Surf Notes

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 943, 9 April 1930, Page 12

Surf Notes

CONDUCTED BY

"EARLY BIRD”

Gave Lot of Promise Peruse, the half-sister (by Nassau) ; tQ Duke Abbes*, left a good impression when she notched a third placing in her only effort at the recent Paerou meeting. She had not raced previously. and for a green mare gave an excellent display, while not being ready it was to be expected that she would not run the six furlongs out. [ This promising maiden has an engage- j 1 ment in the non-winners’ race at Te i I Papa on Saturday, and if she has im- ■ ; proved at all there is not going to be | many ahead of her at the end of the I contest. Two Good Ones ! Biddy Comet and Nassau Lady, both j from F. E. Loomb’s Te Awamutu stable, form a strong combination in the Maiden Stakes at Te Rapa. It is a bit remarkable that both have recorded several placed performances this season, the margin between victory and defeat being very narrow on occasions. Of the pair Xassau Lady is preferred, for the big roomy course will suit this long-striding mare, more so than Biddy Comet, who is inclined to weaken when challenged. Matu in Work J. Ayres has old Matu in work again ! at Hawera, and the son of Polydamon | showed in recent schooling efforts that Ihe can still fly the fences. He is a j I useful ’chaser and will do his duty well for J. Ayres this winter. St. Melba's New Owner I The Melbourne sportsman, Mr. PL. ! Spry, on Saturday last completed ne- | gotiations for the purchase of the Aus- ( tralian Sun gelding St. Melba from his owner-trainer B. Burgess, of Masterton. The price is understood to be l.OOOgns. St. Melba will be shipped to Melbourne, via Sydney, on Friday. Related to Winners The success of Panola in a division of the Bourke Handicap at the V.R.C. j autumn meeting, and of Vertigern in i New Zealand this week is a fine advertisement for the brood mare Pansy (imp.), now at Mr. H. A. Taylor’s stud, says a Sydney writer. Both are by Rossendale (imp.) from that mare, and it is interesting to note that the studmaster has a full brother to offer at the sales at Easter. Pansy (imp.) has been a great stud success, for in addition to Panola and Vertigern, she is the dam of the Oakleigli Plate winner Royal Thought, and of Pannikin, also a good winner in Victoria. 2,2, 2,2, 2,2, 1, 2/2, 3 This is not an arithmetical puzzle. The little row of figures indicates the exasperating luck that has attended George Price since he won a race at Randwick with Gesto early in January. Price has since had a long run of minor placings and they were continued at Moorefield a fortnight back. He was second with both Casque d’Or \ and Magdaff and topped the day off | with a third placing for the New Zea-land-bred three-year-old Peacemaker, 1 who. in the last few minutes of the 1 betting was backed from 8 to 1 to less | than half those odds. The plunge, says a Sydney exchange, caused a furore and punters were dashing all over the ring trying to get the good prices about Peacemaker.

May Need a Race A writer in the London “Evening j News'’ says that, considering his ex- ; cellent Australian form, and bearing in ; : mind that he has not raced in Eng- j j land, it was hardly surprising to find ; Strephon top-weight in the Great Jubi- j lee Handicap, in which he was allotted 9st. He adds: "I have seen Strephon j once since his arrival from Australia. ! He is a big, powerful horse who should | be able to carry any big weight. He : may not be at his best by the time the 1 Great Jubilee Handicap (11 miles) is j run on May 17, but Ills run at Kemp- j ton against some of the best handicap 1 horses in England should be a useful j guide to the role he is likely to play i in cup events later on.” Brighton Hurdles Candidate Few horses could foot it over the sticks last winter with the English importation, Bright Land, but whether he will go on to even more doughtier deeds in his future campaign is a matter for conjecture. Like many other horses, Bright Land has shown signs of soreness consequent on the hard tracks, but he is standing up to his work satisfactorily, and with racing at Te Rapa to attune him to concert pitch he should strip a lit horse in the Brighton Hurdles at Easter. He was schooled at Ellerslie the other morning and gave a good display. Coming Back To Form It has been some time now since .'.von Court was seen in a winning role, principally due to the fact that she was turned out for several months following or? one or two fine achievements as a two-year-old. This daughter of Lucullus has two more years tacked on to her age now, but

she has raced rarely this season, although she gave evidence of all her old speed by acting as pacemaker in a nine furlongs hack race at Takapnna at the end of January. Avon Court has been steadily improving under F. Gilchrist’s direction, and she can be ticked off to play a more important part in future engagements. Great Star Great Star filled second place in last year’s Great Eastern Handicap, with CO, and is handicapped at 5.2 for the forthcoming race, says an exchange. He has been restricted to strong work only during the past few weeks, but he invariably requires little galloping to get him right, and it is intended to set him more serious tasks next week. There is as yet no certainty that he will contest the big race, and on this point much will depend on his progress during the coming fortnight. Has Her Chance Not since she acted as runner-up to Royal Ruler in the Great Northern Foal Stakes has Imamint made an appearance under silk, but this smart youngster will be seen in action among the two-year-olds at Te Rapa. She hails from A. Tinker’s stable, and on her home track will run the five furlongs out smartly on the first day. There was every indication that Imamint was one of the best of her age in the early spring, and if she retains that form Te Rapa may be the leadingoff point to better things. Celerity 11. Spelled The English mare Celerity 11. has retired to Mr. Chisholm’s home quarters at Otautau, Southland, where she is to be spelled. It is hoped that her weak foreleg will strengthen to permit of racecourse work early next season prior to the tracks firming, but if there is any suspicion of trouble her turf career will be closed. She has never been overtaxed, and this is in her favour, but the handsome daughter of a Gainsborough can hardly stage a lengthy comeback under the best of circumstances.

Now On Top Twelve months ago a few of the Auckland provincial racing clubs were awkwardly placed when it came to securing an efficient starter for their meetings. At that time Mr. W. Price, of Wanganui, had been tried, and it must be confessed that he was by no means a success. That accounts for this official’s absence from Auckland meetings for some time. The recent indisposition of Mr. C. O’Connor, the prince of starters, paved the way for Mr. Price to try himself out at Trentliam, New Plymouth, Wanganui, and other places, and in every case the barrier-work of the Wanganui official was of the highest class. Mr. Price has undoubtedly improved out of all knowledge, and it would seem that he can now take rank with the best in the Dominion when it comes to sending fields out of the barrier. At the recent Wellington and Manawatu fixtures the starting was excellent. Mr. Price has certainly taken on a new lease of life so far as his ability at the starting barrier is concerned, and he has only to go on the way he is at present to prove a worthy successor jto Mr. O’Connor when the Auckland official eventually retires.