TURF NEWS AND NOTES

Wairarapa Times-Age, 10 May 1940, Page 3

TURF NEWS AND NOTES

CURRENT TOPICS FROM STABLE AND COURSE Dominion Jumping Season WILL ADVANCE ANOTHER STAGE NEXT WEEK CHANCES OF CLARION CALL (BY “THE GRAFTER.”? The jumping season will advance another stage next Saturday week, when the Te Rapa Steeplechase will come up for decision. The top weights have already made their appearance, and as was anticipated, Clarion Call has been awarded top weight with 12.5, an increase of 9lb on the 11.10 he successfully carried in the Egmont Steeplechase. With the class of horses engaged, Clarion Call is not harshly treated, writes “The Escort,” and should he go to the post it would not surprise to find him figuring prominently at the finish, for he has proved a brilliant jumper and one capable of carrying weight. His win at Egmont was his first start over country since he won the Grand National Steeplechase, with 11.1, two years ago. Prior to Egmont he had won the Rona Hurdles, at Trentham, with 12.1, and the New Year Hurdles at Ellerslie with 12.9. Clarion Call first came into the limelight by his spectacular performance in the Great Northern Hurdles at Ellerslie, when, after being a hundreds yards out in front, he dislodged his rider at the last fence, allowing Prince of Orange to win in record time. However, he made amends for this mistake by winning very easily the next day. The following season he won the Wanganui Steeplechase and the Century Hurdles, and the next season he won the Egmont Steeplechase, the Wanganui Steeplechase, the Horneby Steeplechase and the Grand National Steeplechase.

Extra Day for Matamata. The Matamata Racing Club has been granted the use of the clay’s racing which the Levin Racing Club found it impracticable to utilise, and. subject to the approval of the Minister of Internal Affairs, the permit will be used at a meeting to be held on Saturday, June 29. The programme for the meeting has been approved by the Auckland District Committee. Wardress Shaping Well. Wardress is reported to be shaping up after her long spell, during which she has been treated for an eye injury which at one stage threatened her ewesight. She is now considered to be free of the trouble, and will soon enter tjpon serious tasks. Wardress, whose owner left New Zealand some time ago. and is now in the Royal Air Force, in London, has been leased by Mrs J. Campbell, and will race in her interests. Previously Wardress was raced under a similar lease by Mr R. D. Westenra, who is at present in Egypt. Bound to Improve. Majority ran last all the way in his only race at Egmont but the black gelding is looking well and as it was his first race since the spring he is bound to improve. Bright Prospects. Kaiwaka lacked confidence at his fences on Saturday, but gave a good display for a novice and was beaten only by a more experienced jumper in Streamline. Kaiwaka has much more than the average pace on the ■ flat, and his prospects as a jumper look bright. Galteemore. Galteemore weakened at the end of his race the first day at Egmont, but ran on well the second day. He has done some schooling and is entered for the hurdle race as well as on the flat at Otaki tomorrow, but may not run in a jumping race just yet as he lacks experience. Good Progress as Jumper. Messrs J. S. and W. E. Hazlett, who have adopted a policy of putting young horses to hurdling, allowed Spendthrift to forego his engagement in the Southland Hurdles on Saturday in favour of the President’s Handicap, in which he registered a sterling performance to win. bringing his stake earnings to £B6O. However, his jumping preparation is being continued and he is reported to be making splendid progress. Earlier in the week he gave a brilliant exhibition over three hurdles and his appearance in public will be watched with interest, more especially as novices have started off the season in good style. Will Miss Meeting. Because of floods in the Otago district and transport. being held up. Wild Coon. Waitoru and Ackemma, who were to have raced at the Ashburton county meeting on Saturday, will have to miss the meeting. R. E. McLellan left Invercargill by train on Wednesday with the three horses mentioned. and also Black Bard, but was held up at Clinton and. though a float was brought from Dunedin, it was impossible to get through, and McLellan returned to Invercargill late on Wednesday night. The engagements of his three horses at the Ashburton meeting will have to be cancelled. He will, however, be represented at the South Canterbury meeting next week, and will take Waitoru. Wild Coon, Ackemma and Black Bard north on Sunday evening. Ashburton Races. Riding engagements as follows have been made for Saturday's programme at Ashburton: A. Stove. Studley Royal; C. Stokes, Racewell, Blue Abbey. Captain Bruce; R. Mackie. Bakloon; P. Spratt, Dinah Dhu, Hurry Girl, Knight Commander. Sham Boy, Grey Honour; M. Caddy. Guilder, Norse, Shangri La; IVL Billington, The Vulture; H. Hibberd, Mount Vai; L. J. Ellis. King's Toast. Roy Bun. Skyrena. Schoolgirl, Big Joe; H. Were. Iceland. Spar; A. Messervy, Sweet Mystery, Night ! Dress, Ripley; C. Wilson, Stabilise, Scarteen, Ageratum, Settlement; J. Fraser, Flame Queen; J. Jennings, Prudent Prince, Alma; E. Jennings, i Red Dragon: R. Register. Far East; A. E. Ellis. Rebellion; A. Stokes, Ferriby, Lady Don; D. Mackie. Princess Min- ; erva, Lockit; E. Shaw. Gay Hussar: R. Caddy, Chanteur; V. Barrington. Rye- , town, Grey Silk; C. Fox, Trench Fight, ; Cymric, Improvident, Farida, The ; Wrecker; G. Elliot, Waka; S. Green, Gold Nugget.

