TURF NEWS & NOTES

Wairarapa Times-Age, 15 July 1938, Page 9

TURF NEWS & NOTES

CURRENT TOPICS FROM STABLE & COURSE Views on Racing Facts and Fancies RICCARTON HORSES FOR AUSTRALIA

(By

“The Cynic.”)

Three Riccarton trainers expect to do their spring racing in Australia. F. D. Jones will be the first 5 to start on the trip, having booked accommodation for his horses in a steamer leaving on August 4 for Sydney, probably 'with Melbourne to follow. The two certainties are Royal Chief and Cerne Abbas. They have done well since they resumed work, and on their track form they should be forward enough on their arrival to be good prospects for early engagements.

Jones has two others that may accompany this pair. The Wrecker returned from Trentham with a mixed record. On the form he showed on the first day he would be a useful prospect for minor races, but he tarnished his reputation with a poor effort in his other start. He will have a chance to redeem himself at Washdyke next week and. at the Christchurch Hunt Club’s meeting a week later. His programme will then be decided.

It is worth remembering that his half-brother, Historic, was slow in coming to hand but he developed with age into a high-class horse. Still

another of Jones’s horses, a possibility for Australia, is the yearling colt by Myosotis from Moorbird. He shapes promisingly, but as he has been nominated only for one race, the Breeders’ Plate, and is not in the Victorian events, it is more likely that he will remain at home.

Mrs J. Campbell again has Willie Win in preparation for a similar trip to that of last spring. As was the case a year ago it is probable that he will be given a race at the Grand National meeting, and will then leave for Melbourne, where all his Australian racing will be done. He has disappointed since he returned from last year's visit, but he looks well now.

He is to have a mate, in the rising three-year-old, Night Hawk. This colt has not done much racing, his form being restricted to winning a maiden event. He has a fair turn of speed but is only up to modest company. D. O’Connor is the other trainer who is booked for the trip, which will be his first to Australia, and he will have Raeburn, now a two-year-old, as his sole charge. This colt has shown a lot of speed and since he resumed work, after a spell, has done well. He will be given a race at the Grand National meeting and will leave on September 1 for Melbourne, where he has classic as well as handicap engagements. It remains to be seen if he is up to good company but in the meantime he is well forward in his preparation.

Courtyard outstayed Full o’ Scotch in the Winter Hurdles, and in the Grand National Hurdles the latter comes in on 81b better terms over an extra quarter of a mile. For his win at Trentham, Courtyard goes up 111 b, Full o’ Scotch 31b, and Aurora’s Love remains at 9.2. Erination is dropped 11b, Donegal 51b, and Charade 51b.

Erination won the Wellington Steeplechase with 10.2, and has been sent up 121 b for the Grand National Steeplechase. Santoft, second at Wellington, goes up 51b, and All Irish 31b. Clarion Call (fourth in the Wellington Steeples) is dropped 31b and others in the same field were Red Sun (down 81b), Manawatu (down 21b), Bryce Street (down 11b), Kinkle (down 51b), and Brigadore remains at 9.2. There is an extra quarter of a mile to be covered at Riccarton. Clarion Call meets All Irish on 21b better terms than when they met in the July Steeplechase, but the former has none the best of it as a defeated top-weight in being sent up 11b. Bryce Street has been dropped 31b for his defeat in the July Steeples.

The Siegfried horse Essex was a starter in the Stewards’ Handicap run on the first day at Trentham. It was his first appearance this season. Last season Essex started nine times, and won at Levin, the Queen’s Plate at Auckland with 8.0 in lmin 37 2-ssec, and the Great Northern Derby from Trench Fight, Quadroon, Cerne Abbas, and others. If Essex can resurrect his best form he would take some beating at 8.3 in the Winter Cup.

Valpeen won the Great Northern Steeplechase with 9.2, and has been lifted 181 b for the Grand National Steeplechase. Bryce Street goes up 41b and Erination 141 b. Clarion Call is dropped 91b, Jolly Beggar 51b, and Irish Comet (fourth in the Great Northern Steeplechase) 51b.

Iceland Spar is the name claimed for the Excitement—Calcite colt now in F. D. Jones’s stable. This youngster was bought at the Sydney yearling sales at Easter.

Leading jockeys at the conclusion of racing at the weekend were as follows: —L. J. Ellis 87, C. G. Goulsbro 72, B. H. Morris 56, W. Broughton 50, S. Wilson 48, R. McTavish 37, P. Atkins 37, G. Tattersall 35, J. Jennings 33, M. Caddy 30.

Queen of Song is amongst the nominations for the South Canterbury Hunt meeting. She has been off the scene since running in the Invercargill Cup in January.

The Night Raid gelding Sir Ken started favourite for a Handicap Maiden Plate run at Caulfield over eight furlongs and a-half on June 27 and finished third.

Erination won the Great Northern Hurdles with 10.5, with Jolly Beggar 12.0 a close third. In the Grand National Hurdles Erination has been raised 81b and Jolly Beggar 11b.

Nocturnus won the Grand National Steeplechase with 9.12 and the Beaufort Steeplechase with 11.1, and has been allotted 11,0 in jhe big ’chase at Riccarton this year.

