Turf Notes

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 267, 1 February 1928, Page 8

Turf Notes

j Conducted by “EARLY BIR O ” j

When He Had a Chance Pegaway looked a bit on the burly j side when he went out to contest the Takapuna Cup, but he went a good race. At the turn he was a possibility and then he carried Eden Mall out with him. Pegaway faded out in the run to the post and finished fifth. Out Of His Class? ran only moderately in his Takapuna engagements and it would seem that his connections aimed too high in setting him for the Takapuna Cup. A. mile may be his best distance, and perhaps he will win again on the provincial circuit during the next couple of months. Still Capable of Wirfning Mipo was produced twice at Takapuna. In the principal event the second day, he ran creditably, finishing a good fourth. Me was always prominent, being up with the leaders for most of the way, but the distance found him out. Mipo will still be a force to b€: reckoned with in events up to a mile and a quarter where the company falls a bit short of top class. Why She Didn’t Win After her wins at Taumarunui and Dargaville, Alonsoa was given a fine chance to win the Takapuna Cup with the minimum weight up. She was taken to the front from the start and made the pace a cracker, but she was ridden into the ground and was finished with before they came round to the home stretch again. Alonsoa is nothing brilliant, although where the company is not too select she will get on the winning list once again. Stopped Quickly Tea Time won the Stewards’ Handicap at Takapuna the first day like a good one after always being in the first division. He was backed to repeat the performance the second day, but on this occasion he did not run on at all generously and was beaten into third place. It was not the weight that beat the Tea Tray gelding, for he had 8.7 and is so compactly built that he should be able to carry that. Probably the race the first day got to the bottom of him. Getting Back to Form It was no secret that the Flying Juliet party expected their representative to do better than for some time past, and that their ideas were not without foundation was proved by the fact that she finished a close fourth the first day at Takapuna in the sprint.

On Monday she was better backed as a result of this effort, and on this occasion she finished a good second to Dave. Flying Juliet is a real good sort when at her best, so that now that she is approaching that form that caused her to be highly thought of last season it may not be long before she improves on her Takapuna form. Best Sprinter It is probable that Dave was the best sprinter seen out at Takapuna. His effort the first day in getting second after losing a lot of ground in the early part was impressive, for he was going better than Tea Time, the winner, at the end, and had got to within half a length of him. On the second day Dave was solidly supported, and getting a better run over the early part, he turned the tables on Tea Time, scorii % handsomely. Dave has won four times and been second once in his last five starts, so that he has been consistent. J. Williamson had him in tip-top order and in addition the racing he had on the country circuit has seasoned him.

Unlucky Both Times Transformer was the unlucky horse of the Takapuna meeting. Better handled he might have finished in front of Eden Hall in the Cup instead of being beaten a head. He was well back early, and then he was on the outside of a couple of horses on two bends, covering a good deal more ground than was actually necessary. On the second day he repeated the performance when he dead-heated with Eden Hall for second. Transformer’s dividend on this occasion was of microscopic dimensions. Mr. W. Russell’s adjustments were no doubt responsible for the exciting finishes as between these two horses, a head separating them the first day and they they dead-heated on Monday for second place.

Mint Leaf and Egmont Cup Despite the fact that in the past Mint Leaf had failed to gain a situation at Takapuna, the track obviously being too small for such a big customer, the Catmint horse was regarded as a distinct possibility for the Takapuna Cup on the strength of a rattling good gallop on the tan at Ellerslie a couple of days before the fixture opened. It was a case of history repeating itself, for the course beat Mint Leaf. He was always at the back of the field until his rider moved on him a furlong and a-half from home, and to get round he had to run wide on the turn. By a good effort he got up third, within a half length of the winner, so that had the course been more suitable it is probable that Mint Leaf would have won. He is engaged on the Egmont and Taranaki circuits, and it would occasion no surprise to see him. getting in the money there, for he is going particularly well. Eden Hall’s Form In March last Eden Hall won the Ohinemuri Cup. and although he had been placed five times since lie did not score again until he triumphed in the Takapuna Cup last Saturday. In this event he was ridden an ideal race by Green, who never covered any unnecessary ground. As there was only a head in it, it was just as well he didn’t. On Monday there was a different story. Green hugged the rails a bit too long, so that when three furlongs from home the horses started to make their run they went round and had him boxed. Eden Hall was at the back of the bunch on the home turn, and then he had to come right out, a hopeless position on the short Takapuna straight. The Quin Abbey gelding is about at his best now, and is once more proving that he was a bargain when Mr. C. G. Macindoe bought him from R. Brough, of Hawera, early last year at Wanganui for a sum said to be 700 guineas. Since then Eden Hall has captured £2,470, and there would appear to be more in sight.

