TURF NEWS & NOTES

Wairarapa Times-Age, 31 May 1938, Page 5

TURF NEWS & NOTES

CURRENT TOPICS FROM STABLE & COURSE

Views on Racing Facts and Fancies

(By

“The Cynic.”)

Flashlight, winner of the steeplechase at Timaru, is likely to make good at the cross-country game. He is a six-year-old gelding by Shambles from Snapshot, and trained by T. H. Gillett at Riccarton. On Thursday he was always handy to the leaders, and two furlongs from home easily headed them off. This was his first start across country, and he promises to make good at the game.

Studley Royal now has his trainer, as well as the public, puzzled. In the Timaru Cup his trainer, F. D. Jones, at one time one of the best horsemen Iven seen in the Dominion, told L. J. Ellis to ride Studley Royal according to his own judgment. The Paper Money gelding was handy to the leaders at the straight entrance, and appeared to be pulling, but immediately Ellis sat down to ride him home Studley Royal failed to respond, and to finish seventh was the best he could do.

Cossack won the English Derby in ; 1847 for Mr Pedley, the man who ' shocked the exclusive coterie in the Newmarket saddling paddock one afternoon by suddenly yelling at the top of his voice; “I’ll lay six to four the field,” and so set a custom which ; lived on until today we find all tbnes ■ of voices loudly inviting business. ' Until Pedley “shouted the- odds” it was considered a breach of turf man- ' ners to offer the odds—the layer had to w2it until the backer approached him before quietly stating the prices he was prepared to lay. At the time , some conceded that a bookie who had _ won the Derby had reason to shout.

Many West Coast racing men expect Silver Ring to stage a “come back” to his best form. In' the Timaru Cup he was handy at the home turn, but over the final stages he lacked both the speed and stamina to get into the money. Silver Ring looks well, and appeared to be quite sound.

For her win at the recent meeting at Invercargill Peony Rose has to meet Rodeur, who was runner-up, on 131 b worse terms in the Winter Handicap on the first day of the D.unedin meeting. Seafox, who finished fast in 5 third place at Invercargill, meets Peony Rose on 21b and Rodeur on 111 b worse terms. On Paper Roden* has excellent prospects of turning the tables on Peony Rose, but there is a doubt whether she can act up to her • best form on a winter track.

The last race Osculate won was the Otago Handicap at the Dunedin Jock-

ey Club’s summer meeting of 1935 and he has been off the scene since he contested the James Hazlett Gold Cup last season. In the Otago Handicap Osculate carried 9st and, as he only seven years old, he may be capable of staging a successful come-back.

McHeath won the hurdle race at the recent Invercargill meeting in good style, but Surge also made a promising debut by finishing fast in third place. In the Otago Hurdles Surge meets McHeath on 201 b better terms.

At the Rosehill (Sydney) Racing Club’s meeting last week, the Maiden Handicap, of £125, seven furlongs, was won by Sunshine 7.11 from Banter 7.9, and Lappin Sydney 8.3. There were 15 starters, and Sunshine won by a head in Imin 261 sec. Sunshine is a three-year-old filly by Limond from the Spearmint mare Drax, dam of Spiral, and was purchased as a yearling at Trentham for 525 guineas by W. P. Miller, for whom she is trained by P. Riddle.

Hard tracks caused new jumping race records to be made at various courses in England in March. When Bimco won the Imperial Cup of £914 at Sandown on March 19, he did the two miles in 3min 50 4-ssec, a record for the course, the previous best being the' 3min 51 2-ssec put up by Residue in 1931.

At Randwick the records for two miles are Eatonwood’s 3min 35sec over battens, and Euphorbus’s 3min 37Jsec over brush. The reason for the letter’s slower time over lighter hurdles is that there are more of them in two miles than when battens were used. Perhaps England’s slower times may be accounted for by a great number of hurdles. The best time for two miles in New Zealand was recorded by Journet, who covered the distance at the last Grand National meeting in 3min 36 2-ssec.

A Paper Money—Wai-iti gelding, a three-year-old, has been getting through a lot of useful work on the tracks, and may make a smart galIdper. . He may t be. given, a race at the Westport Jockey Club’s meeting, to be held at Riccarton in July. Another member of the team which has been showing speed in his work is a four-year-old gelding by Roydon from Lady Ball, the dam of Gay Ballerina and her sister, La Moderne, two mares of good class. This latest member of the family should at least be useful. He will probably be ready to race early in the new season.

