Turf Notes

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 534, 11 December 1928, Page 12

Turf Notes

Woodville Fixture The summer meeting of the Wood - ville J.C. is to be held to-morrow and on Thursday. Winners at Taumarunui A. Tinker rode the winning double (Siaosi and Takutama) at Taumarunui on Saturday, J. Cammick and C. Goulsbro rode two winners also, they being on Hakanoa and Owairaka, respectively, when these two horses won a double apiece. Geo. Holland and A. Dick were the other winning riders. Off to Woodville Light-weight jockey H. Wiggins left by car to-day for Woodville to carry out the following engagements at the Woodville Jockey Club’s meeting tomorrow and Thursday: Briar Root, Discourse, Miss Fat, White Ringlet and Skyrider. Still Under a Cloud It is reported that Big Bertha, a daughter of Romeo, who created a. very favourable impression when she won a maiden race at the recent Dargaville meeting, is suffering from kidney trouble just now. This, of course, will mean her absence from the Auckland Racing Club’s meeting at Ellerslie shortly. Likely Maiden

At the Dargaville meeting, held at Avondale some five weeks ago, Pukekohe trainer W. Townsend produced a tliree-year-old named Haviland, by Quin Abbey from Midget. He was raced in the maiden events, and although prominent for four or five furlongs, lack of condition told against him. During the interim he has trained on nicely and has fined down to that stage where he should be capable ol* a decent performance in his next attempt, which, by the way, will be the Waipa Plate on Saturday. Barometer To Be Taken Up

Within the next few weeks W. Townsend will recommission Barometer, whose spell has extended close on six months. When seen in the paddock last week the Quin Abbey gelding looked quite muscular and should come to hand quickly. It is against him that he is up in years, but the fact that he was not overtaxed as regards actual racing will be in his favour, and his period of usefulness may be further extended before his final retirement to the paddock. Struck Form

The success of Owairaka at the Taumarunui meeting on Saturday was by no means unexpected, but very few racegoers would have gone so far as to say that the Archiestown gelding would be equal to making a reappearance later in the day and successfully •fending off the consistent Frothblower. The latter has had a strenuous programme in the last few weeks, and it may be safe to assert that he has gone a trifle stale. Still Lindsay’s representative. Owairaka, was responsible for two fine showings, and where the class is not town-hall should be equal to repeating the performance. Rapine Doing Well Star Stranger has been blistered and is now in the paddock. The Martian gelding will not be asked to race again until the late autumn. Rapine is in constant work and standing up to his preparation in a most hopeful manner. The old. fellow is going exceptionally well and on present indications has every prospect of winning another important race. Goshawk and The Hawk The Hawk slightly injured himself while playing in his yard and is an absentee from the tracks. His Christmas programme is at present in the air, as the extent of his injury is not certain, says the “Tribune.” The aged Martian—Sparrowhawk gelding, with 8.3 in the Railway, was leniently treated, and quite a few local sports have been sorting him out as a decided possibility. On the appearance of the Auckland weights he was allowed to drop out of the Manawatu classic. Goshawk is going on the right way, and all going well is certain to make the Auckland trip, although placed on the same mark as Oratrix, 7.13, in the Auckland Cup, his Cup nomination may not be continued. There are other rich races of a shorter distance that will suit him better. Guide to Rorm Making its appearance at a most opportune time, that very handy little publication, the N.Z. Turf Register for the first portion of the current season (August 1 to December 1), is a very welcome addition to the registers that preceded it. Everyone interested in any way in x'acing and trotting should procure a copy of the pocket edition of the N.Z. Turf Register, for it Is a complete record covering the period mentioned, and an infallible guide to form for the forthcoming Christmas and New Year racing carnivals, therefore a book that investors in particular will find very handy. The Register is obtainable from booksellers, or direct from the Christchurch Press Co.

Lightweight in the Cup A horse with early prospects of success is the Mason-trained four-year-old Philippic, who has been executing attractive track essays since the New Zealand Cup meeting. He is a likely starter in the Auckland Cup, and being one of the progeny of Demosthenes, whose stock has lately come to the fore as long-distance performers, he looks a possibility among the lightweight division. Philippic was raced only once as a two-year-old. filling second place to Satrap in the Autumn Nursery at Riccarton, while last season he was produced on five occasions for one win (the Trial Stakes at the C.J.C. summer meeting), and a third placing to Starflight and Amor in the Addington Handicap at the C.J.C. autumn meeting. He was produced twice at the recent New Zealand Cup meeting, being unplaced in the Spring Plato and the Fendalton Handicap. Not for Elierstie White Fang is at present included in both the Auckland Cup (7.0) and Railway (7.10). but his track work at Hastings suggests that he is more likely to he seen out at Awapuni and Hastings during the racing carnival Trainer W. Griffiths has been experiencing no small difficulty with the Polvdamon gelding of late. Merry Mint Is not being bustled, doing very little fast work at all. Watching the Catmint gelding closely at work, a Hastings writer sees a decided impediment in the action of the hind leg that suffered with the injured hock last spring in Australia. In consequence of this it will not surprise If the Gisborne-owned four-year-old will experience difficulty in getting back to what he showed as an early three-year-old. RACING FIXTURES December 12, 13.—Woodville J.C. December 14, 15.—Oamaru J.C December 15.—Waipa R.C. December 26. 2S. January l. 2. Auckland R.C. December 26. 27.—Dunedin J.C December 28, 27.—Westland R.C. December 26. 27.—Taranaki J.C December 26. 27. 29.—Manavratu R.C. December 29. January 1. 2. — Greymouth January I.—Waikouaiti R.C.

