TURF NEWS AND NOTES

Wairarapa Times-Age, 23 March 1940, Page 3

TURF NEWS AND NOTES

CURRENT TOPICS FROM STABLE AND COURSE • Racing at Riccarton GREAT EASTER HANDICAP PROSPECTS (BY “THE GRAFTER.”) With the exception of Kathbella, Old Bill and Sternchase, there were no scratchings of note for the Great Easter Handicap at the final acceptance. Thirteen horses are still engaged, and it promises to be a good race. Of the horses that raced at Trentham, Density and Duncannon appeal most, and both are likely to be solidly supported. Flammorion, winner of the mile Hutt Handicap, must also be given a chance, as there was a good deal of merit in the easy manner in which he defeated a solid horse in Sir Crusoe and a useful field. Globe Trotter is another northerner with winning form at Riccarton. Recent racing has possibly had a tendency to push Not Out a bit into the background, but the Winning Hit gelding is still entitled to hold his place among the favourites. He suffered a few minor cuts on the legs recently, but they were not of any consequence, and he ,is in fine shape. Nightcalm has not risen to the big occasion in the past, but is very well. From further south, Spanish Lad, a smart sprinter and the winner of the Publicans’ Handicap at Wingatui, his last start, also has a following. He sticks on solidly and, being well up to weight, must be taken into consideration.

Cicada and Lady Govern were scratched for the Champagne Stakes, reducing the field to eight. Night Glass is also an acceptor for the Russley Handicap and a final decision regarding her programme will be made later.

Shikari, winner of the Champagne at Wingatui, and Doria, the runner-up, are again expected to fight out the finish of the Champagne Stakes. At the weights there should be little between them and a fine race may result. Chary is .a northern visitor with plenty of speed, but he may not stay on as well as the local yair.

Lord Lynn Has Prospects. Lord Lynn made a game attempt to win a double at Motukara. He won the first division of the Juvenile Stakes easily,’ and four races later was beaten a head by St Cloud in the Ahuriri Hack Handicap. St Cloud caught him in the last half furlong. The races did not do Lord Lynn any harm, and he will be hard to head off in hack races at Riccarton. Trained by J. Olive at Riccarton for Mr J. R. McKenzie, Lord Lynn is a particularly long-striding horse. He is a three-year-old by Lord Warden from Knocklynn, a Solferino mare, and dam also of Knockfin, a Stewards' Handicap winner, and of Normal, which has shown useful form in Australia.

Making Progress. Dispense, a two-year-old brown gelding by Paper Money from Mwera: trained by A. S. Ellis, has made steady progress since being put into work a few" months ago. Like all horses by his veteran sire he has plenty of speed, and while he is a little on the small side he looks like more than paying his way. Ellis also has Alcatraz and Patuma looking well. Patuma has taken well to hurdling, and if he does not have a recurrence of the muscular trouble which made a spell necessary a couple of seasons ago. he should not be long in opening his winning account. While he was spelling Patuma built up nicely and is holding his condition. He is a five-year-old chestnut gelding by Cockpit from Pakitere. a half-sister by Arausio to a well-performed horse, Toxeuma.

An Appeal Upheld. A recent exchange from Adelaide states that the appeal of the Victorian reinsman George Gath, who was recently disqualified for twelve months over the running of the New Zealandbred gelding Takanini, has been upheld. Gath is well known in the Dominion, having previously brought across- teams to compete at Addington.

1 Should Soon Be A Winner. King’s Toast, which is owned bj 7 Mr J. R. McKenzie, and trained by Olive, ran his best race for some time in the Forsyth Hack Handicap at Motukarara. A three-year-old bay gelding by Hunting Song from Smoke Concert, dam of Ringing Cheer and Gallant Fox, King's Toast is also a smart galloper, but so far he had not always given of his best. If he settles down to race solidly he will soon reach the winning list. Wild Talk. Wild Talk would have been unlucky to have missed a place in the concluding event at Trentham on Saturday. She drew No 1 and got away well, and promised to keep her inside berth until she was sent back about five furlongs from home. She then occupied a rear position until well into the straight and to get up into third place from what seemed almost an impossible position was a feature of the race. This performance pointed to her prospects in the Great Easter Handicap, but she has been withdrawn from that and left in the Sockburn Handicap. She is not in the Great Autumn Handicap, but will race in the Templeton Handicap, seven furlongs, on the second day.

Wide Representation at Riccarton. A pleasing feature of the acceptances for Riccarton next week is the strong representation from North Island centres and also from Otago and Southland, and this in spite of the several race meetings being held in various parts over the Easter period. Included in the first day's card are 15 horses from the North Island, and 21 are from southern stables. A. good number of the visitors are expected to arrive at Riccarton in the next few days, and with the outside of the course available for the winding-up work, some interesting gallops can be expected to be recorded before the meeting.

RACING FIXTURES

March 23—Tuapeka. March 23, 25 —Auckland. March 23, 25—Wairarapa. March 23, 25 —Feilding. March 23 25, 26 —Riverton. March 25 —Kumara. March 25—Beaumont. March 25 —Waipukurau. March (25, 26—Canterbury. March 28, 30 —Greymouth. March 30. April I—Avondale.1 —Avondale.