Turf Notes

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 657, 8 May 1929, Page 12

Turf Notes

CONDUCTED BY

"EARLY BIRD"

Wanganui Acceptances Acceptances for the opening day of the Wanganui winter meeting close at S p.m. on Friday next. Jumped Badly Mandarine, on his one showing at Marton on Saturday last, is not up to the Great Northern standard by any means. He is very erratic at his hurdles, but xvith more experience he should develop into a fine performer. He gave his rider a hard task in the hurdle race at Marton, and on two occasions he was in the lead, after his bad jumping had seen him drop xvell back. Mandarine may contest t Hack Steeples at Egmont. Let Them Down Backers wanted nothing but Nucleus in the Open Hurdles at Marton, and from the fac-t that L. G. Morris xvas in the saddle it can be taken for granted that he will be seen over the jumps this winter, after missing it for a couple of seasons. Nucleus pulled hard over the first part of the journey and then began to fade out, finishing anything but generously. For a favourite it was not a good effort, but, perhaps she xvas off colour and will do better later, for this xvas her first race over the sticks for some time. She may show to more advantage at Hawera this week. Too Short Kilburn found the mile and a-half ol’ the hurdle race at Marton on Saturday a bit too short, for after being well back in the early part he was finishing on in third place, but it xvas a moderate third. Koauau. making a reappearance, looked a bit burley and ran accordingly, stopping badly oxer the final quarter of a mile. At his best Koauau is a pretty good type of hurdler, and may be better than ever this season, even if he does fall a bit beloxv top class. Neither Kilburn nor Koauau is engaged at Egmont. Fine Performance

Matu put up a fine performance when lie defeated Puwhero in the Marton Steeplechase, for this xv.as his first appearance for some time when it comes to racing over the bigger fences. He was ridden a waiting race for most of the journey, and in this A. Jenkins showed nice judgment, for with some of the other runners running themselves out in front Matu had enough left in reserve to give Puwhero four lengths start at the last fence and beat him home easily. Incidentally it was a long run-in, over two furlongs. Matu was not greatly fancied, but he will not be at a double figure price the next time he is seen out in a cross-country-race. He was engaged in the Egmont Steeplechase next Thursday, but it xvas gix-en out at Marton that he would not be a starter. and has been scratched. Puwhero Nearing His Best Although not nearly ready, Puxvheru gave a finti exhibition in the Marton l Steeplechase, and in conceding a stone |i and a-half and finishing second to an ‘improved ’chaser like Matu he did exceedingly well, considering that lie ! was having his first outing over country for a long period. Usually Puwhero likes to go to the front and stay there, , but on Saturday he xvas kept behind for most of the journey. He xvas in the van with Mountain Crag with five furlongs to go, and even had his rider been more patient it is unlikely that he xvould have beaten Matu. Puwhero must be hard to beat in to-morrow’s Egmont Steeplechase. Finishes Well As in his hurdle races, Braeman was galloping over everything at the finish of the Marton Steeplechase, and he got within a head of the third horse, Star of the Fast, after coming from a long xvay back. Braeman’s debut over the big fences was quite a good effort, and with a bit of luck on his side he should make good in this department. His trainer, V. Colello, also had Hollycombe in this race. He xvas going pretty xvell too. when he tipped out at the fence at the five furlongs and broke a leg, necessitating his destruction. It was the end of a promising ’chaser. Well Beaten Banjuke. after being prominent for the first mile of the Marton Steeplechase. faded out. and for the remainder he was always toiling along in the rear, finishing a couple of furlongs behind the winner. Vexatious might have been third, but for running-off at the penultimate fence, although she xvas never travelling like a winner. Brigadier Bill, who looked xvell to the eye. unshipped his rider at the first of the double, this being the second fence, so it xx-as too early in the piece to say lioxv lie xxould have shaped. He may do better in the Egmont Steeplechase to-morrow. Might Have; Won It xvas g€:nerally agreed that Mountain Crag xvould have been first or second in the Marton Steeplechase had he not fallen at the third to last fence, a little more than half a mile from home. He and Puxvhero were together in the lead, xvell clear of anything else at the time. It is understood that Mountain Crag will form one of Mrs. A. McDonald’s team for Ellerslie next month, his special mission being the Hunt Cup the second day. At Haxvera to-morrow he is to contest the Hack Steeplechase, and he has only to stand up to make it more than interesting for the opposition. Frisco Jack Again Outside the placed horses in the Marton Steeplechase, perhaps the best display xx r as given by that great little jumper Frisco Jack. He went to the front from the start, and made play for a mile and a-half, fencing beautifully. Then he began to tire, and this was probably the cause of him falling at the first of the double the second time round. On that showing the black Sir Frisco gelding looks like coming right back to his best form, for he has been off the scene for some time. If he has come by no harm from his crash he should :ake a lot of beating in steeplechasing ex-ents near at hand. Not Ready A distinguished candidate for jumping honours at Ellerslie next month in Nukumai was given his first race for some time on Saturday. This was in the Crofton Handicap at Marton on Saturday, and the fact that there xvas only £‘32 inx-ested in him indicated the state of affairs. The Manchineel gelding is far from ready, and he finished a bad last at the end of a mile and aquarter. It does not look as if Nukumai will be ready for serious business xxiien the Great Northerns come up for decision, less than a month hence, so it would appear safe to rule him out. unless he displays some form at Hawera or Wanganui. Papatu Once again Papatu has had to be content with a place, but not a xxin. In the Crofton Handicap at Marton on Saturday he tailed the field for the first half-mile, and at the home turn had only one horse behind him. From here Green put in a big effort, and he was a good second at the judge, indicating that had he run more generously in the early part he might even have "on. Papatu is so seasoned noxv that with reasonably good going he may catch a first; prize soon, but with the soft tracks due any rime now his task is sure to be difficult.

