TURF NEWS AND NOTES

Wairarapa Times-Age, 12 October 1940, Page 3

TURF NEWS AND NOTES

CURRENT TOPICS FROM STABLE AND COURSE

Trainers Busy at Opaki LARGE NUMBER OF HORSES IN WORK BRIGHT PROSPECTS FOR SUCCESSFUL MEETING (BY “THE GRAFTER”) With the' approach of acceptance day interest in the Masterton Racing Club’s meeting is increasing, and it is confidently expected that the number of horses who will finally pay up for the opening day will be greater than has been recorded for many years. Masterton is a good trying-out ground for events in bigger centres, especially those at the New Zealand Cup gathering. More than one New Zealand Cup winner has been raced into form on the Opaki racecourse, and it is quite within the range of possibility that one of the horses engaged at Opaki npxt week will supply the winner of the big Dominion event. T. R. George, for instance, has a very handy trio in the New Zealand Cup in Pearl of Asia (7.0), Trench Law (7.5) and Serenata (7.0.), all of whom have been entered for the Masterton Handicap. Pearl of Asia has 11 lbs more in the Masterton Handicap than in the N.Z. Cup, Trench Law 12lbs and Serenata 2lbs more. Yogi, The Ring and Old Surrey are New Zealand Cup acceptors who have been entered for races at the Masterton meeting. The three Opaki-trained representatives in the big Riccarton event are improving daily- in form and their trip to the southern, meeting should be profitable, following on what should be success at Opaki. Etzel is being given a good mile preparation at Opaki. Mr J. A: Robinson, of Lansdowne, is training his own horse and it is expected that the son of Siegfried will be in good form if he lines up at the barrier on Thursday next. Etzel has had a couple of races this season—at Wanganui last month—his best effort being in the Trial Handicap won by Gold Court when he shaped particularly well at the business end of the race, though unable to run into a place. Phaleron Song has been shaping well at Opaki and Ashley Jenkins has the Phaleron Bay filly in really good heart. She ran unsuccessfully at Foxton in the Moutoa Hack Handicap won by Zest, but since then she has been striding out better than has been the case for some months and may be capable of repeating the Kaiwaiwai Handicap success at the Wairarapa meeting early in the year.

In Good Heart. Beau Coureur, the Beau Pere —Flying Mist colt, who is being trained at Opaki by T. R. George, is in good heart, and has been striding along particularly well since his appearance last month at Wanganui where he ran unsuccessfully in two events, though displaying considerable pace, and at Foxton where he was unplaced in the Motuiti Handicap. These three races have undoubtedly improved Beau Coureur, who will require to be carefully considered by punters should he start in the Lansdowne Handicap.

Getting Into Form.

Ashley Jenkins has been putting plenty of work into Cheerful Lady, the Defoe filly which is entered in the Lansdowne Handicap at the Masterton meeting,' and has his charge in good fettle. Cheerful Lady ran a third in the Wharangi Hack Handicap at Foxton last month after having led into the straight, being only a head behind the second horse, Serenata. Pleasing Track Form. Serenata is pleasing with her track work at Opaki and T. R. George should have the Nightmarch filly in good heart by the time the Masterton meeting arrives. Serenata ran a good race in the Wharangi Handicap at Foxton and had hard luck in not being able to get through, or otherwise he may have won. Serenata won two races last season, but her form has steadily improved since she competed at Foxton on September 28 last. Bright Prospects.

There is in the circumstances a very busy time being experienced by trainers at Opaki, and the course now has the appearance it did years ago when so many prominent horses were put through their paces. The rain this week has had a very beneficial effect on the course. Given fine weather the club should experience a very successful meeting. An Excellent Band of Stewards. The stewards of the Masterton Racing Club are working hard to ensure that the meeting shall be a success. They have displayed a thorough appreciation of the duties of their office and are determined that it will not be through any fault of theirs that the meeting does not go down in history as one of the most successful ever held at Opaki. The club is fortunate in the selection of its stewards, and with the assistance of the other efficient officials of the club all that can possibly be done is being carried out to make the October, 1940, meeting one which will be referred to with pride by members and the general public. Monopoly at Riccarton.

Monopoly, formerly in E. J. Ellis's stable at. Washdyke, is now being trained by his brother, A. S.. at Riccarton. A, four-year-old bay mare and a half-sister by Pink Coat to Ttluramai and Passaform, to mention but two of the successful horses from the Boniform mare Fairform, Monopoly is owned by Mr A. C. Mills. She was only given a little work while at Washdyke and her real test will not come for some time.