TURF NEWS & NOTES

Wairarapa Times-Age, 13 July 1938, Page 5

TURF NEWS & NOTES

CURRENT TOPICS FROM STABLE & COURSE

Views on Racing Facts and Fancies

COURT YARD BRED 'TO STAY

(By

"The Cynic.”)

Court Yard, winner of the Winter Hurdles at Trentham, in many ways has had a more meteoric rise as a hurdler than even Full of Scotch.- He was unknown in the role till Easter. On Easter Saturday he ran unplaced on the flat at Greymouth, then he was hurried back to Riccarton over the weekend, but he surprised in the first day’s brush hurdles at the C.J.C. Autumn Meeting on the Monday and scored again on the Tuesday. A second at Ashburton followed, and then a double at South Canterbury. He had a race on the flat at Ashburton again prior to his trip north last week.

from the Paper Money—Elaine mare Note. He was bred by Mr W. Jeffries, of Hokitika, who raced Note with considerable success, and he ran until early last season in the colours of his breeder, for whom he won numerous races, including the Jubilee Handicap and Westland Cup at Hokitika and the Kettle Memorial Cup at Greymouth. After these efforts Mr Jeffries turned down a good offer for him, but later he sold him to Mr W. Stewart, of Greymouth, who raced him till his sale at the Dunedin Meeting last month. Monipere continues to be a good winner, and his full record to date is fourteen wins in 68 starts for £l9lO 10s in stakes, to which this season’s contribution has been £919. With an improved track at Ellerslie on Monday morning, there was some interesting work. The No. 3 grass, with the trestles out 10ft, was used for galloping, the going being very fair. Fleetwind (Gilchrist) and Palmint (Marwick) completed half a mile in 51 2-4 sec, the first furlong being run in 13 l-ssec. Fleetwind looked to be doing, it well, and Palmint also was running on solidly at the finish. Tupeotu (Butterworth) was going easily alongside Tanya (Gough) at the end of half a mile in 56sec. Tupeotu looks well and has some speed. Hessketoon (Hearne) ran four furlongs comfortably in 55sec, the first in 13 2-ssec. The Musketoon gelding is in solid condition after his recent racing and is booked to leave for Gisborne tomorrow, where he is to compete at the Poverty Bay meeting at the end of the month.

Here is also another instance of a bargain that lay in wait for some lucky owner. He was first raced for a few wins' in the North Island by his breeder (Mr T. H. Lowry), and was sold as a four-year-old to Mr D. Buchanan, of, Christchurch, He continued to win occasionally, Including a surprise success at the New Zealand Cup meeting, but was not an outstanding success. Just before last Easter he was sold by Mr Buchanan to his present owner, Mr D. Neill, of Christchurch, for what is understood to have been a gift price. With one preliminary outing on the flat at Greymouth he burst brilliantly into the jumping firmament, and for Mr Neill he has already won five races and Earned £1245 in stakes. His full record comprises fourteen wins in 108 starts for £2273 in prize-money, so that more than half his winnings have been for his present owner.

There is good breeding behind Court Yard, for he is no other than an eight-year-old full-brother to Second Wind, a high-class performer who won the King’s Cup and Williamstown Cup (twice), and ran second to Phar Lap in the Melbourne Cup, and he is a half-brother to other good horses in Gascony (now a successful sire) and the defunct Senior. By Grandcourt, he is a grandson of War Talk, whose fullsister, Warscare, is grandson of Bluffer, also success on Saturday. Much of the credit for Court Yard’s new lease of life in his new' role is due to his trainer, R. McMullan, of Riccarton. McMullan was formerly a capable horseman over fences himself, and he was very confident before last week’s meeting that Court Yard would hold his own among the best of the jumpers. Court Yard will have his next opportunity at the Grand National meeting. ...

After running' the first furlong in 13 4-ssec, Alyth (dilchrist) completed four in 53 l-ssec. She did her work nicely throughout and has never looked in better order. Te Maranui (Hearne) was not bustled over half a mile in 56 l-ssec, the first furlong taking Msec. Marie’s Acre (Jones) and Trilliarch (Scott) were responsible for a smart trial over three furlongs in 38sec. They finished on terms. Marie’s Acre, who appeared to have a little in hand, worked very attractively. The rising two-year-old, La Vie (Jones), and Odtaa (Scott) sprinted along the back, from the six to the four, in 25 2-ssec. By Night Raid from | Royal Flavour, La Vie is the first Ellerslie youngster to sprint and she impressed by the resolute manner in which she got through her task. Odtaa, who bears a big resemblance to his full-brother, Scotland, is shaping very encouragingly. On the sand, Valspear (Jones) strode over half a mile in 53 4-ssec. Professional worked over a couple of circuits. Racing has improved him and his next appearance-will be at the Poverty Bay meeting. Tupeotu (Butterworth) cleared the double and stonewall in satisfactory, style. Atta Jack (Gough) schooled over four of the pony hurdles and, although he jumped big, he was promising. King Rod (Gough) went twice over the four steeplechase fences on the flat. He was a little uncertain at the first two, but gave a good exhibition over the remainder. Uncle Jim (9.0) was inadvertently omitted from the handicaps for the Grand National Steeplechase. Ballad is the latest recruit- to the hurdling game and he is booked to make his debut as a jumper at the Waimate Hunt Meeting this month. Every race is bringing Gay Rebel on and he may not require many more chances before he gets on the winning list. Like most of the Gay Shields, he is partial to soft tracks and he should be a fit horse when the Matamata meeting comes along. Contrary to expectations, that good mudlark Erndale was not taken to Trentham. He appears to be on the verge of showing his real form and his next appearance will probably be at Matamata. A recent arrival at Ellerslie is the four-year-old Te Maranui, by Te Monanui from Connemara. Te Maranui raced six times without success last year, but as a two-year-old won a two horse race at the Taumarunui meeting at Paeroa. He is showing signs of improvement at Ellerslie, but is still backward. Malagigi, regarded as one of the likeliest Cup prospects in 'the Auckland district fell while contesting the Woodstock Stakes at Te Rapa. He has apparently taken no harm from the mishap as he figures among the entrants for the principal flat race at the Matamata meeting this month. The Waipa hurdles winner Lady England won attractively last month and is now in her best form. She has been nominated in both hurdles and steeplechase at Matamata and may be a good prospect in the latter race as she has had previous experience over country and is a useful stayer. The Te Rapa hurdler, Queen Lu, has run two creditable thirds at winter meetings and her display at Tauranga suggests that she is on the upgrade. Queen Lu is a sturdy mare who now fences well and she is not likely to be overlooked in her next engagement at Matamata. The Acre gelding, Rajanya, is again ' among the regular workers at Ellers-

