Turf Note

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 103, 22 July 1927, Page 6

Turf Note

RV

“EARLY BIRD”

To-morrow’s Racing The South Canterbury Hunt meeting is to be held to-morrow. Several Grand National candidates claim engagements. Temporary Trainer R. Hall, the trainer of Kawini, brought Catapult home, and he left the steeplechaser at Trentham. Kawini will be shipped to Riccarton to-night, and will go into the stable of T. H. Gillett, and remain in his charge until Hall finds it convenient to travel to Riccarton. To Race at Marton The English horse Grand Knight, who has been doing steady hill and road work recently, commences another preparation in earnest this week, and his next public appearance will be made either at the Marton or Wanganui spring meetings. National Candidates Rangiawhio, Rangatahi, and Peter Maxwell, members of J. F. Tutchen’s team at Frankton, will compete at the Christchurch Hunt meeting at Riccarton on Saturday week, prior to the two latter participating in events at the Grand National gathering on the same course, says the “Waikato Times.” Rangiawhio is entered in the Kennels Hurdle Handicap, one round and a distance, and the Hunters’ Plate Handicap, one mile and a-quarter. Rangitalii is in the Longbeach Hurdle Handicap. once round and a distance, and Peter Maxwell figures in the Hornsby Steeplechase, about two miles, at 'the same meeting. Peneus for Sydney When J. M. Cameron leaves for Sydney from Wellington to-day he will not take Egyptian Flower, but the fourth member of his team will be Mr. C. F. Vallance’s hurdler Peneus. Peneus shows a good deal of promise as a jumper, and might do well on the other side. Big Punters’ Lucky Escape A recent pony meeting at Kensington was a drastic day for punters, but one heavy bettor was lucky enough to get square on the day, after having liabilities totalling £1,700. Toward the end of the day he bet heavily, in an endeavour to square accounts, but liia losses become larger. His last hope was the final event. He plunged on Gay Dream, and saved on Dijon, who was defeated by a short head. Gay Dream won, and the lucky bettor showed a profit on the day’s transactions.

Maunga on the Spot Maunga jias arrived at Riccarton, to fulfil engagements a 4. the Christchurch Hunt Club and C.J.C. Grand National meetings. He will be a starter in the open steeplechase at the hunt meeting prior to running at the Grand National fixture. He will be ridden iu all his engagements—which do not include any hurdling events —by A. Griffiths. Maunga looked a great deal better at Trentham than he did after he returned to Hastings from Ellerslie and his trainer says that he has done well lately. His showing in the Winter Hurdles can be disregarded, as lie could not handle the holding going. When Maunga ran second to Beau Cavalier in the Great Northern Steeplechase he carried 9.13, as against the winner’s 9.7. At Riccarton Beau Cavalier is called upon to carry 11.7, and Maunga 10.5. How It’s Dona

The successful operation recently upon a horse of thyroid gland treatment called forth the following from a contributor to the •Bulletin”: “This animal, which had hitherto been recognised as a bookmaker’s friend, brought home the bacon. 1 want to know if that’s the sort of honest and lair dealing that should obtain among gentlemen that is gentlemen. If X was to get one of the boys to put a shot’ into something I wanted livened up or steadied, according as the cash came, what would happen if the stewards took a rumble? Why, saliva swabbings, and analysts, and perhaps the outer for me, with the kids and the missus crying in vain for their champagne with the porridge and their diamond necklaces. Yet here’s an owner allowed to get his prad doped under the lap, and tear down the hard-earned profits of as unsuspecting and lawabiding a set of men as,ever opened up with the text ‘Six to four the field.’ A tough world? Too right! Even the pony nobility’ll be hard put to it to earn a living if this sort of thing goes on.” “Law-avoiding” is good. Wharncliffe’s Form By increasing Wharncliffe’s weight 71b. and leaving Perle de Leon on the same mark in the Grand National Hurdles as compared with Winter Hurdles Handicap, Mr. Russell has pointed in no uncertain fashion to the South Islander’s chances next month. "The Watcher” declares that there is no doubt that in another few yards, Wharricliffe could have overtaken Nukumai, and as he is a rare stayer the extra distance at Riccarton will be all in his favour.

More for Australia It has now been definitely decided that Piuthair and Clarinda are to go to Australia, and they are to be shipped in three weeks’ time. Probably T. Green will go across to do the riding. If he does he will have a rare chance to show his critics on the other side that he knows how to ride. If one is to believe what they write, then Dominion jockeys are not much good. A Step Further The Grand Nationals and Winter Cup events are to be advanced a step further to-night, when acceptances close. At the same time general entries will be taken. Popular Institution A sign of the times at Trentham last week was the popularity of the tenshilling totalisator, comments a Wellington writer. The amount of business done by this section of the totalisator astounded even the club officials. Peter Maxwell Departs J. F. Tutchen left Frankton last night for Riccarton with Peter Maxwell, Rangatahi and Rangiawhao, and the team should be at Riccarton to-mor-row morning. Mount Marta’s New Owner Mr. Eric Riddiford dearly loves a jumper, and of recent years he has had some distinctly useful sorts in Coalition, En Route, Dubious and Master Peter, to mention just a few that come to mind. Probably it is

with a view to owning another Coalition that Mr. Riddiford has now completed the purchase of Mount Marta from Mr. H. L. Russell, who left the horse at Trentham. . Mount Marta claims an engagement in the Grand National Hurdles, and although this at present may be a bit beyond him, there is no doubting the fact that the Mountain Knight gelding has pace and jumping ability. Only a five-year-old, there should be plenty o 3 time yet for Mount Marta to develop into a Coalition. Mount Marta contested the Great Northern Steeplechase last month, and he toppled over at the same timte as Comical. Up to that stage the gelding was making a good showing in his first effort over country. Well Tried!

A racing pressman in England recently was discussing with an ownerfriend the wisdom of buying yearlings at big prices. The latter gave it out as his opinion that buying tried two-year-olds was a much better investment. “I was not at all surprised to learn later,” adds the pressman, “that my friend had married a young widow.” Gala Day Lame

After galloping on the sand track at Ellgrslie this morning Gala Day showed signs of lameness, but the trobule is not considered serious, and he should be all right again in the course of a few days. Valkyrian Youngster C. Hodder is handling a, rising two-year-old gelding by Valkyrian from Te Akitai. Developing Zane Grey has grown considerably during the past six months, and is now a very tall gelding. Owing to his rapid growth in height he is not as robust as he might be. Training at Wanganui In view of the fact that the Marton meeting is now only some six weeks off, training operations at "Wanganui are beginning to liven up. The local trainers have most of their horses well forward, and those wanted for early racing should be in good fettle by September. Tuesday morning’s track work was mostly of the serviceable order. Thaw and Damaris were sent half a which they covered comfortably in 55sec., the last three furlongs taking 42sec. Sanfcldt, with C. Butler in the saddle, was schooled over the big fences and jumped well. With Crown Coin to give him a lead, Break o’ Day was given his first school over the hurdles, and shaped well for a beginner in clearing three obstacles. Crown Coin went on for another round by himself. He looks bright and well after his racing at Trentham.