Turf Notes

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 142, 6 September 1927, Page 10

Turf Notes

By

Coming Along J. "Williamson Is beginning to send the Australian-bred Bombardier along and the gelding is approaching something like racing shape. Bombardier will most likely be a competitor at the Avondale meeting. May Be Schooled Salamander, who has been getting through a lot of useul work at | Ellerslie, shows plenty of promise when extended. It is his owner’s intention to give him a few lessons over the hurdles when a favourable opportunity occurs. Practically Recovered Golden Krist who ricked a muscle on the back when contesting the Jellicoe Handicap at the Pakuranga meeting, is beginnig to throw off the ailment though he is not being asked to do a great deal on the tracks. Holiday Ended Both Frowning Beauty and Lady Robinson have been placed in work again after enjoying a holiday. Both mares look none the worse for the spell, and have built up considerably. A Full Book The Auckland horseman, H. Wiggins, lias already a full book for the first day of the Wanganui meeting. his mounts being Alloway, Athenry, Liason, Royal Land, Tea Time, and Whenuanui. Wiggins leaves Auckland for the scene of operations to-night. Riding at Wanganui H. Reilly, who rode Tame Fox and Miss Mercia to victory at the Marton meeting, has been engaged to pilot Vivo and Partaga at the Wanganui fixture, which commences on Thursday. Very Fit A visit to Wanganui tracks last Saturday morning disclosed the interesting fact that one of the fittest horses there was Grand Knight, and so well is he. and so impressed are the cognoscenti, that he will start favourite in the New Zealand Eclipse Stakes on Saturday. In the writer’s opinion, a bigger track than Wanganui would suit him better. Found Him Out After his good effort the first day, when he was beaten by Royal Mint, Nukumai was again heavily backed on Saturday, only to run badly. He was never prominent, and was actually last at the finish. The hard race lie had the first day, following the racing he has had over the past couple of months, apparently told its tale. Better for a Race Lysander was noticed at Wanganui last Saturday pulling hard at the end of an easy five furlongs. The colt looks well, and his first appearance this season will be in the Flying Handicap at Wanganui. He will find this outing an advantage, for his race in the New Zealand Eclipse Stakes, in which he will run well, for he is such a brilliant beginner. This is necessary at Wanganui. Ready for a Coup Te Monanui looked well when he was sent out to contest the Heaton Park Handicap on Saturday, and he was fairly well supported. In the middle stages he drifted back to second last, and then, crossing the top, he moved up, being fifth into the straight. He made a good run from there, but could not keep it going. When he strikes a dry course Te Monanui is going to be a hard horse to head off. Brilliant Daughter of Elysian Civility is to make her first appearance this season at the Auckland spring meeting at Ellerslie. There is nothing the matter with her, the reason for her not being paid up for at Wanganui being that her owner did not wish to run the risk of getting more weight for such small stakes. There is something in his idea of things, too. In the meantime, Civility is working brilliantly. Big Team for Auckland The Wanganui trainer, W. Rayner, leaves at the end of next week for Ellerslie with a team of six horses — Mask, Lysander, Damaris, Thaw. Covent Garden, and the two-year-old Episode. It is a strong combination, and it is expected that with the exception of the youngster all will be raced at Wanganui this week, which should serve to tune them up fpr Auckland engagements. The team will stay over for the Auckland meeting, which this year is to be held a fortnight after Avondale. Another Desert Gold? At the Trentham yearling sales last January the Adelaide sportsman, Mr. E. E. Jolly, gave 360 guineas for a chestnut filly by Chief Ruler from Cushla. The youngster has had the name of Flying Binge conferred upon her. and she gives every indication of earning the right to the first half of her appellation. At Wanganui last Saturday the filly was allowed to run along three furlongs with Salt Petrel, and was going much better than the Australian two-year-old. Flying Binge showed herself to be a great galloper, and it would not be at all surprising if she proved to be one of the best of her age. She is a particularly bold galloper, and on a big course—Wanganui may not suit her —she should show her opponents how to gallop. A very bright future appears to be in store for Flying Binge. In the meantime she will require a few more galllops to get her into good racing trim. Smart Two-year-olds There are other good youngsters now domiciled at Wanganui in order to get the benefit of the excellent tracks there. W. Rayner has Episode in steady work. This filly is by Limond from Homage, and although a bit backward just now, should be in good order for the Auckland spring meeting. She is a likely sort. Another there that impressed was Second Wind, in Fred Davis’s charge, and owned by Mr. T. H. Lowry. A chestnut gelding by Grandcourt from First Blow, he is a half-brother to the brilliant Gascony, and from all accounts may prove to be as speedy as his elder relative. Australian Gelding Comes Back On the first day at th.* Marton meeting last week Tame Fox came with a rattle in the straight to get fourth place. On Saturday ho was nearly twice as well backed, although still at a fine price. This time he made no mistakes, and was in front at the distance, finally scoring nicely from Tresham. Tame Fox for some time has been regarded as a has-been, and now this opinion will require reviewing. Imported by Mr. W. Duncan from Australia, Tame Fox raced well for the Wanganui sportsman, winning many races when the ground was bad. Seeing that the going at Marton was very bad, it was made to order for the Volplane gelding. It will be interesting to see if Tame Fox can add to his record on the better tracks that are expected to be in evidence in future.

