Turf Notes

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 403, 11 July 1928, Page 10

Turf Notes

(By

EARLY BIRD)

The Wellington Meeting This opens to-day and will be continued to-morrow and on Saturday. Quincoma is expected to put up a creditable showing in the hack hurdle event to-morrow and Waltzer too is to be in the field. To Go To Gisborne Several Auckland horses are to go to Gisborne this month. Among the nominated are Rahepoto, Llewellyn, Cullgie, Plane Pearl, Killute, Lave and Bahadur, and most of these are expected to pay the acceptance. Related To Punka The five-year-old gelding Somnolent was a winner at Rosehill last month, when he beat 10 others over seven furlongs. He is a full brother to Punka (Cooltrim —Lroway), the dam of Black Watch, the colt bred by Mr. J. B. Reid, who ran third in this year’s Lerby. Recruit To Hurdling Cohesion showed very promising form when brought to Ellerslie last spring, but subsequently was a big disappointment. Now Cohesion’s name appears in the entries for the hurdle races at Gisborne a fortnight hence. Worth Her Weight In Gold Roscrea won £7O as a result of his win at Ashburton, and this (says the “Press”), added to the total won by Balymena and Limerick, has bronght the stake earnings of Medley’s progeny to the large sum of £46,142. May Be a Winner Evidently Lave was susceptible to improvement when he raced at Ellerslie recently, for he bears a much brighter appearance than formerly. T. George intends to patronise the Gisborne fixture with Lave and Plane Pearl, and he should not return without at least one success, for Lave, although not a first-class sprinter, has shown himself to be capable of beating horses he will meet at Gisborne. Plane Pearl’s recommendations are only fair, but nevertheless trainer George must be satisfied there is a possibility in such a class, or he would not take her. Now At Home Some weeks ago Princess Ronnie was returned to her owner at Gisborne, and it is interesting to note that she appears among the nominations for the meeting there on July 26 and 28. At the commencement of a campaign several months ago she performed creditably, her subsequent efforts being very disappointing, however. With the prospect of small fields the daughter of Polydamon should show to advantage, for it was acknowledged that it was the large fields that brought about her downfall. The fact that she showed insufficient pace at the start of a race materially affected her chances.

Avro's Prospects A horse that should be suited this week by the long Trentham straight is Avro, the Warplane gelding trained by F. Tilley. Avro is in the mile to-day, but the fact that he is not a smart beginner may tell against him. The Parliamentary Handicap to-morrow, one mile and a-quarter, may find Avro in the picture, and he will be ridden by L. G. Morris. Te Kuiti's Gift to Treasury The sum paid to the Government in the form of taxation in connection with the Te Kuiti Racing Club’s meeting held recently at Ellerslie amounted to £6,189 3s Id, made up as follows: Totalisator tax, £2,098 17s 6d; Lividend duty, £3,77S 6s; Stakes tax, £157 10s; Amusement tax, £154 9s 7d; total, £6,189 3s Id. Matter Gf Finance In reply to “Constant Reader,” Hukutaia: You should receive £3 15s for each £l. Wanganui Spring Programme The Wanganui Jockey Club has drawn up the programme for the spring meeting to be held on September 13 and 15. The stake money shows an increase, in several events aggregating £250. The club is giving £4OO for the New Zealand Eclipse Stakes, and has made it a sweepstake of £lO each for starters. Hoping For the Best The Feilding Jockey Club has accepted a tender, which is reported to be in the vicinity of £3,000 or £4,000, for the erection of the new stewards’ stand and other improvements. Perhaps ample provision for the Press will now be made at Feilding, for the scribes’ quarters were reduced most drastically a few years ago to make room for a bar for the purveying of liquid refreshment to club members, several writers being forced on to a bleak balcony. Real Speed Merchant According to popular view the speediest horse performing on the English turf at the present time is Canfield, a five-year-old gelding by Phalaris. Canfield’s best effort of this season was at Chester on May 10. In a six furlongs welter handicap he carried 10.10 (minimum S.O), and won in a canter in 1.9 4-5. There were nine runners, and he was conceding 271 b to the horse nearest him in the weights. When a yearling Canfield was bought by Captain Lionel Montagu for 750 guineas, and he was recently bought by Baron Frank le Tuyll for 1,500 guineas. Llewellyn’s Next Appearance

