TURF NEWS AND N .

Wairarapa Times-Age, 20 July 1940, Page 3

TURF NEWS AND N .

Erination (11.12) was the runner-up to Padishah last year when weighted Sat 11.10. He is a versatile horse and, no stranger to Riccarton. Last season he finished out of a x place in the National Hurdles with 10.13; fourth in the Sydenham Hurdles on the third day under 11.2; and three races later came out to win the Lincoln Steeplechase carrying 11.3. Santoft was the runner-up, with Bryce Street, which had been the runner-up in the Grand National, in third place. This winter Erination has done most of his racing on the flat, but at his last start he finished out of a place in the Great Northern Hurdles and was bleeding when he pulled up. It is doubtful whether he will come south this time, states the sporting writer in the Christchurch "Star-Sun.” Slayer (10.12) was beaten into third place under 10.3 last time, but he then won the Beaufort and Lincoln Steeplechases, carrying 11.4 in the Lincoln, though against poor opposition. At his last start he won the Dunedin Steeplechase with 11.11. A horse susceptible to improvement and looking much stronger than when he raced last winter, Slayer promises to be one of the hardest horses in the field to beat. He was not taken to Trentham, the scene of some of his best form last winer, and will tackle the job as a fit horse. Chat carried 9.2 when she won the Wellington Steeplechase by ten lengths, and with a rise of 131 b she is not badly treated, though she failed with 10.4 in the July Steeplechase. She appears to ,be weighted up to her best in the meantime and will probably be allowed to drop out. Gold Wren (9.11) has yet to prove himself capable of running out three and a half miles, while few of the . horses lower down in the handicap hold much appeal. One of the best of them appears to be Mahala (9.6), which has been racing consistently in the North Island this season. He was the runner-up under 9.0 to All Irish in the Great Northern Steeplechase, and has proved to be a useful stayer, his stake earnings for the season being £940. With Padishah out of the way horses whose chances will be discussed early include Clarion Call, Slayer, Ballybrit, and Mahala. Should Take Some Beating. If Ballybrit had been kept a little closer to the leaders, he might have given more trouble in the Wellington Steeplechase, in which he finished second 10 lengths behind Chat. From the half-mile to the last fence he made a great effort to overtake Chat, but, after drawing up to within several lengths of her at the last fence, lost ground in the last half-furlong, which was not surprising after the run he had made. Ballybrit had only the one race at the meeting, and he should take beating when produced again. * May be Capable of/Better Form. Ridden by A. E. Ellis. Gay Boa was going strongly when he fell about seven furlongs from.home in the Wellington Steeplechase, and it seemed as if he would have taken a hand in the finish if he had stood up. On the second day he was ridden by G. Ridgway and ran a creditable fourth in the Matai Steeplechase, while on the third day with Ellis in the saddle again he was second in the July Steeplechase, which he might have won if he had not hit a couple of fences hard in the last round. Gay Boa may be capable of showing slightly better form than he | has yet revealed. He is an eight-year-old gelding by Balboa, from Geraldine, and is trained by E. J. Ellis, who did well last year with Survoy. Has Something to Learn. Although he has won over country. Small Boy still has something to learn about jumping big fences. Dash on the flat enabled him to go well for most of the way, but he tired after making poor jumps and was beaten a long way from home. Possibly he may go better on top of the ground, and if he does he is a prospect for the Grand National Steeplechase. If he schools well at Riccarton before the meeting he rnay be one of the favourites. Few Mares Successful. Important steeplechases are events that are seldom won by mares, and the victory of Chat in the Wellington Steeplechase last week places her in select company. The Great Northern Steeplechase has been won by a mare seven times: by Belle in 1886, Allegro in 1888, Jenny in 1890, Muscatel in 1898, Mary Bruce in Uralla in 1929 and Aurora Borealis in 1930. The predecessors of Chat in the Wellington list were Victrix in 1893, Nadador in 1908 and Nedra in 1913. The Grand National Steeples has been won by a mare only twice, the successful ones being Nadador in 1909 and Aurora Borealis in 1930. Both had achieved major distinction over the fences before winning at Riccarton and it may be recalled also that the latter was unlucky to be beaten by Mangam in the Wellington Steeples in 1930 She was second also in the Grand National Hurdles of that year. Aurora Borealis not only gained success on the racecourse; she is proving a profitable brood marc. Like Chat, she was little more than a pony, but she was a remarkably game finisher.

