TURF NEWS AND NOTES

Wairarapa Times-Age, 1 June 1940, Page 3

TURF NEWS AND NOTES

CURRENT TOPICS FROM STABLE AND COURSE

Gay Gioh asd Half Caste Over Hurdles

PROMISING FORM SHOWN BY BOTH (BY “THE GRAFTER.") Gay Chou and Half Caste (Black Ronald —Faint One) are being given regular work over the hurdles at Opaki, and are displaying quite promising form. Before the encl of the winter season both will probably be given races in public over the sticks, and judgij'ng by the manner in which they are accomplishing tasks already set them they should make a good showing. ’

Golden Wattle and Larwood are being pushed along in their training and are showing very fair form. The latter is developing quite a serviceable turn of speed.

Lady Montana and White Rajah are being given easy work at Opaki and will undergo strict preparations for meetings at the tail end of the season and the beginning of the new racing year. Master Solway has gone back to his owner’s (Mr J. Judd) place for a spell.

A Good Record. Eight winners in nine clays is the recent record of Melbourne's leading jockey, H. Badger, who won a treble at Ascot. E. McMenamin reduced to seven W. Cook’s lead in the Sydney premiership by riding two winners and a dead-heat for first at Randwick, Cook riding one winner. However, by winning two events and deadheating for first in another at Menangle, Cook increased his margin. His total for the season is now 931, compared with McMenamin. 84. Cook rode in all the eight races at Menangle. Besides his two wins and dead-heat for first, he gained a second and a third place, leaving only two unplaced rides.

The First Dope,

The Americans are credited with being the first to introduce dope into England, but long before their arrival owners were in the habit of giving their horses a stimulant. In his "Racing Reminiscences,” Sir George Chetwynd relates that in 1872 when Digby Grand won the City and Suburban Handicap his owner sent the trainer a bottle of old port for the horse, who was of a rather uncertain temper. George Fordham, who had the mount, was adjusting his saddle when he noticed the trainer with a black bottle. “What’s that?” asked Fordham. “A bottle of port Mr Graham has sent to give Digby.” “Let’s have a look at it,” said Fordham, and then took a long pull at its contents. The trainer followed the example of the rider. Fordham said: “I don’t believe it would do him any good,” and took another long pull at the bottle. The trainer again followed the example of the rider', who regained the bottle and finished it. Digby Grand won. Successful Association. An old racing link was revived at Randwick recently, when trainer G. Young saddled up the novice winner, Thunderclap, for Mr W. S. McDermott. Nearly 20 years before, when he was famous as Gloaming’s jockey, Young rode winners for Mr McDermott in New Zealand. At Randwick. | Young gave Mr McDermott his first Sydney win as an owner. Formerly a newspaper proprietor. Mr McDermott went from Melbourne to Sydney 12 months ago because of his health, but has continued his Melbourne association with racing.

Lady Stella Scratched. Lady Stella was withdrawn from all engagements at the Auckland Racing Club’s winter meeting at 12.20 p.m. on Thursday.

Jockey Premiership. Two successes at Foxton have given W. J. Broughton a lead of six points over B. H. Morris in the jockeys' championship for the 1939-10 season. The list is now as under: —W. J. Broughton, 51; B. H. Morris, 45; I-I. N. Wiggins, 43; W. J. Mudford, 38; P. Atkins. 36: P. Spratt. 35; G. R. Tattersail, 32; G. Cameron. 29; W. F. Ellis, 28; A. Jenkins. A. E. Ellis, 27; R. W. McTavish, L. J. Ellis, 26; W. Jenkins. 24; C. T. Wilson, L. Dulieu, P. Burgess, 23; T. Green, 22; A. C. Messervy, 21; R. J. Mackie, 20.

