CURRENT TOPICS FROM STABLE & COURSE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 22 August 1938, Page 9

CURRENT TOPICS FROM STABLE & COURSE

Views on Racing Facts and Fancies TRACK WORK AT RICCARTON (By “The Cynic.”)

Work at Riccarton last week was not of an exciting character. All the visitors that came for the. Grand National meeting have gone home and most of the local horses that raced last week are enjoying a rest before they are started in earnest in preparation for spring engagements. So far as the gallopers on the flat are concerned, there was little of a serious nature last week, but jumpers have provided a little variety. Those that raced the previous week are all on the easy list, but there have been several novices out just starting on their education, which may be useful hurdlers before the season is far advanced.

Aymon was sent a few times over the pony hurdles. He,went straight at each obstacle and though he got up a bit high, it was a very good display for a beginner. He is to be well educated over the pony hurdles, before he is required to take on the bigger obstacles.

First Experience. ' % Dividend had his first experience over the obstacles, giving an attractive display over the pony hurdles. He comes from a family that has produced some capable jumpers, as his dam, Divinette, is a half-sister to two good steeplechasers, Charlatan and Punchestown, each of them a placed horse in the Grand National Steeplechase.

Patuma shaped well in a couple of runs over the pony hurdles, after which he jumped one of the bigger obstacles smartly. He will have a more extended school very soon, and he may be given a hurdle race before long. * \

Useful Lot. Roy Bun looks well after the racing he had the previous week and should be worth keeping in mind at the early spring meetings. He can run a good mile; and M. Conza should get some money with him this season. Alby has recovered from the mishap that set him aside for a few weeks and . he should be in good order after he has had a couple of races. The three-year-old, Rebel Rank, has gone on well lately and will be ready soon to show some smart form. Already, on the track, she has demonstrated. that she has plenty of speed.

No Change. - Rebellion is still in the stable of H. R. Davies, who will continue to train him for his new owners. In the races he has had so far, this Robespierre three-year-old has been slow to get going but in each case he has finished strongly, so his entry to the winning list should not be delayed very long.

The Canterbury Jockey Club paid to the Government £16,718 in taxation on the Grand National meeting. The total was made up of totalisator tax £8585. dividend tax £7511, stakes tax £lO5, and amusement tax £515.

Amigo. One of the most interesting entrants for the Combined Hunt Club’s meeting at New Plymouth at the beginning of next month is Amigo, who is to contest the Wanganui Guineas a week later.

The race in the open six at New Plymouth should be a valuable outing for Amigo, who is understood to be doing excellent work at Wanganui in preparation for the spring campaign. Amigo was one of the best of last season’s two-year-olds, and he left the impression that he would be a good three-year-old.

For Melbourne. Mr O. F. Watson has made arrangements for racing the three-year-old, Raeburn, and the five-year-old, Bonvellum, in Victoria in the spring. D. O’Connor will leave for Melbourne with the two horses on September. 1. They are both very forward, having kept going in strong work, the pair raced last week, and they are being getting through strong tasks yesterday. A Veteran. Silver Ring was shipped to Wellington on Wednesday night 1 on his way to Australia, where his owner, Mrs E. Fraser, resides. The Silverado gelding, now nine years old, was a performer of the best class earlier in. his career, but he has done nothing of note for a long .time, and he was not prominent in his engagements at Riccarton last week. Koatanui Stud. The first foaling of the season at Mr G. M. Currie’s Koatanui Stud is a bay filly by Posterity from the LimondPennon mare Impetuous, a sister to Canopy and Damaris, and a half-sister to Lysander, Ceremony, Arisus, and Motley (dam of Moquette, Variant, Legatee, Midinette, and Al Jolson). Four of the progeny of Impetuous have already achieved some distinction. Elanage has been a good winner in Australia and Tohunga was sold to go to Australia, while Imposture won for Mr Currie. The colt by Ringmaster from Impetuous, purchased at Trentham in January, for 850 gns by Mr E. Hay, is now in the care of T. H. Gillett at Riccarton, where he is showing promise of being a useful two-year-old. 1 . Grand National Winner. It is reported from Awapuni that the Grand National Steeplechase winner, Clarion Call, is to be given a good spell. Clarion Call did not have an easy time, having to contest the National double, but his trained had conditioned him splendidly for the task, and he came through the ordeal well.

The Winter Cup winner, Catalogue, too, is on the easy list. He is suffering from a foot injury, but should be recovered from that shortly. Catalogue was entered for some of the leading events in Australia this spring, but no indication, has been given yet that he will be taken to Australia to race, although such a trip might fit in nicely with certain events which are pending. One of the races Catalogue is entered for is the Melbourne Cup, in which his weight is Bst 41bs. Laughing Lass Pleases. Laughing Lass is galloping very pleasingly at Awapuni, and apparently will be- ready early in the spring. Most of her tasks have been over short courses, and in these she has shown great speed. Although she is not top class she is very useful, and was among the spring winners at Trentham last season.

Another of L. G. Morris’s team who is coming on nicely is Oratory. She has shown by her track work that she retains her brilliance. While she is very fast, she does not appeal as a stayer, and probably a mile is her best distance.