TURF NEWS AND NOTES

Wairarapa Times-Age, 1 August 1940, Page 3

TURF NEWS AND NOTES

CURRENT TOPICS FROM STABLE AND COURSE Colonel French Above the Average SHOULD DO WELL IN HURDLE RACES (BY “THE GRAFTER.’’) Colonel French, a young hurdler with pace above the average, had his third success in the Pareora Hunters’ Plate at the South Canterbury Hunt meeting. It was an easy race for him, as at the weights he was definitely the master of Turaki and won with something in reserve. Now a four-year-old, Colonel French is a brown gelding by Colonel Cygnus from Lorette, by Tractor from Moulin Rouge, by Kilbroney, and is owned and trained by Mr W. E. Hazlett, who is due to arrive at Riccarton with his team this week. Colonel French started off hurdling last winter and at his second attempt was third at Washdyke in May. He won over hurdles at Ashburton early in the present season and on the same course recently had an easy success in the Hinds Hurdles. Possibly the Grand National Hurdles distance will be too far for him this season, but with 9st 101 b to carry he should make a bold showing In the Longbeach Hurdles at the Christchurch Hunt meeting on Saturday. His stakewinnings total £3OO.

Loss on Year's Operations The annual report of the Dunedin Jockey Club states that the operations for the year show a loss. The winter meeting, usually the club’s most successful gathering, this year resulted in a loss, there being no holiday on the King’s Birthday. The totalisator investments amounted to £184,646, as against £208,864 last season. Craiglea. In her last dozen starts this season, the Iliad mare, Craiglea, has hot been further back than fourth. Her two wins at Gore in February and at Timaru on Saturday, were very easily achieved, and indications are that a good sprint even will be within her powers next season. She comes of a speedy family. Her dam, Madge's Tray, is a half-sister to Capital: First Success of Season. In two subsequent starts at Trentham following his second to Royal Star II in the Whyte Handicap, Hunting Royal did not improve and cost supporters a good deal of money. However, he has freshened up and in the Riddiford Handicap at Marton he had a fairly easy task. It was his first succes in the past racing year, but he should be able to capture another stake in the early spring. Black Thread’s Riders. B. H. Morris’s fracture of a collar bone as the result of The Smiler falling in the Farewell Hack Handicap at the Rangitikei Hunt meeting came at an unfortunate time as Morris had been engaged for Black Thread in the Winter Cup and was likely to have had a number of good mounts at the Grand National meeting. W. J. Broughton will ride Black Thread in the Brabazon Handicap on Saturday and W. Jenkins will be on him in the Winter Cup. Commands Attention. Nigger Boy gave a satisfactory Winter Cup trial by his close second placing to Haughty Winner at Washdyke, and was caught only in the last stride. Twelve months ago Nigger Boy won the Cashmere Plate from barrier rise in the good lime of lmin 14sec, those behind him including Lord Midas, Indian Sun, Not Out, Boloyna, and Schoolgirl. Spanish Lad. who was bracketed with Nigger Boy on Saturday, but was not prominent after reaching the straight, has been taken out of the Winter Cup, and is to contest the Paparua Handicap on the first day, a suggestion that Nigger Boy is considered the better proposition in the big mile event.

Not up to Standard. Golden Glow, an acceptor for the Grand National Steeplechase, was going well in the Hunt Cup at Washdyke until he hit the second of the stand double, and narrowly missed losing his rider. He took some time to settle down again, and was not afterwards within reach of the leaders. On his form at Wingatui, Waimate, and Washdyke, Golden Glow can hardly be seriously considered as a National candidate. Likes the Course. In previous visits to Riccarton, the Grand National Hurdles candidate, Tidewaiter, has run prominently. Three years ago he ran second in the Redcliffs Handicap; he won that race and the Summer Handicap in the following year, and at the last meeting he took part in the triple dead-heat with Lowenberg and Settlement in the Islington Handicap. Tidewaiter evidently likes the Riccarton course. A Great Trainer. It is estimated that James Scobie, who has retired from training, won nearly £r,OOQiOOO in stakes for his patrons. For Mr E. E. D. Clarke he Ivon about £200,000 in stakes. He won Melbourne Cups with Clean Sweep, King Ingoda, Bitalli, and Trivalve. In addition he trained eight Victoria Derby winners and four A.J.C. Derby winners. Change in Distances. The Australian Hurdle Race and Australian Steeplechase will be run over shorter distances this year. When run at Caulfield the distance of • the hurdle race is three miles and aquarter and 20 yards, and the Steeplechase about three miles* and a-half. As the races are to be run at Flemington owing to Caulfield being in use as a military camp, the distances of the two races have had to be reduced. The distance of the Australian Hurdle Race will be the same as the Grand National Hurdle Race, which is three miles; and the Australian Steeplechase distance will be three miles and a furlong, which is that over which the Grand National Steeplechase is decided. Chatting’s Record. Chatting, a two-year-old daughter of Chatham from Dashing was timed to run 591 sec for the straight five at Doomben.- This is the first occasion on which a minute has been broken in Queensland. She carried 9.5, and gave a brilliant exhibition. Chatting was bought at the Sydney sales last year for 220 guineas by J. F. Meynink, a member of the Q.T.C. Committee.

RACING FIXTURES

August 3—Christchurch Hunt. August 13, 15, 17—C.J.C. Grand National. August 24.—Pakuranga Hunt. August 29. —Egmont-Wanganui Hunt. August 31. —Taranaki Hunt. August 31.—Otago Hunt. September 5. 7.—Wanganui. September 14.—Ashburton County. September 14, 16.—Avondale. September 19. 21.—Geraldine. September 21. —Marton. September 28. —Kurow. September 28. —Foxton. September 28, 30.—Ohinemuri.