TURF NEWS AND NOTES

Wairarapa Times-Age, 3 September 1940, Page 3

TURF NEWS AND NOTES

CURRENT TOPICS FROM STABLE AND COURSE

Density Should Do Well in Sprints (BY “THE GRAFTER.") Density, No. 1 sprinter in Canterbury, and one of the best in the Dominion, may have a spring programme similar to that followed last year. But it should be a different story this time. Density broke into open company seventeen months ago, but was unplaced in the Railway Handicap at Trentham. She then had an exasperating run of minor placings, lack of stamina losing her race after race. The break came at Trentham last March when her brilliant speed enabled her to outclass Amigo, Brunhild and six other runners in the six furlongs Suburban Handicap. Her next appearance was in the Great Easter Handicap at Riccarton, and she justified her position as favourite by defeating Duncannon by a head after a great struggle. The seven furlongs were run in the New Zealand record of Imin 23 1-ssec. Her last start was in the Doncaster Handicap at Washdyke when she outclassed a field of moderates.

Density has wintered exceptionally well and she has been kept in light exercise all the time by her trainer. D. E. Cotton, states the sporting writer of the Christchurch •'Star.” She may start off with a race in the Flying Handicap at the spring meeting of the South Canterbury Jockey Club and then go on to Trentham. A year ago she finished second to Toro Koura in the Washdyke race and was third to Mittie and Baran in the Shorts Handicap at Trentham.

Owned by her Timaru breeder, Mr Donald Grant, the president of the South Canterbury Jockey Club, Density is now a five-year-old, being a brown mare by Pink Coat from Denise. She looks to hold a mortgage over some of the feature sprint races this spring. Best Form Beyond a Mile.

In the August Handicap, run at the Grand National meeting, Thermidor loomed up near the leaders about a furlong from home, but then drifted out again. She generally does better over a mile and a-quarter, and her best form has been beyond a mile.

Improvement Hoped For. Johnemby won at Waimate in the Novice Stakes, and afterwards ran second to Dranoel, who scored his second win during the day. He was got by Iliad—Melleray, by Kilbroney, and has something in the way of breeding to h,ope for improvement.. Palmerston North Races.

The Railway Department announces the issue of reduced fares and special train arrangements for the race meeting at Awapuni on September 5 and 7.

DEBUTANTE STAKES

OP AN I ENTRANTS. The first juvenile race of the new season will be the Debutante Stakes on the second day (Saturday) of the Wanganui Jockey Club’s spring meeting at Awapuni this week. There were 28 entries, including two or three by new sires and one bred in Australia. The list of Opaki trained youngsters with their trainer is as follows: —■ E. J. Kirkwood’s br c Par Avion, by Ringmaster—Damaris, by Limond. (T. R. George.) J. L. Cheeseman’s b c The Whippet’, by Ringmaster—Burnish, by Pombal. (T. R. George.) T. Newman’s ch f Pay Roll, by Croupier—Zarisee, by Paladin. (T. R. George.) S. J. Newland’s b f Forsake, by Bulandshar —Western Maid, by Iliad. (T. R. George.) Divisions Altered. The omission of Etzel from the acceptors for the maiden race at the Wanganui Jockey Club’s meeting at Awapuni has altered the draw for the divisions.

The first division will comprise Arctic Queen, Pillory, Gay Gipsy, Martene, Rhodes, Luarth, Etzel, Goldgain, Sweet Anne, Don Quex, Courting. Belle Cane Royal Fleet, Loch Moigh, Fox Fur, War Credit, Inform, Dyne, Mansura.

The second division will be Star Zone, Glen Donal, Social Credit, Rose Acre, Gold Bridge, Gold Court, Loyal Queen, Sanction, Moymell, King’s Mark, Astrite, Princess Merling, Rich Blood, All Quiet, Purangi, Beau Ciel, Taane Pango, Brown Fox. Corrected brackets are: Rich Blood and Loch Moigh, Taane Pango and Dyne, Gold Court and Etzel.

The stake has been increased to £l3O, with £5O, £lO and £5 for the respective placings in each division. Praise for Plana. C. Wheeler, a former leading trainer, whose opinion is respected throughout Australia, warmly praised the three-year-old filly Plana after she had beaten Waxwings in the Adelaide Guineas. ‘‘She is not only in the first rank of the present Australian three-year-olds,’ he said, ‘‘but she is the best filly I have seen here for 20 years, and I am sure one of the best fillies to race in Adelaide since Auraria, who won the Melbourne Cup in 1895.” Wheeler’s training accomplishments included two Melbourne Cups, which he won with The Parisian and Patrobas. He sees no reason why Plana should fail as a stayer in the V.R.C. Oaks, which will be her mission at Flemington. Raceaway. The Acre gelding Raceaway can begin well and show speed, but does not stay too well. He was second to Royal Style at the Christchurch Hunt Club’s meeting but petered out in subsequent engagements at Riccarton. Last season Raceaway started 25 times and won three times, while he was second in four starts and third in three others. He won a maiden race at Wanganui over six furlongs in Imin 15 l-ssec. His next win was at Egmont where he won with 7.13 in lmin 19 l-ssec in heavy going. The third win was at Greymouth, where he won ovei’ six furlongs and a-half with 8.3 in lmin 25sec. In his next race Midgard* 7.111 beat Raceaway 8.10 by two lengths at Oamaru in lmin 14 2-ssec. He then ran six times unplaced towards the end of the season.

Ajax’s Stake Winnings. His win at Moonee Valley the other day carried Ajax’s total stake winnings to £38,725, and he now ranks fifth among the stake-winners in New Zealand and Australia. Those above him are Phar Lap £53,038 (not including his winnings in America), Amounis £48,297 10s. Gloaming £43,100, and Limerick £38,729 10s. Next on the list is Heroic £38,062 10s.

Old Established Classic. The Wanganui Guineas, which is to be decided at Awapuni next week, was established in 1898, as successor to the Wanganui Derby, which dated back to 1877. The distance was reduced from a mile and a half to a mile when the name was changed. Among the Wanganui Derby winners were such celebrated horses as Fusilier, Manton, Tirailleur, and St Paul. Manton later won the C.J.C. Derby, the New Zealand Cup, and the Canterbury Cup. Tirailleur won the New Zealand and Canterbury Cups and the Great Northern Derby, but was killed two years later when contesting the Melbourne Cup. St Paul did not win any of the bigger cups or classics, but proved himself a wonderful weight-carrier for a small horse, and he had 10.2 when winning the Wellington Racing Club Handicap as a four-year-old. Winners of the Guineas who later added the New Zealand Derby were Renown, Danube, Bon Reve, Duo, Cylinder.’ Royal Chief, and Beaulivre, and the list of Great Northern Derby winners includes Renown, Danube, Counterfeit, Bon Reve. Reputation, Estland, Gloaming, and Red Manfred, all of whom succeeded in the Wanganui Guineas. It is thus evident that in the past the Guineas has proved quite a reliable clue to the later classic races.

Loss on Year's Working. Mention of the unsatisfactory year which the club had had financially was made by the president, Mr H. E. Troutbeck, at the annual meeting of the Napier Park Racing Club. He said that the postponement of the King’s Birthday holiday and the efl’ect upon the attendance at the meeting on that day had been mainly responsible for the loss of £660. The club, however, had receivefl an addition to the capital fund by the sale of the club's racing date in the autumn to the Levin club for £l5OO.