TURF NEWS & NOTES

Wairarapa Times-Age, 27 July 1938, Page 9

TURF NEWS & NOTES

CURRENT TOPICS FROM STABLE & COURSE Views on Racing Facts and Fancies SLIPPERY ON 2THE RETIRED LIST

(By

“The Cynic.”)

After seven seasons on the turf, Slippery has now retired, according to reports from Hastings, but as he has just concluded his best year, it cannot be said that he has lagged superfluous on the scene. He has had 170 races for 38 wins, 24'seconds, and 22 thirds, and of his total earnings, £2557 10s, the sum of £lOO5 was won this season. Slippery has always been more or less unsound and his temporary retirements have been numerous.

As a two-year-old, Slippery was placed once in five starts and in the following term he gained 12 firsts in 29 starts, being only nine times unplaced and bringing his total to £721 10s. At four years, he faced the starter 34 times for eight wins; at five years

he gained as many wins; at six years, six wins, and at eight years, seven wins. As a seven-year-old he ran four times unplaced, this being the only season in which he failed to earn some money.

Slippery, who was bred by Mrs A. R. Hutchinson, is owned and trained by Mr G. McCormick, Hastings, but formerly he was in the stable of W. Young. He is a brother to Royal Routine and Royal Hunting. A half-sister, Princess Elizabeth, produced a now rising three-year-old filly to Hunting Song who has been given the name Future Queen. The filly is therefore a three-quarter sister to Slippery and the others. Their dam, Royal Moment, was by Merry Moment from Royal Mary, by Royal Fusilier from Sanguine, by Apremont. Sanguine also produced Sanguipary, dam of Royal Blood and numerous others of less note.

Play On, second to Winsome Lu on Saturday, is a three-year-old colt by Philamor from Maid of the West. He was owned by Mr A. D. Potter, who some months ago disposed of him to Mr M. Millar, and he is now in A. E. Neale’s stable. He first attracted attention this season when he ran third to Surella and Torch in the Wynyard Plate, at Takapuna in January, following this up by a win on the second day of the_ meeting, defeating Ivy Willonyx and Jack Tar in the Hauraki Plate.

Play On is expected to prove a horse of more than average ability and has not been hurried in his preparation. He is a big horse that will take time to mature, and the fact that his connections considered he was not far enough advanced to tackle the Winter Cup was the only reason why he was allowed to forfeit his engagament. This season he has been lightly raced, and up till last Saturday, has started on nine occasions for one win, two seconds and one third. He is one that will be worth following.

Mahala figures as an acceptor for both the steeplechase and the hurdle events at Gisborne this week. She is to contest the steeplechase each day, and in her schooling she has shown ability over the fences, and as she sticks on well may prove a greater success in this department than at hurdling.

Te Aroha reports indicate that Galloping Acre has furnished in splendid fashion, and that he will need to be watched closely in coming engagements. When this hack won in the late autumn it looked as if he was going to be really good, but like so many others he did not act up to this promise. However, he has not done a great deal of facing, and is likely to show the benefit of his recent respite when next produced.

Fleetwind continues to do good track work at Ellerslie and she will be a very fit horse by the time the Pakuranga meeting comes round. This will be her next outing, and another month of fast work should see her with a big pull over most of the other hacks engaged for condition is what counts most at this meeting.

Judged on his showing on the final day at Ellerslie, when he dropped his jockey at the water jump and was immediately remounted to finish fourth in the Winter Steeplechase, it looked asf if Irish Comet would have won that race but for that one mistake. At Riccarton, which will be his next start, he meets Valpeen at half-a-stone better and Erination at an advantage of 111 b. on the declared handicaps for the Winter Steeples in which the last named did not run. On these assessments Irish Comet is suggested as likely to be the pick of the Auckland string for Riccarton.

Reports from Te Aroha indicate that Mazir is sound again and he may be expected to put in an appearance at the Pakuranga Hunt meeting at Ellerslie next month. When right he is a good galloper and there is no doubt the best has yet to be seen of this older half-brother to Stretto and if he keeps sound he will win a couple of rich handicaps this coming seasot.

El Caballo, who created a big impression by his good race under difficulties in the Pareora Steeplechase at Washdyke on Saturday, is one of the sturdy Balboa breed. He is a bold jumper, but is still inclined to display greenness. With some racing under professional guidance, however, he should soon make good. He is to be seen out again at Riccarton on Saturday.

For future guidance El Caballo can be regarded as unlucky to miss a win in the Pareora Steeplechase.

