Turf Notes

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 669, 22 May 1929, Page 13

Turf Notes

CONDUCTED BY

"EARLY BIRD"

Many Entered For the English Derby, to be decided on June 5, there were 338 nominations, and for the Oaks, the leading three-year-old fillies’ event of the season on June 7, the entries totalled 262. Now 98 remain in the Derby. Going Abroad F. Tilley leaves New Zealand for his trip abroad next February, so as to strike the spring and summer in England. It is said that C. Price, one of his old-time stable jockeys, will take over Fordell. Price was associated with the stable for many years, being upon that good horse Client, the winner of numerous cups, and big money in the Wellington province for Mr. W. McA. Duncan. Of late years Price has been conducting a hostelry at Bulls. Money Tells As was to be expected after the increase of the V.R.C. Grand National steeplechase prize to £5.000, entries received for the race constitute a record. Eighty nominations were made. The previous record was 73 in 1924; last year only 47 entries were.received. For the £2,000 Grand National Hurdle. 90 entries were received, and the total for the two races, 170. is 50 more than last year. Word of Awapuni Maiden Four runners in the Novice Handicap at Gosford (N.S.W.) last week brought about keen wagering. Two started at 2 to 1 and the other two at. 3 to 1* Krui led throughout. Hitherto he had found a mile beyond him, but his jockey “nursed” him well, but at the •fi»ish he was still going as strongly as any of the others, and had two lengths to spare from Teremoana, who was sent acros from the Dominion * a few weeks ago. Promising Novice Otairi’s good showing in the Hack Hurdles on Thursday and Saturday at Wanganui was notable in that he is one of the few Paper Moneys to jump. He is a promising recruit, and being a brother to Cashier, does not lack breeding. Good Riding Record The Wellington lad, A. Hobson, put up a good performance at Wanganui on Thursday. He rode in three of the four jumping events for two firsts and a second. He commenced by steering Maidos in the hack steeplechase, and was second on Rapgi Sarto in the big 'chase. His next ride was on Mister Gamp, the winner of the Century Hurdles. Hobson handled his mounts well on all three occasions, and on Maidos made a great recovery after his mount made a bad jump in front of the stands. No \joubt there will be plenty of applicants now for the ride on Mister Gamp at Ellerslie, but Hobson may have the ride, although tentatively he has been engaged for Kilburn.

Friday Is The Day At -o p.m. next Friday Mr. W. S. J Spence, secretary of the Auckland Rac- j ing Club, will close down on the ac- j ceptance list for the opening day (June j 1) of the Auckland Racing Club’s win- j ter meeting, also for the G.N. Steeple- ! chase, run on the second day. Wise Policy A considerable amount of speculation has taken place as to the why* and wherefore of Snowfall’s name b%ing; missing from the lists of entries for the important cross-country events of the Dunedin Jockev Club’s winter meeting, but the explanation is simple enough, writes “Sir Modred.” It appears that the son of Balboa —Martian Nell is at present in a paddock, his new owner, Mr. M. Mouat, of Eastern Bush, having decided to give him a spell, following on a fairly strenuous first season’s steeplechasing. This appears to be a wise policy with a jumper who has so far done everything asked of him and carried it out attractively.

Slightly Exaggerated Savs the “Sbuthland Times”: A North Island writer has made a mistake in reporting:—“At the Brisbane A.T.C. races on April 27, Apache (Solferino—Directoire) was made the medium of a plunge, and duly landed bv a neck.” On the’ date referred to the Solferino gelding was in Invercargill and was jumping hurdles here on Thursday morning last