Durf Notes

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 344, 3 May 1928, Page 6

Durf Notes

(By

EARLY BIRD)

For Wanganui Steeplechase Bonny Kill, who has been doing some useful worw, was a starter in the hurdles at Hastings, and all going well in the meantime will run in the Wanganui Steeplechase, in which she finished second last year to Maunga. Coming Back to Form Rangatahi showed a good turn of sped in the early stages of the -Pukaki Hurdle Handicap at Tirnaru, but he faded out a long way from home. He is not ready for a hard contest, and he will be in much better condition in a few weeks. When trained in the North Island he was a very useful hurdler, and he will win races for his new owner, provided his early experiences have left no ill effects. Candidates for Ellerslie The Great Northern Hurdles candidate Red Fuchsia was not by any means the certainty the betting indicated, for Braeman had him doing his absolute best to score. Braeman, in fact, jumped the last fence best, and at one stage had the advantage. Under punishment Red Fuchsia carne again. Peahwa and Bonny Rill both shaped well, and will be improved by their outing. Maunga looked very bright and well, and suited by the slow pace early was up with his field. He needs some racing yet. Won, But Not Ready Aberfeldy showed improved form in the Tekapo Hurdle Handicap at Timaru on Saturday, compared with his effort the previous day. He was in a good position all the way, and he won by a short margin, after an interesting struggle over the last furlong. The merit of his performance was greatly enhanced by the fact that he is not nearly ready. He will be a much better horse in another month, and he will be worth keeping in mind for important jumping events in the winter. His improved form on Saturdaj- was widely expected. Wha rncliffe as ’Chaser Whiirndiffe gave a faultless display of fencing in the W ai-iti Steeples on Saturday, and so fast was he overhauling the leaders in the straight that the assumption is that he wouid have seriously troubled The Babe had there b«*n another two furlongs to travel. J. Lewis, owner-trainer of Wharncliff*-hi-s the Thurnham gelding in excellent fettle to begin a preparation for the more important cross-countrv ©venus, and it is quite on the cards that the winner of last year’s Grand National Hurdles will take high ra:|: a p. a ’chaser during the winter. Limerick’s Brother It is stated that on his return home from Sydney to Riccarton, F. D. Jones was pleased to find that Roscrea, the half-brother by Rossendale (imp.)— Medley, to Limerick, had gone on the right way and could be pronounced sound. He is a nice youngster, but wat» displaying symptoms of soreness when Jones left for New South Wales with his elder relative. There will be a rush to see the son of an English sir© who has made good in N.S.W. in the event of Roscrea arriving in Sydney in company with Limerick in the spring, as it will be understood that he will be a competitor for the rich A.J.C. Derby. Great Northern Candidates School Brigadier Bill, Ruby Ring and Alaric went out to school over seven of the steeplechase fences at Marton on Saturday, all jumping well till the double was reached, where Brigadier Bill fell, and Ruby Ring and Alaric ran off at the second fence of the double. Later Alaric, with Banjuke as a schoolmaster. went a round of the big fences and jumped perfectly. Banjuke also gave a faultless exhibition of fast, clean jumping. Both these horses are verv forward and look like collecting early stake money. Xgata, who looks ail th© better lor his racing at Awapuni was restricted to pace work. Kilburn also did useful work. May be Sold

TVild \V orw won the Beaconsfield Hack Handicap at Timaru in impressive style, -after leading all the way. The Autumnus mare stays well, and may earn distinction in other races on. There was a prospect that she would change owners before she laced on Saturday and even now’ she would be worth buying. Her recent torm has been very consistent. Wild Worw was ridden by R. Chisholm, a

young apprentice in Cutts Brothers’ employ. He rode the mare when she lilled third place in a race at Riecarton, and he had his first winning ride on Saturday, He got his mount out >martly, and. after handling her nicely through the race, he kept her moving along right to the finish.

