TURF NEWS AND NOTES

Wairarapa Times-Age, 3 November 1939, Page 9

TURF NEWS AND NOTES

CURRENT TOPICS FROM STABLE AND COURSE

Tomorrow’s C.J.C. Carnival

FORM OF NEW ZEALAND CUP HORSES REVIEWED

A POPULAR DOUBLE IS ROYAL CHIEF AND BEAULIVRE

(BY

"CARBINE.")

Among sportsmen the chief topic of conversation at the moment is the prospects of the various candidates in the New Zealand Cup and Stewards Handicap principally and other C.J.C. events generally. The meeting of the Banks Peninsula Club at Motukarara on Saturday provided disappointing form as far as some New Zealand Cup and Stewards Handicap candidates are concerned. For instance, neither The Wrecker, Spartan nor Settlement produced from that would suggest that they were capable of winning the big New Zealand flat event. The Wrecker was well beaten at the end of a mile in the Buchanan Handicap, and while Swordstick stayed on well, the Rapier gelding did not impress as being able to successfully cover the N.Z. Cup distance. Passaform conceded 201 b to Capracious in the same race but in the New Zealand Cup the Balboa horse will meet the Night Raid filly on much better terms. Even so the fact must not be lost sight of that in the race Capricious was going strongly while Passaform was well beaten. In the circumstances many punters will hold the view that Passaform will not be able to see the distance. He looks bigger in condition than when he stripped at Wingatui, but as a Cup trial it was a disappointment to supporters of Passaform. However, the Balboa colt has a habit of some days doing better work than is usually expected of him. It will be remembered that Passaform won the Ranfurly Handicap at Dunedin and this may bring him support in the Cup. While it is quite possible that the winner of the New Zealand Cup was not in action at Motukarara on Saturday there was form displayed that would suggest to many followers of racing that the Stewards Handicap winner may have faced the starter. Night Calm with 9.1 up, won the Le Bon’s Handicap with ease. In the Stewards Handicap he has 4lbs less to carry than he did at the Banks’ Peninsula meeting, and though seven furlongs may suit him better than six furlongs, there is no doubt that the Night Raid gelding is at the top of his form just now. At Motukarara Night Calm made the rest of the field appear to be hacks, and he looks certain to beat Paper Slipper and Toro Koura again. Furthermore, Night Calm won so easily that it would be difficult to estimate how much he really did have up his sleeve.

The New Zealand Cup field on Saturday, though not including many notable stayers of the type of Wotan or The Buzzer, however includes a dual Oaks winner in Peerless, a Derby winner in Lowenberg and a former Cup winner in Arctic King. The only reliable stayer in the race is Royal Chief, fresh from his victories in Australia, and the general sporting public will go for him. Royal Chief has 9.6, a similar weight to that carried by Nightmarch in 1930. Reports state that Royal Chief Fias been training very satisfactorily at Riccarton. Arctic King has done nothing to inspire confidence recently, though he finished strongly to gain third place in the Masterton Handicap. Arctic King won last year under 8.6 in 3min 24 3-ssec. He afterwards ran a good second in the Great Autumn with 8.11, but he has his full share of weight to carry over the distance.

Peerless has been out of the winning picture for some time and never looked like succeeding in the Wellington Handicap. The Beau Pere mare ran unplaced in the Harcourt Stakes, though she was prominent until the straight was reached. Lady Furst is developing form and must be given a chance. She ran second in the Spring Handicap at Hastings, and won from end to end in the Wellington Handicap at Trentham, making hacks of the rest of the field. She tried to win all the way in the Watkins Handicap but only succeeded in filling third place. Ned Cuttie has only a moderate third in the Mitchelson Cup to recommend him to consideration, and he will be ruled out of a chance in the Riccarton event.

