TURF NEWS & NOTES

Wairarapa Times-Age, 3 August 1938, Page 9

TURF NEWS & NOTES

CURRENT TOPICS FROM STABLE & COURSE

Views on Racing Facts and Fancies

SIDELIGHTS ON CHRISTCHURCH HUNT

(By

“The Cynic.”)

The racing season was brought to a successful conclusion last Saturday with meetings at Gisborne, Taranaki, Manawatu and Christchurch. The latter meeting afforded the opportunity of a final try-out for candidates engaged in the major events at the Grand National Meeting to be held at Riccarton next week, and the form displayed by a number of well fancied competitors was most encouraging. The Christchurch Hunt Club’s annual steeplechase meeting on Saturday was followed with interest by racegoers throughout as it provided excellent dress rehearsals for the three principal events at the Grand National Steeplechase meeting opening next week. The running of the minor events will also prove useful for later calculations. The withdrawal of Flashlight, Black Banner, and Brigadore from the Homeby Steeplechase caused some disappointment. Flashlight was not considered fully recovered from his recent muscle soreness, but is expected to be on hand next week to contest the Enfield Steeplechase on the first day in preference to the big event. Black Banner was lame on Friday, and it was not deemed advisable to start him on Saturday. Brigadore is all right, but it was thought the going was too soft for him. Clarion Call showed that his schooling on Thursday was only a temporary lapse, as he did not put a foot wrong in Saturday’s two miles and a half journey. When he crossed the last fence it looked as if Bryce Street would trouble him in the run home, but Clarion Call did not show any signs of conceding ground, and -appeared to finish with something in hand. There is, of course, a big difference between the Homeby and National ordeals, and although Clarion Call indicated on Saturday that the Riccarton fences are not beyond him, that extra mile may trouble him. Bryce Street was given every chance to settle down over the first mile, and a couple of faulty jumps did not improve his rear position, but in the last mile he made up a lot of leeway, and jumped the concluding fences in bold style. He, however, had been asked to give Clarion Call too big a lead. Bryce Street is sure to improve by the race, and will be entitled to strong support in the National. Valpeen was totally different from what he was 12 months ago in the same race. On that occasion he gave a very poor display, and was returned home immediately after the fixture. On Saturday he gave a dashing exhibition of fencing, without the semblance of a mistake, but the task of chasing the speedier Clarion Call found him weakening two furlongs from home. There is not doubt that Valpeen has not lost any of his ability, and he will be carrying on in the National when many other horses are feeling the pinch. He will be meeting Clarion Call on 31b worse terms than was the case on Saturday, but, .taking his past performances over Riccarton into consideration, he should turn the tables on the Wanganui-owned horse next week. Nocturnus also gave a clean display, but a better effort should have come from him if he is to repeat his last year’s success in the big race. He has solid weight to carry, and it would appear as if he will not be produced in the same hardened condition as he was in 12 months ago. He has been a very unlucky horse, and as late as last week cut a quarter when galloping, and this opened up again on Friday. This next week may work a big improvement in him, but in the meantime he will not be in keen demand. Dunmurq ran quite a creditable race, but is hardly up to Grand National class, and his chance would look better in the Enfield Steeplechase on the first- day. Bonnie Rollox made a pleasing showing for a good portion of Saturday’s journey, but as he returned with a bowed tendon, his place at the finish was easy to understand. He can now be counted out for the forthcoming meeting, and it is doubtful whether he will be further perservered with. High Speed has stood up to his preparation to date, but his races have suggested that he has lost the form which enabled him to gain third money in the National of 1936. Wine card ran a good race for about six furlongs, but with 8-9 she has been too highly rated in the cup. Of the remainder who raced on Saturday, Waitaka, Swordstick, Riptide, Roy Bun, Cocksure, Petersham and Potent did not perform up to cup standard. Cocksure was expected to make a bold showing, but this good galloper must have firm ground, and this he might enjoy this week. Wagner, who won the mile hack event on Saturday, is in the cup on the minimum, and the solid way in which he completed his task gives him a light-weight’s chance. The Brabazon Handicap invariably throws some light on the Winter Cup problem, but on this occasion a change in track conditions may complicate the position. Nevertheless, it is difficult to go past Alma, Great Hope, and Ponty as a trio likely to take prominent parts in the decision of the cup. The Longbeach Hurdles served to introduce to southern racegoers a smart exponent of the game in Kilberis, who claims Kilbroney as his sire. He failed at Trentham, and when he arrived at

Riccarton he showed outward signs of the trip, and it was only in the last few days that he appeared to have built up again. Even when parade’d on Saturday he did not bear a very robust appearance, but he is built that way, and his effort in the race indicated that there was nothing lacking in his makeup. Whether he is likely to see out a National journey is, however, debatable, but he is sure to be in the picture for a great part of the distance.

