NOTES ON TAKAPUNA.

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XVII, 28 November 1927, Page 2

NOTES ON TAKAPUNA.

The Immigrant, who won the opening race at Takapuna on Saturday, is a six-year-old Australian-bred gelding by Count Anthony—Bettvville, and runs in the colours of Mr W. S. Glenn. M.P. So far as the records show he has only one previous start against his name, resulting in a third placing behind Respirator and Atanai in a hack handicap at the Franklin Meeting last Afarch. He, however, seems to have been well fancied on Saturday, being made third favourite. Mr Glenn also provided the first favourite and winner in the concluding event, the three-year-old gelding In the Shade (Australian Sun—Violet Ji) also Australian-bred. * » • Orchus. winner of the second division of the maiden race a Takapuna. is a six-,year-old geldjng that has raced in three seasons now. though not a very frequent starter, being off the scene altogether last season. His previous best effort was as a four-year-old, in running second to Illingar in a maiden at Dnrgaville, This season he had had a couple of outings without getting into a niece, still was made first favourite on Saturday and justified the choice, a not very favourable commentary on the others engaged. He is a full brother of last year's, Takapuna Piute winner. Ruffles (Quin Abbey—Necktie), and runs in the same ownership, that of Air D. Tve. » « • The six-year-old Lucullus—Flagship mare Nancy Lee, winner of the open three-quarters at Takapuna, nas been a most consistent performer this season, her tally standing at three wins—all in a row. two at the Thames Meeting held at Ellerslie at the end of last month—a second and three thirds. In carrying Bst 81b to the front on Saturday, the game little mare put up an excellent performance

The four-venr-old Catmint—Hyades mare Ph f la seems to have occasioned something af a surprise to backers by winning the Alison Cup on Saturday. as she was relegated to seventh position in the machine betting, and went near returning a double-figure dividend. This is a little difficult to understand, as she had been placed in each of her three latest races this season, and won the last of them, a mile race at the Thames .Meeting above mentioned. That she was good for the longer jnurnev she had shown hy finishing a good second in last year’s New Zealand Oaks, run over 12 furlongs. Papatll. who finished just behind her, was still less fancied, and as winner his dividend would have run well over the “X” mark. The favourite. Valkon, does not seem to have likeo the extra distance beyond what he has been accustomed to cover in his previous races and. after being with the leader most of the wav faded into fourth place at the finish. Doubtless, with his recent win. at Hamilton over ten furlongs in 2.6 3-5. in the locally-owned Llandudno was made second favourite. He, however, ran even more disappointingly than Valkon. ending up in the ruck. Possibly the small turning course was against him. * * a Phabla’s unexpected win was, however, nothing to the shock inflicted by the four-year-old Archiestown— Lady Gwendoline mare Macroom when she dead-heated for first place in the Takapuna Plato with a wellbacked candidate in Ti Tree. In a field of twenty she was 18th down the betting and, even on the dead heat, paid a dividend not far away from the half-hundred. From all accounts, however, her place would have been second had it not been that Ti Tree met with some bad interference during the running of the race. Still, on last season’s performances, Alacroom should certainly not have been so badly neglected by the public, but probably what was in mind was that this season she had tailed to get into a place in any of her four attempts.

The good reports from Waikato of Mr. R. Hannon’s two-year-old King Lupin filly Katarena were fully borne out by her success in the Cambria Handicap, in which another from the AVaikato in Calonian ran second. In her first two outings— at Te Rapa last month—Katarena ran very green, and coming into the straight each day she carried her boy off the course. Even then she finished pluckily, notching a fourth and a third.. On Saturday she would seem to have run true, her proved pace giving her the victory. Red Lion, who had been locally given out as a good thing, again proved a disappointment, finishing well back after a favourable get-away and a forward place until the straight was reached. DIVOTS. Dug by “The Delver.” General enrties for the Auckland summer meeting close at 5 p.m. on December 2. At the same time first forfeits are due for the G.N. Foal Stakes, G.N. Derby and Royal Stakes. * * • Nominations for the Manawatu Racing Club’s Aleeting and first forfeits for the Palmerston North Stakes, will close on Friday, December 2. • * « Entries for the AVaipa Club’s Annual Aleeting nt Te Awamutu, to be held on December 17, also close on Friday next. • • * Rapier is again in steady work, and has shaken off the cold which prevented him from appearing again alter his win in the New Zealand Cup.

F. J. Al’Kay has returned home to Invercargill with such of Mr. W. T. Hazlett's horses as are under his charge, after training them at Riccarton for more than four months. Trainer J. Gage Williams will split his team at Christmas. Grand Knight and Staghunter will go to Ellerslie and Wild Pigeon will run in the Manawatu Cup. • • * It is understood that conditions appeal to the Foxton trainer A. D. AVebster so much that he intends to stay in Australia with First Acre and Co. At present he is making arrangements to transport his family to Sydney. First Acre was at very lucrative odds when he won recently.

