Turf Notes

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 865, 8 January 1930, Page 12

Turf Notes

CONDUCTED BY

"EARLY BIRD"

Thames Meeting The annual race meeting of the Thames Jockey Club is to open tomorrow and will be concluded on Sat- ! urdav. Penalised In being raised only 81b in the Goldfields Cup tomorrow for his win in better company at Ellerslie last Thursday, Taneriri has been most handsomely treated. He is in excellent form for his engagements at Thames this week, and if he fails in the cup he will be well suited by the distance (one mile) of the big event on Saturday. Abbess At Te Ivuiti six weeks ago Abbess showed that her long absence from racing had not affected her pace. She subsequently won at Taumarunui and again at Stratford last week. According to the correct card Abbess has been raised to 9.2 in tomorrow’s Thames Puriri Handicap, although this penalty was not telegraphed; but as this is only 31b more than she carried when she was narrowly defeated at Stratford by a couple of good hacks last Thursday, slio will be hard to beat if started in this race. Over Again Concentrate and Star Stranger, who had the finish of the Auckland Cup to themselves, will be able to fight their battle over again in the Wellington Cup, which event comes up for decision at Trentham on Saturday week. Jamieson’s String for Trentham 1 Takanini trainer J. T. Jamieson has | the following engaged at the Wellington meeting this month: Hard Words, I Til the Shade, Ti Tree, Le Choucas I and Havaspot. He should not return without a stake. By the way the stable horseman, TI. Goldfinch, did not do any riding for this trainer on the final day at Ellerslie, and it is stated that he is severing his connection with this stable, and that H. Gray has been offered an engagement as first horseman to J. T. Jamieson. Te Rapa Team The Te Rapa trainer. A. Tinker, will be represented at Trentham this month by Lunette, Mervette, Chang and Ruling Chief. Of this quartet the unknown quantity is Chang, the brother to Paddun, who has something in the way of a reputation. He has yet to make his debut in public. Raced Consistently That fine galloper Prodice has not mn a bad race this season. Following on her good efforts at the New Zealand Cup meeting, when by no means thoroughly tuned up, she won at Takapuna and at Te Awamutu, and in her next outing finished fifth in the Auckland Cup. On New Year’s Day the daughter of Catmint was a close third to Count Cavour and Corinax in the A.R.C. Handicap, and the following day was again right up third, this time to Historic and Lucy Rose, over a mile and a-quarter. Prodice may make her next appearance in the Wellington Cup on Saturday week, and in the form T\ Loomb has her at present she should show up at the fixture, even if the Cup distance proves beyond her. Not So Costly Gold Cup, who cost Mr. W. S. McDermott 1,700 guineas as a 3 r earling. looked to be a bad bargain at one time. He was sent to New Zealand for a long spell, and returned to Melbourne just prior to the last Caulfield Cup. He was then trained by F. J. Ellis, but he is now an inmate of H. McCalman’s stable. He has done well of late, as his win on December 21 at Mentone was his fourth since he returned from the Dominion. Rode Seven Winners Last Week While K. Voitre experienced a lean run at the Manawatu meeting, he “broke the ice” when he went north to Auckland for the second day to rid© Royal Doulton to victory. Returning south for the Wairarapa meeting he added six successes during the course of the two days—a great innings, writes “Binocular.” His effort on Rational 11. on the second day was considered to be a brilliant performance on the part of this diminutive rider. The Greys

Grey horses are far from common on Dominion racecourses, but there were three of this colour racing at Manawatu at Christmas and one in Hoylake got on the winning list. Mirabiliary ran good races without being quite good enough, while King Wanga disappointed at his one start. These three greys claimed different sires, Hoylake being an English importation by Poltava; Mirabiliary by Mira, and King Wanga by Our King. Grey is a mosaic of dark and white hairs, and if these hairs are examined under a microscope they would be found to be devoid of pigment, something having prevented . the flow of pigment from the “factories” into certain of the hairs. Nearly all greys are hybrid greys, that is, they are born whole colour, but in time the inhibition inherited from one parent begins to make itself evident and the animal’s coat colour becomes grey. On Stud Book evidence there are many exceptions to the fact that a grey horse must have at least one grey parent. Many foals which are returned as whole colour to the Stud Book in time follow the colour of their grey parent, although no correction is made of the first return. Racing in Hawke’s Bay One of the most pleasing features of the many holiday racing fixtures recently was the big success scored by the Hawke’s Bay Jockey Club. Keen racing and a substantial financial increase from all sources of revenue should see the club tabling a balance sheet showing a substantial credit. Taken all in all, the must have been the best staged by the H.B.J.C. since the memorable Gloam-ing-The Hawk contest of a few seasons back. The fixture was without doubt a splendid one, and indicated that the sport in the Bay was coming back into its own. This aspect will be welcomed by all sportsmen who remember some of the turf giants of the past hailing from the rich pastures of the Bay. But there is a fly in the amber. The starting and judging last week came in for violent criticism, especially the judging, and it came from a sporting writer whose views upon turf matters carry considerable weight. It is a pity that such an otherwise successful fixture should have been marred by allegedly inefficient officials, for backers will quickly lose their confidence if two positions of great responsibility, such s.s starting and judging, are in other than expert hands. There •would appear to be real wisdom in the summing-up of the critic referred to above: “There are, I am sure, men available for the important positions at our race meetings who are not only competent, but who have shown undoubted ability in these positions, but it may be that it is not only in connection with the breeding of racehorses that the magic (imp.) has a very strong influence.”

