Turf Notes

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 442, 25 August 1928, Page 6

Turf Notes

By EARLY BIRD.

May do Big Things This is what a Sydney critic thinks of Prince Humphrey, after this three-year-old had dead-heated with First Acre: “He is a good, game colt, improving with every race, and is going to do big things in the spring.” Cairns Out Now Prominent jockeys have lately fallen foul of the stipendiary stewards in Melbourne. W. Duncan and H. Scanlon were recently suspended for one month each, and now at Caulfield H. Cairns was awarded a similar penalty. A scrimmage took place soon after the start of the last race of the day, the St. Aubin Welter, in which Manulewa. Smoke Bomb, Leontes, Horoscope, Bowalla and others met with interference. Several jockeys were examined, and the conclusion was arrived at that the trouble was caused by Noscitur (H. Cairns) crossing too sharply. Should be Righted There is some confusion regarding the breeding of the Winter Cup winner, Bisox, the Turf Register giving her as a daughter of Canary Creeper, while the New Zealand Stud Book, which is more likely to be right, states that her dam is Cheshire Creeper. Both mares were bred by Mr. R. Hicks, Cheshire Creeper being foaled in 1911, and being by Cheshire—Cling, by Day Star—Creeper, by St. Leger—Clematis, by Clymeneus—Discretion, by Towton —Cassandra, by Priam—Princess; while Canary Creeper was bred in 1917, and is by Foremost—dam by Kenari Karepa, by Day Star—Creeper, etc. The point should be cleared up, not only for the sake of accuracy in turf records, but also in view of Bisox’s probable stud career later on. New Zealand Cup Entries The following nominations have been received for the New Zealand Cup, of <£2,000, 2 miles. —Bennanee, Lady Desmond, Rapier, Tresham, Set Sail, Lucy Locket, Pink Note, Shining Star, Oratrix, David Garrick, Mystum, Discourse, Beaumont, Black Mint, Battlement, Vaward, Town Bank, Beacon Light, KLilmoyler, Overdrawn, Star Stranger, Arkansas, Hoylake, Battle Colours, Tidal, Nukumai, Footfall, Haze, Philippic, Beau Geste, Limosa, Desert Glow, Prodice, Keddar, Front Rank, Count Cavour, Bisox, Kilmiss, Pale Star, Clarendon, Rotor, Countersign, Colonel Crawford, Shining Armour, Taboo, Crown Area, Blimp, Pangolin, Sarnia. Six More for Sydney The last of the New Zealand horses for Sydney this spring left by the Ulimaroa from Wellington yesterday under rather dismal conditions, for the six horses had to be loaded in the heavy rain. They were put on board without mishap. H. B. Lorigan left with Cimabue, Oratrix and Concentrate. Cimabue had to be eased in his work a few days ago owing to a boil on his leg, but the trouble has gone. These horses will have their first outing at Tattersall’s meeting at Randwick on September 8. Ashley Reed may ride them when he is available and R. Reed may go over prior to the A.J.C. meeting to ride them in their major engagements. Lorigan also took over Tea Rose. R. Hatch shipped Mr. W. G. Stead’s two GimcraclU Stakes candidates, whom he had had in work for some time at Awa j ni, as stated in these notes yesterday. They will be trained in Sydney by W. J. Donovan. For Favourable Consideration The Te Kuiti Racing Club’s petition asking for a remission of penal interest on arrears of stamp duty incurred as a result of one of its meetings if t proving a success was referred by the M. to Z. Committee of the House of Representatives to the Government for favourable consideration.* The arrears have been paid, but the club states it was unable to meet the demaiid for penal interest. Gothic and Caulfield Cup •n,r G i? thic has not yet been backed in Melbourne for the Caulfield Cup to any considerable amount. Careful inquiries made at Monnee Valley a fortnight ago (wrote a Melbourne correspondent) elicited that fact, although one leading member of the ring said that at a price it would be possible to lay huge amounts about that horse. When Gothic was scratched for the Epsom, Melbourne fielders with large set books on the Caulfield Cup immediately moved that horse up the ladder of popularity for the Caulfield Cup. and without a blow being struck he shares first favouritism with the New Zealander, Hynanna. If Gothic should run and win races like the Underwood Stakes at Williamstown and the Memsie Stakes at Caulfield, he will gam hosts of friends for the Caulfield Cup, and already one good judge of racing has expressed the opinion that he will start as short as Eurythmic and Manfred. A Wind-sucker Pigeon Pie, who defeated First Acre a fortnight ago, used to be a source of great worry to his trainer, J. Donohoe. He had a wonderful opinion of the gelding, but was at a loss to account for his inconsistent form, both in races and on the track. One mo-rning he would gallop like a champion, and give a companion a sound drubbing, while a few dayls later the same galloping mate would beat him easily. For months Donohoe sought to discover what was wrong with him, and it was only by accident that he found the solution. A little while ago Pigeon Pie was spelling in the middle of Victoria Park racecourse, and one day Donohoe went to the track to have a look at him. He had been looking him over from a distance for a couple of minutes when suddenly he saw the gelding walk to the fence, grip it with his teeth, and start to “wind-suck.” Donohoe was amazed at the discovery that Pigeon Pie was a “wind-sucker”—a horse that will grab the top of a fence, a stable door, or a feed box and suck the wind through his teeth in an endeavour to blow himself up like a balloon. Although he had carefully watched him in his stable, he had never suspected it, and immediately set about the task of preventing it. tie purchased a patent muzzle, through which a horse can eat and drink, and Pigeon Pie, when in his stall or the paddock, is never without it. Donohoe considers it had worked wonders, as Pigeon Pie has ceased giving him the slightest trouble, and his three starts since the muzzle was brought into use have produced a second at Randwick and a win at Warwick Farm.

