Racing Bits and Turf Tattle

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 1, Issue 87, 3 December 1931, Page 2

Racing Bits and Turf Tattle

"The Judge." —

Specially Written for the "Post"

by

IThe acceptance lists for the first day of the Taumarunui meeting, set down at Taumarunui on Friday and Saturday, augur well for a successful fixture, although the financial aspect is such as to caiise the club some concern. • The prineipal event is the Taumarunui Cup, with "Cruachan heading the handicaps, and as he raced fairly well at Te Rapa his chance is not negligible. Protomint is entitled to | f avouritism, that is if he has ■ a f air j rider aboard, for he stands out — the horse. — not his usuaL pilot. King Willonyx won in handsome fashion at Whangarei,' and he cou'ld be fancied. A distinct possibilit'y is Flying Prince, while Limeen's second to Protomint at Cambridge suggests that she will be'handy; track reports suggest that she is better now. Best of Lightweights c On the other side Pf- the Cup list is Valmarie, a small hut very usefuT filly, a genuine stayer, and she may prdve the best of the iight-weights. First Lap aiso sticks well, and Lady Vane is an improving filly. Grand Talk and Abbey Qheen are doubtful stayers. If they all go to the post it will be a most interesting race,- and the prospects are that Protomint will start a pronounced favourite over Limeen, Flying Prince and Cruachan. The chief sprint event at Taumarunui is the Rangaroa Flying, with nine acceptors, a number that will be reduced by starting time. TradeSman has a solid impost, but he is up to it and the turning course will he very much in his favour. Royal Ruler would have a second to none chance, apart from the fact that his rise" in weight as a result of reeent success wiil probably cause him to be left at home. Flying Prince is a good prospect if reserved, and Hollyholm is a promoted hack capable of scoring. The latter, thowever, ought to be. held safe by Marechal, who is a good sort. Indeed, in the final summing up Marechal is preferred to Tradesman and Flying Prince. Have Chances With so many horses claiming dual engagements it is difficult to sum up the various events, but on the day, Protomint, Marechal , Heremai, Limex, Production and Huntingdon look nicely placed. The following will be well supported if started in the events mentioned : — Trial Plate: Limex, Lady Lulu, Toujours. Manunui Hack Hurdles: Production, Cargen, Hit the Deck. j Taumarunui Cup: Protomint, Limeen, Flying Prince. Matiere Hack: Heremia, Steady Fire, King Win. 1 Matapuna Hack: Huntingdon, Te i Taone, Abbey Queen. i Rargaroa Flying Handicap: Marechal, Tradesman, Flying Prince. 1 Owhango Handicap: Heremia, Valmarie, Steady Fire. i Takapuna ... Prince Val had every show in his two outings at the Takapuna meeting, but he failed to hold his own, ! aithough he did finish second and 1 thiia n the prineipal handicaps. It was obvious by his running that he was not so well as when he raced so prom'nently at the last Auckland meeting, and as a result of his defeats last week-end he is sure to lose a Iol of support for his engagements at Ellerslie this month. He was not badly treated on the score of weight, and this makes his loss of form all

the more difficult to understand. Perhaps the track did not suit him, although he. had previously raced prominently at Takapuna. High Comedy improved in his first day's second in the sprint at Takapunaf by wilming comf ortably on the second day. He improved with hisrace, and now that he appears to he settling down nicely he ought to get amofig the money at 'Ellerslie this month. High Comedy has done better over short journeys, and he was considered more of a sprinter than a middle distance horse, but it is known that his connections expect him to run a good race in the Derby on New Year's Day. Will Develop Judging by the two fine races run by the three-year-old Barascope at Takapuna last week-end, he -is going to develop into something pretty good. On the first day he was pulling hard in the Alison Cup, and was finally beaten into third place. On Monday he was allowed to ruri along in front, and despite the fact that he was off the course going out of the straight he maintained his lead and never loolced in danger of defeat. Barascope is another that promises to go well in the Great Northern Derby. Four years ago Golden Wedding gave a display of viciousness at the barrier sufficient to bar her from ever participating in any race on the flat or over the obstacles. That was at

Whangarei, but her name was not even put on the schooling list. That came twelve months later, and after a spell she was put to hurdling. Apparently later on . the officials were satisfied that Golden Wedding had mended her ways, and she was taken off the schooling list some time ago. Golden Wedding was produced at the recent Takapuna meeting, taking on the open sprints. Her efforts at the barrier on the second day gave very plain indications that she was in a bad temper, for whenever she got near the tapes — which was not often — she lashed out. First she got Biddy's Boy high up on the near foreleg, and later Hampton Park was on the reeeiving end of the flying hoofs. The injury to Biddy's Boy (who was heavily backed) was not considered sei'ious, but th-e horse failed to show his usual early brilliancy. A Tragedy After going three furlongs Biddy's Boy dropped baek, and when'at the tail of the field he suddenly collapsed, shooting his rider, E. Keesing, along the ground to collide with a post, a bad bruising being the jockey's wonderful escape. But Biddy's Boy was doomed, his injuries b ing such as to make his destruction a necessity. Veterinary examination of the horse after he had fallen indicated that a severe wound had been inflicted on Biddy's Boy by Golden Wedding, the bone being fractured, and this snapped during the race. In this manner the owners of Biddy's Boy, Messrs. W. Monteith and W. Wills, lost a valuable galloper, for he had such a torrent of speed that he would probably have won several sprints within the next three or four years. Only a four-year-old, the gelding was young as raeehorses go. And to think that the tragedy might have been averted if the powers that be had been firm and placed Golden Wedding on the schooling list four years ago, when her barrier manners were a by-word with racegoers, and subsequently remove her from the list when she was undoubtedly still wayward.