TURF NEWS AND NOTES

Wairarapa Times-Age, 12 January 1940, Page 9

TURF NEWS AND NOTES

CURRENT TOPICS FROM STABLE AND COURSE Interest in Centennial Cup Quickens PROSPECTS OF ROYAL CHIEF AND OLD BILL. (BY ‘•CARBINE.’ 1 ) Since the acceptances for the Wellington Centennial Cup have been announced interest in the race has quickened. Royal Chief was the obvious top-weight for the Wellington Centennial Cup, and it was only a question of his weight. Some idea could be gained of it from his New Zealand Cup impost, where he had 9.6, and in electing to start the Wellington Cup at the same mark Mr Coyle has not been hard on him. Royal Chief finished fourth in the New Zeala'nd Cup, running on strongly, and there is no doubt he was unlucky. In the Canterbury Cup he comfortably disposed of Beaupartir and Baran at weight-for-age. He has 3lb> less than Vintage's record winning .weight of 9.9 in 1935, and 2lb iess than Star Stranger carried in 1928, so Royal Chief's task is not unduly hard, and he will be one of the favourites.

Of the good class horses engaged, nothing will appeal so much as Old Bill on 8.0. Not only is his form good, but his private and racing preparation has been capably handled with the Centennial Cup in view and he will be very dangerous.

Handicapped at 8.7, Beau Vite has 71b above weight-for-age and 41b less than that given Defaulter at the same age last January and under which he won. Beau Vite’s chief claim is his supremacy over Beaulivre. Auckland proved fairly conclusively that Beaulivre was not a stayer, and in spite of the improved form of Beau Vite, who failed in the Melbourne Cup under 7.4, he will probably fiend 8.7 will keep him occupied in this field. Centrepoise, C.J.C. Metropolitan winner, is let down 61b from his Manawatu Cup weight, in which he failed, but Siegmund and others are also down correspondingly. Catalogue is still treated as dangerous, though his recent form has not been so good, and Beaupartir has not made the improvement anticipated from his spring showings.

The list below 8.0 is rich in recent winners of important races during the holidays, and even the Marton Cup winner, Windsor Chief, has got in on the minimum, but it will be tooward the better class that most will look for the winner.

First Day Dual Engagements.

Wellington Cup acceptors with another engagement on the first day of the meeting are Blonde Princess and The Wrecker, The Telegraph Handicap candidate Sleeveless also accepted in the Anniversary Handicap. The former New Zealander, J. T. Jamieson (at one time a trainer in Masterton) is at present/spending a holiday in Auckland, but will be at Trentham to supervise the final training of Malagigi. Jamieson will also be present at the yearling sales. Riders at Trentham. The following are some of the riding engagements at Wellington:—H. Callahan. Trebor; S. Anderson, Hunting Moments: C. P. Shield. The Ring; C. G. Goulsbro, Le Toquet, Royal Star II (second day), Du Maurier, Pekoe, Galteemore; P. Atkins, Centrepoise. Brunhild, Yogi, Absolve, Siglow; W. J. Mudford, Chief Lord. Kentucky, Globe Trotter, Sternchase, Triple Crown. Dark Water. Bold Step, Airfight (second day); E. Baker, Classform; B. Stowe, Flying Flag. Beauly; J. Forsyth, Golden Melody; C. Cameron, Nelumbo (Apprentices' Plate); P. Burgess, Sly Fox, Beau Coureur, Ruling Star, Sleeveless (if started in Anniversary); S. Wilson, Autolite; A. Foster, Pearl of Asia; W. J. Broughton, Kadina; G. R. Tattersail, Old Bill; N. Vaughan, Prediction; A. Midwood, Lady Montana, Lady Tinkle; S. Waddell, Lord Cavendish: W. J. Evans, Tooley Street; H. Long, Fils de Vaals; R. E. Horne, Tidewaiter.

Beaulivre in Great Order.

Mr S. J. Reid has received a cable from the Randwick trainer, Geo Price, stating that Beaulivre arrived in Sydney in great order, after an excellent passage across the Tasman. In all probability the Beau Pere colt’s first appearance in public will be at Williamstown, over nine furlongs, early next month.

Race Call in Form.

The best effort at Hawera yesterday was credited to Race Call (Reilly), who got to the end of five furlongs in 1.1 1-5. He is opposed to some brilliant sprinters in the Telegraph Handicap, but can be relied on for his usual honest display. He will have the services of P. Spratt.

Peacock In Form.

Peacock built up the best record of any horse racing on the West Coast during the recent holiday circuit, his tally being four wins and one second in as many starts for £250 in stakes. Like many horses that had come from Metropolitan centres before him, the class he was meeting proved to be to his liking. When trained by B. H. Brodie at Wingatui for Mr V. G. Holloway, Peacock showed mixed form, but the Omoto owner-trainer, J. Walsh, who is the leading trainer on the West Coast, has made him solid.

Peacock started off the circuit by winning the Thompson Memorial Handicap at Hokitika from Skyrena and Rebel Chief, but at his next start Rebel Chief beat him in the Paroa Handicap at Greymouth, though it was not a fair test, as the saddle on Peacock slipped. He won the Electric Handicap on the final day at Greymouth, and then captured both the high-weights at Reeflon.

