TURF NEWS AND NOTES

Wairarapa Times-Age, 4 August 1939, Page 9

TURF NEWS AND NOTES

CURRENT TOPICS FROM STABLE AND COURSE

Northern Interest is Keen in Grand National Meeting FORM HORSES ENGAGED IN ALL BIG EVENTS LOSS OF POWER CHIEF HAS ROBBED STEEPLECHASE OF COLOUR (BY “CARBINE.”) Interest in the racing world at the present time is centred round the coming 'Grand National meeting at Riccarton. Northern interest is keen in all the big events as horses from the North Island are engaged in them all. The steeplechase has, of course, been robbed of some of its colour by the unfortunate accident to the brilliant Power Chief, and this event now looks like a struggle between Survoy, Erination and Padishah, with Gold Wren not far away.

Taranaki candidates will be select, but few. Majority, Aussie Ra and Ned Cuttie present a formidable trio, while Silk Sox, Disturbed, Chat, Kaiwaka and in all probability El Meynell are likely to add to the interest of their various engagements. Undoubtedly the outstanding sprinter seen in Taranaki for some time 3s Majority, and it is confidently expected in many quarters that this brilliant runner will add yet another important race to his already impressive record. Perhaps it will be the Winter Cup. This big Mint Leaf gelding has as yet to be tried over a mile, but he has scored handsomely over seven furlongs, plus the important fact that his races have been won at the right end. Majority will, of course, carry plenty of weight but he can stand it.

Stablemate Ned Cuttie turned on a good exhibition at the recent Wellington meeting and is in good form. Ned Cuttie revels in winter going, and he should be seen to advantage before the meeting concludes. In the Winter Cup he would appear to be overshadowed by the brilliant Majority, but at the same time he is not to be lost sight of. as he has proved himself over the distance.

A newcomer to the sticks. Aussie Ra, has already created a big impression. He won nicely at the recent Marton and Christchurch meetings and his latest effort has caused his stocks to rise considerably as far as the Grand National Hurdles are concerned. Aussie Ra is not what one might term a brilliant jumper but he takes no risks at the battens. Although it is a hard task to set a comparative novice to be successful in-a—race like the Grand'National Hurdles Aussie Ra is expected to be equal to the effort. Disturbed is also a Grand National Hurdle candidate, and if this horse is well ridden he should not be far away when the numbers go up. Disturbed is a first class jumper. Mudlark Chat might show up in the minor events. She went well at Trentham and is a good stayer. Although he was well supported at Awapuni El Meynell failed but he was, unfortunately. interfered with. On the roomy Riccarton track he might be seen to advantage.

King Rey, Ellanui and Jewelled Girdle, all winners at the Wellington winter meeting, will represent the Waikato district. King Rey disappointed at the recent Christchurch meeting but he has a good record over the fences and will be a definite candidate for the Grand National Hurdles. On the flat he has plenty of speed and if he is with the leaders over the last hurdle he should have more than an equal chance. A fine type of jumper who has shown great improvement of late is Ellanui. Ellanui won the Highweight Handicap and ran second in the Winter Hurdles at Trentham iind is not to be overlooked in the big hurdle race. Although Jewelled Girdle’s performances at Trentham were nothing to brag about he has improved as a jumper and might figure prominently in some of the minor events. Any doubt about Padishah mastering the big brush fences at Riccarton was dispelled by the easy manner in which he jumped them last week. He certainly had to be kept up to his work approaching them, but did not, as expected, show any hesitation in tackling them, in fact, his best and fastest efforts were over Cutts’ and the top brush, two of the most formidable obstacles of their kind in the Dominion. Cottingham also had no r trouble in jumping the strange country, although he was inclined to go 100 high over some of them.

Catalogue will be making his third attempt to win the Winter Cup when saddled up this year. If he lands the stake again he will link up with Cynisca, who won the Wellington Cup on three consecutive years, and Waiuku, who won the Thompson Handicap three years on end. Victory won the Riverton Cup in four consecutive years, and this is probably a world’s record in connection with a flat race handicap. Foxton won the Rangitikei Cup in three consecutive years, and that completes the list ol a run of three first past the judge.

Dungarvan. the third top-weight in the Winter Cup. is a rising seven-year-old gelding by Colossus from Tikina. and one of T. R. George’s successful team. lie has started 19 times this season for three wins two seconds, and a third. His first win was scored at his tenth start, in the President’s Handicap at the Wairarapa meeting at New Year time. when, with 7.12. he beat Haughty Winner half a length, the nine furlongs and 80yds taking Imin 59sec. He won the Egmont Cup in February under 7.1 by three lengths the mile and a-quarter taking 2min 6sec. and Ned Cuttie, who was the outsider of the field, was among the unplaced division with 7.10 on his bad:.

On the second clay of this meeting he dead-heated with Lady Furst, and had 9.0, Ned Cuttie 7.11 i being close up third. At the Wanganui meeting last month, with 9.8, he was beaten two lengths by Might 7.7 in the Empire Handicap, one mile and a distance, and has not started since. Dungarvan has proved himself to be a good weight carrier, and can be relied on to be finishing as strongly in the long straight at Riccarton, which will suit him well. He comes from a very strong stable, and with 9.12 must be considered worthy of respect.

