Durf Notes

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 306, 17 March 1928, Page 6

Durf Notes

♦Conducted by “EARLY BIRD" |"

Trip Now Cancelled White Fang, who is trained at Gisborne, ran poorly on the first day at Wellington, and his trip to Australia has been cancelled. He showed no dash at all in the Thompson Handicap at Trentham and is a long way from his best form. Was Unlucky Hynanna was one of the unlucky runners in the Thompson Handicap. Soon after the start he knuckled over and nearly came down. He made an attempt to get through the big field five furlongs from home, but it was of no avail and he did not emerge from the ruck till near the end. A Great Sprinter Cimabue set the seal on his fame when he outpaced the opposition in the Railway Handicap. He was always racing in a prominent position and when Reed called upon him in the straight he simply bounded away from his opponents and won with the greatest of ease. Cimabue can now be ranked as among the Dominion’s foremost sprinters and he is likely to gain more important honours before the season closes. Went Lame During the Stakes Gascony was obviously sore when he paraded for the Challenge Stakes, and the fact that he was lame when he returned to the birdcage after running a great race in the seven furlongs event, indicates that he is still a little unsound. One of our best two-year-olds, Gascony has failed to live up to expectations this season, but now that the tracks are beginning to lose their firmness he should soon display his best form. Received a Bad Run Money Order was very slow to begin in the Railway Handicap at Trentham and he tailed the field for the first two furlongs. He made a fast run at the false rail, but just when it seemed as if he would come through he received a bad bump and immediately went back into the ruck again. Money Order is bound to do better in the near future and he might be worth remembering for the Great Easter meeting, which comes up for decision at Riccarton next month. The Class Was There With such celebrities ass Joy King, Hynanna, Rapier, The Hawk, Satrap, Reremoana, Cimabue, Lysander and Money Order competing on the opening day, the Wellington Racing Club began its autumn carnival with a wonderful array of talent. Joy King and Cimabue were perhaps brighter stars, but there was also merit in the runaway victory of Satrap in the St. Leger. In the absence of Martarma and Agrion, Satrap overshadowed his opponents in the three-year-old classic race. He was never seriously challenged at any stage and though he easily accouited for hi srivals, it is evident that the present three-year-old standard is much below that of recent years. However, Satrap might do even better now that he has come right, but it is doubtful if he represents first-class weight-for-age form. Lysander Returning to Form After dead-heating with Commendation in the Avondale Guineas last season, Lysander suddenly lost all form, but if his forward running in the Chal-

lenge Stakes can be taken as a guide, he is making a quick return to form. Perhaps at Ellerslie, at Easter, he will be seen at his best again, and if he trains on he will help to swell the ranks of the Dominion’s weight-for-age performers. Amorist Is a Stayerl Amorist, who was a runner in the Tiriakori Handicap at Trentham on Thursday, took charge of his diminutive rider at the conclusion of the six furlongs race and galloped altogether four and a-quarter miles before being pulled up. After careering around the course for about three miles Amorist’s owner, Mr. J. McCombe, who was a prominent horseman in his day, mounted the clerk of the course’s hack in an endeavour to check the runaway. But no sooner had he taken his seat in the saddle when his charge tried to dislodge him, much to the amusement of the crowds on the stands. However, McCombe soon mastered the animal and galloping up the straight he brought Amorist to a standstill. When the runaway returned to the birdcage both his owner and rider, C. A. Eastwood, received an ovation. Joy King to Race at Ellerslie Joy King’s victory in the Thompson Handicap was a very popular one. The Australian importation was well handled by R. Reed, who rode a masterly race, and when asked for an effort in the straight he ran past the leaders with ease. It was this time last autumn that Joy King came into his own, and though he ran only moderately during the' summer months he is right back to his best form again. It is stated that he will make his next appearance at the Auckland Easter meeting, where he will contest the Easter Handicap. Set Sail Ran Well Set Sail ran a gallant race from an outside position at the barrier, and with a decent run may have been capable of running into a place. After half the journey had been covered she was standing the leaders up a tremendous start, and her prospects at that stage looked anything but bright. However, she finished with wonderful determination in the straight and was right up in fourth place at the close.

Lived Up to Her Reputation Bright Glow, who acted as runner-up to Joy King, lived up to her private reputation, and better drawn at the machine—she started from No. 3 9 position—would have been much harder to dispose of. Five furlongs from home she made a forward move and racing across the top she was tucked in behind the leaders. She hung on gamely in the straight when challenged by the ultimate winner, but her slightly backward condition told on her over the last furlong. Bright Glow, who claims Day Comet as her sire, is likely to do a lot better at an early date and it would cause little surprise if she captures one of the big autumn prizes.