Though now eight years of age. Peacock should continue to play a leading; part in meetings on the circuit for some time to come. He is a bay gelding by Song Bird from Gorgeous, which was bred by Mr J. F. Euchanan in 1921, being by Martian—Eva, by Birkenhead, and tracing back to imported Idalia.

Flame Queen. Flame Queen had a hard struggle to get out of hack ranks, but on the West Coast circuit during the holidays she came right into her own. In six starts she had three wins, one second and two thirds for £2BO 10s in stakes. At her first start she was unlucky to be beaten into third place in the Centennial high-weight at Hokitika, while in a hard finish for the Brunner Handicap, at Greymouth, Skyrena beat her by a head. On the second day she stayed too well for Skyrena in the W. R. Kettle Memorial Cup. though later in the day third was the best she could do in the Walton Memorial. At Reefton she won the Progress and Farewell Handicaps, running the seven furlongs on each occasion in the smart time of Imin 27sec. Her run in the Farewell Handicap, when she carried 9st 51b and won with something in hand, was really good. Flame Queen has come through her racing in great style and she will be taken to the Trentham meeting.

Did Not Shape Like Stayer. Beaupartir did not shape like a stayer in either the Canterbury 'Cup or Metropolitan Handicap. He may have been a bit too round in condition at Riccarton and would be in better shape at Ellerslie. Beaupartir was a close third in the King’s Plate, run in Imin 37sec and was third in the Clifford Plate. On Metropolitan Handicap form Beaupartir meets Centrepoise on 81b better terms and on Canterbury Cup form meets Royal Chief on 51b better terms in the Wellington Cup. In the Canterbury Cup Royal Chief raced away from Beaupartir, and at that time 141 b would not have brought them together. Beaupartir, giving 221 b to Beau Vite and Beaulivre, finished three lengths and a-half away. As Royal Chief is giving Beau Vite 131 b at Trentham the top-weight cannot be considered harshly treated. To put it another way, Royal Chief giving 131 b to Beau Vite in the Clifford Plate must have seriously troubled the colt, as the Chief Ruler horse is much superior to Beaupartir.

At the Barrier.

A word has to be said on behalf of riders who shift from the position drawn at the barrier, writes “Sentinel" in the “Otago Daily Times.” They would be foolish to stay next a kicker or some mulish brute that will not line up but keeps on upsetting the horses nearest to him. It is the starter who allows such horses to hold their positions to the detriment of others that should be blamed, and the stewards are also far from blameless when they fail to see that the starter is more concerned in getting one or two fractious horses away than the majority of the field. It is a different state of affairs when a rider attempts to change position in order to steal an advantage. The schooling list is the place for fractious horses, and when they are qualifying for it starters should be strictly instructed to order them away from the rest of the field before any attempt is made to line up to the barrier. It is. really an indisputable fact that the riders are not wholly to blame in the matter when they endeavour to keep in safety for themselves and their mounts.

Malagigi Unlucky. According to reports Malagigi was unlucky to miss a win in the Summer Cup run at Randwick on Boxing Day: He got squeezed back at the start and afterwards got a bad run in the race, but nevertheless finished fourth. In the Tattersails Summer Cup Malagigi. 8.8, started favourite but was beaten a neck by Binnia Hero, 7.7. in 2min 32), sec, after suffering a check at five furlongs. Last season Malagigi won the Mitchelson Cup.

Beau Vite in the Limelight.

Eeau Vite is now well in the limelight through beating the previously unbeatable Beaulivre and hence will be in favour for the Wellington Cup. Defaulter won last year with 41b more than the weight allotted Beau Vite and scored comfortably in 2min 32.|sec. Defaulter strode to the front as they straightened for home and it is interesting to recall that The Sandwichman and Aussie Ra, two of the outsiders in the field, followed home the favourite. The best horses in the field took no part in the finish. The field against Beau Vite will be stronger than that which opposed Defaulter, whose reputation possibly had some of the opposition beaten before they went to the post. Beau Vite carried 8.10 and won the Great Northern Derby in 2min 32sec, showing that it was a solidly run race, but beating those of his own age and meeting a mixed field in a handicap are two rather different proposi-

tions. Towards the start of the second half of the season three-year-olds are generally training on and if not overraced or of doubtful constitution and courage may develop into a very formidable proposition. Three-year-olds in the past have put up very creditable performances, but the records of the race are not too plentifully marked with winners at that age. Since Renown, 8.10, won in 1901 the only others of the age to.win have been Gladsome. 8.5, Nightfall, 8.2, Rapine, 7.12, and Defaulter 8.11. In fact, since the race has been run at Trentham Rapine and Defaulter are the only three-year-olds to win. Apart from danger represented by more seasoned and older horses Beau Vite may be troubled by one of his own age. Presumably Beau Vite was all out when ho put up a race record in the Great Northern Derby. Fils de Vaals was less than two lengths away and now comes in on 131 b better terms. Still no doubt Beau Vite will continue in favour.