TURF NEWS & NOTES

Wairarapa Times-Age, 30 March 1939, Page 11

TURF NEWS & NOTES

CURRENT TOPICS FROM STABLE & COURSE

Views on Racing Facts and Fancies

EL MEYNELL READY FOR WINTER.

(By

"The Cynic.”)

Getting ready for winter racing is El Mejinell, a horse who won several races last year. A relative to View Halloo, he, like that horse, relishes heavy going. While the track's are in their present condition he is being confined to easy pace work.

Working Well. The jumper Black Marlin had his first school since resuming work recently, and acquitted himself in fine style. Now under the care of W. J. McLean, Black Marlin is steadily acquiring condition, and if he remains sound, will be in good order for the winter. In Good Form. Since racing well at Te Aroha. Royal Appellant has not been asked to appear in public. J. M. Buchanan has him working regularly at Ellerslie, and his charge has never looked better. If rain falls before Easter, there is every prospect of Royal Appellant showing his best form at the meeting. Jumping Trio. J. H. Gillett, whose team includes three jumpers, has them doing good work on the flat, but he will not school them again until the ground at Riccarton is softened by rain. Wexford Bridge and Leopardstown are both fairly forward, and they are a promising pair for steeplechasing. Dividend, the hurdler’ of the stable, is making a good recovery from a cut he received the last time he was jumped and it is hoped to have him ready for brush hurdle events at Easter. After that a North Island trip will be considered for these three horses. The idea is to start the campaign at the Egmont meeting, leaving the remainder of the programme for later consideration. Sound.

Tomcat has been on the easy list for a few weeks, and has made good progress, his legs appearing to be all right again. A. S. Ellis has resumed light exercise with the big Nightmarch gelding and hopes to have his charge ready for a race at the South Canterbury meeting in May, as a preliminary to steeplechase engagements at the Dunedin Jockey Club’s June meeting.

Double Engagements. Foxlove and Galleon have both been nominated for the Riverton meeting, as well as the principal events at Riccarton. A decision where the pair will do their Easter racing has not yet'been made, but it is mor<y than likely that

they will be raced at Riverton. Spanish Lad, who is in the open sprint races at Riverton, has also been nominated for the Great Easter Handicap, and it is likely that after racing the first day (Saturday), at Riverton, he will be railed through to Riccarton. Name Claimed. The yearling filly by Lord Warden from Pledge, bought at Trentham in January by Mr M. Steinberg, of Auckland, for 100 guineas, has had the name of Mamasha claimed for her. She is a half-sister to Swordstick, and was bred by Mr G. A. Kain. A Probable Sale. According to an Australian newspaper, Spear Chief has been under offer for sale to an Indian sportsman, and no doubt following the horse’s defeat of Ajax on Saturday, the deal will now be completed. Pythia. Pythia, a Dominion-bred brood mare now in Victoria, and the dam of Thrasos, was sold at the Melbourne sales a fortnight ago for 775gns, which is the highest price paid for a brood mare in Melbourne for many years. Pythia, who was a winner in New Zealand, is by Psychology, out of the Boniform mare Flora MacDonald, dam also of that good performer Royal. Mac. She had a colt foal by Manitoba at foot, and the purchase was made, by the Flemington trainer, E. Fisher on behalf of Mr T. C. Manifold. Mrs F. Nathan, of New Zealand, who offered Pythia, also offered the colt Crojick, who won the St Mongo Handicap at Moonee Valley at his first start. Mrs Nathan refused 2500 gns for Crojick six months ago, and he was passed in at llOOgns. Top Flier, dam of Crojick, was knocked down to E. Fisher for 250gns. It is understood that Top Flier was also bought on behalf of Mr Manifold. Green Boa. Green Boa, who won at Oamaru, .was got by Balboa from Green Cloth by The Ace—Equipment by MartianTomorrow, by Bill o’ Portland — Elusive by Treu Du, Green Boa ranks as one of the most attractively bred horses left by Balboa. Great Easter Hope. < While none of the Great Autumn candidates that raced at Oamaru appeal as likely winners, it will not be surprising if the winner of the Great Easter raced there. ' Cocksure and Nightcalm, lightweights for the Great Easter,, were outstanding among the sprinters and though the opposition was not good, their performances suggest that they will both race well at Riccarton.

On his; Motukarara form, Cocksure did hot appeal at Oamaru, but the race brought him on quickly and Ire lived up to the. promise he showed in a gallop at Riccarton on the eve of the meeting by carrying 8.10 successfully in the seven furlong Stewards’ Handicap and defeating Nightcalm (7.13) ;jSy a long neck in the smart time ofTmin 25 l-ssesc. Cocksure was fourth to the straight and, after ranging alongside the hard-ridden Nighthcalm 100yds from the finish, did best to win.

Cocksure is a four-year-old bay gelding by Cockpit from Sapient, and he has muscled up into a solid horse. He had scored four wins earlier in the season and as he runs out seven furlongs solidly must have excellent prospects with M. Caddy in the saddle and carrying only 7.1.

Improving Hack. Mintlaw lost his second race at Paeroa owing to being slow at the barrier. As it was, he showed ; that he is a steadily improving hack! Mintlaw is going on well under K. Heaton at Ellerslie, and he should give a good account of himself at the big fixture at Easter.

Shows Promise. The two-year-old Wapaugh has made a good recovery from the injuries received in a fall several weeks ago. Apart from a swelling on a hind joint, he appears to be all right again, and is once again doing regular exercise. Wapaugh has already shown promise and his injuiry came at an inopportune time.

Resumed. Mr R. D. Westenra has returned to his Riccarton quarters with his two horses. Wardress had to be rested after racing at Trentham in January but she is in excellent health again and it is intended to race her at the South Canterbury meeting at the end of next month. Lady Graceful is doing road exercise at present, but is fairly forward and should be ready to race about May.

Beau Vite. Beau Vite is now a bargain at the 1000 guineas paid for him as a yearling. She should stay on, as he wins at the right end of a race and his pedigree suggests stamina. Dominant, the dam of Beau Vite, was got by Martian from Lovelorn, a sister to Nones and Menelaus, and a line of stayers.