TURF NEWS IN BRIEF.

Taranaki Central Press, Volume IV, Issue 407, 14 April 1937, Page 7

TURF NEWS IN BRIEF.

Racing this week at Whangarei on Friday and Saturday, at Waimate on Saturday, and at Nelson on Saturday and the following Monday. Custos finished last in his first race in Tasmania. The distance was five furlongs, and Custos looked burly in condition. * * * The Otautau Meeting, abandoned earlier on account of bad tracks, is now to be held at Otautau on Saturday week. * * * Permission has been granted the Birchwood Hunt Club, which had to abandon its recent meeting on account of weather, to hold the fixture at Invercargill on May 15. * * * Lady Madge, the winner of the £3OOO Great Eastern Steeplechase run at Onkaparinga (South Australia) on Easter Monday, started one of tho rank outsiders of the field. One of the sensations of the Onkaparinga meeting on Easter Monday was the doubles dividend, which constituted a record for the State. Only one ticket was issued on the winning combination, the dividend being £1699/5/6 for 5/-. * * ■» The Polazei gelding Cottingham has been taken in hand again by H. Nurse, says a Riccarton report. He looks well after a spell and it may not take long to have him ready for a race.

The unlucky Manetho has again run into trouble. He showed slight signs of lameness after his Easter racing, and he is doing only light exercise at present, says a Riccarton report.

According to advice from Hawera, Notium is not pleasing his trainer, J. Brown, at present, and it is therefore unlikely that he will be racing at the early winter meetings. A Difficult Task. Thurina has been in steady work at Riccarton for some weeks, and it is intended to give him another opportunity to earn distinction. He appears to be quite sound, but on his form last winter, when he stood np to some hard races, his prospects of returning to anything like his old form do not seem very bright. * * * Related to Martara. Mr. J. Porter, of Akaroa, has sent j to G. New at Awapuui a five-year-old three-quarter brother to Martara. The gelding has done no racing and very little galloping. Since New disposed of Martara be has had five new horses sent to him to be trained. * * Australian Apprentice. When J. Fryer returned from Australia last week he brought back with him the lightweight rider J. Cattyn, who has ridden several winners in Australia. Caffyn has had considerable experience on the other side and should not lack for opportunities here. He is an ex-pupil of Maurice McCarten, Who recommended him. * * * Prospects Appear Good. Te Hai did not have the best of luck in the Autumn Handicap at Avondale, owing to losing a lot of ground at the start. In the circumstances his effort in finishing fourth was a good one, and he may soon make a -return to the winning list. Te Hai is due to make his next appearance at the Wiiangarei meeting, where he figures in the principal events each day, and his prospects of earning some money at the fixture appear bright. * * * Partial to Soft Ground. Although beaten into third place in the Morningside Handicap at .Avondale, Professional ran a real good race. He began well and was one of the pacemakers practically throughout, but weakened slightly over the final stages. The fact that Professional is partial to soft going is an advantage, and if the ground happens to be in his favour at the Whangarei meeting, it will assist materially.

Government-Controlled Racing. Austria has followed the Soviet idea, and all racing in that country is now controlled by the Government. The Austrian Ministry now guarantees stake money, and, because it is considered a matter of primary importance, a National Thoroughbred Stud will shortly be commenced. When the Soviet Government decided upo» a similar movement, it spent ovei- £500,000 in buying English, Irish and French bloodstock, and Austria intends outlaying a big sum in Great Britain. Already overtures have ibeen made for fairly successful horses. * * * Additions to Team. The Hawera trainer O. Cox received from Australia last week an attrac-tive-looking yearling colt by Buoyant \ T OW try ‘Heaver” Brand SauceTomato and Worcester; tasty and wholesome; a real boon for cold

Bachelor (by Bachelor’s Double, by Tredennis). He is a bright chestnut and is stated to look a real aristocrat. Buoyant Bachelor was a great stayer in England, winning the Newmarket Sumnffer Handicap, two miles, Doncaster Stakes, one mile and a half, Sandown Park Warren Handicap, one mile and five furlongs and a half, Haydock Park Handicap, one mile and a half (twice), and the Lincoln Kesteven Plate, one mile and three fur- ■ longs, while he was second in the ; Newbury Cup, one mile and a half. : Kempton Park Queen’s Prize, two miles, Ascot Churchill Stakes, two miles, Newmarket Shelford Plate, one mile and three-quarters ,and Doncaster Alexandra Handicap, one mile and a half. The same trainer has received from Mr. G. F. Moore a yearling colt by Beau Pere from Lady Cavendish, the dam of Golden Hair. He also is a beautiful-looking youngster. -x- -x- -xBeaten Each Dav. Tradesman was saddled up each day at the Avondale meeting and never looked like winning on either’ occasion. No fault could be found with his condition, for he looked as well as ever, and, summed up on those performances, the black gelding is not as good as formerly. However, he is such an exceptional galloper >n heavy ground that it would be unwise to condemn him until the winter racing season is ended. * * * A Reliable Jumper. During the short time that Free Air has been in work at headquarters her tasks have been restricted to easy pacing, and she is gradually improving in condition. A couple of seasons ago the daughter of Kilbroney and Country Air did good service for H. Rama, winning several hurdle races, while she was also successful in crosscountry events, included among her victories being the Lincoln Steeplechase at the Grand National meeting in 1935. If Free Air trains on satisfactorily H. Rama should be able to place her to advantage during the coming jumping season. * * -xForm Did Not Impress. Racing in the colours of his new owner (Mr. N. Grafas), Seven Seas showed plenty of speed in the early stages of the Dominion Handicap at Avondale. However, he dropped out of the running after going half a mile, and, taken all round, his display was a trifle disappointing. Prior to the meeting this novice had been responsible for several smart track gallops at Ellerslie, but he failed to run up to those trials at Avondale. As Seven Seas has had little racing experience he is likely to do. better when properly seasoned.