TURF NEWS AND NOTES

Wairarapa Times-Age, 2 April 1940, Page 3

TURF NEWS AND NOTES

CURRENT TOPICS FROM STABLE AND COURSE First Day at Avondale FOLEY MEMORIAL WON BY GOLD VAALS PIRATE KING SCORES IN SPRINT (BY “THE GRAFTER.”) The Avondale Jockey Club opened its autumn meeting yesterday in perfect weather. The chief event, the Foley Memorial Handicap, 5. was won by Gold Vaals by a head after an exciting finish with an *> outsider, Royal Appellant, the favourite Yogi being unplaced. Pirate King staged a thrilling finish with Orelio to win the- P.ailway Handicap by a neck. The winner was an outsider and paid a good dividend.

Suspension for Interference. Usually the period of suspension administered for interference has not exceeded two months, but at the recent meeting in Auckland it was extended to three months. It is very doubtful indeed if increasing the punishment will remedy the most dangerous evil in connection with racing, writes •■Sentinel'' in the "Otago Daily Times." In Australia interference is quite common according to the number of inquiries and suspensions taking place and some of the best in the saddle have met with fatal falls. Interference is also far too common in New Zealand, but so far neither in Australia nor in this country has anything like adequate action been taken in the matter in order to find a remedy. There is no suggestion that deliberate interference takes place, but the unpleasant fact remains that it is a serious blot on racing and occurs far too frequently. The racing authorities in both Australia and New Zealand still seem supine in a very serious matter, and for years apparently think that standing a jockey down for a brief period teaches them how to behave in the saddle and not bring their own lives.and those of others into unnecessary jeopardy. Laughing Lass Retired To Stud. Laughing Lass, who pulled up lame after running third in the Feilding Cup. will do no more racing. She will be retired to the stud. Laughing Lass was a very useful mare and one of her best performances was her narrow defeat by Taurangi in the Thompson Handicap of 1939. Gold Vaals Scores. At the Avondale races yesterday Gold Vaals got up in time to win the Foley Memorial Handicap by a head from Royal Appellant and made his winning tally three on end. Proud Fox ran true to form, being a neck away third, while Te Kawiti did best of the others. The each-way favourite Yogi, who was at the back of the field in the early part, lost his rider when making a forward move at the four furlongs. Royal Appellant forged to the front half a furlong from the judge, but just failed to withstand the final run of Gold Vaals, who was last with three furlongs to go. Proud Fox had every chance, but was not quite up to holding off the other two. Te Kawiti looked likely till the final challenge and finished fourth, followed by Mintlaw and Pocket Venus. Kelly showed a glimpse of his old form by leading into the straight only to fade away.

Pirate King Finishes Fast. Orelio. Lornarcre and Bronze Moth •were in line into the straight ,in the Railway Handicap at the Avondale meeting yesterday, and inside the distance the first-named drew out and looked a winner, till Pirate King came with an irresistible finishing run to beat Orelio by a neck. Kathbella, who got away badly and had only Miss Te Koura behind her at the top. came home in good style to get third place from Palustre. with Trilliarch and Blonde Princess almost in line. Lornacre and Bronze Moth faded in the last furlong. Race for Champions. At ihe patriotic meeting to be held at Addington on April 13, a race between trotting champions will be a feature. This will be in a sweepstake over a distance yet to be decided, and already the owners of Fine Art. Pot Luck and Lightning Lady have signified their willingness to start their horses. The committee is prepared to accept entries of approved horses for this race.

Prime Quality Under Lease. After his racing at Feilding. Prime Quality was transferred by Mr R. Mace to the Opaki trainer B. Burgess, who will race him under lease. Sprint Form at Riverton. The open sprinters at Riverton were an outstanding lot, and the respective winners on. the three days—Nigger Boy, Rebel Mate, and Strip—can be expected to hold their own in the best of company when next produced. When he beat Spendthrift. Rebel Mate, who carried 9.2. put up one of the best performances over recorded on the track to win over six furlongs in 1 min 13 3-ssec. This effort showed him to be right back to the form of last season, when he was regarded as one of the best sprinters in the country. Strip was another who showed a return Io his best form, and in beating Top Row over seven furlongs he scored a bloodless victory. Strip, too, has proved himself in the best company, and this was an outstanding effort, Nigger Boy had very little to spare when lie beat Rebel Mate ihe first day. and the latter was a. much better horse in his next appearance. Bay Duke ran a groat race the first day: but this effort appeared io find him out, as he failed rather badly in his later outings. Phalanx was not at his best, but Top Row may not be long off the winning list. Spendthrift was no match for Rebel Mate when receiving 151 b from him. He is right ! at the top of his form, however, and (■an bo expected to show up when the company is not so strong. Classic Record Opened. ( Inflation, himself a classic winner, opened his classic record as a sire when Chary took the Champagne Stakes at Riccarton. Chary had had two earlier victories to his credit. Duncannon is another son of Inflation who has raced prominently throughout the season.

