Turf Notes

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 752, 27 August 1929, Page 12

Turf Notes

CONDUCTED BY

"EARLY BIRD"

Marton Meeting Acceptances for the first day of the Marton meeting close tonight. Avondale Entries Nominations for the Avondale J.C. spring meeting, also final payments for the Avondale Stakes and Avondale Guineas, close with Mr. A. J. Farquliar at 5 p.m. next Friday. Really Smart A pretty fair sort of two-year-old last season, Flying Prince has apparI ently developed into a smart peri former, for his sprint success at Ellers- | lie last Saturday was full of merit. He led all the way, and when challenged by two fit horses in Paddon and Gold Money, he easily held his own. Flying Prince’s next appearance may be in the Avondale Guineas next month. Still Going Strong Paddon has been the last word in consistency since he made his reappearance four months ago. He has had four runs in that time, for a win, a second, a win and a second. lie is in great order, and A. Tinker appears to have a first-class knowledge of how to keep the chestnut in that condition, for the horse looked even better to the eye on Saturday than at Trentham. A race like the Avondale Cup next month should find Paddon among the most dangerous candidates, and no doubt the outing he had on Saturday was undertaken with the idea of keeping him tuned up. At the weights on Saturday he had no chance of heading Flying Prince over six furlongs, particularly as the winner drew the ace. Beaten by the Weight It was the weight that was responsible for the defeat of Gold Money in the sprint at Ellerslie last Saturday Although she drew number nine marble at the barrier, she actually started wide out in eleventh position, and this did not assist her. She was just a trifle slow off the mark—she is not actually a brilliant beginner—but she ran round the field quickly, and inside a furlong was moving along easily in fourth place. She fought it out all the way up the straight, but in the last few strides she weakened and lost second money to Paddon, upon whom Tinker rode one of his most desperate finishes. Up Against It

On his brilliant Trentham form Marble King had to be given a royal chance in the decision of the Dunedin Handicap at Ellerslie on Saturday. However, he was not in great demand, the fact that he drew tho extreme outside in a field of fifteen, and had a hurdle horseman up, no doubt being responsible for this. Nevertheless Marble King ran a really good race, and on this showing would not lose many friends. Might Have Been Second One of the unlucky horses in the sprint at Elerslie last Saturday was Partial Eclipse, the dual Gisborne winner. Sho failed to show the necessary early speed to enable her to take up a good position, and when heads were turned homeward she was not in the first nine. The Avondale representative did not come into the picture until the post loomed up, and then she was noticed coming fast on the rails. At the finish she did not appear to have any too much room, and she weakened in the last couple of strides, after looking a distinct possibility for second place. There Is no doubt that Partial Eclipse is back to her best, and it should not be a difficult task for ownertrainer S. G. Lindsay to place her to advantage during the season just commenced. Coming Back Track work earlier in the week pointed to Dave as likely to run well in the sprint at Pakuranga meeting last Saturday. He did, although he was not quite good enough to do better than divide fourth honours with Partial Eclipse. Dave finished rather well, and he looks like being again a useful member of J. Williamson’s team this season. This was Dave’s first race for a considerable time,' so it is only reasonable to expect some improvement. To Be at Dannevirke The Ellerslie hurdle jockey, J. Burgess, left by the express on Sunday night for Dannevirke, where he is to ride Ah Wera in hurdle events. Following on these two meetings, Burgess will go on to Marton and Wanganui. D. O’Connor, the Southern jockey, who rode Master Rowley at Ellerslie on Saturday, will also be ridins at Dannevirke. Showed Speed In being up with the leaders in the mile hack race at Ellerslie on Saturday, Mountain Guide sprang a bit of a surprise, for formerly he has always finished from well behind. He petered out in the final furlong, however, but hung on gamely under pressure to gain tho lean end of the purse. When thoroughly attuned Mountain Guide can get. over a lot of ground, and as this race should work vast improvement in him he will be worth consideration at his next start, probably at the impending Avondale fixture Early Pace Tukunoa showed a lot of pace in his ■race at Ellerslie on Saturday, but he could not go on with it. He is far from being ready, however, and it may be into the autumn before he is really fit for business. Since T. Carmont took over this pupil, he has built up and improved so satisfactorily that ho should eventually repay for past failures. A Handful Master Roley gave D. O’Connor a hard ride in the Hunters’ Hurdles at Ellerslie last Saturday, for he was pulling double over the early part He was allowed to go to the front at the six furlongs, probably to keep him out of likely trouble from the two in front of* him. At the fence at the five furlong Master Rqlcv ran right across and lost several lengths. Had his rider been able to check him after this incident it is probable that he would still have won, but the Master pulled his way to the front inside another furlong. This allowed Soami to get the drop on him, and the hot favourite had no punch left in him at the finish. At His Best At last year’s winter meeting S. Henderson made a name for himself by securing continual successes in important hurdle and steeplechase events. And now’ with Henderson convalescent, another star has arisen among the riders over fences. He is, of course R. Syme, who piloted Pompeius to victory in the Hunt Cup at Ellerslie on Saturday, this giving Te Rapa horseman three consecutive wins over country. The other two were gained through the agency of Wiltshire, when he won the National and July Steeplechases at Riccarton. In addition to riding. Syme also has several horses in training. He will only need to keep on as he is doing now to enjoy an even more successful career. ______________

