TURF NEWS AND NOTES

Wairarapa Times-Age, 28 August 1940, Page 3

TURF NEWS AND NOTES

CURRENT TOPICS FROM STABLE AND COURSE

Training Operations at Opaki

(BY

"THE GRAFTER.")

Opaki horses are training well for immediate provincial meetings, Larwood has accepted in the Whenuakura Hack Handicap at the Taranaki Egmont-Wanganui Hunt Clubs’ combined Imeeting tomorrow, and Te Ore for the Waverley Hack Handicap at the same meeting. The Danilof — Nukerakau gelding has been brought into good shape by B. Kelleher and is now about at top form. Larwood started twelve times last season but failed to score a win. His best efforts were three (thirds early in the season, the last one at Masterton in October to Colfort and Cherry Picker. Te Ore has sharpened up considerably of late and is now fit and well. The Lord Quex gelding’s last appearance in the late season was at the Rangitikei meeting in July when he ran unplaced to Lucullus Boy in the Springrove Farewell Hack Handicap. Te Ore won on two occasions last season and also recorded a second and a third.

It is expected that a large percentage of the horses training at ; Opaki (about fifty) will be produced at meetings in various iparts of the province in the course of the next few weeks. Counter, Augment, Lady Montana, Galteemore, Dunglow, White Rajah, Phaleron Song, Gay Fox, Cheerful Lady, Etzel, Rose Mimetic, Sky Limit, False Witness, Defy, Lord Quex, Serenata and Trebor are in good heart, and while some of them are being given slow work others are being topped off in readiness for appearances under silk, i Followers of racing in Masterton would do well to keep an eye on locally trained horses when they saddle up for distances which suit them and under .conditions which are favourable.

Courses Used As Camps. As their racecourses are in use as military camps and depots, several racing clubs in Victoria are in a difficult position, so far as their race meetings are concerned. The Williamstown Cup will be run at Flemington, the necessary permission having been given by the committee of the Victoria Racing Club. The Caulfield Cup. too, is almost certain to be decided at Flemington. The Bendigo Jockey Club is not in such a happy position for its meetings in November. Its course is a military camp and the club is seeking a course on which to race. It may be necessary to race in Melbourne, but it is considered that this will not be an ideal arrangement. A Profitable Horse. As a result of one win and a deadheat, in addition to place-money, Royal Chief earned £2857 10s for Mr A. K. Firth in Australia last season. High Caste’s Earnings. Mr H. E. Tancred, who lived in the North Island before taking up his rein Sydney, raced only the BulftSTshar horse, High Caste, last season, but his 104 wins brought in a total of £12,150, giving Mr Tancred second place on the list of winning owners. In addition, Messrs G. and;H. Tancred earned £2250 while they were racing in partnership. Cup Favourites. In the early betting that has been done' on the Australian spring events, the New Zealand horse, Gladynev, is a pronounced favourite for the Caulfield Cup, in which he has been let in on the minimum, while Beau Vite and Maikai share the honours in the Melbourne Cup. The Gladynev-Maikai double has been backed very heavily, in the principal centres in Australia, and the bookmakers are afraid that the Combination will be as bad for them as was the Amouhis-Phar Lap double in 1930.

Tutor Destroyed.Tutor, who fell in the Harris Memorial Hack and Hunters' Hurdles at Ellerslies on Saturday and was destroyed, having broken a leg. was nine years old. He started in 22 races last season, his only success being in the St John Hack and Hunters' Steeples at the Waikato Racing Club's patriotic meeting in June, since when his form has been indifferent. Owners' Lucky Race. The victory of Gaine's Choice in the Ladies’ Bracelet on Saturday at Ellerslie gave the owner, Mr H. Rothery, his third successive win in the race. Gaine's Choice also won the race last year, and in 1938 Mr Rothery was successfully represented by Aramis. Some years ago Mr Rothery raced Glendowie, who in the 1927-28 season won the following races: Hunters' Steeples at Ellerslie, Waikato Hunt Club Steeples, Hunt Club Hurdles at Ellerslie. Great Northern Steeples and Winter Steeples. Glendowie was ridden on each occasion by S. Henderson. Racing “Too Crooked.” A recent story from England concerns a group of racegoers assembled in a sporting club in London. They were discussing the abandonment of the Ascot meeting. “It means nothing to me,” declared a well-known professional punter. “I never go to Ascot. The racing is too crooked there. Why, every horse is a trier.” ,j A Sensible Steward. During the running of a race al a meetirig it became obvious that one horse was not being allowed to do its best. “Did you see that?” said one steward to another. "Yes," was the reply. “Well, what are we going to do about it?" “Back it next start.”

Great Fire Destroyed. C. T. Keeble recently had the bad fortune to lose Great Fire, who 12 months back was predicted to do big things, but mishap after mishap prevented him ever starting. A few months back he was taken ill and could not be made to eat. Then he went down and was destroyed. A post mortem revealed worms in the blood streams.