A BRILLIANT FILLY

GODIVA'S GUINEAS WIN. A London orrespondent writes: Much to the general surprise of Turf patrons, Lord Astor’s Golden Penny was beaten easily by five lengths by Mr Esmond Harmsworth’s Godiva in the New One Thousand Guineas at Newmarket. Godiva was ridden by the 17-year-old Lincoln apprentice jockey, D. Marks, who has had little race riding experience, although he rode Godiva in all her outings last year. G. Richards was on the favourite. Mr Harmsworth, son of Lord Rothermere, himself bred Godiva, who is by Hyperion from Carpet Slipper, by Phalaris. In view of this very gratifying achievement, it was disappointing that he was unable to witness his first classic success.

Lord Astor, who also is a newspaper owner, has had many important successes on the turf, but the Derby still eludes him.

The field was made up of 11 runners. Godiva is not easily handled at the starting-gate, but when Mr Harmsworth was informed that all the principal jockeys would have engagements he decided to give Marks his chance. Godiva is the second winner of the One Thousand Guineas to be trained by W. R. Jarvis. The other was Scuttle, owned by King George V.

Godiva was drawn on the stands side and had the advantage of racing toward her stable. She and Lyric were wide of the others, who were in the centre of the course. The leader of that group for five furlongs was Drawing Prize, stable companion to Golden Penny. Richards drew ahead of the main bunch going into the dip but Godiva was still going smoothly by herself, with an occasional swish of her tail. Marks took a glance over his shoulder at Richards, who by this time was hard at work. However, the boy was not to be flurried. He rode home with his hands and Godiva was drawing away from Golden Penny, who was beaten by live lengths.

Godiva had run third in the Middle Park Stakes last season to Djebel and Tant Mieux, so there was every reason for thinking she would be an unusually good three-year-old. Godiva’s time. 1.40 3-5, was two seconds faster than that recorded by Djebel in the Two Thousand Guineas. Her only remaining classic engagement is the Oaks'. There was not any excuse for Golden Penny, who is unlikely to run in the Derby. Third place was taken by Sir Malcolm McAlpine's Allure, who was ridden out to beat Sir H. CunlifTeOwen’s Thyrse by a head.

Death of Bal! Dress. Ball Dress, a sister to Cricket Bat and dam of Night Dress, died recently at the Stonyhurst Stud. She was in foal to Solicitor-General. Ball Dross was a useful mare and won the Douro Cup, Prince of Wales Handicap, at Awapuni. and three other races as a three-year-old.

A Promising Pair. Night Shift, the three-year-old colt by Nightly from Minehead, and the year younger sister to Moorsotis were sprinted for the first time the other day. In these the Riccarton trainer. F. D. Jones, is believed to have a promising pair. He has had much to do in the past with their families.

Day for Patriotic Fund. Discussion between the Hon Eliot R. Davis .M.L.C., and the Waipa Racing Club has resulted in the club agreeing to hold a special race meeting next month for the Sick and Wounded Soldiers’ Fund if the necessary totalisator permit is obtained. It is understood no difficulties will be forthcoming in that direction. The Waipa Racing Club will hold its winter meeting on June 22 and the special meeting, all the profits of which will go to the fund on June 24. N.Z. Horses in Australia. The New Zealand-bred Kay Francis extended her winning record in Perth by scoring in the Soldiers' Handicap at

a special meeting held at Gloucester Park for patriotic funds. Kay Francis who is by Wrack from Princess Pointer. was purchased by Mr A. H. Richter for £3O. and she has rewarded him with 12 wins and 10 placings. worth £ll2B. In spite cf her good form. Kay Francis returned a dividend of almost half a century. Edith Direct, who won the Sydney Handicap, is a Tasmanian-bred mare by Louis Direct from Vendome, who won races in New Zealand for J. J. Kennerley. The Progressive Handicap at Fre- j mantle the same night was won by

Sunny Morn, from 130 yards, with another New Zealander, Golden Cross, who was a good favourite, third, from 120 yards. Two New Zealand-bred horses. Paragon, by Nelson Bingen—Bonolena, and Takanini, were successful at Wayville (Adelaide) this month. Paragon was a surprise and. with another winner. Princess Lylock, returned their sole supporter on the double totalisator over £5OO. Pendant, by Native King, from Belle Logan, dam of Logan Derby, added to her good list of Tasmanian successes by winning at Mowbray.