TURF NEWS AND NOTES

Wairarapa Times-Age, 24 February 1940, Page 3

TURF NEWS AND NOTES

CURRENT TOPICS FROM STABLE AND COURSE

Riccarton Great Easter Handicap

TWO PROBABLE EARLY FAVOURITES

(EY “THE GRAFTER.”)

Not Out, a brilliant three-year-old which is on the threshold of what should prove to be a successful career in open company, and Concertpitch, a proved horse, are likely to be the most discussed horses in connection with the Great Easter Handicap at Riccarton this year. Concertpitch is no stranger in a Great Easter field, as he won the race in successive years, carrying 7.0 as a three-year-old in l 1936 and 8.13 in the following year. After a long spell he made a successful reappearance in the Craven Plate at Riccarton, and should be a muchimproved horse for the Great Easter. When in training earlier in his career, Concertpitch was easily upset by racing, and, while it is a somewhat similar story today, he is much stronger physically and has come through his first race in great style. While he may have been a bit lucky to beat Nightcalm in the Craven Plate, he would have been very unlucky had he lost, as he started from the outside of the field and did not get going quite as qirickly as some of the others. The way in which he struggled on when challenged showed the sterling fighting qualities he possesses. Not Out continues to live up to his name, and the Winning Hit three-year-old is thriving on the useful tasks he is allotted daily. He is inclined to be a lazy worker, remarks the sporting writer of the Christchurch “Star”, but like many good horses before him is no shirker when it comes to race day. He was not raced as a two-year-old, and began his racing career this season by running fourth in the Cashmere Plate at the Grand National meeting. Since then he has only once been out of a place in nine starts, his record being five wins, two seconds, and a third. In his last three races he has been the winner. Concertpitch is trained by G. Ridgway for his'owner-breeder, Mr J. H. Grigg, while F. A. Roberts trains Not Out for Mr G. Gould, who also had the pleasure of breeding his promising young horse.

Sparkle’s Pedigree. Sparkle, winner of the Winton and Dunedin cups, comes from that wonderfully successful family founded in the Dominion by Simper. She is a five-year-old mare by Colonel Cygnus from Lambent, by Tractor from Dazzling Light, by Kilbroney, from the imported mare.

Hostis Working Again. E. Kingan has taken Hostis in hand again, and the big Honour gelding appears to be sound. Hostis was making good progress until the eve of the Waikouaiti meeting at Christmas, when leg trouble made a spell necessary. Cape Gabo, the other member of Kingan's team, is to race at Hokitika, and both horses may be kept on the West Coast for a time. The soft tracks there should help Hostis to stand up to another preparation. When right, he is a bold galloper.

Nightdress To Run At Riverton. Arrangements are in hand for Nightdress to race in the principal flat events at the Riverton Easter meeting. He will be accompanied by Sky Pilot, who will contest the steeplechases. So far. Sky Pilot has had no schooling-, but G. Ridgway intends to school him soon. Naturally, he will be pleased if there is rain to soften the ground before he requires the Day Comet horse to jump. In the meantime he is very forward, having done a lot of good work on the flat. Slamannan’s Bad Luck. Slamannan would probably have beaten Green Locket in the Novice Stakes at Winton had the saddle not slipped round. J. W. Jennings had to finish on him without the aid of stirrup irons, and under (he circumstances did well io get his mount into second place. Waitoni liad a similar experience in lhe concluding race of the day.

Night Raid Colt. The yearling colt by Night Raid from Cupid’s Boy. purchased at Trentham by Mr Percy Coyle, of Wellington, for 585 guineas, will be raced by Mr J. J. Liston. chairman of the Williamstown Racing Chib, Melbourne. The colt was returned after the sale to his breeder, Mr K. Austin, at Inglewood Slud, to be broken-in and kept until July.

Erambie Joins Riccarton Stable. A chestnut two-year-old filly. Erambie. by Iliad from Chiefava, owned by Mr D. E. Wanklyn, has joined J. Tomkinson’s stable at Riccarton. Thjis filly was sent to Tomkinson from the Elderslie Stud as a yearling, but went sore, and has since been looked after at the Inglewood Stud, Kaiapoi. From the same source. Sweet Mystery has been returned to F. D. Jones, and Frontiersman, a two-year-old colt by Myosotis from Final Shot, has been sent to A. J. Martin to be trained. '

Ortyx Behaves Herself. Though horses on each side of her were twisting and turning about at the start of the Flying Handicap at Winton. Ortyx stood up to the barrier very quiety and was the smartest to jump out. F. Voight has been very patient with this (Illy, and appears to have thoroughly cured her of her waywardness. This was Ortyx’s first appearance in open company.

Should Be Good Handicap HorseNight Pal. who has been showing such good form at the southern meetings. is a three-year-old son of two New Zealand Cup winners in Nightmarch and Palantua. Nigbtmarch holds the race-carrying record for the two miler, while the time record goes to the Paladin mare. Bred as he is. Night Pal should develop handicap form later.

Great Easter Handicap. For the Great Easter Handicap, 7 furlongs, at the C.J.C. meeting, the following entries have been received: Race Call, Baran, Rakahanga, Not Out, Gay Mimic, Globe Trotter. Density, Disdain. Nightcalm. The Wrecker. Haughty Winner. Sternchase. Concertpitch. Petersham. Spanish Lad, Raeburn. Flammarion, Beaupartir, Counterblast. Paper Slipper. Wild Talk. Spendthrift. St Cloud. Dungarvan. Duncannon. Old Bill, Wild Career, Alma. Kathbelia. Norseman. Suleiman, Skyrena. Lord Pack. Swordstick. Jed. Forest.

Great Autumn Handicap. The following nominations have been received for the Great Autumn Handicap at the. Canterbury Jockey Club’s meeting:—Merry March. Baran, Gay Mimic. Dainty Sue. Disdain. Siegmund, Nightcalm, The Wrecker. Knight Commander, Settlement. Willie Win. Sovereign Lady, Raeburn. Passaform. Thermidor, Beaupartir. Capricious. Wine Card. Scold. Sparkle, Dungarvan, Trench Law. Old Bill, Lockit. Yogi. Norseman. Lord Puck. Swordstickfl Studley Royal.

RACING FIXTURES

February 24 and P.O.— Woodville. February 24 and 26.— Te Aroha. March 2—Franklin. March 2—Banks Peninsula. March 2 —Rangitikei. March 7. 9 —Taranaki. March 8, 9 —Cromwell. March 9, 11 —Bay of Plenty. March 9 —Birchwood Hunt. March 9—Carterton. March 14. 16—Wellington. March 16 111 —Westport. March 16. 18—Ohinemuri. March 23 —Tuapeka. March 23. 25—Auckland. March 23. 25 —Wairarapa. March 23. 25 —Feilding. Marcli 22 25. 26—Riverion. Marell 25—Kumara. March 25 —Beaumont. March 25—Waipu kurau. March (25, 26 —Canterbury. March 28. 30 —Greymoulli. March 30 April I—Avondale.