TURF NEWS AND NOTES

Wairarapa Times-Age, 19 April 1940, Page 3

TURF NEWS AND NOTES

CURRENT TOPICS FROM STABLE AND COURSE Strip a Miicli Improved Horse SHOULD WIN GOOD RACES IN WINTER (BY “THE GRAFTER.) Strip is a much improved iicrse, judging by his last two efforts, and his Wingaiui trainer, A. £. Didliarn, should win some worthwhile races up to a mile with him this 'winter. At Riverton, Strip galloped freely lor aii easy victory from Top Row in the Farewell Handicap, while in his only appearance at Oainaru he made short work of Nightcalm and the Stewards' Handicap field, running the seven furlongs in Irnin. 2C 4-ssec., and coasting in three lengths clear. By Valkyrian. Strip is a brother to Dissemble and Valarth, being from the Tractor mare Dismantle, which was bred by Mr. C. Hazlett in 1523. He had won one race earlier in the present season, but appears to be much more tractable and solid than when raced earlier. In his present form it will take a good horse to bent him.

Having a Spell. 11. Telford has greatly reduced his aclive team, sending Dainty Sue. Globe Trotter and Siglo.w out for a spell. Absolve has been gelded and is also resting. He is a brilliant, galloper and it is hoped he will race more generously as a gelding. Black Eard Sold. Black Bard has been sold by Mr. E. C. Govan and he has joined R. E. McLellan’s Southland team. His form 'earlier was of a high standard, but- lie did not carry on. and he is likely to be tried as a hurdler. -McLellan has also taken up Cintilln with the intention of racing him over hurdles. Night Wings Fit. Night Wings is almost certain to be installed a good favourite for the Otautau Cup on Saturday. She won at the Vincent meeting with 7.13. and with 8.4 at the Otautau meeting she should bollard to beat. The going is likely to bo holding, and as she is able to act well on heavy tracks this will be a factor in her favour. Wild Career is the best handicapped horse in the field, as he meets Peony Rose, who finished second to him in the Riverton Cup. on exactly the same terms. The higher scale of weights is also against. Peony Rose, but she will handle the conditions better than Wild Career. Mona’s Song is another who is ‘unable to handle heavy going, and this will prejudice her chance. The only chance Ashaway has if the track is a quagmire, and then ' lie will be up against it. Night Wings ’ may get most opposition from Wild Career. Petersham Gallops well in Winter. Petersham was having only his fourth race this season when he beat Nightcalm in the Elderslie Handicap, and as he gallops well under winter conditions more good efforts can be expected from him. A six-year-old bay gelding by Shambles from Blush, and owned by Mr. R. C. Thompson. Petersham is trained by T. Hobbs at Oarnaru. Lockit Racing Weil. Lockit. hard held, was an easy winner of the Autumn Highweight on the. first, day of the Oarnaru meeting, but on a heavy track he was no match for Half and Half in a similar race on the. second day. In recent months. Lockit has been racing solidly and under a light weight he may be a nuisance in the Timaru Cup. as ho ran useful races in the Sockburn and Groat .Autumn Handicaps at Riccarton. A Profitable Purchase. Thermidor has proved to be a good stake earner for Mrs. H. C. Manaton, who purchased her as a three-year-old from Mr. G. R. Macdonald. There is no doubt, about her staying ability, and this is not. surprising as she is by Robiesperre from Lady Minerva, by Martian from Lady Lilian. Thermidor has had 89 starts for 13 wins, nine seconds and 16 thirds, and has won slightly more than £3OOO in stakes, of which'she has collected £2BOO for her present owner. Her list of successes includes the Clare Gold Cup al Vincent. Kurow Cup. Waikouaiti Cup. and Oarnaru Cup. the lasi three being won this season. Due for a Win. Dinah Dhu is shaping well, and she can be marked off as an early winner. She was a fair third to The Raker and Rebellion in (he Windsor Hack Handicap, and was in a similar position to The Raker and Mosgiel in the Waitaki Hack Handicap. She led to the straight' in the Waitaki Hack and in a hard, 1 struggle was beaten in a neck and? neck finish. It will be recalled that Dinah Dhu. an Australian-bred filly, gured in a "changeling" case last season. She is now a three-year-old. and is trained by A. J. Martin tor Mr D. O. Rutherford, who also has Wagner in the stable.

Right Royal Sold. The gelding Right Royal, formerly owned and trained by I. Tucker, lias been purchased by M. O'Connor, who has a useful team of jumpers in work, including Baldric. All Irish and Te Ronga. Right Royal seemed to be feeling the'efi'ects of the hard going when he raced in the autumn and failed to display his true form. However, lie is capable of very creditable perI forrnances both on the -Hat and over fences, and may be seen to greater advantage at the winter meetings. Didham in Form. A. E. Didham has also done well with Half and Half in recent, months and there was a good deal of merit in his winning effort in the Pukeuri Highweight at Oarnaru. He was slow to get going, but had run up to Lockit with six furlongs to go and eventually won easily. Like most horses by his i sire. Balboa. Half and Half is an adept al. handling a heavy trad:. At the Vincent meeting he had unaccountably finished last, in the highweight in a five horse field. But. for that lapse he had been racing solidly and his Oarnaru success was his third this season. Hall and Half may be seen in the role c.f hurdler at the South Canterbury meeting at Washdyke next week. If he can jump well, his speed on the flat will bo a good asset over hurdles. A Great Horseman. G The late Frank L. Wootton was always regarded as one of the greatest horsemen ol all time in England, writes “Cardigan. ’ in the “Melbourne Herald.” Before he went to England with his father and family young Wootton had had many winning mounts in South Africa. As at that period he was only 10 and was too young to hold a licence. he rode as an amateur. His ftu ther, Richard Wootton, thought nothing of investing £lllOO on a horse ridden by his son, who was a born jockey. He had perfect hands, marvellous balance and great strength. Frank Wootton first rode in England in .1906, when he won 16 races. In the following year ho won 29. and in 1908 he was second on the list to D. Maher, with 129 winning mounts. Retaining his form and realising to the full his increased opportunities. Wootton, then 16 years of age. topped the list, in 1909 with 165 winners. He retained the premiership among the jockeys for the three following years, and in 1913 took second place. It was at this time that weight began to be a problem, and no retired from race riding at the end ot that season.

In a period of eight years in England he rode in 3864 races and won 882. His winning percentage was 22.8, which has seldom been surpassed by the leading horseman of the present day. G. Richards, in his most fortunate years. After service in the Great War, Frank Wootton took out a licence as a hurdle and steeplechase rider and quickly made his mark in this department, heading the list in 1921. 'Afterwards he became a tiainer. but of late years had lived in retirement in Sydney. He was' in his 47th year. RACING FIXTURES April 20.—Napier Park. April 20— Waimate. April 20, 22.—Marlborough. April 27.—Waverley. Mav 25.—Foxton. April 27.—South Canterbury. May 2, 4. —Egmont. May 4. —Franklin. May 4. —Amberley. May 11.—Otaki Maori. May 11.—Ashburton County. May 11—Southland. May 11. 13.—Poverty Bay. May 16. 18.—South Canterbury. May 17, 18— Manawatu. 1 M;iy 18, 20.—Waikato.