Chased Them Home Unlike some horses, the recent racing over the sticks that Wedding March has been, indulged in has not improved his pace, for he ran badly in the big event each day at Takapuna and he had the doubtful distinction of tailing the field on each occasion. He looked better than that. May Win Again It was previously stated in these columns that Baby Bun would not be long in returning her supporters a dividend and this contention was borne out at Takapuna on Monday, when she led the field home in the Rangitoto Handicap. Always near the leader;?,

Baby Bun came with a fine finishing run on the outside to beat the tiring Cynthia IST. by a neck. In her two previous starts the little brown mare has been conisdered unlucky, and now that she has broken the ice may continue on her winning way. Loyal to Their Own In Taranaki Bright Glow appears to be finding most favour for the Egmont Cup. She will have a stone more to carry than when she won the Stratford Cup, and a quarter of a mile further to go. Taranaki Stakes If Reremoana wins the Flying Handicap at Egmont to-morrow, he will earn a 31b. penalty for the Taranaki Stakes. The Hawk did not win enough money in the Metropolitan Handicap at Trentham to earn a penalty in the Taranaki classic. Government Taxation The sum paid to the Government in the form of taxation in connection with the Takapuna Jockey Club’s Summer Meeting amounted to £7,808 2s, made up as follows; Totalisator duty, £2,642 8s 9; dividend duty, £4,756 14s; stakes duty, £325; amusement tax, £B3 19s. Total, £7,808 2s. Limond the Moneymaker According to an announcement made at the dispersal sale of the Kinloch Stud, Mr. G. M. Currie’s successful stallion Limond, the sire of Limerick, Commendation and Agrion, as well as of the record-priced yearling sold to Mr. G. D. Greenwood at Trentham last week for 2,300 guineas, has a full list for the next three seasons at a fee of 200 guineas. Made No Race Of It Desert Glow disappointed when he failed to get nearer than fourth in the Takapuna Cup, but it cannot be said that he was ridden to the best advantage. On Monday he made no error, for he raced to the front a furlong and a-half from home and then cleared out, winning easily at the finish. It appeared that Desert Glow caught the field napping, and when he made that irresistible run it must have startled the other riders. Going out of the straight the first time Transformer attempted to get up on the inside of Desert Glow, but Mackie was wise to the move and refused to give him room, a step that he was entitled to take if there was insufficient room for the horse to get through. This cost Transformer some ground, which makes his dead-heat for second with Eden Hall all the more meritorious. Winners at Takapuna The total sum paid away in prizemoney in connection with the Takapuna Jockey Club’s Summer Meeting amounted to £6,500, which was distrias follows:—C. G. Macindoe, £1,075; C. W. Anderson, £650; D. R. Walker, £550; J. D. Jones, £400; James Williamson, £375; W. S. Glenn £300;. D. Twohill, £275; H. B. Philcox, £275; John McGregor, £250; Nicholson and Davis, £250; James Clothier, £225; James Paterson, £225; H. H. Pharazyn, £215; Roulston Bros., £200; W. E. McDonell, £200; F. Earl, K.C., £125; E. George, £100; Davis and Bennett, £75; F. E. Loomb, £75; A- J. McGovern, £75; E. Robinson, £75; T. M. Grant, £75; H. Friedlander, £65: Geoghan and Wilson, £SO; J. N. Hislop, £SO; R. Hannon, £SO; R. D. Fisher, £35; W. Lockyer, £35; D. S. Hanger, £25; H. L. Russell, £25; W. Scholium, £25; D. Ti’e, £25; J. H. Walters, £25; Mrs. P. Carter, £25.