CURRENT TOPICS FROM STABLE AND COURSE Prospects for Grand National Steeplechase CLARION CALL WILL BE HARD TO BEAT (BY “THE GRAFTER.”) It was generally conceded that Padishah would receive round about that maximum weight, 12.7, for the Grand National Steeplechase, and Mr W. P. Russell, handicapper for the Canterbury Jockey Club, has given him 12.6 Padishah won last year under 11.5. Clarion Call won in 1938 with 11.1 and will have exactly 141 b more to carry next month. On Trentham running he does not look overburdened with 41b more than his Wellington Steeplechase weight. At Trentham Padishah finished third with 12.0, Clarion Cali failing to get round with 11.11. The difference then was 3lb and Mr Russell has now increased it to slb. But for his unfortunate mistake, Clarion Call might have won the Wellington Steeplechase. In the Wanganui Steeplechase, run over three miles, Clarion Call made light of 12.9, though he had a moderate lot to contend with. But looked at from any angle Clarion Call will be hard to beat.

Hunting Song Dead. Hunting Song, the Hurry On horse who headed the winning sires' list in New Zealand' for six consecutive years till he was displaced last year by Beau Perc, met with an -accident while running in a paddock on Wednesday and he had to be destroyed. \ Hunting Song was owned by Mr Gaine Carrington, Silverdale Road. Hamilton. He was imported by Mr Carrington's late father, and was at the.' stud in Poverty Bay. and the Manawatu before being taken io Hamilton ip 1935. In his 12 years at the stud. Hunting Song sired few “smashers" but many good and consistent performers, who have won in all departments of racing. From the 1928-29 season, when he was first represented on the turf in New Zealand, till the end of last season, his progeny had won in this country £134,623 10s, and when the figures for the current season are completed his tally will be in the vicinity of £150,000. Furthermore, he will be earning' posthumous honours for several more years, as his stock are hardy. In the period under review, Hunting Song representatives have won over 900 races and have also gained in excess of 1600 places. Hunting Song has also had winners in England. May Be Able to Race. Cottingham has been having a good deal of road exercise on the lead in the last few weeks, and there is still a possibility that he may be able to race next month, though there may be some doubt regarding his prospects of contesting the Grand National Steeplechase. Ellis to Ride Catalogue. Catalogue is expected to arrive at Riccarton in a few days. He will be ridden in the Winter Cup by A. E. Ellis, who had the mount on him in his only race at Trentham last week. . Totalisator Revenue. For the eight months ended March 31, 1940, of the current racing year, totalisator investments have increased by £677,076, states the annual report of the Department of Internal Affairs tabled in the House of Representatives by the Minister, Mr Parry. As in previous years, the department had a representative at all totalisator race meetings to ensure that the law regarding the operation of the totalisator was complied with. The following statistics relative to the racing year ended July 31, 1939, are of interest (figures for the racing year 1938 in parentheses): Number of racing days, 320 (320); number of races, 2517 (2506); amount of stakes, £550,054 (£527,545); totalisator investments. £7,981,441 (£7,201,820); amount paid in dividends, £6,589,628 (£5,945,365); Government taxes, £673,856 (£608,340). Jockey Championship. Although B. H. Morris drew a point nearer to W. J. Broughton during the Wellington, meeting, the latter still has a good lead in the list of winning jockeys with 57 points to 52. H. N. Wiggins is third with 48.