When Trench Fight won the Jockey Club Handicap at Riccarton last November he carried 9.1, and just beat Nightcalm 7.1 a head in lmin 40 3-5 sec. That race is the only one he has won this season out of 14 starts, but he finished third in the Glasgow Handicap at Ellerslie under 9.6, won by Respectful in lmin 25sec, and was second under 8.6 to Queen of Song 8.2 in the Midsummer Handicap at Riccarton last February, the mile and a-quarter being run in 2min ssec. In this race Haughty Winner had 8.11 and was three lengths away third. In the Winter Cup Trench Fight will meet Haughty Winner on 11b worse terms, but comes in on 311 b better terms with Nightcalm than when they met in the Jockey Club Handicap. Trench Fight is now rising six years old, by Winning Hit from Scrimmage, and a bulldog finisher. Should he be back to his best form he can be relied on to run a very sound race in the Winter Cup, and he likes the sting out of the going.

. An Otago-owned horse, Nightcalm, is favourite in some quarters for the Winter Cup, and on the dam’s side he is bred to handle heavy going. By Night Raid, his dam, Sweet Memory, threw two more than useful horses in Mernbo (winner of the Grand National Hurdles in 1932' and Paladino. She was by Maniapoto from Pretty Helen, by Sweet Simon from Lady Helen, by Phil Athol. This season Nightcalm, now rising five years old, has started 18 times for five wins, six seconds, and one third. He finished second four times out of his first eight starts, and scored his first win on the second day of the Oamaru March meeting, when he carried 8.4 in the Elderslie Handicap, running tb.e six furlongs in Imin. 12 3-5 secs. At Riccarton at Easter he was just beaten in the Templeton Handicap, the six furlongs being run in Imin. 11 2-ssecs. Carrying 8.6, he won the Flying Handicap at Washdyke last April, and with 8.1 the Seadown Handicap on the same course at the May meeting, and on the second day of this fixture the Farewell Handicap with 8.3 in Imin. 11 l-ssecs.

Charade, topweight in the Grand National Hurdles, has started eight times this season for four wins, two seconds and a third. She began in November by “running second to Royal Record at Feilding. At the next attempt she won the Grafton Hurdles with 11.1 in 3min. 46secs. Hopalong 9.3 beat Charade 11.5 by a length and a half in the Auckland Hurdles, run in 3min. 42secs. Erination 12.13 and Tutor 5.u were unplaced. Charade was unplaced in the Waipukurau Cup, and then commenced a run of three wins. At Manawatu she won the Rangitira Hurdles with 10.6 in 3min. 13secs., the Great Northern Hurdles with 10.11 in 4min. 43 3-ssecs., with Erination 11.11 third, five lengths and a half away. Agog 9.8 fell in the race. Her third win came in the Remuera Hurdles, which** she won with 11.10, with Erination 11.13 third three lengths away, in 3min. 42 3-ssecs. Charade won easily, and in the Grand National Hurdles meets Erination on Gib. worse terms.

A horse which may not be long in showing winning form over hurdles is the Sandwich Man. He has schooled pleasingly of late, and by the end of the National meeting he may be ready to show up prominently in a hurdle race.

Konneia. who is looking big and strong, has not had a race for some months, but one with her brilliance should not need much racing to produce her best form.

Coastline, the Pink Coat colt, is in good order, and he is to make his appearance in the Cashmere Plate on the opening day of the National meeting.

Since its establishment in 1876. the New Zealand Grand National Steeplechase has been won on only two occasions by a Dunedin-owned horse, states a Southern writer. In 1882 Mr D. Christie won with Katerfelto. Mr Christie is a relation of C. Christie, who trained Lochella for the Grand National Steeplechase of 1919. Loehclla was owned by a Dunedin resident in Mr R.Acton-Adams, and it is interesting to note the link between the two

winners of the race. Lochella also won the Great Northern double in 1920. Another interesting feature of Katerfelto’s win in the Grand National Steeplechase consists in the fact that his pilot over the Riccarton course was Walter Clifford, then the leading flat-race rider in Now Zealand. It was. as far as can be gathered. Clifford's one and only ride over fences or hurdles. A glance at the records shows that Clifford won the Auckland Cup on Lochiel. Great Northern Derby on Sextant. Medallion, and Morion, the Canterbury Jockey Club Handicap (now the New Zealand Cup) on Mala, Metropolitan Handicap on Mischief and Pasha. New Zealand Derby on Maxim. Manton, and Medallion, Welcome Stakes on Apropos, and Stcpniak, Great Autumn Handicap on Bribery and I.onglands. Champagne Stakes on Sir Modred. Dunedin Cup on Mala. Dunedin Champagne Stakes on Sir Modred, and Wellington Cup on Pasha. It will be seen that Clifford rode for the leading owners of his day. and oldtimers always spoke of him as a high-ly-accomplished horseman.