TURF NEWS AND NOTES

Wairarapa Times-Age, 28 September 1939, Page 11

TURF NEWS AND NOTES

CURRENT TOPICS FROM STABLE AND COURSE Looking the -New Zealand Cup Field Over ROYAL CHIEF AND CATALOGUE MAY NOT BE THERE THE PROSPECTS OF BEAUPARTIR APPEAR TO BE BRIGHT. (BY “CARBINE.”) Now that (the weights for the New Zealand Cup have been declared discussion on the Dominion’s premier event is the order of the day. One thing is certain; few will question the handicaps prepared by Mr W. P. Russell, who has once again come through a difficult task in the best possible style. It is, perhaps, a little unfortunate that the top .weights, Royal Chief and Catalogue, are almost certain to be in Australia at the time of the race. Royal Chief, at 9.6, is by no means badly treated when it is considered that two years ago Cuddle and Silver Ring were assessed at 9.0 and 9.7, respectively, in this race.

Royal Chief has proved himself an outstanding weight-for-age and handicap performer and in the A.J.C. Metropolitan Handicap, containing the cream of the Australian performers, he was weighted at 9.9 although the race has a 6.7 minimum. In that event Royal Chief is at present ruling equal favourite, although conceding Catalogue 91b. against only 41b. in the New Zealand Cup. Although his weight does not compare favourably with that given to Royal Chief according to Australian views, most New Zealanders vvill concede Catalogue as fairly weighted at 9.2. He was given 8.7 in this event last year since which he has won a Melbourne Cup and a C.J.C. Winter Cup. If Catalogue is a starter in this race his chances are sure to be greatly fancied.

Although not up to Defaulter’s' standard, Beaupartir proved himself a great three-year-old last season, finishing the season by winning the A.R.C. Easter Handicap and the A.R.C. St. Leger. He proved himself every inch a weight-for-age galloper, and thus it is rather surprising to find him in at 8.-13. This horse has only to shape up to expectations in his early essays to be one o'f the main fancies. It is noteworthy that in the A.J.C. Metropolitan Handicap he was weighted at 9.2 or 21bs. above Catalogue. Arctic King won the New Zealand Cup last year with 8.1, but has done little since and 8.10 should stop him this year. At the same time he is a fine stayer and has run most of his best races there; in fact, his best subsequent effort after winning the New Zealand Cup run Second with 8.11 to Siegmund 8.2 in the C.J.C. Great Autumn Handicap.

Willie Win at 8.8 has 41b. less than he carried into fourth place last year. It is in his favoui’ that he is a real stayer, but he has never quite lived up to his second to The Trump in the Melbourne Cup of 1937. Siegmund and Peerless each with 8.4 have their share, especially the latter, in view of her disappointing Australian form. Siegmund ran moderately carrying 7.21 in this race last year and it is difficult to imagine him now scoring with another 71b on.his back.,

The weighting of Majority at 8.1 is interesting, for so far he has never been tried oVer a distance furthar than a mile. Should he show staying ability within the next few weeks he will have to be taken into consideration. Last year Sly Fox failed when he had 7.10 and started favourite. Despite this he is again going to be greatly fancied with 8.2, for his latest winning efforts at Wanganui and Avondale .have been most impressive. At 8.1 Queen of Song hag been treated as a back number despite her good form last autumn in winning the C.J.C. Mid-summer Handicap with 8.2 and the Dunedin Cup with 8:6, then running Royal Chief to a neck at weight-for-age in the James Hazlett Gold Cup. Lady Furst at '7.10 is a brilliant mare who was weighted at well above weight-for-age in every handicap event she contested last season. She now comes in at 131 b. below weight-for-age and if produced thoroughly fit on the day She might take some beating.

Winner of the Avondale Cup when carrying 7.0, The Cardinal as a result is the pre-post favourite. The handsome Night Raid four-year-old looks every inch a stayer and should be susceptible to a good deal of improvement yet. Among the remaining lightweights are many improving young handicappers who have given every indication of staying well. Wagner, Centrepoise, Yours Truly, Hagen and Colonel Bogey are a few who during the next month may make sufficient progress to entitle them to respect on the day. IN DIRE STRAITS SMALL ENGLISH RACING MEN? Some idea of what the abandonment of racing in England meant to those in the game can be gained from cable messages to Australian papers just arrived in New Zealand by mail. The smaller racing men are in dire straits, for their horses are moderate and their successes usually confined to smaller meetings, and several owners are considering emptying their stables and sending the horses to Australia and South Africa. They point out that the value of thoroughbreds has slumped heavily since September 9. It is a different •matter for millionaire owners, who can afford to maintain stables throughout a long war, but even these owners reflect glumly that the yearling today may be an eight-year-old at the end of the war. Apart from the vast army of jockeys and stable boys, racecourse staffs and motor float contractors find themselves at a loose end. All bookmakers are idle. Many have enlisted in the various services. Offices of starting-price betting organisations with huge ramifications throughout the kingdom are closed. Staffs have been dispersed and instructed to await developments. RACING JFIXTURES September 30. —Otaki-Maori Racing Club. September 30, October 2.—Ohinemuri Jockey Club. ~\ October 5, 7.—Dunedin Jockey Club. October 5, 7.—Hawke’s Bay Jockey Club. October 7.—Bay of Plenty Racing Club. October 9. —Rotorua and Bay of Plenty Hunt Club. October 12, 14. —Masterton Racing October 14.—South Canterbury Jockey Club. . Club.