TURF NEWS & NOTES

Wairarapa Times-Age, 21 June 1938, Page 5

TURF NEWS & NOTES

CURRENT TOPICS FROM STABLE & COURSE

Views on Racing Facts and Fancies

MENDELSSOHN ON THE UP-GRADE

(By

“The Cynic.")

Mendelssohn, whose form at Napier and Hastings suggests he is on the upgrade, is a three-year-old brother to Pennyeomequick (Hunting Song—Autumnina, by Autumn —Sabine, by Gonzeley).

Another Hunting Song gelding from the Gisborne district who looks useful is Gold Ballad. His family has been well in the limelight during recent years, his dam, Cherry Girl, being by Swift Flight from Cherry Roe. Cherry Roe is a half-sister to Merry Roe, a first-class mare in her day, and dam of Merry Damon, Merry Peel, Merry Mint, Merry Hunter, and Joviality. ,

Stated to be one of the best developed colts seen at Ellerslie for a long time, is High Caste, an inmate of R. S. Bagby’s stable. By Bulandshar, from The Begum, this youngster is a half-brothei' to Mazir and Stretto, and judged on appearances, he gives every indication that he will prove capable of upholding the family reputation. When horses trained by F. J. Smith filled the three leading places in the C. F. Mark Memorial at the Auckland Trotting Club’s meeting last week the result was claimed by many people as unique—something without parallel. 'But it had been done before, not so far as it is known in the trotting sport, but in the sister sport of galloping*

Those who were present at the Masterton Racing Club’s meeting in the autumn of 1923 will long remember St. Patrick’s Day of that year. It was a one-day fixture, with the usual eightevent card, and the Masterton owner, Mr W. R. Kemball, had a strong team to carry his colours, white jacket, red band, royal blue cap. And that particular afternoon they carried his livery to some purpose. \ In the opening event, the Trial Stakes, Mr Kemball secured third place with Red Courier, but as third money was a mere £5, there was nothing to enthuse over at the result. The second race was the Telephone Hack Handicap, and Mr Kemball was not represented. It was after the first two races had been decided that the stable really stepped in, and of the six remaining events Mr Kemball’s horses won five. He won the Flying Handicap with Martian Miss, the Autumn Handicap with Bonnetter, the Juvenile Handicap with Kilceit, was second in the Masterton Welter with Birkenella, and won the Stewards' Handicap with Bumptious and the Dash Hack Handicap with Bonrina. For an owner to win five races in one day is a rare feat, but Mr Kemball did more than that, and on that particular afternoon accomplished what has rarely if ever been equalled at a registered race meeting. Not only did his horses secure five straight-out wins, but they filled second place twice and third place twice, and in one event filled the three leading places.

Hutana was given one race at the Great Northern meeting, to run satisfactorily close up to the placed horses in the seven furlongs hack event on the middle day, carrying the steadier of 9.12. He had a bad position early and so had to be kept up to his work, his final effort suggesting that he may win again soon. He did not appear at Tauranga. and probably will race next at Te Rapa. It is against him. though, that the winter scale of ■weights—Bst. minimum l —makes his task much more difficult than under the weight he had to carry at Hawera, which was his last winning bracket.

Burwood and Bally Brit have staged some interesting duels since they first met in the Otautau Steeplechase last May. They have been rivals in five races in all and the honours go to Burwood, who has led Bally Brit home on three occasions. Burwood’s record as a ’chaser is comprised of three firsts, three seconds and a third, and Bally Brit has contested nine cross-country events for two firsts, three seconds and a third.

J. Harvey is handling a rising three-year-old colt by Paladin from All Style that ranks as a brother to Palatinate, but a much more attractive type. Cap-a-Pie would be an excellent name for the colt if it could be procured.

