TURF NEWS AND NOTES

Wairarapa Times-Age, 9 October 1940, Page 3

TURF NEWS AND NOTES

CURRENT TOPICS FROM STABLE AND COURSE Training Operations at Opaki

(BY

“THE GRAFTER")

The rain of yesterday will benefit the Opaki racecourse to a considerable extent, and will facilitate training operations and make the course a much improved area for working on. The course is looking in splendid order just now, thanks to the excellent work which is being carried out by Mr Gibbs, the caretaker, who is undoubtedly the right man for the job.

Trench Law, who secured a third at Foxton last month, won six races last season.. He is reported to be training on well, and if he accepts, the steadier of 9.0 in the Masterton Handicap may not hinder him from securing a place. The Gascony colt, which is in the skilful hands of T. R. George, is stated to have improved in his track work of late and should easily pay his way this season.

Titter, one of the light weights ,in the Masterton Handicap, ran a moderate fourth in the Wharangi Handicap at Foxton but it was generally agreed that the Laughing Prince—Sigma mare was not ;at her best. She is reported to have shown better form in her recent track gallops, but still lacks the ability i;which is necessary to win the Masterton Handicap. Aurora's Star won four races last season and is now owned by her trainer, J. J. Waller. In the Carnarvon Handicap at the Foxton meeting Aurora’s Star never looked like winning, being a long way behind the first horse, Pearl of Asia, at the finish. The Vaals mare is in with 7.0 / but cannot be considered a prospect in the chief event at the Masterton meeting.

The Buzzer. In some quarters The Buzzer is regarded as remarkably well treated in the handicap for the New Zealand Cup. He was not placed in four starts last season, and in the previous one did not win in eight starts. He was second with 8.3 to Arctic King in the New Zealand Cup, and third in the Metropolitan with 8.11. The. question arises as to whether a horse should be handicapped., on supposition and somewhat ancient form or if frequent defeat should be balanced by reduction in weight. Rahdwick Classic. New Zealand has produced several winners of the A.J.C. Derby, though none for some years. Eight horses owned in New Zealand to win have been Bennie Scotland (1892), Noctuiform (1905), Kilboy (1916), Biplane (1918), Gloaming (1919), Cupidon (1921), Ballymena (1923), and Prince Humphrey (1928), but Biplane, Gloaming and Prince Humphrey were Australianbred. To make up for them Dominionbred winners owned in Auustralia have been Nordenfeldt (1885), Phar Lap (1929), Ammon Ra (1931), Theo (1934), and Homer (dead-heat in 1935). Winning Owners. As the result of Saint Tor’s success m the Hastings Stakes the Manawatu sportsman, Mr J. McDonald, heads the winning owners’ list at the Hawke’s Bay spring meeting, the chief winners being Mr J. McDonald £205; Mr E. N. Fitzgerald £200; Messrs B. and S. Nausbaum £200: Mrs A. M. Goodman £140; Miss G. Twist £95; Mr T. W. Wills £9O; Messrs G. W. B. Greene and R. J. MacDonald £B5; Mr J. Berrigan £B5; Mr H. E. Fairey £80; Mr E. O. Warren £80; Mr M. R. Moore £80; Mr E. J. Kirkwood £BO. N.Z. Cup Candidates at Wingatui. Additional interest is lent to the Dunedin’s spring meeting by the fact that New Zealand Cup candidates jn Royal Chief, Capricious, Passaform, Sparkle, Swordstick, Doubleack, Settlement, The Raker, Glenora Boy. Heidelberg, Lord Puck, and Airline are booked to race at Wingatui. A further attraction will be supplied by Doria, Spanish Lad, Nightcalm, Dark Flight, Gold Flight, Don’t Forget, Rebel Mate, Hearth, and Toro Koura, who are nominated for the Stewards Handicap, and will be seen in action at Wingatui. Gordon Handicap Divisions. Divisions of the Gordon Handicap at the Auckland races are: — First division: Monte Cristo, Caluta Boy, Hunto, Kindergarten, Valdene, Gold Money Song, Beeswing, Venture, Sir Lysander, Bronze Emerald, Hackenschmidt, Rich Blood, Duvach, Airport, Princess Vai, Golden Bonnett, Valley Maid, Auto Star, Softly, Foxola, Miss Bridge. Second division: Odtaa, Glen Connell, Belle Femme, Brahman, Mysito, Expellant, Biddy Girl, Volifox, Veritable, Rara Avis, Miss Jose, Fairfield, Onetea, Bournemouth, Gay Rosette, Corot, Gold Race, Sealaw, March By, Heroic Star, Miss Ridicule. Brackets: Kindergarten and Brahman. Valdene and Mysito, Gold Money Song and Expellant,' Beeswing and Biddy Girl, Venture and Volifox, Sir Lysander and Veritable, Bronze Emerald and Rara Avis, Hackenschmidt and Miss Jose, Rich Blood and Fairfield. Durvach and Onetea, Airport and Bournemouth, Princess Vai and Gay Rosette, Golden Bonnett and Corot, Valley Maid and Gold Race, Auto Star and Sea Law, Softly and March By. Foxola and Heroic Star, Miss Bridge and Miss Ridicule. Starting times: 12.30, Trial Hurdles: 1.15, Great Northern Guineas; 1.55, Shorts Handicap; 2.35, Mitchelson Cup; 3.15, Hunters’ Steeples; 3.55, Welcome Stakes; 4.40, Gordon Handicap; 5.30, Flying Handicap. Stratford Handicap. I The following are the weights for I the Stratford Handicap. l ',m. to be run at the Stratford Racing Club’s meeting lon October 19:—Royal Star If 9.0; (Friesland 8.12: Namara 8.10; Footloose 8.9; Ned Cuttie 8.6: Winsome Lu 8.2; Notium 7.13; Aussie Ra 7.5; Auto Sweep 7.4; Young Charles 7.1; Skyway. War Lap 7.0. Beau Repaire. At Hamilton yesterday Beau Repaire, who is looking a picture of condition, worked steadily over two rounds, occupying 2.16 1-5 for the final circuit. Beau Repaire, who was unlucky to be beaten in the Avondale Cup last month, may make amends in the Mitchelson Cup this week. Black Musk Fit. There was little between Black Musk and Son of the Soil over the concluding stages of a round in 2.4 on the Hamilton course yesterday. They ran the first half-mile in 521, five furlongs in 1.6 and seven furlongs in 1.32 4-5. It was a good effort on the part of both horses, and Black Musk is fit and | well for jumping engagements at Auckland.