Hurdlers for Hawera Th© Marton trainer, R. McKal, is taking Mount Marta and Alaric through Hawera for the hurdles. Alaric will be a starter on the second day. Dearth of Entries When the Waikato Racing Club de- ! cided to delete steeplechases from their | autumn meeting there was a lot of ■ grumbling. That the club acted ! wisely is clearly shown by the poor response northern owners gave to the Ohinemuri Jockey Club for that club’s two steeplechases (says an exchange). Things are much the same in Taranaki, as a glance at the nominations for the “cross-country** events at Egmont show. If that body decided to remove such events from their future programmes they could not be blamed, as in these times almost all :v . clubs of this Dominion are doing their best to come out of a season’s racing showing even a slight profit. Steeple- ; chase events with little more than half , a dozen horses nominated do not tend to strengthen a club’s financial posi- ; tion. Winter Season The meeting at Hawera on Thursday i and Saturday of next week will mark ! the opening of the jumping season. \\ anganui follows a week later, and i after a lapse of a fortnight the Great j Northern fixture opens at Ellerslie. ; Then there will be a lull. Te Kara and The Cornwall The forward running of Te Kara at Te Rapa on Monday directs attention to the old fellow’s prospects during the forthcoming winter meetings. He was produced in the open mile, and with half the journey covered he was last, well behind the nearest horse. Crossing the top he put in a great run, so that when they had straightened up he was coming fast into the picture. With a long sustained effort he was a possibility a hundred yards from home, but then he weakened a bit and it was sufficient to put him in third place, a length behind the first horse. I*, was a fine performance on the old fellow’s part, the soft track helping him. Te Kara is engaged in the Cornwall Handicap at Ellerslie next month, and with the weights he is now being asked to carry can be rated as a possibility for that race, for the going is certain to be heavy. Might Have Won One of the unlucky horses at the Waikato meeting was King Merv. On i the first aay he was second to King- ■ field in the* sprint, and on Monday he ; met with trouble in the straight in I the big race. He Was well out from | the i ails, and the only opening that presented itself to Keesing was on the inside, and he had to manoeuvre to get there, where the track was very heavy. He looked a possibility a hundred yards from the post, and then was passed by Te Kara and High Pitch. That finishing run showed King Merv as being back to about his best, so that at Ellerslie next month the seven and eight-furlong races should be within his compass. The Fatal Bump The bump that Corinax received at the start ot the Storey Memorial Cup ai Te Rapa on Saturday was quickly followed by another knock going out of the straight, so these two incidents would point to him being a bit unlucky, seeing that he finished second. On Monday he was well placed early, but probably the distance was a bit too short for him, combined with the state of the going. Corinax was still fourth into the straight, and eventually finished seventh. The Magpie gelding’s next appearance may not be until the Cornwall Handicap at Ellerslie, and the right-handed way on this course does not appear to suit him altogether. Took the Honours The honours of the Waikato meeting go to High Pitch, who, after scoring nicely in me High-weight the opening day, on Monday came out ana captured the principal event, run over a mil©. Good as his first effort was, it was overshadowed by his second outing. In this he had some ground to make up as the field started to wend its way across the top, and consequently the gelding had to go round several horses. lie was right up at the home turn, but he did not make any headway until the last furlong, when he put in a great run that swept him past the leaders and scored a narrow victory. The fact that High Pitch covered so much ground probaoly contributed to his success, for away from the rails the going was better. High Pitch was got by the Australian sire, tSarchedon, from Shrill, the dam of that speed merchant, Father’s Voice. About 1- months ago High Pitch was purchased by Mr. J. Irwin, the pi*ice being in the vicinity of 500 guineas, and by this time the Paeroa ownertrainer is no doubt well on the right side of the ledger, for the gelding has captured Ji 565 in stakes for three wins and a couple of thirds, in addition to paying good prices when he won. REMINDERS Owners and trainers are reminded that nominations for general events to be decided at the winter meeting of the Auckland Racing Club to be held on June 2, 4 and 6, will close at 5 p.m., Friday, May 4. |