Turf Notes

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 120, 11 August 1927, Page 6

Turf Notes

“EARLY BIRD”

Pakuranga Acceptances A final reminder is given owners and trainers that acceptances for the Pakuranga Hunt meeting, to be held at Ellerslie on Saturday week, close at 5 p.m. • to-morrow. Marton Entries Nominations for the spring fixture (on September 2 and 3) of the Marton Jockey Club close at 9 o’clock tomorrow night. The meeting is to be held on the new course at Marton. Another From Eulogy In making reference a few days ago to the progeny of Eulogy, the brilliant three-year-old filly Eulalie was overlooked. Eulalie is a flyer over five furlongs, and up to this distance c.ould go probably as fast as anything else from this great brood mare. Good Try-Out Volant galloped particularly well at Riccarton on Monday, making Wheimanui and Royal Mint look like a pair of common hacks. Volant was not engaged on the first day of the Grand National meeting, but will be seen out in the six furlong races. He is to be ridden by T. Green. £14,000 Two-year-oid Race The Belmont Park (New York) Futurity, known in olden days as llie Coney Island Futurity, now carries a purse of about 70,000 dollars, and is older than either the Kentucky Derby or the Preakness. It is for two-year-olds, with geldings barred. G.O.M. of Racing Indisposed Sir George Clifford passed a fair night on Monday, but is still seriously ill with an attack of bronchitis, writes “Sir Modred.” A statement compiled here shows that horses bred at the' Stonyliurst stud have won over 500 races while racers disposed of by Sir George have won over £ 00,000 in stake money.

Not a Cauliflower Ear H. McSweeney made his reappearance in the saddle at Riccarton on Monday morning. 1-Ie lost half an ear in the melee when Isla Bank fell with him in the Homeby Steeplechase. Should Make Good The hunter Whakatoe, in E. Pope’s stable, shapes very well over the hurdles in schooling tasks at Ellerslie, and if this maiden performer can stay should be able to make matters interesting at the Pakuranga Hunt meeting. A win for trainer Pope would not come out of its turn, as for some time past ortune’s wheel has not turned in his direction, despite the fact that he is very painstaking in his duties. Started at Otaki 11. Cairns, who has been engaged to ride Commendation in his Australian engagements, is well known in New Zealand, as he first commenced riding here, being apprenticed to the Otaki trainer, if. Higgott. Cairns, however, has done most of his riding in Australia, and he is recognised as one of the leading horsemen of the Commonmealth. Weight limits his sphere of operations somewhat, but he will be able to make the weights that Commendation will carry without any difficulty. Royal Lineage’s Win When he raced at Woodville six months ago the youngster, Royal Lineage, created a very favourable impression, and gave promise of being a splendid three-year-old. In the Cashmere Plate on Tuesday Royal Lineage won handsomely, and he may now go on with it. Unfortunately he is not engaged in the early classics, the Wanganui and Avondale Guineas. The two-year-old colt Principal, in J. Buchanan’s stables at Ellerslie, is a half-brother by Thespian to Royal Lineage. A Good Teacher There are several identities around about Ellerslie, but there is no one better-known than Frank Weston. When it comes to breaking in and handling a young horse very few, if any, have it on Weston. Not only does he quieten his charges very quickly, but in his methods teaches the babies good manners. A couple of weeks ago Weston began operations on a yearling colt by Gold Circle from Solique, and therefore' a full brother to Segment. In a couple of days the juvenile was mounted, broken and ridden, and to see him now as quiet as the proverbial bus horse one cannot help but comment on the rapid manner in which he was educated and not display any vices. There are othei's too numerous to mention that Weston has broken, all with good results. Every man to his own trade is a true saying, and certainly Weston’s job is. educating thoroughbred juveniles.

The Favourite Quitted The Winter Cup showed up Magna Charta in his true colours, for he was beaten without putting up any sort of fight, sayS the “Dominion.” The placed horses were all outsiders and paid substantial divdends. There was no fluke about the win of Solferite, for he drew 19, began well and scored very decisively. His Hunt Club running did not suggest his effort, and, as a matter of fact, the stable relied upon Taboo, but at the same time there was no reason why Solferite should have been allowed to go out at such a forlorn price. Nincompoop ran a really good race, being in the firing line all the wav. Assiirance’s effort was firstclass. He was well back early, but finished very solidly. Kaiti ran a fine race, but just failed to see it out. Taboo lost his chances at the start, and at the five-furlong post was well in the rear. His fifth at the post gives an idea how well he finished over the last stages. Joy Bird also ran an excellent race considering she gave them all a start, and her sixth place at the post was very ci'editable indeed. Indian Sage finished seventh; in addition to drawing a wide out position; he did not begin too well and had a lot of ground to make up, but at the same time it was no more than Assurance had to bridge. Chiekwheat, Black Mint, Tresham and Royal Mint were all finishing on well, and but for interference in the first furlong Royal Mint, who drew No. 1, would have been much closer. Merry Damon was always well back, so was Soltoe. Whenuanui showed speed in the first half, but was then going back. Horomea was another always well back, and she never got a run at any stage; she went down very well in her preliminary. Huikai showed speed for six furlongs. Peho was well up for three furlongs, but then went right back. The three placed horses were all South Islanders.

