Racing Bits and Turf Tattle

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 2, Issue 239, 30 May 1932, Page 2

Racing Bits and Turf Tattle

HORSES AND HORSEMEN.

IN AT THE MlNIMUM Copey, who won the Lincolne Steeplechase at Riccarton last August,"won the Wanganui Steeplechase easily from Prineess Elizabeth. Though little more than a pony, he is a natural jumper, and he is quite a possibility at Ellerslie next month He has 9.0 in both the Great Northern Hurdles and Steeplechase. By Marble Arch, he is" now seven years oid. Prospect!; for Ellerslie. There was some talk of Fairway heing a Cornwall Handicap prospect at Ellerslie next month, hut he has a very long way to go yet- before he can 'even be considered for that big mile and a quarter event. He is an unganily galloper with a most extravagant action, and this in itself is sufficient to condemn him in a big field. He was defeated severely at Wanganui and even had he escaped interference early hre might not have beaten Kissless and Davistoek, who finished in front of him . Gainsborough Missed In referrkig to Orwell's success in the Two Thousand Guineas, "Chiron," of the "Australasian," states that his sire, Gainsborough, very nearly came out to Victoria Mr. Alan Currie, when on leave from France, attended the yearling saies in England and bid to 2000gns for Gainsborough, but he was passed out at that figur'e There was a reserve of 2500gns, and Mr. Currie endeavoured to get in touch ' with Lady James Douglas, who was the vendor, but did not manage to do so. Mr. Currie was prepared to go to the reserve, but the colt remained in England, and after winning the Two Thousand Guineas, Derby, and St. Leger, became one of the most sficcessful sires of the day. His only son in New Zealand is Mr. Harry Hassall's "Soutra" (Hastings) sire Gainscourt. Gallant Fox Arrives. Melbourne papers report the arrival there of S. G. Ware with Gallant Fox. With Araunah also racing there the Gisborne-owned Hunting Song is represented by a couple of smart gallopers. Close Betting. A remarkahle feature of the Southland Racing Cluh's meeting was the generally close betting in several events. This may be accepted as proof of a handicap puzzle, and on the other hand it may be regarded as evidence that the soutbern sportsmen back a horse without consideration of the weights and measures of form (says "Sentinel")- Five horses started in the Winter Oats, and the margin between the favourite and the outsider of the field was covered by £98 10s. An Owner Ret'iring It is rumoured in the North Island that the Foxton owner, Mr. F. S. Easton, intends giving up racing. His trainer, A. Quinlivan, has only Moutoa Treasury in -work at Awapuni, while the jumper High Heather is in work on his owner's farm. High Heather was bought by Mr. Easton after the gelding won the Grandstand Steeplechase at Wanganui a year ago. Mr. Easton's chief claim to notice as an owner lies with that good horse Amythas, and the jumper Master Strowan. The latter won the Grand National Steeplechase in 1917, and among many races, Amythas won the Dunedin Cup, Canterbury Cup, C.J.C. Callenge Stakes, Hazlett Memorial, Invercargill Cup, Awapuni Gold Cup, New Zealand St. Leger and Trentham Gold Cup. Amythas was at that time trained by F .D. Jones at Riccarton.

Improved Display 1 Kowhatu gave a much improved display in' the Wanganui Steeplechase, leading for nearly two miles and jumping in his usual proficient style He was not forward enough to see out the distance, hut he shaped well enough to make his prosp'ects of winning a race over eountry shortly; look bright He will make his next appearance in the Hawke's Bay Steeples. Cruciform and Wakeful. Two great battlas, in which New Zealand's representatives prevailed, are recalled by a Melbourne wriber in connection with R. J. Mason's death. "Wakeful was rather later than usual in resuming work, consequently she was not quite so forward as her owner, Mr. Macdonald, would have liked when she went to Sydney in August, 1901, to tackle Cruciform at Randwick. Cruciform was one of the best horses ever raced by Mr. G. G. Stead and trained by Mason, and her meeting with Wakeful was eagerly awaited, both in New Zealand and Australia. Strangely 'enough, neither Mr. Stead nor Mr. Macdonald was at all sanguine about the result. Before they met for the first time in the Spring Stakes, Mr. Macdonald thought that, as Wakeful was not quite wound up, Cruciform would win; and Mr. Stead inclined to the belief that if Wakeful was not at her top his mare might just win. That was how it worked out, as there was only a head between them at the post, and Cruciform was in front." Memory of Gloaming. "Thoroughbred" lias written to the Christchurch Press suggesting that the remains of Gloaming should be preserved for the museum . When this letter was submitted to Mr. G. T. Greenwood, he said that while he appreciated the motives behind the correspondent's suggestion, he regretted very much that he was unable to preserve Gloaming's skin or other parts of his body except his hoofs. "The poor old chap," he said, "had not been in the best of health," and he thought it best not to preserve his skin, as it would not have done him justiee in his condition. He had, he said, decided to bury Gloaming on a site in Teviotdale and erect a stone to his memory. Fr'isco Jack Returns. J. J. MJaller, who raced Frisco Jack with considerable success in the 1927-28 ssason, has put the Sir Frisco gelding back into active work with a view to aseertaining whether he will stand up to racing Since being last raced, Frisco Jack has been hunted and has compete.l at t oi :it -y sports meetings, wbsre the jumpers are catered for, with a large degree of success. As he has stood up to all that has been asked of him, this brilliant 'chaser may again be seen in ' action. Waller has also talcen in hand Gaswyn, the Gasbag gelding who fell two fences from home when acting as one of the pacemakers in the Kairanga Hurdles at the Manawatu meeting. Incidentally, another of the family, in F. R. Waller, has received a half-brother of Aurora Borealis, by Gasbag, to replace Arrowhead, whom he lost at Marton. Good Showing. Adventus made a good showing in his first attempt over hurdles at the Manawatu meeting recently and at Wanganui he gave another two encouraging displays, being third in the Century Hurdles and occupying a similar position in the May Hurdles. Adventus displayed useful form when raced on the flat, and now that he has shown that he can jump he should, after the experience he has had recently, be very hard to beat in his next outing.