Durf Notes

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 179, 19 October 1927, Page 10

Durf Notes

By

•‘EARLY BIRD."

A Big Week-End The 'Waikato Racing Club holds its spring meeting on Friday and Saturday next at Te Rapa. The important Wellington fixture comes up for decision on Saturday and Monday (Labour Day), and on the latter day also the Waikato Hunt Club races at Cambridge. In addition there are some minor meetings set down for Labour Day, the principal one being at Waverley. New Arrival A recent addition to F. Stenning’s Ellerslie stable is a four-year-old mare by imported Swift Flight from Olga Petrova. On appearances she should soon come to hand. Showed Promise At Ellerslie recently Salamander, ridden by A. Rutherford, was given a schooling lesson over two pony hurdles. It was the first time he was asked to jump, but his effort suggested that with experience he should make good.

Looking Well The English-bred Imported, who has been having an easy time of it of late, is back once more at Ellerslie, and W. Ryan will give him a tuning up for events ahead. Tlis condition is good, and he should soon be in racing order. On Easy Street After winning at the Pakuranga Hunt meeting the hmcdler Fair Abbey was given a let-up and is now cooling bis heels in the paddock. It is his owner's intention not to do anything further with him for a few months. Starting Work The three-year-old gelding Kelso has been placed in K. E. Brown’s stable at Ellerslie. Kelso, who so far has not sported silk, was got by Feramoz from Amy Lyons, by Conductor from Lady Ulous, by Fabulous from the Trafalgar mare Lady Hamilton. Kept Busy Although Wyoming and Storm Fiend are not engaged at the Waikato meeting on Friday and Saturday, they are nevertheless being kept in steady work in view of other fixtures near at hand. A. Morrow has the pair in fine order, and they should be better suited by the firm tracks likely to be experienced as the season advancesBusiness Improving Diamond Queen is now in Bert Cowan’s charge at Ellerslie. The same mentor is also receiving a maiden gelding by Day Comet, named White Light, to be prepared for future engagements. Cowan recently set up as a trainer on his own account, and he already has half a dozen horses under his charge. Remaining Here

Taitaiata was not returned home after the Auckland spring meeting, at which gathering it will be remembered the stewards, on a veterinary surgeon’s advice, ordered his withdrawal from the Onehunga Steeplechase, but was blistered, and is to enjoy a spell in these parts. Will Have Friends

Branson, who won so decisively at the recent Auckland meeting, has been moving freely on the tracks at Ellerslie in view of his engagements at Te Rapa, where he will be ridden by A. Driscoll. He left to-day so as to be able to have a gallop on the Waikato course on Thursday. In view of his last easy victory, Branson is sure to have a host of admirers, who should not be disappointed with his showing in whatever he tackles. What They Cost

Candidates for the A.J.C. Derby ranged from a 4,100 guineas yearling to a humble 90 guineas purchase. Only two Australian yearlings have ever realised more than Sion and Glenariff. but the fact of their being among the Derby runners did not indicate that they have proved worth the money that was expended on them, for they were both unplaced. Sion (4,100 guineas) and is still a maiden, and Glenariff (3,800 guineas) has won only one small ra'ce.

A Good Week’s Work Limerick credited Mr. 11. A. Knight with £6,002 as a result of liis efforts at the A.J.C. spring meeting, the amount being made up as follows: First Spring Stakes, £1,840; breeder, £125; second Metropolitan, £1,200; first Craven Plate, £ 2,187, breeder £150; second Hanwick Plate, £SOO- It is computed that his toltal winnings since he opened his career as a two-year-old are £23,086. France's Big Day In France, Sunday, in particular, is the day favoured for racing, and there is no lack of meetings. Of course, the pari-mutuel is used at all and, touching on one objection to the totalisator raised by its opponents in England, a Paris writer says: "The excuse put forward frequently by those opposed to the introduction of the pari-mutuel or totalisator in England is that meetings are so widely scattered, and so different to the system in other countries, that the installation would not be practicable in England. I wonder what these opponents of the totalisator will have to say in dealing with the fact that last Sunday there were 35 flat and jumping meetings on that particular day scattered all over France, and the , pari-mutuel was used at each.”

Jockeys, Too Two Melbourne jockeys, 11. Lewis and 11. Junes, have reason to be satisfied with their trip to Sydney. Lewis received £343 11s as his percentage for winning the Derby on Trivalve, and Jones £ISI 14s for his wins on Vaals and Bicolour. However, Jones’s present for his success on Vaals made the winning percentage look small. Lewis would be sure of something substantial in addition to his fee, and Bartle’s wins on Murillo and Mote returned him a lot more than his £312 Is percentage. Bred in the Purpie The following foalings arc reported from the Koa.ta.nui Stud:—Pennon, a bay colt to Thespian; Eulogy, a bay filly to Limond, this being a sister to Commendation; Rose Queen, a brown colt to Thespian; Drax, a chestnut filly to Absurd, this being the English mare’s first foal, which is said to be a really good looker; Farce, a bay filly to Limond; Tivoli, a brown filly to Limond, this last also being a first foal.

