Turf Notes

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 772, 19 September 1929, Page 12

Turf Notes

CONDUCTED BY

"EARLY BIRD"

Weight-for-age Comparisons Pink Cost, one of the best of last season’s two-year-olds, has been weighted at 7.4 in the New Zealand Cup, or 21b under -weight for age. Nightmarch, last year’s New Zealand Derby winner, is similarly rated with 8.12, but has now gone up to 9.0. Star Stranger’s 9.5 represents lib under the scale, while Rapier at 9.6 has received exactly weight for age. Might Have Won Isa (Absurd —Valerie) was a good thing beaten in the Debutante Stakes (declares “Moturoa”). Simba (Psychology—Tressida) dashed off in front, and was always going like a winner, though his backers had a few anxious moments when he ran out on the home turn. Goldfinch quickly straightened him, and he kept going long enough to beat the Absurd filly, who had to make up a lot of ground in the middle stages of the flutter, and just weakened on the post. Of the others, Foot Rule (Surveyor—Juanna) did best, after losing many lengths at the start. Into the Sea "With the majority of our best riders in Australia, the displays of horsemanship on many occasions at Wanganui was ridiculous, with the result that the best of the remaining jockeys had a good innings, L. G. Morris, H. Goldfinch, and H. Wiggins securing the majority of the wins (comments a Southern critic). In one race, a Taranaki horse was so badly strangled in the middle stages of his race that he was robbed of all chances of winning, but his pilot absolutely “threw away” second money by trying to “ride pretty” at the finish. Coming Back

A. D. Webster will return from Sydney with his team by the Ulimaroa, leaving on October 11, so he will be back for the Wellington spring meeting. T. Webster has been retained to ride King’s Arms in the Epsom Handicap, and, according to his father, “it is a good ride.” M. J. Carroll is due back at Auckland next Tuesday with Paganeili and Tasty. Likely Maiden Clopton. an acceptor in the first division of the Maiden Plate at Avondale on Saturday, is a three-year-old colt by Tomatin from Lucelle. His only start so far was in the Great Northern Foal Stakes on the opening day of the Auckland Club’s summer meeting in December last, in which he beat only Carl Idem home of the eight runners. Clopton, a member of J. T. Jamieson’s team at Takanini, is reported to he doing favourably on the tracks, and in the company he will be in on Saturday is expected to make a good showing. Best at Wanganui Whoji Consent was led in winner of the Owen Handicap at Wanganui on Saturday, it signalised the 140th and last winner on that course trained by the veteran F. Tilley, who is to hand over the charge of the Fordell stable in February to L. G. Morris. Tilley has a wonderful record, and has constantly demonstrated that it is not necessary to race horses into form, as is the dubious practice of other trainers. The retirement of Fred Tilley from the racing game will be regretted by every sportsman in New Zealand and Australia.

The Laughing One Laughing Prince has proved a rare bargain for Mr. T. A. Duncan. Last season he started in 11 races, and was only once out of a place, the Flying Handicap, at Wanganui, which he won on Thursday. He won the Eclipse Stakes on the second day, and then followed the Mitchelson Cup, Canterbury Cup, and Stead Gold Cup, collecting in stakes the sum of £3,585. He has started this season well by his two victories at Wanganui, and his connections will now probably regret his omission from the New Zealand Cup field. “I have often wondered how Laughing Prince came by his name (writes “Hermit”), and quite recently I inquired of Mr. Jorgensen, who christened him, why the appellation was bestowed upon him. His reply was:—Well, when he was being broken in, I never once went into his box but what he was laughing at me. Horses do laugh. That is the reason why I gave him Laughing Prince as his name.’ ” Incidentally, Laughing Prince still has the laugh on his fellowequines.

