TURF NEWS AND NOTES

Wairarapa Times-Age, 17 November 1939, Page 9

TURF NEWS AND NOTES

Bred on sound staying lines by his owner, Mr E. Gates, who also bred his dam and granddam, Knight Commander is by Nightmarch from the Arrowsmith mare, Arrowlet, from Lady Minerva. a half-sister to Minerval, an Auckland Cup winner, Winkie’s Best and Thermidor. Lady Minerva is by Martian from Lady Lilian, by Phae* thon from Lady Zetland. Both Lady Zetland and Lady Lilian won the Great Easter and Great Autumn double, a feat that may yet be accomplished by their descendant. Out of Hack Class. When Chirp won the concluding event at Riccarton the Riversdaleowned mare ran herself out of hack class. By the easy manner in which she beat a useful field she should hold her own in open company. Both Knight Commander and Merry March will also have to take on open company in the future. Two-year-old Form Very Mixed. Two-year-old form this season has been very mixed, and it is difficult to decide at present which is the best of the juveniles, but the position may be decided during the next few weeks. However, the Night Raid —Lady Burleigh colt, Nightbeam, owned by Mrs W. D. Graham, is the only youngster with an unbeaten record. He won the Musket Stakes at the Auckland meeting and on Monday succeeded in the Hopeful Stakes at Avondale. A high opinion is held of this colt and it will be interesting to see how he fares Sver the holiday period next month. The Leading Jockeys. With three winning mounts at the Avondale Jockey Club's second spring meeting, the Auckland jockey, H. N. l Wiggins, still retains his position as I leading horseman for the Dominion so ' far this season with 20 winners. P. Atkins follows closely with 18, and then come W. J. Broughton and W. J. Mudford with 12 each, O. Evans with 11, and G. R. Tattersail, B. H. Morris and Jenkins with 10 each. A Trotting Record. The Auckland-bred trotter Great Admiral, is showing fine form in Perth, and last week won the Bunbury Trotting Handicap, 13 furlongs, at Gloucester Park. He registered a 2.14.; mile rate, establishing a fresh West Australian record at the distance. It was Great Admiral’s third success since going to Perth, where he has created a fine impression. When Great Admiral won his first race for J. T. Paul he ran 3.29 off a 3.49 mark, and was one of the best novice trotters produced in the province. Rivette’s Record. It is likely that the dual cup winner, Rivette, will be shortly retired to the stud, according to a statement made by her owner-trainer, H. Bamber, who does not wish to see her race with the increased weights the handicappers will be entitled to allot her because of her recent wins. Rivette, who could have been purchased a few months • ago for 300 guineas, has raced for , four seasons, and of her £14,722 in stake winnings, over £12,000 has been ( earned in the last month. Following is , the record of Rivette since she first j made her appearance on the turf: — j

At Three Years. £ Won Pakenham Maiden Plate. 6f 65yds 15 Won Mornington Novice, 7f .... 20 Third, V.A.T.C. Novice, Im .... 13 Second, V.A.T.C. Kambrook Trial 60 Unplaced seven times. At Four Years. Third, V.A.T.C. Crimea Trial, Im 30 Dead-heat third, V.A.T.C. Purse 8 2 l f 6 Won Moonee Valley April Trial, l|m 100 Won Moonee Valley Travancore Trial 280 Won Moonee Valley Compensation Handicap 140 Second, V.R.C. July Handicap 100 Unplaced Twice. At Five Years. Third. V.A.T.C. Benevolent Welter, Im 13 Second, V.R.C. July Handicap. Im 100 Won V.A.T.C. Murrumbeena Handicap, 11m 420 Won Moonee Valley Glen Orla Handicap, l.{m 350 Unplaced once. At Six Years. Won V.A.T.C. Balaklava Stakes, dead-heat, Im 3f 225 Third, V.A.T.C. Heatherlie Handicap, l.Jm 50 Third, Moonee Valley Tuliamarine Handicap, l]m .... 50 Second. Herbert Power Handicap. Im 3£ 50 Won Caulfield Cup. 11m 5,150 Third, Moonee Valley Gold cap, Im 3f 100 Won Melbourne Cup, 2m 7,200 Ten wins (in. 1 dead-heat), 4 seconds, 7 thirds .£14.722

CURRENT TOPICS FROM STABLE AND COURSE Knight Commander Handled Patiently SHOULD ADD CONSIDERABLY TO STAKE WINNINGS (BY “CARBINE.”) The manner in which Knight Commander won his two races at Riccarton created the impression among keen judges that the half brother of Lady Leigh would win many races during the season. One of the best performers at the C.J.C. meeting, the Nightmarch gelding has been trained on systematic lines, not too much haste having been displayed in geeting him fit, and not too much racing being asked of him.

Flemington Items. ; . The attendance at Flemington on Cup Day. was estimated at 95,000, which was 2000 lower than that of last year. The totalisator investments were £119,006 10s, a decrease of £2043 10s on last year’s figures. The investments on the Cup totalled £34,844, a record for any race at Flemington. The totalisator record for one day at Flemington is £125,721, which was recorded on Cup Day in 1937.

Chirp Will Win Again. Judged by the manner in which Chirp won over nine furlongs under 8.11, she will win again over more ground. She was got by Full Feather from Lucy Lockit, by Boniform —Killend, by Kilbroney—Ena, by Royal Artillery. Full Feather, who died in 1936, was got by Autumnus from Equipment, by Martian.

Champions Compared. It is interesting to compare the careers of Defaulter and Beaulivre up to the close of their racing at the New | Zealand Cup meeting as three-year-i olds. When Defaulter followed up his | Derby successby winning the Canterbury Cup last year (he did not run on the first day of the meeting),' he had started 18 times for 13 wins,' a second, and a third, and in stakes had earned £4875. Beaulivre’s record now comprises 19 starts for 14 wins, four sec-' onds, and a third, and £5905 in stakes. As stakes are larger this season (Defaulter’s Derby was, says the Press, for instance, worth only £875 and Beaulivre’s Derby this year carried £lO5O for the winner), their records up to this stage of their career arc very similar. Beaulivre’s, if anything, is the better, as he has never been out of tk}e money, and he is as yet unbeaten as a three-year-old. As a two -year-old Beaulivre had 11 starts for six wins and five minor placings and won £2315. This season he has had eight wins in eight starts, and has won £3590. As Beaulivre won his last two races as a two-year-old, he has had 10 wins in succession. His next appearance will probably be at Ellerslie at Christmas.

How Centrepoise was Named. The recent form of Centrepoise makes the story of his acquisition by the Avison brothers very interesting. His dam Monette was a failure, and R. Gregory sold her to the brothers for £25. They had intended to buy a Ford car, but put the money into the mare, who subsequently dropped a colt to Hunting Song. They called it Centrepoise after a feature of the car they had intended to,buy.

FIXTURES. November 18 —Levin. November 18—Southland. November 18, 20 —Waikato. November 25—Ashburton. November 25 —Otaki Maori. November 25, 27—Auckland. December 2 —Kurow. December 9 —Hororata. December 9, 11 —Woodville. December 16 —Waipa. December 23, 26, 27— Manawatu December 26—Waipukurau. December 26 —Westland. December 26, 27 —Dunedin. December 26, 27 —Taranaki. December 26, 28, January 1. 2—Auckland. December 30, January I—Wairarapa.1—Wairarapa. December 30, January I—Greymouth. December 30. January I—Hawke’s1 —Hawke’s Bay.