TURF NEWS & NOTES

Wairarapa Times-Age, 24 June 1938, Page 5

TURF NEWS & NOTES

CURRENT TOPICS FROM STABLE & COURSE

Views on Racing Facts and Fancies

KENA RACING CONSISTENTLY

(By

“The Cynic.”)

Although third place was the best Kena could achieve in the Opotiki Handicap, he is racing consistently and though lacking in class is the genuine type that invariably gets a winning turn. If not overtaxed during the winter, he may be a useful horse next season.

The proceeds of the dance organised by the Ellerslie jockeys as a benefit to R. E. Thomson, who was severely injured several months ago, were £7O 13s. Thomson was injured in a fall at Te Rapa, and is making good progress towards recovery.

One of the best developed colts seen at Ellerslie for a long time is High Castle, an inmate of R. S. Bagby’s stable (says an Auckland report). By Bulandshar from The Begum, this youngster is a half-brother to Stretto and Mazir. Judged on appearances, he gives every indication that he will prove capable of keeping up the family reputation.

A rising two-year-old filly by Blatherskite from Flout has joined J. Harvey’s stable. Flout was got by Polazel from Disdainful, by Bonny Glen —Lady Disdain, dam of Contempt, who produced Silver Scorn and Disdain, who won on both days of the Riccarton Easter meeting. Lady Disdain is also the dam of Bee and Snub, both good stayers. Disdainful is the dam of Meprisant.

All going well in the meantime the Ellerslie trainer R. S. Bagby contemplates leaving for Sydney on July 21 with a small team for the spring meetings. The star of the team will be the brilliant Stretto, and other members of the team will be the rising two-year-olds High Caste, Wapaugh and Konnetta. High Caste is a half-bro-ther by the Blandford horse Bulandshar to Stretto, and he is a very masculine type with great strength. Wapaugh is a bay colt by Siegfried from the Rossendale mare Polonaise, thus being a full-brother to Wagner and a half-brother to Gay Court, and he was purchased at the Trentham yearling sales for 270gns. Konnetta is a bay filly by Bulandshar from Sunny Hours, hence a half-sister to Sergia and Karl, and she was purchased at the yearling sales for 290 gns. Wapaugh and Konnetta are both owned by Mr Max Steinberg, whose colours have been successfully carried in Australia this season by the good three-year-old Elanage.

Royal Romance commenced his career as a hurdler very auspiciously at Egmont, but has since failed to reproduce that effort. He did not jump well at Otaki, but if he improves at all he should have a chance in the Oringi Hack Hurdles at Dannevirke where the class is not strong.

Maori Maid, who recently returned from Sydney, is to make her first New Zealand appearance at Ashburton on Saturday. A full-sister to Colleen Ougue, she has a dead-heat for first to her credit at one of the Sydney suburban meetings, so evidently her nomination in the Maiden Stakes for non-winners is a mistake. However, she is also nominated in the hack six. Another apparent mistake is that of Ortyx in a hack race at Oamaru. According to the Rules of Racing two-year-olds are ineligible to race against older horses in a handicap.

Miss Bluff, who is down to make her first appearance in public at Ashburton, is a two-year-old by Cockpit from Miss Camouflage and she is trained by M. B. Edwards at Yaldhurst. Miss Bluff will race in the nomination of Mr Scott Ramsay who has Restrain in the same stable.

■' The Paper Money gelding from Waiiti trained by J. Tomkinson will race as Synthetic, and he is due to have his first outing at Ashburton on Saturday. Synthetic has often shown racewinning speed over a short course in training gallops, but he may not yet be seasoned enough to run out six furlongs solidly.

The Takanini trainer W. Townsend will have a good-sized team to represent him in the new season. In addition to the smart two-year-olds Royevrus and Pocket Venus, he has a number of other novices, including a filly by Vaals from Big Bertha, who has been named Our Jean, after the famous flyer, Jean Batten.

