Turf Notes

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 232, 20 December 1927, Page 8

Turf Notes

By

"EARLY BIRD.”

Marton Acceptances Acceptances for the first day of the Marton New Year meeting are due to close to-night. To Ride In Taranaki H. Dulieu will not be at Elierslie for the approaching meeting, as he intends to ride at the fixtures in Taranaki. Among is mounts are Abi Ngaro and Illingar. Busy Elierslie The majority of the visiting horses for the summer meeting have arrived at Elierslie, Walter Raynor having put in an appearance this morning with four horses from Wanganui. Provincial candidates will show up during the next two or three days. Already the tracks of a morning are very busy, and on Thursday, and again for the linal gallops on Saturday, there should be some interesting try-outs witnessed. Had To Be Good The easy fashion in which Orchus scored at Takapuna reecntly made lots of punters fall over themselves to be on him on Saturday at Te Awamutu, despite the fact that he had drawn number 17 tnarble in a field of 17. Orchus was never sighted, missing the jump-out, and he was not good enough to win from the position he was in. Nor would any other back. Orchus is capable of winning in the best of hack company, and he should pick up a stake or two during the holidays. Failed Badly Reserved for the concluding event at the Waipa meeting on Saturday, Day Guard counted sufficient friends to send him out only a little less fancied than Mosaic, the ultimate winner. Day Guard had every show, being with the leader to the turn, and he then petered out. It was not his true form. Day Guard has to be caught right, and Saturday was not his day. A repetition of his Taumarunui form and even Mosaic would have had his work cut out to catch him.

Ned Kelly Back to Sprints The course of hurdling recently undergone by Ned Kelly has probably improved him, as it has done many horses. In the Flying Handicap at Te Awamutu on Saturday the bushranger ran qyite a good race, being second all the way to the straight, where he began to feel the pinch, arid he finally finished sixth. Value, who ran fairly well at Taumarunui, failed to repeat that form on Saturday, for she was never in the hunt. Bracken Abbey, who paid a surprise dividend at the Waikato Hunt meeting, went strongly for five and a-half furlongs, and on this showing should soon win another hack sprint.

Failed Twice Flying Juliet was produced twice at Waipa on Saturday, and on each occasion she failed to get a situation She had every chance in the Kihikihi Handicap, and compounded when well situated a furlong and a-half from home. In the open sprint she never got near the leaders, and is apparently not yet in form. Like a good many more of her sex, Flying Juliet may not be seen at her best until later in the season. It will be remembered that she won the G.N. Oaks last autumn, and later again ran prominently. On Saturday’s running she does not appeal as a Railway Handicap proposition; she should keep until later on in the season. High Flown a Good Hurdler

As expected, Highflown benefited considerably by his outing over the sticks at Taumarunui, in which he ran Lord Star to a narrow margin. At Te Awamutu on Saturday the Hymettus gelding was always favourite, but was at a good price, and he never gave his supporters a moment's uneasiness. He was in front from the word go, and although headed momentarily by Lady Cintra, it was only on sufferance, for Highflown took the lead when his rider asked him, and then won comfortably by a couple of lengths. It was an attractive effort, and Highflown may pick up another stake before the holiday racing ends. Next Week’s Big Programmes There will be racing enough and to spare next week. First and foremost comes the Auckland Cup meeting, on Monday and Wednesday, and continuing on the following Monday and Tuesday- Then there are the trots in between, on the Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday. The Taranaki meeting is to be held on Monday and Tuesday, and Dunedin is on the same days, while the three days of the Manawatu fixture are set down for Monday, Tuesday and Thursday. These are the meetings of interest to Northerners. Then on Monday and Tuesday, January 2 and 3, in addition to the Elierslie meeting, there will be racing at Marton, Stratford, Hastings, Masterton and at numerous other less important centres.

Tea Time Hurries When backed down to favouritism at the Taumarunui meeting in the open sprint, Tea Time looked a winner at the turn, but when asked to go on and win he compounded, a fact that rather puzzled his trainer. However, in the Flying Handicap at Te Awamutu on Saturday Tea Time made amends in a decisive manner, going to the front at the end of the first furlong and staying there to score a comfortable win. The Tea Tray gelding is at the top of his form just now, and should soon win again. He is engaged in the sevenfurlong hack event at Elierslie on Boxing Day, and he will probably be sent out a warm favourite, despite his penalty. Matinee Hits Out Best On his preliminary alone prior to the Kihikihi Handicap at Te Awamutu on Saturday, Matinee looked to be worth a modest investment, but the Day Comet horse, who has done a season at the stud, was only in modest demand. He was always going extremely well, and at the end soon caught and disposed of the favourite, Awarere. Matinee paid a useful dividend. He carried six and a-half pounds overweight when he won, making his weight 7.6|, and when he was saddled up for the last race his rehandicap put him up to 7.13. He again ran prominently, only to be beaten by a good sort in Mosaic, who of late has been scoring in good handicaps. On his two showings. Matinee is anything but a spent light. Nancy Lee in Disgrace

There was no sailor more at sea than was Nancy Lee in the Flying Handicap at Te Awamutu on Saturday. She was one of those to derive direct benefit from the despatch, but she was allowed to lose her position, and at the end of a couple of furlongs was tailing the field, a position she occupied until the straight was reached, when she made a run to get seventh in a field of 11. Those who have seen Nancy Lee perform on both small and big courses expected her to negotiate the bends on Saturday in her most approved style, but they had every right to be puzzled by her lack of speed. It was an effort unbecoming of an acceptor in the A.R.C. Railway Handicap, in which even with a stone off her back she certainly could not be recommended as the likely winner of this big Elierslie sprint.

