TURF NEWS & NOTES

Wairarapa Times-Age, 16 December 1938, Page 11

TURF NEWS & NOTES

CURRENT TOPICS FROM STABLE & COURSE v Views on Racing Facts and Fancies ' DEFAULTER WILL BE FULLY TESTED.

(By

“The Cynic.”)

Last year there were hopes that the Great Northern Derby would provide a great clash between the Woodville colt. Courtcraft, and the southern champion, Royal Chief. But all interest in the rich classic was lost when Royal Chief’s feet began to trouble him and. as the King’s Plate indicated, the Derby was simply a walk-over for the handsome son of Limond and Homage. This time there is every indication that Defaulter, will be tested, if not bested. While the Riccarton colt has trained on satisfactorily since he won the Trentham and Harcourt Stakes, the Derby and the Canterbury Cup in a line, Beaupartir, who had him extended in the Riccarton classic, impresses as having improved quite a stone with his spring racing. Beaupartir is still a maiden, but he is probably the most improved three-year-old racing today, and the Queen’s Plate on Boxing Day should be little more than an exercise gallop for him. It should, however, serve the purpose of sharpening up the Awapuni colt for the Derby. As well, it should indicate the progress he has made since the New Zealand Cup meeting. There are other three-year-olds in the classic who will ensure a solidlyrun race, and the Oaks winner, Peerless, who will have a sex allowance of 31b, is not without reasonable prospects as she finished very solidly at Riccarton.

Then there is Old Bill, whose halfbrother, Quadroon, ran third in the race two years ago. Gay Son may be troubled by the distance, but he will go fast in the early stages. Te Hero is another whose two-year-old form warrants consideration for him, while Hot Box and Philcourt impressed in the spring.

Needs a Big Track.

The Tidal horse Patches is a very long-strider and the small track at Napier Park worried him. However, it is reported that his recent work suggests that he has gone on the right way and this smart young horse should be at home at Awapuni. He is engaged in the middle-distance hack races and will not be neglected by form followeers if he makes the trip. Anopheles. An Auckland report states that all is not well with Anopheles, and the filly has been absent from the track during the past week. L. J. Ellis was engaged to ride her at the Auckland Cup meeting. Meeting Again. * Beau Livre and Winning Rival are likely to meet again in the Great Northern Foal Stakes. It should settle the question of the Welcome Stakes. Defaulter will meet Beaupartir in the Great Northern Derby. Five Gallons. | It is claimed by his trainer, J. Cush, that some months ago he took five gallons of blood from Journal, who recently won at Rosehill. Journal won the Caulfield Cup in 1934.

Travels Fast. Diana Tetrix, who is still as speedy as ever, was troubled by the long straight and the six furlongs at Woodville and five furlongs seems to be the dead limit for the Hastings filly at present. She will have a race to suit her at Waipukurau on Boxing Day in the five furlongs Braeburn Handicap and there is little doubt that she will be a staunch favourite.

Winners at WoodviHe. Winners at the Woodville meeting on Monday included Stella Lux, a three-year-old filly by Lord Quex from Prima Lux, dam of Conveyor; Sleeveless, a two-year-old filly by Valkyrian from Chivalry, sold by Mr E. B. Newton, of Ashburton, for 80 guineas last January; Guiding Light, by Lord Warden from Luminant, by Thurnham from Sunglow, by Multiform, and True, by Hunting Song' from Cymbeline by Cynic. < Sold.

Diamond Cutter has been sold by his owner-breeder, Mr J. S. Adams, to Mr W. J. Crawford, of Palmerston North, and he has entered G. W. New’s stable at Awapuni.

A Good Pick. When the South Australian trainer. C. Wheeler, was over for the last National salens he selected two yearlings for his friends. One was Wilson, purchased for Mr J. Wren at 1050 guineas and the other Siegift at 120 guineas. Both youngsters have proved good winners in Australia, where they rank amongs the best of their age. The very wide margin paid for the two youngsters shows that C. Wheeler was not influenced by the price, but relied on his remarkably good judgment. Sometimes when a good judge is noticed bidding others take the tip and join the “nodders.” It makes a pleasant trip for Australians coming to New Zealand in January and it becomes very much more so when they pick a couple of good winners. Accidents. Falls continue to be far too frequent in Australia and New Zealand. Australia has lost two of her best riders this season in Wilson and Voitre, and others are temporarily laid aside. This latest accident has terminated the career of a valuable horse in Surmount, and his rider is at present in hospital. All that can be discovered in connection with these falls is the official decision that they are “accidents.” Surmount ran into a post, apparently because his rider did not see where he was going, and that to a great extent is the cause of accidents in a race. Such accidents will continue in the future unless a thorough investigation is made into what seems to be an unnecessary danger attached to racing. The only point to consider is whether the general styltj of racing contributes to falls, which were far less frequent when longer stirrup leathers were in use.

Sinking Fund Leased. The. latest addition to R. H. Martin's team at Matamata is the hurdler Sinking Fund, who has been secured on lease from Mr B. Clarke by Mr Reg Lewis. Sinking Fund probably will compete in jumping events at the country meetings. Nahlin, a seven-year-old gelding by King Lu from Queen Arch, has also joined Martin’s stable.