Durf Notes

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 658, 9 May 1929, Page 12

Durf Notes

CONDLOLD BY

Races at Pukekohe The meeting at Pukekohe on Saturday of the Franklin Racing Club promises to be a big day for racing folk. A review of the prospects will be given in tomorrow's issue. A special train leaves Auckland station for the racecourse at 9.3 a.m., and the following stations at the times shown: Newmarket 9.12, Penrose 9.29, Otahuhu 9.37, Papatoetoe 9.44, Papakura 10.7, I Drury 2 0.14, and Pukekohe 10.30, arriving at the course at 10.33. Another train (express) leaves Auckland at 9.40 a.m. and Newmarket 9.49, arriving at the course at 10.32. Return trains leave the racecourse at 5.5 p.m. (express) and 5.10 p.m. The first race starts at 11.15 a.m. and the last at 4.40 p.m. Long Odds The official starting prices in the recent English Grand National are illuminating. The favourite was at 9 to 1 (equivalent to a £lO dividend to win), the second favourte 16£ to 1, third favourite 18 to 1, two fourth favourites 20 to 1, and so on up to 300 to 1, this range covering 40 of the starters. The 26 others were 200 to 1. Last year’s winner, Tipperary Tim, whose success was regarded at the time as a fluke, was quoted at a three-figure price. Fast for Short Distance An attractive gallop was recorded by j Diamond Queen at Kllerslie on Tuesday morning, when she beat Killute decisively in a bout over six furlongs. Formerly Diamond Queen has been lacking in the final furlong for want of stamina, but now with a bit of age she can be expected to race more encouragingly. She is engaged at Pukekohe. Avon Court in Work After spelling for some time F. Gilchrist has again made a start with the three-year-old filly Avon Court. It is not intended to do much with her just yet, but she will be given walking exercise preparatory to being placed on the active list at Ellerslie again, with a view to the spring campaign, which is not four months off. Will Do Better When trainer J. Thorpe purchased Welkne as a three-year-old from the Hawke’s Bay sportsman, Mr. W. G. Stead, it appeared as if he had got a bargain for few hacks at that time had the speed of The Welkin’s son. But the purchase did not realise expectations, and ( eventually, going amiss, was relegated to the paddock. Welkne is back again, had a race at the Auckland Easter meeting, and then subsequently at Avondale, being prominent for part of the journey in both outings. Age has not dimmed his speed to any marked degree, so why should he not give a good account of himself in the Pukekawa Handicap at Pukekohe on Saturday?

"EARLY BIRD"

For Franklin Welcome Home was shipped yesterday from Whangarei in charge of D. Gunn to attend the Franklin meeting. He is in rare fettle and is expected to perform creditably. Sold Mr. E. Plaisted has disposed of the full-brother to that fair performer, Sunny Morn (by Mountain Knight— Avaunce) arid he will go under the care of trainer R. Hall at Papatoetoe. For Ellerslie The owner of Royal Seagull, a winner at Whangarei, has nominated her for the Ellerslie June meeting and will make the trip if all goes well in the meantime. A Come-Back Ellei'slie trainer J. Kemp has a five-year-old mare attached to his stable named Theodolite (Surveyor—Miss Hazel). She has pretensions to speed, too. and ran quite a decent trial at Ellerslie on Tuesday morning. As a two and three-year-old Thedolite raced a number of times, two minor placings being the result. She will race at Franklin on Saturday in a division of the Trial Handicap, and in such a class is a possibility. May Surprise Them If perseverance goes for anything, owner-trainer J. Manuel is due shortly to have a turn of Fortune’s wheel. He continues to keep Salamander up to the mark and the occasional flashes of form—evident through minor placings—has encouraged the Ellerslie owner to make a further bid for honours with the Polydamon gelding. Salamander is in the High-weight at Franklin on Saturday, a class of race that should suit him admirably, for it is a field of moderates. After the Double If Zircon races up to the showing he made in the Onkaparinga Steeplechase in South Australia on Easter Monday, there is a big possibility that he may capture tne double—Northern Steeples and Northern Hurdes. That is the contention of V/. Garrett, ownertrainer of the Merry Moment gelding, and certainly no one is in a better position to know than the Ellerslie mentor. Zircon’s condition is right, and he is a competent jumper. He received a severe cut on the near hind leg just prior to his big attempt on the other side, and though every attention has been given the injury it has not healed sufficiently to ensure him being free from this trouble when he is schooled later on. About the Cup