Uld Nukumai got badly galloped on at the last Otaki meeting—so severely in fact, that he was in a very bad state for some time afterwards. The old battler is now all right again, and A. M. AVright has him pottering about at easy tasks. *' * * W. H. Dwyer has turned Paleta out for a spell. The three-year-old looked in need of a complete let-up at Riccarton, and he is to have every chance to recover from the trouble which affected him in Australia. It may thus he a long time before he is seen out again in public. Air. W. H. Gaisfoid lias had had luck at Ashhurst with two of his lesser lights at Woodville in Excess and Atareria, says a Wellington writer. There is not much doubt that Excess should have won. while Atareria received a very bad passage. The latter is a most clumsy walker, and just shuffles round the birdcage, but he is quite an attractive galloper.

A foreshadowing of the dividend payers in the Abson Cup was provided in a six-furlbng gallop on the Takapuna course on Friday morning, when Phaola finished only half a ibngth in front of Papatu. That was the verdict on Saturday also. Beau Cavalier’s long spell of easy work since ths Grand National meeting has evidently freshened him up. On Thursday morning at Ellerslie be .1 mped eight schooling hurdles in dashing style. The Chesterfield gelding is gradually/ getting into racing condition under S. Tooman’s care, and should be well forward by the time the Auckland summer meet: ing arrives.

It was intended to spell Silver Rule because she bled at Riccarton, but she was in perfect condition on returning home and she will be running in the Feilding Stakes, all going well in the meantime. She went half a mile at Hawera with Silv.rinine on Thursday, the latter finishing in front in 52 2-ssec.

It is understood that an attempt was made to fake a ticket on the big dividend payer Borsalene at the Ashhurst Aleeting. She was No. 26 and an effort was made.to pass an altered No. 20 ticket. As only nine tickets in all were purchased on Borsalene, and all these had been paid before the attempt was made, naturally the enterprise was a failure from the start.

The Autumnus gelding, Footfall, is reported from Christchurch to have made great improvement since the Cup meeting, and when restricted to easy work on Thursday morning he carried himself in quite his best style. Footfall will probably ‘be a vastly-improved horse by the time the Auckland Cup rolls round, and it is safe tx> sav he will be one of the early favourites for the big northern two-mile race.

In answer to an enquiry: In the Takapuna Hack Plate three-year-olds are set to carry 8.0 and four-year-olds and upwards 8.0, with maiden three-year-olds and four-year-olds allowed respectively 71b. and 101 b. At this difference in the weights three-year-olds would seem to have a bit the best of it, for if the older horses are any good at all they should be ineligible bv the time this race comes off. On the other hand, there is no sex allowance.

Magna Charts, says a Christchurch exchange, is building up again into a commanding horse, and though he is still backward he has been nominated for events at the Auckland Racing Chib’s summer meeting. At Ellerslie last Christmas Magna Charta impressed keen judges with his runaway victory in the Queen’s Plate, in which he defeated, among others, Mint Leaf. Tinokoa. Haze, Pegaway, Stormy and Alloway.

Nothing has been seen of Lady Limond since she won the Trial Plate at Trantham last July in convincing style from Merry Mint. It appears that the Limond filly has been giving her trainer, A. M. Wright, some trouble, and he has been able only to potter about with her. Lady Limond is due to race at Feilding next week, but Wright told a Wellington pressman at Ashhurst that she was not certain to start. In a case in which alimony was being sought in the Supreme Court in Invercargill the other day the i come respondent derived from “another source” was under discussion. “Respondent earns up to' £l2OO a year from book-keeping?” counsel asked petitioner. “Not ‘book-keeping’ but ‘book-making,’ " opposing counsel remarked “He would never earn £l2OO from book-keeping." > • Count Cavour seems to have fined down a lot with the recent racing he has had, but so far this season he has failed to reach his best form, writes “Mascot.” “The Count" is to make the trip to Auckland, ah going well in the interim, and, as he invariably races well at Ellerslie he may have more than a passing chance in the Auckland Cup. Count Cavour ran second to Tanadees in last year’s event, with the steadier of 11.5 on his back. * . a For the first !■ “-hour of training operations at Hiccartun on Thursday the tracks were available only for reverse work, for the benefit of horses going to Auckland. J’. V. Mason worked all his team op tha

