TURF NEWS & NOTES

Wairarapa Times-Age, 11 May 1938, Page 4

TURF NEWS & NOTES

CURRENT TOPICS FROM STABLE & COURSE

Views on Racing Facts and Fancies

WILD CHASE ON EASY LIST

(By

“The Cynic.”)

Wild Chase in on the easy list and will not do any more racing until the spring. He has had an unlucky season, for after running second to Cerne Abbas in the New Zealand Cup, he failed to repeat his best form. Possibly he will come back, after a rest, to show his best form again at five years.

Good Passage is another to be spelled. The Winning Hit two-year-old is a smart galloper, though her record has been tarnished by unruly barrier manners, a surprising trait in a filly that is most docile under any other conditions. Provided this trouble is overcome, Good Passage should come back to show good race form next season.

Paper Slipper, though he was not quite so successful as in the previous season, showed excellent form at times but apparently he was feeling the strain, in the Autumn, of his racing under big weights. He will be kept going and may be seen at the Ashburton and South Canterbury meetings, as a preliminary to competing on other courses during the winter.

Great Bramble showed promise at times, of being a useful performer and her mile race on the first day of the recent meeting at Riccarton was a good effort. She raced at Amberley and probably will be kept going through the winter.

R. B. Berry rode Sinapis to victory in a New Zealand Cup and trained and drove Lucky Jack to win a New Zealand Trotting Cup. This has been referred to as unique record for a horseman, but Berry can never equal the achievement of F. F. Holmes. Holmes won a Trotting Cup with Trix Pointer, whom he trained and drove. Much earlier’he won a New Zealand Cup on Manton, a Grand National Hurdle Race on Liberator, and the Great Northern double on the same gelding.

Santoft is in work again and there is a good prospect that he will re-ap-pear on the second day of the South Canterbury meeting. A few weeks ago veterinary advice was given that any attempt to race him would result in a breakdown, lameness being attributed to a weak ligament. The source of inflammation now appears to have been located elsewhere, and the Wellington Steeplechase winner is expected to survive another preparation.

Last season the Winton trainer Frank Langford took his team to Washdyke during the winter months, and advice has been received from Southland that he intends doing so again this year. After the Dunedin Winter Meeting next month Langford will take Trisox, Gay Boa, Polar Star, and probably another jumper to Washdyke and remain there until after the Grand, National Meeting. Trisox will be specially prepared for the Wellington Steeplechase to be run next July, and as he is a good stayer and handles heavy going well is just the sort of horse to do well at Trentham.

On the Riccarton track Polydora (J. Murfit) was sent out to do her first schooling of the year over the big fences, but an otherwise dashing display was spoilt when she slipped into the first and second fences, stopping at each. She got over both on the second attempt, and jumped the next three well. She would probably have done better in company or with more pace on nearing the fences. Flashlight (G. Ridgway) gave an excellent exhibition over five of the steeplechase fences. There is no doubt about his ability to jump country, and he will be a decided acquisition to the ranks of southern steeplechasers during the coming winter.

The A.J.C. autumn meeting of 1938 should go down in turf history as “Carbine’s year.” The whole of the long-distance races were won by horses of that line, and the whole of the winners referred to are by a single sire, The Buzzard, who was imported for the Lyndhurst Stud. Queensland, by Mr J. G. McDougall. L’Aiglon (a threc-year-old) won the Sydney Cup. Old Rowley won the Cumberland Plate and the A.J.C. Plate (two miles and a-quarter), Gay Knight won the 13-furlongs Dangar Handicap, Cathartes dead-heated in the St. Leger, and Buzalong was third in the Doncaster — all sons of The Buzzard, son of the Derby winner Spion Kop and Valescure, by Swynford. The Bend Or line had the best horse racing, perhaps the best horse seen in Australia up to a mile or more, in Ajax. It also had the best two-year-olds in Nuffield and Pandava, and the winner of the Doncaster Handicap, Hamurah. The best filly, Bonheur de Pere, comes of the Hampton line, through Beau Pere.

The two yearling colts purchased by Mr W. H. Gaisford at the Sydney sales arrived at Woodville last week to join

F. W. Davis’ stable. Both show plenty of size and quality and their general appearance created a very favourable impression. The Constant Son —Lute String colt, who fetched 750 guineas, is a full-brother to Apollo, runner-up in the recent Sydney Cup. The other colt, who is by The Buzzard from Culfort by High Force —Culture, by Bonnyform—Culroy, is related to the great Queensland galloper, Lough Neagh.

Ashhurst appears to be agreeing with the Psychology-Lady Kilham gelding, Joe Louis, who won the Glengarry Handicap at the Woodville meeting and who added another victory to his list at the Egmont meeting. Joe Louis is owned by Mr F. Nicol and he is trained by L. D. Orange.

Catalogue looked a picture when he was sent out for the Mcßae Cup at Hawera and he went a good race for a mile. He showed no inclination to go on afterwards and occupied a place at the rear of the field at the end. He apparently has gone off colour.

The Shambles gelding Flashlight, who ran second each day to Courtyard at the Riccarton autumn meeting, is regarded as the best novice at Riccarton. He is seven years old, produced by Snapshot, a mare by Calibre from First Glance.

The success of Deputy Ruler in the La Perouse Handicap on Sydney Cup day at Randwick was a great triumph for his owner, Mr H. E. Rudd, who originally purchased the Chief Ruler horse as a stallion for 170 guineas in 1936, says the “Australasian.” When Deputy Ruler came from New Zealand to race in Australia several seasons ago he was trained by George Price at Randwick and won a weight-for-age race at Victoria Park. Subsequently he was put up for auction, when he was purchased by Mr W. Pearson, for whom that great galloper Amounis won so many races. Deputy Ruler - did not with a race for Mr Pearson, one of his legs giving so much trouble that he became difficult to train.

The Grandcourt gelding Courtyard, who won both the brush hurdle races at the Riccarton autumn meeting, is being kept moving along in his work. He acts well in heavy going, and consequently will have something in his favour at the winter meetings.

Kinnoull gave his trainer some cause for anxiety on the eve of the Canterbury Jockey Club’s Easter meeting. Kinnoull was unable to race, but he had thrown off all evidence of trouble. Unfortunately, however, the big events of the season are over. He will have an easy time for a month or two, as he is not to be raced again until the spring. He will have as mates in his resting period the two-year-olds, Lady Kinnoull, Grey Coat and Density, the last-named a highly promising sprint prospect, as already she has demonstrated great speed in her races.

Grey Honour, another in the team that could not race at Easter, is quite sound again and is in strong work. It is intended to race him at the Ashburton and South Canterbury meetings next month, after which a trip north is contemplated, for the Auckland Racing Club’s winter meetings, early in June.

Rebel Lad, in good order after some recent racing, will be kept going for winter meetings,' while a similar programme will be followed with Parakino, now getting back to form, after a spell necessitated by a mishap in the spring.

L. D. Cotton, the Riccarton trainer, has a couple of yearing colts in hand. They arc both by Pink Coal. Coastline is from Seaside, the dam of Rebel Mate, while Shepherd is from the family that produced the Welcome Stakes winner, B. Peep. These two youngsters are in regular work in preparation for early two-year-old engagements.

Gay Son, one of the most promising two-year-olds earlier in the season, but who went amiss and had to be turned out, is again in commission. He bears a robust appearance, and looks healthy and is apparently sound.

Survoy, whose only success over country was scored when he won the Otautau Steeplechase last month, has been nominated for the Great Northern Steeplechase, to be run next month. While competing in the Great Western Steeplechase Survoy injured himself, but has evidently made a satisfactory recovery.