TURF NEWS & NOTES

Wairarapa Times-Age, 30 January 1939, Page 4

TURF NEWS & NOTES

CURRENT TOPICS FROM STABLE & COURSE

Views on Racing Facts and Fancies

GREAT FLIGHT AN HONEST MARE

(By

“The Cynic.”)

An Honest Mare. Great Flight is an honest mare, and she is likely to eventually develop useful form, but it may not be until next season as she can fill out a lot yet. She has a big frame, but does not yet carry much on it. When she does she may improve as anticipated. Elegy. Elegy is to make her reappearance at the midsummer meeting. She has not raced since the Cup meeting, at which she was second in the Oaks to Brunhild. While she looks in forward condition, her track efforts have not been impressive, but that is not always a reliable guide to approach ing prospects. Winded. Ponty’s wind has been under suspicion for some time, but he seems to be making a bigger effort every days he gallops. He could be heard afar when he did only a working gallop on Saturday last. Unnamed Fillies. In the few sprints they have had in company, the Safari fillies from Joy Princess and Bee Acre respectively, about share horours, but it will not be surprising to see the Joy Princess filly making the more rapid improvement from now on. Neither filly is yet named, but they will soon be known to the racing public. Needed the Holiday. W. Elliot, rider of Phar Lap in the Santa Anita Handicap and nowadays a leading rider in Victoria, was philosophic when suspended for one month at Mentone recently. “The stewards really did me a good turn,” he explained. “I do not like incurring their displeasure, for not rider likes to be adjudged guilty of interference, but it was the only way that I could get a holiday. When I got on the scales after the last race at Caulfield I was shock to find that I weighed only 6.8| —and it was after the Christmas pudding I ate! 1 was in need of a holiday. I like to be about the 7.0 mark, but I felt that I had an obligation to several stables for which I ride, and I would not take the break. Now I have to take a rest, and this week I will go away where I can get a bit of golf and forget racing for the next two or the weeks.” A Short Spell. t . Although Dictate was nominated for the Midsummer Handicap, he is not likely to race again until Easter. He was plainly suffering from the effects of his heel trouble in his two races on the firm ground at Trentham, and on his return he was put aside to give him a chance to get right again. A Strenuous Career. Argentic indicated by his two efforts at Trentham, that he has gone well past his best, and it is probable that he will be retired after the Easter meeting at Riccarton. A Change of Air. Many English breeders of recent years have adopted the policy of sending their mares and stallions away for a change of air and surroundings. Mr S. Green also believes in a change for his stallions. Last summer Lo Zingaro spent some time at Westmere, in the Wanganui district. He will probably come to New Zealand next summer for

a month or two. Actor, who has just completed his first season at the stud, is to be sent to New Zealand for a holiday, and he will be shipped to the Dominion on February 8. Fate of Favourites. During the course of three days’ racing at the Wellington summer meeting seven both-way favourites were successful —four on the first day, two on the second day, and only one on final day. Six other favourites ran second and two ran third. The fur- , ther back a favourite finished was ninth, the post occupied by Hinerawe in the final event, incidentally won by her stable mate, Drachma. Astaire. After failing lo show up on the opening day of the Trentham Meeting, Astaire was not started again on the subsequent days. The tracks were too firm to suit the Wingatui-trained gelding. Globe Trotter, The distance attached to the Hopeful Stakes was considered too short for Globe Trotter, and he may be more at home if sent down for the Middle Park Plate. Gay Son. Gay Son is a solid colt with a good turn of speed and stays on well up to about a mile and a-quarter. He ran a good race over eleven furlongs in the W.R.C. Handicap, but a lift to 8.11 stopped him in the Summer Handicap. Quadrilateral. Quadrilateral, with an Iliad filly foal at foot and service by Solicitor-Gen-eral, sold at 525 gns at the Elderslie stud sale, was purchased by Mr Percy Millar, owner fit the largest stud in Australia. At Randwick. The autumn meeting of the A.J.C. will be held on April 8, and following days. The chief double is the Doncaster Handicap, of £3OOO, one mile, and the Sydney Cup, of £7OOO, and a gold cup valued at £2OO, two miles. The Soft Sex. The general run of buyers at the yearling sales are not particularly keen on fillies. During the Wellington Cup meeting the “soft sex” won a-third of the races on the programme, and did remarkably well in proportion to their representation. Won All The Way. Hanover, who had a very successful first season last winter, led from end to end in the Hack Hurdles at the' Ashhurst meeting on Monday. He had far too much pace for the others and it was only a question of his jumping well for him to carry the day. Tareha, the favourite, tired badly and Princess Isabel just shaded him for second place and dividend. Good Return. Filetto, a winner over five furlongs at the Marton New Year meeting, made another good return by capturing the Siberia Hack Handicap for her ownertrainer, L. J. Jarvis. She gained only a narrow decision over Copycat and Hunter’s Eve, who was generally, regarded as a first-class prospect, but her steady improvement should soon bring her further success.