Another New Zealand Day? Several New Zealand horses are due to fulfil engagements at Rosehill, Sydney, this afternoon, among them being Roscrea (who created a most favourable impression when he scored hollowly a week ago), Ariklwal, Raasay, Gesto, Prince Humphrey, Perception, First Acre, Jazz Baby, Eden Hall, Amplifier, Rawhetu and Reonui. There is the possibility of Raasay and Roscrea clashing for they were both entered for the same two races, but Raasay will probably go for the Parramatta Handicap, one mile. With such a strong string, the Dominion should be worthily represented. Raasay in the Boom Latest advices from speak highly of Raasay, who has not been at Randwick for much more than a fortnight, but in that time he has shown the track experts something above the ordinary, if private advices received in Auckland are to be believed. Raasay is to have his first public outing at Rosehill this afternoon, and he will be ridden by Ashley Reed, the ex-Hew Zealander. More than casual interest is being taken in the result of his outing to-day. Gesto, his stable mate, has also impressed the Sydney critics as something out of the ordinary, and he too will be a runner this afternoon. Raasay, however, is now being talked about for the A.J.C. Derby, so that the expectations of a great race from him to-day appear to have solid grounds. Local Enterprise Encouraged Regarding the piece of statuary at Ellerslie, which was recently the subject of a photograph in this paper, the impression seems to be that the statue was imported. This is not so. The gazing globe was imported, but the statue of the mermaid was the work of a local man. Candid Indeed Sometimes one meets the unusual. It is customary in nearly all cases of alleged wrongdoing to find the accused indignantly protesting innocence, comments “Vedette.” This is usually very marked in racing. Accordingly a certain jockey, when questioned about a term of suspension meted out to him recently, replied: “To be quite candid. I deserved it,” sprang the unusual with a vengeance. That the same man stands very high in his profession and in general esteem is not at all surprising. Speedy Valais Colt. Mr. A. T. Craig’s SOOgns. colt, Gilt Edge, is giving indications which justify the expectation he will be striding among the best this season, says a Sydney wrter. His trainer, J. Scobie, did not worry him with much racing during the past season, but took him in hand early in the winter with a view of having him ready in good time for the Derbies. Gilt Edge is said to be a fine-looking colt, and while the touts are satisfied with his speed, they say there is no reason to suspect that he will fall short in stamina. Last week Gilt Edge ran a mile on the grass at Flemington in 1.43*, and the gallop was the more meritorious because on the outside of Kaoota he slipped over the first half-mile in 48*. Anote and Her Foals An interesting story is associated with the breeding of the speedy pony All Pop, who recently dead-heated for second in the first division of the Ascot 14.2 Handicap. Some years ago her owner, F. Forbes, had a smart New Zealand-bred pony named Finlass, with whom he won a number of 14.1 events; and -when a couple of years later he noticed that Mr. T. U. Lowry was sending her dam, Anote, to Sydney for sale, he determined to buy the mare, in the hopes of breeding another good pony from her. As she had a fullsister to Finlass at foot, and was in foal to Egypt, Forbes was fortunate in securing her for 140gns. Neither the Finland youngster, Arctic, nor the Egypt foal, Grantwood, proved of much account, but when mated with Popinjay, a noted sire of ponies, Anote produced All Pop, who has already won races for Forbes, and looks like collecting many more prizes. Forbes also entertains great hopes with a three-year-old gelding, by Shillinglee, from Anote, and has now sent the mare to South Australia to be mated with imported Stardrift, sire of that smart mare, Numenia. Looking Back at the Jumpers One is now in a position to look back at the jumping season and consider whether it was as bad as it promised to be, comments the “Evening Post.” There is no doubt that in the early stages there was every justification for gloomy forebodings. The Egmont and Wanganui meetings were very uninspiring affairs, and it was not until Glendowie asserted himself at Ellerslie that it was shown that he was above the ordinary, and youthful for a chaser. At Trentham Pouri prevailed over Beau Cavalier in a battle of tactics, while at Riccarton another comparative juvenile in Wiltshire led the field out. Wiltshire and Glendowie stand out as the two bright particular spots of the jumping season. Tuki has kept his reputation as a solid old chap, and he has seldom been out of the money. Rangi Sarto and Radiate are two very likely additions to the ’chasing ranks. Early in the season Brigadier Bill looked like making a name for himself, but he has not recovered apparently from an unfortunate trip to Ellerslie. Anyway he was asked to mix it too much. Comical and Maunga lost their reputations completely, and Beau Cavalier, although he won two big hurdle races brilliantly enough for anything, lias probably come to the end of his tether. His successes at Ellerslie and Trentham are not flattering really to the younger hurdle horses, nor is the success of Nukumai at Riccarton, even if the latter is as well now as ever he was. He carried a big load, and beat the opposition like common hacks. With good prizes to be won by good jumpers and weakness in this department, it will be surprising if more owners do not take a hand in the game next season.