Turf Notes

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 459, 14 September 1928, Page 6

Turf Notes

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Wanganui Prospects The Wanganui meeting concludes tomorrow. Acceptances and the final summing up will be found on the late news page. I Reminders Avondale first day acceptances close at 5 p.m. to-day. Nominations for the Auckland spring meeting are due by 5 p.m. to-day. Forfeits for the G.N. Guineas and Welcome Stakes close at the same time. His First Win When F. Tilley saddles up a fancied maiden candidate at Wanganui, it does not usually pay such a good price to win at did Cashier yesterday. This three-year-old gelding, ridden by the stable apprentice, R. Marsh, was too good for the opposition at the finish. Cashier is by Paper Money from Isabel (by Hallowmas), a mare that won the New Zealand Oaks eight years ago. Gaze’s Success Taking on easier company in the Okehu Hurdles at Wanganui yesterday, Gaze made amends for his Ric-r carton failures by scoring handsomely. Cohesion was bothered by his weight, but will see a better day. The success of Gaze recalled his last victory on the Wanganui course, .nearly two and a-half years ago. That was in the Century Hurdles, and he scored so impressively that he was hailed as the hurdler of the year. Unfortunately he went wrong while schooling at Ellerslie, a few days later, and it was only this winter that he came back to form. First for Some Time

Last season Vigilance displayed fair form, but has not been conspicuous for a time. She was produced again in the Putiki Hack at Wanganui yesterday, and, looking in excellent order, she finished on well up the short straight, to pull off a good coup. The daughter of Lord Quex was bracketed on the totalisator with Pale Star, so that backers of the latter had luck on their side. Incidentally, this is the first dividend in succession returned by Pale Star. Vigilance is a halfsister to Nine of Spades, who displayed sprinting ability before being sold to a South Island sportsman, to be subsequently tried over the sticks, but yesterday’s 'winner should be better than her relative so far as stamina is concerned. Improving All The Time

Valkon showed at Marton in the sprint that another race or two would tune him up and his third in the Marangai Handicap yesterday was encouraging in view of his Avondale Cup engagement, in which he lias 7.13, or 61b. less than he was called upon to carry yesterday. Another race at li miles to-morrow will see Valkon ready for all-comers at Avondale. Queen Arch failed to show up in Valkon’s race yesterday, the turning course appearing to beat her although she was up fourth at the finish. Catkin’s Surprise Twelve months ago the three-year-old Catkin gave considerable promise of turning out a galloper above the ordinary, but he went amiss and the best was not seen of him; in addition, he took on only the best of company in the classics. Three months ago the Catmint gelding was brought to Ellerslie to win the Carbine Plate, in which he was regarded in some quarters, as a certainty. However, he could not be raced, and his start at Wanganui yesterday in the principal handicap saw him register a briWiant performance, defeating the Marton sprint winner, Blimp, in no uncertain manner. Mr. A. J. Toxward must now regret that he failed to enter Catkin for the Avondale Cup, a race he won a couple of years ago with the now defunct Star Ranger. Still in the South Although Diana’s Lad was sold to a Wellington owner during the Grand National meeting, he still is an inmate of R. Ellis’s stable, and he will remain | under the care of the Riccarton trainer in the meantime. He is getting through useful tasks at present, and he may be a competitor in hurdle races at Geraldine at the end of this month. For the Cup

Rotor has been on the easy list since he raced at the Grand National meeting, but he recommenced work at Riccarton on Tuesday, when he was given a half-mile sprint without being hurried. E. Scoullar will not require him to do much of a strenuous nature in the meantims, relying on the fact that he is very forward, having done a lot of racing at the back end of last season and right up to August. It is probable that Rotor will have only one more race, at Rangiora on Labour Day, before he tackles the New Zealand Cup.

EARLY BIRD.