BLOODSTOCK SALES

RACING FIXTURES

April 'I. fl. —Manawatn. April fi.—Clifden. April G. —Reefton. April 11. 13. —Hawke’s Bay, April 11. 13.—Oamaru. April 12. 13.—Whangarei. April 13. 15. —Nelson. April 20.—Napier Pari:, April 20—Waimate. April 20. 22. —Marlborough. April 27. —Waverlev. May 25—Fox lon. April 27. —South Canterbury. May 2. 4 — Egmonl. May 4.—Franklin. May 4.—Amberley. May 11. —Otaki Maori. May 11. —Ashburton County. May 11—Southland. May 11. 13. —Povcrly Bay. May IG. 18. —South Canterbury. May 17. 18.—Manawatn. May 18. 20.—Waikato.

An Improving Hack. Ono of the outstanding hacks produced at Riverton —and there were several much above the average —was the Irish Lancer filly Ackemma. who ranks as a half-sister to Waitoru, Doubleack, and Trebleack. She was produced in a novice field the first day. but lost her chance at the start, while on the second day she finished third to Sea Lady and Mosgiel. On the final day she won over seven furlongs in great style. Half a mile from home she appeared to be unable to handle the going, and was conceding the leaders six or seven lengths. She was still giving them a big start into the straight; but in the run home she finished over the top of. everything else to get up and beat Aspire. It was one of lhe best efforts of the meeting, and Ackemma can bp expected to carry on and win in much belter company. This was her first success: but she has only had a few starts to dale.-

Density's Record. Patrons of the Canterbury Jockey Clubs autumn meeting arc loud in praise of the Great Easter Handicap winner and record-breaker Density, who has earned the reputation of the most brilliant mare racing in New Zealand today. Density's speed was not revealed at its best in her early career, but she was generally' regarded as unlucky when she was defeated by Cocksure in the Great Easter Handicap of last year. She has been unfortunate in other respects, being in a shunting accident last winter. She has started 25 times in three seasons of racing for five wins and nine minor placings. her stake earnings totalling £2095. Density was bred and is owned by Mr D. Grant, Timaru. She is by Pink Coat from Denise, an Australian-bred mare by Cistercian —Symmetria. by Ayr' Laddie from Symmetry, by Trenton—Buttercup, by Panic. Denise was bought as an unraced two-year-old in Sydney for 70 guineas and. after winning a number of times- in the South Island, she was sent to the stud. Density being her second foal and the first of her progeny to race. Pink Coat's ability is not likely to be forgotten by racing enthusiasts, and Cistercian, sire of Denise, has been represented in Australia in the last. 13 years by winners of stakes totalling over £40.000.

Cistercian, a winner in England and Australia, is by Friar Marcus, who was unbeaten as a two-year-old, from Cissy Brown, by Dark Ronald. Symmetry, grand-dam of Denise, won the Victoria Oaks, but the family has not been particularly' successful in recent years. Coronation In Training Again. The four-year-old gelding Coronation, who has been off the scene for nearly 12 months, has been taken in hand again by F. W. Davis at Ellerslie. By Limond . from Jewel of Asia. Coronation, who' raced as a colt last season, showed glimpses of form at times, but he was not too reliable. He has developed a good deal during his spell, and his appearance suggests that he will be fit to race during the winter.

PRICES IN SYDNEY. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright. SYDNEY. April 1. At the bloodstock sales in Sydney today, the imported seven-year-old mare, Manumit, by Manna from Pretty' Swift, together with a foal at foot by The Buzzard, was bought by Mr Percy Miller for 1400 guineas. The late Mr E. L. Baillieu paid a high price in England for Manumit. La Justice, a mare foaled in 1928 by' Chief Ruler from Rapture, was passed in at 500 guineas. The New Zealander, Mr T. A. Duncan, bought the stallion, Christopher Robin, for 400 guineas. F. W. Hughes bought the stallion. Posterity, for 550 guineas. Egmont, foaled in New Zealand in 1932, was passed in at 100 guineas. The New Zealand horses, Beaulivre and Yours Truly, are going for a spell.