TURF NEWS AND NOTES

Wairarapa Times-Age, 5 August 1939, Page 11

TURF NEWS AND NOTES

CURRENT TOPICS FROM STABLE AND COURSE Survoy Crashes Badly in Work-out LAMENESS CAUSES YOURS TRULY TO RETURN HOME PADISHAH CONTINUES TO REMAIN FAVOURITE IN STEEPLECHASE (BY “CARBINE.”) Now that the acceptances for the first day of the C.J.C. Grand National meeting have been announced the punter has much smaller fields to sort out and his task of picking the winners has to a certain extent been lessened. The big event on the programme, the Grand National Steeplechase, of three a half miles, with a purse of £1,500, has attracted nine runners, all of whom are in good form and who are capable of winning this important event. Thirty-one horses are scheduled to face the starter in the Cashmere Plate, a distance of six furlongs, with a purse of £3OO. No doubt there will be several scratchings in this event which gives promise of being one of the most exciting and interesting of the day. The Winter Cup, the other main race on the first day’s programme, has 21 entries. Among the runners in this event is the 'Masterton-trained Lady Montana who will carry 9.2 and who is expected to give the top weights a stiff race. Gay Chou, who will carry top weight in the Paparua Handicap is also expected to give a good account.

Padishah still remains a firm favourite for the Grand National Steeplechase. It was sixty-three years ago that an amateur rider, Mr Martelli, won the Dominion’s, premier steeplechase on Royalty. Can Mr G. G. Beaton on Padishah equal this long-standing performance. Since 1915 only two favourites have been first home in the Winter Cup. These were Le Choucas and Fast Passage. Le Choucas formed one of a bracket which contributed to the favouritism. Whenever a Grand National meeting looms in sight people revive memories of Temuka-bred Liberator, who probably has never been excelled as an all-round performer, says a Southern writer. He won the Manawatu, Dunedin,’ and Wanganui Cups, the Grand National Hurdles, Great Northern Hurdles, and Great Northern Steeplechase. These performances are well known, but it is not so generally recognised that he nearly won at his first effort in each department. His initial appearance on the flat resulted in a head defeat by Murat in the Geraldine Guineas. He commenced as a hurdler by winning the Maiden Hurdles and Grand National Hurdles, and he stopped off as a ’chaser to annex the Great Northern. Reports from the South Island state that Padishah and Gold Wren have been working well. Survoy in his work out crashed badly and A. E. Ellis was thrown clear, taking the bridle with him. He received a bruised arm but it is not serious. King Rey is jumping well and appears to have much more confidence. Yours Truly, who has been suffering from the effects of knocking himself in the recent Christchurch Hunt meeting has done nothing and is to return home. His lameness is not serious. Aussie Ra continues to school well and Cottingham has been giving almost faultless displays. Uncle Jim, in commencing a round of the main steeplechase fences, slipped and his rider, R. Savage, received a broken collarbone. Dividend, Peter Beckford, Charade and Hanover have given good exhibitions over the sticks. ABOUT HORSES POWER CHIEF DESTROYED. The enjoyment of the excellent day’s racing at Riccarton last week was marred to a large extent by the fatal accidents to Power Chief and Redolent. The former had given indications of developing into one of the Dominion’s best steeplechasers, and his close second to Survoy in the Great Northern Steeplechase and to the same horse in the Wellington Steeplechase would have made him a strong candidate for high honours at the coining gathering. He was a six-year-old gelding by Tractor! from Asterism, by Lord Quex from Asterina, by Merry Moment from Asteroid, by Apremont, and was bred by Mr G. D. Beatson, who was present at Saturday’s meeting. The owner, Mr F. Armstrong, was unfortunately not able to make the trip, as he is at present indisposed in Hastings. Mr Armstrong has made several attempts to win a Grand National Steeplechase, and the sympathy of all racegoers will go out to him in the loss of what he considered the strongest candidate he has had to represent him in the big race. Redolent did well as a hurdler, but since being put to stccplechasing has been disappointing. Although a brilliant jumper at limes, he has always been inclined to risk some of his fences, and had only completed one steeplechase course this season.

