Turf Notes

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 190, 1 November 1927, Page 10

Turf Notes

By

"EARLY BIRD."

Win for Thames Club As shoving: vhat a vast difference it j makes to a country racing club com- j ing to town, the Thames Jockey Club j totalise.*.or receipts for its annual meet- j ing, held at JBllejrsUe over the week- j end. totalled £91,676, an increase of £58,522 30s over the amount handled at Thames twelve months ago. Country j clubs are finding it extremely difficult j to make €*nds meet these days, and the j time seems to be approaching when a \ good many of them a big majority in fact, will have to look to the metropolitan clubs to assist them in a similar manner that the Auckland Racing I Flub aided the Thames Club by grant- [ ing them the use of their courses. Consistent Mosaic Mosaic has started the present season very auspiciously, for in nine days the diminutive Borne Boy 31- gelding has run in sequence a third, a second, two wins and a third. If this is not consistency, the there is no meaning in the word. Mosaic scored in the Goldstield Cup at BJlerslic on Saturday in most convincing style, spreadeagling the field in the run home. He looked none the worse .Tor this outing yesterday, and lie was backed to win the Thames Plate, one mile, but the toijrid pace set —they cut. out the first foifr furlongs in 47 4-5 and the five in a tick under the minute —had him tangled, and although be finished well lie had to be content with third place. It was a pleasing effort under the circumstances, and with a good weight up. Disappointed Yesterday At Te Rapa Day Guard showed dashing form, and his failure at Cambridge a few days later was not viewed in a

very serious light. In the Goldfields’ Cup on Baturday he ran a fine race and was easily second best to Mosaic, who was probably unbeatable on the day. Yesterday it was thought that the mile of the principal event would be just what be wanted, and he was solidly supported. However, after being prominent to the home turn he compounded.. and finished in fifth ifiace. Waiting for a Rainy Day Master lJoon ran a typical race in the Goldfields' Cup, coming with a fine late run 5n the straight to finish third. Yesterday he was well supported fOr the big mile race, but the pace set was his undoing, and he was one of the last three to finish. The hard going would not be In his favour, and perhaps one might have to wait for a rainy day to be with the Bucullus gelding. Beaten by Ellerslie Course There was no gainsaying the fact that on his Wellington Handicap form Nippy was justly entitled to be favourite for the Goldfields' Cup at Ellerslie on Saturday. Nevertheless he was at a very liberal price, but the argument of some shrewd observers that the Australian-bred gelding cannot act on the Ellerslie course, appeared to have some foundation when Nippy finished fourth, after having every show. He made another appearance in the concluding event, one mile, on the second day of the meeting, and here ill-luck once again dogged the unlucky

Papakura stable, for after going a little over three furlongs Nippy broke down. Incidentally Jamieson's stable started horses in twelve races, and four secvidends, averaging a shade over money hack, was the only return they made- It was excruciating luck. Better Every Way, Every Day Branson, upon his promotion to open company from the ranks of hacks, quickly made his presence felt. His winning effort at Te Rapa was a fitting adieu to his fellow hacks, for that was a particularly attractive performance. At Ellerslie on Baturday lie wore down In the Bhade in the garnest possible fashion, nev< r flinching from his task. He stood the three-year-old up three lengths start from the twofurlong post, and then headed him. Yesterday Branson was always going like a winner in the Parawai Handicap, and taking charge as soon as they bad straightened up he gave nothing else a look-in, winning as lie liked. There should he some good handicap events in store for the Oreyspear gelding this season. Since being taken over and trained by P. W Scally at Ellerslie, Branson has won four races.

Phatfcla In F orrrx Phaola ran an excellent race in third place in the concluding event at the Thames meeting on opening day, and

at the finish was going a bit faster than the two in front of her, Sleepy Sol and Rallymoy 11. Yesterday Phaola, who is a four-year-old sister to the Avondale Stakes winner, Prodice., was always in a prominent position, never further back than fourth, and when she hit the front a furlong from home she went on to score by a length, completing a pleasing performance, and confirming the view that she was a bit unlucky on Saturday. Better as a Sprinter A splendid mile gallop prior to the Thames meeting placed Rally moy 11. in the boom for her Thames engagements at Ellerslie, and she was a shortpriced favourite each day over this distance. A furlong from home on each occasion she was a potential winner, but she weakened over the final furlong and had to be content with second monej'. Rally moy 11. may get a mile later on, and perhaps a bit further, although just now six and seven J furlongs would probably suit her better. J. Williamson lias the daughter of the English sire Sonning in excellent fettle again, and he may not have Ito wait much longer before he leads her in a winner. Gala Day Overlooked by Backers In the Goldfields’ Cup on Baturday Gala Day ran a splendid race, and at j the finish was up with Nippy just behind the placed horses. He was ridden by an apprentice, who handled the Quin Abbey gelding pretty well. Yesterday W. H. Jones was put up, be* despite this improvement, and on top of an [excellent race the opening day, in a smaller pool on the totalisator, Gala Day carried only half as much as on Baturday. He went to the front five furlongs from home, and stayed there, finally winning nicely after stalling off several challengers. R. E- Brown has the gelding at the top of his form, and with the double-figure return the stable, with Saturday’s form in mind, could not have missed throwing in for a good win. Reliable In the Shade In running Batata to half a length in the Great Northern Guineas three weeks before. In the Bhade was re-

garded as unbeatable in the Thames Valley Handicap on Baturday, and a little over a furlong from home the Australian-bred gelding looked as if he would land the short price accepted by his supporters. However Branson proved himself even a better horse than many thought, and he wore him down over the last bit. Yesterday In the Shade was produced in the principal event, one mile, and after running into a good portion early he was running on at the end in second place behind Gaia Day, and a head in front of Mosaic. These were two good races on the part of the three-year-old, despite the hoodoo that is hanging over the stable that shelters him. Still Goes Fast Nancy Bee was easily the best sprinter seen out at the Thames meeting at Ellerslie. Bhe won easily the first day, and yesterday she quickly settled High Finance when she drew up to the Paper Money filly. Both days the latter cloned up when Nancy Bee got alongside. High Finance has as much pace as she displayed last season, but she is pot so keen to go on with it, and the opposition will need to be every bit as weak as it was this week-end if she is to score, unless she takes it into her head to finish on more generously. Death of Limerick’s Dam -Mr. H. A. Knight has suffered a severe loss by the death on {Saturday of his brood mare Medley, darn of tlws champion Limerick and also of Ballvrnena. Bast week Medley foaled a fine colt foul to Limond, but complications set in and the marc did riot recover. Ngaruawahia Club ihe annual meeting of the Ngaruawahia Racing Club was held at the week-end and was well attended. The presidents’ report showed that the club had a very successful meeting last year, while the balance sheet showed a credit of i: 193, and no liabilities. This was considered an excellent record for a non-totallsator club. Officers were elected as follow:—Patron, Mr. Waring; president, Mr. A. Sutherland; secretary, Mr. A. B. Jones; handicapl>ers, flat races, Mr. 1\ J. McManernin, trots’, Mr. C. Gooseman; judge, Mr. T. A. Tangney. It was stated that with the inclusion of two trots on the programme tlie meeting next January should be the most successful in the history of the club. The president notified Mr. W. A. Fla vis, an old member of the club, who is leaving the district, that he had been made the first life member of the club, in recognition of his long and valuable services. He also presented to Mr. Clavis a gold medal. In response Mr. Clavis congratulated the flub on its present prosperous condition.