TURF NEWS & NOTES

Wairarapa Times-Age, 3 June 1938, Page 5

TURF NEWS & NOTES

CURRENT TOPICS FROM STABLE & COURSE Views on Racing Facts and Fancies PERFECT IDEA’S RECORD.

(By

“The Cynic.”)

Perfect Idea, who won the Moutoa Handicap at Foxton after being fancied and failing at Wanganui and Awapuni, secured his first victory in New Zealand and the first training success for the young Otaki trainer, K. Webster, son of his former trainer, A. D. Webster. However, although he is only a hack performer at six years old, he won six races during a lengthy sojourn in Australia, all but one of the winning stakes being very small. Perfect Idea is full-brother to two high-class mares, Gay Ballerina and La Moderne. Their dam, Lady Ball, a daughter of Demosthenes, was at the Flaxmere Stud and she was bought with her colt foal at foot by Mr J. ——

R. Mackenzie and the colt, named Perfect Idea, was secured by Mr H. J. Stanbridge, Hawke’s Bay, as a two-year-old. Prior to the current season, Perfect Idea had raced only once, as a two-year-old, in the Dominion. Travenna, who is now at the head of the list for the Winter Handicap, has not been out since the early part of the season, when he scored two wins and two placings over hurdles. Quinopal, who figures in the field for the Tahuna Steeplechase, won the Otago Steeplechase of 1934 with 10.10 or 151b'more than he has to carry tomorrow. McHeath continues to shape pleasingly in his schooling over hurdles at Wingatui. He won at his first start over hurdles, and may prove more reliable over hurdles than he was on the flat. Triple Cone has raced eight times this season with one gaining a place, but is now shaping well on the soft tracks. The Last Dart gelding Sir Admiral, who is in at the minimum in the Otago Hurdles, was third in the Turi Steeplechase run in March. The Roydon —Effozel gelding has been named Gold Don. Effozel was got. by Polazel from Effort, by Advance —Endeavour, by St Leger—Cuiralba, by Cuirassier. Clarion Call took no apparent harm from his fall in the Te Rapa Steeplechase and a northern writer states that the Hunting Song gelding looks in great heart. He has dropped out of the Great Northern Hurdles in favour of the Great Northern Steeplechase. In his third attempt over country Red Sun outclassed the opposition in the Whirokino. Steeplechase on Saturday. As a good winner on the flat and a genuine stayer, he should win a valuable jumping prize this winter if he fences over sturdier obstacles as well as he did at Foxton. Astaire,- the winner of two races at Washdyke last ryteek, is a four-year-old by Valkyrian from Dancing Days, and is a half-brother to Last Dance. Astaire had his first win in a trial handicap at Gore on February 2C, so apparently he has made a good deal of improvement. In all he had only four races before racing at Washdyke and had been only once out of the money. * Winner of the Foxton Cup at his first . appearance in open company, Galteemore had run into places five times since his previous success in a ' nine-furlong hack race at Awapuni in March. He was therefore due for another win. Bred by Mr J. Porter, he

was secured by his present owner, Mr J. O’Brien, for 45 guineas and with Saturday’s win he is out of hack ranks. The sire of Galteemore is Martarma, and his dam, Lady Colossus, traces to Lady Mersey, a sister to Carbine.

Though only six horses have been paid up for in the Otago Steeplechase tomorrow, additional interest in the race will be created by the fact that all six horses are trained at different centres. Trisox will represent Winton, Puncestown comes from Riccarton, Black Banner from Heddon Bush, Signaller from Invercargill, Sunward from Washdyke, and Amy Johnson from Wingatui.

On Thursday afternoon Surge gave a good exhibition in two rounds over the schooling hurdles, and Salt Spray and Vantoon jumped the fences in one round very fast. Amy Johnson, Pallaform, and Radius Rod schooled over the steeplechase course proper. Starting near the mile post, Radius Rod was pulled up after jumping the water jump, which caused Amy Johnson a little trouble, but both she and Pallaform completed the circuit. Included with the yearling transported from New Zealand to Sydney last month with a view to being offered by auction was a full sister to Homer by Iliad —Quadrilateral, Recommended by true blopd-like quality and the fact that her brother (Homer) ran a dead-heat in the Australian Derby, she gave rise to spirited bidding, but, although GOOgns was offered that was below the reserve. The Surgeon, who figures as topweight in the Otago Hurdles, won the Mosgiel Handicap run last season, and also holds some good placed performances on the flat. He was fourth in his first race over hurdles, run at the South Canterbury Hunt meeting last July. The Surgeon has been a fairly busy horse this season, with 31 starts. He won the Otokia Hurdles at the Dunedin summer meeting with 9.7 from Burwood 9.41 and Superex 9.81,. with Fireguard 10.0 unplaced. His next win was in the Tuapeka Handicap with 8.13, with McHeath 7.11 third, about three lengths away. Then came a win in the Longbeach Hurdles with 10.4 from Courtyard 10.9, followed by a second to the latter in the Levels Hurdles and a second in the Pukaki Hurdles. In the last-named race Courtyard won with 11.4 by six lengths from The Surgeon 11.1, with Sunny Comet 10.0 another three Sunny Comet 10.0 another three lengths away. The unplaced lot included Fireguard 11.1 and Last Post 9.6. Chaste may be taken to Trentham by M. Conza for hurdle races at the winter meeting. This mare has not done a great deal of work recently, but she comes to hand quickly. Earlier in the season she showed some useful form over hurdles. Surcoat continues to please track watchers at Riccarton in his schooling efforts and, though a novice himself, has been seen in the unusual role lately of giving a lead to another novice. Unsoundness has kept this Philamor—Windshield gelding away from the races in the past and his ownertrainer, Mr F. D. Jones, has been patient with him. Itdooks now as though he -will not have to wait long for a return. Windshield produced two useful horses in Shatter, and the present two-year-old Protector, and Surcoat should add to her record.

OTAKI FORM HORSES FOR FIRST DAY. Tararua Hack Hurdles, 11m.—Spender, Taumau. Maiden Race, 6f.—Prime Quality, Protectress. Waitohu Hack, Cf. —Gay Hunting, Joe Louis. Raukawa Handicap, l.]m. —Quadroon, Galteemore. Otaki Hack, Im. and 55yds.—Lord Quick, Perfect Idea. Huia Handicap, 7f. —Lady Montana, Mea Mea. Te Horo Hack, 7f.—Earl Colossus, Jewish Lad. NAPIER PARK CANDIDATES THAT MAY MERIT SUPPORT. Moteo Hack Hurdles, IJm. —Pladie, Lovelilt. Maiden Scurry, 5f. —Wilful Lady, Royal Spades. Marewa Hack, lm. —Thala, Hamarin. Napier Steeplechase, 2Jm. —John Charles, Don Erma. Ladies’ Handicap, l',m. —Small Boy. Umpire. Flying Handicap, 6f. —Slippery, Pakanui. Meeanee Hack, 6f. —Lucullus Boy, Gironde. DUNEDIN OPENING OF WINTER MEETING. Tahuna Steeples, 2Jm. —Bally Brit, Signaller. Trial Handicap, 6f— Sheeny, Auctor. Otago Hurdles, I’m. —McHeath, The Surgeon. Brighton Handicap, lm. —Cintilla, Gillie. Otago Steeples, 21m. —Trisox, Sunward. Birthday Handicap, lm. 2Jf.—Mungatoon, Last Refrain. Winter Handicap, 7f. —Alby, Peony Rose. St. Clair ' Handicap, 6f. —Astaire, Lord Nuffield.