Monipere, a Trentham’ winner, figures ' as still ' another recent bargain of . the Turf. On the King’s Birthday at Dunedin last month, Mr J. A. Smaill, of Dunedin, was tempted to join in the bidding for this gelding when he was offered at auction, and he secured him for 205 guineas. A few hours later Monipere was. winner of the principal flat even of the day, the Provincial Handicap, which quickly returned £2lO of the outlay, and a useful dividend to boot. On the final day of that meeting he was second, and at his sixth start in his new colours he has won again, his share of the prize this time being £350. Now seven years old, Monipere is a black gelding by defunct Arrowsmith

lie after being trained at Takanini for a good part of this season. Rajanya was a placegetter at Whangarei this season and is a good type from whom improvement is expected in the new season. | The youngsters of Hunting Song were not so prominent as they usually are at Trentham under Winter conditions, and at the recently concluded meeting of the Wellington Racing Club his stock was successful in capturing only £650 in stake money. On the first day of the meeting El Meynell was his only representative to be in the money, gaining second place to The Wrecker in the Te Aro Handicap. The second day brought him no more success, for Sly Fox was the only one to fill a place, being second to Shining Hours in the Trial Plate, The concluding day, however, brought him greater success, El Meynell winning the Kia Ora handicap, Clarion Call was second in the July Steeples, Rollicker- was second in the Onslow Handicap and Sly Fox second in the Novice, while Proclamation and Gay Hunting were third in their respective engagements. After a good spell the two-year-old I Fidelis, is again a regular worker with R. S. Bagby’s Ellerslie team. He has not grown a great deal, but appears to have thickened out and may develop still more with work. A brother to Catalogue, he has already won at Ellerslie, a fact that suggests that he is at least useful. The two-year-old Silver Quex, is again a worker on the Ellerslie tracks. A full-sister to Round Up, she has galloping ability, but ran greenly in most of her races and is still a maiden. She may be heard from among the novices before the new season is far advanced. The Ellerslie hack Palmint was not injured when he fell over Malagigi while contesting the Woodstock Stakes at Te Rapa. He has been out working and there appears to be little amiss with him. He is likely to make his next appearance at the Matamata meeting. WAIMATE HUNT CLUB ACCEPTORS FOR SATURDAY. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) WAIMATE, July 12. Following are acceptances for the Waimate Hunt Club’s meeting on July 16:— Amateur Cup Steeplechase about 2Jm.: Converse, 11.11; Last Post, 11.6; Harkaway, 11.5; Red Sceptre, 11.2; Tomcat, 11.1; Royal Raid, 11.0; Golden Glow, 11.0. Studholme Hurdles. Im. and 5f.: McHeath, 9.13; Grampian, 9.12; Chaste, •9.12; Tautau Maid, 9.0; Ballad, 9.0; Maka Ahi, 9.0. Novice Stakes, 6f.; set weights: Newsreel, Maori Maid, Hostile, Sunny Dawn, Bahama Maid, Lord Ouyen, Toro Koura, Our Pal. Hunt Club Cup Steeplechase, about 2am.: Quinopal, 10.8; Snowy Dawn, 10.5; Uncle Jim, 9.10; Converse, 9.9; Gold Wren, 9.6; Bonny Buff, 9.5; Red Sceptre, 9.0; Golden Glow, 9.0; Sporting Lass, 9.0. Waihao Hack Handicap, 6f.: Valantua, 9.5; Thermidor, 9.1; Irish Birdcatcher, 8.10; Donadea, 8.4; Lady Middleham, 8.4; Cardplayer, 8.2; The Sandwich Man, 8.1; Half and Half, 8.0; Maori Maid, 8.0. Morven Handicap,. Im.: Royal Gallant, 9.0; Moneyless. 8.12; Petersham, 8.11; Pink Robe. 8.6; Silver Sail, 8.1; Gold Boy, 7.7. Waimate Hack Handicap, 7f.: Valantua, 9.4; Thermidor, 9.0; Windward, 8.10; Countervane, 8.0; Donadea, 8.0; The Sandwich Man, 8.0; Patuma, 8.0. Winter Tibt Handicap, 3.43 class; IJm.: Coleridge, MacGregor, Parishioner, Wee Truman, scr.; Voluntary, 36; Battlevale, Myrna Loy, 48.