Shows Promise Daytaro, who is a member of A. P. Brady’s team at Te Rapa, will have his first racing of the new season on his home course this • week-end. writes “Martian” in the Waikato "Times.’’ The Day Comet —Delendi gelding has been in work for some time. There were occasions during the past term when Daytaro was prominent in races round the country circuit, and an improvement may be expected of him when he is thoroughly seasoned. Slow From the Gate Day Guide is engaged in the first division of the Trial Handicap at Te Rapa on Friday. This descendant of Day Comet—Lady Ellen was introduced to racing at Taumavunui last season, but he was tardy in leaving the barrier, which effectively settled any prospects he may have had. In his training essays Day Guide has displayed a useful turn of speed when wound up and there are possibilities with him. Keeps on Bobbing Up Gold Jacket has yet to make his appearance of the new season. The San Fran—Voca gelding may be found racing at Te Rapa this week. It was at this centre in the autumn where Gold Jacket scored his last victory of the old season. That was in the Rangiri.ri High Weight Handicap of one mile, which he won by three-quar-ters of a length from Rarangi, with Quincoma in third place. While not brilliant Gold Jacket pays his way. Likes it Short

Bracken Abbey, who is a member of R. Hannon’s team with engagements in the near future, has not had a race since the Te Kuiti meeting in February. The Quin Abbey—Redfern gelding had a win, a second and a third placing in eight starts last season. He scored his success in the Matapuna Hack Handicap, five furlongs, at the Taumarunui fixture. Bracken Abbey has pace but he does not stay too well.

Getting On A Napier writer has just received word that “Bill” Davies, who at one time was training, at Wellington, is looking well and going strong in Sydney. Davies at one time had the pencillers in the Dominion well scared of him. At the finish the layers of “tote” odds would not book a bet on any of his team, unless clients would accept half the rates paid to backers of other horses. That was at the time that G. (“Stump”) Price was doing his riding, and when Field Battery, Leda, Ballarat, Landwern, Kent, Swordfish, Swordbelt, Melwood and other good horses were sent forth for battle from his establishment at the Lower Hutt. “Bill” must be getting into the sere and yellow now, for he was a man when I first made his acquaintance at Temuka, over half a century ago, when he was training a mare, Mignonette by name, for Mr. “Mick” Barrett, of Temuka, with whom he won a Geraldine Cup. Flying Childsplay

On© swallow does not make a summer, nor do all swallow-catchers make great racers, but the McLean Stakes unearthed one that looks sure to bring Sir George Clifford’s blue and gold chequers into prominence when tlid principal two-year-old events are on the card, declares the Dunedin writer “Sentinel.” She was wide out at 14 when lining to the barirer, but once balanced in her stride she was pulling oyer the rest of the field, and finally won going away. Childsplay is the speediest two-year-old seen at Wingatui sinco Nones won in 1914. Nones looked sure to take a power of beating in the Welcome Stakes, but she did not get a place nor win again during her first season. Childsplay is well engaged, and figures in the Welcome Stakes and Wellesley Stakes as well as other important events. The Chokebore Lodge stable may have other arrows in the quiver, and one of them may be Full Feather, so that the colours may bo labelled “dangerous” for the rest of the season. An Interesting Guide The nominations for leading events at the Canterbury Jockey Club’s meeting are of great interest in the light they cast on New Zealand Cup prospects. There will be no more Cup payments for some time, but the races which closed a few days ago include those in which the Cup horses will take part. Apparently the Auckland contingent, including Eden Hall, Nippy. In the Shade, Desert Glow and Phaola, will not make the trip, while Nukumai, Honey, Euphonium, Black Mint, Solrose, Beau Geste, Royal Head, Mandarine, Ark Royal, Stretton and Boy are others who may be dropped out of Cup calculations, for a similar reason. There are 26 Cup horses, however, whose owners appear to hold serious intentions regarding the twomile race, based on the fact that they appear to be booked for a trip to Ricl carton next month to contest other ; races over a distance- Overhaul may ! also be there, but apparently he is to i race only in shorter events. Wellington Engagements Declined j Paleta, Kiosk. Torquil and Ruanui ; have been scratched for all engagei ments at Trentham.