TURF NEWS AND NOTES

Wairarapa Times-Age, 24 December 1940, Page 3

TURF NEWS AND NOTES

Belle Cane. After the New Zealand Derby opinions were expressed that Belle Cane was unlucky to miss a win. At Auckland, Enrich is handicapped to give Belle Cane 121 b over a mile in the Christmas Handicap, and the weights adjuster holds a rather different opinion about what happened in the Riccarton classic. Spendthrift. Spendthrift won more races than any other Southland horse seen out last season. He scored seven firsts, three seconds and a third in 16 starts, and gathered £857 10s in stakes. Spendthrift’s success included a promising win over hurdles at Timaru. Auckland Starting Times. Starting times for the first day of the Auckland Racings Club’s summer meeting at Ellerslie on Thursday have been arranged as follows:—ll.4s Robinson Handicap; 12, Grafton Hurdles; 1.15, Great Northern Foal Stakes; 2.5, Auckland Cup; 2.50, The Queen's Plate; 3.25, Railway Handicap; 4.25, Nursery Handicap; 5.10, Christinas Handicap. Old Bill Fit. The Auckland Cup candidate Old Bill attracted considerable attention when he appeared on the track at Ellerslie and did steady pacing on the tan. Old Bill is a mass of condition and he promises to strip one of the fittest horses in the field next Thursday, Nuna Goes Amiss. The two-year-old Nuna has gone , amiss and she has been withdrawn •4- from all engagements at the Auckland Racing Club’s Summer meeting. Nuna has shown good form and it is unfortunate for her owner, Mr H. D. Matthews, that she has failed to stand further training. Theatre has also been withdrawn from all engagements at the meeting. Glenora Boy. When he began racing in Canterbury 1 early in the spring, after his return from Australia, Glenora Boy gave some hope for his future, but he did not improve, and his efforts have been far from impressive. He has been nominated for racing on the West Coast during the holidays. A Promising Effort. The effort of the three-year-old Gay Thread in running third in the Hbrorata Handicap last Saturday was granted by observers to be promising. Gay Thread, who is by Lord Quex from Seamstress, a half-sister to Black Thread and Drop One, has not had a great deal of racing and has still to win. Should Develop Into Stayers. Improving two-yep-olds who were placed at Woodville, Drake’s Drum and Gunyah, are expected to develop good staying form next season. Drake’s Drum, who has gained ‘ three minorplaces recently, is half-brother, by Theio, to Admiral Drake and Francis Drake. Gunyah is by Myosotis from Fortunio, by Rapier from Warlove, a sister to Warstep.

CURRENT TOPICS FROM STABLE AND COURSE Wairarapa Jubilee Cup Prospects (BY “THE GRAFTER.") The acceptances for the first day of the Wairarapa Raci'ng Club’s meeting are satisfactory, and provide evidence that a good class of horse will face the starter. In the Wairarapa Jubilee Cup, Catalogue is top weight with 9.9, but on his recent performances he may find it difficult to get into the money. Masterton horses represented are White Rajah, Gay Fox and Te Ore. The former is getting over his recent soreness and may be at his best this season. Gay Fox shaped well at the Manawatu meeting, and Te Ore returned a handsome dividend in his win in the Stewards’ Handicap at Woodville. Of the three, Gay Fox will probably find most favour with the public. Little Robin has been training well of late, but failed to get into the stake money on Saturday at Awapuni. Black Thread won at Riccarton and Woodville, and on paper has excellent prospects. Though he “also ran” at Awapuni on Saturday, the distance was only 6 furlongs. Gay Mimic is said to be showing good i form on the track and to have Improved since his double at Poverty i -Bay in October. Siglow has a win at Otaki to his credit, as well as a third at Feilding. He may find his task at Tauherenikau too severe. Harina, Cherry Bay and Bold Step have little recent form to recommend them, while Titter and Hasten will require to be in better shape than / recently to record a win.

RACING FIXTURES

Dec. 26.—Waipukurau. Dec. 26, 28.— Manawatu. Dec. 26, 28.—Taranaki. Dec. 26, 28.—Dunedin. Dec. 26, 30, Jan. 1. 2— Auckland Dec. 28.—Westland. .Jan. 1. —Wyndham. /Jan. L—Waikouaiti. a Jan. 1, 2—Hawke’s Bay. / Jan. 1, 2.—Wairarapa. ' Jan. 1, 2.—Stratford. Jan. 1. 2.—Greymouth. Jan. 1, 2.—Marton. Jan. 2— Oamaru. Jan. 2, 3.—Southland, Jan. 9, 11—Reefton. Jan. 10, 11—Vincent. Jan. 16, 18, 22.—Wellington. Jan. 18. —Wairio. Jan. 18, 20.—Thames. Jan. 22.—Ashhurst-Pohangina. Jan. 25, 27.—Pahiatua. Jan. 25. 29.—Auckland. Jan. 30.—Wairoa. Feb. I—Wairoa.

Appeal Disallowed. The appeal of W. Clifton against the fine of £2O imposed upon him by the New Zealand Trotting Association in connection with interference in the Insulation Handicap on the second day of the Auckland Trotting Club'S Spring meeting on October 28, was disallowed by the appeal judges. Bronze Queen, driven by Clifton, finished second in the Insulation Handicap, but following an inquiry the judicial committee of the Auckland Trotting Club placed Musketeer second and Bronze Queen third. The fine was imposed later by the New Zealand Trotting Association.

A Promising Filly. A filly which has been taken in hand by B. J. Kelleher at Opaki, is coming along nicely, and should make good on the race track.

Officially a Non-Winner. Divorced, who has been asked to concede 71b. to his nearest opponents in the Dunedin Handicap, for two-year-olds, is officially- a non-winner. He was third to Varuna and Renarde in the Spring Nursery Handicap at the New Zealand Cup meeting, and at Ashburton last month he was first past the post in the Lagmhor Plate, but for boring in on Star Wink was placed second. Divorced is a chestnut colt by Midian and is owned and trained by G. H. Paul.

English Bloodstock, New Zealand breeders secured much valuable bloodstock at the December sales at Newmarket, one of the purchases made being the highly successful racehorse Robin Goodfellow, one of the late Sir Abe Bailey’s, young sires, and who ran second in the Derby to Bahram. Robin Goodfellow is eight years old by English time, and he was purchased by Messrs Wright, Stephenson and Company, Limited, on behalf of Mr S. Levin, Wellington, who intends to establish a stud. As a two-year-old Robin Goodfellow won the Salisbury Stakes and the Ascot New Stakes, and at three years he scored in three high-clgss events, his winning stakes totalling about £7OOO.

Of 11 valuable mares secured for New Zealand buyers at rhe sales, four were purchased also for Mr Levin. They are in foal to Fairplay, Fearless Fox and Field Trial. zVccompanying these mares is a daughter of Trigo for a South Island breeder. She is in foal to Suzerain.

Four young mares were secured for a Waikato breeder, among them being daughters of Call Boy, Singapore and St. Cosmo. They-are in foal to Fearless Fox, Flag of Truce, Le Ksar and The Satrap. Mr R. Holden, Hawke's Bay, was the purchaser of the four-year-old mare Sugar Kandy, a daughter of Colombo from Belle Mare, by Son-in-Law from Cinna. Belle Mare is therefore a fullsister to Beau Pore.

It is a subject for congratulation that New Zealand breeders are prepared to invest in such high-class thoroughbreds, whose introduction to the Dominion should be of tremendous value. In recent years many highlyperformed stallions have been imported here and the opinion has been expressed that it was essential for further importations of brood mares to be made.