Turf Notes

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 567, 21 January 1929, Page 12

Turf Notes

CONDUCTED BY

“EARLY BIRD”

Wellington Meeting The Wellington fixture opens tomorrow, and will be continued on Thursday and Saturday. The big yearling sales eventuate at Trentham on Wednesday, and older horses will go under the hammer there on Friday. The Ashhurst meeting is also to be held to-morrow. In the H igh-Weights Figuring in the high-weight events at Trentham this week is Royal lineage, who showed good form at the Auckland spring meeting. It would only require the right kind of service from the deputy on top to place the Limond gelding very much in the limelight at the Wellington meeting. Coming Back In his one race at Foxton on the first day, Mister Gamp rather startled the onlookers when he unwound one of his typical late runs to get third money. That was the Bronzetti gelding’s first race since contesting the Great Northern Hurdles last June, so it was quite ail interesting display. It looks as if Mister Gamp will have to be reckoned with in the early autumn when the hurdlers get busy, although it may be the best policy to wait until the winter meetings come along, with their valuable stakes. Mister Gamp is in the Trentham HighWeight to-morrow. Have Shown Pace Outside of Royal Lineage, already mentioned, there are several horses engaged in the Trentham HighWeight to-morrow that have shown some form on the flat. Among them could be named Pale Star, Bonhomme, Bright Day (whose running at Foxton last week suggests that he is coming back), Singer, Teremoana and Bright Land. Oratrix’s Chance If ever a horse had a chance to win a big race it is Oratrix in the Wellington Cup to-morrow. It is remembered that she was galloping over everything at the finish of the Grandstand Handicap on the concluding day at Ellerslie, being a head behind the dead-heaters, Vertigern and Concentrate, after tailing the field half n mile from home. There is no doubt that the daughter of Kilbroney and Oratress can stay, for it was stamina that assisted her to defeat Rapier in the New Zealand Cup. Bracketed with her to-morrow is Concentrate, and he is a pretty handy sort of second string to have on one’s side. Placed at Ellerslie The form shown at Ellerslie a few weeks ago by the two-year-old Tea Queen was good, and indicated that she was as good as was thought. The filly is to make an appearance in the Fitzherbert Handicap, and with 38 acceptors there is sure to be some scrambling and jostling. If she manages to evade this it is possible that Tea Queen will figure in the fightingline at the end; Form Was Good That smart filly Lady Quex won three races on the Taranaki circuit during the holidays, and but for the two-year-old filly Valpre her score might have been four. On the first day at New Plymouth Valpre finished in front of Lady Quex in the Juvenile, and although in receipt of 331 b it was a good performance, as the subsequent form of Lady Quex went to prove. Valpre is by Chief Ruler from 1 Valerie, a mare of whom mention was made in these columns last week. One cannot conceive breeding more likely to produce a rare speed merchant, and if Valpre fails to live up to it then it will be strange indeed. The filly, however, is but one of 38 to contest the Fitzherbert Handicap at Trentham to-morrow, bLit she may get on the winning list at the fixture, which extends over three days. One to Watch

The Wanganui trainer, W. H. Dwyer, does not often go far afield unless he has something pretty smart in tow. The only horse he has in at the Wellington meeting is the two-year-old Zarene, a filly who made a favourable impression when she finished second to Clever at Woodville in the mud, this being her debut on the turf. Zarene is to race at Trentham, and her form will be watched with interest. Dwyer has quite a good record with his youngsters at Trentham, and three seasons ago provided both the winner and runnerup (Kiosk and Elthein) in a big field of two-year-olcls. It was at Trentham, too, that Kiosk won his first race. Smart Filly

The Lucullus-Moonshine filly, Lucky Bag, won twice at the recent Marton meeting, and each day she scored very comfortably. The opposition was anything but high-class, but the three-year-old won very easily indeed, and could have increased the three-length margin recorded in both instances. Lucky Bag is engaged in the hack sprints at Trentham. and it would occasion little surprise if she performed very prominently.

