to come to Trantham this with other members of O. Cox’s team, and will contest the highweight event on Friday. His mission on the second day is the champion hack race.

Truck Tied Them Up. The wet surface of the track at New Plymouth on Saturday tied up several horses, including some who have proved themselves capable of handling bad ground. Among them were Cheval de Voice, who could not act at all and practically retired from the Paul Memorial Handicap half a mile from home; and Varimond. who contested the Taranaki Stakes. This long-striding filly was all at sea and, after being bumped back several lengths at the start, she made no showing whatever. * Not Justified. '

There was backing at New Plymouth for The three-year-old filly. .Mazy, in the maiden events, but she did not justify it in cither start, though she was badly away on the first day, losing all chance. Mazy is a three-year-old by Lord Warden from Mazatuko, and is a half-sister to Superex and Mazamareh. ■ She is trained by IV. H. Dwyer at Wanganui for Mr. G. Lupton.

Likely Maiden Winner. , Ghana Lass, a four-year-old half-sister by Kiosk to the smart sprinter Pretty Lass, was placed twice in the maidtn events at Taranaki and is a likely prospect for a win in provincial maiden events. Rain a Blessing.

The rainfall which was fairly general throughout the Dominion at the weekend was a blessing for trainers witli horses engaged at Wellington, and it has also done a good deal for the track at Trentham. Many horses who were inclined to tenderness were beginning to feel the usual strain associated with a prolonged dry spell. Among those who showed immediate improvement in work as soon as

the rain came was Dictate, who galloped a smart seven furlongs trial at Kiccarton on Saturday morning. He is to be ridden in the Thompson Handicap by M. Caddy.

Southern Visitors.

As usual the South Island will be represented by a strong contingent, numbering 21, at the Trentbam meeting this week. Southern critics consider that the best prospects are held by Great Flight in the hack division; Counterblast among the open sprinters; and Moorsotis in the juvenile class. In New Colours.

Clessamur carried the colours of Mr. A. Hile, New Plymouth, when lie raced on the second day of the Taranaki meeting. He will probably be. put to jumping. Mr. Lite formerly owned Omeo, Illuniiuute. Tigerism and Royal Bengal. ■Name Chosen.

Defy is the name that lias been claimed for the three-year-old half-sister by Delov to Bonghal in E. Burgess’ Trentbam s’table. A New Installation.

Among the improvements and altera tions being made at. the Rieearton raeeI'oure is the erection of a new installation for the broadcasting service, which will cost nearly £4OO. It will be for us-e at the Canterbury Jockey Club o’ autumn meeting at Easter.

Argentic’s Form. Argentic, who is close to the top of the weights for the Waimate Cup, has not won a race since November Id. H< tluL won the Metropolitan Handicap '. llll ‘ " in 2.30. His third in the Dunedin Cup in February was followed by a bad I • formance in the D.J.C. Handicap.

Thompson Handicap. Some big weights have been successtul ly carried in the Thompson Handicap. When Waiuku won for the third consecutive vear he carried 10.3. Lorcas won under 9.9 and so did Sasanpf and Arrowsmith. Reremoana won his 6l ’ c 'j cess in the race under 9.8, Gay Cicst an Autopay with 9.4, and Silver Ring with the record burden of 10.0 in IJob. Back to Riding.

F. R. Foster has relinquished training at Pukekohe and intends to confine his activities to riding. Foster, who is now settled at Ellerslie, is a very capable rider both on the flat and over fences, and is not likely to lack' mounts at the coming meetings.

“Melancholy Story.” Mr. G. J. Barton, who recently arrived at Melbourne for Ihe autumn racing, expressed some interesting opinions to an interviewer. The report states: ‘‘Mr. Barton is one of the few New Zealanders who does not consider that Defaulter would beat Ajax. ‘Defaulter is good,’ said MrBarton, ‘but he is not as good as Ajax, who is the best horse over a .short course I have ever seen. I cannot imagine any horse beating him.’ Mr. Barton had rather a melancholy story to tell about racing in the Dominion. Tie said that it made New Zealanders miserable to see Australians buying all the best yearlings at the national sales at Trentbam. The high prices were in the main caused by the competition among the Australians themselves. The action of the Government in preventing money leaving New Zealand is worrying to men with interests outside the Dominion, and Mr. Barton added that unless owners had credits in Australia it was almost impossible to send horses to Australia to race.”

Payment for Riding Work. A. deputation from the New Zealand Jockeys’ Association waited on tjie Auckland branch of the New Zealand Racing Owners, Breeders and Trainers’ Association recently to discuss the question of jockeys who do riding work regularly, but are not given much consideration when it conies to engaging jockeys for race riding. Dr. E. H. B. Milsom, who presided, said the request appeared most reasonable, and expressed the opinion that some measure should be taken whereby jockeys would be paid for riding work. One of the deputation said t,he complaint, was made only in the interest of those lads who never failed to attend tracks to ride work, but on race day were stood aside for other riders. Those who were receiving a fair .share of race riding did not look for other consideration for track services. Members of the owners’ association agreed that something should be done to relieve the position and it was decided to suggest to owners who utilize the .services of jockeys regularly on the track to give the lads a percentage of race riding, or failing that to show some consideration to the riders concerned.

Answers to Correspondents. “T.D.,” Palmcrstpu North; (1) Great Flight. (2) £2/1/6 and £l/3/6. “System,” Pahiatua: 13, 4, 11, 3,4, 4, IA, 10. “Cheval de Voice,” Feilding: De Friend won the Takapnna Cup. Chevfil de Voice was uot in the race. “.Form,” Paremata: (1) £S/S/-. (2) £2/18/6. (3) £7/8/6. (4) £4/2/-. “Stublcmates” : Viracious started in the last race~and was unplaced. © TRENTHAM RACES

The Railways Department’s announcement about the train and fares to the race meeting at Trentham beginning on Friday will be found in the advertising columns of this issue.