TURF NEWS & NOTES

Wairarapa Times-Age, 1 July 1938, Page 5

TURF NEWS & NOTES

CURRENT TOPICS FROM STABLE & COURSE

Views on Racing Facts and Fancies

LAST REFRAIN ON HAND AGAIN

(By

“The Cynic.”)

Last Refrain who finished third to Enge and Arctic Star in the Parliamentary Handicap at Trentham last season will be on hand to contest the corresponding event next week and he will be in his best order to do so.

Last Refrain, after two seconds to Mungatoon at Timaru last month, improved to win the Birthday Handicap of half a furlong over a mile and a quarter at Dunedin on June 4 and, although beaten into fourth place under his increased poundage on the second day, he showed at Ashburton last Saturday that he will be a force to be reckoned with at Trentham.

His finishing run in the seven furlong race was splendid and as Last Refrain cannot be considered a sprinter by any means, his fourth in a field led home by brilliant Valmarch, suggests that he will do a lot better when raced over a distance more to his liking. \

Silver Glow registered another fine second on Saturday and a winning stake should come the way of the Silverbourn colt soon.

Gay Seton gave another consistent performance at the Waipa meeting when in a fine finish he accounted for all but Orate. At the distance it appeared momentarily that Gay Seton had taken the measure of Orate but' the latter came again to win well.

Young Paddon failed to jump away correctly in his sprint engagement on Saturday and his prospects from then on were hopeless. He should not be discarded readily because of Saturday’s lapse as he is, a good winter performer, Whose next appearance will probably be at Trentham next week.

A place-getter at Te Rapa who can be expected to do better is Midland, a four-year-old by Acre —Scotch Nell, the dam of Full of Scotch. Midland is a member of J. F. Tutchen’s Te Rapa team and every race is bringing him on.

Any chance Senacre had on Saturday was lost at the start. This mare has been unlucky in recent outings and that she can do better she may show the first time she has better luck.

C. G. Goulsbro rode two winners at Te Rapa and on each winner showed the ability that has brought him to the forefront of our riders. He has better hands than the majority of present day riders and that is why his mounts are generally running on an even keel.

Du Maurier was responsible for a meritorious performance in the first division of the Arapuni Hack at Waipa and though headed by Alyth' and Hessketoon there was little between the trio on the post. Du Maurier was conceding the winner 241 b. and Hessketoon 341 b. so that he was by no means disgraced. Du Maurier is entered for Trentham and on the first day has been awarded 8.2 in the open sprint. As' he can handle winter going and is in splendid fettle just now he should prove equal to a forward showing in southern engagements.

Airam’s early brilliance in being able to .obtain a good position in the running within the first couple of hundred yards was a big factor in her fine second to EngeffnMhe big mile and aquarter at Waipa. Placed on the outside of the field as a result of her fractiousness she jumped out as the barrier was released and as the field raced out of the straight after covering less than half-a-furlong she was right behind Light Comedy in the lead. She stood little chance with the winner, Enge, at the end, but she decisively accounted for the balance of the field.

Auctor has been a long time winning a race, but he has always shown form good enough to be considered. There is not a maiden race at Oamaru, but the majority of the Burnside Hack Handicap field is made up of maidens and Auctor should fare prominently in the distribution of the prize money.

Metal Bird retains his speed wonderfully well and he was in the race al. the way of the seven furlongs at Ashburton to be beaten a length and hall a length into third place.

Lord Ouyen who is due to make his initial appearance at Oamaru is a rising five-year-old gelding by Rosenor from Commentary and he will race in the colours of Mr J. Higgins. Commentary, who would be rising 26 years if still alive, was by Blackstone from Cockleshell and to present racegoers she is better known through Balmenter, whose dam Commentor was. by Tractor from Commentary.

Nocturnus was taken over again by A. S. Ellis, after his race at Ashburton, and he is moving along in useful work. He is engaged in the Wellington Steeplechase, but he will not make the trip. A hard race next week, when not quite ready, might prejudice his Grand National prospects. z

F. A. Roberts intends to race four of his team at Oamaru on Saturday. Mungatoon has done well since he raced at South Canterbury, while Garonne, Moonreker, and Glenacre look none the worse for their exertions nt Ashburton on Saturday. Nightdress is going on all right, but he will be reserved till later on.

