TURF NEWS & NOTES

Wairarapa Times-Age, 30 August 1938, Page 11

TURF NEWS & NOTES

CURRENT TOPICS FROM STABLE & COURSE Views on Racing Facts and Fancies . RICCARTON N.Z. CUP PROSPECTS

(By

“The Cynic.”)

Nominations for the New Zealand Cup are due next Friday. From all parts of the Dominion there are reports of a paucity of stayers but this is no new story and doubtless the list will close with a good collection of: horses, some with credentials for going the journey and others with prospects of doing so. Riccarton stables can always be looked on as likely to provide a' full share of candidates for the two-mile race and this year should be no exception, while more than one of them will come prominently into the discussions during the next two months. Cerne Abbas, the winner last year, is on a visit to Australia, and if all goes well at Sydney meetings in the early part of the spring campaign, it is probable that F. D. Jones will take her on to Victoria, to tackle the Melbourne Cup, which should see her at her best, as there is no doubt she can stay. Jones may, however, decide to nominate her for .the New Zealand Cup, as an insurance, in case anything should occur to interfere with the trip to Melbourne. For a similar reason, Royal Chief, also in Sydney at present, may be another entrant for Riccarton. 'v

Second Last Year. Wild Chase filled second place last year and seems to be regarded as certain to be in this year’s list. He had a good spell, after finishing up in the autujnn, and has only started in work again, so there may be doubts whether he will be bustled along for a twomile race sd early, in the season. Argentic will be the veteran, so far as the local candidates are concerned. He is nine years old and this will be his fourth attack on the New Zealand Cup, in which he was in third place in one year. It is a great record for a horse that has always been under suspicion for unsoundness, but he only needs to train on to be dangerous, as he has done a lot of solid work already.

Well Forward. As the Melbourne trip has been

dropped, Mrs J. Campbell will concentrate on getting Willie Win ready for the New Zealand Cup, and with his second in last year’s Melbourne Cup in mind, there can be no question about his stamina. He is well forward now and though some of his form last season was a disappointment, excuses could be offered for him. He will be one of the popular fancies.

Dictate has been discussed as a horse that might go to Melbourne but the trip is in doubt, so he is pretty certain to be accorded a nomination at Riccarton. He improved with racing last season and his third in the Great Autumn Handicap was a good effort, so his spring form will <be watched with interest.

Having a Rest. Mungatoon will be in from the big team of F. A. Roberts. He has shown a lot of useful form and he is one horse with prospects of running on. In the meantime, he is having a rest, but he was very fit at the Grand National meeting, so there should be no difficulty in having him ready in November.

Cape Gabo is sure to be in the list. He came on at the right end to win the Islington Handicap at the Grand National meeting, and this form, over a mile and a quarter, was a good Cup trial. Can Stay. Happy Night has disappointed many times but more than once has left no room for doubt that he could stay, so C. R. Emerson has encouragement for putting him in the two mile race. Wagner has shown promising form since he joined A. J. Martin’s stable and he is one of the staying prospects. Sparkle, though still in hack class, should have had a better race record with average luck. She is a likely sort, as she has given definite evidence of stamina and E. Scoullar is likely to win good races with her this season.

May be Reserved. Sovereign Lady is a mare that has

won most of her races by staying on. She is well forward, but there is no present evidence that she is to be a Cup candidate. Her racing is likely to be restricted to Riccarton, so she may be reserved for less exacting tasks.

Kinnoull looks well just now and so will be ready to show form soon. He may be accorded a Cup nomination, but he may not be considered sound enough to warrant such a severe preparation, though he looks on the way to winning in the spring over a shorter journey.

This seems to exhaust the list of Cup horses from Riccarton stables, but the Yaldhurst trainer, M. B. Edwards, who does a lot of his serious galloping at Riccarton, has Ponty as a likely candidate, with Cocksure as another possible nomination.

Wanganui Guineas. Amigo is to race in the open sprints at the Combined Hunts’ meeting at New Plymouth this week, for owner-trainer Len Paul wants his. Beau Pere gelding to be at\ the top of his form for the Wanganui Guineas in order that he can gauge whether the proposed trip to Victoria is justified. Amigo has done everything asked of him since he resumed work and his recent gallops at Wanganui indicate that he will be found in tip top order next week and as he usually comes to hand quickly, it looks as if he will give a good account of himself* at first time of asking.

The Fordell mentor Dave Marks is very pleased with the progress of Taurangi and Russian Ballet have made in the past few weeks and it is .probable that he will race both fillies in the Wanganui Guineas. Russian Ballet showed great brilliance last season, but she should stay, as she is by Nightmarch from Eulogy’s Oakswinning daughter Praise. Taurangi is by Beau Pere from Barbacan, the Top Gallant mare John Donald imported from Australia for his Westmfere Stud. Taurangi was purchased by Mr W. McA. Duncan for 525 gns, and won the Taita Handicap at Trentham and the Spring Handicap at Riccarton, beating Peerless, who won the Welcome Stakes in which Taurangi ran third.

Galloping Ability. Vadanoe is a better looking customer since he was unsexed and, as he has the galloping ability, he may be a good winner later on for the new menage at Awapuni. Like all the stock of Vaals, Vadanoe has plenty of galloping ability. Kikiroki. Vern Colello has not asked a great deal of the Hawke’s Bay Hunt Cup winner Kikiroki since he finished third to Hanover and Manawatu at Awapuni, but the Leedstown gelding has trained on very nicely and will be in good order to be taken to the Wanganui spring meeting. Good Progress. Sudan continues to make good progress at Awapuni and this bjg Beau Pere —Sahara filly should be a good prospect for the spring meetings. She may be up to Oaks requirements and her running at Wanganui will be watched with interest. A Win Likely. Ernie Watson has effected a big improvement in the appearance of Golden Ridge since he has had the Lackham gelding, and he deserves to get a win with this disappointing horse. He should win a race at the country fixtures. For the Stud. Continuing the policy that has been followed for the last few seasons, several of the mares at Sir Charles Clifford’s Stonyhurst Stud will again be sent away this year, to be mated with imported sires. There are more than twenty mares at the stud, and most of them are in foal this season. These will remain at home and will be mated with the stallions at Stonyhurst, of which there are three—Winning Hit and his son Cricket Bat, also Jericho. Five dry mares will be sent away. . Having a good looking two-year-old in work at Riccarton by Bulandshar, it is not surprising that this Blandford horse, at the stud in Hawke’s Bay, is to be patronised again. His two mates from Stonyhurst will be Good Sight, by Winning Hit from Equipment, and Fracas, by Winning Hit from Scrimmage.

One of the Stonyhurst mares is in foal to the Foxlaw horse, Foxbridge, and two more of the mares will go to the North Island on a visit to him. They are Stout Heart, by Winning Hit from Equipment, and the three-year-old Submit, by Beau Pere from Timid. The fifth mare that is to go away from the stud is Robbie’s Mistake, by Psychology from .Lovelock, by Martian from Lovelorn. She will go to Geraldine, to be mated with Man’s Pal, son of the Derby winner" Manna, by Phalaris.

RACING FIXTURES. September 1. — Egmont - Wanganui Hunt Club, at New Plymouth. September 3. —Taranaki Hunt Club. September 8, 10. —Wanganui J.C. September 17. —Ashburton C.R.C. September 17. —Foxton R.C. September 17, 19. —Avondale J.C. September 22, 24.—Geraldine R.C. September 24.—Marton J.C.