DIVOTS

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 95, 8 May 1937, Page 15

DIVOTS

"The Delver.")

(Dug by

Convineed that Jonathan has definitely lost form for flatj-racing, his connectdons now propose ,to try Mm over hurdles • * * Accordijxg to a Wellington excliange Mr J. S. McLeod's G.N. Derby winuer Essex is a regular attendant at the Trentham tracks and will not require much roimding into shape. The Winter Cup may be his neyfc important misaion, • # * Happy Heels, formerly in S. J. Beid's Trentham tearo, has been joaned up with H. B. Lorigan at Trentham. This two-year-old full-brother to Clessamor had only a " single race early in the seagon and was then set aside to maiure, ■ • • • It ie reported that Vestalis, owned by Mr E. Whiteman, Kakatahi, haa an Acre foal at foot. When 25 years old Vestalis was served by Aere, then 23 years old, so the chances are that some semblance of a record can be claimed. In any event, the career of this progeny of over-age parents will be watehed with dnterest. • • • An addition to the ranks of trainers at Trentham is J. McKenzie, a former Kew Zealander who was for many years in Australia and returned a short time baek. McKenzie was fifteen years or so ago associated as a rider with the late J. Bielder # • • Mr G. I1. Moofe, of Buehy Park, Wanganui, well known as a breeder of both thorouhgbred and pedigree stock, has promised a £100 gold cup as a trophy tq accompany the stakes for next year's Wanganui Cup. • • • Mr E. Y. Sutherland. who has been assistant to Mr Lusk, at Ellerslie and was appointed judge for the Great Northern meeting, is judge for the Auckland Trotting Club, and has acted for several other trotting and racing clubs, • • • The Woodville trainer H. E. Bussell leaves for Sydney by the Wanganella next Thursday. His team wull comprise Maia, Golden Treasure, Brown Oak and the two rising two-year-olds Golden Plants (Lackham — Megalo) and Sports Coat (Pink Coat — Jarretiere). • * • The various reports that CJuddle had been or is being retired to the stud, says the ' ' Post, ' ' do not emanate from her own establishment. Her attendant for the past two seasons, A. Tudor, is already prepared to see her win her third Auckland Cup next Boxiug Day. • • • ■» In vuew of the increased stakes, now amounting to £10,000, for the Kew Zealand Grand National Steeplechase meeting in August nest, a list of the umounte given for the last seven years js of interest: — 1930, £10,000; 1931, £7000; 1932, £5800; .1933, £5900; 1931, £6110 1935, £6700; 1936, £7600. • * • . Leo Colossus, who is being regularly sehooled over hurdles at Ellerslie, has improved in his jumping and will have his initial outing as a hurdler next week. The Colossus gelding has hardened in condition of late, and if he fails to win a race dn the new department no excuses can be made for hira. • » . • That good sprinter Tonnerre is expected to make his reappearance at the Bay of Islands meeting at Pukekohe. When being brought from Ellerslie to New Plymouth early in January Tonnerre contracted a skin disease which kept him on the eaey list for some tdpie. A good beginner with a great turn of pace, Tonnerre will command respect, as he usually races well when fresh. • • • The Awapuni trainer L. Knapp, riomething of a "wizard" with jumpers, will have a strong team to represent him at the Egmont meeting. Tudor and Forest, Glow are engaged in the chief event, the Egmont Steeplechase, while Esceem figures in the two open hurdle races. Biotous, the other xnember Oi the team. has been entered for the Adamson Steeplechase on the second day, in wMch Forest Glow is alsG engaged * • • • Naughty Marietta's win at Woodville, says a Taranaki writer, marked the first success of her young New Plymouth owner, Mr Ivan McGuire, on the turf. Last season Mr McGuire raced Master Limond, but then passed him on to E. Brough and raced his full sister Naughty Marietta. He pluckily stuck to the game when fortune did not favour him, but now that Naughty Marietta has struck form more wans should come his way, especially as she is quite at home on d soft track. • # • The stable-mates, Bingshot and Okawa, are going on the right way mider the one-time Hastings trainer W. Kirk's guidancc, and both these haelcs will strdp in good order for their engagements afc Pukekohe on Coronation Day. This pair got on the winning listcat the Bay of Plenty meeting in Mareh, bufc they have not won since. At the Avondale meeting last month Bingshot finished second to King Theo in the Morningside Handicap, one mile, and if he repeats that form in the Haek Cup next week he should be in the picture. — Auckland Star. « # * The handieaps do not seem sufficiently severe to prevent the top inen from winning most of their games, although many of the games are won in the ending.