AWAPUNI NOTES

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 814, 7 November 1929, Page 12

AWAPUNI NOTES

KEDDAR IS WELL PIUTHAIR AND THE CUP (Spccia£ to THE SUNJ AWAPUNI, Wednesday. With Otaki, Levin and Feilding fixtures to engage attention this month, a busy period lies ahead of Awapuni mentors, but there was little of real interest in the track activities yesterday morning. As the result of the recent beneficial rainfall, the local tracks have improved materially and the outside of the course proper, the new portion of No. 3 grass, the plough and the sand, were all in use yesterday morning, but the horses were restricted in large measure to steady tasks.

G. W. New went south to Riccarton by Monday night’s ferry steamer, and J. P. Coyle and R. E. Hatch follow tonight or tomorrow night, the former taking Keddar and Novar and the latter f Piuthair. Of New’s trio, Princess Betty might well give a good account of herself in the Welcome Stakes. The company in the New Zealand Derby promises to be a little too classy for Tigrano, although he gives everv indication of developing into a stayer. Final Work-out _ Keddar (T. Green), had Skyrider (K. Voitre) as a companion in his final gallop before leaving for Riccarton. the pair being sent over seven furlongs on the grass proper—the trestle's being right out—with the light-weight having the inside running. Skyrider set the pace to run the first half mile in 54, but could not hold Keddar In the run home, the Arrowsmith gelding completing his task in 1.34 U No rider has been engaged for Keddar and he may not be found coming in till the second day. It would not. however, be surprising to find Iv. Voitre in the saddle on the day. Novar and Robbie’s Mistake, with two stable lads in the saddle, were given a strong working gallop on the grass proper over six furlongs, Novar appearing to hold the advantage at the close after negotiating the distance in 1.25. The Sarto gelding will be a runner in the Spring Hurdles on Saturday, in which he will be ridden by A. H. Hobson and, accordingly, should lack nothing on this score. Will Piuthair Run?

Awapuni’s one acceptor in me New Zealand Cup, Piuthiar, still stands her ground, but whether she will take her place on the day remains to be seen. Yesterday morning she was restricted to a steady round on the plough, when the daughter of Kilbroney worked attractively enough, although one cannot wax optimistic over her prospects in the big event. Should she eject to face the starter on the opening day, Piuthair will be ridden by the stable apprentice, K. Voitre.

Awapuni stables promise to be well represented at Otaki, where some 20 odd horses have been accorded nominations. who found his substantial weights at the Waikato Hunt a little beyond him, is due to emerge from the hunters’ class into that of the hack hurdlers at Otaki. Calluna and Skyrider are other locals therein. The latter has shown distinct promise at the jumping game and while she may lack a little in inches to make a top-notch hurdler, her pace on the flat might find her making an auspicious debut, for, after all, with the hurdles positioned as they are, Otaki is an easy testing ground. The Maidens

A big field promises to figure in the Puhi Maiden Plate, Black Acre, from Mrs. McDonald’s establishment, the Acre —Sleeping Beauty gelding from J. P. Coyle’s, and the Thurnham gelding Commentator, from G. Jones’s stable, being therein. The first-named has already figured with the colours up, but the appearances will signal the debut of the latter pair. The trio have shown fair turns of speed in their track essays, but it will probably be a little too early to expect them to fill a bracket as yet. Powhiri, who proved a very, fair performer over the battens as well as on the flat, had to be turned out for a lengthy spell and during his absence from the active ranks he was used as a hack. In company with Arrowhead, Rioghail, Robbie’s Mistake and Plane, Powhiri is down to figure in the Katihiku Hack Handicap—a seven furlong event —at Otaki, but there are several better performed candidates therein, so far as flat racing is concerned. Following the opening of his maiden account at Hastings, Arrowhead has proved disappointing, but the quarter-brother to Nightmarch should come good. Rioghail is a likely looking sort, although the Grandcourt— Clarinda gelding has not done anything to enthuse over so far in his track essays. Remember Dobbin Rouex, Piuthair and Blimp are three Ling Memorial Handicap candidates at Otaki and the trio might well play a part, although Blimp’s prospects must be discounted to some extent by his recent performances over mile and a-quarter distances. The Waitawa Handicap—the open sprint—finds the local representation restricted to Dobbin, but it might well prove a worthy one. Dobbin had his first race for some little time past at Carterton last Saturday, when he filled third berth to Atholspear and Historic in the Bunny Memorial. His course of hurdling has also improved him and the Quin Abbey gelding might well make an appearance in public in this department of the game before long. Hunting Boy. the winner of the Electric Hack Handicap at Carterton on Saturday, has been entered for both the Paliiko Hack Handicap and the Kereihi Roera Handicap at Otaki, but which he will start in has not yet been determined. To date his activities have been restricted to scurry distance, but he should prove quite capable of running out a good seven furlongs in the latter event, even though he will be essaying open company.

Interesting Breeding The Australian-bred gelding In the Shade, who won the principal handicap at the Wellington spring meeting, has a pedigree suggesting his ability to stay and also one rather interesting to those who followed racing in bygone days. He was got by Australian Sun from Violet 11., by Charlemagne 11., from Lovelorn, by Grafton —Lovelock, by Lochiel—My Love, by Tattendon — My Fancy by Blair Athol. Australian Sun was got by Sunstar—Rosewarne. by Frusquin—Electric Rose, by Lesterlin —Arc Light by Prism—Petrel, by Peter —Electric Light. Australian Sun belongs to the same family taproot as Bill o’ Portland and Gloaming. It is, however, in another connection that In the Shade’s pedigree becomes interesting. His dam traces back to My Love, a sister to Lady Emma, who carried the last Sir George McLean’s Zetland spots with conspicuous success. Lady Emma was bred in Australia and ran originally in the ownership of Sir Hercules Robinson. As a three-year-old Lady Emma won the Great Autumn of 1881 with 5.13, and in 1882 and ISB4 the Dunedin Cup. when run over two miles and a distance. In addition to winning the Great Autumn, Lady Emma also won the Easter Handicap, then run over a mile —a rather notable double for a three-year-old. At the stud, after starting in four Dunedin Cups and racing on until being an aged mare, Lady Emma produced several foals. They were— Emma, Dilemma (second to St. Hippo in the New Zealand Cup). Hybrid (met with a fatal accident). Lady Prioress (barren at the stud), Maremma, Emmalene, and Lord Rosslvn, who won the Dunedin- Cup of 1897, when run over a mile and three-quarters.