The first glimpse of form shown by Silver Glow was at Te Rapa last month. After getting away poorly in his opening engagements at Ellerslie Silver Glow made most of the running in the Fitzroy Handicap going under

at the end only to the winner. Bright Idea. Silver Glow seems to be on the upgrade and he appears to be a good prospect at Te Rapa.

Although he was racing for the first time since coming from Australia, El Meynell was well supported at *the Great Northern meeting. He was badly away in his first engagement, but finished fifth in his second start, The racing can be expected to do El Meynell good and the brother to View Halloo may earn distinction at Te Rapa on Saturday.

If any of the beaten division at Tauranga should have won, that one was Senacre. She was forced over considerable ground and when after streaking to the front round the home turn just failed to hold off Gay Sister. Senacre is a fit mare likely to notch a win whenever the company is not good.

With a round to go in the Winter Steeplechase, Windsor Lad was going at his ease when he ran round the second fence of the double. He has twice been a winner in the last few weeks, and is now at the peak of his form. He should race well over country at Te Rapa where he won last month.

Beaten in his two starts at Ellerslie, Enge did not display the form expected of him. He may do a lot better with a stronger rider and he will get the chance on Saturday to show whether he can repeat his fine display in the chief event at the last Waikato fixture.

z A bit of a fuss is being made about F. Foster’s winning ride on Valpeen panning out at about £lO a minute in the saddle. Foster did not earn his winning fee by the amount of time he was in the-saddle, but for the ability displayed when sitting there. Time does pot measure ability, for if it did a vocalist who took five seconds longer to sing Tosti’s “Good-bye” than Madame Melba would rank superior to Australia's queen of song.

The Surgeon suffered three defeats at Wingatui and failed to reach a place. On the final day Last Link, in receipt of 21b, finished in front of The Surgeon and the latter is asked to meet his victor on the same terms at Ashburton. The Surgeon’s chance of beating Last Link appears to be nil representing the amount of compensation for defeat which is the essence of handicapping.

When the Aga Khan sold Bahram to an American syndicate it was thought he had made a great mistake. He may have done, but in Dastur (Solaria —Friar’s Daughter) he has a sire whose progeny are showing exceptional speed. Already this season Dastur has been represented by four of the best .two-year-olds—Dhoti, Vasamour, Veracite and Dasaratha, the lastmentioned three being fillies. As Bahram is by Blanford from Friar’s Daughter his American purchasers now have good cause for being optimistic as to his stud prospects.

Interest will be taken in the reappearance of Nocturnus, last years’ Grand National Steeplechase winne'r, should he start at Ashburton on Saturday, as he has been nominated for the Wellington Steeplechase. A month ago it was stated that he would not be kept going this winter jjn account of unsoundness, but is evidently standing up to work better than expected.

To dissolve a partnership Skerryvore was sold a short time ago to his present owners for £5O. With a second in the Park Steeplechase, and a win in the Hawke’s Bay Steeplechase to his credit in three starts for stake money totalling £225, he is already a bargain.

Clarion Call was given a respite after his failure in the Great Northern Steeplechase, but he has resumed work looking bright and well. He has been nominated to race at Trentham, but if there is no improvement in track conditions he may have to wait till the National meeting before he appears at his best. Probably the hurdle races will be his objective at Riccarton.

Normandy, winner of the Three-year-old Handicap at Rosehill on Saturday, is a Dominion-bred horse by Gascony from Auratum, a daughter of that great mare Desert Gold, by Absurd. Normandy was bred by Mr T. H. Lowry, and sold at the 1936 national yearling sales to Mr E. J. Watt at 650 guineas.

Valpeen’s name is missing from the nominations for the Wellington Steeplechase, but Bryce Street, who finished second to him in the Great Northern Steeplechase, has been engaged. Santoft, last year’s winner at Trentham, and Nocturnus, last year’s winner of the Grand National Steeplechase are also included in the list.

Sir Rosenor was not taken to Greymouth, owing to bruising a heel on Friday, and his tablemate. Linguist, was also left at home owing to a slight indisposition. Financinere and Gillie were other absentees. The former may have a race at Ashburton on Saturday as a prelude to a trip to Trentham.