Nightbound was always on the premises in the South Canterbury Steeplechase, and looks sure to add to his success.

Nocturnus, Bonnie Rollox and Dunmure are likely to be improved by their racing at the South Canterbury Hunt Club meeting.

The defection of Jolly Beggar from the Grand National Steeplechase when acceptances were taken on Friday was a surprise to the majority of racegoers, who were inclined to fancy his chances in the big race. His trainer, F. Christmas, stated that the owners of

the horse had practically decided when the weights appeared that he had been harshly treated, and although he was given schooling, he was never considered by his connexions to be a certain starter.

Apart from his big weight, Jolly Beggar has not had the opportunity to become seasoned enough to master an extreme journey over formidable country. He is now to be given the same programme as last year. He will compete in the Jumpers’ Flat Handicap, which he then won, and contest the Grand National Hurdle trace on the second day. On a firm track he must be given bright prospects in the latter event, and it was thought that a race in the Steeplechase under unfavourable conditions might jeopardise his chance. Jolly Beggar is not to be schooled over country again before the meeting, and will not be started in the Homeby Steeplechase on Saturday. G. Ridgway, who was engaged to ride him in his steeplechase engagements, will now probably have the mount on Bonnie Rollox, which he rode at Washdyke on Saturday. .

The fact that All Irish dropped out of the Grand National Steeplechase suggests an admission that the journey is too far for him. He has been nominated in /the Enfield Steeplechase, and his presence in the field means that it will not be a slow-run race.

Backers at the South Canterbury Hunt meeting were left with a good hard luck story at the end of the day, as favourite after favourite went down and only one in Valantua scored. Valantua’s win came in the last race, when backers, as a result of a a run of disastrous picking, had weakened in faith with the result that the Valkyrian gelding paid a rather better dividend than generally anticipated. The hard luck was really hard luck, as some of the favourites would have required very little in their favour to have turned up winners instead of suffering defeat.

McHeath paid over a quarter of a century when he won the Hadlow Hurdles, and if he raced in a similar manner he would win more important engagements. He won very comfortably at the finish, but does not race consistently.

A pleasing feature of Saturday’s South Canterbury steeplechase was the satisfactory showing made by , Bonnie Rollox, who was having his first race over country in the South Island. He maintained an even pace throughout without ever threatening danger, and got through the ordeal without showing any ill-effects. This good jumper has been practically considered a hopeless case on more than one occasion since coming from Australia, and only recently it was not thought possible to get him fit enough to race, but by patient and persistent treatment, his young trainer, A. J. Martin, has had the satisfaction of at least exacting a race from him with the prospects of the gelding carrying on under silk.

Nocturnus also got through his race without trouble; and was apparently quite sound when taken from the course. His effort was no doubt somewhat disappointing, as he had done a fair amount of solid work, but with just on 12.0 on his back, and galloping in deep ground, he had to be credited with a satisfactory display from a Grand National Steeplechase standpoint. He will take his place in the Homeby Steeplechase on Saturday when his Grand National rider, F. Baker, will be on hand to ride him, and a better ’line as to his later prospects will be obtained from this outing.

The success of Nightbound in the South Canterbury Steeplechase on Saturday was not expected by the general racegoer, but it was none the less popular, as his owner, Mr H. Elworthy, of South Canterbury, has always had a horse or two in training, especially jumpers, one of these being Rasouli, who, but for his death at Te Rapa over 12 months ago, would have reached the highest plane in the steeplechase arena. Nightbound’s trainer, D. O’Connor, has not had a win for some months although narrowly missing some high honours with Arctic Star this winter while the rider, J. Murfitt, is one of the most willing and consistent riders in schooling tasks at Riccarton, and any successes which have come his way have been richly deserved.

A juvenile parade was held during the programme at Washdyke on Saturday, the rising two-year-olds including Aranui by Colossus from Cupid’s Mark, who will probably be taken to Australia by his owner, P. Hogan. Two Gustavo youngsters from Call Bird and Turbine respectively, in the same stable, attracted much attention, and there is no doubt about the quality of this young sire’s stock to date.

One of the world’s most remarkable jockeys would appear to be Sam Heapy, who rode his 3,000 th winner last November. That fact did not cause Heapy to retire as a jockey. Last May he won the Belgian Derby on Baron Brugmann’s Poli Ange, whom he also trained. Heapy, who is a nephew of the successful old-time English jockeys, the brothers Loates, rode in England in 1899. He is 56 years of age, and has been Baron Brugmann’s private trainer for .25 years.