TURF NEWS & NOTES

Wairarapa Times-Age, 23 July 1938, Page 9

TURF NEWS & NOTES

CURRENT TOPICS FROM STABLE & COURSE Views on Racing Facts and Fancies A VERSATILE RACING MARE

(By

“The Cynic.”)

H. Nurse has put Polydora out of work, and though she is an inmate of his stable yet she will not be persevered with further for racing. She showed signs of lameness for some time after her work and eventually it was decided to retire her. The intention is that she will take up stud life jn the spring. She was a versatile performer, with some good form on the flat, and also a winner as a hurdler and steeplechaser. Polydora, now approaching ten years, was bred by Mr G. Hall, in whose colours she did most of her racing, though for a year, while he was on h trip to England, she was raced on lease by Messrs H. A. Rhind and N. Rutherford. She is by Polazel from Sweet Smile, a Stonyhurstbred mare by San Francisco from Winning Way, the dam of Winning Hit, and is a half-sister to Sweet Beauty, the dam of Cottingham, last year’s winner of the Grand National Hurdles. During her career, Polydora took part in 85 races, winning 15, while she was second in 16 and third in 9, her total earnings in stakes being £2157. She commenced racing as a four-year-old and that was her most profitable season, seven wins and seven seconds producing £638. Her first two wins were gained on the West Coast, and she wound up with four on end, the final being the Brabazon Handicap at the Christchurch Hunt Club’s meeting. As a result, she was a strong favourite for the Winter Cup, in which Mount Boa beat her by a head, paying a big dividend. After winning the Kurow Cup, followed by the chief event on the second day of the Dunedin spring meeting, she had to be retired for the remainder of the season. At six years she was busy, as she had 23 starts. Her first win came early, but she did not have another till the Waimate Hunt meeting, where she had her first hurdle success. The following season opened with third in the Longbeach Hurdles, at the Christchurch Hunt meeting, and after missing in the Grand National, she won the Sydenham Hurdles. Later in. the season she won on the flat and then over brush hurdles. Last season she was out 25 times, but though she was in a place nine times (including third in the New Zealand Cup), she had only one win. That was in a steeplechase at Oamaru, while she was placed twice in similar events. She had to be spelled without a race at the Grand National meeting, coming back a couple of months ago, but since then she has been more or less unsound. Though not a good beginner, she had a fine turn of speed when fairly going, and she could stay, but her form was at times inconsistent. At her best, however, she was hard to dispose of. The young Te Rapa mentor, R. Cotter, has two recent additions to his team in Car Leaf (Mint Leaf —Campfire mare) and a rising three-year-old by Valette, both of whom will carry the. colours of the Taranaki sportsman, Mr Healey. A further addition is a rising two-year-old by Surveyor. Bachelor King, who for the past I few months has been spelling in Dargaville, has returned to Takanini. The Lapidary gelding was formerly trained by E. Pope, who won several races with him, including the Musket Stakes as a two-year-old and two sprint events last spring. His form fell away, however, after a bad fall in the Railway Handicap, but it is expected that the spell he has had will have a very beneficial effect, and that he will again prove capable of reproducing his best form when fit. Bachelor King will on this occasion be prepared by A. Tinker. After emerging from the hack ranks in the autumn, Glen Abb was about to be tried in open company when he went amiss and had to be spelled. He recently rejoined R. S. Bagby’s stable and appears to be quite sound again. Another attempt is being made to train King Musk. This horse met with severe injuries when he slipped and fell before the Great Northern meeting. He is working soundly enough at present. Allmetic, who was purchased by a patron of R. Martin’s stable at the Trentham sale, is in steady work at Matamata and may be given a chance to return his purchase money early in the new season. Although he has not grown a great deal, Fidelis appears to have thickened a little and he is in nice condition to carry on his preparation for three-year-old racing. .Although he won at Ellerslie, Fidelis did not show good form, but as a brother to Catalogue, he may be regarded hopefully in the future. Maori Maid, easy winner of the Novice Stakes at Waimate last Saturday, was having only her second start

