DIVOTS

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 104, 19 May 1937, Page 13

DIVOTS

"The Dqlver.")

(Dug by

DON'T FORGET that nominations for . the Napier Park winter meefeing bave to be in by Friday evening next. The programme will be found in pur advertising columns to-day. ♦ # * H, N. Wiggins was very successful in Ihe saddle at Egmont. He rode three winners on Saturday, making a total oi four for the meeting. • # # Aceording to a southeni cxchange Sky Pilot is regarded as oue of the luost promising cross-couatry horses scen at Riccarton for some years. He, however, did nol show up very well at Hawera on Saturday. * * « " 1 Although there have becn rumours otherwise, it is believed iu informed cireles that there is no present chanee of the Auckland Racing Club's chaugdng baek to win-and-olace betting, * # * Unless the tracks firm somewhat it is doubtful wbether Prince of Orange, surprise winner of the last Great Northern Hurdles, will be seeu to best advantage. He is, however, looking well. $ * • Consequent upon sustaining a etrained tendon Yal Watch has been takeu to her owner's property for an extonded spell. Tbe injury has happened just when the Valkyrian mare was very fovward in racing condition. i » # # The rising two-year-olds Homily, by Posterity from Homage, and the

JLimoiid — Jewel of Asia coll, are now xegular workers on the Woodville track and both show themeelves to be well mannered youugsters. Should they show sufficient early promise they will be included in F. Davis's team for Australia. * s * F. Davie receutly purchased the six-year-old Tea Tray — Lady Violet gelding Platter and intends to try him over the country. He is au upstanding gelding and has shaped promisingly in his latest sehooling. H© may contest the steeplechase at Foxton at the end of the month. # # • The Limond — Homage colt Courtcraft is thriving on the easy tasks that are being allotted bim and is tfiickening into a very fine horse. The stable 's other A.J.C. Derby candidate, Francis Drake, is enjoying a spell from which he appears to be deriving great benefit. He will be brought into work again within the next few weeks. * * • Gascyne., who appears among the entries for the hack and hunters' steeples on the first day of the Waikato meeting, has been sehooling with greater confidence over the country at Te Rapa i and last week he gave a fine display over five fences until he came to grief at the eod wall at the foot of the straight. # # • Youug Paddon, says a Hamilton wxdter, is one to keep in mind for engagements ahead. During the pa?t several weeks few horses have beeu working better than this maiden of the Seiferfc establishment and in heavy going it will take a goo.d one to lower his colours the next timo he ie paraded. On Thursday morning he was righf' up with Adalene, to whom he was- conceding weight, at the completion of a fivefurlong essay. • • • Knight of Australia proved a disappointment in the King George Handicap at Pukekohe last week. Well back early, he certainly was making up ground over the final stages but never looked like overhaul'ing the winner. The son of Windbag had been galloping well on the tracks during his prepara-' tion and it was this that sent him out a pronounced favourite. • • • The dispersal of the Cullengoral Stud in New South Wales has resulted in the purchase for the Dominion of the iniporte'd stud horse Hazrat, by Craig an Hrah from Duxford, by Swynford. Hazrat, who has already been success? fully represented on tbe turf in Australia by three two-year-old winners, was secured for Messrs Malcolm Bros., Te Rapa, Waikato. He arrive.d at Auckland, this weok and has been generally admired. • • • The Hastings trainer, W. Curlett, whose temporary headquarters are at present at Woodville, has receutly added to his team Le Toquet, Bunfight | and Blue Tiger. The last-named, who is a goo.d jumper, is to be put to steeplechasing. The former Ciiifordowned filly Bunfight, who was roepon- j sible for a good race in her unly ea- ( gagement at Ihe receut Dannevirke ; meeting, has made decided improvo- ; ment since, and W. Corlett should soou j place her to advantage, says a Wood- | ville correspondent. ; • * # With 7.13 Priuce Acro ie still iu a ! handy position in the weights and i given a heavy track on the day, he ! should account for more than beat him j in sprint eompany at the Waikato j meeting. He won the first day at Whau- j garei and, while he faile.d to reach a place the second day, the draw at fhe post nullified whatever chnnces he possessed. Since then he has been moving along satisfactorily and should lack little on the score of condition when required to race again. * • « Black Marlin will be improved by Ma outiug an the Coxonation Steeples at Pukekohe and, though he was beaten into third, he impressed by the way he was making up ground over the final lialf-mile, He demonstrated that he has lost none of his fencing ability and, says a Waikato exchange, handily placed as he is with 9.5 in the big Waikato steeplechase on the opening day of the Te Rapa gathering, he wili not be without an excellent chance, even though the claes he will be pitted against will be superior to that which he encountered 'last week. » • • Grampian, who paid double figures wben he won the hack distance handicap at Otaki on Wednesday, was rldden by the Australian apprentice A. Sim, in T. George 's stable, and this was Sim's first ride in New Zealand. Grampian is closely related to Pilliewinkie, his dam, Water Mint, being a half-sister by Greyspear to that good horse, and also ti) Arikiwai and J'oawai. * • • A triple dead-heat that occurred in i903 i9 regarded by R. B. Lusk, who retired last, week from the position of judge to the Auckland Racing Club, as perhaps the most interesting incident in Ms 37 years' career as a racing judge. Of seven horses, Mr Lusk relates, tMee passed the post abreasl, auother two were level a head away, and a head separated the remaiuing two, who passed the post together. Ai fche meeting of the Takapuna Club at North Shore a week later two of th three horses who tied for first place «' Ellerslie, and carfying the sun' weights, again ran a dead-heat.