TURF NEWS AND NOTES

Wairarapa Times-Age, 9 January 1941, Page 3

TURF NEWS AND NOTES

CURRENT TOPICS FROM STABLE AND COURSE A Splendid Training Centre

(BY

"THE GRAFTER.”)

It is quite on the cards that the present contingent of racehorses at Opaki will be_furthtr augmented in the near future by a string of horses from Trentham. For autumn and winter training in particular the Opaki racecourse has facilities equalled by but few other centres in the Dominion. It is quite possible that the day it not far distant when the whole of the training operations in the Wairarapa will be concentrated at Opaki, where there is every requirement for the proper handling and exercising of horses. The Masterton Racing Club is making every effort to improve the conditions at the Opaki racecourse, and every follower of the "Sport of i Kings" ( will wish the club the full share of good fortune which it so throuoghly deserves. A determination to succeed has ever been the policy of the Masterton Racing Club, even when the outlook was indeed black, and today the sun is shining brightly for an institution which has always striven to give the sporting public the best that is in racing.

Beau Vite Scratched. Tilr Ralph Stewart has decided not to fun Beau Vite in the Wellington Cup and he was scratched yesterday. The Foxbridges. The race for the Nathans Memorial Handicap at Ellerslie resulted in triumph for the Foxbridge breed, for the three places were filled by four-year-old representatives of the imported Foxlaw—Bridgemount horse—Foxsen. Greek Queen and Cornish. Clever Riding. It seemed to close observers to be only the artistry of J. 11. Mcßae that got Erination home a winner of the New Year Hurdles at Ellerslie. Erination had not raced for some time, but he was turned out fit and well, and the old fellow —ho is 11 years old—carried his 11.8 really well, stalling off Inncss Lad to win narrowly at the end of two miles. Eighty-eight Starts. Trilliarch. the sixyear-old gelding by i Tea Tray from Achieleen. docs not win j out of his turn, and has been required ' to do more than most horses to earn ' his oats. He got second money at Strat- [ ford the other day. and a win or two would no doubt be very welcome to his connections. Trilliarch. though never considered to be top class, gave distinct promise as a two-year-old. but his winning account since then has not been commensurate with his efforts. Possibly he will be tried at hurdling, and as he has plenty of size there would appear to be reasonable pros* pects of success in Jhat department. As a two-year-old Trilliarch started 15 times, as a three-year-old he was pro* Sduced 22 times, and as a four-year-old 15 times. The following season he faced the starter 29 times, and this season has been produced seven times, or a total of 88 starts. Not many horses stand up to racing like Trilliarch has done. Three-year-old Trotting Test. A race at the Timaru Trotting Club's I meeting on Saturday is described as the New Zealand Championship, with; a stake of £4OO. for three-year-olds,’ over one mile and a-half. The club also; reserves the right to select the horses, that may race. At present. South Canterbury stables are in the happy posi-1 tion of having three of the best three-' year-olds in Now Zealand, but the de-’ cisive manner in which Special Force i defeated the rest of the Champion j Stakes field at Ashburton is not likely* to encourage owners of other three- i year-olds to compete against him. Special Force has shown himself to be a class above anything raced in Canterbury this season but he may find a worthy opponent in Certissimus. It is

doubtful whether even the trainer of Special Force <P. Gallagher) or of Cor* tissimus (D. Teahen) know the full capabilities of their colts for the opposition has not been strong enough to test either. It is unusual for a young trotter to be in same class as the best pacer, but Certissimus is an exception. The opposition from other parts will be provided by Walter Moore, with a mile record of 2min 10 4-ssec. Statuette. who al Ashburton recorded 3min 15 2-ssec for a mile and a half, the New Zealand Derby winner Gold Chief and Shadow Maid, whose consistency has been a feature of her racing. RACING FIXTURES Jan. 0, 11.—Reefton. Jan. 10. 11.—Vincent. Jan. 16. 18. 22—Wellington. Jan. 18.—Wairio. Jan, 18. 20.—Thames, Jan. 22.—A sh h u rsl -Pohan g i n a. Jan. 25. 27.—Pahiatua. Jan. 25. 29. —Auckland. Jan. 30. Feb. 1. —Wairoa. Feb. I.— Canterbury'. Feb. I.—Tapanui. Feb. 1— Ma lama ta. Fob. 6 tl.—Egmont. Feb. 8 10 — Rotorua. Feb. ", 10.*—Poverty Bay. F. o. it. 10.—Gore. Feb. 14. 15—Winton. Feb. 15—Tolaga Bay. Feb 15.—Opunake. Feb. 15 17—Waikato. Feb 20. 22.—Dunedin. F-b. 22—Waiapu. Feb. 22, 24 —To Aruba Feb. 22. 24, —Woodville Feb. 22. 24.—Westland. March I.— Franklin, March 1 -Rangitike!. March I—Banks Peninsula March 7 B—Cromwell. March Chfcbm March 8 — Carterton. March 8. 10 —Taranaki. March 13. 15.-- Wellington, March 15 17. •• Ohinemuri March 20 22—Manawntu. March 22 24 Bay of Plenty March 22 24 Oa marts March 27 29--Oamnru March 27. 29 Hawke Bay Ma reh 29 Waima to. March 29 —Birchwood Hunt