TURF NEWS & NOTES

Wairarapa Times-Age, 14 April 1939, Page 9

TURF NEWS & NOTES

CURRENT TOPICS FROM STABLE 0. COURSE

Views on Racing Facts and Fancies

SETTLEMENT IN STAYING FORM

(By

"The Cynic”)

Settlement seems as if he is well on the way to staying form. He made a splendid run. in the concluding stages of the Great Autumn Handicap, which marked his entrance to open company, and he should be a'difficult horse to beat the next time he starts in a mid-dle-distance event. Many fancied him for the Great Autumn after his good winning form on the first day, and they were not disappointed with the performance of the gelding. He was within a length of the winner in fourth place, and that after having to come right through the field, for he was second last or last for most of the journey. Disappointing. Haughty Winner’s performance in the Great Autumn was disappointing as he finished last. He was a beaten horse a long way from home, and the effort did not represent his best form. On the other hand, it was his first attempt over a distance longer than a mile and a quarter, and maybe he lacks the stamina it was thought he possessed. Cocksure. It was generally thought that Cocksure would not line up again on the second day after pulling up sore in his wonderful Great Easter victory, but his unsound leg yielded to overnight treatment, and he went another good race in adverse circumstances When he contested the final race of the meeting. The Jumpers. Jewish Lad, improved by his race on the previous day, gave a very attractice display of fast jumping to win the Peerswick Brush Hurdles. He looks like going on to better class with experience. Silver Sight was responsible for another capital effort under his big weight and should get some more money in the winter. Dracula ran on a lot better but Pladie was only fair, while Sunee ran badly. Smart Maiden. Mr J. A. Hennah, of Hastings, took the Yaldhurst Handicap with Kalika and retains his record of having won a race every time he has brought a horse to Riccarton. Kalika had' no previous form but backers made her favourite and she proved to be a grand galloper, likely to do much better. Shanghai Lily went well to be second and her turn should come soon. The Duce and Swingtime did best of the others but their form was moderate. Gay Hussar showed speed, but failed to stay, as did Lights Out, a Nightmarch five-year-old. Too Severe. Benefited by his race on Monday, Royal Chief looked in remarkably good order when paraded for the Great Autumn Handicap, and it was a big disappointment to all. that he failed to perform up to expectations. A burden not often carried nowadays in flat races and a rough passage during the race had much to do with his downfall. Likely Retirement. Argentic made a poor showing in the Great Autumn Handicap, and the last has probably been seen of the owned gelding, who, although never reaching the best class, proved himself one of the best stayers in New Zealand. Improving. • Elegy, carrying the same colours as Royal Chief, but in a different stable, ran a sound race in the Addington Handicap, and looks like becoming more useful than seemed likely some weeks back.

A Strenuous Season. Toro Koura suffered from soreness when exercised on Wednesday morning, and was sent home to Washdyke. He will probably now be given a wellearned respite from racing. Hector Grey. It has been announced that Hector Gray is shortly to take up a training establishment at Ellerslie, and he will most likely be taking with him from New Plymouth Namara, Wynardo, and two yearlings recently purchased by the well-known owner, Mrs W. D. Graham, Gray was at Takanini before going to New Plymouth, and won many races with a big team of horses. Double Winners. Only one horse has won the Great Autumn Handicap more than once. This was Longlands, and he dates back sixty years to a period when competition was not so fierce as it is today. Double winners of the Great Easter are Nystad and Concertpitch. The first horse to capture the Easter-Autumn was Lady Zetland, the next her daughter, Lady Lillian, and the only other Grand Knight. Vladimir won each race, but not in the same season. Working Well. Royevrus was allowed to forgo his Easter Handicap engagement at his trainer would like the going a little easier for the son of Surveyor. He has been working in good style at Takanini and is up to the standard required whenever he gets a suitable track. Rapid Progress. Silver Stick’s running in the Champagne Stakes indicates that the Beau Pere colt has made rapid progress since he last raced. Had he kept straight at the finish he would have been closer to the winner. As it is he promises to be a good winner for Mr W. H. Gaisfoi’d as a three-year-old. Promises Well. Putting a splendid run at the end of the Onslow Stakes, Surmise got up second in the last few strides. This son of Surveyor and Hilmar is a lean type like his half-brother King Rey, but he promises to be more than useful next season. Since he began racing he has made progress with each start. A Prospect. The good work performed by Our Jean prior to the Auckland meeting caused the Takanini filly to be well supported for the Champagne Stakes. She found the task too severe, but ran well enough to indicate that she has prospects the next time she appears in a handicap two-year-old event. Improving. The Paeroa winner, Orwere, is a steadily-improving sprinter who is expected to carry on to further success. He is a fine beginner who is always well placed in his races and his stamina has improved as he has acquired better condition. Corato. Corato was an acceptor both days at Tauranga, but he did not appear, his stablemate, Orate, being the runner each day. Corato has been showing excellent form in hack company and, like another son'of Oration in Orwere, is thought a likely one to succeed in open sprint company.

Staying Hack. Spartan ran his best race to date when he won the Addington Handicap. This Iliad three-year-old had shown previous form, but in his latest race he produced stamina that had not been in evidence earlier. It should have been no surprise, however, as his dam, Dame Straitlace, has a staying pedigree and she ran second in the New Zealand Cup.

RACING FIXTURES

April 15—Stratford. April 15—Greymouth. April 15, 17—Avondale. April 19, 20— Manawatu. April 21, 22—Whangarei. April 22 —Clifden. April 22—Reefton. April 22—Waverley. April 27, 29—South Canterbury. April 28, 29—Dannevirke (at Woodville). April 29, May I—Nelson.