TURF NEWS AND NOTES

Wairarapa Times-Age, 16 November 1939, Page 9

TURF NEWS AND NOTES

CURRENT TOPICS FROM STABLE AND COURSE

Catalogue Interfered With in Melbourne Cup

OTHERWISE WOULD HAVE BEEN PLACED

(BY

“CARBINE.”)

The jockey E. McMenamin considers that Catalogue would have been

placed at least in the Melbourne Cup only for interference inside the ‘ last furlong, which the stewards considered sufficiently grave to suspend jockey N. Percival for one month. Ironically, the horse who contributed to Catalogue’s misfortune was his compatriot, Beau Vite. Although Catalogue was a little unlucky, the honours of the race could not be taken away from Rivette, who won her Melbourne Cup as creditably as the Caulfield Cup and became the first mare to achieve this difficult double. Catalogue paid the expenses of the Australian trip in the Hotham Handicap on the opening day at Flemington. He went to the front early, slowed down the field, and, as in the Melbourne Cup last year, sprinted away in the final stages. Catalogue was well supported by his connections at a good price.

Rivette’s extraordinary run of success has upset ideas of training, for the mare has had the lightest of preparations, her work between the two cups consisting of only two gallops of a mile and a race in the Moonee Valley Gold Cup. With the exception of one day for a week prior to the Melbourne Cup, she did not visit the training track, but exercised on the road. The Melbourne Cup almost was the Caulfield Cup over again with Rivette racing very similarly, striking a little trouble at the half-mile, extricating herself quickly, going round the leaders on the turn and travelling strongly to win. Maikai, who filled second in the Melbourne Cup, came from further back than he did at Caulfield, while Respirator ran a similar race, finishing fast. In another stride he would have beaten Pantier for third. Beau Vite lasted only to the turn, where he was one of the leaders. He ran much below expectations. The Seigfried colt. Wilson, did better than the Derby winner. Reading, who pulled hard in the middle stages, and beat himself. A feature of the race was Ortelle’s Star, without a rider, leading Rivette past the winning post by a clear neck, after having lost F. de Valle seven furlongs from home. Just at this stage, The Trump, who won the two cups two years ago, broke down badly. Homily a Likely Winner. Those who saw Homily run in the Pearce Handicap at Trentham were impressed with the effort of the Posterity filly and marked her down for future consideration. At the Waikato meeting on Saturday she will probably figure conspicuously in the Claudelands Handicap with 8.12 up. Ruatiti Coming Along. Ruatiti is coming along nicely in his training and should be worth bearing in mind at the Waikato meeting. The Limond gelding did not have the best of the running at Stratford. Scandal in Good Heart. Scandal is undergoing a special preparation for the Waikato meeting and in the Taupiri Handicap the Buland-shar-April Fool gelding should be well | in the picture at the business end of | the race. Taurangi and’Waikato Cup. Taurangi’s effort in the Stratford Handicap suggests that the Waikato Cup, with 8.13 up, should not be beyond her. So far this season the Beau

Pere mare has won one race and filled third place in another. Quadroon Recovered. Quadroon, who broke down badly in a foreleg a few weeks past at the time it was thought his racing career had come to an end—has made a wonderful recovery, and Wilson is able to give his charge light exercise. However. as the tracks are now on the haid side. Quadroon will not race for some time. Soreness Thrown Off. Florence Mills has thrown off the soreness that prevented her putting in an appearance at Trentham, and is now among the horses given light tasks at Awapuni. Keep Old Bill in Mind. The Awapuni-trained Old Bill has not been asked to do any fast work since the Wellington meeting, but is in splendid order, and evidently the best has not been seen of the son of Siegfried and Liaison. He may cause the more favoured horses a lot of trouble when the holiday racing comes round. Colonel Bogey Going Well. Colonel Bogey, without being unduly taxed, continues to please in his exercises. His racing at Trentham appears to have brought him on. His next outing will probably be at the Manawatu meeting. English Bred Colt. It is not often that a two-year-old practically English-bred, is seen racing on Australian courses, but Warbird, who won the first division of the Toolamba Nursery on Caulfield Cup day, is such. Warbird’s dam, Rock-a-Bye, was purchased in England by the South Australian studmaster. Mr J. Keith Angas. Mr Angas had her mated with Miracle, and as she had apparently not become in foal to him, she was put to Shell Transport, and the result was Warbird. The colt, who is trained by S. B. Ferguson for Mr W. Jackson, was fancied and well backed for his Caulfield win, and he stamped himself as a youngster of much promise. Three Bad Runs. In each of his last three races Areas has received a bad run. Concertpitch as Hurdler. Concertpitch is one of the latest recruits to hurdling, and is booked to join G. Ridgway’s stable. Ridgway will ride him in»his schooling. E. Scoullar Retires. E. Scoullar, a one-time rider over hurdles and fences and latterly a trainer at Riccarton. has sold his house and stables and retired from training. He says there is nothing in the game owing to competition and a cut in prices—a question which is now occupying the attention of the Owners and Breeders' Association. A Speedy Hack. Several speedy hack's are entered for the Hautapu Hack Handicap at Te Rapa on Saturday, among them being the Oration fouryear-old Wildore, who. it will be recalled, won in attractive style at the recent Labour Day meeting at Cambridge. At Te Rapa last week, in association with Orwcre, he clocked the splendid figures of 1.14 over six furlongs, the first quarter being cut out in 23 4-5. It should not be for lack of condition if he fails to show to advantage hero.