Lord Derby has appointed Mr Scrope, the manager of the famous Sledmere Stud, to be manager of his studs at Newmarket in succession to Captain Paine. There are at the moment 135 brood mares at Lord Derby's Newmarket studs and 96 foals. Mr Scrope will remain as manager of the Sledmere Stud. When the late Mr Hanley (manager of the Elderslie Stud) was in control of Mr Musker’s Stud in England, about 400 mares were in the paddocks.

Aymon, by Paladin, owned by Mr G. Hutter, of Auckland, and Asset, by Paper Money from Lucinda, owned by Mr E. J. Morrison, of Auckland, have arrived at F. Roberts's stable at Riccarton, and both have been nominated for the Ashburton meeting this week.

Drinkup ran two good races at the Dunedin Jockey Chib’s winter meeting and in the Domain Handicap on the final day of the meeting he was finishing on better than anything to

be second to the consistent Second Innings. The Tea Tray gelding acts well in soft going and should be worth keeping in mind for future engagements. He is booked to make his next appearance at the Oamaru meeting next month.

Mr Charles Lewis Dubois, owner of the 1922 Melbourne Cup winner King Ingoda, collapsed and died suddenly in Tattersall’s Club, Adelaide, a fortnight ago. During his notable turf connection as an owner and .breeder Mr Dubois had his best piece of fortune when at the Shipley Stud sale in 1918 he bought Fiscom (who won two Victorian Grand National Hurdle Races) and Ingoda (then in foal to Comedy King). The foal was . King Ingoda. Mr Dubois raced King Ingoda in partnership with the late Mr R. W. Bennett, K.C., and leased Fiscom to Mr C. L. Moorhouse. King Ingoda after having proved a successful sire for some years at Mr Dubois’s Stradbroke estate. Morialta died while on lease. Mr Dobois formerly owned large pastoral holdings in Central Australia, which he disposed of some years ago to the late Sir Sidney Kidman.

Valamito has gone into winter quarters after having raced well, but without luck, at the Ellerslie meeting. His form throughout the season was consistent over all distances, and it is confidently predicted that the Vaals gelding will rise to even greater heights as a handicap performer.

Barley Almond who has been doing her racing for the last year or so in the South Island figures as an entrant for the Dannevirke fixture to be held next Saturday.

The Ringmaster—Anklet colt for whom Mr G. J. Barton paid 525 guineas at the sales in January has been named Phil Worth. He is a halfbrother to Garter Knight, a promising youngster whom Mr Barton lost in Australia.

The Matamata trainer W. J. McLean intends making Ellerslie his future headquarters. His team includes Bass, Trilliarch, Philcourt, Marie’s Acre, Jonathan, and three rising two-year-olds.

Earl’s Court, winner of the Maiden Race at Hastings, has for some time been known to possess ability above the ordinary, but although nominated and accepted for several races this season, she had previous started only twice at the Wellington summer meeting, when she failed to gain a place. A four-year-old bay mare, Earl’s Court is a daughter of Gainscourt and the Formative—Queen’s Maid mare Queenly, hence she is a full-sister to Colleen Gain, and a half-sister to Abbey Feale. She is owned and trained by her breeder, Mr M. Lane, of Hastings, who also raced that promising horse Solaria.

Of all the victories scored during the winter carnival at Ellerslie not one would give an owner more pleasure than that of Mai de Mer, who took the first division of the Jervois Handicap on the opening day.

While at Takanini one afternoon looking over the stables of R. Miller, the Hon. F. E. Lark took a fancy to Mai de Mer, then owned by Mr Desmond Davis and a stablemate to Flood Tide. Mr Lark expressed the opinion that Mai de Mer would be a useful horse and the upshot was that Mr Davis leased the horse to Mr Lark, or rather to Mrs Lark.

But Mai de Mer did not make good as early as anticipated, and one day Mr Davis remarked that the chestnut must have been costing a good bit of money in training fees and other expenses, and, decided to cancel the lease and make a present of the horse to Mrs Lark. Possibly Mai de Mer was a trifle lucky to beat Vaalso in his success, but, even so, the winner ran a fine race and can be expected to improve. Next season he may be a useful handicap horse.