TRACK NOTES AND GOSSIP.

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XVII, 5 December 1927, Page 2

TRACK NOTES AND GOSSIP.

A local business man and supporter of racing, in conversation with the writer on Saturday morning, stated that he fails to understand the reason why the H.B.J.C. changed the dates of the summer meeting from January 2nd and 3rd to December 31st and January 2nd— Saturday and Monday. The former dates are holidays, while the Saturday is New Year’s Eve, when business people are all at their busiest, whilst, also, country people will, in a number of cases, be too busy shopping, etc., to go a-racing. On the face of this, it sure does seem anything but a wise move to make an alteration which causes the dropping of a holiday date in favour of the aforesaid Saturday.

While on the subject of our summer meeting, the country people are not in favour of the first race starting at one o’clock as advertised. Such a late start necessitates the people from ’wayback leaving before the completion of the programme. Many have expressed their opinion in the mattei to the writer, and the committee of the H.8.J.0., if they knew of the widespread opinion, would no doubt reconsider this matter.

Star Stranger, with 9.6, has been awarded pride of place in the Auckland Cup handicap, a bigger weight than expected. He is not harshly treated exactly, but, for a horse with so few handicaps to his credit, to say nothing of his continued failures in w.f.a races, in comparison with others he has not earned all his 9st. 61b.

In the New Zealand Cup, 2 miles, carrying 9.4, Star Stranger finished second, just beating Footfall by a head when giving the South Islander 91b., but in the Canterbury Cup, 2J miles, when in receipt of 11b. or a 101 b .advantage, Footfall beat-him for second money. This horse, with 9.0, also finished third in the Metropolitan. If miles, after a very unlucky run, and occupied a similar position in the Stead Gold Cup. So in the Auckland Cup Star Stranger is not getting any the best of it by having lib. in his favour on the New Zealand Cup weights. Te Monanui, despite his win in the Metropolitan under 9st. 51b.. has been dropped 21bs. on his N.Z. Cup handicap. For such a good performer as Count Cavour, 9st. 51b., one would have expected to see him ahead of the locally trained horse in the weights of a two mile

Beacon Light, 8.2, although not handicapped below his form, meets the eye as well in. With 8.8-he ran a good second in the Metropolitan, his only start at the N.Z. Cup meeting. In these parts, since the appeaiance of the weights, he is regiirieu with great favour.

We have several representatives in the second leg of the Auckland double and, although the handicap is Uattering to a few, a particular fancy is difficult to arrive at. The field must be considered as brilliant a lot as have even been handicapped for the Railway.

Tea Lady, who has been trained here by W. Griffiths for some months, returns to Gisborne with White Fang and will in future be prepared there by C. Wright.

The Hawk is a daily visitor to the Hastings tracks. He appears in good condition and health, but is more staid than before,, that wonderful vitality and high spiritedness for which he was so noted being now absent Now nine years old, one would hardly expect him to show again his great brilliancy, so J. M. Cameron has no doubt decided that his favourite will no longer be pitted against the best in handicaps. * * » When Mister Gamp was broken in by R- Gooseman at Hastings that trainer was commissioned to sell the Australian gelding. To several here that trainer offered him on all kinds of terms, and more than once was whiling to make an exchange, but all refused. Ultimately he was disposed of by the veteran trainer to his present owners. Although not a champion by any means, he has proved such in comparison with those ho might have been exchanged for but who were preferred to him.

How often do the despised turn out’ useful performers. Just prior to the Great War a Hawke’s Bay owner (now out of the game) was given his choice to purchase either Crossw’ords or Sasanof, his choice falling on the former. * » * Chelone is working well at Napier Park. Last season he proved a most expensive purchase at 101X1 guineas, failing to win a race. He will be started in the Maiden at Woodville.

