DIVOTS

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 81, 22 April 1937, Page 14

DIVOTS

1 ' The Delver. ' ')

(Dug by

Don't forget that nominations for the Hawke's Bay Jockey Club's Golden Jubilee meeting must be in by 8 o'clock to-morrow (Friday) evening. " * • * A Hardy Veteran. The veteran 'chaser Billy Boy is standing up to his work in good style and looks aB bright as ever. It is not intended to give him any schooling over the fences at Ellerslie for some weeks yet, as he is a finished jumper and knows every inch of the steeplechase course. Despite his age, Billy Boy paid his way handsomely last seasou and more money is likely to couie his way in cross-country events before the present jumping season is over. • ' » # Price's Youngsters. The ex-New Zealander George Priee will have a good team of two-year-olds to handle next season. His present list includes a b f , by Chivalrous (imp.) — Parsimony; b.c., by Manfred — Miss. Meadoweso br c, by Veilmond — Peka; b f, by Dorie — Louise; br e, by Brazen (imp.) — Ring Again; br f, by The Buzzard (imp.) — Lady Fuglebury; ch c,.by lliad (imp.)—- Quadrilateral (imp.) ; ch c, by Excitement (imp.) — Tinkledell; and br c, by Rosewing (imp.) — Linlass * * * Shy's Successes. Shy has been on the easy list since the Avondale meeting and it is unlikely that he will race again for some weeks. His winnings during the season amounted to over £600, which was very satisfatcory, as the Valkyrian gelding was not .over-raced. On the few occasions that Shy was tried in middle distauce handicaps his form was very encouraging. He rau second to Martara in the Summer Haudicap at Trentham and also to Mazir in the President 's Handicap at Te Aroha, both ten-furlong events, and those' perf ormances indicate that he possesses a fair amount of stamina. • • * Tooley Street. Tooley Street, who is shortly to be taken to Australia, was raced at Whangarei on Saturday when he scored a narrow win in tlie Autumn Handicap. As he was in receipt of more than a

stone from the second horse, Kelly, there was not a great deal of merit in the victory. However, Tooley Street showed plenty of courage, fighting on gamely when challenged in the straight. He was favoured by the easy track as he has always been at his best in wet going. It was on a holding track that he scored his Easter Handicap victory at Ellerslie at Easter. * * • Still Shows Pace. The recent traek work of Red Manfred at Hawera suggests that this good galloper may yet return to forrn. When lirst sent up to J. I'ryer it was intended to prepare him as a liurdler and he has done a fair amount of schooling, his latest efforts beiug most encouraging. However, a smart half oiile last week demonstrated that he still possesses his pace and it would not be surprising to iind him being given a run on the flat at the Hawera meeting next month. « tr •' Ringghot, who is trained by "Billy" Kird at one time well known in Hastings, has gone on the right way since he raced at Avondale and is getting through tlie class of work to keep his condition right. He will make his next appearance at the Bay of Islands meeting te be held at Pukexohe next month, and should be worth keeping in mind for that fixture. School Song, in the same stable, will also be a competitor at that meeting. After racing there he will be given a course of schooling qvor hurdles, as it is intended to race him over the battens later in the season. — , Auckland Star.

