TURF NEWS & NOTES

Wairarapa Times-Age, 19 May 1938, Page 5

TURF NEWS & NOTES

CURRENT TOPICS FROM STABLE & COURSE ! Views on Racing Facts and Fancies ; RULETTE A TE RAPA PROSPECT

(By

“The Cynic.”)

When narrowly beaten by Surella at Avondale, Rulette finished with a great burst of speed and left the impression that sue is an improved mare. Like most of the Chief Rulers she is at home in bad going and she may also appreciate the long run home at Te Rapa. X

The two-year-old, Night Hawk, was bought on the eve of the meeting by Mr D. McFarlane, who used to race Tunneller, and had his first race for his new owner when he won the Trial Stakes at Ashburton. It was a smart performance, in which he stuck on well. He will remain in the stable of Mrs J. Campbell, who bred the colt. Merry March, always prominent, finished resolutely in second place. He should win soon and he may stay. Mazzamarch showed a lot of speed, but he seems to lack stamina. The placed trio were all sired by Nightmarch. The Wrecker came home strongly and will improve. Every Port 'may turn out the best in the 'field. If was her first race, and after being chopped out at the start, she finished fifth—a very good effort.

The speed that'Hunting Blood revealed in his two races at Avondale last month, - following on brilliant track trials, should bring-its own-re-ward'in the near future. He has great galloping ability, and once it is controlled he will go on to win in the best company. Seeing that he ran off the course both times at Avondale it is probable'that he will -shape better on left-handed'tracks, 'and Te Rapa is this way round. '■ '■ ‘ ' •” : •

Malagigi’s.last effort, was to finish second over a mile and a quarter to Airam at Avondale,-so that he is a form horse that will be difficult to beat if he can handle true, winter conditions. To be beaten by a moderate galloper in Airam indicated that Malaga! was not of the best class,, but since then Airam registered a firstclass performance at Pukekohe, finishing on in:fourth place after being hopelessly left, so Malagigi’s second

has an enhanced' value. A big, strong horse, Malagigi ought to be able to handle the conditions now prevailing.

Lazybones, sold after Easter, had his first race from F. Trilford’s Washdyke stable in the Flying Handicap at Ashburton, in which he came home strongly, winning on the post. He may improve further with age. Grey Honour tried to win from end to end and just failed, but may make amends soon. From the time the straight was reached, only Ponty and Paper Slipper troubled the two leaders, but they were not a serious danger. Swordstick disappointed, and he does not race up to track form. The veteran, Great Star, went well for half a mile.

The well-named Every Port, a two-year-old filly .by Winning Hit from Sailor’s Love, was one of the last to find her feet at the start of the Trial Stakes at Ashburton on Saturday, and she trailed the field for over half of the journey. Then she settled down to some solid work, and finished close up in fifth place.

When Black Duke lined up for the hurdle "race at Invercargill oni Saturday afternoon he was starting in his 238th race. He has won 47 times, been second in 32, and third in i'25.. His total stake winnings prior to this-race amounted to £8422.

The improved Requiem, who had not won a race prior to her trip down to Feilding at Easter, secured her second success in the Champion Hack Plate at Egmont. Requiem is a four-year-old brown mare by Hunting Song from the' All Red—By-By mare Dodo, - a half-sister'-to those good horses Marqueteur and Mark Time, and also to Honey Bee and Celmisia (dam of Arikinui), other useful performers some years ago. Dodo was previously dam of the hurdler Call Again, and , she is dam as well of the . two-year-old Beauly, who is trained at Trentham. Requiem carries the colours of Messrs A. Wheeler and W. C.

Woods, being trained by the latter at Te Awamutu. After her easy first day’s win at Feilding she was narrowly beaten in the hack cup on the second day, and she was unlucky on the first day last week.

Jolly Beggar was shipped north on Saturday night, and will contest a hurdle race at the Waikato meeting, opening on Saturday, preparatory to going on to Ellerslie for the Great Northern Hurdles and the Great Northern Steeplechase. Ridden by G. Ridgway, who will ride him on the trip, he was jumped over four hurdles at Riccarton on Sunday morning, acquitting himself in his usual dashing manner. Jolly Beggar will have his first experience in racing over country at Ellerslie, but he has shaped so.well in his schooling tasks that his prospects will have to be seriously regarded.

A change to the North Island has not improved Royal Limond, who repeated his old trick of running off when raced at Wanganui.

Roy Bun, who won at the Marlborough meeting, scored his sixth win of the season. He has started in 22 races this season for six wins, six seconds and two thirds.

The chestnut gelding Haut Monde, by Lord Quex from d’Oro, who carried the colours of the New Zealand sportsman, Mr T. H. Lowry, has been purchased by Mr A. Higgins, of Bombay. Haut Monde will probably be shipped to India at an early date.

Something in the nature of a surprise packet was discovered in connection with the Ashburton Cup won by a rank outsider and a hitherto nonstayer in Wine Card. She has. previously been more at home over a short coursch. Wine Card was got by Paper Money from Malmsey, by Clarenceux—Charmilia, by Charlemagne II from Armilia, by Castor—Necklace, by Musket —Locket.

