TRACK & STABLE

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20070, 17 October 1939, Page 3

TRACK & STABLE

PROWESS OF ELLIS IN NO WAY IMPAIRED RODE THREE WINNERS HURDLER’S SCHOOL By “Trenton” L. J. Ellis demonstrated at Timaru on Saturday that his spell from the saddle has not in any way impaired his ability. Of the five races for jockeys who ride on the flat he won three, and in another failed only by a head to make his total four. Barrier Practice Royal Stuart, Kinariki, Waikavva and Fairy Foe were given barrier practice yesterday morning. The first named three jumped out smartly, but Fairy Fox was very fractious and unless she mends her ways will cause some trouble at the start on Thursday. Hurdlers School Whetu and Queen’s Dream schooled in company over a round of hurdles at the Park during the week-end. If anything, Queen’s Dream was going the better at the end and, although she bled slightly afterwards, she appeared quite normal and evidently the bleeding was not serious. N.Z. Cup Candidates . The field for the Ranfurly Handicap at Wingatui a week ago included several New Zealand Cup candidates, in Passaform, who dead-heated with Night Wings, and Spartan, who finished third. Others were Thermidor, Settlement. Swordstick, Made Money and Balmenter, who were .unplaced, although Swordstick and Thermidor were second and third respectively at Timaru on Saturday. In the past, the race which at this meeting was known as the Ranfurly Handicap, was the Mosgiel Handicap, and that race supplied the sensational Nevv Zealand Cup winner, Steeton.

Sleeton stole the Now Zealand Cup, getting a great break after going a mile. It was probably the most remarkable Cup in history, as a winner never stole such-a march on any previous field saddled up for the race. One of the most remarkable races that ever took place at Wingatui was when Pampero and Canteen were the only runners in the Mosgiel Handicap.. It was a great race that proved big lields are not necessary to provide a battle royal on the turf. They went stride for stride all the way and came on up the straight locked together. A dingdong fighting finish resulted in Pampero beating Canteen by a nose. Before going to Riccarton Pampero was credited with a great trial over a mile and three-quarters for the New Zealand Cup, and J. McCombe was again to have the mount. Pampero unfortunately struck himself when working at Riccarton two or three days before th,£- meeting and did -not reach the post. He was almost certain to have beaten Canteen. McCombe got the mount on Canteen and won, but was lucky, as J. Taggart had to lead and run with him for several yards at the start. Canteen had a kink. In the Ranfurly Handicap Canteen, Bombardo and Sirius comprised the field. Canteen was regarded as a certainty, but when L. G. King woke him with the whip he swerved in behind Bombardo, and the latter won by half a dozen lengths. It will be seen that New Zealand Cup winners can be found at the Dunedin spring meeting* and this year's winner, Passaform, may® have to be considered. Price No Object Mr. Alan Cooper, the sensational young man of the Australian turf, astonished the racing work in 1936 when he purchased Talking for £19,000, the highest price ever paid in Australia for a racehorse. Talking had won the A.J.C. Derby and finished third in the Caulfield Cup. For his new owner he won the V.R.C. Derby and other races, returning in stakes before he broke down just over £SOOO in compensation for the huge outlay. Soon afterwards Mr. Cooper took a fancy to the New Zealand horse Mala, a three-year-okl, which the Woodville trainer H. E. Russell had taken to Sydney. Mala had returned about half his purchase-money when he met with a fatal accident in the Doomben Cup in Brisbane. Though Mr. Cooper later announced his intention of giving up his racing stable and sold his horses, he was soon back in the sport. His purchase of Gold Salute is the climax to another spectacular bid to buy a champion at any price. He was one of the principal legatees under the will of the late Mr. J. Brown, the Newcastle coal magnate, who was known as “Baron” Brown.