One For The Future Doree ran a splendid race In the big mile event and though she tired in the straight she was not far behind the placed horses at the end. Her winning turn cannot be far off. A Proficient Jumper A fine big upstan3ing gelding by name Indian Chief, in Miss G. Maher’s stable at Hastings, and the property of Mr. J. Bull, is a proficient jumper and one that is most likely to be heard of when the jumping season is on. Exaggerated At the last meeting at Trentham Ark Royal was in a bad way after being kicked while at the post in the Wellington Cup. He remained at Trentham for some time after that. Now comes a report from “Sentinel” in Dunedin that Ark Royal is doing well and there seems a prospect of his becoming sound again. Reports have him shot, dead, and buried, but in common with Mark Twain’s death, .the annnouncement seems to have been somewhat exaggerated. Is Likely to Improve Talisker, who ran second to Satrap in the St. Leger, finished very gamely, but he beat only a poor lot home. However, he is susceptible to a great deal

of improvement, but he would need to improve oyt of all knowledge to reverse the position with Satrap in the Great Northern St. Leger. New Zealand Bred Melbourne papers to hand show that a New Zealand-bred youngster was responsible for a surprising victory at the Moonee Valley Meeting on the 22nd ult. The juvenile to place himself unexpectedly in the limelight was Remarmy, a gelding by Paper Money from Peronilla, who beat a field of 17 in easy style. At the sale of yearlings held at Christchurch in the spring of 1926, Remarmy was purchased on account of Mr. A. J. Levin, a Melbourne sportsman. for 500 guineas.* Does Not Have the Luck Adversity is evidently associated with the establishment of the Ellerslie mentor, J. Kemp. An inmate of his stable, Sir Henry, a gelding by Prince Merriwee from Birkenrain, was among those who received injuries in the railway smash at Penrose last week-end and he is suffering from four fractured ribs, in addition to abrasions. Th%i there is the black mare, Acushla, who broke her fetlock at the Takapuna meeting in January. She, however, is making a good recovery and is now convalescent. Catkin On the Sale List The five-year-old gelding Catkin (Catmint —Hukapapa), is on the sale list. Catkin has on occasions shown very useful form, and has won races. Like most ol’ his sire’s stock he goes well in soft ground. Catkin has no fewer than four strains of St. Simon blood, through Persimmon, Willonyx, St. Donatts and St. Frusquin. His dam, Hukupapa, was never raced/ She is a member of Family 25, very successful in France, and her dam, Marie O’Dille, is half sister to the defunct Sparrow hawk, dam of The Hawk. Is Star God Honest? Star God, the three-year-old full brother to Star Stranger, who cost punters over a thousand pounds at Napier, is worth following a little longer, as any day ,now he might run up to a private gallop when he defeated comfortably, by a couple of lengths over a mile course, his wellperformed full brother. Some four seasons back trainer Jefferd had in Penitent, full brother to Rapine, a firstclass galloper in private who failed miserably with the colours up, so will be unfortunate if Star God is another of the same kidney. Great sire as Martian undoubtedly was not a few of liis stock could be quoted who were not honest. Prince Humphrey and Raasay One of the disappointments of the North Island Challenge Stakes was Prince Humphrey, who failed to show any dash whatsoever. The Papakura youngster was hard ridden over the last three furlongs of the weight-for-age event and his performance was not in keeping with his efforts earlier in the season. However, he may do a lot better among his own age in the Champagne Stakes at Ellerslie, though he

will meet a very formidable opponent in Raasay, who ran Reremoana to a short head in the Stakes. A son of Lord Quex and Tressida, Raasay has excellent breeding to recommend him and indications are that he will develop into a brilliant three-year-old. It is certainly looking a long way ahead at this stage to suggest that he may be a Derby possibility, but he galloped in his Trentham engagement like a really good youngster.

A TRUE FISH STORY

Mr. H. V. Massey, the writer, vouches for the truth of this story: “I had always wanted to smoke a pipe,” he writes. “After several attempts I gave my ‘taste’ up, for with each trial I got a blistered tongue. One evening I read in the paper that a certain fisherman could catch more fish when using Edgeworth. So I decided I would try ‘his’ tobacco for I am no poor fisherman! The next day I smoked my first Edgeworth; I still smoke Edgeworth; I catch fish and never get ‘a bite’ from Edgeworth.” 5