TURF NEWS & NOTES

Wairarapa Times-Age, 26 August 1938, Page 9

TURF NEWS & NOTES

CURRENT TOPICS FROM STABLE & COURSE Views on Racing Fads and Fancies c. SEASON’S FIRST CLASSIC \ (By “The Cynic.”)

The Wanganui Guineas, the first classic event of the season, is likely to attract a .very strong field, including nearly all the best of the North Island .• two-year-olds of last season. Most of " them will help to add interest to the racing on the first day. Gay Son, Taurangi, Sudan, Russian Ballet and Peerless are engaged in the Plying Handicap; Yours Truly, Night Attack and Minga are in the Maiden Race; Sudan, Rehearsal and Lord Cavendish are in the Durie Hack Handicap, also Wild Talk, the only South Island candidate for the Guineas; while Homily is in the Seafield Handicap. The Beau Pere colt, Amigo, considered in some quarters the best of the northern colts, will take on the Guineas without a run on the first day. Erination. No horse has been asked to mix it this winter to the same extent as Erination. At Ellerslie at Easter he won the Brighton Hurdles on the. Saturday, and finished fourth in the Autumn Steeplechase on the Monday. At the June meeting he won the Great Northern Hurdles on the first day, was third in the Great Northern Steeplechase on the second, and fell in the Campbell Hurdles on the third. Next came the Trentham meeting, where Erination won the Steeplechase and was fourth in the Winter Hurdles. Crossing to Riccarton he contested a . flat race at the Hunt fixture. At the Grand National Meeting he balked his rider off in the big steeplechase, and was fourth in the Grand National Hurdles. ' On the final day the Illumination gelding ran fourth in the Sydenham Hurdles and two hours later won the Lincoln Steeplechase. Novice Jumpers. While most of the jumpers which were raced from Riccarton stables during the winter are resting several novices are„now being educated. Some / of them have been schooled this week and they-may be racing over hurdles < at early spring meetings. Aymon (W. Rickerby) was sent over the pony hurdles, then over one of the. big hurdles, jumping safely, but big. The Sandwichman (M. P. Reilly), after a preliminary over the pony

hurdles, gave a good showing over two of the big obstacles. Dividend (A. Stove) had another turn over the pony hurdles and then jumped one of the schooling hurdles. He shapes like being good. Pipiwhauroa (M. P. Reilly) was given his first trial when sent twice over the pony hurdles. He flew the obstacles in good style, and he may make a useful jumper. He is a halfbrother to Grey Boy, a horse that showed promise as a steeplechaser last winter, but did not train on. Tomcat (E. J. Jennings) was schooled over eight steeplechase fences. He will go south to take part in the Otago Hunt Cup on Saturday, when he will again find Gold Wren a tough opponent over the Wingatui fences.

At Wingatui. The continuation of favourable weather assists training operations at Wingatui, and yesterday a warm sun made quite a pleasant morning at the course. A large number of horses were on the tracks. The plough track and inside grass near the plough are both fast—the latter being almost bare. Janet Gaynor and Roseman worked over’ a strong seven furlongs, and are well forward in condition. Valantua finished stronger than Compensate at the end of a smart, five furlongs on the grass in Imin. 3 2-5 sec. Pink Robe drew out from Delrain at the finish of a mile on the grass in Imin 48 2-ssec —the last six furlongs in Imin 17 2-ssec. Adina sprinted half a mile on the grass in 52sec, the last three furlongs in 38 2-ssec. Monipere gave Darien, a start , and a beating over six furlongs, the last half mile in 53sec. Gold Wren, Pallaform, Vantoon, Hanlon, McHeath, Vallock and a number of others got through useful tasks. The Lord Warden—Night Myth gelding (W. Shand) was schooled over •two flights of hurdles and gave a satisfactory display. Alma. Alma was amongst those who worked at Wingatui yesterday, and cantered a couple of circuits on the plough. >