Lacks Stamina. Lady Stella is a fine fencer, but lacks stamina. The shorter distance should have suited her on Saturday, but En Tour gathered her with ease.

Comes From Good Family. The two-year-old filly by Flying , Prince from Marching, who is being trained at Ellerslie by W. J. McLean, has been named Flying March. She possesses, plenty of size, and has taken kindly to her early education. Flying March belongs to a good family, her dam. Marching, being by Lapidary from Lady March, a fullsister to Queen March, by Luculltis from March. Hawke's Bay Horses for Gisborne. Hawke's Bay stable will be represented this week at Gisborne by Anini, Red Cockade, Royal Wave, Silver Bat, Shani, Kikiroki, Chandlery, Modern Way, Vascones, Gay Mimic and Royal Spades, and at Otaki by Master Cyklon, Solaria, Gay Ballad, Cherry Hunter. Anini has been schooling proficiently at Greenmeadows, and on Saturday will be produced in the hurdles. Now. after heavy rain, this mare, should fully test Small Boy with his T 2.5. Red Cockade, for a novice, has been negotiating schooling hurdles in a most impressive manner. However, lack of racing experience may tell against him in this, his first public appearance over hurdles. Royal. Wave, a two-year-old half-sister by Tidal to Big Dook. showed a fine turn of speed last month at Hastings, so appeals as a maiden possibility, but the more experienced Dusky Morn may prevail on account of that. Silver Eat is engaged in no less than three races on the opening day at Gisborne, and is to start in the Hack Flat, in wheih her chances are only moderate. Shani is to contest the Hack Cup. despite her third wide’ out at Hastings last month. She has a difficult job to down Kintyrq, who, in his last start, won from a strong field of middle distance hacks when awarded 7.8. Now, in poor class, he has only 7.12. Kikiroki goes a merry two miles over country, and, being in good order, must race prominently in the Steeples, with perhaps the strongest opposition coming 'from Makoi, third last Saturn, day in the hurdles at Pukekohc, as the field otherwise consists of unsound horses. Chandlery has been acquitting herself well in private, but is opposed by a strong field of hack sprinters, including Smiling Personality, who though, not too sound, will now bo materially assisted by the soft going. Royal Spades has only to reproduce his recent outstanding track trials to be a force to reckon with on the Gisborne trip. RACING FIXTURES 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. May 18, 20. —Waikato.