TURF NEWS & NOTES

Wairarapa Times-Age, 7 October 1938, Page 9

TURF NEWS & NOTES

CURRENT TOPICS FROM STABLE & COURSE Views on Racing Facts and Fancies

GAY CHOU A CLASS SPRINTER

(By

“The Cynic.”)

Gay Chou, winner of the bpen sprint at Otaki, is an Australian-bred aged gelding by Gay Lothario, bought by Mr W. Devon some months ago. He won at his first start in his new colours in Australia, but Saturday’s was his first win in New Zealand. In two former starts he was third each day at the Wanganui spring meeting. Gay Chou is a very true galloper, but hung out a little on the turns on Saturday. His rider, A. Jenkins, informed the stipendiary steward that the horse had always shown tendencies in this direction in Australia. Although an aged horse, Gay Chou looks capable of holding his own with our best sprinters. He has shown good form on soft tracks to which he is not partial, and on a dry surface he can be expected to produce something even better. It was no trouble to him to gallop stride for stride with Surmount on Saturday and he is one of the freest goers in the land. Spearford Well. Consistency had its reward on the first day of the Paeroa meeting when Spearford won the Trial Handicap in decisive style from Manawahe and Son of the Soil. In the straight he gave nothing else a chance and Saturday’s performance points to the Speardance four-year-old adding to his winning account before the season is much further advanced. Stanstead. Prior to the Paeroa gathering Stanstead had been showing promise in his preparation at Te Rapa and after his encouraging form the first day when he ran a commendable second to the veteran Biform his price on Monday was a rather surprising one. He won at the right end and may continue his winning way when the class, as at Paeroa, is not too select. Star Vaal. Star Vaal was a firm fancy for the Trial Handicap on the first day of the Ohinemuri fixture, but whatever prospects he possessed he settled when he turned round at the start and was badly left. On the Monday, however, he had every chance but failed to go on with it in the straight. He may be seen to better advantage soon as racing should improve him. Not Encouraging. , Siegmund’s effort in the Ling Memorial Stakes at Otaki was not an encouraging one for a New Zealand Cup candidate. However, the Siegfried gelding raced moderately in the spring last season, and reached- the peak of his form in the summer when the tracks were like flint. For that reason his supporters may have to wait a while yet for any return from him. Improved. The winning form of Lucullus Lad at Otaki on Saturday was in marked contrast with his poor effort in the Carnarvon Gold Cup at Foxton. The Foxton track, with its sandy sub-soil, is shifty in places and many freegoers have not been able to reproduce their best on it. That may have had something to do with Lucullus Lad’s failure. At Otaki he ran one of his typical pace-making races and never let the others in. Looks Well. The Foxton Cup winner, Galteemore, has filled out since he last raced and looks in excellent health for the spring season. He ran quite a fair race at Otaki, moving up near the leaders three furlongs from home, but he was not forward enough to maintain the effort. First Race. The English importation, Royal Star IL, had his first race in New Zealand on Saturday, when he contested a hack six at Otaki. He is a big and very solid horse, rough in the coat at present, but a useful looking type who is sure to win races when he is thoroughly attuned. He got away slowly on Saturday and tailed the field most of the way. Rona Bay. The exhibition of Rona Bay in the President’s Handicap the second day at Paeroa was her best for some considerable time and she proved her partiality for a turning course by jumping out smartly and leading from end to end. She was capably handled by E. Manson, who, after securing the rails early then took her to the front and once in line for the judge she never appeared in danger of defeat. Making Good Progress. Tosh has made good recovery from the injury which caused a brief let up in his preparation a short time ago and has been hitting out in attractive style over short distances at headquarters. A consistent and remunerative proposition for the M. J. Carroll stable last season indications are he will more than pay his way in the season ahead. In his two seasons of racing he has won in all £2030 in stakes. Revelled in the Going. Revelling in the conditions Young Paddon made short work of the opposition in the sprint at Paeroa on Monday, his success being the most effortless of the meeting. Hitting the front at the distance he was going away on the post. This useful sprinter is always a dangerouse factor on a soft track and as was only to be expected he was at cramped odds on the machines. He was confidently handled by the stable horseman H. Long. Looking Better. Phalanx, who proved himself a more than useful hack in the second half of last season, has come back to work a much stronger looking gelding than formerly and he should improve on his earlier record. Mr L. Spence, owner-trainer of Phalanx, has a two-year-old gelding, a full-brother to Star Raider, just being put through the rudimentary stages of his education, after being broken in by F. Roberts. Like Phalanx, this chestnut juvenile is from Wink-a-Peep, but his sire is

