Turf Notes

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 268, 2 February 1928, Page 6

Turf Notes

Conducted by

Racing At Matamata The annual race meeting of the Matamata Racing Club is to be held at Matamata on Saturday. A full review of the prospects will appear in tomorrow’s issue. Yearlings Taken In Hand The yearling colt by imported Hunting Song—Trebelli, dam of Finelli, Finora and Will' Oakland, and the filly by Limond—Farce, who were purchased at the Trentham sales by Dr. Louisson, arrived at Riccarton last week, and have been taken in hand by R. Emerson. A Cheap Colt When the yearling colt by Hunting Song from Royal Mary was knocked down to Mr. J. Porter for 150gns at the Trentham sales last week, it was subject to the approval of the owner, as there was a doubt about the colt being for unreserved sale. When the breeder was communicated with, the sale was confirmed, and the colt is now under F. Christmas’s care at Riccarton. To Be Revised It was generally thought that the conditions of the Consolation Handicap at Trentham on Tuesday confined it to horses who had started but had not won at the meeting. Their wording, however, admitted of the appearance of any horse whether a previous starter or not, that had not won at the fixture. Hence Doree’s unsuccessful part fin the. race, the conditions of which are likely to be revised for next season. When Stuart Waddell returned to Greenmeadows from the Wellington meeting he took with him two yearling colts belonging to Mr. W. T. Hazlett, of Invercargill (says the “Hawke’s Bay Tribune”). One was bred by Mr. J. Donald at Westmere, Wanganui,, and is by Chief Ruler from Ngatiawa, a mare whose name does not appear in the stud book. The other, purchased privately after the auction sale, was bred by Messrs. J. N. and J. Paterson, Auckland, and is by Surveyor from Te Moti, a mare that on the distaff side runs back through Aphrodite, Watersprite, and Waterwith, to that great matron Mermaid. An Autumn Horse Last year Joy King showed all his best in the autumn; this year it looks as if it will be the same. He looks thicker and more solid than ever be-

fore, and liable to pick up a, middle distance event at any time. He was unlucky to strike.* a smart galloper like Goshawk with only 7.2 to carry in the Summer Handicap on the final day at Trentham.. Sweep Tickets Several correspondents have written requesting information in connection with the purchase of tickets in the Calcutta sweep. Probably the best method is to get in touch with the National Sporting Club, London, or one of the members of this exclusive body. This will perhaps be more difficult than it appears on the surface. The sweep on the Grand National Steeplechase (run in March) has now closed, and the next one will be conducted on the Derby in June. Another correspondent inquires about the purchase of a ticket in a certain sweep closer at hand. He is referred to some of the tobacconists, for the fact that they can be procured from a bank on the spot is news, and very unlikely. Agrion’s Programme The New Zealand Derby winner, Agr.ion, has not been asked to do anything of a serious nature since his return from Ellerslie, but he bears a very bright and healthy appearance, and is apparently as well and as fit as ever. Though he was not nominated for the New Zealand St. Leger Stakes, to be run at the Wellington Racing Club’s autumn meeting, he claims an engagement in the North Island Challenge Stakes, and, all going well in the meantime, jt is his connections’ intention to start him in the seven furlongs weight-for-age event. Providing he does well at Trentham, he will then go north to Elllerslie to contest the Great Northern St. Leger, and should prove hard to beat in the three-year-old classic race. Satrap Gallops

The Paladin three-year-old Satrai has livened up again since his retur: from Ellerslie, where he disappointed even his ardent admirers. On Satur day morning last he galloped nicelover six furlongs. Though his tim'

for that distance was only fair, it was the vigour he infused into his work that drew track-watchers’ attentions. Earlier in the season much was expected of Satrap, but he went off-colour at Ellerslie, and subsequently lost all form. However, he is doing so well again that it would be unwise U> accept his Ellerslie running as true. Providing all goes well in the meantime, Satrap may contest the Dunedin. Cup, which is run at Wingatui shortly, and a reproduction of his New Zealand Derby running would render him a dangerous candidate in the big Souths ern handipap. REMINDERS Acceptances for the Taranaki Jockey Club’s meetings will close on Friday, February 3, at 9 p.m. Handicaps are riue to appear on the same dav after the rirst day’s racing at Hawera. dominations for the annual meeting of the-Te Aroha Jockey Club’s meeting will close with the secretary, Mr. G. A. Bush, Te Aroha, or with Messrs. Blomfield and Co., High Street, Auckland. by 5 p.m. on Wednesday, February S. Weights will be declared on .Tuesdajs. February 14-

