TURF NEWS AND NOTES

Wairarapa Times-Age, 9 August 1940, Page 3

TURF NEWS AND NOTES

CURRENT TOPICS FROM STABLE AND COURSE

Masterton Horses Leave for Riccarton

(BY

“THE GRAFTER.”)

A number of Opaki-trained horses left Masterton today for Riccarton, T. R. George and .“Snowy” Burgess having taken with them strong teams. Ruling Star has been jumping excellently at Opaki and on present form should be a hard proposition in the Trial Hurdles at the Grand National meeting. Lady Montana and Augment have done exceptionally well in their work on the tracks. Augment is considered to have a good chance in the Cashmere Plate, while Lady Montana was never in better form, and it will require a good horse to beat her in the Winter Cup. She has pleased her connections in her trials and doubtless will be much in demand for the big flat race on August 13. Ruling Star has been taken down to Riccarton by T. R. George, The Ruler —Phrosa gelding is in good fettle, and is expected to be in the money in the Trial Hurdles on the first day of the Grand National meeting. He has been giving excellent displays of jumping in his work at Opaki. His last placing was in the Manawapou Hurdles at the Egmont meeting in May last, when he finished third .to Streamline. Since then he has been twice unplaced. His last win was in the hurdles at Awapuni in April. The Chief Ruler gelding has improved out of sight during the past few weeks.

Beau Vite. The Opaki-trained horse Beau Vite has left on his trip to Australia, and looked particularly well .on leaving Tvjasterton. Unlikely Visitors. It is practically certain that Makoi will not go to Riccarton to contest the Grand National Steeplechase. He has fallen three times in his last four starts, and as a result his connections are not keen to undertake such an expensive trip. Makoi appears to have taken no harm from his mishaps, but they may shake his confidence. Until he fell in his races at Rotorua he jumped splendidly. Blue Tiger is another who will not go south. He had a mishap while schooling at Hastings last week, and has had to be put aside.

A Busy Time. In addition to some 180 horses of all ages in commission at Riccarton several visitors have already put in an appearance, and there are daily arrivals from the North Island. When all outside horses have arrived the number of visitors will be more than 100. so the importance of a Grand National meeting to Christchurch and district can easily -be realised.

r.’y.st Have a Chance. /A horse that must be granted a good chance in the Grand National Hurdles is Jewelled Girdle. He won a double at the Waikato meeting. He fell at the first hurdle in the Great Northern and then won the Campbell Hurdles in good style with 10.12 from Aussie Ra. He was unplaced on the flat, and again unplaced in the Trentham Hurdles, and then came his pronounced success in the Winter Hurdles with 10.13 from Aussie Ra 9.4. and Clarion Call 11.9. Jewelled Girdle stays fairly well and this is a great asset in favour of a Grand National Hurdle horse.

Galteemore Jumping Well. Galteemore (Martarma —Lady Colossus), one of T. R. George's charges at Opaki, has been showing splendid form over the hurdles and is expected to be in- the money before long. His last public appearance was in the Waituna Hurdles at the Manawatu meeting on .Tub' 20 when he ran fourth to High Heer, after having lost his good position at the last fence.

Cashmere Plate Weights. The weights published yesterday for the Cashmere Plate at the C.J.C. meeting gave all the acceptors 8.0. Three-year-olds have 8.0. and older horses 8.11. The correct weights are as follows:—Ann Mie. Augment. Citizen, Kilcato 8.11, Alias, Blue Abbey, Camphor. Don’t Forget, Eulogist,' Farida, Foxette. Game Bird. Haughty Lad, Hurry Girl, Jolly Time. Lockheed Muffler, Pleading. Snow Elf. Stock Exchange. Taxpayer. Welsh Fusilier, Wild Coon 8.0

Faultless Display by Padishah. All the interest of track-watchers at Riccarton yesterday was focused on the course proper when Padishah (Beatson), Slayer (Mcßae). Ballybrit (F. Baker), and Trisox (Shand).' paraded for a round of country, starting off at the sod wall at the mile post. Padishah. Ballybrit and Trisox raced together in front for the whole journey, with Padishah always doing the best work. Padishah had a' slight advantage going to the last obstacle. Cults’ brush, and cleared it about half a length in front of Ballybrit. with Trisox close up. Slayer, who was evidently not out for any fast work, but for some useful schooling, was some lengths away. Padishah, who was sent over three hurdles as a preliminary. gave a faultless display, and aowled along on the flat for another Hew furlongs after jumping Cults’ brush before being pulled up. He treatid each fence alike, and had Ballybrit md Trisox struggling to keep pace vith him. The last-named pair, nevertheless, shaped very satisfactorily. Slayer jumped cleanly, and could probably have been closer up to the ithers if ho had been called on.

Addition to George’s String. A recent addition to T. R. George’s string is Serenata. a brown filly by Nightmarch—Praise. Last season she won two races —the Ahuriri Hack Handicap at the Napier Park meeting in November and the Whau Handicap at the Avondale meeting in April. She also registered two seconds and three thirds. She has proved herself a strong finisher, and under George's capable hands should add considerably to her stake money.