Turf Notes

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 500, 1 November 1928, Page 10

Turf Notes

Dargaville's Second Day The Dargaville meeting;, which opened to-day at Avondale, will be concluded on Saturday. Weights for the second day are due at 8 p.m., and acceptances close an hour later —9 o’clock to-night. The review of the concluding day's prospects will appear to-morrow. Interesting Arrival Maoriland lovers of a crack racehorse will be interested to learn that the English mare, Glentruin, has produced her first foal, a filly to Woodend (imp.), reports the “Southland Times.’* Seeing Snakes At the start of the first division of the Galway Stakes at Morpettville, S.A., on Saturday, October 10, when the S.A.J.C. Derby meeting was concluded, the two-year-olds showed a disinclination to face the ropes, and it was discovered that five snakes, up to five feet long, were in the vicinity. Three of them were killed. Up On Top The ex-New Zealander Satrap is still being handicapped right up to his best despite his failures in Australia. In the Queensland Cup, J wo miles, he and High Syce are top weights with 9.12 each. Satrap, 9.13, and Killarney, 9.12, are top weights in the Bris-

bane Handicap. it is recognised that Queensland form is considerably below that of New South Wales, but at the same time Satrap appears to be unduly flattered. Not Till Next Year

Felstead was struck out of the Doncaster St. Leger owing to splints. He had scarcely got rid of one before he developed another. However, it was considered possible ie might race again before the close of the current season. Sir Hugo Cunliffe-Owen would not care to take any risk with a horse he could have sold after the Derby for £IOO,OOO, and if Felstead races again it will not be until next season. Real Sport?

The Saratoga Special, an American two-year-old sweepstake, approaches as nearly as possible to real sport. There is but one prize, a piece of gold plate valued at £2OO, given by the Saratoga Association, but the sweepstake for starters is £IOO each, with £SO forfeit. There were ten starters this year, and the owner of the winner took £3,250 and the trophy. Just imagine getting ten horse-owners in New Zealand to put up a century apiece for a six furlongs race! Progressing Well

Footfall was out at Riccarton on Monday morning and was given steady pace work on tho sand. He looked bright and well, without any evidence of lameness. His trainer, G. Murray Aynsley, is of opinion that his trouble is not serious, but it would have been risking a breakdown to have gone on with his preparation. Although he appears to be all right now, it is doubtful if he will be raced at the Riccarton carnival, but his trainer hopes to have the Autumnus gelding at his best for other engagements, later in the season.

Clarendon Unplaced At the Roseliill mid-week races yesterday the New Zealand horse Clarendon, 9.13, ran unplaced in the Nlaiden Welter Handicap. The result was: Broadcaster, 9.3, 1; Laneham, 5.12, 2; Amorino. 8.7. 3. Won by three-quar-ters of a length. Time, 1.27. Hynanna Sore Hynanna and Thurnbell returned home to Master ton week, from their unsuccessful try? to Australia. Hynanna did not by any means train up to expectations, and will probably be given a rest, as he is showing signs of soreness. His First Win Second Wind, who accounted for the Maiden Plate at the Belmont Park meeting, West Australia, on October 6, is a New Zealand-bred gelding by Grandcourt from First Blow. Second Wind was bred and raced by Mr. T. H. Lowry, of Hawke’s Bay, and his best effort in five starts as a two-year-old last season was his second to Orewa in the Nursery Handicap at the Avondale spring meeting.

Will History Repeat Itself? Silver Paper has been doing well since the Dunedin spring meeting, but has been restricted to fairly lenient tasks. The Stewards’ Handicap is not an easy race to win, and a horse requires to be well tuned up to run a hard six furlong course at Riccarton. Commenting upon this, “Sentinel” writes: A notable instance where a horse was not fully keyed up took place in Michaela’s year, when Ivilboyne ran among the defeated lot. The race did him a lot of good, and he bolted home on the following Monday and set the Australian and New Zealand record at 1.10 after being apparently well beaten in 1.11 4-5 in the Stewards’. On the. final day of the meeting Kilboyne won over a mile in 1.39 3-5 with 8.6, and obviously was raced rather than trained into the top of his form. Silver Paper does not look such a robust horse as Kilboyne did in those days, but horses kept in a glass case do not win when engaged in a strenuous battle.

The Feminine View At a meeting of the Doncaster, England, Town Council last month, there was determined opposition to the proposal for the establishment of the totalisator on the Doncaster racecourse. The council controls the course, which is the one on which the English St. Leger is run. A lady councillor. Miss Hannah Clark, was one of the strongest opponents of the recommendaticto of the Race Committee that the machine should be installed. She said it would be derogatory to the dignity of Doncaster if the corporation established a gigantic machine which had nothing to do with horses. Miss Clark might just as well have said the same of bookmakers as a medium of betting. Alderman S. Morris said a sub-com-mittee was going to Lohgchamp to see the' latest totalisator at work, and if Miss Clark would go with it he would pay her expenses. Miss Clark, however, had such strong backing against the recommendation of the Race Committee that her resolution was lost by only 12 votes to 11.