TURF NEWS & NOTES

Wairarapa Times-Age, 5 August 1938, Page 9

TURF NEWS & NOTES

CURRENT TOPICS FROM STABLE & COURSE

Views on Racing Facts and Fancies

ANALYSIS OF WINTER CUP FIELD

(By

“The Cynic.”)

Ponty now meets Alma on 81b. worse terms in the Winter Cup than when he finished fourth to her in the Brabazon Handicap. Good Hope, who ran second, comes in on 11b., and Hunting Blood also on 11b. worse terms. Alma has a rise of 31b. and of the others that finished behind her at the Hunt Club meeting Paper Slipper goes up 31b. Sovereign Lady 61b., Araboa 41b., Dictate 41b., Wine Card 51b„ Swordstick 61b., Riptide 61b., Roy Bun 61b., Cocksure 61b„ Petersham 51b., and Waitaka 51b. So that on paper Alma looks sure again to' beat all those who followed her home in the Brabazon Handicap, providing the extra furlong does not trouble her. There will be some fresh blood on the scene, and Catalogue, who is top-weight with 9.10, was beaten a length by her 'last year in the August Handicap, when he gave 141 b. Now there is 81b. between them. Peter Beckford is rated on a par with Alma, but seems a bit flattered as his form this season does not read so well as that of Alma and he may be more at home over a shorter course. Sovereign Lady got a bad run on Saturday last and is not quick enough off the mark for such a big field. She may, however, be very handy if favoured with a good run. Araboa has outstayed Alma over seven furlongs, although she is speedier than the Balboa gelding. Dictate was galloped on in the race for the Brabazon Handicap and the balance of the field can be left until the result of the final payments. / . An Interesting Point.

Padishah was not handicapped for the Jumpers’ Flat Race on the first day of the Grand National steeplechase meeting, as he was not considered eligible. The race is for horses that have completed three steeplechases or hurdles races at the time of starting. Padishah completed two hurdles races three years ago, and it was hoped that the Longbeach Hurdles on Saturday would qualify him for next week’s

race. Padishah, however, did not complete the course, and was evidently taken out of the handicapper’s list. An interesting point here crops up. Padishah is in the Trial Hurdles, two races before the Jumpers’ Flat, and if he completes the course in that he is entitled to run in the Jumpers’ Flat. It is not likely that this unwise step would be taken, but this phase does not come into the question. Padishah was certainly not eligible to run when the handicaps were made, but in the meantime he was eligible to be handicapped, and could not be considered ineligible to start until it was known whether he would contest the Trial Hurdles and complete the course. Ned Cuttie Fit. Ned Cuttie, who is -engaged in the Paparua Handicap at Riccarton on Tuesday, was beaten at New Plymouth on Saturday, but he ran a good race and might have won but that he lost a lot of valuable ground on the home turn, where he ran out very wide. When he straightened up he came home very strongly, but had no chance of catching Orac, who had secured a commanding lead. However, he beat all the rest. Ned Cuttie stripped well, and should be thoroughly fit if taken to Riccarton. A statement has been published that he might be taken south for the last day’s racing only, but that seems unlikely, and one may be justified in assuming that if an old hand like R. Johnson takes a horse on such a long journey he will not limit to the minimum the horse’s opportunity to pay expenses. Tidewaiter Impressive. The Avonhead Handicap candidate Tidewaiter ran at New Plymouth, and made a one-horse race of the event he contested, the Hack Cup, run over a mile, and a quarter. Tidewaiter djd not beat a strong field, and he carried only 31b. above the minimum. The hurdler Iddo was second, and Chat, who conceded, Tidewaiter 191 b„ was

third. Nevertheless, Tidewaiter'won impressively, and was going right away in the straight, nearly half a dozen lengths clear of the next best. He galloped splendidly in the soft going, so should not be at a disadvantage if the ground Is heavy at Riccarton. Clarion Call’s Claims. Clarion Call’s mastery of the Riccarton country on Saturday will claim him a firm following in the National next week and he is entitled, after his polished jumping display of Saturday, to every consideration. However, will he be as correspondingly good over an extra mile with faster opposition to keep him up to it in the early stages? That remains to be seen, yet with splendid fitness on his side and ability to handle the Riccarton country he will have a host of friends on the day. Professional. The success of Professional in the Gisborne Hurdles on Saturday marked his first over the obstacles. As he possesses speed above the average hurdler Professional should add to his account in this department when the class it not too select. Catalogue. In the summing up of Catalogue’s Winter Cup prospects for next week one would be well advised to tgke into consideration his form at Awapuni on Saturday. He appeared rather unlucky not to win the Open Handicap, as, after drifting to the rear at the home turn, he came on in solid style in the straight to get within half-a-length of Pukeko.