Courtyard appears to do better in a race than when schooling on the tracks. His displays at Riccarton last week were far from encouraging, but on Saturday at Ashburton, although he chanced one or two of his fences, he .was well in the firing line over the last half mile, and had The Surgeon stretched out at the finish. He will have further opportunities at Washdyke this week, and should be worth following.

Cocksure was undoubtedly unlucky at Ashburton on Saturday. The field bunched as soon as the barrier went up, and Cocksure was in the middle of the trouble, and, in addition, had his head caught in the tapes when they were released. He finished very solidly to beat the useful Nightcalm, and got to within half a length of Lady Leigh, who had to be kicked up in the last few strides to ward him off. Cocksure will fare better at Washdyke.

Bright Red from M. Conza’s stable has shown rapid improvement in the last few weeks and lias been accountable for some fair jumping displays. His trainer has gained several recent successes through the agency of Clubman, Contract and Roy Bun.

Haughty Winner, although not required for immediate racing, is continuing with useful work and is looking in great health. C. C. McCarthy has raced the Winning Hit colt only three times, and has earned second money twice.

Mrs J. Campbell has just started on the education of her rising two-year-old colt Ageratum. This half brother to Night Hawk is by Myosotis, and is a good type.

Three-year-olds are eligible to race over hurdles after February 1, but no horse may contest a steeplechase till he is four years old. The three-year-old Wild Irishman is the youngest jumper racing in the Dominion.

Old racehorses are like old soldiers. They never die, and apparently they do not even fade away. Last week at a picnic race meeting held by a polo club at Mornington (V.), one of thf? starters in the Hack Race was Palais Royal, who years ago was quite a fair performer when his trainer, J. Holt, raced him in partnership with Major William McCulloch. Palais Royal, who is by Comedy King from. Regality (imp.), by Eager from Galore by Fowling Piece, was bred in 1919 by Mr J. M. Niall, so is rising 19 years.

Glenogil was taken to Ashburton on Saturday, but contracted some. internal complaint on the train journey down, and it was not possible to start her in the Cup. She is now to be put- aside until the spring.

Golden Sovereign, winner of the Newmarket Stakes on Thursday, is owned by Sir Abe Bailey, whose team is having a good run in England this season. Golden Sovereign is by Monarch from Fleche d’Or. Greenwich, who was second, is owned by Lord Derby, and is by Fairway from Rose Red.

Arctic Star’s second in the Grandstand Steeplechase yesterday was his fourth in succession within a month. ,The Diacquanod gelding has not won a race since the Greenfield Hurdles at Wingatui last June, but he has been out of a place only once in his last 10 starts.

Shamfight, who won a maiden event and an apprentices’ handicap as a three-year-old in the colours of Miss A. Boyle, is an entrant for the hack sprints at Washdyke this week. It is over five years since his last Win, and four years since he has been to the races.

Rival Hit created one of the biggest booms in the memory of present-day racegoers before he raced at Randwick last Saturday. Unfortunately the New Zealand gelding put up’ a poor performance, being one of the last away and not in a winning position at any stage. Everybody had appeared to be waiting for the son of Winning Hit. Having D. Munro as the rider increased confidence, but the display was so inferior that there will be no hurry ..to support him again. Rival Hit has been an unlucky horse since being brought to Australia, for he has had more than his share of minor mishaps and has started only three times.

Aria has done a lot of trying before scoring his first success at Wanganui, but recently she was twice third at Waipukurau. She is a four-year-old brown mare by Hunting Song from the good King Mark mare Pavanui, the dam previously of Royal Parade, Childstudy, and Wahine Nui. Aria is on the small side, and her path to her first success is very like that taken some season back by Wahine Nui, who was a long time in winning her first race. She has always carried the colours of Mr R. C. Shand, for whom she is now trained by A. Dods of Waipukurau. AUSTRALIAN EVENTS RIVAL HIT WINS AT WARWICK FARM. By Telegraph—Press Association. Copyright. SYDNEY, May 18. The New Zealand-bred gelding Rival Hit, who was purchased 12 months ago by Mr F. Hughes for 2000 guineas, won his first race in Australia, the Flying Welter Handicap, at the Warwick Farm meeting today. New Zealand horses filled all the places in the Warwick Handicap. Details: — FLYING WELTER HANDICAP, Six Furlongs. Rival Hit, 9.0 (Munro) 1 Fernacre, 9.0 (McCarten) 2

Shackleton, 8.3 (Diggins) 3 Fourteen started, including Lynch

Law. Length; length and a quarter. Time, 1.14 J.

WARWICK HANDICAP/ ■ t . 11 miles. Highborn, 8.8 (Munro) 1 Dutiful, 8.1 (Bartie) .... 2 Edible, 8.3 (Finch) .... .... 3 Eleven started. Head each way. Time, 2.63.

Racing at Tamworth today, Limoux won the Mornington Handicap, of nine furlongs, from Sedunum and Dulcedo, in 1.52 1-5, a course record. Housemaster was unplaced.