Centrepoise finished strongly in the Marangai Handicap at Wanganui and landed the Spring Handicap at Hastings with a vigorous effort from the turn. Centrepoise won the Watkins Handicap at Trentham, coming very fast in the last furlong to head off Yours Truly and Lady Furst. Thermidor has done nothing of late to recommend her, though she has won by staying on, and for that reason comes into consideration. At Timaru she was giving Wardress 17;; lb and Swordstick 221 b when third to them in 2min 7 3-ssec. At ''Banks Peninsula Swordstick was third to them in 2min 7 3-ssec. At Banks Peninsula Swordstick was third to Wine Card, and Capricious and Thermidor would have met Swordstick on the best part of a stone better terms. Tooley Street won the Selwyn Handicap at the C.J.C. meeting in August, making a strong finishing run but has done nothing since. Dictate failed at South Canterbury, Wellington, Ashburton and Canterbury. Of the defeated lot at Wellington, Lowenberg may arrest attention. He 'was one of the last out of the straight in the Wellington Handicap, in which he finally finished close up with Yours Truly, whom he has to meet at Riccarton on 81b worse terms. Still, in the circumsances, Lowenberg did well to finish near the placed lot. When Centrepoise won at Wanganui he was very favourably handicapped. He won by less than a length from Lowenberg, who now comes in on 1811 b better terms, and hence cannot be ignored. despite his bad run at Trentham.

Of the others Second Innings, Hunting Cat and Wagner may be selected for outside shots.

The public may select as their favourites: —

Royal Chief Lady Furst Centrepoise or Passaform ; TIjE STEWARDS j ’ « X On ' WOV’ )£»

ANSWER TO CORRESPONDENT. Boniform —Sorry unable io supply particulars asked for. Riders for Saturday. Some riding engagements announced for the New Zealand Cup and Stewards Handicap are as follows: — A. E. Ellis, Royal Chief and Nightcalm; B. Morris, Peerless and Disdain: C. Wilson, Dictate and Paper Slipper; P. Atkins, Centrepoise, Beaulivre; L. J. Ellis, Passaform and Toro Koura; W. Jenkins, Lady Furst; W. Mudford, Yours Truly; W. Broughton, Globe Trotter; H. Wiggins, Capricious and Sleeveless. The Leading Jockeys. As a result of his good form at the Wellington Racing Club’s spring meeting, where he rode four winners, the Auckland jockey, H. Wiggins, is now at the head of the list of winning jockeys. P. Atkins, who was seen to even better advantage at Trentham, where he steered five winners, is only one behind the leader. Well up on the list is the apprentice, W. Mudford, who is showing outstanding promise, and is expected to retain his position. The following are the leaders:—H. Wiggins 15, P. Atkins 14, W. Broughton 10, W. Mudford 10, B. H. Morris 10, O. Evans 9, A. Jenkins 9, R. McTavish 8, R. Mackie 7, J. Mcßae 6, W. Jenkins 6, C. Goulsbro 5, T. Green 5, P. Burgess 5, P. Spratt 5, E. Baker 5, A. E. Ellis 5, C. Kerr 4, H. Callahan 4, L. J. Ellis 4, A. Messervy 4, J. Winder 4. Jockeys in the Cup. Hunting Cat will be ridden in the New Zealand Cup by H. Callahan, Mishna by P. Spratt, Balmenter by A. Stokes. Second Innings by R. E. Humphries, Wagner by W. Connor, Thermidor by H. Hibberd. Should Show Improved Form. Under 8.7 Sovereign Lady ran a sterling race in the Buchanan Handicap on Saturday, after being prominent all the way was only just beaten out of third place, by Swordstick, whom she will meet on 51b better terms, in the Riccarton Handicap on Saturday. The race should improve Sovereign Lady, who has ha'd only one other start this season, at Ashburton six weeks ago. Good Effort By Wardress. Though it is not possible to make comparisons between gallops on the course proper at Riccarton. and on the plough, the effort of Wardress, in covering a mile on the grass in 1.14 4-5 must be considered as one of the best of the gallops yesterday. She not only completed her task solidly, but recorded better time over the second half than over the first, and bettered Trench Fight’s figures in this respect. Impressive Gallops. One of the most impressive gallops at Riccarton was that of Royal Chief and Sovereign Lady, who covered a mile and a quarter on the plough in comparatively fast time. Sovereign Lady had a slight advantage from Royal Chief a chain, from the post, but the latter, when given a reminder, had his head in front at the post. Royal Chief is undoubtedly in his best possible order, and it will not be for want of a solid preparation if he should fail to race up to expectations on Saturday. Sovereign Lady’s display was ’ -.o pleasing in view of her Riccarton ■ dicr-n engagement. FIXTURES.

»3. 4. —Whangarci. ‘ ; 4.—Stratford. >! W?mber i -,4.--Otautau. Napier. November 4. 8. 11.—Canterbury. November 11— N'apier. f' I I / I !