Strangely Named Sire. J. E. Smith is a good, though not Lincoxfimon, name for a man, but it is in unusual name for a thoroughbred, yet J. R. Smith is the name of the latest sire to be imported into Australia for the Oakleigh Stud of Mr. H. S. rhompson at Widden. The reason for the horse 's strange name, it is explained, becomes obvious on a study of *is pedigree. John Raphael Smith was i noted English painter and mezzotint engraver of the late eighteenth century. Another great English artist was Gainsborough, the name also of the sire of the horse J. R. Smith.' There should be some interesting minor sporfc for owners of yearlings by J. R. Smith in choosing names. ' # • • Recovering Form. When trained by A. E. Neale at Bulls Diatomous showed a great deal of speed, but he was subsequently sold for stud purposes iu the north. He was" brougnt back to racing recently this season and displayed signs of returning to his best form when he was proniinent for a good portion of the way in events at Te Aroha, Pukekohe and Avondale. He was produced in the Stewards' Handicap on the first day of the Whangarei meeting,. and, hitting the front femartly, led the field to tho straight, weakening a shade in the run fiome to finish third. On Saturday he and Crooning were the pilots all the way, the latter holdilng on just a little too well for him. On this form Diatomous enay still have a race concealed about him, but his weight is not getting any less. 7 #. • • , ' • A Determined Finish. Spearcourt looked to be set a most impossible task in overhauling Boughal in the hurdle race at Whangarei last Friday, says an Auckland writer. The latter was fully twenty lengths in ffont at tlie home turn, and with the comparatively short straight a victory for Boughal looked assured. Under pressure Spearcourt responded gamely, aud at the last fence had decreased Boughal 's advantage to about ten lengths. Boughal then commenCed to tire, and Spearcourt, staying on in excellent style, went on to win comf.ortably by nearly a couple of lengths. Spearcourt, like Boughal, did not jump cleanly, and knocked himself about a good deal, with the result that he was afterwards lam'e and could not be started on the second day. Spearcourt, with more experience, should turn out a good liurdler, while he is bred to stay. # « * Savage-r-Not "Mick."

Of the seven horses which finished in the xecent Grand National Steeplechase in England one was Don Bradman, who was remounted after falling at the first fence. , After his mistake Don Bradman jum'ped perfectly. The wonder is that even as many completed the course, as Drim, who continued in the race atfer losing his jockey at an early stage, was always up with the leaders, and was trying to bite them. He nearly brought Royal Mail down soon after starting the second round, and at the second last jump went for 'Cooleen with bared teeth This attack unbalanced Cooleen, who barely struggled over the fence. She finished second. The third horse, Pucka Belle, also came in for Drim's attentions, and that horse will be remembered as the villain of .the piece in the 1937 Liverpool National. « * • Small Stuff. Tudor, who recently returned to his old training quarters at Awapuni, will probably make th© Waikato Steeplechase his next mission, and to be entered for the Great Northerners. The Hawera trainer P. Fryer, intends taking Red Manfred, Le Grand, Royal Fire and the two-year-old Yadinoe (Vaals — Idanoe) to Woodville at the end of the month. R. Brough will also be across with Naughty Marietta. • • ' • After a long run of unplaced performances Davistock scored his first win of the season when he won the Nelson Cup on Saturday. He appears to have carried out his task in solid fashion-, drawing away from his two opponents in the straight to score by two lengths. However on the second day he went down. to Pladie. * • • The Auckland Racing Club, whose Great Northern meeting is to be held on June 5, 9 and 12, offered no objection to Wanganui ' beiug granted the first two days for its winter meeting. The great difiiculty just now appears to be tliat of getting sufiieient riders for jumping events at both fixtufes.

« m m B. Brodie, who onee ranked as a leading rider, trains Peaeock, who won at Waimate. Peacock is not an easy horse to train owing to being a shy feeder. The win served to draw atterition to the fact that Brodie can train as well as ride a horse. • * • The most forward of Fryer 's jumpers at Hawera is said to be the Cynic mara Indiscretion. who appears in great order to send along when'required. Indiscretion looks a mueh improved mare, and her prospeets look deeidedly promising for early steeplechase events. * # * Prominent American breeder, E. R. Bradley, of Idle Hour Stock Farm, invariably commences the names of all his hofses with the letter B. He recently named 21 two-year-olds, and the usual custom was adopted. Incidentally the letter "B" gives a lot of scope to disappointed baekers. # # • The succCss of J. Crouch, who will ride for King George VI. this season, was one of the features of the second sprint meeting at Madras. Crouch had seven mounts, of which three won, and only *one was unplaced. The Madras season had practically ended at thetime, • and Crouch seemed assured of the jockey s ' premiership. # - , «s .* The statistics for last racing season in Calcutta show that races run totalled 187 and stakes totalled approximately £120,600. The number of horses that competed was 2059 and supporters of favourites had a lean time, only 37 being successful. The greatbst outsider of the season was a horse named l'oet's Walk, who paid nearly a century aud a-half for £1 on the totalisator.