TURF NOTES AND HORSES IN FORM

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 1, Issue 44, 14 October 1931, Page 5

TURF NOTES AND HORSES IN FORM

rThe Judge.")

SIR MONDS PROSPECTS DARGAVILLE MEETING ON SATURDAY AT AVONDALE. (Speeially Written for the "Post"

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.t « % . . T , • . . A respite from the stress and strain of owning and training a racehorse being desired by S. Malone, he sold Claremore last week for 400 guineas, so that it could not be said that he vras a dear horse. His purchaser was Mr. T. A. Davison, who also races Maori Boy. If kept -for steeplechaschasing next winter Claremore sbould be a giltedged proposition, despite the drop in stakes. Little Doubt f ollowed up his Avondale Cup success by runhing two good r'aces at Ellerslie in the big handicaps. . On the second day he was right up with the placed horses in a hot finish. Little Doubt, who has been located at Avondale sinc.e the Auckland meeting, is engaged in the Dargaville Gup and he should go a fine race in that event if Caught in the right mood. The opposition is not bverstrong. After he cbntests the Dargaville Ciip bh Satlirday, Little Doubt may be sent south to the Marton meeting, but if kept for the secbnd day at Avondale the southern engagement wil be cancelled, for it is asking a lot of a horse to race in Auckland on Saturday and morning and then at Marton on the following Wednesday. The intention of the Marton Joekey Club to stage two trotting races on each day of its summer meeting, January land 2, provided the permission of the Conference can be obtained, is an interesting one. Foxton Racing Club has aiready gone into this proposition, so that if there are four races at Marton and another four at Foxton a fortnight later, it wiil form a eireuit that trotting owners will be pleased to patronise. There is so much racing at New Year — there are meetings at Ellerslie, Stratford, Hastings and Tauherenikau in addition to Marton — and not quite -so many horses to go round as there were last summer, so that the move being made by the Marton Jockey Club has a lot to commend it. From the club's point of view the only drawback is the speculative quantity of totalisator betting, for raeegoers in that district may not be quite up to trotting form. On paper the field engaged in the two-year-old race at the opening of the Dargaville meeting at Avondale on Saturday is a very poor one. But who knows that those paid up for do not include at least one near-cham-pion? Several will be having their first race, and not one of the nine engaged has as yet succeeded in getting in the money. The best performance to date was that of Closing Time, who finished on fourth the second day at Avondale, behind Tankard, Broken Rule and Merry Way. Closing Tinie is an Australian bred youngster by Tippier from Miss Myra, and carries J. T. Jamieson's colours. This trainer is now getting a big team together to carry his own colours. That promising-three-year-old, Kittg Colossus, who was running at the efid of the Great Northern Guineas, just behind the third horse, is an interesting entrant for the Marton Handicap, to be run at the Marton meeting on Wednesday next. There are plenty of sportsmen ticking off King Colossus to stay at least the Derby distance, and with 7.13 at Marton he has a chance to prove himself before being sent to Riccarton for the classic next month. '

In the Maiden race at the Avondale meeting, the speedy Lady Musk drew the rails. This ensured her defeat, for she is not a smart beginner, and she received a rough spin throughout the contest, going to near the rear. The filly put in a fine finishing fun. Lady Musk is engaged in a similar event at Avondale next Saturday, and there will be another big field even if divisions should be unnecessary. if she draws about the middle of the field it is probable that she will do better, for there is no doubt about her paee onee she jgets warmed up. Perhaps the outing she had and subsequent sprinting efforts at home have sharpened her up. Sir Mond sprinted smartly at Ellerslie on Saturday morning, and this pointed attention to his prospect® in the Dargaville Gup next Saturday, in which it is probable that he will , be again ridden by H. Gray. When he finished deadheated with Puriri Park the final day at the Auckland meeting the big Seremond gelding was always going well in front, showing unexpected brilliancy from the barrier. Sir Mond seems certain to start favourite next Saturday. Many backers like following ceftain jockeys, particularly a leading horseman like H. Gray, and he will be on more than one favourite. His mounts next Saturday at Avondale are Sir Mond, Heremia, Huntingdon, High Comedy, Royal Artist and Tea Trader, and probably four out of this half dozen will be pretty warm favourites. It will be noticed that Gray is taking up the riding for Mr. R. T. Reid's team since the disqualification of H. Goldfinch. It is interesting to note that the first four horses to pass the post in the last Auckland Cup have again been entered for this two-mile event, to be run at Ellerslie next Boxing Day. The quartette comprises Motere, Gay Crest, Concentrate and Paquito. If will be remembered that Gay Crest finished a neck xn front of Motere, but the southerner lost the decision in the committee room as the result of crossing. The Sou'th Island holds a strong hand in the big Aucklaxld Summer meeting double, the Auckland Cup and Railway Handicap. In the former event they have Jaloux, Great Star, -Black Duke, Riri, Charmaine, Mount Boa, Compris, Admiral Drake, Gay Crest, Adelphi, Gustavo, Paquito, Dunraven, and Minerval — or a third of the total number of entrants, 43. Horses from the South Island engaged in the big sprint are Great Star (second last year) , Lord Argosy, Royal Baby, Gustavo, Solvent, Waiwene, Croupier, Kozan, Al Jolsoix and Gallant Fox, or 10 out of 46. Hunting Cry, winner of the two last Railway Handicaps at Ellerslie, is in again, and so are Silvermine and Karapoti, respectively fourth and fifth last Boxing Day.