Courtyard was never going like a winner, but as his chance lies in his ability to master an extreme journey, his poor showing need not condemn him as a National possibility.

With horses of the calibre of Erination, Santoft, Irish Comet, Forest Glow, and Brigadore still in the National, the result of the Homeby Steeplechase may not have had an important bearing on the outcome of the big event, but of those seen out, Valpeen and Bryce Street made most appeal as stayers.

The Brabazon Handicap provided a most interesting race, but the form of several well-fancied Winter Cup candidates was somewhat disappointing, and no doubt the soft nature of the track could be advanced as a sound reason.

Alma has been one of the favourite division for the cup since the weights appeared, and her win on Saturday will now no doubt make her a lone first choice. She not only won decisively, but was going away over the last half furlong, and a similar effort in the cup would make the task of covering the extra ground appear to be easy for her. She was not ridden by her usual rider—her trainer, A. E. Didham —Didham having another horse, Araboa, in the race. As the pair will probably be in the cup, the same arrangements will be followed out, A. E. Ellis again riding her.

Rockingham, who ran ■ prominently in the Camla Hack Handicap at Riccarton on Saturday, won the Maiden Stakes at the Hunt meeting 12 months ago, and a bright future was predicted for him, but his record during the season has been one of consistent failure, although he has been three times. in second place. By Tidal from Crown Gem, he is one of the biggest geldings in commission, and may do better in the new season as a four-year-old.

The Ki-lbroriey gelding Kilberis outstayed Silver Sight in the Longbeach Hurdles and shaped as if extra distance would not trouble him. Kilberis won the Campbell Hurdles run over two miles at the Auckland winter meeting, and was third to Lady England (10.0) and Inness Lad (10.8) in the Orakau Hurdles when carrying 10.11. He was unplaced in the Trentham Hurdles and also in a high-weight handicap. Llanberis, the dam of Kilberis, was got by Marble Arch from Recoup, by Hierarch —Agatha, by Nelson.

Great Hope went south with a big reputation, and after his good race into second place to Alma, he will add to his cup following.. A feature, of his effort was his strong finishing run, which enabled him to overhaul the speedy Hunting Blood, but did not give him much chance of getting to Alma, He has only lib above the minimum in the cup, and must be considered a light-weight possibility.

Hunting Blood can be regarded as one of the fastest horses seen at Riccarton for some time, but has not the stamina for a Winter Cup ordeal. He is in the Paparua Handicap, six furlongs, on the first day, and. if that race be selected for him he will have a large following. Ponty was not in very much demand, but his race would serve to gain him admirers for the cup. Ponty has often failed when asked to carry big weights, but when he is in his right form, as he is at present, he is a very hard horse to keep down. He came from well back to gain fourth place on Saturday, and with a stronger horseman in the cup, he can be expected to be one of the likely brigade. His third placing to Wino two years ago, when he was considered unlucky not to have won, will not be overlooked. He carried 8.9 on that occasion, and will have 9.5 this year. Paper Slipper once more failed to race up to his track essays. He has been the best stake-earner for Sir Charles Clifford during the season just closed, but in recent months has not done well in public, notwithstanding that he has mostly struck tracks to his liking. Sovereign Lady and Araboa both lost their chances by slowness in moving off, and no line was forthcoming as to their later prospects. The latter’s form in the south has been very consistent, and although he was not sighted on Saturday, it would not be wise to disregard him. Dictate’s work before the meeting suggested he would take part in the finish of the Brabazon, but he had a poor run during the middle stages, and returned showing loss of some skin, he having been galloped on. Dictate looked a little above himself when paraded, and probably the race would effect a marked improvement in him. Dictate won the Brabazon 12 months ago, and then filled second place to Catalogue in the Winter Cup.