A two-year-old filly attracting attention at Ellerslie is a sister to Dutch Girl, a daughter of Vaals and Miss Melva, a mare by Spalpeen!—Waimunga, by Explosion—Stepfast, by St Hippo from Stepfeldt, a sister to Stepniak.

Clarion Call 10.12 was second to Cottingham 9.1 in the Grand National Hurdles, with Brigadore 9.0 third. The unplaced lot included Jolly Beggar 11.12 and John Charles 10.2. This year Clarion Call goes up 51b. Brigadore 111 b and Jolly Beggar 31b.

Last season Santoft won the Great Western Steeplechase with 9.6 and the Wellington Steeplechase with 9.0. This year he was . second with 9.13 in the Wellington Steeplechase, and has 10.4 in the Grand National Steeplechase.

In the Greenfield Hurdles, run on the last day of the Dunedin winter meeting, Fireguard, Last Link and Corban each meet The Surgeon on 31b better terms in the Grand National Hurdles. Superex, coming in on the minimum at Riccarton, meets The Surgeon on 41b worse terms.

At Riccarton yesterday Nocturnus (E. Jennings) went off some distance in front of Jolly Beggar (G. Ridgway) commencing a schooling task over the steeplechase fences, and after jumping five fences was eased off, and Jolly Beggar cleared three more. Nocturnus gave a brilliant display, marred only by taking off too far at the first of the stand brush double, and but for cleverness in recovering he may have crashed into the second. He appears to be sound again, and it is hoped to race him at the South Canterbury Hunt fixture. The North Island horseman, F. Baker, who rode Nocturnus to victory in the Grand National Steeplechase last year, has been engaged again this year. Jolly Beggar chanced the second of the double and narrowly escaped a fall, but when the pace was increased he gave his usual clean and smart display. Although Jolly Beggar is top of the list in the Grand National Steeplechase, he cannot be considered to be overburdened with 11-3, and he is likely to be one of the early favourites.

Culverden (M. Reilly) negotiated a round of the country in a very pleasing manner, and Tomcat (E. Jennings) and Gayfire (O’Reilly) showed marked improvement in a similar task. Guilder (Reilly) was responsible for one of the fastest rounds over four hurdles covered this year. She is ia very bold jumper and will set a solid pace in the first race she contests, but in the meantime staying may, be her weak point. Maka Ahi (Jennings) and Proscenium (A. Stove) were companions over four hurdles, both jumping cleanly and at a sound pace. The former is a promising novice, but throat trouble is likely to hamper his activities.

The Sandwichman (J. Murfitt) was given some education over four hurdles, jumping each very carefully.

Defaulter made his reappearance on the Riccarton tracks during the galloping hours yesterday and was given half-pace work over a circuit. He is in remarkably solid condition and will not require much fast work td get him back to racing condition. He has been withdrawn from the Wanganui Guineas, and his first race of the new season will be in the Avondale Guineas, to be followed by the Great Northern Guineas.

Rebel Chief has rejoined the active brigade at Riccarton. He put on a good deal of weight during his holiday, but is believed to have overcome his leg trouble.

Paper Slipper was given two races at Trentham last week, but did not look to be nearly ready to race. He is in very big condition at present, and his trainers will have to hurry this Paper Money colt along to have him really ready for the Winter Cup next month.

Ab usual at the Wellington .Winter meetings winners were difficult to find, and in nine of the 24 races first favourites failed to run into a place. During the three days seven first favourites, two second, one third, four ,fourth, two fifth, three sixth, one seventh, two eighth, one ninth, and one thirteenth favourite won.

Enge, who raced consistently but unluckily at the Wellington meeting, finishing fourth in his races on Tuesday and Thursday and fifth on Saturday, was the most costly horse to backers at the fixture. In his three starts he carried £4087 10s. El Meynell, who started twice for a second and a win, carried £5323 10s in his two starts.

The Parliamentary Handicap winner, Quadroon, belongs to the same family as Nones, Menelaus, Wotan, etc.

The full-sisters, Sailing Lady and Sea Lad are back in A. McKenzie’s stable after a spell and they will be given road work before being prepared for next season’s racing.

Armacourt, who recently rejoined the track workers at Ellerslie,' has been given a couple of work-outs over a sprint distance recently and infused plenty of dash into her tasks. Although the daughter of Gainscourt has only been up a short time she looks remarkably well, and it will not be long before she is ready to race. A proved galloper in heavy going, Armacourt should win her share of stakemoney during the next few months.

The rising three-year-old Rey Ell is being ridden around the roads at Papatoetoe by his owner and is reported to be wintering well. In his only start —in the first division of the Trial Stakes at Whangarei this novice drew attention to his future prospects by finishing close up behind the placed horses. As Rey Lu has plenty of size

he is likely to develop into a useful sort when he has had the necessary experience. Electric Spear has been taken up again by J. D. Kemp and is in tip-top order to begin a further preparation. This four-year-old is built on solid lines, and although he has done little racing he has shown sufficient speed to warrant his owner keeping him going. Electric Spear is a half-broth-er to Dark Prince, winner of several steeplechase events a few seasons ago. If tried as a jumpex- later on, this novice should do well in that department, for he is the ideal type.