Tea Miss has fully recovered from her Welcome Stakes mishap. She has dropped out of the Auckland classics, but may go up north for the handicap events.. • * w Mr. W, G. Stead’s good colt Ridgemount is demonstrating at the ’Meadows in his try-outs that he possesses an abundance of speed, fairly "burning the grass.” His meeting with Childsplay will furnish the two-year-old tit-bit of the Auckland meeting, more especially as there is no guide to comparison outside their reputations. What is known to us about the filly forces one to the opinion that nothing less than a Gloaming will dethrone her from the pedestal.

Atareria is on the improve. Out of Chcri Cheri. by Simmer—lckle Girl, by Carbine, he may on breeding yet make good.

Twelve months ago every sporting journal had something to say about Greengrocer, but since his many failures he has been dropped, good and hard. Then he did gallop wed on the tracks, but failed on the day. Perhaps now, being more acclimatised, he may do better. The English horse makes his reappearance in the maiden at Woodville.

Tigerlass, trained privately at Poukawa, is to make her debut in the Woodville maiden. If one believes all he hears, this filly can Hy.

A local sportsman, who has been present at three North Island meetings of late, on his return from Feilding gave his opinion that there is evidence of a jockeys’ ring operating in this island. Certainly, of late, there have been dividends which point in this direction. One Hastings horse at a recent meeting was paying the limit the first day and ran accordingly. Had he started the second day it is doubtful if he would have been at even money, but he was scratched, the owner having sufficient the first day. Stipendiary stewards with complete control must come, and the sooner the better.

On Saturday morning useful work was got through on the Hastings tracks, which after the recent rains were not fast, although in capital order.

Bennanee, with a light weight, went most pleasingly over seven furlongs by himself in 1.31. He went at a most even pace throughout, running each furlong in 13secs. and finishing very strong. It is not yet decided where he will race at Xmas, time, but me thinks Ellerslie. Coot and Minter rar the last five of six furlongs in 65J, the former giving away a lump of weight but finishing in front. This was on tie plough, all the other gallops being on the new grass gallop.

Clarendon, alone, took 52) for half a mile, but could have done better.

Kahu Ariki and Butterscotch ran five in 63 4-5, finishing strongly and together.

Raasay, in pace work, moved most determinedly and was anxious to go faster

Moa Bird, going the better, finished alongside Mouru Rang) at the end of three in 40. The former is a fine galloper and likely to develop with a little time into a useful performer.

The Cynic—Jena three-year-old had Clavers for a companion over half a mile, which occupied 52 4-ssecs. The former, on the outside, did his task the easier.

Cloyne has thrown oft shin-soreness and in a working gallop over four furlongs went well. • > • Tom Byrne and Gold Box pleased by doing half a mile in 51 secs. The latter is much improved this last week.

Purseproud and Watchman did not se* the track alight in running seven furlongs in 1.40. Watchman lad an easy task to finish with his ■ ompaiiion

Dark Girl, in a working gallop .over four in 53, went nicely. The Absurd gelding is shaping up well.

Primax, alone, ran three in 391. Marsurd in running six furlongs in 1.18 did her best since being trained here. Maybe she is returning to last season’s promise.

Pursefull was not troubled to finish with the Hapuka gelding over half a mile in 54j,

Over the same distance Kinross and Gesto, in a working gallop, took 54. Mountain Heath, against the bit, ran the same in 53. This gelding has not had a serious gallop since last raced eight weeks ago, but is in excellent order for the Xmas, final touches.

The Trotters. Raima and The Shrew are booked for the Auckland meeting, while Ben Bingen and Hal Huon will take on the lesser lights at Greytown. On Saturday morning on the outside of the course proper they were given a try-out.

The Shrew, who appears remarkably well, was sent mile and a half, being picked up for the last mile by Hal Huon. The full distance took 3min. 45secs., a very fair go, taking the going and the big course into consideration. The Shrew paced the first half-mile in 1.15, the next in 1.10, and the last half-mile also in 1.10, thus doing the last mile in 2.20. At the finish she had Hal Huon well heat. The latter’s time for his mile was 2.22.

