TURF NEWS AND NOTES

Wairarapa Times-Age, 11 September 1940, Page 3

TURF NEWS AND NOTES

CURRENT TOPICS FROM STABLE AND COURSE Most of Best Stayers in NX Cop (EY “THE GRAFTER") ” Most of the best stayers in the Dominion are. among the sixty-one horses nominated for the New Zealand Cup, the only notable absentees being the Auckland Cup winner, Cheval de Volee, and the Wellington Centennial Cup winner, Old Bill. Capricious and Dictate, which followed Yours Truly home last year, are again in the field, also Royal Chief and Willie Win, the best stayers trained at Riccarton. The usual proportion of “hopefuls” is included, while there are a number ,of promising horses, including Sparkle (Dunedin Cup) and Yogi. The Buzzer, which was beaten by Arctic King in the much-discussed finish for the race in 1938, and Limbohm, the Grand National Hurdles winner of this season, have also been nominated.

Lord Midas Has Improved. Lord Midas has been improved by a couple, of races since the beginning of the season and it should not be long before he shows form. His next outing may be in the Chatmos Hack Handicap at Ashburton, but he will be meeting a number of smart and seasoned hacks which-may be too solid for him just yet. Lord Midas had two successes and six minor placings in his fourteen starts last season. He is now a four-year-old and has done well since being gelded. Trained by G. Ridgway for his Dunedin breeder, Mr J. M. Samson, Lord Midas is a bay gelding by Iliad from Wealth, a speedy Paper Money mare. Sovereign Lady. Sovereign Lady has galloped many a mile in the five seasons she has been racing, but during that time she has .only had thirty-six races, a factor that has stood to her. Each season she manages to pay her way, and, so far, has earned £2743, the result of eight wins, seven seconds, and four thirds. Sovereign Lady is engaged in the Ashburton Handicap at the Ashburton meeting next Saturday, but it is only in recent seasons that she has raced away from her home track. Riccarton. Bred and raced by Mr G. Murray Aynsley, Sovereign Lady is an eight-year-old bay mare by Winning Hit from Liege Lady, a Paladin mare bred by Mi - J. F. Buchanan in 1925. While there seems little chance that she will show further improvement, Sovereign Lady should add to her winning list this season. As a three-year-old her one success was in the Trial Stakes at Riccarton, while the following, season she won the Re'dcliffs and Addington Handicaps on the same course, and was placed several times. The Midsummer Handicap at Riccarton’ arid the Peninsula Cup were -her successes as a five-year-old, but she failed in the Great Autumn Handicap. As a six-year-old she only won once, the Riccarton Handicap, but she was third to Wild Chase and Lady Montana in the Fendalton Handicap, and was the runner-up to Padishah in the Metropolitan Handicap, half a length separating them. Last season, her best from a stakewinning point of view, she won the Fendalton Handicap at Riccarton and the Otago Handicap at Wingatui. She failed in both the Metropolitan and Great Autumn Handicaps at Riccarton. High Prices in England. 1 Although horse breeding and racing in England have been disorganised by the war. an impression that prevailed earlier in the year that bloodstock would be secured at reasonable prices has been dispelled. Australian breeders who have made inquiries for sires and mares have been amazed at the pricers asked for bloodstock. Plans by several breeders to import well-bred young mares for stud purposes have been deferred. The demand for thoroughbreds, from America, Argentina and Ireland has kept the English market “alive,” and hundreds of horses, according to recent information received by an Australian breeder from his agent in England, have gone to those countries. Rising costs of shipping and insurance arc another drawback to the importation of bloodstock at present. Shipping space is also difficult to obtain. One breeder had the offer of a line of yearling colts and fillies at an attractive price for the lot. but, after going into the matter, found that, landed in Australia, they would have cost him nearly three times their original price, and he had to abandon the scheme.

Night Dress Looks Well. Night Dress looks well after his racing at the Grand National meeting and he should make a bold showing among the open class sprinters in the Spring Handicap at Ashburton. Last year he won the Ashburton Handicap and he usually races well on the course. Should Soon be in Money. Great Night won a couple of races and was placed several times. She is a five-year-old bay mare by Nightmarch and though she failed to show form in two starts at the Grand National meeting, she looks as though it will not be long before she earns some more money. ’ l A “Skinner.” A well-known tobacconist was trying one morning to impress on some customers in his saloon the fallacy of trying to beat the “books.” “Now," he said, “to illustrate my point, I will close the door of my saloon for five minutes, and I will lay the odds against the headwear of the first person who enters when the door is opened. Prices are evens felt hat, 2 to I cap. 4 to 1 bare head. 10 to 1 bowler, and 15 to 1 belltopper." Bets were made, and when the door was opened in walked an Indian wearing a turban. The barber got a “skinner,” and the Indian got a free shave. Riders for Avondale. Additional riding engagements for the Avondale meeting on Saturday are:—N. Vaughan, Money Spinner. Milanion, Purple Vermeer. Elise; R. W. McTavish, Fleuron. Classic, Phaleroh, Tinketoon, Hackenschmidt, Mysito; F. E. Baker, Ringshot; T. Williams, The Trimmer; A. Messervy, Aero King, Bronze Emerald, Bronze Fire. Training at Riccarton. Though there was some light rain during training operations at Riccarton yesterday, it did not interfere with work. Rebellion was one of the first to use the track, and. with an absence of wind at the 'time, he ran. four furlongs home in 50 2-5. This was easily the best of the daj’ over that ground, which later became cut up. The best half mile along the back was credited to Shikari and Pleading who finished together in 49 4-5, after covering the first two furlongs in 24 4-5. Willie Win ran half a mile along the back in 51 4-5, without being ridden out. Others over this distance included Halt and Lady Megallan. in front of Night Dress in 51 2-5; Ferribly beat Skyrena in 52; Wild Coon and St. Cloud 52. All Night beat Welsh Fusilier in 53 2-5; Don’t Forget 53: Retrogression 53 1-5; Race Away and Royal Lancer 54, and Portadawn and Gold Nugget 54 3-5.-Winning Rival covered six furlongs in 1.20 and Muffler beat Grey Silk comfortably over this distance in 1.21 3-5. Royal Chief with Sweet Mystery as a mate over the last four ran six in 1.21. Settlement finished in front of Prudent Prince after taking 1.22, and Blue Abbey and Iceland Spar went over the same ground in 1.23. >