Rare Success. Since 1876 only two Dunedin owners have won the Grand National Steeplechase. In 1882 Mr D. Christie, of Green Island, won with Katerfelto, who was ridden by W. Clifford, the crack flat race rider of his day. In 1919 Mr R. Acton-Adams won with Lochella, and set a race record of 7.10 until Sturdee won in 7min. 4secs. in 1924. A North Otago owner in the late Mr St. John Buckley, won with Phaetontis in 1906. The Dunedin-owned Pipi was one of the unluckiest horses that has ever started in the'race. He finished second in 1902, 1903, and 1904, and third in 1905. He was owned by the late Mr J. Jeffs and Mr T. Godfrey, who raced in partnership. Royal Liinond. “Hope springs eternal” —and Royal Limond is to run again in the Grand National Steeplechase. If they allowed him to race in blinkers and made the wings at each fence about four times deeper than usual Royal Limond would probably complete the course. He won in 1936 with 10.8, and has only lib. less this year. He has run off in most of his races since then, but has not “ran off” much weight. On Riccarton Track. Another severe frost, following rain last night, delayed the start of training operations at Riccarton yesterday.- A number of horses did strong work on the No. 9 grass track, a few being allowed to run along at a sound pace for a few furlongs, but most of them were given only useful tasks. Dictate, though still showing signs of the trouble he got into in the Brabazon Handicap, is on the mend. The enlargement on his hock is yielding to treatment and it is hoped he will be able to run in the Winter Cup. Erination was out doing useful work on the grass track. He shows no ill effects from the slight cut he received when schooling on Wednesday over the steeplechase fences. Brigadore bears evidence on both his stifles that he got into some of the obstacles in his school yesterday over the fences in the middle of the course. His Grand National prospects do not seem bright.

The Jumpers. There was more activity in the jumping department, several interesting bouts being staged over the hurdles. Lone Raider (H. Brown) and Court Yard (A. Leach) were mates over six hurdles. They went at a sound pace, Lone Raider giving another good exhibition. He outjumped Court Yard at each obstacle, though they were together at the last flight, but Court Yard has the reputation of being less attractive in his schools than when racing. Erebus (W. J. McDowell) went over six hurdles by himself, jumping well, though a trifle high at some of the obstacles.

Padishah (C. P. Shield) and Top Rank (A. Stove) were companions over six hurdles. Top Rank gave a good display, though the pace was not so fast as in the two previous trials. Padishah jumped slowly and big, losing ground at each flight, and he finished several lengths behind his mate. Bally Brit. Bally Brit (T. Boyle) showed to advantage in jumping five of the trial steeplechase fences. He showed no ill effects of his fall on Saturday and a sound pace was on all the way. Travenna (T. Boyle) went at a fast pace over four hurdles. Culverden fell at Cutts’s when completing a round of the steeplechase course but was not hurt. Ridden by J. Muir, he set out with Forest Glow (W. J. McDowell), High Speed (A. Leach), and Tomcat (E. J. Jennings). After jumping the sod-wall Forest Glow took the lead from Culverden and High Speed with Tomcat further back. They fenced well all the way, with Forest Glow showing up best, and his school was a good one. High Speed jumped well, while Tomcat, though sow, jumped safely.

For Sydney. F. D. Jones left Riccarton yesterday for Sydney, where he will make his headquarters in the early spring. If all goes well with his team until the close of the Australian Jockey Club’s meeting, at the beginning of October, he will then go on to Melbourne, for important events in Victoria, including the Caulfield Cup and Melbourne Cup meetings. The Riccarton trainer has made many trips to Australia, Limerick making more than one of them highly successful, at a period when he could hold his own with the best weight-for-age horses in the Commonwealth. On the present occasion he will have three horses under his care. Royal Chief. Royal Chief, the Dominion’s best three-year-old last season, has done well since he resumed work, following a spell. He has not been tried seriously but is forward enough to be ready for racing soon after his arrival in Sydney. Probably he will have his first race at the end of this month, at Warwick Farm. The distance, seven furlongs, will be a trifle too short to show the Chief Ruler horse at his best, but he will meet the Australian cracks at an advantage in weight, as he will be able to claim, an allowance, not having won any race of the value of £lOOO. Probably Royal Chief will race mainly in weight-for-age events, in which the opposition will be weakened as a result of the news that Ajax will not be able to fulfil spring engagements. Royal Chief has claims to rating as a good horse. N.Z. Cup Winner. The five-year-old mare, Cerne Abbas, left no doubt as to her stamina when she won the New Zealand Cup last spring. She was spelled for • a few months after January but she has done a lot of solid work since she was taken in hand again.She, had a run in the Brabazon Handicap on Saturday and though she was not prominent it should help to sharpen her up. Like Royal Chief, she may have her. first Australian race at Warwick Farm, but a mile and three furlongs may be too far so early. As the campaign advances this argument will disappear and she may do well in distance events, including the Melbourne Cup. To accompany this well performed pair, Jones will take The Wrecker, to carry his own colours. The Shambles geldihg, a five-year-old, had his first and only win in a mile race at Trentham last month. Since then he has been beaten twice. He is a useful galloper but comes from a family that has needed time, so it need come as no surprise if The Wrecker develops into a good performer, especially over a distance.

