TURF NEWS & NOTES

Wairarapa Times-Age, 21 April 1938, Page 11

TURF NEWS & NOTES

CURRENT TOPICS FROM STABLE & COURSE

Views on Racing Facts and Fancies

A CHAMPION JUVENILE

(By “The Cynic.”)

Defaulter, winner of the Champagne Stakes at Riccarton on Monday, can layclaim to some solid breeding lines, and his good looks, temperament, and galloping ability are in keeping with his pedigree. His sire, Defoe, is by unbeaten Hurry On, who has sired winners of considerably more than £300,000, including Coronach, Call Boy, Captain Cuttie, Hunting Song, The Wooden Horse, and Roger de Busli. Defoe’s dam, Daughter-in-law, a young mare, is by Son-in-Law, who was the premier sire in England in 1924 and 1930, and Defoe was her first foal. Daughter-in-Law's dam was Clerical Error by St Frusquin from Stolen Kiss, a half sister to Straightlace, winner of the Oaks and £24,131, and sold as a brood mare for the record price of £17,000. Defaulter’s dam, Expense, is by Paper Money from Lady Jean II (dam of Scion) by lan from Bettyfield by Amphion from Thistlefield by Springfield from Thistle by Scottish Chief. Lady Jean II is closely related to Lo Zingaro, whose first young stock in Australia are in keen demand.

Defaulter was bred by Mr lan McRae, of Masterton, who submitted him for sale at Trentham in January last year. The youngster did not attract much competition, and was knocked down to Mr M. Steinberg, of Auckland, owner of Elanage, for 160 guineas. Mr Steinberg disputed the bid, maintaining that his last rise was-five guineas, and not 10 guineas as taken by the auctioneer. The bid was then changed to 165 guineas, but when Mr Greenwood submitted 170 guineas, Mr Steinberg retired. Defaulter’s success on Monday brought his stake winnings to £1520

for seven wins and a third in nine starts. Defaulter was ridden in his first win at Riccarton in November by C. G. Goulsbro, but L. J. Ellis has piloted him in his six successive wins this year, commencing with his victory in the Nursery Handicap at Trentham in January.

Son and Heir stayed on particularly well to win the Pihautea Handicap at Tauherenikau on Monday. Pie now has five firsts to his credit, and on easy tracks should score further successes. His form has not been too good since the Spring, but he ran a fair race over a middle distance on the first day. A resolute finisher, Son and Heir, is a three-year-old son of Siegfried, and that good Arausio mare Arajean, a half-sister to Arrow Lad. He races in the colours of Mr T. W. Wills, of Woodville, who holds him on lease from his daughter.

Sergia, winner of the Tauherenikau Handicap on Monday, was much more at home over the shorter distance than she was on Saturday. In the early Autumn, Sergia was in winning form, but after collecting the Taranaki and Egmont Cups, she sustained a slight mishap after her return to the Waikato and only returned to racing at the recent Hawke’s Bay meeting. Since then her form has improved rapidly. - She is a four-year-old daughter of Lord Quex, and it is quite on the cards that she will win a big stake before her career closes.

Sunder broke his sequence of bad luck, when he scored his first win in the Novice Stakes at Tauherenikau on Monday. It was his second start in the colours of Mr A. F. Atkins, who purchased him very recently. Sunder, now at H. B. Lorrigan’s stable at Trentham, was formerly trained at Tauherenikau, and at the New Year meeting Trebor was the only horse to head him. He is now seven years old and is a chestnut gelding by Royal Divorce from the well-bred Merry Moment—En Parole mare Musical Moment, who has left a line of useful performers, including Shining Star, Royal King, Lucky Moment, Tupurangi, Golden Chest and Maestro. He will probably be put to hurdles during the winter.

Southern Blood made no race of the Rototawai Handicap on Monday. It was his first success since being purchased outright by his former lesseetrainer, Mrs P. M. Flan, of Trentham, about a fortnight ago. The exercise of the option followed on the brilliant success of the Cape Horn gelding over hurdles at the Manawatu meeting. He has never been in better form, and is a bright prospect for the winter.

All the cats in the Greek town of Missolongh, where Byron died, are to be destroyed, owing to an epidemic.

Meamea was scratched on the first paraded in the Stewards' Hack on the second day, and scored by a length. He has now won five races, four of them this.term, and another success will probably lift him out of hack class. He is a well-bred four-year-old chestnut gelding by Lackham from the Arausio-Te Aupaki mare Hine Wehi. a sister to Pakitere and a half-sister to Toxeuma. Toxeuma revelled in heavy going and Meamea also handles it well. Bold Step, a three-year-old Hunting Song colt, out of the New Zealand and Auckland Cup winner. Warstep, was backed him down to favouritism in the Stewards’ Handicap on Monday. He took charge entering the straight, but could not foot it with Meamea over the final distance. Four-year-olds were promiment among the dividend-payers at Riverton, Rodeur, Silkwood and Mona’s Song being returned winners; Sheeny, Valantua,. Double Gift, and Astaire running second, and Valmarch and Foxlove third. Straightdell was the only three-year-old to succeed, Wild Career and Viking represented the five-year-olds, Burwood the six-year-olds, and Possum was the only aged horse to win a race.

Soliad was finishing on very strongly in the Longwood Handicap at Riverton after getting left at the start. Starting from No 1 position at the barrier. Soliad got chopped out. Generally a smart beginner, this Iliad mare is now nicely weighted, and should return to the winning list before long.

When beaten into third place on Saturday, Knight of Australia had none the best of the running, but he was finishing on solidly when the post was reached. Knight of Australia is in excellent shape at present and there may be immediate possibilities for him.

Prince Rangi was a little out of his class in the Easter Handicap, but he is in good order at present and when he returns to race among the second raters he may prove worthy of consideration. At Te Aroha recently he was beaten by the narrowest margin in a solid field of middle class horses.

Mazamarch, who had L. J. Ellis’s services in the Trial Handicap at Riverton, was well enough placed throughout the running to have won, and at the home turn was on the rails, just behind the leaders. In. the run to the judge he failed badly, and was sixth at the finish.

That Jonathan is not yet a spent light he showed by galloping an excellent mile at Ellerslie prior to the autumn meeting. Jonathan is to reappear at Avondale where he promises to be hard to beat.

Last year the prize money distributed at England’s premier pony course, Northolt Park, was £37,031, but, with 60 days’ racing, that amount will be exceeded this season. The fact of racing under Pony Turf Club rules is not a bar to doing so under Jockey Club rules, and Miss Dorothy Paget was successfully represented at Northolt Park last year. There will again be a £lOO Derby at that track, the distance being a mile and a-half.