Night Raid, sire of Nightmarch, who sired Phalanx. Good Promise. Pipiwharau has been showing good promise in his schooling over the hurdles, but whereas he can jump quite satisfactorily, it does not seem, at present, as if he would appreciate the distance of a hurdle race just yet. The Straightcourse gelding may be raced at Rangiora on Labour Day. Siegift. Already a winner and described as one of the most brilliant two-year-olds seen out in South Australia in recent years is Siegift. This is the Siegfried— Sungift colt which was purchased by Mr G. Fulton at the last yearling sales, only to be turned over again almost immediately to an Australian buyer. Siegift, who is a full-brother to Sunbeam, was knocked down to Mr Fulton for 120gns. Faded Right Out. Favoured in certain quarters for his hurdles engagement the first day at Paeroa Jan Ridd flattered the hopes of his supporters for the greater part of the trip, but, after a dashing exhibition of jumping, he faded right out of the picture once the real business of the race was entered on. As his stamina improves Jan Ridd will win races in this department as he is a jumper above the average. Speedy Maxam. Maxam, the tnree-year-old filly by Hoariri from Valaria, who made such a good impression at the Avondale meeting, well endorsed that impression on the first day at Paeroa when she ran to the front early in the piece and stayed there to the judge. Saturday’s showing was a most encouraging one and as she displayed courage in her Avondale outing indications are more will be heard of her as the season progresses. She is one of Pope’s Takanini team. May Win Soon. Mr J. Jameson may not have to wait long for some return from his Australian-bred maidens, Lady Melfort and Saki. Each ran fourth at Otaki and they had to come from the back and make up some ground in the straight. They will be racing on their home track at Masterton next week and Lady Melfort, in particular, may be forward enough to win. Fair Effort. ' r Not many of the stock of Acre were endowed with good looks, but the four-year-old Flying Acre is an exception. He looked particularly well when paraded for the hack seven at Otaki, but he did not begin smartly enough. He was running on in sixth place at the end —a fair enough effort with 9.2. Robust Condition. Dungarvan, who is now a member of T. R. George’s team, resumed racing at Otaki. He is in very robust condition, but he ran a fair race without ever threatening to take part in the finish. Dungarvan was bandaged on both forelegs, but appeared to pull up all right. It is in his favour that the tracks remain easy just now. Satisfactory. Arctic King, who has important spring engagements, ran a very satisfactory race against the sprinters at Otaki. Usually a lean looking customer, Arctic King is carrying plenty of flesh at present and looks to be improving with age. Bold Effort. Free Gold, who has been operated on for wind trouble, made a bold effort to win the five furlongs scurry at Otaki, but had to strike his colours to White Lady. Free Gold was stopping quickly on the post, and it does not look as though he will ever master any distance beyond five furlongs. For Wellington. C. McCarthy intends taking three to the Wellington meeting. Argentic, Screamer and Rabble comprise the trio, the first-named to contest the principal events while Rabble will race against company just below the best and Screamer will do his best in hack company. Rabble was deemed unlucky that he did not finish closer than fourth in the principal race on the second day at Geraldine. RACING FIXTURES. October 6, 8. —Dunedin Jockey Club. October 7, 8. —Auckland Racing Club. October 8, 10. —Hawke’s Bay Jockey Club. October 12 and 13. —Masterton Racing Club. October 15. —South Canterbury Jockey Club. October 24.—Waikato Hunt Club. October 20, 22, 24.—Wellington R.C. October 22, 24. —Gore Racing Club. October 24. —North Canterbury J.C. October 24. —Waverley R.C.