Turf Notes

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 502, 3 November 1928, Page 6

Turf Notes

Whangarei Fixture This is to be held at Whangarei next Thursday and Saturday. Weights are due after to-day’s racing at Avondale, and acceptances close at 5 p.m. on Monday with the secretary, at Whangarei. or with Messrs. Blomfield and Company, High Street, Auckland. A Slight Injury

In consequence of his fall at the third fence in the Kaihu Hurdles at Avondale on Thursday, Quincoma scraped a stifle, and that was the cause of his being allowed to forfeit his engagement to-day. Prior to disaster overtaking him Quincoma was going very well, and against such a moderate field he had only to stand up to gain a place. Has Not The Confidence His schooling lessons prior to the meeting instanced that Piet was not jumping too well ,and his fencing in the Kaihu Hurdles on Thursday was practically a repetition of that form. He negotiated several hurdles scratchily, and although his pace kept him up to the field, he was never going like a potential winner. Confidence in this department of the game will ensure for Piet considerable success as a hurdler. Promising Hurdler In hurdling events Miss Alma shows plenty of speed, and a portion of the stake money in the Avondale race on Thursday was certainly hers, but for falling at the second to last fence. She had jumped pleasingly up to this stage and a repetition of that form in hurdle races later on should see her account for a stake.

Attractive Youngster Th# forward running of Gemlight in the Nursery Handicap on Thursday would undoubtedly please Mr. C. M. Emanuel, the owner-trainer of Pure Tea, a by Tea Tray from Duchess Eudorus. On a couple of occasions Pure Tea has accompanied Gemlight in sprinting tasks at Ellerslie, and he has acquitted himself well. He is quite as good as Gemlight—if not better —and interest will naturally centre in his efforts when he makes his debut before a racing public. Pure Tea has been given every opportunity to make good, for he has not been hurried, and at present it is his owner’s intention to race the youngster at Takapuna at the end of the month. Price # Too High? Mr. D. Potter has often been asked by would-be purchasers to place a price on his three-year-olds, Monetize and Pulolo. and not being particularly anxipus to sell, his reply has been within the vicinity of four figures. Last week an option was secured on the pair, but nothing came of it.

A Guesting Competition What weight will Supremacy receive in the two-year-old handicap at Takapuna this month? He has now won very comfortably the two Auckland classics, so that Mr. W. P. Russell will have no difficulty in finding a top weight. His trouble will be in deciding just what impost to give. Valkon's Trouble After running second to Corinax in the Waikato Cup, Valkon pulled up lame, but was fit and well four days later to score an easy victory over Catkin and Mint Leaf. -After contesting the DargavHle Cup Valkon again displayed lameness, so that with the tracks becoming harder the Valkyrian gelding’s immediate prospects cannot be viewed through rose-tinted spectacles. That is unless the disability is got over as quickly as at Te Rapa. Big Fleming ton Events The opening of the V.R.C. meeting at Flemington to-day marks the commencement of an interesting fixture. The Y.R.C. Derby is run this afternoon, and the one and only Melbourne Cup comes up for decision on Tuesday, starting time being 5.30 p.m. (Dominion summer time). The prize for the winner of this year's Melbourne Cup is no less than £9,769, and this p as the £2,000 and £I,OOO for second and third horses respectively makes the total stake money £12,769, not to mention the £2OO gold cup.

Riccarton Youngsters F. D. Jones is working a couple of two-year-old geldings by Thurnham. One of them, a well-grown chestnut, is from the imported mare Assertive, whose first foal. Counter Attack, a speedy but unreliable customer, sired in England by Jaegar, was followed by three Gay Lad colts, including Assurance. Her Thurnham youngster looks a good sort and he may prove to be a decided improvement on any of the mare’s earlier progeny. The mate of this fellow is a solidly built bay, from Madrid, the dam of Malaga, Urgency and Zaragoza, and he should develop into a useful galloper. No Age Limit Those racegoers who believe no starter or steward should be over 50 will be interested in the following paragraph, contributed by a Paris writer to a London paper: “Mr. Fernand Roy, the well-known starter at Auteuil. reached his eighty-first birthday on August 27. Those who see him cantering down on his showy hack on the well-known Paris racecourse, with the seat of -a young man of twenty, can hardly believe it possible.’*