TURF NEWS & NOTES

Wairarapa Times-Age, 25 August 1938, Page 11

TURF NEWS & NOTES

CURRENT TOPICS FROM STABLE & COURSE Views on Racing Facts and Fancies OLYMPUS WINS NICELY (By “The Cynic.”)

The victory of Olympus in the first division of the Sylvia Park Handicap was achieved in attractive style. He ran kindly behind the pacemaker to the home turn and then came on to finish much more stoutly than he did last season. In the Pantheon —Etoru three-year-old, Mr R. T. Reid appears to have an extremely good galloper. Valdene. The three-year-old Valdene, ran a good race in the Sylvia Park Handicap. She has been galloping well on the Ellerslie tracks and when she learns to begin a lihle more smartly is likely to lose her maiden status quickly. By Vaals —Danesia, she is endowed with plenty of speed and is at home in soft going.

Speedy Maiden. Another three-year-old maiden who showed speed in the Sylvia Park Handicap was the somewhat leggy Oriental Bay. He did well enough as far as the home turn to indicate that he has future possibilities. A half-brother to King Musk, he was expected to join Kirk’s team at the weekend. Novice Jumpers. Several novices were given schooling tasks over the hurdles in the middle at Ellerslie on Tuesday, morning. British Banner (Fergus) cleared four fences, but he was inclined to get in

too close to them. The Whangarei gelding, who had his first race over hurdles in the Harris Memorial Hack and Hunters’ Hurdles on Saturday, looks the right type for this branch of the game and with a little more experience he should turn out useful. Brown Lap (Fergus) went over four hurdles and for a beginner his performance was promising. The stable mates Lighter (Baker) and Kenspeckle (Fergus) schooled in company. They jumped a pony hurdle and then went over two of the big hurdles. They had plenty of pace on and Kenspeckle, who led his companion, took his fences in dashing style. His effort was impressive and a big improvement on previous displays. Lighter also shaped encouragingly.

Mr Percy Peck. Mr Percy Peck, one of England’s leading trainers, died last month at the age of 69. He retired several years ago. His important wins included the Derby with Cicero and the Two Thousand Guineas with Neil Gow. Both horses were owned by the late Lord Rosebery. Peck also trained for Sir Blundell Maple and Lord Durham. A Recruit. One of he latest recruits to hurdling is Dividend, a four-year-old gelding by Lord Warden from Divinette, a half-sister to Charlatan and Punchestown. Divinette was got by Thurnham —Diyinid by Sylvia Park—Mongonui by Carbine. —■ A Sale of Stock. El Golea, a good performer in Australia and now four years old, was sold in Melbourne recently to Mr A. Crofts, owner of Valiant Chief, for lOOOgns. The vendor was Mr R. A. Henderson, who is abroad. El Golea is an entire son of Eastern Monarch from the Pistol mare Versatile. Others gallopers sold at the same time were the four-year-old horse On Time, by Baralong from Belle Shot, to Mr B. Conaghan, for 350gns, and the 10-year-old mare Lancegay, by Spearhead—Nambrok Belle, by Comedy King, to Messrs H. G. Raymond and H. B. Rankin, for 260gns. Callisto, eight-year-old mare by Great Star —Beppisan, was secured by Mr. H. S. Thompson, New South Wales, for lOOgns.

The Richards of England. Historic Richard of England offered his kingdom for a horse as a case of urgent necessity, and it still stands as the greatest bid on record. Richards of England today could offer a few good mounts. He had a at Alexandra Park bn July 2.,' .' He won five of the'six races on the programme and was third in the other, which was won by his brother Clif. The smallest field in any of the races Richards won was 10 and the largest 16. One race in which Richards was successful was the £lOOO Lincoln Cup on the Aga Khan’s Dardanelles 11. A fortnight earlier Richards won five races in an afternoon at Folkestone.

Dark Flight. The Southland News reports that the 1 Riverton-trained two-year-old colt Dark Flight recently strained a tendon when running in the paddock, and the injury will probably keep him off the scene for this season. It was a most unfortunate experience for his owner-breeder, Mr D. M. Tweedie, as the half-brother to Ortyx, by Nigger Minstrel, had been showing distinct promise in his track work in view of early classic engagements. Ortyx is now being trained at Riverton, and she is credited with having lost all her flighty habits as the result of patient treatment. Viking has also done well, and bears a strong and healthy appearance.

Heavy Commission. Although the inquiry was confined to a few horses, the recent discussions on the Melbourne Cup and the Caulfield Cup prospects showed animationin Melbourne. A notable move was the commission for Ajax (Caulfield Cup) and Marauder (Melbourne Cup) double. The sum for which it was desired to support this combination was between £30,000 and £40,000, but the whole of the amount could not be placed. Eventually about half the desired investment was accepted. The Trump was another to be sought after, but the quotation about him for each race was considerably shorter than had been the case before his brilliant victory at Caulfield on Saturday week. One of the J. Holt team in Courage was infirequest for the Caulfield Cup, and was coupled with Bristol in the Flemington long-distance event.

Consistent Kilonsa. When Kilonsa paraded for the Jellicoe Handicap she looked a picture and she was sent out favourite. She put up another of her consistent efforts and went under only in the last stride. It was the luck of the race and had she not had to go round Prince Acre and Valmint to chase Royal Bachelor, she would probably have won. Kilonsa is one of the most improved gallopers in the north. Prince Acre. That Prince Acre still finds a mile a little beyond him in good company was shown on Saturday when after having the run of the race he- failed to go on. As he is now an aged gelding it is unlikely that he will ever develop stamina. Valmint Fails. Beaten into fourth place after having every chance in the Jellicoe Handicap. Valmint failed simply because he was not good enough, but that does not say he will not win a middle distance handicap. Saturday's race was a hard one to win with Floodtide and Kilonsa, two of our-best handicap performers, right at the top of their form.

Useful Galloper. After his successes at Gisborne, Brown Lap was considered to have a chance in the Jellicoe Handicap, but

he found the class too strong and was never dangerous. Brown Lap is a useful galloper, but not up to top class. Likely Winner. A likely winner of an early maiden is Paddy The Rip, a big horse ’ by Whirlwind from the Oaks winner Danae, and thus a half-brother to Tip Toes. Paddy The Rip has raced well in his few starts to date'and F. Smith should find him profitable as he gains experience. Kenneth Robert. Although he did not show up on Saturday, Kenneth Robert left the impression that he might develop useful form later on. By The AceElsie Aroha, he is a brother to the useful Te Hai and is trained at Avondale by H. E. Goldfinch.