Turf Notes

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 529, 5 December 1928, Page 12

Turf Notes

Taumarunui Meeting The annual race meeting of the Taumarunui Racing Club is to be held at Taumarunui on Saturday. The acceptances are quite good. Waipa Acceptances Acceptances for the annual fixture of the Waipa Club are due at 5 p.m. on Friday next with Messrs. Blomfield and Company. Coming to Hand Footpad showed a lot of speed in his races at Takapuna last week, but he could not go on with it. He is a long way from being ready, however, and it may be into the autumn before he is thoroughly tuned up. The Kilbroney three-year-old looks a certainty to pick up races round the country circuit, which commences shortly after the New Year. On the Up Grade A fine big colt is Sir Mond, who was got by the crack Australian sire, Seremond, the sire of Mollison. Last season the Australian-bred colt was a big gross sort, but in the interim he has fined down nicely, and although still a trifle big he is going to be a good one if looks are anything. Sir Mond ran two very fair races at Takapuna, and such a turning course would not be at all in his favour. Not up to Form On the eve of the Takapuna meeting the Greenmeadows representative, Millais, registered the best gallop at Ellerslie, the effort being an excellent one. At Takapuna the Leighton three-year-old ran fairly well without getting into the money. He had every chance the second day, being right up at the home turn, but probably the short straight did not suit him. It should not be difficult to place Millais during the holiday meetings within the next month, and if at Manawatu and Marton should pick up more than one stake. Is Good Frothblower ran well in his only start at Takapuna, which was in the opening event on the concluding day. He missed the jump-out, but gradually worked his way through the field, and in finishing third he accomplished a splendid effort. The Quin Abbey gelding is well up in the weights among the hacks, but in anything but the best open company he should do fairly well. Improving Juveniles Three-year-olds seen out at Takapuna that showed some promise in the maiden class were Justify (a full brother to Assurance), Lido, Aggressive, Armenia and the still disappointing Red Lion. Just Nell, a four-year-old daughter of Nassau and Flying Nell (Quin Abbey—Brown Neil), a first foal, was noticed running prominently both days, covering a lot of extra ground on each occasion. Her turn is not far off.

Palmerstdn North Stakes Mr. 11. W. Burch, the owner of Stormy, has left his two-year-old chestnut, Dalston, in the Palmerston North Stakes, run at Awapuni on December 27. Few For Awapuni Black Maire, Monetize, Glena Bay and Dalston are Northerners nominated for the Manawatu summer meeting. In Two Cups The following Auckland Cup candidates figure also in the Manawatu Cup, both events being run on Boxing Day: Catkin, Historic, First Sight, Oratrix, and Seatown. Cimabuo is the only A.R.C. Railway Handicap horse engaged in the Manawatu sprint. All the Way From Sydney Perception arrived at Wellington yesterday from Sydney, and is due at Ellerslie to-morrow morning. He is in charge of J. O’Brien, and with the party is C. Marsden, the well-known Australian horseman, who will have the mount on Perception in the Great Northern Derby on New Year’s Day. Mr. F. J. Gore, the owner of the three-year-old, will arrive later, and it is probable that the Wellington meeting will be patronised. Marton’s Meeting The fine course at Marton —it is almost a replica of that at Awapuni—is reported to be in great order for the summer fixture on January 1 and 2, plenty of rain having fallen of late to provide a thick sole of grass, ensuring a perfect midsummer track. Entries close to-morrow night for all events. The principal event on the opening day is the Marton Cup, of £6OO and a £SO gold cup, while the chief sprint, the Railway Handicap, is worth £3OO. The other events are all richly endowed, and show a very big increase on the stake money issued 12 months ago. One of the features of the programme is the special provision made for juveniles, both the Juvenile Handicap and Junction Plate Handicap being over five furlongs, and confined to two and three-year-olds. Outclassed. The class seen out in the Highweights at Takapuna was far from good, for Wenday gave them all weight each day, winning the first and being second on the concluding day, succumbing then to Glena Bay, who displayed promise of stamina. Glena Bay is engaged at Taumarunui on Saturday and should run well. A Smart Hack Leitrim .ran two sold races at Takapuna, and is not a spent light yet. He is already well up in the weights, but that does not affect his pace, and before the: season ends he should add more than one race to his score. Leitrim would be an excellent proposition at some of the Southern meetings during the forthcoming holiday carnivals. Led all the Way Mosque was not produced the first day at Takapuna, but was saddled up on Saturday and made no race of the Stanley Handicap, leading practically ttyoughout. There is not much of the Fearmorz gelding, although there is little doubt as to his pace, and if he can keep his position he would trouble better fields than that which he beat on Saturday. Checked in Straight Two more defeats went down against Winsome Boy at Takapuna. On the first day he might have won but for getting checked right on the home turn through a beaten horse coming right over on him. On Saturday the distance was not far enough, for he failed to go with the field at the hot pace that was set from the start of the seven-furlong race. Winsome Boy is in good order, but his connections may have to wait a bit longer before they collect. Looked Good Being one of the leaders into the straight in the Takapuna Plate on Friday, Air King looked almost a good thing in weaker company the second day, but he was allowed to go out fifth favourite, quite liberal odds. He again obtained a good position early, and wearing down Subdivision over the last bit, gained the honours by a neck. Sprinter in Form One of the unlucky horses at Takapuna was Tea Time. On the first day he was carted off the course by Lady’s Boy, but for which he would have won instead of going under to White Wings by a head. On Saturday he had to be content with second place once again, another being in front of him. Tea Time is running much more generously than hitherto, and he has a good sprint race concealed in him. Bowled Over Lq Choucas was going very strongly in the Alison Cup on Friday when he was knocked over, although he had a good bit of ground to make up in the last three furlongs, which would have taken a lot of doing. On Saturday he was the early'' leader, and after half the journey had been covered he had had enough. Perhaps his fall the first day had left him a bit sore. Barry was shaken- up sufficiently to do no more riding than could be avoided. Best Three-year-old Brilliant in defeat is the term that can be applied to Prodice’s effort in the St. Andrew’s Handicap at Takapuna last Saturday. The filly go t chopped out at the start, and at The .°* a furlong, going out of the straight, she had but three horses behind her. She covered a tremendous hit of ground here; in fact, all the way. ? 0t Sl £ hted R &ain until three fui longs from home, when she was noticed putting in a strong run on the outside of four horses, and finishing ■ stro , n e l y she actually got up intS fourth place. It was a phenomenal run - f° r the filly must have covered a O o n P th s ,t f =h hai ” S r ?l“' e than the others. On that showing it is going to take an exceptional three-year-old to beat Prodiee m the G.N. Derby, for it looks as if she will have little difficulty in staying the mile and a-half. Left at the Start There was mild support for King Emerald in the big event at Takapuna last Saturday, but the Nassau gelding got badly left at the start, and was never afterwards sighted. He looked well, and may do better. However the stable appears to be most unlucky jus! S and “t Wlll have to turn before King Emerald and Gold Money can get back to the winning list. Too Much Weight? Tidal was not produced at Takapuna on account of the weights, which were deemed unsatisfactory. The Frenchbred horse has gone on -he right way since he won a double at the Dargaville meeting on the Avondale course and he promises to strip in good order for his Auckland Cup engagement