TURF NEWS & NOTES

Wairarapa Times-Age, 19 July 1938, Page 9

TURF NEWS & NOTES

CURRENT TOPICS FROM STABLE & COURSE

Views on Racing Facts and Fancies

WINTER CUP CANDIDATES.

(By

“The Cynic.”)

Some of the Winter Cup horses raced at the Westport meeting at Riccarton, and while making allowances for the fact that some of them were not forward enough to give of their best, few were impressive. Swordstick (second), Last Refrain (third), Mungatoon (fourth), and Silver Ring (sixth) raced in the Westport Handicap, and of these Swordstick should have the best prospects in the Riccarton mile. On track form he is brilliant enough to win, and recent form suggests that he is beginning to race solidly. Silver Ring is well on the down grade, while Mungatoon is hardly brilliant enough to win a race of this type, especially as he has been trained for middle distance races.

Last Refrain is a solid type of horse]' but may also be troubled to get a decent position early.'

Wine Card (second), Land Raid (third), Waitaka (fifth), and Grey Honour (sixth) were seen out in the Morley Handicap. Of this division Wine Card shaped by far the best, though Waitaka’s effort was promising. Wine Card is always liable to bob up, and though a small mare she handles weight well. In her best form she must be respected.

Land Raid was not impressive in his third placing, but as he had only previously had one race since Christmas, the outing should bring him on a lot.

Waitaka, after racing over the middle distance for some time, has only recently been trained again for sprint races, and it was hot until a few days before the meeting that he showed any dash in track work. His effort was a useful one, but it is doubtful if he possesses the qualifications to win a race of this description. Grey Honour has yet to prove himself over a mile, and so far six furlongs has been his best distance. He will need to improve considerably in stamina to win and should be better suited in sprints. ' Mob Rule, a smart track galloper, failed to show up in the mile Scanlon Hack Handicap. She has never shown any race form to suggest that she will succeed in such a hard task, and her

stablemate, Paper Slipper, looks a much better prospect. On the form shown it does not look as if the winner was seen in action, but Wine Card and Swordstick can be numbered among the prospects.

An addition to J. M. Buchanan’s stable is a rising two-year-old colt by Vaals from Marion Acre, an unraced mare by Acre from Archeno. Owhed by Mr F. J. Punch, this colt, who is in, the breaking-in stage at present, is a well-grown, hardy-looking sort.

Messrs E. L. Baillieu, A. W. Thompson and “Constable,” the joint owners of Ajax, at the last Sydney yearling sales paid 1700gns for the colt by Heroic from White Swan. Like Ajax, he will be trained at Caulfield by F. Musgrave. His owners have turned to the classics for a name for the colt, and he is to bear the name Atlas.

Three rising two-year-olds from Mrs A. W. McDonald’s stable have left for Australia. They are the Foxbridge—Eager Rose colt purchased by Mr W. Longworth at the January sales for 525gn5., the Night Raid—Coronilla filly bought by Mr E. J. Watt for 325gn5., and the Limond —Miss Thespian colt for whom Sir James Murdoch, Sydney, paid 700gns.

Skerryvore, second in the Hawke’s Bay Hunt Cup Steeples on Saturday, is a four-year-old gelding by Cockpit from Sinella, who is a half-sister by Cynic to Kohu, both winners of the Great Northern Hurdles. Trained at Gisborne, Skerryvore has raced only on four occasions and, by a 12 lengths’ victory in the Hawke’s Bay Steeplechase last month, showed himself a most promising young ’chaser.

It is seldom that the colours of an Australian owner are carried in New Zealand. Crack o’ Dawn provided this unusual spectacle at Riccarton on Saturday, when she ran in the interests of Dr Nigel Smith, Sydney. She is a two-year-old daughter of Night Raid from Rawene, and after her purchase as a yearling was sent to the Elderslie Stud, where she was broken in. She is to be sent to. Sydney in due course, but may race again in the Dominion,

Wild Irishman is one of the bestconditioned horses in W. E. Hazlett’s team, and he has improved a lot since last raced. The Gustavo three-year-old has settled down in his work and is now one of the most sober workers at- headquarters. The little racing he has had has improved him in many ways, while he has also furnished a good deal. It has definitely been decided to take Wild Irishman and Surge to the Grand National meeting, while Burwood and El Caballo may also make the trip. His trainer stated yesterday morning that Burwood, who had had a hard 'season’s racing, may not be asked to race again this term, but as yet he was undecided. El Caballo sustained a. knee injury at a recent hunt meeting, but it is not considered serious. Surge has come on well, and has seldom looked in better order.