GALLOPS AT OPAKI WORK ON TRACK THIS MORNING. Etzel and Sky Limit covered half a mile in 56 seconds, Etzel showing up well. Larwood had the better of Defy in 56 seconds over half a mile. Te Ore did easy work, while Augment covered three furlongs. Lady Montana and White Rajah did a five furlongs working gallop. Prime Quality and Happy Ending raced over half a mile, Prime Quality showing the better form. All T. R. George’s horses did easy work on the plough. The going generally was on the soft side. Gay Fox and Cheerful Lady ran to-, gether over three furlongs, Cheerful Lady having the better of the gallop. Opaki-trained horses for Otaki will be: Namesake, Pearl of Asia, Trench Law and Pillory. AUSTRALIAN RACING GALLOPS AT CAULFIELD ■> TRACK RECORD FOR MILE. (By Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright) MELBOURNE, October 8. Conditions were favourable for gallops at Caulfield on the grass. Phoines established a track record for a mile on the grass, the time being 1.40, the first half in 49, and six furlongs in 1.14.' Bankshaw, going well, ran six in 1.15., Maikai, looking well, was not extended over ten furlongs in 2.14. Historian moved freely over a mile in 1.54. Apostrophe went better than Indignity over nine in 1.59 J, the last mile in 1.443. Tragopan ran ten in 2.151, and moved nicely. Ajax, who wore a bandage on his near hind leg, but showed no signs of lameness, did steady work. At Epsom Distinction and Macrob finished together, and went well over five furlongs in 1.3.1. Industry worked brilliantly, and ran six in 1.161. The Adjutant, usually sluggish on the tracks, did well to run five in 1.4. Session, going nicely, ran five in 1.41. Pure Gold was not extended to run six in 1.181. Magic Circle displayed dash over four furlongs in 50. At Mentone All Veil and Bursary finished together after the best seven of the day, in 1.321. French Lexion and Panax were together over seven in 1.34.}. There was little doing at Flemington. Damocles moved nicely over a mile on the grass in 1.57. caulfleld meeting ACCEPTORS FOR MAIN EVENTS. (By Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright) MELBOURNE, October 8. Final acceptors for main events al Caulfield are: — Caulfield Guineas: All Veil, Balkan Chief, Cephren, Damocles, Darkfelt, Distinction, Industry, Lucrative, Malta, Pandect, Positron, Retnuha, Savona, Sun Valley, Sir'Richard, The Adjutant, Tidal Wave, Velocity, Warbird. Torak Handicap: High Caste, Historian, Chatsbury, Gold Salute, Judean, True Flight, Wilson, Burrabil, Freckles, Aurania, Royal Comet, Bankshaw, Gladynev. Nifty, Curiosity, Bursary, Devon, Cryon, Decoration, Phoines, Willowdene. Gold Salute has a 51b penalty. The lists are subject to interstate scratchings. Hunto in Good Heart. Hunto has been doing satisfactory work on the track at Hamilton, and is in good heart for Auckland engagements. RACINGJ-IXTURES Oct. 10, 12 —Dunedin. Oct. 12 —Otaki Maori. Oct. 12, 14 —Auckland. Oct. 17, 19—Masterton. Oct. 17, 19—South Canterbury. Oct. 19 —Rotorua and Bay of Plenty. Oct. 19—Stratford. Oct. 24, 26, 28 —Wellington. Oct. 26—Poverty Bay. Oct. 26, 28—Gore. Oct. 28—Waikato. Oct. 28—Poverty Bay. Oct. 28—Waverley. Oct. 28—North Canterbury. Nov. 1, 2 —Whangarei. Nov. 2 —Rangitikei. Nov. 2 —Banks Peninsula. Nov. 2 —Poverty Bay Turf Club. Nov. 9 —Napier Park. Nov. 9, 11 —Avondale. Nov. 9. 11. 13, 16—C.J.C. Nov. 16 —Napier Park. Nov. 16, 18—Waikato. , Nov. 23 —Levin. Nov. 23, 25 —Auckland.