The Weight Told

If good riidng could have won last Saturday’s Jcllicoe Handicap, then it is likely that the victor would have been High Pitch. Goldfinch never covered more ground than he could possibly help, and although he had to pull out from the rails at the bottom of the straight it was the weight that stopped the horse. lie was a possibility at the distance, but he stopped there. The best of the lightweights in the field was probably Welkne, whose showing indicates that he is going to develop into a pretty useful sort of horse this season. For the Notebook There are several horses seen out at Ellerslie last Saturday that are capable of making a good deal of improvement inside the next few weeks Some of them are Desert Glow, True Blood. Welkne, Valsier. Dave, Ruffles, Partial Eclipse, Carmint. Cybele, Bombarder, Motere, Lusoma, and Valroe, to name a bakers’ dozen that failed to get into the money last week. Tired, Then Crashed For a horse who had done such a solid preparation, Abbot’s Delight ran poorly at Ellerslie on Saturday. There was plenty of support for him in the Hunters’ Hurdles, but after being in a foremost position for a mile he faded right out of the picture, falling at the second to last fence. Looked the Part On looks alone Refresher must have been chosen as the winner of the Sylvia Park Handicap at Ellerslie last Saturday. This three-year-old brother to the well-performed Tea Bell looked a picture, and it was obvious that he had done plenty of work. He was a well-backed second choice, and although at the finish of the race he had only a neck the best of it with Arikitoa, that outing is sure to work a big improvement. J. T. Jamieson won the other hack flat race with Sea Cob, who too took the eye as being one of the fittest horses in the field. To win both these hack events was a splendid start for Jamieson’s Takanini stable, and indicates that this trainer is going to have a big innings this season. “Certainty" Beaten A good thing come undone is a phrase that is applicable to the defeat of Motere in the hack seven at Ellerslie last Saturday. The three-year-old was favourite, at good odds, but after the field had gone a furlong ho was badly placed, being near the tail of a much-strung-out lot. He did not begin to improve his position until approaching the five-furlong peg. and he went round those in front of him to be eighth at the home turn. At the distance he was almost up level with the leaders, and even then he was being hailed as the winner. However, his earlier effort had taken too much out of the chestnut, and he 'll ad to share fourth place with Valroe. Motere, when he really started to gallop, displayed a wonderful burst of speed, and it would not occasion surprise if he develops into one of the best three-year-olds in the province. Is Ready Last spring Arikitoa came to hand early and was showing good form in the hack class. His second to Refresher last Saturday was an indication that he has done well during the winter, and perhaps he will make his presence felt during the Avondale and other meetings in this province before many weeks have passed. AN INVESTIGATION TOO MANY RACECOURSE ACCIDENTS The increase in the number of accidents at race meetings as the result of horses falling was discussed at the annual meeting of the Victoria Racing Club last week by the chairman. M.r. L. K. S. Mackinnon. He suggested that the question be considered by a conference of Australian racing clubs. “Falls in jumping races unfortunately cannot be avoided. They are inseparable from that side of our sport,’’ said Mr. Mackinnon. “It is most difficult to ascertain the reason for falls on the flat, but of this we are certain —that these accidents are not due to the condition of the race tracks. “Accidents are due either to too large fields, and consequent crowding, to the inefficiency of our riders, or to jockeys and apprentices riding too short. Accidents have become too numerous of late, and my committee feels that *it has got to investigate the matter with the object, if possible, of lessening the possibility of accidents. Inquiry to be Held “It is the committee’s intention, as soon as possible, to get our trainers and owners together, and se% if we can get at the true reason for such accidents “Schools for apprentices have been suggested. To carry on a school, as is done in Adelaide, may be helpful. Our inquiry will probably throw some light on this. Xo doubt the manners of apprentces might be bettered by such schools, but to what extent their riding would benefit remains to be proved. Practice is what is really required.” Mr. Mackinnon expressed the opinion that it would be well if they got back to the long stirrup. Apprentices and jockeys rode far too short. The short position might be all right on a straight course, but on most courses it was dangerous. It was the intention of the V.R.C. committee to investigate the matter. BAROMETER’S PENALTY Press Association WANGANUI, Monday. As a result'*of winning at the Pakuranga Hunt meeting on Saturday Barometer has been rehandicapped to carry 7.11 in the Marton Handicap at the Marton meeting.