TURF NEWS AND NOTES

Wairarapa Times-Age, 10 February 1940, Page 9

TURF NEWS AND NOTES

CURRENT TOPICS FROM STABLE AND COURSE Opaki-tained Horses WORTH KEEPING AN EYE ON FOR ENGAGEMENTS IN THE NEAR FUTURE (BY “THE GRAFTER.”) Opaki stables are preparing for the round of district meetings which will be held during the next few weeks. Some of the local horses will be seen out at minor meetings in the Southern Auckland districts, and it is expected that a strong contingent will be taken to the Woodville meeting which is usually a profitable venture for Wairarapa horses generally. Then at the Carterton meeting early in March there is sure to be a strong representation from Opaki stables, and the Easter meeting of the Wairarapa Racing Club at Tauherenikau will find Masterton in strong force. The indications at present are that Masterton owners will have an excellent opportunity of lifting a substantial amount of stake money at these meetings, for the charges of Opaki trainers, for the most part, are showing good form at the moment, with every prospect of improvement as the time for the more important gatherings arrives. The Opaki course is a good training and testing-out ground, and if a racehorse has ability to win in his make-up then 'under the skilled guidance of Masterton trainers and the advantage of the Opaki training area, there can be no excuse for non-success. In connection with the coming racing fixtures within reasonable distance of the Wairarapa, punters should always bear in mind that loyalty to local horses is on the average a profitable policy.

Duke of Gloucester Cup. It is understood that the executive of the Racing Conference has granted the South Canterbury Jockey Club the right to hold the Gloucester Cup race (for amateur riders) for the 1940-41 season.

Riding in the North. L. J. Ellis has decided to attend the Waikato meeting on February 17 and 19, and the To Aroha meeting on February 24 and 26. He may return after the Waikato meeting and do the first day’s riding at Dunedin on February 22. As he will miss the second day. when Defaulter will contest the Hazlett Gold Cup' the mount will be taken by A. E. Ellis. English Racing. According to a London exchange a move has been made by the Jockey Club and the National Hunt Committee to obtain permission to use one or more of the racecourses near London, none of which has been available since the outbreak of war. The courses nearest London on which racing so far has taken place are Windsor and Gatwick. The flat racing season is scheduled to open on Easter Monday, March 25, with fixtures at Kempton Park, Birmingham, and Newcastle, but it is extremely doubtful if any of these meetings will be possible. Entail Put Aside. Entail, who was purchased at the Trentham sales by C. McCarthy, has failed to stand up to training since coming south, and is not to be persevered with in the meantime. Gold Salute’s Trouble Not Serious. According to a Sydney exchange Gold Salute has again been suffering from leg trouble, but a veterinary inspection disclosed that the soreness was not serious and the colt's preparation for autumn racing is to continue. Totalisator Figures. Though there have recently been declines in the totalisator turnovers at most meetings, both racing and trotting, they have for the main part been small, and they should not be such as to put racing and trotting execueives into a panic. The figures climbed to a very high level last year, and the sport will not be in any serious straits unless the declines should become much more serious. The decrease of nearly 50 per cent, at Wanganui last week was extraordinary, and it does not represent the present trend. The fields were some of the poorest, both in quantity and quality, that the club has ever experienced, and the weather on the final day was also most unfavourable. The Wanganui committee had cause to view the outlook before the meeting with the greatest concern because of the poverty of the nominations. It was a meeting in which all factors combined to make it the failure it was. On the other hand, three out of the six meeting held last week-end showed increased turnovers, and this inspite of the reinstitution of petrol licensing. While there are still Increases on last season’s high level, there is no need to look at the future with any apprehension. Racing prospered during the last war, and there is little reason why it should not do so during the present war.

High Caste and Beaulivre. High Caste, with 9.2, has been rated as a 51b better horse than Beaulivre in the Newmarket Handicap, one of Australia’s biggest sprint races, to be run over the straight six furlongs course at Flemington on March 2.

At Riccarton in November, Beaulivre won the Stewards’ Handicap with effortless ease carrying 8.10, and while New Zealand owners have always found the standard of the Australian sprinters particularly high, the Beau Pere colt would have prospects if produced in his best form, as there is little doubt that he possesses sprinting power far above the average. Unfortunately, he has had to be eased up. Reading, another of the leading Australian three-year-olds, has the same weight as Beaulivre, 8.11, while Gold Salute has been assessed at 8.5. Ajax tops the handicap with 10.7, a rise of 51b on his weight of last year, when he was scratched. As a three-year-old he won the race in 1938 carrying 9.0. Manrico, a good sprinter with many important successes to his credit, will contest the race for the first time if he takes his place in the field. He has been weighted at 10.0. Auric’s Star, the runner-up to El Golea last year, has 9.11, while the English horse Greenwich, which has yet to race in Australia, has 9.8. El Golea has a good record in the event, as besides winning last time he finished third to Ajax and Ena in the previous year. Troubled by Soreness. Passaform winner of the Invercargill Cup at his last start, has had to be taken along quietly by E. J. Ellis at Washdyke. Though on the small sidePassaform, a four-year-old chestnuthorse by Balboa from Fairform, is smart up to a middle distance. Earlier in the season he dead-heated with Nightwings in the Ranfurly Handicap at Wingatui. Platform, a two-year-old halfbrother by Night Raid to Passaform, and closely resembling him in appearance, though a bay in colour, had his first run in the Lyttelton Plate on Saturday. He was never in the picture but was galloping freely at the end and may be useful. Like Passaform, he races in Mrs A. E. McLaren’s colours. Not Good Enough. Gay Mimic was comparable with the small town boy who goes to the city to make good when he took his place among the open class horses at Trentham. But though he is honest enough the Gisborne-trained horse did not have the speed to foot it with his city cousins and trekked homeward emptyhanded. But the experience was evidently of value as the five-year-old MimeticPrincess Nata gelding won the Pahiatua Cup, and on the second day of the meeting made a clean sweep of the principal races by winning the Mangahao Handicap. He then finished fourth in the Wanganui Cup and look the Earle Stakes on the final day. Trained by I. Tinsley for Mr F. Tolerton, Gay Mimic, leaving out his Trentham form, has raced very consistently this season. He finished out of the money at his first two starts and' then proceeded to build up a record of three wins, three second, and four thirds in as many starts. Two Trentham failures were followed by his winning efforts at Pahiatua and Wanganui. In stakes he has won just over £9OO. a useful amount considering the fact that some of the stakes he has competed for have been on the small side. RACING FIXTURES February 8 and 10. —Egmont. February 10 and 12. —Poverty Bay. February 10 and 12. —Gore. February 10 and 12. —Rotorua. February 16 and 17.—Winton. February 17. —Tolago Bay. February 17. —Opunake. February 17 and 19. —Waikato. February 22 and 24. —Dunedin. February 24. —Waiapu. February 24 and 26.—Westland. February 24 and 26. —Te Aroha. February 24 and 26. —Woodville.