Best Form Of the nine horses engaged in the Goldfields Cup at Thames tomorrow. High Pitch’s very close fourth to Historic. Lucy Rose and Prodice represents the best form. This was on Thursday last at Ellerslie. A Good One A horse to keep an eye on at Thames this week is Hakanoa. Subsequent to winning the double at Taumarunui last month and scoring at Te Awamutu, he ran two very good races in open company at Ellerslie last week. About Due When brought to Avondale in the spring by G. Reid, Trig galloped brilliantly before the suburban meeting, but dental trouble prevented him from racing. Trig is among the 2S carded for the Tapu Handicap at Thames tomorrow', and if he is galloping as well as a few r months ago he should take some beating. Will Be Suited Recent failures of Volimond to run up to expectations should not be taken too seriously, for the daughter of Limond and Tivoli probably finds seven furlongs a bit too far at present. The Parawai course should suit her nicely, for she is endowed with a lot of speed and beginning ability. Volimond is not without a chance in the Puriri Handicap tomorrow, for if she hits the front early she will take some catching. For Trentham E. Pope, the Takanini trainer, will I probably take Prince of Orange and j the two-year-old Bells of Shandon to the Wellington meeting next week. The latter has shown a decided improvement in his recent essays, and may pick up a stake at Trentham. Aiming High Auckland provincial horses in the Wellington Cup are Antique, Prodice and in the Shade. The last-named raced badly at Ellerslie, and it is obvious that he has not been himself since his hard race in the New Zealand Cup. Antique is a pretty good sort when it comes to racing over a middle journey among the hacks, but just how he will fare in big events at Trentham is a matter for conjecture. Apparently his connections have confidence in his ability to hold his own with the best. They All Wait For It The Wellington summer meeting at Trentham extends over three days, and the last race on the third day is a live-furlong flutter for hacks. Generally the entry for this event includes several newcomers not otherwise engaged at the meeting, and on this occasion this aspect is more pronounced than usual. Among the newcomers are the Auckland nacks Red Lion and Ruling Chief. Marton Jockeys and Trainers At Marton L. G. Morris rode five winners in Acora and High Falutin’ (twice each) and Equitant, while A Fratus also enjoyed a good tun by steering three performers in Singleton, otain ana Limosin to victory, these two horsemen being the only ones to salute the judge more than once. The Fordell trainer, F. Tilley, experienced a good innings, presenting four winners in Equitant, Freehold and High Falutin’ (twice), while three mentors in L. Knapp, Awapuni fOtairi and Vinella), E. Murtagli, Trentham (Habit twice) and J. T. Morris, Marton (Acora twice), each saddled up two winners. English Classics The nominations lor the F.nglish Derby of 1931 number 404, while mere are 397 in the St. Leger, 307 in the Two Thousand Guineas, 258 in the One Thousand Guineas and the Oaks, or a total of 1,695, compared with 1,497 for 1930 and 1,412 for 1929. The entry of 404 for the Derby constitutes a record for the race, and, indeed, a similar state of affairs is recorded in the whole of the “classics.” His Majesty has entered Ashridge, a half-brother to •Scuttle, for the Derby, and Continental and American representatives have been nominated. Entries have been made in New York, while French interest will be represented, among others, by Captain J. D. Cohn, M. M. Boussac, and M. Edmond Blanc, Bel-

gium by M. J. Wittouck, and India by H.H. Maharajah Jam Sahib of Nawanagar, and the Aga Khan. Stratford’s Best The outstanding horses at Stratford this week were Bright Glow and Just So, and they provided great racing. Bright Glow was probably the choice of the pair, and there is no doubt that she is the best mare in New Zealand. She would give the Australian, handicap gallopers something to think about if she were taken to the autumn meetings. Just So gallops at the right end of her races, and a Thompson Handicap or an Easter Handicap should not be beyond her capabilities, comments a Taranaki writer. Will Attract Interest One of the colts that will be well scrutinised at the National Yearling Sales at Trentham this month will be the yearling by Arausio from Gold Light. Arausio is already represented by winners, and as there is little need to traverse Gold Light’s successes on the race track—she won a place with the illustrious mares that graced the New Zealand Turf—it is practically certain in that the youngster will be in keen demand. Gold Light, a half-sister to Razzle Dazzle (who sensationally downed Gloaming in the Challenge Stakes), is from that valuable brood mare Simper, who was out of Chely’s, a half-sister to Chersonese, who produced the brilliant Heroic. Simper comes from a great winner-producing strain and several of her progeny developed first-class form. Reigh Count at the Stud Reigh Count, who won the Coronation Cup in and ran second to Invershin in the Ascot Gold Cup, is now at the stud in America. His fee is £4OO. His list is full for 1930. and practically full for 1931 and 1932. Reigh Count is by Sunreigh (bred in England), from Contesina, by Count Sehomberg, one of the best stayers to race in the Old Country. This horse’s wins included the Goodwood Cup, carrying 10.2, the Chester Cup, and the Jockey Club Stakes. Contesina is bred on much the same lines as Caravel, on his dam’s side. Her dam was Pitti (by St. Frusquin) dam of Beppo, sire of My Dear, the dam of Caravel. Sunreigh is by Sundridge (sire of Absurd, and also of Sunstar, sire of Saltash) from Sweet Briar 11., by St. Frusquin. Amphion (sire of Sundridge) is given as by Speculum or Roseberry, a son of Speculum. It is generally believed, however, that Roseberry (a very highclass racehorse) was the sire of Am- i phion, who possesses special interest for Australians, inasmuch as he was one of the ancestors of Strephon. Amphion was the sire of Sundridge, whose 3 brilliant son, Sunstar, is the sire of f Saltash. - r