’CHASERS SCHOOL

Dominion, Volume 37, Issue 234, 30 June 1944, Page 7

’CHASERS SCHOOL

Khurja Pleases With Valantua

(By

St. Simon.)

.Schooling facilities on the course proper for steeplechasers anil hurdlers were made available at Trenthaiu yesterday, and the action of the Wellington Racing Club in meeting tin.' wishes of visiting trainers was much appreciated by those concernedThe principal work of the morning was a school over live fences by Khurja (Lord) and Valantua (Hawes). Khurja dwelt slightly at the first, the sod wall, but quickly warmed up to bis work and he slightly led Valantua over the remaining obstacles. Both horses worked satisfactorily seeing that it was their first experience of strange fences, and Kburja’s work was a little more impressive than that of bis companion. Classic (Pitman). Captain Star (Waaka) and Bailynain (Dickson) set out to do the same work, but. without any preliminary warming up. Bailynain and Classic both dwelt at the first fence. Bailynain overtook Captain Star two fences later and led to the last, the boards near the three furlongs, where he ran off. leaving Captain Star to complete the task well clear of Classic. Bailynain was later sent over a brush and two hurdles, clearing them in good style. He Is a big five-year-old maiden by Arausio from Flaxen, raced on lease by Mrs. M. Quin, lipper Hutt, and trained by J. Flanagan, and Is a good type for steepleehaslng. • Foxsen and the maiden N’anook Jumped the hurdles on the course proper, but Nanook’s rider lost an iron at the first fence und Foxsen went on to school alone with her companion tailing off some distance behind. Apart from an uncertain jump at the second to last hurdle. Foxsen schooled efficiently. The stablemates Boloyna and Invincible schooled over two hurdles on the Inside course. They slightly ran down the first one. but took the next with the pace on and both pleased tn their work. There was very little galloping on the flat, most horses doing strong pace work on the trial grass or the sand, both tracks having dried out fairly well since Tuesday. The only horse to .be sent against the watch was Poutatau. who ran the last three furlongs of half a mile in 40. Poutatau. who has previously shown some of his best form at Trentham when the going has been soft, looks bright and well. No rider has yet been engaged for him in the Stewards’ Handicap. Macedoine brushed along over half a mile at 15 to the furlong. This mare has seldom looked in better heart than she does at present, and she shows no sign of the lameness which affected her in the autumn shortly after her sale. Among the pace workers who impressed were Regal Night and Epping, who worked two rounds together. Both horses look strong and muscular Epping having thickened out a lot lately. Monetary and his full brother Notary did strong pace work In company. Monetary being more impressive. Chat, heavily bandaged on her near foreleg. w'orked alone on the sand. She was sore when she reached Wellington fro™ Auckland, but appears to have thrown it off and she worked freely enough yesterday. The Waikato-owned hurdler Borak was another to work solidly on the sand at a strong pace. He. too. was bandaged in front, but showed no sign of lameness.

Now at Trentham. Mvnet, who won the Wainul Hurdles nt Napier Park in April, and at Ills next start was beaten half a head by Broiefield in a mile and a quarter hack race at Woodville, Is now under fhe care of W. Higgins at Trentham. Formerly a very lean type and inclined to. waywardness, My net has settled down In his now quarters and is building up in condition. He was schooled during the week and shaped well. He wl-I be ridden in the hack hurdles ou Saturday by A. E. Lord.

Jockey Changes Quartern. The former Riccarton jockey A. Stokes has taken employment with P- Spratt at Brentwood and will be riding at the Wellington meeting. Stokes enjoyed considerable success in the South Island, and can ride at the handy weight of 7.7, so he should not lack opportunities In this district.

Broke a Leg. While riding a rising two-year-old in P, Spratt’s team at Trentham on Wednesday morning Clyde Robinson, an apprentice employed in Spratt's stable, was pinned under the youngster when it reared np and Cell. ißobinson suffered a broken leg and was removed to the Wellington Hospital, where his condition is satisfactory. Irish Chance Hurt. The Manawatu winner Irish Chance will not be competing at the Wellington meetlug a 3 ehe was Injured on the return journey from Awapunt

Still Lazy. When Sedgemere was trained at Hawera he was one of the most lazy workers on the track. He Is now quartered with J. McCauley at Trentham, and still has to be Induced to do the work required of him. He did useful pacework at Trentham yesterday and is in good condition. Sedgemere looks the type that would be better Suited by longer distances than those over which be has been tried up to the present. Visiting Riders. A. E. Lord, Hastings, and S. Green, Hamilton, are the first visiting riders to reach Trentham for the winter meeting, and their services have been freely availed of for riding work. Lord’s mounts next week include Khurja, Captain Star, Mynet, and probably Siglow in the Treutbam Hurdles. Green has been engaged tor Duality and Leigh Hark.

Eased dp. Lord Darnley, who raced consistently through the autumn and early winter for a win, two seconds and two thirds, has been put aside for a few weeks.