Tresham's Form Tresliain is a more or less unreliable sort of horse. He ran a good race at Marton the first day, and in consequence was well supported on Saturday. He went another fine race, too. and, finishing strongly, he got to within a neck of the winner, Tame Fox, who held him. Backers in Trouble Fields on the second day of the Marton meeting were on the small side, but this did not make the lot of the backer any happier. They were well astray in the Novice, a big dividend resulting, and from this onward they were in trouble. Two four-horse races .saw the fourth favourite score, one dead-heating with a favourite, whose backers had the unique experience of backing a winner and losing money. No favourite scored outright. Ran Prominently. Making his first appearance of the season, the Papakura-t rained Eden Hall ran a fine race in the Heaton Park Handicap at Marton on Saturday, lying second for most of the journey, and being fourth at the home turn. Then he failed to come on, and finally finished well back. That run should do him a lot of good, and he promises to be running prominently before the spring meetings are concluded. Hard to Follow Once again Mint Leaf has disappointed his admirers. The stable won the principal event the first day at Marton with Royal Mint, and followers of the stable backed Mint Leaf to complete the double. The Catmint horse had every opportunity to score, and was actually the first into the straight, and then lie failed to hold his advantage, third being his portion. Mint Leaf is in good fettle, but he is a hard horse to follow with the object of increasing one’s bank balance. Very Much Off the Course The apprentice rider of Star Area, was having his first ride in public when he contested the Heaton Park Handicap at Marton on Saturday. Drawing the outside, the youngster made no attempt to cross the field going out of the straight, but was near the outer rail until he got to the six furlongs mark. Then he -kept out until ho got a good lead, and came over. The distance of the race was eight and a-half furlongs; it is a safe bet to say that Star Area covered at least nine furlongs. The Acre gelding showed that he has the pace, and may soon be in the money. Both Faltered—and Dead-heat The open sprint at Marton on Saturday was remarkable for a rare finish, attended by an unusual coincidence, quite apart from the fact that in a four-horse field two dead-heated. Starboard Light made practically all the running, but at the distance Huikai, a firm favourite, caught him, and then gradually forged ahead. Eighty yards from home Huikai was three parts of a length in the lead, when Starboard Light faltered. Almost at the same time Huikai did the same thing, but his opponent was quicker to recover, and his rider, putting in a vigorous finish, enabled Starboard Light to get up on the post. It was rather an extraordinary affair. When both horses faltered within a couple of strides of each other it looked as if there had been some interference, but this was not so.