TURF NEWS & NOTES

Wairarapa Times-Age, 1 June 1938, Page 5

TURF NEWS & NOTES

CURRENT TOPICS FROM STABLE & COURSE Views on Racing Facts and Fancies SOUTH ISLAND STEEPLECHASERS

(By

“The Cynic.”)

H. Nurse is hopeful, though not confident, that Polydora will stand up to a preparation for steeplechasing again this winter. After making good progress earlier Polydora had to be eased up through a mishap. The class of steeplechasers in the South Island this season is poor, and Polydora is such a great jumper that she would only need to stand up to the work to win some decent races. She has been an unlucky mare throughout her career, and time alone will tell whether she will be on hand when the major steeplechases come up for decision. One day she may be sound and the next just the opposite. Arctic Star, consistent but unlucky in his races over country so far this season, has a bowed tendon, and so far no decision has been made concerning a trip to Wingatui for the Dunedin Jockey Club’s meeting, which will open this week. In any case, the chances of him getting much further do not look bright. Bonnie Rollox will be among the missing. A. J. Martin has decided to fire him and turn him out till next season. Silver Sight might easily fill his place as a steeplechaser. He has been given a school over the brush fences at Riccarton, and took them cleanly and at a sound pace. Any doubts as to his ability over the bigger fences have now been dispelled. In fact, he is seen to better advantage than over hurdles, as he does not take any chances with the bigger obstacles.' Monastic has proved his usefulness in the past and was unlucky to be' put out of action last season through ricking a muscle in his hindquarters. He has never looked better than at present, and will probably be given his first run at Trentham. C. G. McCarthy wlil also take Haughty Winner on the trip. This Winning Hit colt has not done much serious work lately and has put on conditionjolly Beggar is undoubtedly as good, and possibly better, than ever before. He opened up his northern tour well by an attractive win in the Hamilton Hurdles at the Waikato meeting, and it seems as though only an accident will stop him from playing an important part in major steeplechases later on in the season.

Owing to his leg injury, All Irish has been allowed to forego his engagements in the Great Northern Hurdles and the Great Northern Steeplechase at Ellerslie. However, he may be given a race over hurdles on one of the later days of the meeting.

Trench Fight is again one of H. and A. Cutts’s active lot, after resting for a few months. He is big, but in excellent health. An early start will be made with his preparation, and he may be ready for a race at the Grand National meeting, as a preliminary to the spring campaign.

1 Dictate has been on the easy list since Easter, but A. McAulay has made another start with him. In the meantime he is doing light exercise, and this may be continued for some time, as it is unlikely he will be required for racing again until early next season.

Nightdress, having had a spell after he was gelded, is again getting through useful work. He looks bright, and will make his reappearance soon, either at Ashburton or at the Westport meeting, to be held at Riccarton in July.

D. Cotton has received two more of Mr D. Grant’s horses, both of them by Pink Coat. One of them, Black Coat, showed promise early in his career. The other is. a three-year-old, which has not yet been tried out for racing.

Mr Colin Anderson will again be represented in the spring with a very racy-looking colt by Musketoon, who is to be prepared at Takanini by F. Smith. Although only in the educational stages, the colt is one of the best-looking youngsters on the track.

The sale of Malibu for stud duty in Taranaki has caused Bulls trainer, A. E. Neale, to take in hand a yearling filly by Litnond from Variable (Pombal —Motley), a mare that was never raced, and who is a three-quarter sister to Al Jolson, Variant, Moquette and Midinette, and a half-sister to Legatee. The filly is a big, rangy youngster and it may be some time before she makes good.

Potent is now a member of A. McMillian’s team at Riccarton, and will be given a course of schooling. A six-year-old gelding by Potoa, Potent is built on the right lines to make a hurdler.

A cable message from Australia states that Tout le Monde, one of J. Fryer's team, dropped dead when schooling at Caulfield on Saturday. Tout le Monde was bred at Koatanui in 1929, being by Limond from Aspic. He cost Dr M. G. Louisson, of Christchurch, 800 guineas as q yearling. He won the Manawatu Cup and Presi-

dent’s Handicap and Marton Cup in 1934, and Liverpool Handicap, also at Awapuni, the following season. His successes also included the C.J.C. Midsummer Handicap. Purchased by J. Fryer for hurdling last winter, he immediately made good, winning the Raglan Hurdles at Waikato, and the Manawapou Hurdles at Egmont.

Shirred Ribbon had her last race in the South Island when she competed at the South Canterbury meeting. Her win there on the first day was the only one to her credit since she went south, though she had shown promise ‘more than once in earlier efforts after joining F. A. Roberts’s stable. She was nominated for the Dunedin meeting next month, but the plans have been changed and the mare has been returned to her owner in Hawke’s Bay. She may do a little more racing this season before being retired.

Sporting Gift’s win at Foxton was a popular one for the Awapuni trainer, J. Manuel, who holds the horse on lease and has kept him for over twelve months for this first success in his colours. Now four years old, Sporting Gift is a smallish entire bay horse by Hunting Song out of the Australian-bred Emblematic — Lady Pat mare Visible, On a trip down from Gisborne last season he won a maideni event at Pahiatua, and it was after that race that Manuel took him on lease. He gave evidence of an early return to form by his second at Manawatu a week ago.

“It is almost impossible to buy a good horse in Australia. If one does come on the market the figures asked are simply terrific,” said G. Price in an interview at Palmerston North. “I am looking for horses on this occasion, but I hope to be back again next January for the yearling sales. I have had splendid successes with yearlings I have bought at past sale's.” Price said he had 24 horses in work at present. Eleven of them were yearlings and among them was some promising material. Of his horses in training, Gold Rod and Pandava were the two best performers. He considered the latter was one of the best two-year-olds in Australia. Since Gold Rod won the Epsom Handicap he had not shown good form, but Price had no doubt he would come right again.

Price went to Awapuni during his stay and inspected three youngsters which he purchased on behalf of Australian owners at the Trentham sales last January. They are in Mrs A. W. McDonald’s stable. Price said he was well satisfied with the progress they have made. One, a Foxbridge—Eager Rose colt, was purchased on behalf of Mr W. Longworth, but will not be trained by Price. The other two, a Night Raid—Coronilla filly, and a Limond colt, will, however, join his stable when they are shipped to Sydney next month. The filly belongs to Mr E. J. Watt, and the colt to Sir James Murdoch.

j. Tomkinson has recommissioned Raphis, the three-year-old sister to Phar Lap, and has sent home the jumper William Rufus, who injured himself while schooling a few weeks ago. Tomkinson intends later to try out The Masquerader over hurdles. According to a Hawera report, Friesland, who recently resumed work, looks well, and should not take long to reach his best. EN VIDETTE DESTROYED. COLLISION WITH CYCLIST. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) HASTINGS, May 31. When returning along Wharerangi Road toward Napier at about 5.30 this evening, a motor-cyclist, Mr —tames Wates, ran into the racehorse En Vidette, owned by Mr E. Symes, Hastings, and received severe head injuries. The horse had escaped from a yard a few chains from the scene of the accident. Mr Wates was admitted to Napier Hospital. The horse, which had had a number of successes on the track, received a broken leg and had to be destroyed.