R. E. McLellan has Paladino and Milford back in work again, the pair having been out for close on three months. During their absence from the tracks both- have put on a good deal of condition, and their tasks will be restricted in the meantime. Paladino has built up particularly well, and it is a long time since he carried as much condition as at present. Doubleack, a rising three-yeft-old brother to Waitoru and half-brother to Trebleack, is also a recent addition to the stable.

Great Baby, who showed a lot of pace in the spring of the year by running second to Ortyx in the John Grigg Staked and second to Compensation in the McLean Stakes, is again in work. Great Baby is a chestnut filly by the grey Hoylake from Royal Baby, by Chief Ruler —Baby Doll, by Bobadil—Sessa, by Wallace —Campania, by Robinson Crusoe —Campanilla, by Maribyrnong from Silver Bell, a sister to Chester.

The Masquerader, winner of the Great Easter Handicap in 1934, and who has been allotted 8.0 in this year’s Winter Cup, will not be a starter. He has failed to stand up to the preparation necessary, and has been turned out.

Alma has now visited Trentham twice without winning any money. Her races have extended to a mile, and each time she has shown up for six furlongs, only to fade out in the straight.

D. O’Connor has made arrangements to take the rising three-year-old Raeburn, by Colosstis from Shuffler, across to Melbourne, where he has both classic and handicap engagements. Out of 11 starts this season Raeburn won once, the Lyttelton Plate, five furlongs, at Riccarton last February, and was twice placed third. O’Connor will give Raeburn a race at the National meeting, and leave on September 1.

Though his name is missing from the Winter Cup nominations Arctic King will be a visitor to the-National meeting, having been engaged in the longer distance races on the second and third days. It is. reported that his connections allowed him to run unbacked when he won the Whyte Handicap last week, but were in on him on the Parliamentary Handicap, in which he finished second to Quadroon.

The brown filly by Brazen, purchased by Mr F. C. Christie, of Hyde, at the bloodstock sale at Trentham last week, is now attached to C. Emerson’s stable, which also shelters Nightcalm in the same ownership. She is from Irolene, by Linacre from Egale, a sister to Lager, the dam of the A.J.C. Metropolitan winner Regal Son. The filly appears to favour her maternal line more than Brazen, and it is a family that has produced many excellent fillies, the latest being Hamurah, winner of the richest sprint race in Australia, the Doomben Newmarket, of £3150. The Brazen youngster was the biggest of all the yearlings submitted last week. Another filly by Constant Son purchased by Mr H. E. Martin, of Christchurch, for a patron of A. J. Martin’s stable at Riccarton, made the highest price, 400 guineas, amongst the females. She is from Lady Cynosure by Comedy King, and is a half-sister to a good winner in Wykeham. She has an attractive pedigree, descending from a sister to Polymelus, and the next dam is the famous Maid Marian, a half-sister to Memoir and La Fleche.

It has been computed that the two-year-old stock of Beau Pere have won £BlBO in Australia and New Zealand. Bonheur de Pere won £1291 in Australia, and Beau Verre, The Squire, Belle Modele, Hilton, Snow Queen, and Beau Frere won £984 between them. In New Zealand the principal winners were:—Peerless £llB5, Amigo £1175, Arvakur £790, Gay Son £7OO, Ivar £6BO, and Taurangi £6OO. Kathbella £340, Sudan £2BO, Cherry Plum £9O, and Red Shoes £65 completed the list raced in the Dominion.

Silver Ring must hold a record for the long time he has been kept at the top of handicaps, and a big race in the South Island would now look out of place without his name heading the list. Although his only win for a long time past has been at Reefton, there is probably every justification for the weight adjusters looking after him in case he should make.a sudden comeback; but his form since his Reefton success has not suggested that he is likely to spring any surprises. Whirling is highly assessed by virtue of his good North Island form, and he will be an interesting candidate should he make the trip south. Last year’s winner, Catalogue, carrying 8.13, has not been in winning form for some weeks, but must be kept in mind again with 9-10. Paper Slipper has raced too badly of late to be seriously considered at this stage, but with 9.5 he has been given every chance.