Taranaki Hunt Cup The Taranaki Hunt meeting is to be held on the Saturday following the Pakuranga fixture. The only Auckland horse nominated is Sea Comet, who is engaged in the Hunt Cup and the Hunters' Steeplechase. Promising Filly Among the entries for the Opunake Scurry, five furlongs, at the Taranaki Hunt meeting on August 27, is Miss Mercia. This filly is a brown by The Verderer or Allegory from Argea, and last season showed plenty of pace and much greenness in her only outing at the Felding meeting on December 1. The filly is owned by Mrs. Walter Graham, of New Plymouth, whose blue jacket, white band livery has been so unluckily borne the past twelve months by Te Monanui. Miss Mercia claims an engagement in the Wanganui and Avondale Guineas. Brilliant Ascot Ascot is, by general consent, the most brilliant racing festival of the season. It is likewise the meeting at which the biggest plums can be picked up taking the programmes from day to day. though 'there is, of course, no individual event of the value, say. of the Derby. There is, however, no prize that does not run into four figures. Here also owners are not called upon to supply the bulk of the wherewithal the added money representing a considerable sum in every case. The richest event of the week was the Coronation Stakes, which went to Lord Astor through Book Law. The winner in this instance qualified for 4,750 sovs. Next in point of value came the Gold Cup, which went to Sir Abe Bailey by the aid of Foxlaw. The net value of this race was 3,600 so vs. Other events worth more than 3,000 sc , s to the lucky owners were the Queen Mary Stakes (won by Major McCalmont), and the St. James’s Palace Stakes (Mr. A. B. Walker), while in several instances the prize money ran into the third thousand. Crack Two-year -old

Royal Feast, the boss Australian two-year-old of the season, has begun his preparation for three-year-old racing at Williamstown. There he is beyond the ken of ordinary touts, just as horses are at Roseliill, Moorefield and Canterbury Park, but it is said that Royal Feast is moving along nicely. He has wintered well. The colt’s owner, Mr. W. E. J. Craig, is abroad, but has authorised his attorney, Mr. E. A. Underwood, to give Royal Feast his first race as a three-year-old in the Underwood Stakes, w.f.a., at Williamstown on August 27. Royal Feast will shortly afterwards come to Sydney. Apparently it is not intended to race him at the Warwick Farm meeting, which opens the spring campaign on September 3. He was never in the Hobartville Stakes, to be run on that day, neither is he in the Roseliill Guineas, for which Sydney owners of rising three-year-olds will, no doubt, offer up thanksgiving. If Royal Feast is started in the Chelmsford Stakes at Tattersall’s meeting on September 10, or in other w.f.a. events, a new rider may have to be found for him, as M. McCarten, who rode him this season, will no doubt be wanted for Limerick. The question of riders for the two horses was discussed when both were in Sydney in the autumn, but it was left to be raised again if they meet in a race this spring. Mr. H. A. Knight, owner of Limerick, has first claim on McCarten. That accomplished jockey will have the mount on Royal Feast in the Derbies. Ovation for Beau Cavalier

Beau Cavalier scored a very decisive victory, and both lie and his rider received a great ovation as they returned to scale. It was indeed a fine performance, for not only did he make all the running, but when tackled at a critical stage by Charlatan he was still good enough to. run with him and settle the Southerner’s chance by superior jumping. He hooked one or two fences behind, but throughout the race he was always going like a winner. Peter Maxwell ran a fine race, and jumped very well, but was no match for the winner. Peter Maxwell showed good staying qualities over the concluding stages, as both Charlatan and Zircon looked likely to beat him six furlongs from home. Kawini did not run up to expectations; he nearly tossed out at the brush fence at the straight entrance the first time round, and at no stage was he really dangerous. Tuki jumped well, but lacked the necessary pace. Charlatan ran a good race all the way till he hit the sod wall about five furlongs from home. The mistake was undoubtedly due to him tiring, and he came in very distressed—a great contrast to the winner, who went out and came in in first-class condition. Maunga spoilt a great chance by his mistake, and must have been in it at the finish, although it would be too much to say he would have won. Zircon ran a very good race for about three miles, and showed no tendency to shirk his fences. Beau Cavalier’s time has only been beaten twice—by Oakleigli in 1922 and by Peter Maxwell last year.—“ Dominion.”