in the Dominion, but she was by no means inexperienced, as she had done a fair amount of racing on Sydney suburban courses. In four outings last season in Sydney she dead-heated for a win and ran two thirds, and early this season, prior to returning, she had two starts for a second. She was eligible at Waimate because her win had not been worth more than £5O. Maori Maid is a three-year-old brown filly by Roydon from Bohebee, an unraced mare by Marco Bello (a son of Varco) from a' mare by Glenculloch from Alfreda. Boherbee was secured for the stud by the Hon G. R. Hunter, who sent Maori Maid over to Sydney last year, where the filly was leased for a time to R. W. King. Mr Hunter is now racing the filly again himself.

Imogen, who beat all but Patches at Hastings, showed brilliance. She was to all intents and purposes a green horse, as her efforts earlier in the season were not serious tests, and she looks as if she should win races, as she undoubtedly is smart. Imogen is, however, a little on the small side.

The success of Shining Hours at Trentham would be pleasing not only to her owner, but also to the Auckland sportsman, Mr Max Steinberg for the reason that he purchased a yearling half-sister to Shining Hours at the last National Sales.

The youngster is one of the first of Bulandshar’s stock and is from Sunny Hours.

This mare, has already given the turf such winners as Sergia, Karl and Shining Hours so Mr Steinberg has reason to view the future of his filly hopefully. Konneta, as she is known, is being trained at Ellerslie by R. S. Bagby.

According to a Wanganui report, W. H. Dwyer is giving Gaily a wellearned spell. She looked none the worse for her efforts at Trentham, but 'will benefit by a respite. She ran some sterling races during the autumn and is likely to do even better next season.

Beaupartir, whose only race this season resulted in a second to Ivar at Napier Park in the spring, has resumed his preparation for the new season under Mrs A. W. McDonald at Awapuni. This son of Beau Pere and April Fool has developed into an attractive colt, and, like most of his sire’s first crop, is a smooth-actioned galloper. He is not to be raced until his owner, Mr T. H. Lowry, returns from England.

Bluffer won attractively jn the novice class at Trentham, and has done well since returning to Awapuni. This filly ran some encouraging races in the spring and gave promise of staying on, but was not quite solid enough. It should not be hard to place her to win again.

Patuma, who has been a disappointment to date, is being tried as a hurdler. He is a three-year-old by Cockpit from Pakitere and is trained by A. S. Ellis.

Master Hotspur seems to be just that shade better than any two-year-old with which he has galloped, that is necessary to indicate he may be the best juvenile in work at present at Riccarton. The Ringmaster colt has greatly, pleased his trainer T. H. Gillet and Mr E. Hay’s colours are likely to figure prominently in the decision of early two-year-old events.

Nelumbo showed speed against the hack sprinters at Trentham, and took on the open sprint at Hastings. She was well beaten by First Chapter, but she beat everything else just as early. J. M. Cameron has had no luck lately, and a win for his colours would be most popular.

Amigo, who is expected to take a leading part in three-year-old races this season, is doing well in his training at Wanganui. His first engagement of importance will be the Wanganui Guineas. He has been sprinting satisfactorily, and is giving indications that he will be forward enough to run a good mile by the beginning of September. * Amigo is a Beau Pere colt, and is a good stamp of horse. His owner, Mr L. G. Paul, of Wanganui, was offered a big price for him last season, but declined to sell. Hagen, Mr J. McCartin’s half-broth-er by Siegfried to Hest and Shu, had a race in the maiden event at Hastings on Saturday. He was never prominent, but he is not nearly ready. Hagen is a big, powerfully-built colt who might take time. His name, by the way, is not that of the American professional golfer, but is taken from Wagner’s opera, in which Siegfried is one of the principals, and it is pronounced with the “a” sounded as “ah.”