Fair Three-Year-Olds The Anniversary Handicap at Trentham to-morrow is to be contested by an average lot of handicap-

pers, and this being the case there is a chance for a three-year-old to pull off the thick end of the prize. Toxeuma failed at Foxton, but his Ellerslie form was better than that. Full Feather is a Southerner who is obviously on the improve, but Tcheka cannot be overlooked, for he won the Queen’s Plate at Ellerslie in dogged style, and with his light weight may make the older horses go. One of the hardest he has to beat may prove to be Rtianui, who will now be able to have a strong rider in the saddle. Won Handicaps Star God won the two open handicap events on the Hastings " programme at New Year, and although he had nothing much to head off the form was probably good enough to enable him to beat the best of our hacks. He is in the Apprentices’ Plate at Trentham to-morrow, and the Douro Cup on Thursday. He will no doubt be ridden by M. Gilmore tomorrow. and this rider came home on six first winners at Hastings at the meeting referred to.

Riders in the Cup

Riders in the Wellington Cup are likely to be as follow: —Rapine, R. Reed; Oratrix, L. J. Ellis: Vertigern, B. H. Morris; Floy lake, A. E. Ellis; Star Area, T. Webster; Teri, K. Voitre; Joy Birr, J. Barry; Talisker, A. Fratus; Historic, H. Goldfinch; Papatu, FI. N. Wiggins; and Blimp, A. G. Murray. Another Chance

It is more than likely that the majority of racegoers have already despaired of Lysander ever getting back to form, and another two defeats at Ellerslie recently tended to confirm that opinion, l-lowever, it was the wet track that got to the bottom of Lysander here, for prior to the meeting he was galloping with some of his old-time dash. The Absurd horse is engaged in the sprint events at Trentham, and on that track he is likely to do much better, that is if the course is dry and hard. In the spring Lysander finished third in a similar race on this course, so it would not be surprising if he was to show up this week.

Improving Millais was brought to Auckland to contest the Takapuna Plate in the late spring, but raced fairly well only at the Shore. It was obvious that he was not quite himself on that occasion, and this was borne otit when he led the sprint field home at Foxton on Thursday last. Fie was the outsider in a field of four, and a ticket on each starter would have shown nearly 100 per cent, profit. Millais does not earn a penalty for that win, so with 8.10 in the Ruapehu Handicap at Trentham to-morrow he ought to go a good

Gold Cure’s Form After the good form he showed at Foxton this week, it is certain that Gold Cure will come into favour for the Douro Cup, the big hack race which is to be run at Trentham on the second day. Gold Cure showed by bis form in the winter that he is good, and now that he lias struck form again he will have a lot of friends. He won easily on the first day at Foxton, and

on the second day was not disgraced, though he was well beaten. He tore to the front with 10 stone on his back, and was slightly interfered with nearing the home turn. In any case carrying that weight out in front would have beaten him as, there was plenty of pace on early in the race.

Gascony Well Reports received at Foxton. last week, stated that Gascony has been galloping well at Woodville and would strip a very fit horse when he contests the Telegraph Handicap at Trentham on Tuesday. lie is reported to have made a big improvement since running at Awapuni. and those who have seen him at work are prepared to back him to beat allcomers. His stable mate, Doree, has got through a good preparation and is very fit. but she is not runing at Wellington on the first day.

Far North Wins Kawakawa Cup

BAY OF ISLANDS MEETING

LAST RACE TO THE THORN

(Special to THE HUE) KAWAKAWA, Sunday

Perfect weather prevailed at Kawakawa on Saturday for the annual meeting of the Bay of Islands Racing Club. The attendance was fair, while the track was very hard. During the day the totalisator handled £8,04G, compared with £9,235 last year, a decrease of £1,189.

