RACING NOTES

Evening Star, Issue 20134, 26 March 1929, Page 12

RACING NOTES

, :* ■'> [By Sr. Claih.]

GALLOPS March 30.—Tuapeka County J.C. March 30, April I.—Wairarapa R.C. March 30, April I.—Feilding J.C. March 30, April I.—Auckland R.C. March 30, April 1, 2.—Riverton R.C, April I.—Beaumont R.C. April I.—Waipukurau J.C. April I.—Kumara R.C. April 1, 2.—Canterbury J.C. April 4.—Westland R.C. April 6.—Middleinarch Races. April 6. —Grey mouth J'.C. April 6, 10.—Avondale J.C, April 10.—Reefton J.C. April 12, 13.—Masterton R.C. April 18, 20.—Whangarei R.C. April 19, 20.—Hawke's Bay J.C. April 26, 27.—Nelson J.C. April 27.—Amherley R.C. April 27, 29.—Waikato R.C.

The recent flood did little or no damage at Wingatni, further than placing the plough track out of commission for a few days. Nearly all the horses engaged at Riverton remained in Southland after the Invercargill Meeting last week, and Booster, Royal Saxon, and Francolin, who are to race at Riccarton next week, leave to-morrow morning. Booster, who will be ridden in the Great Easter Handicap by A. E. Ellis, would have been much better for' a race at Invercargill last week. During tho flood it was not possible to give him any fast work on the Wingatni track, and lie put on some condition. He was sprinted five furlongs on the grass this morning. Had ho had a race into him he would have had a royal chance in the Easter, but the last furlong may find him out. He will he in charge of Fred Shaw on this trip, as D. P. Wilson lias Overhaul and Black Duke racing at Riverton, and goes south to-morrow to oversee their final work.

'lhat one-time good horse lloseday, whose name appears in the acceptance lists for tho Lawrence and Beaumont Meetings, broke down on Saturday morning, and tho race tracks have now in all probability seen the last of him. Royal Saxon goes north in charge of George Feilding, who informed the writer this morning that it is not yet finally decided who will ride him in next Monday’s race. This horse,_ on his Invercargill form, must be given a chance in the Easter, and is right at the top of his form now. It is reported from Invercargill that the English mare Celerity IT., who was sore after the Southland Cup last Wednesday, has broken down; hence her non-acceptance in tho Riverton Cup. She is to be sent home to her owner’s place at Otautau. The South Otago Trotting Club appointed one of their stewards to look after the Press room at its meeting on Saturday, and Mr Doggart carried out these duties excellently, supplying the information promptly. His attentions were appreciated by the reporters present. The pony Little Queen easily held Solanum over five furlongs in 66 3-ssoc. The former will do her Easter racing at the Lawrence and Beaumont Meetings, where she will be ridden by the apprentice D. M. Kerr. She is a speedy little filly, but inclined to be flighty at the barrier. Francolin and Blue Metal were spun out at Wingatui this morning over live furlongs on tho inside grass track, and the former was going much the better when the post was reached in 65 2-sscc. Francolin appears to thrive on plenty of work, and the race she had at Invercargill has done her good. Tembronoy was too good for Uintah over a mile run on the same track in linin 47 3-ssec, Tembroney looks better for his racing at Invercargill, and the track at Riverton will suit him much better than last Thursday’s going did. His only engagement on the opening day at Riverton is in the Cup, but the field looks a little too rich for him to have much chance.

It is reported that there will bo a dearth of cross-country riders at Riverton, and this fact had something to do with the poor acceptance for the Great Western Steeplechase, to be run on Saturday. Mackie and Kerr were injured at tho Invercargill Meeting last week, and yesterday Morning H. Anderton got hurt when a young horse jolted him on to a gate at Wingatui.

There were two double winners at the South Otago Trotting Club’s Meeting on Saturday, Imperial Bir.gen, who won the Crescent Handicap and the principal race on the programme, and Ambition, who won the saddle race for nnboppled trotters and tho Owaka Handicap. The latter was only a jog for her two opponents made a poor showing, and Ambition only had to go 4.50 1-5 to win by a dozen lengths over thirteen furlongs.

