Turf Notes

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 284, 21 February 1928, Page 10

Turf Notes

Conducted by “EARLY BIRD” j

On the Water Rails At Hastings a start has been made i with the railing around the course proper, which will cover from the ; three-furlong post to the caretaker’s \ cottage. The top rail will be a pipe, in which it is intended to convey water round to water the tracks. Scion as Hurdler Scion's best days, so far as racing on the flat is concerned, are behind him, but a race or two over hurdles should not be beyond him. F. Shaw seldom fails to win a race with horses he puts to hurdling. Is Looking Well Sportsmen who were at Trentham will not forget Kahu Ariki, and the information that she is doing fine and put on considerable flesh since her surprise victory will no doubt be noted. Reports state that she has furnished into a nice sort of galloper, and present intentions are to race her at Napier next month. Back to Second-class Bennanee, who is out to collect one of Mr. W. H. Gaisford’s handsome cups (Dannevirke or Woodville) after his light let-up after Trentham, looks

well, and by running seven furlongs in 1.32 J, at Hastings, on Thursday last (says the “Tribune”) showed he is iin good trim for the allotted task. Koauau at Gore Koauau, whose success in the Autumn Hurdles at Wingatui gave his trainer and his jockey their first win for a long time, was not taken back to Riccarton after the Wingatui meeting, the intention being to start him at Gore to-morrow. He will again be ridden by A. J. Peart. Receiving Early Education At Riccarton W. G. Hobbs is at present handling three yearlings, comprising a gelding, Juniper, by Kilbroney from Judith, filly by Paper Money from Dutch Clock, and a colt by Paladin from Bonaria. The two firstnamed are the property of Mr. G. Gould, and the Paladin colt, who is a brother to Merivale, was purchased by the latter’s owner at the recent Trentham sales. Two of a Kind A striking picture to be seen each morning on the road leading to the Hastings track is The Hawk and his owner literally speaking walking along arm-in-arm to exercise. It is difficult to say which has the greater regard for the other. Yesterday morning, when the pair arrived, naturally Comeron’s fellow-trainers offered their congratulations on the Taranaki Stakes win, when it could be seen plainly that both were included (says Thursday’s “Tribune). No wonder the game is called the Sport of Kings! Two Chokebore Youngsters Sir G. Clifford had two representatives, Prickles and Impertinence, in the Lyttelton Plate on Saturday, and they finished third and second respectively. The former is a filly by Panmure from Thorndale’s dam, Brambletye, and was having her first race. Impertinence, a neat filly by The Ace from Miss Mimic, had a race at the recent Wellington meeting, and shaped well. She was booked to go to the Dunedin fixture, but slight soreness caused a cancellation of her trip. , Future Undecided Gascony, who was very sore when he contested the Wellington Stakes at Trentham last month, a race in which he finished a close third, has, according to his trainer, F. Davis, thrown off his soreness and is again going along nicely in his work. Davis has no plans made yet regarding a trip to fhe Wellington autumn meeting, where Gascony is engaged in the North Island Challenge Stakes, which he won 12 months ago.

Her Performance was Good Usually a horse that is badly interfered with at the commencement of a race can be left out of calculations, but not so Judge's Box, who overcame this difficulty in the Hauraki Handicap at Takapuna last month, and was able to win in easy fashion at the finish. Racing enthusiasts will, perhaps, notice

that this mare claims an engagement in open company at Franklin next month. Judge’s Box will keep her opponents busy, for F. Gilcrrist’s representative is in excellent order. At Trentham Next Month The Wellington Racing Club lias issued the programme for its autumn meeting to be held on Thursday and Saturday, March 15 and 17. The programme is as follows:—First Highweight Handicap, £260. 14 miles; New Zealand St. Leger, £750. miles: Plunket Nursery Handicap, £3OO, 5 furlongs; Thomson Handicap, £I,OOO (£7OO to the winner), 1 mile: North Island Challenge Stakes, £I,OOO, 7 f ur-

longs; Silverstream Handicap. £260, 1 mile: Railway Handicap, £SOO. 6 furlongs; Tinakori Handicap, £260,6 furlongs. Second day: Second Kighweight Handicap, £260, 1 mile; Hutt Handicap (open), £4OO. 1 mile; Trentham Gold Cup, of £I,OOO, 2 miles: Muritai Handicap, £260, 1 mile: Pacific Handicap (two-year-olds), £6OO, 6 furlongs: Autumn Handicap. £SOO, 1 mile and 3 furlongs; Suburban Handicap, £SOO, 6 furolngs: Belmont Handicap. £260. 6 furlongs. Nominations for all events and forfeits for the St. Leger and Challenge Stakes are due by 9 p.m. on Monday, February 27.