Finished Well Imperial Spark put in a thrilling finish at the close of the big handicap at Marton on Saturday, getting third money, so on that showing he is not a has-been just yet. Blimp went a moderate race, but one xvould say that he is a horse of moods. Borsalene. a promoted hack, may get on the xx'inning list in open company soon, for she xx-ent xvell enough at Marton to indicate that a winning bracket may not be far off. Next season the daughter of Acre and Borsil should be good. Blimp is to run at Hawera. Did Not Stay Royal Damon was one of the first horses beaten in the Crofton Handicap, being done with txxo furlongs from home, so that it may be some time yet before he is found winning “ve- ; middle journey. Starboard Light endeavoured to repeat his Masterton performance and spreadeagle the field in the Crofton, but after having ten lengths’ lead four and a-haif furlongs from home he petered right out. Manly ran badly, and this was not his true form. Must Win Soon Once again Keddar has been backed and beaten. The latest effort was in the sprint at Marton. in which he xvent a good race, but had little hope of catching Limited in the straight, which, by the way, is nearly txvo furlongs long. Keddar is an in-and-out sort of customer, although really capable of big things, as his sprint success at Trentham a fexv weeks ago xvould indicate. With Limited out of the xvay to-morrow Keddar can be ticked off to go a fine race in the Egmont sprint. Capable Hurdler Since racing at Whangarei recently, where she scored a second and a first respectively over the battens, Golden Wedding has done little to displease her trainer. She xvill not race at Hawera. however. The chestnut is a candidate for Great Northern Hurdles honours, but xvill she be sufficiently seasoned to see out a strenuous two and a-half miles’ journey? Whangarei form would answer in the negative. Still VV. Taylor’s mare should find one of the less important hurdle events within her capabilities. Changed Hands The well-known trotting owner and enthusiast, Mr. F. .1. Docherty, has purchased from the Hon. E. W. Alison a colt by Emblematic from Tarlilian. The yearling, which comprised one of a batch bought at the recent Sydney sales, is said to be a very attractive youngster.