Raima (a trotter), much improved of late, in trotting a mile alone in 2.30 went very well. He soon settled down, never attempting to break and trotting in most most determined style, he gave a good exhibition." Ben Bingen and two untried members of Mr. J. Lloyd’s team were also sent a mile but, through frequent breaking of the former, the time (2.47) was poor. Ben Bingen was not in the mood, refusing to go any distance without breaking. As a rule he trots well on the track but he seldom races up to it on the day.

Karma and Ngahuia (pacers) set out to go a mile, but just on the winning post the latter’s harness came undone. The pair were going at about a 2.30 gait and doing it comfortably.

Mr. Alf Symes has placed his five-year-old mare Vai Locanda in J. Jones’s charge to be trained. The mare when tried before gave promise of coining good but. reipiiring time, was not bustled Her former menton spent a great deal of time and pains in making her and is unfortunate In noth getting her back after doing all the "donkey” work.

DIVOTS.

Dug by “The Delver.”

Acceptances for Taumarunui and nominations lor Waipukurau are due this (Monday) evening, the latter by 8 p.m. On Friday nominations have to he in lor the Hawke’s Bay, Marton and Stratford Meetings, also acceptances for Waipa.

J. M. Cameron is due to arrive in Auckland by to-morrow’s Sydney boat, and is expected to come on to Hastings by the express the same evening.

In order to have T. Green’s services Kilmiss carried 61b. overweight when she won the St. Andrew’s Handicap at Feilding. She was well back in the early part, but when it came to racing home she w a s very much in the picture. Her form suggested that Ruanui’s on the first day was better even than it appeared.

S. Henderson has been engaged to ride Grand Knight in the Auckland Cup, for which the English horse has been nicely handicapped at Bst. neat. Grand Knight won over a mile and a-half, when he annexed the Autumn Handicap at Riccarton in April, 1926. On that occasion he carried 9.4 and won in the excellent time of 2.31 4-5.

Reports from New Plymouth state that Te Monanui has never looked better and will be in great nick at Ellerslie at the end of the month, when he will be seen out for the Auckland Cup, in which he has 9st. to carry.

A Christchurch exchange says it is probable that a fresh rider will have to be secured for Rapier in the Auckland Cup, as C. Emerson’s present intention is to patronise the southern circuit—Dunedin, Wyndham and Invercargill—during the holiday season.

The disappointing Automne had a couple of races at the Takapuna meeting, but failed to run prominently. He will probably make his next appearance at the Taumarunui meeting on Saturday and, as the class there will not be strong, the brown gelding should run more forward.

Gala Day, who was not raced at the recent Takapuna meeting, is another engaged at Taumarunui. He went well in a six-furlong gallop at Ellerslie last week, and promises to strip in great fettle for the King Country meeting.

Justify, the two-year-old brother to Assurance, is bowling along nicely in his work at Ellerslie. His trainer. T. George, has him looking in good condition and he may be given his first race in public at the A.R.C. summer meeting.

The hurdler Heisler, whose name appears on the schooling list, is said to have quietened down a lot during the past couple of months. He has behaved himself so well lately that it is hoped his name may be removed from the list, a thing that seldom occurs. '

It is an Auckland writer present at the meeting who says Limosa was expected to run prominently in the Aorangi Trial at Feilding on Wednesday. McTavish was put aboard, and the Limond mare did not go at all kindly. She was tailing a strungout field after going two furlongs, and despite the fact she finished well she had no show. Her trainer stated that Limosa had not gone a really good race since she fell on this same track last year. As she won over 8) furlongs the second day, perhaps a middle distance suits her better, for she scored handsomely in spite ot the fact that she received a very rocky run in the middle stages and that it was only when she was going to the turn that she got into a winning position.

There are some, however, who think that Thurnbell. who ran second a length away, would have much more seriously troubled the Limond mare but that she, too, got none the best of it in the running. Thurnbell is a three-year-old filly by Thurnham from Belle of New York. She was taken to Ellerslie at the last Easter meeting and contested two-year-old