Among the juveniles at present in work at Ellerslie none has created a more favourable impression than the Iliad —Anne Shakespeare colt Stratford, who, besides being an attractive individual, displays an effortless style of galloping. A good future is predicted for him. Another whose progress was being watched is the halfbrother by Beau Pere to High Caste, but this youngster unfortunately developed a cold a few weeks back and has only just resumed work. He does not measure up to High Caste in appearance, but he is a colt who is likely to make vast improvement from now on. and it is quite probable he will be as forward as the majority when two-year-old racing begins. Mr A. K. Firth, owner of Royal

Chief, is sending Elegy, by Prosperity from Damaris, to be mated with Phaleron Bay. Other bookings to the Phalaris horse include a New Zealand Cup winner in Oratrix (Kilbroney Oratress), Horomea (dam of Mittie), and Cocoanut (dam of Rulanut). The Chief Ruler—Chelae mare Limulus, a Wellington Stakes winner, is booked to pay a visit toßroiefort. Habit (Thespian—Cowl), who is in foal to Broicfort, will pay a return visit to the Blandford horse. Lady Cavendish, dam of Golden Hair and Lord Cavendish, is also booked to Broiefort, and another mare is Wyndale (by Rossendale from Kilbreeze, by Kilbroney), who is in foal to Dink. Since racing at the Great Northern meeting Right Royal has done everything required of him in pleasing style. He has also improved in condition and will be a better horse the next time he appears in public. This novice went exceptionally well in a work-out over half a mile a few days ago, and he should not be hard to place during the spring meetings. Reports from the South state that Gold Salute, the rising three-year-old colt by Lord Warden from Frenzied Finance, is wintering well. Although he won only one race- this season Gold Salute was placed in seven other events, and a profitable future is predicted for him. He has several Australian engagements next season. SPORT OF KINGS OVERSEAS PERSONAL AND OTHERWISE. Mr E. L. Baillieu (one of the part owners of Ajax), who died recently, won a total of £175,000 in stakes, but he computed that it cost him £185,000 to get it. When gifts arc being bestowed after a win in an important race the rider generally comes off better than the trainer. The Newcastle Jockey Club intends giving a stake of £lOOO in September, with £lOO going to the trainer. At the same meeting a £350 stake will give £5O to the trainer of the winner. Naturally, trainers will be keen to saddle up a horse in both races. At a recent suburban meeting in Sydney a minor bookmaker found himself unable to meet his obligations after a hot favourite, Tolerant, had won. He had been guaranteed by a paddock bookmaker, Mr E. Abbot, who was left to pay claims amounting to approximately £250. Other bookmakers. realising that Abbot had been most unfortunate, opened a fund and contributed the major portion of the amount in question. Considerable prominence has been given to the matter in Sydney, for holders of winning tic- 1 kets could not be paid owing to the non-production of the betting sheets, with which ticket numbers had to be checked. However, claims were to have been paid last week, and one outcome of the episode will be an even stricter supervision of applications for bookmakers’ licences and closer investigation into the financial standing of all layers.

Prize money totalling £19.630 will be distributed by the V.A.T.C. during the three days of the Caulfield Cup meeting on October 14, 18. and 21.

England’s record for a totalisator turnover on any race is the £61.008 put through on this year's Derby. Bearing on the Hunt Cup at Ascot, bookmakers said there was less betting on that race than at any previous time since the war. Totalisator investments were £34.519. Sir Abe Bailey did not forget the poor when his horse Caerloptic won the Royal Hunt Cup at Ascot. He gave £5OO to the Jockey Club to distribute among poor people connected with racing in Great Britain and £550 to the Salvation Army to distribute among poor people in South Africa living in towns associated with his career. Seven towns were specially mentioned. Racing meh will be interested to learn that in England jockeys are supplied with afternoon tea, scones and sandwiches. At times a fruit vendor is allowed into the jockeys' room. Hence the term ‘-fruit for the sideboard.’ A huge lire was always burning in the grate of the jockeys' room in the winter time.