More Hopeful In many ' quarters the Avondale Guineas was referred to as the “Episode Stakes.” The filly’s defeat yesterday would tend to make the classic more open, and it certainly entitles' the connections of Mithra at least to be more optimistic. Wanganui Winners and Avondale Te Atiawa was the only winner at Wanganui yesterday claiming engagement at Avondale. ''There were a couple of place-getters there, however, these being Oration and Valkon. Tomorrow’s racing should disclose further form as a guide to Avondale. A Bigger Course? Had she been good enough Maui’iaena should have won the Maiden at Wanganui yesterday. The filly ought to be in good condition for Avondale, when she will be racing on her home course. She bolted prior to the start of yesterday’s race, and stopped quickly. Their Turn Will Come On their running in the Putiki Hack at Wanganui yesterday, and also at Marton last week, it would appear that both Singleton and Gold Cure would relish racing on a bigger track. Singleton in particular impresses as a forthcoming handicap horse. Consistent Partaga It came as no surprise to see Partaga winning the Seafield Handicap at Wanganui yesterday, and no small credit for his success was due to his pilot, B. H. Morris. It was a very rough race up the straight, and the fact that Partaga, Te Koroke, Pangolin and King Lu were closely bunched at the finish showed how tight it was. Partaga beat all but Oration in the sprint at the Taranaki Hunt meeting, and the subsequent running of the latter showed that the form was good. Te Koroke’s Surprise One of the surprises of the Seafield

Handicap yesterday was the forward running of Te Koroke, who *a week earlier had failed signally at Marton. This bold galloper was not expected to be seen to advantage on th» circular track, but he beat all but Partaga. His forward running will draw attention to the Humbug gelding’s prospects at Avondale. Both Barrels Missed

It was not altogether expected that owner-trainer R. B. Hines woiild start both King Lu and Waltzer in the open seven furlongs at Wanganui yesterday, and the bracket came in for solid port. Both horses ran prominently, King Lu being right up with the placed horses. King Lu should go a great race if he takes on the Owen Handicap to-morrow, for most of the crack sprinters will be found contesting the New Zealand Eclipse Stakes. The Guineas Surprise

The fact that Consent had done a fair amount of racing throughout the winter—he was seen out at Otaki and. Wellington—was the primary factor in his surprising defeat of Episode in the Wanganui Guineas yesterday, and illustrated how a- seasoned horse has an advantage. It was a case of cutthroat all the way with Lucky Light, and it looked to be lack of condition that deprived Episode of the stake in the last stride. Consent does not figure in the list of eligibles for the Avondale and Great Northern Guineas, in which events he was not entered, but his owner, Mr. T. A. Duncan, nominated* Cashier, winner of yesterday’s maiden. It rerhains to be seen whether the latter will be kept in the Ellerslie classic* Field Outclassed Consent and Episode quite outclassed their five opponents in yesterday’s classic contest. Of the others High Ealutin’ did well, and he is susceptible to a good deal of improvement. It was suggested in the review of the Guineas that Tilley’s pair would command respect, and they filled first and third places. Lucky Light went a fair race, and she, too, will improve. Both Full Feather and Moutoa Treasury were disappointing. In Avondale Guineas

Te Atiawa registered a particularly pleasing performance when he scored in the Durie Hack at Wanganui yesterday, and this effort, following upon his winning effort at New Plymouth nearly a fortnight before, draws pointed attention to his chances in the Avondale Guineas. The Chief Ruler gelding is such a bold strider that the roomy course here should suit him admirably, and, furthermore, it will be remembered that he won his first race in the autumn on this track. Te Atiawa figures on the minimum in the open sprint at Avondale the first day, and in view of his Guineas engagement two days afterwards, his running will be watched with interest. Hack Sprinters

It is recognised now that Knightlike is not up to classic form, and that just at present six furlongs is his limit. He was conspicuous for most o£ the way in the Lurie Hack yesterday, but failed to stick on when seriously threatened. Desert Lad and Banket, both fair sorts, in addition to Te Atiawa, headed Knightlike. The Ellerslie representative, Avoncourt, /ran a good race all the way, finishing dost* behind the placed division. Another race to-morrow and again at Avondale will assist in seasoning the Lucullus filly for her Avondale Guineas engagement on Monday week. Helotis Party’s Coup

With Lady’s Boy holding the rails at the barrier yesterday in the Wanganui Flying, he had a. lot in his favour, but he failed to reproduce his Marton form. The winner, Helotis, is a very speedy sort of customer, and is racing with considerably more luck than her older brother Licinius, whose forte was seconds and thirds. Helotis was suited by the small course, and it was

this that enabled her to defeat Oration and return a fine price to supporters of the stable. There was a lot of Auckland money for Tea Time, but he was beaten into third place. A feature of the race was the brilliant finishing efforts of Laughing Prince and Reremoana.