Prior to the recent Te Kuiti fixture, P. Conway intimated to the writer that if Llewellyn survived a thorough preparation it was quite likely that he would win a steeplechase during the winter. The Lucullus gelding took no ill effects by his fall at the Te Kuiti meeting, and has continued to go along pleasantly, so perhaps Conway is justified in his contention. Llewellyn is entered for the hurdle and steeple events on both days of the Gisborne fixture, which is due to come up for decision on July 26 and 28. All going well Llewellyn is to make the trip, and will be ridden by T. Chaplin. Leaving Ellerslie Although only trainers W. Scholium and W. Townsend represent Pukekohe, candidates originating from either of these stables have come to be respected, and both trainers have secured a fair average since settling there. Now the Ellerslie trainer, A. Cowan, is to make his residence in Pukekohe. Definite arrangements have already been made, and it is his intention to shift his headquarters next Monday. Just now Cowan has nine horses under his control, and he also expects to make some additions when he has settled down in his new quarters. His team comprises the following:—Marita, Liamond Queen, Armenia, Big Bertha (a four-year-old mare by Romeo from a Marble Arch mare), a two-year-old filly (Psychology—Flora McLonald), a colt by Marble Arch from a St. Amans mare, and Cymon, a two-year-old gelding by Leighton from Flora McLonald. Interference By Parliament

A cloud that hovers over racing even in New Zealand is continually appearing* on the Australian horizon, and that is interference by politicians with racing. In New Zealand that Parliament has interfered so much is due in some small measure to discontented racing people who have gone outside constitutional racing authority because of fancied grievances. Now there is talk in Brisbane that the Government proposes to establish a board to control racing in the metropolitan area. Nothing definite has been stated in Government circles, but the opinion is strong that action is contemplated. It is also stated that later on the board, if created, will deal with racing in the country. Loes this contemplated action forecast the appointment of a few Government nominees to control an industry on which little knowledge is possessed by the nominees? asks the Sydney “Sun.” Racing men always fear, when there is talk of a board of control that this control shall be vested in people deficient in racing knowledge Without going into the merits or demerits of a board of control, it is tolerably certain that the present control in each State is far better than any control a Government may bring about. Keeping ft Secret A correspondent, ‘Equus,” wrote to a Wellington paper last week as follows: In the interests of thousands of sporting enthusiasts may I presume to draw your attention to, and ask your assistance in, a matter that is of the deepest interest to all patrons of racing in New Zealand. For 20 years now, for some utterly incomprehensible reason, the publication of dividends has been unlawful in this Dominion. How it ever became so in a country that boasts its sport and freedom no one seems able to explain. I do not propose to state each side of the question. In fact there is only one side, for not one sound reason can be forthcoming to justify depriving the public of what is one of the chief items of interest in the reading of racing results. Last y< Y,i Ge . orse Hunter brought down Bill providing several alterations in the law, and among them was the item in question. Unhappily, that Bill was defeated. Whatever point or points decided members against that measure, Y ail l su l e ' vas the publication of dividends. Therefore, sir, I ask vou and the Press of New Zealand if vou will take up this matter while Parliament is sitting, and use the great power which is yours to win this small libertv for the people—the repeal of a measure which should never have been passed. The Press, and the Press alone can place this matter in its true light, and arouse the members of Parliament to a full sense of the injustice that is being done us. Is it any wonder, when we think of it, that Australians laugh at us and call us “a wowser-ridden country”? If Mr. Coates and his party wish to face the country in December in the good graces of their electors, surely no better opportunity ever offered itself than to adjust this small, yet universal inconvenience before Parliament is dissolved. We look to the newspaper editors throughout New Zealand as the only possible champions of our cause.