Another Picnic Meeting

The movement to secure a registered non-totalisator hack race meeting for Hauraki Plains was advanced another stage at an enthusiastic meeting of some 40. settlers at Kerepeehi on Thursday evening, when the Hauraki Plains Sports Association was formed and a programme of races drawn up. for submission to the Minister of Internal Affairs. Mr. H. S. E. Dent, of Ngatea. wa sappointed president, and Mr. J. E. Smith, of Kerepeehi. secretary of the association. with Mr. A. M. Samuel, M.P., as patron. The programme comprises seven races and the stakes range from £lO to £3O. Canvassers were appointed to secure members throughout the district. Leaving for Australia A. G. Campbell, hurdle horseman, who has been attached to G. New’s establishment at Awapuni, has been extended an inducement by an Australian sportsman to cross the Tasman. He has accepted the offer and purposes leaving on or about Pecember 18. Won First Up There is a little story associated with the success of Margiana in the second division of the Gre.vstanes Nursery

Handicap at Warwick Farm a fortnight ago, says a Sydney writer. The owner. Mr. H. J. Cameron, has not before raced a galloper, although for many years he had been associated with trotters. It was with trotting horses that he first came into touch with Peter Kiddle, who purchased from him Sheik, one of the best pacers in Australia. When Kiddle relinquished trotting and secured a licence to train at Kandwick. Mr. Cameron determined that their relations should not bo broken, and bought at the yearling sales the Magpie (imp.)—Merry Margaret filly, now know as Margiana. Margiana was bred at “Kia-ora” by Mr. A. W. Riddle, brother of the trainer, who had refused 375 guineas for her at the sales, and it was Mr. Cameron who prevailed on him to sell her, so that he could “give her to Peter to train.” It was pleasing, therefore, that the filly should win at her first attempt. Training for Woodvillc Very little fast work was done on Thursday morning on the Hastings tracks, reports the “Tribune.” Gay Ballerina went well in a half-mile sprint in 50. She will be ridden at Woodville by It. W. McTavish. Sylvan Dell, Shrewd and Sacramento took 1.8 for five furlongs, but were not asked to do their best. Kinross, giving away weight to High Court, finished well clear in 1.193* over six furlongs. Kinross appeared as though he coulli do much better. Huikai was not extended to easily defeat Whitirangi over seven furlongs in 1.34. Imperial Fame and Mystum ran their six furlongs in 1.19 J, with the former holding a slight advantage. Abisogne, in receipt of a lump of weight, beat Golden Area over half a mile in 53. With a light weight irp Good Cheer just broke 51 for four furlongs. Te Awa, alone, on the grass, ran three furlongs in 40. Plimmerton acted as pacemaker for Wedding Bells over half a mile in 53Admiral Codrington, against the bit, ran five furlongs in 1.10. Goodwill, in a working gallop, alone, went very pleasingly. The Gay Lad gelding is in great* heart to take on the maiden events at Woodville. Patadawn Doing Well Central racing figure of the week in New South Wales has been ex-trotting owner Peter Kiddle, who saddled winners at Warwick Farm and Kensington. His horses, Happy New and Patadawn, brought him further into the limelight at Kandwick last week by registering a gallop that points to early wins for both. Riddle had bad luck when he first took up training, but his luck seems to have changed now, and he has the horses equal to winning. Happy New and Patadawn (still owned in Auckland) ran six furlongs on the course proper in 1.18. Flags, however, ■were out 80ft, making the horses run 88yds over the required distance, and allowing for that extra • distance the actual time would be 1.13. Related to Thespian The £35 handicap at Menangle Park (N.S.W.) last week provided an excellent opportunity for owners to back their horses. More than half the field appeared to be in commission at 10 to lor shorter. Haughmond (the halfbrother bj' Limond to Thespian), the winner, was quoted early at 8 to 1, but at the start was much less, sharing favouritism with Trimlial, who was backed from 10 to 1. Conbrook, a strong tip, maintained his position throughout the operations. The race proved easy for Haughmond. At the start there was some interference, through which Balatis lost whatever chances he had, and judging by the betting the gelding was expected to run a good race. Haughmond was not concerned in this, and when entering the straight with a commanding lead his backers were on good terms with themselves—a two lengths’ victory being recorded. REMINDERS Auckland Racing Club. Acceptances, also final payments, are due at 5 p.m. on Friday next. Manawatu Racing Club. Acceptances close at 9 p.m. on Tuesday, December 18. Taranaki Jockey Club. Acceptances are due on Tuesday, December IS, at 9 p.m. Marton Jockey Club.—Acceptances close at 9 p.m. on Tuesdav, December IS. Thames J.C.—Entries for the annual meeting at Thames on January 12 and 14 close with the secretary at Thames, or with Mr. F. D. McVay, Takapuna Jockey Club, at 5 p.m. on Friday. December 21.