HORSES AND HORSEMEN.

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 1, Issue 170, 11 March 1932, Page 2

HORSES AND HORSEMEN.

S rilONG TEAM POR TRENTHAM. Mrs. A. McDonald, who is the leddinj trainer with 20 wins, will brihg a large team to the Wellington meiting. It will include Blacksmith, Chief Mar:onette, In Yain, Inflation, La Moderne, and Chief Clerk. In Yain was entered at Napier, but hurt he'rstlf and eould not run. Mrs. McDonald recently received from the south the well known Catmint gelding Royal Mint, who will be prepared f or winter -racing. Nea Lap RecoveiKd. N Pr-'or to leaving for Sydney last week, J. M. Cameron received word that Nea Lap, who was injured on the trip over a few wyeks ago", had made a 'good recovery. At Ngatarawa. J. H. Jefferd has had to turn.out the Magpie colt he was training for Mr. L. K. S. Mackinnon, of Melbourne, but he has his box filled by the Chief Ruler — Baylock colt purchased by Mr. E. J. Watt at the Trentham saies last January. Ko Improvement. When King Colossus reappeared recently at the Wanganui mefiting he gave distinct signs of going on and being in first-class order for his St. Leger engagement, but his form at Woodville, and then at Bulls last week, showed that instead of improying he was going back. In view oi the fact that Bronge Eagle is not in the St. Leger, the chances of the other three-year-olds appear very much on' a par, but King Colossus, who was one of the best stayers in the field, w'll haye to make substantial improvement if he is to put the classic prize to his credit. ToXcmua May hft Gone. The reanpearance of Toxeuma at Napier was awaited with interest, and in his race he made a satisfactory shoy.-'ng in- a horse that was not nearly vound up after a long spcll. Unfortnnately Toxeuma pulled up lame, and uo far as his Wellington engagement.; are concemed he can be regarded as an unliktly runner. A foreleg filled badly after the race, and treatment was necessary. W. McKinnon stated that it would not be known definitely until the poultice eame off how things would be with the gelding. but it certainly looked as if the Wellington trip would be off, *with a possibility that he would have to go out in the paddock again. McKinnon intended coming to Trentham with a sm'all team, but if Toxeuma cannot eome the others will also stay at home.

Derby Possibilities. The, two-year-old races at Napier were interesting, although there was no youhgster of decided superiority. The first day's winner, Chief Marionette,- and the runnner-up, Aesculus, and h'er victbr on the second day, Courtyard, were the best. At this period of the year it is usual to keep an eye on two-year-olds with a view to next season's classics. _ Our earlier cracks, inflation and Lack, both suffered clefeat,- and in ' ahy case their showin^s did. not suggest stamina next year, although llnflation, being out of a Boniform mare; may get the Derby distance. Closing -Tim^, who was by general consent deemed one of the leading two-year-olds at the Auckland summer meeting, where he fan in handicaps, has proved definitely in Victoria that his forte is sprinting and not staying. Possibly next yeai's Derby colt may be in a South Island stable, but so far as the North is '•oncerned Mr. T. H. Lowry has a couple Of possibilities in Aesculus and Courtyard. The former is by Night Raid frorti Tinihanga, by Absurd from the Multiform mare Formless, and Jourtyard, bred by Mr. Lowry himself, is by Grandcourt. from, First Blow by Finland from War Talk by Martian from Gossip. He is a half-brother to Gascony and Second Wind. They have not had much racing experience. and opinions seem to be divided as to which is the better of the pai". For a Derby proposition a number of good judges in the Bay incline towards Courtyard. Below Par. Esteem is another Leger candidate who will have to improve on his public form. His Woodville win was a satisfactory showing, but at Napier he was beaten in moderate handicap convpany. He ran better for a race, but it was not the form of a first-class three-year-old. A Veteran. Star Stranger was foaled in 1922, so that he is now in his tenth year ; and at an age when he is definitely on the down gfade. His showing in the Napier Cup, however, indicates that with a stand-up to his preparation he has a chance of picking up another stake or two before going into permanent retirement. It is really the fact that the old fellow has done so well, coupled with the presentday weakness of handicap horses, that has prompted J. H. Jefferd to give him another trial. Although he was out for a good spell he did not put on the usual condition, so that it was easier to get him into racing shape. He had been galloping sat'sfactorily in private, Hard Luclc. Mr, J. MeCartin's steeplechaser Royal Eim was to have gone to Sydney with J. M. Cameron, who went over with Gold Trail and Lotus Lily, but he injured himself on the eve of the trip. Cameron left instructions that the hurdler Gay Lass was also to go over if she showed . sufficient form in the hurdle races at Napier. Gay Lass, > however, hit the second fence on the first day so hard that she was unable ta start on the second day, and she will not see Randwick. For the Winter. Overhaul continues to school well over the steeplechase fences at Wingatui. He was sent once round one day last week, giving a finish'ed display cf clean and fast jumping. The Tractor gelding may play a pronr'nent part in : some of the important cross-country events in the winter. He has started a good deal earlier than his northern opponents, who have been unable to do much schooling on account of the hard tracks. R. S. Bagby as Trainer. A trainer's license has been granted to R. S. Bagby, who for sonle years has been associated with J. T. Jamieson's stables at Takanini, and has done most of the rid'ng when the weights have suited. Before joining : Jamieson at Takanini, Bagby was trainer for Mr. A. McDonald, of Masterton. ; Was Good Youngster. Watch Officer, whose sale to a Syd- ; ney trainer is reported from Melbourne, is a New Zealand-bred four-year-old by Chief Ruler from Watchful. After winning the Wellesley ' Stakes at Trentham as a two-year- ; old, he was sold for Australia, where he has been a failure So far. Watch Officer is a brother to Lady Alert. First Acre'sj Rjrcord. The news from Melbourne that First Acre has strained a tendon, and will be retired from the turf, will be regreted by all who admire a thorougnbred, and such an "iron horse" and consrstent performer as First Acre has been. Now in his ninth year, First Acre was the first progeny of that successful sire, Acre, whose stock l}as done so well in this Dominion. By Acre out of Oka, First Acre has contested no fewer than 109 rac.es in New Zealand, where he has won £4096 in stakes. His record here is 109 starts, 17 wins, 13 secon'ds and 15 third placin^s. His two best seasons were as a three-year-old, when he won £1220, and as a four-year-old, when his stake earnings reached £2176. On the first-mentioned oceasion he contested 27 races, and during his next year he faced the barrier on no fewer 39 occasions. During the past three seasons First Acre has done mo'st of his racing in Australia, where his victories have been even more pronounced than those he registered in New Zealand. He finishpd third in the Caulfield Cup last spring, and, according to Webster, would have won but for the rain that .fell during the few hours before the race.