Following are the results: Hokianga Handicap, of £55; 6 furlongs.—4 Gazerin, 9.0, R. McTavisli, 1; 6 Blue Bonnet, H. Dulieu, 2; 2 Furore, 8.13, D Gunn. 3. Also: S Opononi, 8.13; / Echelon, 8.13; 3 Royal Seagull, 8.10; 1 The Dansant, 5.6; 5 Cynique, 8.6. (winner trained by A. McMillan, Whangarei.) Won by three lengths, with a length between second and third. Time, 1.18 3-5. Kaikohe Handicap, of £6O; 5i furlongs. Bombarder, 9.0. R. McTavisli, 2; 3 Fancy Boy, 7.11, J. Conquest, 3. Also; 5 Exalted, S.O, car. 7.9; 4 Fiery Lad, 7.11; 6 Michael, 7.0, car. 7.4; < Star Love, 7.0, car. 7.7. (Winner trained by owner, Houhora.) Won by two lengths, with a length and a-half between second and third. Time, 1.8 3-5. Kawakawa Cup, of £200; 1£ miles.—4 Far North, H. Goldfinch, 1; 2 The Thorn, 9.0, R. McTavisli, 2; 5 Right and Left, 8.5, S. Henderson, 3. Also; 1 Alonsoa, 8.5; 3 Eh Timi, 5.3. (Winner trained by owner, Awanui.) Won by half a head, with a length between second and third. Time, 2.14 1-5.

Northland Counties’ Handicap, of £65; 7 furlongs.—2 lllingar, 8.12, H. Dulieu, *; 4 Fiery Lad, 5.3, car. 5.4, S. Henderson, •; 6 Bowman, 7.12, R. McTavisli, 3. * Dead heat. Also: 1 Sunny Morn, 5.12; 3 Waning Light. 8.12; 5 Blue Bonnet, 7.0; 7 Turn, 7.0, car. 7.4. (lllingar trained by A. McMillan, Whangarei: Fiery Lad trained by J. Floey, Whangarei.) Deadheat, with the third horse two lengths away. Time, 1.32.

Maromaku Hack Handicap, of £65; 6 furlongs.—l Bombarder, 9.11, R. McTavish, L; 2 Michael, 7.9, S. Bryce, 2; 3 Furore, 7.3, W. Jordan, 3. Also: 4 Cynique, 7.0. (Winner trained by J. Williamson, Ellerslie.) Won by three lengths, with a length between second and third. Time, I.IS 3-5.

Ohaeawai High-weight Handicap, of £6O: 1 mile.—2 Just Quietly, aged, 10.7, A. McGregor, 1; 1 Right and Left, 11.0, S. Henderson, 2; 4 Waning Light, 10.7, P. Burgess, 3. Also: 3 lllingar, 10.7, car. 10.10; 5 Turn. 9.0. (Winner trained by owner, Whangarei.) Won by a neck, with a head between second and third. Time, 1.46 1-5.

Pakaraka Handicap, of £SS; 6 furlongs.—3 Exalted, 7.2, car. 7.9, H. Goldfinch, 1; 1 Ballmoy 11, 5.4, S. Bryce, 2; 2 Fancy Boy, 7.0. car. 7.3, J. Conquest, 3. Also: 5 Star Love, 7.0, car. 7.9; 4 Kildeer, 7.0. (Winner trained by D. Gunn. Whangarei.) Won by a neck, with two lengths between second and third. Time, 1.16 3-5.

Russell Handicap, of £75; 1 mile.—2 The Thorn, 9.12, R. McTavisli, 1; 1 Far North, 8.9, FI. Goldfinch, 2; 3 Welcome Home, 5.6, S. Bryce, 3. Also: 5 Sunny Morn, 5.4; 4 Fiery Lad, 7.9, car. 5.3; 6 Bowman, 8.0. (Winner trained by owner, Ellerslie. > Won by a neck, with half a length between second and third. Time, 1.32 1-5.