There are two over a dozen engaged in the Massey Memorial Cup Handicap on Saturday at Pukekohe, and of that number six hail from Ellerslie stables, thus giving the event a local touch. The Lover, High Pitch, Thursby, King Emerald, Modest Boy and Te Money are the Ellerslie representatives, and in an optimistic mood one would declare them equal to filling all the places. However, to fine it down to a couple, The Lover and High Pitch are preferred of the nominations from headquarters. Knows How

It is rather a feather in the cap of Randwick trainer F. J. Marsden that he is the only trainer to succeed with Rossendal© two-ycar-olds this season. So far he has succeeded with three of them, the latest being Red Shadow (Rossendale—Cragrose), who scored at Menangle Park last week. At the beginning of the season Marsden was entrusted with five Rossendale youngsters. These were Pentheus, Dreamdale, Red Shadow, Century Tire and a colt by Rossendale from Smash. Pentheus won two races at Rosehill, and ran a dead-heat for first at Warwick Farm. Tie was certainly beaten in the Easter Stakes at Randwick. Dreamdale dead-heated for first in the A.J.C. Wentworth Handicap. Century Tire and the Smash youngster have not yet faced the starter, so that Marsden has actually won with all the Rossendale two-year-olds he has produced. He has thus proved his ability to get the best nut of these Rossendales. The pity of it is that Century Tire and the Smash gelding (he was only recently gelded) have not yet been produced. The Smash youngster, who is owned by Mr. C. IT. J. Schmidt, is a particularly fine sort, but he had to be turned out after being taught to do pace work only. He may not come back to work until the spring, but it has been prophesied that he will turn out particularly well. Century Tire is owned by Mr. R. Walder. This colt is a really good galloper, but he was a gross fellow and had to be turned out. The opinion was advanced that Century Tire was just as good as Pentheus. If that is the case, then Marsden should enjoy a profitable season with his Rossendale colts and geldings in 1929-30.

Slow Judgment When a jockey is carpeted for an offence early in a race programme, the stipendiary stewards would do well to bring about an immediate verdict, if possible, writes a Sydney critic in connection with the holding up of the recent Southern Cross appeal. The procrastination on the part of the stewards is not in the best interests of the rider. This has been manifest in recent and past cases. Swifter judgment is desirable. It stands to reason that when a jockey brought before the “stipes” for committing a breach of the rules is allowed to continue riding in subsequent events, he can hardly do justice to thos© mounts. Whether he is guilty or not, he rides with the fear that he has to “face the music” before the day closes, and in more than one instance within recent weeks riders have certainly not been seen to advantage while a charge has been hanging over their heads. Besides being conscious of the fact that they have to battle for the retention of their licences, the fact that they are before the stewards is gener-

ally common knowledge, for information travels faster upon a racecourse than anywhere else. This does not help the case: rather does it aggravate the position. With qualified stewards to supervise the racing it should, in most instances, be a matter of minutes to decide a case, and jockeys, as well as owners and trainers, would quickly know their fate. The adjourning from race to race is not favourably commented upon. Of course, there are exceptions to the rule, but parties to a case are mostly within the precincts of the official enclosure, and when it is a straight-out case an immediate verdict should ensue. Quicker verdicts and more frequent meetings of the appeal boards would he a step in the right direction. The case of the pony jockey W. Paterson could he cited. He was suspended at Kensington on Saturday week last and lodged an appeal. This will not com© before the appeal board ontil Monday next. May 13. Two race meetings will take place in the meantime.