TURF NEWS & NOTES

Wairarapa Times-Age, 26 April 1938, Page 4

TURF NEWS & NOTES

CURRENT TOPICS FROM STABLE & COURSE

Views on Racing Facts and Fancies

SYDNEY CUP WINNER

(By

“The Cynic.”)

A three-ycar-old was placed in the limelight in Australia last week when L’Aiglon led the field home in the Sydney Cup in the good time of 3.23. Allotted the minimum impost, 0.7, his effort in the Warwick Autumn Cup, 14 miles, run at Randwick in April, nevertheless was viewed favourably as pointing to the likelihood of his proving a stayer; and the account of the race endorsed the finding in his favour on that important point.

L’Aiglon, who was bred in Queensland, and who is by The Buzzard from the Syce mare Concise, was included with the list of yearlings submitted at auction at the New South Wales sales in the autumn of 1936, when he was bought by Mr W. Rigby for 500 guineas. The winner's portion of the Sydney Cup prize amounted to £5200 with a gold trophy valued at £2OO, a highly pleasing return for a speculation of 500 guineas.

W. (“Bill) Duncan, the former crack Victorian jockey, and who some time back took out a licence to train, is rapidly getting together a strong team at his new Caufield stables. In addition to Devonian, who recently won at Williamstown, Duncan will start the new season with, half a dozen yearlings. Duncan’s clients include the well-known studmaster, Mr Percy Miller, Mr “B. C. Crown,” who raced Pieatus with success in Melbourne, Mr Alan Lechte, and the daughter of a well-known owner who for some time has taken a deep interest in racing.

At Santa Anita, trainers are now careful about making statements concerning their horses being unable to gallop in mud. During the recent meeting a trainer named Slomer asked to have his mare, Day Dawn, withdrawn because she could not gallop in soft going. The stewards refused; and, after Day Dawn ran and won, fined the trainer “a tenner” for attempting to deceive them about the mare’s mud-running qualities.

Seventeen-year-old jockey, B. Hobbs, who won the Liverpool Grand National on Battleship, was, on February 21, fifth in this season’s list of England’s winning jockeys, over jumps. His wins totalled 21. Up to the date mentioned H. Nicholson headed the list with 40 wins, followed by G. Wilson, 35. Since then the latter has taken first place.

Day Wind was responsible for a meritorious performance in the big race on Easter Monday, the H. O. Nolan Handicap, attempting to win from end to end and surrendering the lead only over the last hundred and fifty yards. Now that he appears to be right back to his best he will not lack support if produced at the approaching Avondale gathering. Although beaten into third place in the Eden Handicap, Lady Meath ran an excellent race under her weight. Lady Meath is not very big, but she is an honest galloper that should be a good prospect the first time she is tried in open sprint company. The Ellerslie hack Bronze Wing was well placed most of the way in the mile hack race on Easter Saturday. This horse has been working well since he won at Pukekohe and he will be suited by the shorter distances at Avondale. The fastest time credited to a Great Easter winner is Imin. 24 3-ssecs., registered by Shirley in 1937 and equalled by Cimabue two years later.' The Great Autumn record is 2min. 31secs., set up by Bonnie Winkie in 1922. The highest weight borne out by a Great Easter winner is Machine Gun’s 10.4, and in the Great Autumn the honour rests with Sasanof 9.13 and Warstep (a mare) 9.11.

Instituted in 1892, the Great Easter Handicap is a comparatively new race compared with the Great Autumn, which dates back to 1876. Still it has a history of over 40 years, and it is rather remarkable that until last year, when Concertpitch gained a second victory, Nystad (1917 and 1918) was the only horse that had won the Easter twice. The Great Autumn has only once been won twice by one horse, but the longer distance accounts for that.

Golden Spahi drew attention to his immediate jumping prospects by the manner in which he was sticking on at the conclusion of the St. Heliers Hurdles to beat all but Mia Acrea in a tight finish. He handled the holding conditions well and should be heard of further over the obstacles during the approaching jumping season. Prior to the Auckland meeting he had been schooling in promising style at Takanini.

Mia Acrea was responsible for a solid performance in winning the St. Heliers Hurdles the second day at Ellerslie, thus endorsing the promise he disclosed at Pukekohe and Paeroa. Considering his rather limited experience of the jumping game one would be well excused in the assumption that this promising jumper will go further in the department selected for his future activities. He jumps well and is a fine stayer in the making.

Francis Drake was the big moneywinner at Ellerslie, placing the Easter Handicap and the St. Leger to his owner’s credit. Whether he is developing stamina in the same manner as his brother Admiral Drake did has yet to be proved, as the St. Leger was a slow’ race and the opposition was weak. The Chief Ruler gelding was the best two-year-old in the spring and summer last season, but lost form in the autumn, and he did no good on a spring trip to Australia this season.

Arctic King did his best work at the right end in the Great Autumn Handicap. He ran. second in the race 12 months ago, and was well ridden by S. Wilson, who thus had the unusual honour of riding the winners of the Great Easter and Great Autumn Handicap. Studley Royal was unlucky, as in addition to losing valuable ground early, he had to travel on the outside of the field to get up, and by going out wide nearing the post, he was further disadvantaged.

Pat Donoghue has again taken out a licence to train under Pony Turf Club rules. He has been champion trainer at Northolt Park for the last three years, and in each year trained the winner of the Northolt Derby. Pat stated in October of last year that he would give up his Pony Turf Club licence at the end of the season. He then intended to apply for licences to train under National Hunt rules and Jockey Club rules at his new place. Ashstead, near Epsom. When Steve Donoghue’s negotiations to take Captain Gooch's establishment at West Ilsiey broke down, it was arranged that he should take his horses to Pat s stables. Since then Pat has been assisting his father in training, but only till the commencement of the Pony Turf Club season.