Surf Notes

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 122, 13 August 1927, Page 6

Surf Notes

By

"EARLY BIRD"

Assurance May Do Better Assurance was one of the unlucky horses in the Winter Cup. He finished particularly well, and with a run three furlongs *rom home probably would have won. A Likely One Among the two-year-olds at Ellerslie who have been working along nicely is King Val. This Valkyrian representative is built on racy lines, and it will come as a surprise if he fails to make good. Attractive Work War Officer still continues to gallop well at headquarters, and pleases by the manner in which he handles himself when sprinted, usually over six furlongs. The Pakuranga meeting should see the son of Warplane and Lady Officer ready to make a bold bid for victory. Dominion Sires’ Success In the list of winning sires in Australia for last season the following I were the amounts credited to the New Zealand-owned division: Martian, £ 12,863; Limond, £11,952; Absurd, £9,673; Kilbroney, £4,378; Paper Money, £3,027; Sutala, £2,050; Day Comet, £1,615; Tea Tray, £1,375; Leighton, £1,362; Sojferino, £991. Aucklanders For Marton As anticipated there is a strong Auckland provincial contingent under orders for the Marton meeting on September 2 and 3. The following are among those nominated:—Tea Time, Tidal, Miss Potoa, Hangawera, Athcnry, Ramblin' Kid, Tintoretto, Red Comet, Eden Hall, Arsene Lupin, Town Bird, Te Kawana, Whakarite, Lady Cynthia, Valkon, Le Choucas, In The Shade. Crack Jockey A Sydney writer states that it is many years since a jockey has ridden so many winners in the metropolitan area as did Stan Davidson in the 1926-27 racing season. Davidson scored 581 wins, which places him 19 ahead of his nearest rival, Ted Bartle, who has 38 wins and three dead heats to his credit. Most prominent among Davidson’s victories was his win on Plastoon in the Sydney Cup, on Persuasion in the Adrian Knox Stakes, and on Horton Gag in the Newcastle Cup. During the season Davidson rode with marvellous, success in the country, and counting his “bush” successes scored well over 100 wins. McCarten rode 20 winners, his percentage being excellent. Charlatan Interfered With After the Grand National Steeplechase at Riccarton on Tuesday, S. Henderson, rider of Beau Cavalier, was questioned in regard to interference with Charlatan at the sod wall the last time. It was established that the winner did interfere with Charlatan, causing the later to hit very hard at the fence, but there was not sufficient evidence to show that the happening was intentional. Charlatan at the time was going particularly well, and had run up and joined Beau Cavalier. A number of astute judges, who by force of circumstances were viewing the race from an inconspicuous position at the back of the course, and incidentally near the sod wall, state decidedly that Charlatan was going just as well as Beau Cavalier at the time, and the mishap cost the Southerner a winning chance. Irish Ring- In The point-to-point events that are just now being got off by New Zealand. Hunt Clubs, combined with the “ring-in” case before the courts in Australia, may lend interest to the following from the Emerald Isle: An investigation into a scandal in Irish point-to-point circles has just been completed, and the outcome of it is that Mr. Frank C. Walker and Mr. R. Shanahan have been warned off all courses under the jurisdiction of the Irish National Hunt Steeplechase Committee and the Irish Turf Club. The scandal arose in connection with the Killinick Harriers’ Point-to-Point meeting at Hardyglass, on Easter Monday. The Members’ Race there was won by a mare called Easter Egg, supposedly the property of Mr. C. H. T. Reade; but the stewards of the point-to-point believed that the mare was in fact Diana, owned by Mr. R. Shanahan, and they so reported to the Irish National Hunt Steeplechase Committee. The Steeplechase Committee held an inquiry on May 12 and 20, and on June 11, and examined the whole of the original entries made lor the Members’ Race. After hearing all the available evidence they found that the entry had been made by Mr.* Walker and not by Mr. Reade, and accordingly “warned off” both Mr. Walker and Mr. Shanahan. Winter Cup Incident The Canterbury Jockey Club’s starter, Mr. P. D. McNab, was placed in an invidious position on Tuesday at Riccarton (writes “Vedette”). In Magna Charta he had a hot favourite, and a horse whose antics upset the field and delayed the start. Eventually both Joy Bird and Magna Charta, who were offending, were olaced behind the field. Magna Charta’s rider did not stay there, however, and he took his mount to the extreme outside. Joy Bird, on the contrary, was kept behind. Magna Charta, when the barrier rose, was one of the first out, and was soon in the lead. Joy Bird, on the contrary, had to force her way through, and it was an extraordinary performance on her part to finish sixth. No doubt Mr. McNab did the right thing in placing both Joy Bird and Magna Charta out of their positions, but in justice both should have been kept in the rear of the field or both allowed to go to the outside.