Salmagundi Filly Wins. Amongst recent winners at a Sydney meeting is Hash, a four-year-old filly by Salmagundi who equalled the mile record at Kensington Park. Racecamp's Prospects. Ratecamp, who, it - will be recalled, paid a sensational price at the Waikato meeting in May, has been working along satisfactorily in recent weeks and he will not be without a chance of effecting another surprise in the hack seven at headquarters this week. He appears improved from racing at the Waikato Hunt. On the Upgrade. Reports from Hawera have a good word to say for the maiden Race Away, who is to contest events at the approaching Waikato meeting. On Saturday morning at Hawera when paired off with Race Call in a smart-ly-run half-mile lie drew, attention to his immediate prospects and emphasised that he is definitely on the upgrade. He is to have the services of the leading light-weight, ■H. N. Wiggins, so should be well served on the score of horsemanship.

SPECTACULAR CAVALCADE

FAMOUS DANCING TEAM. SENSATIONAL STORY OF THE CASTLES. Ottering a glittering pageant of progress as reflected in the victorious sweep of the world's most illustrious dancing duo. Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers bring to the screen as theii latest offering, "The Story of Vernon and Irene Castle," which will be shown at the State Theatre on Friday night The filming of this picture in Hollywood. under the watchful eye of Mr; Vernon Castle herself, was recently completed, after months spent on production and more than a year spenin planning and research. As its title indicates, the picture tells the sensational story of Vernon and Irene Castle, who skyrocketed to fame overnight as the world's greatest dancing team of the Pre-War era. It is tolc against a memorable background of period settings, and revives a wealth of period tunes —"By the Sea," "By the Light of the Silvery Moon." "Rost Room." "Waitin' for the Robert E. Lee,' for example, and "Pretty Baby.’ “•Smiles,” "Darktown Strutters' Ball,' among many others. This parade of th', musical hits of long ago. together with its stirring romance and its dramatic conclusion promise to make the picture the outstanding musical film oi recent years. The current number “Only When’You Are in My Arms.’ by Con Conrad. Herman Ruby anc Bert Kalmar, is sung by Fred Astaire When Vernon Castle, aspiring younf dancer, meets Irene Foote, daughter o. a New Rochelle doctor, it is a case o love at first sight. Vernon is "sooging" for Lew Fields in a musical comed.\ hit at the time, and throughout th; winter he and Irene practice dance steps, hoping Fields will give them ;• chance. Instead, they gel married, gr to Paris through a misunderstanding and find themselves penniless. Thej are rescued by the efforts of an elderly theatrical agent. Maggie Sutton, win gets them an offer to dance at a Paris cafe. They are an immediate sensation In a week, all Paris knows them. In ; month they are famous all over Europe. and when they return to America they find themselves acclaimed on al! sides. Triumphs follow, tour after tour until they tiro. They finally decide they’ve made enough money, and that they will retire. Then the World War breaks out. and Vernon, a British citizen. feels he must enlist. He goes abroad and joins the Royal Flying Corps. They are in Paris together when word comes that America has entered the war. Irene returns to America, ami is in Hollywood, appearing in a war picture, when Vernon sends word he has been transferred to Toxas as an instructor, and is later killed in a crash. Around this authentic story of two great dancers has been woven a compelling piece of film entertainment, sparkling with the best remembered songs of its era, and revealing the brilliant dances that brought the young couple their fame.