Valour For Taranaki H. Calder has the two-year-old Valour looking bright and well at present. The filly may leave for Taranaki on Thursday. Valour has not done a great amount of racing, and with 7st. she may run well in the race for two-year-olds in Taranaki. Martarma a Good On e Are the good things written of Martarma about to be fulfilled? Viewed at Ellerslie the Derby colt gave the impression of being much above the average. Martarma is to meet an engagement in the Queen’s Plate on the first day of the coming fixture, and if he is to be dangerous in the Derby he should be very prominent. Back to Work

Monday, who was formerly owned and trained by A. Craike, will now enter R. Conway’s establishment at Ellerslie. The Day Comet gelding was raced a good deal two seasons ago without much success, only one win and a couple of minor placings going liis way. Monday is now a seven-year-old and will probably be seen out again in the autumn.

Thirteen is Lucky The usually despised number thirteen was very much in evidence at Te Awamutut on Saturday, when three horses carrying this number saddlecloth won their races. Two were at double figures, too. and it was a further coincidence that on each occasion number three was second to the three thirteens. In addition, one number three horse was also a winner.

Nearly An Accident Ring Potoa gave a very pleasing display in the hurdle event at Te Awamutu on Saturday, and with a bit more experience he should do well. He was always close to the leaders, and ho weakened over the last bit. He ran the last jump down badly, screwing right across and nearly colliding with the rails, his rider making a smart recovery. Ring Potoa is a full brother to Te Monanui, but should not be mentioned in the same breath.

A Good Hack King Arch ran sufficiently well at Takapuna recently to say that he possessed some chance against the good sprinters in the open six furlongs at Te Awamutu on Saturday. He was not very conspicuous until the straight was reached, and then he came along nicely to get a good third, three and ahalf lengths behind the winner Tea Time. King Arch will win more good races this season, and furthermore he is in at Ellerslie next week. Can Go Fast

Last autumn Berinthia showed some speed in open sprint company, and at Te Awamutu on Saturday she showed that she has not yet lost her dash. Usually quick to begin she caught the jump out all right, but then lost her place and dropped well back. Berinthia finished on well in fourth place, and can be ticked off to do better in the future when the opposition is not up to town hall standard. The halfsister to Civility now races in the colours of Mr. C. Johnstone, but is still trained by Bert Russell.

Paid a Big Price Some Lady did a good preliminary prior to the Orakau Hack on Saturday, but ridden by the apprentice Stead she was not in great demand, and was sent out at a double-figure price. Before the field had gone a furlong Some Lady was in the van, and stayed there till the end, the verdict in her favour being two lengths. The winner is a five-year-old mare by Some Boy II from Sphinx, and should see a much better day. for her performance was a very good one. Over the Sticks Lady Cintra shaped nicely in hurdle events at Whangarei last month, and on Saturday beat all but Highfiown at Te Awamutu. The latter had her beaten all the way, but she made a good race of it, and was easily second best. Gold Rep and Gold Rain showed some improvement on their previous showings, but Kawa, Lady Spalpeen and Lucilius were disappointing. Old Tinokaha raced without dash, but for novices Athenry and Star Comet did creditably.

Off the Course Quietly fancied for the hurdle race at Waipa on Saturday was Uralla, who recently displayed some speed on the flat at Takapuna. However, she ruined her chances at the very first fence, which she ran down badly, and went almost right off the course. After this incident Uralla about held her own, and showed that with a good jump at the initial obstacle she might have got the money. However, there are more races about during the holidays, and Uralla might do better at the Taranaki and Stratford meetings if she takes on that circuit.

Better Than Maiden Class Lord Abbey registered an attractive performance when he scored in the maiden event, the Waipa Plate, on Saturday, for he got through his task in pleasing style. With a sevenpound penalty Lord Abbey was produced again in the Orakau Hack, and again went well. Probably he was among those interfered with when Cantab met with his accident. One of the worst sufferers by this was Waltzer, who was on the outside of those nearest to Cantab, and he got knocked off the course. Waltzer is a good sort, and he seemed certain to be in the money but for this. Good Trial for Aussie

Backers had no hesitation in making Aussie favourite for the Flying Handicap on Saturday, and they were a bit unfortunate in that their horse did not get nearer to the winner. Aussie jumped out well, despite his 9.13, but he was pulled back after going a furlong into third place. There he lay until well into the straight, and when his rider moved it was too late. Aussie is the ruling favourite here for the Railway Handicap, and his showing on Saturday would not lose him any of the friends he has made for that sprint on Boxing Day. He looks very well, and his track efforts at Ellerslie this week should provide the touts with something to talk about.

Caught Broadside On A peculiar incident that might have had serious results occurred at the conclusion of the Te Awamutu Cup on Saturday. The winner. Desert Glow, had just passed the post when his rider attempted to pull the horse up quickly. Desert Glow faltered and dropped his rider, who hung on to the reins. He was up smartly and attempted to take the horse out of the way of those following, but Siaosi went full into Desert Glow, catching the winner broadside on and sending him a “purler.” The horse was caught by the jockey after a brief chase, and neither appeared to be any the worse for the occurrence. Had Desert Glow’s rider been required to carry lead to make up weight it is quite likely that he would have lost some of it in the scrimmage, but fortunately for the backers of the horse the lead was not wanted.