Though Nightbound ran a fair race in the cross country event at Ashburton, he will not go to Trentham. Instead, D. O’Connor will take him to Oamaru, where he should have better prospects.

Arctic Star is gradually recovering from the trouble that caused him to be eased up a few weeks ago, but D. O’Connor has decided that he cannot be ready for Trentham. He will be prepared for local engagaments in August, with a race at the Christchurch Hunt meeting as a preliminary to the Grand National.

Flashlight . came through his Ashburton race all right, and made friends for more important events later on. He is booked for a trip to Trentham, where he should do well. He is engaged in the Wellington Steeplechase, but possibly will be reserved for hack events, as a preliminary to taking on the Grand National in August. *

Among the likely improvers noted at the Waipa meeting there was the Oration three-year-old Orwere, who showed pace, to be one of the leading division until the last hundred yards or so in the first division of the hack six. Orwere has shown promise in the past and Saturday’s showing was indicative of a winning turn soon. Matamata may mark his next essay in public.

Requiem showed out for over nine furlongs during the running of the Woodstock Stakes at Te Rapa and at the straight entrance she was actually lying fourth behind Enge, Airam and Valmint. The Hunting Song four-year-old has made good strides in recent months and she Inay be one to bear in mind in the summing up of the Whyte Handicap at Trentham next week.

Catalogue’s spell is evidently not going to be so lengthy as at first intended, as he is entered for the sprints at Wellintgon and also for the Winter Oats on the final day.

John Charles, who is topweight in the Wellington Steeplechase, won the Trentham Hurdles and the Winter Hurdles at this meeting last year. He carried 9.1 in the Trentham Hurdles and for the same race next week has been allotted 10.2.

Ponty and Enge dead-heated in the Whyte Handicap at Trentham last year with 8.7 and 8.4 respectively. For the same event next week Polity has 9.0 and Enge 8.11 so that they meet on the same terms as last year.

Garonne opened his winning account for Mr H. D. Greenwood by an impressive win in the Maiden Stakes at Ashburton. He did very little racing as a two-year-old or earlier this season, and has only recently resumed fast work after a le'ngthy spell. He was one of the first to show out and was never headed. The two-year-olds Phenomenal (Robespierre—Sundance) and Our Pal (Nightmarch—Palantua) went with him for about half a mile and then Mazamarch, Merry March and Master Dingle became prominent. Master Dingle finished strongly enough to hold off Merry March and Mazamarch, but had no chance with Garonne, who had something in hand. Merry March was a good third, a neck in front of Mazamarcß with the favourite, The Wrecker, next. The winner is by Gascony from Orozino, by Finland from d'Oro, a sister to Desert Gold.

A. McDonald has just broken in a very compact and shapely filly by Gustavo from Ravenna, who has been engaged in the M’Lean Stakes. She met with an accident on the road the other evening, when frightened by a motor car with strong lights, and sustained a cut on her near knee. Fortunately it is not deep and unlikely to affect her when galloping.

Lazybones, who has now won the three last races he started in, proved himself to be a good mudlark when he Won on the second day of the Dunedin Winter Meeting, and as a heavy course at Trentham next week is assured he should be well fancied in the Whyte Handicap, with only 91b. above the minimum.

The death of Blandford was a severe loss to the breeding industry, especially in England, for the Swynford horse from the outset had proved a marked stud success. At the close of 1937 the progeny of Blandford had won £289,455 in prize money, and recent successes have increased the total to over £300,000. Sons of Blandford are in strong demand, and it is satisfactory to know that New Zealand breeders have been active, with the result that four of his progeny are now owned in the Dominion —namely, Baffles, Bulandshar, Broiefort, and Solicitor-General.

Roy Bun, who compiled a good list of successes this season, has been taken ud again after a short spell, with the idea of contesting the Winter Cup.