DIVOTS

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 70, 9 April 1937, Page 9

DIVOTS

"The Delver")

(Pug by

The Trentham trainer T. R. George brought still another Australian apprentice, W. Doyle, back with him from Sydney. This makes three now in the •stable, and all are said to be capable horsemen. # # # According to a Christchurch report the Chokebore korseman, G. H. Humphries, is making favourable progress from the accident he suft'ered at. the C.J.C. Easter meeting. His broken thigh bone has been set, but he will bP Qut of the saddle for several months. # # # The ex-New Zealand jockey K. Voitre has been a spectator at recent meetings at Melbourne. He is improving slowly and hopes to be back in the saddle again in June or July. # # # , The West Australian jockey E. Peck will return to Pertk after the Manawatu meeting this week, his contract with Mr Currie expiring. Peck has rid1 den a few winners during his stay, but he jwas a little on the heavy side to get a wide variety of mounts. # * # It appears that the report of the demise of Mr F. Ormond' s three-year-old Arausio gelding Karl was, like that regarding Mark Twain, "slighting exaggerated". The injury he sustained probably means that he will never race again, but he has been saved from the bullet, probably to serve as a station sire. # # - # Hutana, winner of the maiden race on the second day at Avondale, is a half-brother to a great sprinter in Awarere. Now that the Ruapapa gelding has struck form he may go on with it, as he is only a four-year-old and has not been over-raced. # # # A good hurdler in Black Marlin made a re-appearance in the hurdle race at Avondale m Saturday. He was never prominent but the race will improve him for important events during the winter. He performed with credit over the sticks last season and should do much better during the coming jumping season. # » # It is the intention of H. Rama to take the Easter Handicap winner Tooley Street to Australia next. month, and the bay gelding will not fulfil his engagements at the "Whangarei meeting. Rama will remain at Melbourne throughout the winter in order to prepare Tooley Street for the spring meetings at Flemington and Caulfield. • # * It was an interesting feature of the C. J.C. Great Easter and Great Autumn Handicaps this year that the dams of the winners are both by the Clanranald horse Masterpiece, oue of the progeny of the famous Stonyhurst stud taproot, Madowla, perhaps the best foundation mare Sir George Clifford ever sequred for his establishment.

H * The Christchurch Press states that Mr A. Louisson has disposed of Lofty, by Honour from Pride, to Mrs W. Richmond, of Hastings, and the gelding is now in J. Shaw's stable. Mr Richmond was a keen follower of racing some years back, and was part-owner of Kilboy when that horse was racing, and also owned St Elma when he won the Grand National Steeplechase in 1918. * • • It was pleasing, • says an exchange, to see Rod. McTavish back on the winning list at Avondale after a lapse of three months from the saddle because of a knee injury sustained in the Railway Handicap at Ellerslie on Boxing Day, when his mount, Tonnerre, came into contact with the course rail. McTavish is one of New Zealand's leadin griders and he gave one of iiis best exhibitions on Tybalt in the final event • on Saturday. • • • Urate's early brilliance, writes "Blandford," will always be a big advantage in sprint events and has been

a decidmg factor in several of his wms this season. This three-year-old made his debut in open company on Saturday at Avondale when he scored an all-the-way win in a smart field of sprinters, including .Iinpasto, Lady Kyra, Golden Sheila, Adalene and Triune. The Oration gelding is exceptionally smart away from- the barrier and many more wins should go down to this improver's credit. # « - • As usual, the Egmont meeting on May 12 and 15 will usher in the jumpiug season. Eor the fixture an excelient programme has been frained and bhe principal jumping races should find leading contenders for the Great Northern Hurdles and Steeples in action. The Egmont Steeplechase (two and a half miles) will carry a stake of £30d and the Adamson Steeples (two miles) on the second day will be wortli £225, wliile tlie Tangahoe Hurdles and ManaWapou Hurdles are both over one mile and a half for a £150 stake. * # * Gay Ta.kic's perl'ormanccs in wmmng Ihe Ohinemuri Cup and Nolan Handicap during recent weeks were outstanding, and the Gay Shield colt should be placed among the best of this season's tliree-year-olds. It was a great pity that Gay Talkie wm not entered for

the distance olassio races, as he has had \ ■ no opportunity of matching strides with the best at weight-for-age. His trainer, I. Tucker, deserves credit for the manner in wMch he has produced Gay Talkie to win on six occasions, while five minor placings bring his total stake earaings to £1665, which should place him jn a very high position- among the season' s leading stake earners. He is not to race again this season. * # # Erndale was responsible for an encouraging performance when he won the Mount Roskjll Handicap at Avondale on Monday. The race h© had on the first day evidently improved him and, assisted by his light weight, he finished on much better on Monday. This hack showed promise at the Waikato meeting last month by acting as runner-up to Black Musk, and his dam, Lunette, is a daughter of Lady Frisco, who produced those »good performers White Uomet and Paddon. If Erndale proves capable of handling heavy going as efficiently as his relatives he should do well during the winter months. • # # The Tidal gelding Flood Tide, says the Auokland {3tar, js undoubtedly one of the best handicap horses in the Dominion and, having reached an unfavourable position in the handicaps, is would occasion no surprise to find him nominated for Australian spring racing. By his victories in the Mitchelson Cup, A.R.C. Handicap and President's Handicap, all at Ellerslie, Elood Tide eiarned for his owner, Mr Desmond Davis, £1375. Elood Tide is now on the easy list, and is not to race again this season. # * « Sand Prift, after his good showing in the St. Helier's Hurdle Race, one mile and three-quarters, at Ellerslie recently, when Killadar only beat him by a neck, was thought to have an excellent chance in similar distance events at the Avondale meeting. On Saturday, after being in front till the last fence, he failed to stay on, and Sandy Dix and Yalpai both beat him home. On Monday he was again prominent till well into the straight, but Valpai beat him easily at the finish. This hoTse has not had a great deal of experience, but he is a promising jnmper -who should do well over shorter distances during the winter. # # • According to an Auckland writer Scotland was most unlucky tha,t he did not win the Autumn Handicap at Avondale on Monday. He looked in great condition and his track work at Ellerslie had been very pleasing. He was drawn tenth at the barrier, and when the tapes went up the start was a very ragged one. Scotland being among the sufierdrs. However, after being a long way back passing the mile post he gradually improved his position, and at the entrance to the straight he was lying sixtb. From then on he finished on strongly, but Kelly, who was one of the first out, and was the leader £,11 the way, stayed on just a bit too good for him, the winning margin being three-quarters of a length. With an even breakaway Scotland- would have won. " * # • Royal Chief, from .the point of view of winning stakes, js now the leading two-year-old in the Dominion. With five wins and six placings in 12 starts, he has secured £2285. He is the only two-year-old yet to have won over seven furlongs, wMch he did in both Challenge Stakes. Francis Drake Kas raced nine times for five wins and three minor places, winning £2080. Next on the list is Brunhilde, winner of three races and six places worth £1025 in all. Next comes Smoke Screen, with four successes in six starts, yielding £980." Airam has earned her £880 rom seven wins out of 25 starts. Closely attending her is Haughty Winner, with £870 from three wins and five places in eight starts.