TURF NEWS & NOTES

Wairarapa Times-Age, 18 May 1939, Page 11

TURF NEWS & NOTES

CURRENT TOPICS FROM STABLE & COURSE

Views on Racing Facts and Fancies

AGOG MAKING GOOD PROGRESS

(By “The Cynic.”)

Excellent progress is being made by the hurdler Agog at Ellerslie. He has won two hurdle races since joining 1. Tucker’s team, and now looks a much improved horse. Agog is likely to race at Te Rapa at the weekend and he will not fail for lack of condition. Dictate. Dictate continues to be one of the most unlucky horses in training. He has been in and around the place money several times this season without getting the thick end of a purse. Paper Slipper. Nightcalm and Lady Leigh beat Paper Slipper in the Flying Handicap run at the Ashburton meeting, and are handicapped to meet him on better terms at the Timaru meeting. Premature publication of the handicaps makes victors meet defeated horses on better terms. A Good Beginning. Sir Abe Bailey began the flat-racing season in England with great eclat. Within a fortnight three of his horses Vargilius. Rairstone and Caerloptic, won four events aggregating, in value £4585. Fairstone later ran third in the Two Thousand Guines and. this week, he captured the Newmarket Stakes. Sir Abe Bailey has had both his legs amputated. Impressive. * When Vaalsstar won his maiden race at Avondale, 'he did so in impressive style. A. Tinker has the son of Vaals working freely at Takanini. and it may not be long before he is equal to notching another success. Best Race. The best race run by High Sea for some time was in the chief event at Pukekohe, where he was running on solidly in fourth place. It is possible that the Heroic gelding appreciates the easing of track conditions, and during the next few weeks he may race in keeping with his previous best form. Shown Speed. Although she has won only.one race to date, Hunter’s Rose has shown speed in most of her races. A three-year-old by Hunting Song, she has been taken along quietly, and if she possesses the ability of most of her sire’s stock in bad going, she should be a good hack prospect during the winter. She has been progressing well of late. A Good Beginner. There was no doubt about the speed shown by Valimeen when she won at Pukekohe, and the manner in which she ran on indicates that age is endowing her with more stamina than she originally possessed. Valimeen's. exceptional beginning ability will be an asset in big sprint fields during the winter. More Solid. After attempting two middle-dis-tance handicaps, Anion is to return to sprinting at Te Rapa. The Chief Ruler gelding has never realised early expectations, but he has been placed in good sprint fields on numerous occasions, and is now more solid than formerly. Trentham Prospect. Rebel Mate, who has not raced since he filled third place in the Great Easter Handicap, may be given a race on the second day of the South Canterbury meeting, and this should bring him to round about his best for more important winter engagements. Rebel Mate has always performed well at Trentham. and he may be there again in July. Pink Dress. Pink Dress, the winner of the Trial Stakes at the Ashburton meeting, is owned by her breeder, Mr J. M. Samson. She was got by Pink Coat from Gold Dress, by Hunting Song —Etoile d’Or by Polydamon—Perle d'Or by Multiform from Aura. Power Chief. Power Chief is shaping as if ho may develop into one of the front rank cross-country performers. He is owned by Mr Frank Armstrong and was got by Tractor from Asterism by Lord Quex—Asternia by Merry MomentAsteroid by Apremont—Planet by Castor. Selecting a Rider. It is a peculiar trait of some trainers that they persist in employing a jockey who meets with occasional success in preference to the more fashionable but, at the same time, thoroughly experienced horseman. A longer price may be obtained with the lesser light in the saddle but most people will agree that a crack horseman and a shorter price are always preferable. There is, at least, a better chance of landing the stake and attendant bets. It has been noticed at two or three meetings of late that horses that have shown the right work on the tracks and the ability to win have had their prospects settled by indifferent handling in races. It is not that the boy on top is not doing his best but his best is not good enough to win the race. It must be galling topmost peopleto watch a leading horseman simply taking a race from one with less experience.

Hurdle Recruit. Sir Gladsome is the latest recruit to the ranks of Riecarton hurdlers, and he has taken well to his new game. The Centrepiece gelding comes from a successful jumping family, as his dam. Canakin. by AU Red. from Canella. by Aaway from Crucinella. is a half-sister to Cinnamon who foaled Pahu, Pango and Miss Pango. Sir Gladsome is a rising six-year-old gelding, and he is now owned by Mr W. Greenhill, of Greymouth. but he is being trained at Riccarton by E. Kingan. Improving. Although Redolent figures as an entrant for the South Canterbury meeting, he will not be on hand as. after racing at Otaki. he is to remain for the Manawatu meeting which is hold at the same time as Timaru. Redolent’s condition, when he left Riecarton suggested that he would improve with each run.

Celebrations. When Workman returned to Dublin after his Grand National win. he was accorded a great reception. Bedecked with green ribbons, he was taken by the owner and his son to a new horsebox at the quayside. A procession was formed, and headed by a band of the Irish Transport and General Workers Union, playing lively Irish march tunes. Workman was escorted through streets lined with cheering people to the Kingsbridge Railway Station to entrain for Celbridge, County Kildare. At Celbridge another great reception awaited him. Business in the, little town was suspended, and another procession with bands escorted Workman to his training quarters at Hazelpatch. Smart Jumper. Although Gayspear is only a small gelding, he has a smart way of jumping hurdles, to which he was re-introduced last week. When formerly trained at Riccarton by H. Nurse, Gayspear was schooled, but that was several seasons ago. Despite his long absence he soon showed that he had not forgotten his initial experiences. Attractive. A yearling who is attracting favourable attention on the tracks is the Myosotis—Reproachful filly trained by H. R. Davies. The half-sister to Chide is one of the best grown youngsters about, and she, carries herself in a manner which suggests class.