TROTS March 30.—Takaka T.C. March 30, April I.—Hawera T.C. March 30, April 3.—N.Z. Metropolitan T.C. April 6.—Taranaki T.C. April 11, .13.—Wanganui T.C. April 13.—Cheviot T.C. April 20.—Te Aroha T.C. April 20.—Ashburton T.C, May 4.—Cambridge T.C. May 9, 11.—Forbury Bark T.C. May 18.—Oamaru T.C. June 1, 3. —Hawke’s Bay T.C. June !, 3. —Canterbury Park T.C. Juno B. —Ashburton T.C. June 22, 24. —Auckland T.C. REMINDERS

March 27.—Canterbury J. Club acceptances for minor events due.

After the Invercargill Trotting Club’s Meeting a patron of J. Henderson’s stable priced Country King, but on being informed that it would take £I,OOO to buy the John Dillon—Country Queen gelding, no business resulted. By winrung the mile saddle trot at Invercargill on Thursday in 2min 19see on a dead track Country King showed ho has both stamina and pace, and tho price asked for him was not at all out of reason.

Tho South Otago Trotting Club was very generously treated by wellwishers for its meeting on Saturday, and no fewer than five good trophies were competed for, including three gold-mounted whips. The Gore reinsmau, J. Walsh, secured two of these when lie steered Imperial Bingen home in the Crescent and South Otago Trotting Cup races. The Milton trainer, A. M'Leocl, won the other.

It is reported that the Invercargill Trotting Club made a profit of between £3OO and £4OO over its meeting. This club, one of the last in the dominion to receive a totnlisator permit, has made very rapid strides, and is now in a strong financial position. Next season it is likely that the classes of all the races will he tightened up. This should improve both tho class of horse engaged and tho standard of racing. Cytheria does not stay well yet. In the mile saddle race at Invercargill she lost probably about 2sec at the start by running out from the rails when tho signal to go was given. She quickly made up this lost ground, and at the end of half a mile looked to be the best of good things, but over tho last two furlongs she was stopping badly, and when Country King passed her at the home turn she was well beaten. Tho prospects of an exciting finish in tho Invercargill Harness Trot last Thursday were spoiled when John Logan, who was just in front of Larsen Ellegro, and Sunfire ns they swung into the straight, suddenly ran out wide and collided with Sunfire. The latter had travelled very fast over the previous two furlongs,* and was going rip on the outside of the leaders, while John Logan was going well all the way. As it was Ellegro only beat Larsen b ( v a neck, and with these other two also in the finish it looked like being a really good one. Up to the time of the accident tho race was a very interesting one. the front division being well bunched all the way.

When Kapuna ran in the Lincoln Steeplechase in August, 1927, and was certain to have either won or run second to Passin' Through until lie made a mistake two fences from home, he carried 9.51- in a classy field. It will he remembered that Passin’ Through fell at the last fence in this race, and Tula, who was nearly a furlong behind Passin’ Through and Kapuna when the latter tossed out, was left to win easily from Vice-Grand and Peter Maxwell, both ex-Grand National Steeplechase winners. In the Great Western Steeplechase to be run at Riverton next Saturday afternoon Kapuna was handicapped at 9.2 in a very weak field compared to the field he "met at Riccarton that afternoon. Since his return to the tracks Kapuna has been working well, and, though Nylotis is easily the best jumper in commission in the South Island at the present time, Mr Pierce set him a great task to give a horse like Kapuna 371 b over three miles. Perhaps it was fortunate for Nylotis that Kapuna has not accepted. The Riverton fences are not as big as they used to he, and the going in between the fences is good. When this course included a couple of road doubles and galloping in four different paddocks, it did not suit a hard-pulling horse like Kapuna, but to-day it is different, a fid the Riverton steeplechase course now suits any horse that can jump. Kapuna has been paid up for in the Waiau Steeplechase, in which he has top weight, and for Fred Shaw this horse up to the present has been one of his very few unlucky purchases.