Son-In-Law. Son-in-Law’s progeny began racing in 1920. Up to June of this, year his stock had won 383 races valued at £309.286. He has also had great success as a sire of brood mares. Hanlon. The Wise Counsellor gelding Hanlon is amongst the horses in work at Wingatui. He was a more than useful performer last season, when he won five times, was second in four, and third in four other starts in 19 races. Flares. At the end of the flat-racing season in England, Flares, the Ascot Gold Cup winner, will return to the United States to do stud duty at the Claiborne Stud, where already are three horses who ran second in the Cup— Reigh Count, Alcazar, and Ohmaha. Plain Old Mare. It is stated that a leading Randwick trainer described Entreaty, the dam of Phar Lap, as “just a plain old mare at which you would not look twice.” After producing several foals and reaching the age of 18, few mares retain the shape of an equine beauty. When seen some few years ago Entreaty was a very fine type of brood mare. Short-legged, with big, roomy body, and just’ the type most favoured by breeders of lengthy experience. She produced Phar Lap, one of the greatest horses the world has ever known, and a brother in Nightguard, as good-looking a horse as can be found. Interesting Pedigree. J. A. White is particularly pleased with a young colt he has by Te Monanui from Dressy, who was got by the Spearmint horse Last Dart from All Style, by Gay Lad —Arch Lassie, by Marble Arch —Lassie Doon, by Monoform —Cardoon, by Cardigan—Monsoon, by St Clair, a son of Musket and Pulchra. Te Monanui was got by Potoa, a son of Monoform, a brother to a great horse in Multiform and also to Uniform. Monoform was got by Hotchkiss from Formo, by Sterlingworth from Pulchra, also the ancestress of Cruciform and half-brother to Formosan. The Te Monanui—Dressy youngster is thus inbred to a great taproot in Pulchra, and particularly rich in Musket through 'Last Dart, Monoform, St Clair and Te Monanui. Sickle. At the end of June Sickle (imp.), was leading sire in America with 24 winners of 52 races worth about £31,000. Sickle was premier sire in 1936. He is a brother to Pharamond 11. by Phalaris out of Selene. Insco (who comes of the same sire line, being a son of Sir Galahad III), was second with 23 winners of about half the amount credited to Sickle. Close up was Pennant, followed by Man o’ War, Stimulus, Wise Counsellor, Pharamond 11., Pompey, Bull Dog (brother to Sir Galahad), Reigh Count, Whichone, and Sir Gallahad (12th). Insco’s position was largely due to the Kentucky Derby winner, Lawrin. Pennant is by Peter Pan (son of Commando) out of imported Royal Rose, by the Derby winner Royal Hampton.

A Parade. Thirteen two-year-olds took part in a parade after the Auckland Handicap at the Pakuranga Hunt meeting at Ellerslie on Saturday. They, were allowed to sprint about two furlongs, and the order at the finish was: —Noble Fox, L. W. Davis’s br g, by Foxbridge — Lulu; Princess'Vai, A. H. Paul’s ch f by Vaals —Iceball; Hunto, G. Carrington’s b c', by Hunting Song—Dodo; Gay Movie, L. G. Abel’s ch f, by Sargon—Picture; White Mark, H. R. Burrett’s ch f by Vaals —Miss Melva; Andpheles, H. Reid Bell’s br.f, by Vaals — Marshland. Noble Fox is one of the first of Foxbridge’s progeny to appear. He is a nuggety type, and showed less greenness than most of the others by galloping very straight throughout. The half-sister to Hot Box, Princess Vai, is a speedy-looking sort, and she shaped well. On appearance (says the Herald), nothing appealed more than the Foxbridge—Lady Marie filly. The half-sister to Gay Blonde and Gay Sheila is particularly well grown, and displays a lot of quality. Several of the youngsters were more backward than the others, and a good deal of improvement can be expected from some of them during the next month. Valarth. Valarth, who was injured when he fell at the Wellington Meeting last month, is back at Wingatui and resting in a paddock. His trainer is not at all optimistic about Valarth ever being able to race again. On Schooling List. The Auckland mare Airam has been placed oh the schooling list, and so long as she remains there -will not be eligible for entry in flat races. ’ Her fractiousness at the barrier is almost certainly the result of 25 starts as a two-year-old and 36 last season.