Will Do Better A useful sort of hack in White Ringlet was noticed running prominently both days at Wanganui. In his first outing he was interefered with in the straight, not sufficiently to deprive him from winning had he been good enough, but it cqrtainly checked him. On Saturday White Pvinglet was again in the picture, and he weakened over the last furlong. With a stronger rider either day he would probably have been closer up. One For the Country Kilburn is by no means a perfect jumper, but he gets over the battens all right, and he has now won a couple of races in a few weeks. At Wanganui he finished second the opening day and went one better on Saturday, when he scored and was little fancied. Kilburn should develop into a good hurdler when more experienced at the game. Later on he should also be useful over the big country, for his owner is of that type that loves a 'chaser. The Grey Can Go Dimmer has some speed, and yet jn a few of his races he has not been able to get away from the barrier with his customary smartness. At Wanganui he had improved in this respect and was up second on the opening day. On Saturday he went one better and finished in front of a good field of hack sprinters. Dimmer is one of Mr. C. G. Macindoe’s Australian importations and when the grey gelding gets more acclimatised perhaps he will do better than win in hack company. He is by Sarchedon. Beaten By The Course

King Midas was fancied on both days at Wanganui, but he got into such trouble in his races that it is probable that the small course did not suit him. He was always in the rear in his six furlongs event, and he did a little better over seven furlongs on Saturday. When King Midas gets on a roomier track he should soon show that his Wanganui form was all wrong. Probably he will be given a run at Trentham next month. One For The Future One of thp unlucky horsese at Wanganui was Le Champ, who went well in his two outings but was not quite good enough for the opposition. On Saturday the Acre gelding was rushed to the front running to the straight, and when challenged at the half distance he petered out, having nothing left in reserve. Le Champ impressed as almost a good thing beaten, and he may show in the near future that he is better than his Wanganui defeats would incline one to believe. Under a Cloud Civility ran a very good race in the Stewards’ Handicap at Wanganui on Thursday, particularly when it is realised that since her spell she had had only one half-mile gallop. Unfortun-

ately, however. Civility did not pull up at all well, and her trainer, F. Lind, speaking about the matter later in the afternoon, said that he thought he would be lucky if he were able to get her going again in time for the Easter meetings.

Useful Sprinter Paul Lucerne, who will shortly be doing his racing in open country, shaped fairly well at Wanganui last week. He was well beaten on the first day and on Saturday was looking a winner at the bottom of the straight, but failed to survive Green’s vigorous riding on the favourite, Dimmer. Paul Lucerne does not at present appear to be in the same class as the goqd sprinters, and it will have to be weak opposition if he is to repeat his successes in hack company. He can carry weight fairly well.

Absurds Fight It Out In these days of the decline of Absurd’s progeny, the twilight of this once great begetter of speed merchants, it was a reminder of what at one time used to be a feature of Wanganui meetings, i.e., there were very few races run there over middle and short courses that a son or daughter of Absurd was not in the picture. The concluding event on Saturday at the river city was the open sprint, and the finish was fought out by Shirley and Limited, both by the KOatanui sire. On the previous race day they finished in the same order, but before them was Paganelli. Back to Form

Mandane’s form was distinctly good at Wanganui. It was a peculiar coincidence that on both days she was carried wide at the turn by Joy Bird. In the Cup Mundane had enough punch to get over this drawback, but on Saturday it cost her the race, for this time Joy Bird hung on to the end to get a narrow decision. Mandane can stay, that is plain, and so it seems that her great effort to head Star Starnger in the Great Northern Derby in their year was true form. Of Star Stranger we know much, and now it seems that, in form once again, we will get to know Mandane almost as well. It is probable that Fred Tilley w 11 take the daughter of Panmure and Cherry Mart to Trentham next month, and he may either be at Ellcrslie or Riccarton at Eascer. Jackson Stakes Winner

! Kiosk’s form at Wanganui was not at all convincing the first day. but in ■ the Jackson Stakes he raced with that ! dash that enabled him to be regarded some time back as in the first flight of sprinters. He was heavily bandaged when he contested the open sprint on Thursday, and meeting with some interference he was beaten into fifth place. Even after making due allowance for this it was not expected that Kiosk would account of Prince Humphrey and Reremoana in the Jackson Stakes on Saturday. But he did. and once again established himself as a good one. Perhaps Reremoana rail himself out in going with Prince Humphrey, for the pace was a cracker, the first couple of furlongs being cut out in 23, and so that when he had the

youngster well beaten he had nothing in reserve for Kiosk when he came along with a determined run.

Winner at Caulfield In her day on the race J track, Refinement (Shepherd King—Elegance) was a fairly useful performer in the colours of Mr. Ernest Alison. On her retirement to the stud Refinement first produced, a couple of years ago, a brown colt foal to Romeo, and thaJ youngster is identical with Mystic Peak, the winner of the second division of the Federal Stakes at Caulfield last Saturday. The New Zealand-bred colt, who runs in the name of Mr. A. G. Barlow, carried 8.4 and ran the five furolngs in I.l£, half a second faster than the time registered by the winner of the first division. As Mystic Peak won by a couple of lengths, it is apparent that he is a good sort. The previous Saturday this colt got on the winning list at the Williamstown meeting. defeating 13 others over furlongs. carrying 8.0. Among the unplaced lot was King of Revelry, who scored in the first division at Caulfield on Saturday. Mystic Peak is eligible for the Champagne Stakes (£3,000 added money), six furlongs, to be run at Randwick at Easter. Mr. Barlow in addition has entered the Solferino —R.aid colt and the Stardrift —Clarissa colt, the latter youngster being his sole entry for the A.J.C. Sires Produce Stakes, run at the same fixture. The recent successes of Mystic Peak must be gratifying to his breeder, Mr. E. Alison. A yearling half-sister (by Tea Tray) to Mystic Peak was sold to a ■Wellington sportsman for 425 guineas at the sales at Trentham last month, month.