DIVOTS

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 162, 27 July 1937, Page 10

DIVOTS

"The Delver."

Dug by

A Wanganui exebange says tbat arrangements will probably be made for P. Atkins to do tbe riding of F. Davis's team when it goes to Australia. « * # Higbborn, Tboley Street, Miss Appellant and tbe three-year-old filly Dy Hoariri from Valaria were shipped from Auckland to Sydney by tbe Wanganella on Tbuxsday for spring racing in Australia. * • * In a list publisbed in Melbourne of wagers already taken on tbe Caulfield and Melbourne Cups is one for £10,000 on tbe combination Desert Cbief and Willie Win. # ^ # A Christchurch report states tbat Tudor bas tbrown off tbe soreness from wbicb be suffered wben be arrived at Riccarton from Wellington after tbe recenfc meeting. He is now a daily worker, but it is not intended to give him any scbooling before be contests tbe Homeby Steeplecbase at tbe Christchurch Hunt Club's meeting at tbe end of tbe montb. * # # Debham bas been put into work again at Trentham by H. Telford. Tbe gelding is stated to bave done well as tbe result of his spell from ^acing and bas gocd piospects in tbe coming season. Debham has registered five wins and two second placings since tbe New Year, so bis form bas been consistent, and as be is only a four-year-old be is likely to extend bis record furtber. m * =» Of Streamline, wbo won tbe Soutb Canterbury Steeplecbase on Saturday, a soutbern writer a few days earlier said; "Streamline bas been scbooling satisfactorily since bis return to Riccarton, and may redeem some of tbe reputation be lost at Trentham. Tbe beavy going at Trentham affected others besides Streamline, but owing to being under tbe 'spotligbt' be received tbe most critical attention." « # # Tbe Ellerslie jockey L. Dulieu will attend tbe Grand National meeting next montb, wbere be bas contracted to ride Burglar, Corowa and Juppa in tbeir respeetive engagements. Dulieu had tbe mount on Burgler when tbat horse won tbe July Steeplecbase at tbe recent Wellington meeting ,and was also on Corowa wben be scored in tbo Highweigbt Handicap at tbe saine fixture. # * * A novice tbat has been sbowing plenty of speed on tbe tracks at Woodville is Vienna, a three-year-old filly by Gainscourt from Bess Laddo. Tbis filly has failed only tbrongb lack of stamina in ber previous races, and as she appears to be improved in tbis Tespeet now sbe sbould ba a prospect before tbe new season advances very far. • • 9 Advice bas been received from tbe Waikato tbat Irisb Comet will leave for Riccarton .next Thursday to fulfil bis engagements at tbe Grand National meeting. Aecorcfing to an Auckland exebange be bas been working well since be raced at tbe Great Nortbern meeting and is confidently expeeted to play a prominent part in the cross-country events down soutb. Irisb Comet wiil be making bis first appearance over tbe Riccarton country. Still be is an accomplished jumper and tbe big fences on tbe soutbern course are unlikely to trouble him. F. Fergus, wbo rode Irisb Comet in botb bis successcs at Ellerslie, will pilot tbe gelding at Riccarton. • * * Tbo last four Winter Cups bave been won by borses on tbe winter minimum weigbt of eigbt stone. Tbe bigbest weigbt carried into a place during tbe saine period is 8.13 by Conoertpitch last year. Ponty was third last year witb 8.9, and Davolo second in 1934 to Princess Doreeu, wbo put up a race record of lmin. 39 4-5sec. wben carrying 8.0. • • • ".Two years ago,'' said a Christchurch Press of Friday last, "Epris, tben a six-year-old, won the Winter Cup under 8.0, and in last year's race he had 9.9 and finished nintb. During the present se&son he bas not raced well, but a risk appears to bave been ?taken in next montb's event in plaeing bim on tbe minimum. Epris is a brilliant miles when well, and a good line to bis form will be obtained to-moirow at Washdyke, as he is engaged in Ihe Claremont Handicap over a mile and 35 yards, in whicb be will meet a number of Winter Cup candidates, and is handicapped at 111b. above tbe minimum. " Epris was* a winner at Washdyke on Saturday. # # • Santoft aud Burglar, writes "Sentinel" in tbe Duuedin Tiines, have admitfedly improved since Dunedin, lut tbe same can also be said of Noeturnus. Now these three are likely to meet in tbe National witb little weigbt separating theiu, and on tbe form sbown at their Jast meeting the odds are in favour of Noeturnus winning again. Noeturnus bas yet to be tried over the National distance, but whereas last season be could not go two miles, let alone tbree, tbe improvement be bas sbown in stamina, tbe cbief feature of liis form tbis season, suggests tbat tbe distance will not now trouble bim. His jumping is excellent ,and his chanee would appear to be the best of tbe Sonth Island borses. * * * The highest weight successfully carried in tbe (Jrand National Steeplechase since Norton won with 12.8 in 1894 is the 12.7 under which" Coalition scored his second success in the race in 1921. Coalition was lucky on tbat oceasion, as Waimai had a good lead wben he slipped and fell when landing over the final fence. Agent won in 1879 witli 12.9. in 1880 witb 12.7, and in 1884 witli 12 6. Canard won in 1886 with 12.10. and Norton with 12.8 in 1894. Mutiny scored in 1893 with 11.5, and in 1896 with 12.4. Levanter won in 1897 with 12,6, but s'nce then not a I winner exccpt Coalition lins not won witb over 12,0.