Apart from his own trio, Jones will take Mob Rule, a four-year-old mare by Winning Hit from Babel. It was on Jones’s advice that Mob Rule was purchased from Sir Charles Clifford last week for a Sydney owner, to whom she will be handed over on her arrival, in Sydney. Her race record is moderate but she is a good galloper.

CJ.C. ACCEPTORS GRAND NATIONAL MEETING. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) ' CHRISTCHURCH, August 4. Acceptances and final payments for the first day of the Grand National Steeplechase meeting, to be held on August 9, 11 and 13 are: — 11.32—Trial Hurdle Race Handicap, one mile and three-quarters.—Padishah 11.6, Inness Lad 10.7, Corban 10.3, Lone Raider 10.2, McHeath 10.1, Contract 9.7, Mount Vai, Chaste 9.2, Surge, Top Rank, Guilder 9.0. 12.12—Paparua Handicap, six furlongs.—Rebel Mate 9.7, Top Row 9.3, Pukeko 9.0, Grey Honour 8.13, Queen of Song 8.12, Matoru 8.10, Hunting Blood, Royal Gallant 8.7, Moneyless, Golden Chest, Paper Note 8.4, Great Pal 8.2, Petersham 8.1, Astaire, Rebel Star, Metal Bird 8.0. 12.52—Jumpers’ Flat Race Handicap, one mile and a half.—Travenna 11.2, The Surgeon 10.11, Curie 10.10, Jolly Beggar 10.8, Lone Raider 10.5, King’s Archer, Kilberis 10.4, Silver Sight 10.3, Court Yard 10.0, Lustral 9.13, Pango 9.11, Royal Banquet 9.10, Fireguard 9.9, Delrain 9.2, Aurora’s Love, Monastic, Uncle Jim 9.0. I.37—Cashmere Plate, six furlongs; set weights.—Autosweep, Bonvellum, Chanteur, Dividend, Jo Jo, Master Dingle, Merry March, Papernilla, Pipiwhauroa, Plumage, Remembo, Royal Refrain, Ryetown, Synthetic, Colonel Rouge, Gay Parade, Keen Sight, Lady

Rosette, Oui - Pal, Rebellion, Rex Mait‘land, Romarin, Royal Pat, Wild Talk.

2.22 —New Zealand Grand National Steeplechase Handicap, three miles and a half. —Clarion Call 11.1, Nocturnus Erination 11.0, Royal Limond 10.7, Valpeen 10.6, Santoft 10.4, Irish Comet 10.2, Royal Banquet 9.11, Forest Glow 9.7, Bryce Street. 9.6, Brigadore 9.2, High Speed 9.1. 3.2—Enfield Steeplechase Handicap, about two miles.—All Irish 12.0, Flashlight 10.11, Dunmure 10.1, Nightbound, Redolent 9.10, Bally Brit 9.9, Sunward 9.1, El Caballo 9.0. 3.47—Winter Cup, one mile. —Catalogue 9.10, Paper Slipper, Ponty 9.5, Alma 9.2,.: Araboa 8.13, Dictate 8.12, Monipere"-8.11, Lazybones, Mungatoon 8.10, VZine Card, Mittie 8.9, Debham 8.7, Waitaka, Land Raid ; 8.3, Great Hope, Swordstick, Roy Bun 8.1, Silver Slipper, Cocksure, Wagner 8.0. 4.32 —Avonhead Handicap, seven furlongs.—Palmyra 9.7, Happy Night, Second Innings 9.5, Garonne 9.2, Raeburn 9.1, Recollection, Sigurd 8.11, Donadea, Nightdress, Strip, Potent 8.10, Drinkup, Great Bramble, Gironde 8.9, Sunbeam 8.7, The Sandwich Man, Thermidor 8.6, Robant, Glenacre 8.5, Half and Half 8.4, Rockingham, Night Hawk, Maroha 8.3, Orange Bud, Gay Hunting 8.2, Colombo 8.1, Aymon, Glencos, Gay Lyric 8.0. SECOND DAY. Grand National Hurdle Race Handicap, about two miles and a half.—Jolly Beggar 12.1, Clarion Call 11.3, Erination, Court Yard 10.13, King’s Archer 10.6, Padishah 10.5, Fireguard 9.11, The Surgeon 9.9, Inness Lad, Last Link 9.4. Corban, Kilberis 9.3, Aurora’s Love 9.2, Silver Sight, Brigadore 9.1, Lone Raider, Monastic, Contract 9.0.