For the Dunedin Cup Footfall is getting through satisfactory tasks at Riccarton and if he goes the right way in the meantime he will contest the Dunedin Cup next month, an event he won last year. A Promising Colt The Catmint coit, Despard, is furnishing into a good-looking youngster, and with a little experience will hold his own with the two-year-olds at Ellerslie. He has only been. indulged in one or two sprinting tasks since J. ‘Williamson took him in hand, and has shown that he possesses a fair amount of speed. Now Convalescent According to information received. Master Doon is making a good recovery from the injuries which befel him

while working on the track at Ellerslie last month. It will be some time, however, before he is again able to resume active work.

Will Be Given a Spell Frowning Beauty ran * a . poor race in the High-weight on the first day at Takapuna, and her trainer, K. Heaton, has now decided to give her a respite. The. other, member of his-team, Lady Robinson, was started twice, and on each occasion gave a bad display of manners at the barrier. She will be given road work for a period, and it is probable that she will not race again for some time. Never Won By a Favourite

Since its inception, the Nolan Cup. a much-cove ted prize by Taranaki sportsmen, has not been won by a Hawera-trained horse, nor has it been won by a favourite. In 1924 Thunderclap returned a big dividend; the following year Mountain Bell paid almost as big a return to her supporters, while m 1926 Diogenes prevailed and paid a fair price, being second favourite. Last year Vivo was seventh choice when she defeated Kilmiss, Asleep and company*

When At Wellington Although Gala Day and Sir Archie were not successful in collecting any stake money at Wellington, they ran creditable races. The former was sent out on three occasions, his best effort being in the Consolation- Handicap, in Which he finished close up behind the placed horses. Sir Archie was only raced on the first day and then developed soreness, it being deemed inadvisable to start him again at the meeting. Fractious Horses An intolerable state of affairs has been noticed this season in connection with the unwarranted consideration bestowed on fractious horses at the post (says the “Otago Daily Times”). In the South Jack o’ Lantern has become quite notorious, and in his last appearance kicked his rider, who luckily escaped with minor injuries. At Trentham, Joy Bird played up at the start of the Wellington Cup, and kicked Ark Royal so viciously that it

is very doubtful if his life can be saved, and on the final day of the meeting Joy Bird was flinging her heels when walking around with the rest of' the field, but nevertheless was not ordered out of the way. It is also noticeable that the moving start is occasionally brought into play with apparently the sole object of getting the fractious horses away on even terms with the rest of the field.

Limerick’s Programme. The trainer of Limerick, F. D. Jones, has written the following to the “Australasian”:—“l am afraid . that the Melbourne part of the autumn trip is definitely off. It would mean commencing serious -work at the end of December to be really. fit to run a 1: Caulfield, and, taking the extra travelling into consideration, it would not give Limerick the rest he deserves after his gruelling spring racing. Our first run will probably be the Rawson Stakes, at Rosehill, somewhere about the middle of March, so i can just potter along with . Limerick until nearly the end of January before asking him to go any speed. He has not had time to fill out much since he raced last, but looks very bright. I suppose it will depend upon the size of the field, as well as the handicap, as whether he will be a runner in the King’s Cup. If we miss that race, I can get home in time for both the Awapuni Gold Cup and J. D« Ormond’s Gold Cup races. The stakes are only fair,' but the trophies are well worth winning.” . Champions to Clash What a great race the King’s Cup should be! Although at present Limerick, according to his trainer, is by no means a certain starter, no doubt the glamour of this race will keep him m Sydney. "Silvius is said to be a certain Sydney visitor, and it cau.be ta.ken for granted that Sir Sidney Kidman would sooner win the King’s Cup than the Sydney Cup. Then there is Amounis, to say nothing of Trivalve, who is another almost certain runner, as Mr. Ernest Clarke races for the love of the sport. It should be a magnificent race, and the job of handicapping will be difficult, but it is unlikely that Mr. Fred Wilson avill a great deal from the weight-for-age scale where the really first-class horses are concerned. He sri 11 be able to get a line as to the merits of Silvius and Limerick through Amounis. There is not a great deal between Limerick and Pantheon at weight for age over a distance of ground. Then there is Rapier. Trivalve may be hard to weight, but as the weights are not due until 12 days before the race is run, form at Caulfield and Flemington will hasjp the han di capper.