plough, Xgrion was given a couple of sprints and moved m good style, while Eulalie, Goblin Market, Rigmarole, and Way warn were also worked. Cutts brothers sent Childsplay three furlongs on the plough, and Centrepiece half a nine on the grass, but neither was fully extended, this completed tile reverse work, but there will be more of it later on. According to a note in the “Manawatu Times" the list of those left in the Feilding Stakes as telegraphed is officially correct, including ail those remaining when final payment ten due on Ist inst., since which there have been no actual withdrawals. It is understood, however, that neither Crown Area, Gascony, High Finance, Pure Gold, Flying binge, Dominican, Sylvanum, nor the Valkyrian — Hinerewa filly is in the least likely to be a starter. *a a ' An exchange points out that the published weights of the two-year-olds engaged m the Feilding Stakes are incorrect. Weight-for-age for a two-year-old over five furlongs in November is 6.6 for colts and geldings, and 6.1 for fillies. Chit is the only one to earn a penalty, and her win in Auckland being worth 400 sovs., the extra weight is 51b., bringing her up to 6.6. Royal Duke’s weight should have read 6.6, Pure Gold 6.1, Silver Rule 6.1, Flying Binge 6.1, Sylvanum 6.1, Valkyrian — Hinerewa filly 6.1. • • • Looking back at the sprint event at the Ashhurst meeting, writes “Vedette.” Arrow Lad was the best of good things beaten. It was doubtful if h-j could have met with more trouble on the journey and twice in the straight he made an effort, and then had to he checked to change his course. Quite close to the winning post his rider had to give-, up the attempt to come up on the outside of the leader, Mireusonta, and try to squeeze through on the rails. Eventually he succeeded, but by that time Bonogne on the outside had got up and won. Bonogne put up a good performance, but there is no douht tha’t Arrow Lad should have beaten him. , * * • When L. Dunne, a well-known Queensland trainer, received an urgent message from an acquaintance of small purse, and less principle: “Wire me five of the best,” the reply was” Gloaming, Heroic, Windbag, Valieare and David.” • * • The Great Western Steeplechase to be run at Onkaparinga, South Australia, next Easter will carry a stake of 3000 sovs. Place money will be 500 sovs, 300 sovs, and 200 sovs, so that the winner and anything near the big money will be on a fairly good wicket. An extraordinary case reported from Sydney furnishes an illustration that the decision to destroy a horse can be arrived at too quickly. The Sarchedon gelding Rastus was seen to taitcr at the end of a training gallop at Broadraeadows, and it was thought that he had fractured a leg. After he had been shot it was discovered that there was no fracture. Rastus, who was owned by the Newcastle trainer, S. Killick, had won four races in his last five starts.

TRACK NOTES AND GOSSIP. Feilding and Woodville candidates were on Saturday morning sent out against the watch, a few of the times recorded indicating fora I running. • » * Tea Ladv and Kahu Ariki ran five furlongs in 65 1-5,‘ but were no* kicked out. Both blew on being pulled up so cannot be at their best yet In a working gallop Dark Girl went over the same distance in 63 secs. Bennanee. who is picking up after his southern trip, moved well in being sprinted over the last few furlongs of pace work • « • Torquil. with a light weight in the saddle, ran five furlongs in the fast, time of 62 J secs before breakfast. This gallop was most impressive, being n half second outside The Hawk’s best on this plough track * # • The Cynic-- -<ena colt and Birklad ran three in 40secs. The former is an easy galloper, but at present a little high strung. When he settles down he nromises to soon get out of the maiden class.

Braeman and Coot, together, finished four lengths ahead of Ganymede over once round in 1.42 J. The former has improved a stone by his race at Ashhurst, and next time out he should' be in the picture. Ganymede's gallop was disappointing and when again galloped on Sunday morning he showed a slight improvement, Raasay has thrown off his limp, moving soundly and strongly in his pace work. His Feilding and Woodville trips have been cancelled. Red Fuchsia in a couple of rounds of strong pace work pleased. The unnamed Boniform three-year-old filly in Miss Maher's stable sprinted three furlongs in 38 J and is most promising. - * • In running seven furlongs in 1.36 J Purseproud did not put one in mind of an early winner* Clarendon, not' hurting himself over the last furlong, ran half a mile in 52secs. This colt possesses undisputed pace and when more forward should be one of the best of his age in these parts. Trainer T. Quinlivan has had trouble with one of this colt’s hocks, which h a now appears to have got the best of * * « Hypnotic, a greatlv improved animal'since Ashhurst, comfortably defeated Gold Box over five in 63* and at the price will be worth supporting in coming engagements, as this time in nine cases out of ten is a winning one. . * . Liaison carrying about 7st ran the same distance in 62 4-5. another good gallop. His owner, Mr. H. H. Pharazyn. was on the track to see the filly gallop, hence her doing tier best. Topere and Kinross ran four in 52 Tlie former voes to Feilding for n trip, but will be given a race Woodville on the return iouniev. Watchman took 55secs for a similar distance, but could have done better. Primax ran three in 39 nicely. Pursefull easily accounted for the Lord Quex —Hapuka youngster over three furlongs in 40secs « * - Cloyne, alone, ran a useful five furlongs, while his stable companion (Hl’on showed by the manner in which he accomplished a working gallon be had thrown off his recent . soreness. Among the The trotters also got through useful exercises. Raima continues to snow improvement and next time out will make amends for his brace of Auckland unplacmgs. The sheet-anchor of the local light harness horses. The Shrew, is training on well and it appears she will soon qualify for a better class » * # Ngahui in the same stable has nos be.en.up a great time, hut is coming to hand fast. This little fellow has only one race to his credit, et Poverty Bay. but on present prospects should materially added to this score before another season •'<in>es around. Ha] Hnon is a rare eut of a horse in fact of his type it would be difficult to find a better. Mr H. Jones’s gelding this season should prove A ne of the best in work here. King Peter is thriving on bls mode of training and does not appear nearly so excitable as when l- w t m work. A straight-out trotter, the General Trace—Flitaway gelding should do better this season than in any previous one if ho continues on the way he is going.