Four-year-olds in Cup The handicapping of the four-vear-olds in the New Zealand Cup provides-., some interest. Nightmarch, winner of the New Zealand Derby, originally received 8.12, or 41b more than Prince Humphrey, who captured the Australian Jockey Club’s Derby. The figures look reasonable, as Nightmarch followed up his classic success by winning the Dunedin Cup and the" Great Autumn Handicap, taking both events in very decisive fashion. Prince Humphrey, on the other hand, went into lengthy retirement as a result of a mishap early in November. The dual St. Leger winner. Concentrate, has 8.4. a handy weight for a horse with such good staying credentials. Cashier follows with 7.13, then two fillies, Prodice 7.8. and Pride 7.4, while Chide has 7.4. These six make up a useful contingent, but Nightmarch and Concentrate are. Melbourne Cup acceptors, so there is a doubt about them so far as Riccarton is concerned. Melbourne Market

In Melbourne last Thursday, in tiie discussions on the two Cups, there was a tendency, where prices are favourable, to support Karuma in the Caulfield Cup. His gallop at Flemington the day before was regarded as satisfactory. Karuma was also coupled in the double with Tidal and Crucis, but the amounts were not over-large. Catkin is receiving increased attention, cind he is now third favourite, but Prince Viol and Loquacious are very close to him in the quotes. Albanian shows a disposition to be very easy. There is a constant demand for doubles, beginning with the favourite, High Syce. One of the starred doubles is

High Syce and Carradale, about which a special quotation is offered. It is understood that a tidy parcel was taken about this combination early in the piece. Catkin and Carradale is another double which is increasing in demand. There is fair support for the combination of Ethelton and Winalot, and another £2,000 has been written in the last 24 hours. Prince Viol was further coupled with Winalot and Crucis. Carramelo is easy in the Caulfield Cup market, and Inducement is dropping back in the Melbourne Cup quotes. Though Affirm is kept in a straight place in the quotes, there were not as many inquiries on his behalf as was expected after his form the previous Saturday. Speckers are coming for Highland in the Caulfield Cup.

Due Today The Paeroa owner-trainer, J. Irwin, is due here today with the Avondale Cup candidate High Pitch. Under a Cloud Sleepy Sol, a fancied candidate for the Kingsland Hurdles on Saturday, is under a cloud, the horse having caused some anxiety as the result of a big filling. He was left in his box on Tuesday and Wednesday, but got through steady work this morning, indicating that it is probable he will go to the post on Saturday. Whether he will carry out his contract in the right manner is debatable, but nevertheless the Marble Arch gelding has only got to run up to the promise he has given to take a lot of beating at Avondale. Dave Out Again A recurrence of a former leg trouble has come against Dave, one of the fancied candidates in the Members’ Handicap on Saturday, and he will probably be withdrawn from his engagement. Dave had been training on particularly well, and his chances of securing a stake at an early date appeared very bright. Silene Not To Start Silene (Cyllene More —Quist) will not be a starter in the Avondale Stakes on Saturday, and W. H. Jones has now accepted the ride on Lady Court, a juvenile who was to have been piloted by K. Gill. The latter cannot now make the weight. In Good Order Cynthia N. has not been required to race since N. Cunningham purchased her from Mr. Eliot Davis, but she will carry her new owner’s colours in the Members’ Handicap on Saturday. The imported mare did her early racing under this trainer’s guidance, and earned some success, and it will be interesting to see how she fares at this stage of her career. Cynthia >3". has been a regular worker during the winter, and is naturally forward. She shaped exceedingly well in a gallop with Standfast and Hyde Park at Ellerslie today. Downward

Rapine and Count Cavern* have been let into the New Zealand Cup with 8.3 each. At their best, these two were the outstanding weight-for-age performers of the Dominion over a distance, but they are on the down grade. The latest reports concerning Rapine are that he is not to be further persevered with, while Count Cavour, though still in training, is never likely to regain his former class. He will be kept going, however, as he has started in the last four New Zealand Cups, and his owner is anxious to see his favourite in the race for the fifth time, even if he is unable to repeat the form which enabled him to win the race three years ago. Promising Light Boy The light-weight horseman, C. Davis, has been engaged to ride Lady Limond in the New Zealand Cup. When the “Winter Cup weights first made their appearance, the Foxton-trained galloper was picked by good judges as likely to win the Riccarton mile, but she developed a leg ailment, and the trip South was concelled. Apparently, however, Lady Limond is doing well again, and if she starts in the New Zealand Cup she will not lack anything on the score of horsemanship. Davis, who has served his apprenticeship with G. Neich at Clareville, is a capable light-weight, and last season piloted 15 winners. Davis will be riding at Avondale this week-end, and should not lack for opportunities.