Raphis, a three-year-old by Night Raid from Entreaty, is a sister to Phai- Lap. She was intended for stud life, but as she missed this season, she may have a trial on the racecourse. She is only pottering along at present. So is a two-year-old colt by Robespierre from Manetho’s sister, Distrait, also a three-year-old gelding by Paper Money from a Masterpiece mare. These three may make their appearance in the spring.

Foxglove was lame after a gallop at Invercargill yesterday morning and he may have to be put out of training for the rest of the season.

The French mare Corrida’s stakewinnings finally amounted to £47,375, though at one stage last year she was credited with having earned over £50,000. She is second best winner among her sex, the best being the American mare Top Flight with £55,180.

It is understood that Donegal will not go on to Ellerslie from Te Rapa, but will be prepared for racing at the Wellington meeting in July. From Trentham, alt going well, he will be sent to Christchurch for the Grand National carnival. Donegal is owned by Mr J. Bull, who bred him. Donegal was got by Nigger Minstrel from Riot Act, by All Red —Waddy, by Merriwee —Monsqueterie. If Donegal should win the Grand National Hurdles 'it would be a well-deserved success. In 1912 Mr Bull won the Grand National Hurdles with The Native, but some interference took place between the winner and Parsono as they raced inside four furlongs from home. The stewards held an inquiry and disqualified The Native on evidence presented, and thereby hangs a tale, and a very interesting tale.

Trisox met with a slight mishap a few weeks ago, But it was nothing serious, and as he was in fine racing trim at the time it has had little effect on his progress. The Panmure gelding fences well and will run out the two miles and a half solidly. At his last start he won the Autumn Steeplechase on the third day of the Riverton meeting at Easter, beating Arctic Star by a neck, though it looked as if the margin could have been greater. Trisox is another of the topweights who will have many friends.

The two-year-old Dannevirke, who won the Montrose Handicap, six furlongs, at the recent Ascot meeting in Victoria, is a New Zealand-bred cblt by Colossus from the Nigger Minstrel —Dainty Step mare Tripping. Dannevirke was purchased at the 1937 Trentham sales by Mr F. Kitson, Melbourne, for 350 guineas. At the same sale Mr Kitson bought a Posterity— Waterwings filly at 200 guineas.

Mr R. D. Westenra has taken up his quarters at Riccarton, where he is looking after two horses, which may in time be seen to advantage as junipers. Manetho is getting through good work, and may be seen on the flat before being tried over hurdles. Earlier in his career he was a smart performer, though very unlucky, and he looks well. Lady Golightly, by Lord Warden from Quality, is a four-year-old half-sister to Vintage. She is a big mare, and is being given plenty of time. Possibly she will be tried next winter as a jumper. It will be recalled that when Vintage was first put into work it was with the idea that he would make a steeplechaser.

Lockit, a Siegfried three-year-old, made his reappearance, after a spell, at the South Canterbury meeting, where he showed promising form each day. He may be in the money before long.

The Masquerader has had some racing lately, but without displaying a return to the form which made him a good winner earlier in his career. He "is to have another chance on the flat at Ashburton next month, after which he will be given a trial as a hurdjer.

With the softer tracks Travenna has shown a big improvement in both work and condition lately, and he is now striding out well. He has not had a race since he won the Spring Hurdles at Wingatui last October, and the four starts he had in the early part of this season resulted in two wins and two thirds.

So far . this season High Glee has started in 11 races for four wins, a second and a third. Last season his record was one win, five seconds, and two thirds out of a dozen starts. When he won the Southern Hack Handicap on the second day of the Dunedin Winter meeting, the going was very heavy, and it took 2min 41sec to run 101 furlongs.

Punchestown may race in the Otago Steeplechase, but no decision has yet been made. He came through his race in the Pareotfa Steeplechase at Washdyke well, proving that he can jump as well as ever, but the task with him has always been to get him in solid racing condition. Another thing against him is that he is reaching the veteran stage. MANAWATU RACES TAXATION ON MEETING. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) PALMERSTON N„ May 30. Despite the small decrease in the totalisator turnover at the Manawatu Racing Club’s Winter meeting, the fixture was a financial success to the club, and the Treasury will benefit to the extent of £1507 19s. which is only £l5 10s lid less than last year.