TURF NEWS AND NOTES

Wairarapa Times-Age, 15 March 1941, Page 3

TURF NEWS AND NOTES

CURRENT TOPICS FROM STABLE AND COURSE Iceland Spar for Riccarton (BY “THE GRAFTER.’’) Iceland Spar is not engaged at Trentham, but he is being kept going with a view to racing at Easter, when his principal mission will probably be the Great Autumn Handicap at Riccarton. While he has yet to win a race in open company, Iceland Spar has measured up to the standard well, and, with second placings in the Dunedin and Peninsula cups, he will not be without prospects in the Great Autumn. In the Peninsula Cup he came home very well, and would have been closer to Not Out had he not run into trouble with Knight Commander and Wardress. After the Riccarton meeting the Excitement—Calcite gelding will be given a good spell.

Palmerston North Races. The Railway Department announces the issue of specially reduced fares and special train arrangements for the race meeting at Awapuni on March 20 and 22. Riccarton Nominations. The following nominations have been received for the principal events at the Canterbury Jockey Club's Easter meeting:— Great Easter Handicap, of £lOOO. seven furlongs: Not Out, Kentucky. Circular Note, Siglow, Enrich. Pleading, Boloyna, Density, King's Toast, Doria, Don’t Forget, Synthetic, Sir Crusoe, Poutatau, Lord Nuffield, Sea Lady, Rebel Mate, Autolite, Hearth, Nightcalm. Secret Flight, Night Eruption, Little Robin, Rakanui. Leighnor. Flame Queen. Great Autumn Handicap, of £lOOO, one mile and a half: Not Out. Serenata, Siglow, Enrich. Shikari, WinningRival, Happy Night, King's Toast, Iceland Spar. Royal Chief. Wardress, Willie Win, Don’t Forget. Prudent Prince Sir Crusoe, The Wrecker, Merry March. Southern Sail, Thermidor. Little Robin, Trench Fight, Knight Commander. Happy Ending, Airline. Streamline. Streamline has been in work for some time, but he has raced only once since the Grand National meeting- in August. After running second to Tidewaiter in the Longbeach Hurdles at the Hunt meeting, he ran fourth in the Jumpers’ Flat on the first day of the National fixture under 10.0, and fell at the last fence in the Grand National Hurdles when looking like gaining a minor placing. Carrying Many Scars. Sham Boy is carrying many scars on his off hind leg, the result of being squeezed on the fence during the running of the Electric Handicap at Hokitika. He was unable to get off for half a furlong, and, under the circumstances, it was not to be wondered at that he was beaten. A Great Trotter. I , Certissimus earned further honours when he won the Kingsdown Handicap at the Timaru Trotting Club’s recent meeting. It was his seventh win this season, and the determined manner in which he fought out the issue with Manian pleased the spectators. While he won by three-quarters of a length, his performance was full of merit, because he suffered a loss of twelve lengths in the first half-mile through horses breaking in front of him. He was in. robust condition, and his temperament has not been impaired by a series of contests and travelling. His trainer. D. Teahen, has given him a thorough education, and the colt can begin fast from a barrier. He has done most of his training with competent pacers, and a number of good judges maintain that he is capable of winning the All-Aged Stakes to be decided at Addington at Easter. His meeting with Special Force and. perhaps Statuette, and the best pacers of respective ages, will be a big attraction, and it will serve to decide a much-debated argument as to whether Certissimus can defeat Special Force and other topr class three-year-old pacers. The distance, one mile and a quarter, was decided upon after approaching the trainer of Certissimus, who says that the starting place for a mile and a quarter at Addington will enable his colt to get settled to his work before a bend has to be made. Then again, the distance will suit those pacers on tight marks, because aa win over ten furlongs will not prejudice their handicaps over two miles. With Special Force, Certissimus and. possibly, Statuette, Gold Bar, Fine Art, Plutus, Pot Luck, and other good pacers engaged, tlpe All-Aged Stakes should be one of the finest contests seen at the Easter carnival.

BLOODSTOCK SALES GOOD PRICE FOR ENGLISH FILLY. The Siegfried colt War Effort, won by Mr C. West, Kaponga, in the patriotic funds art union, was not offered at auction at Trentham yesterday as expected. Mr West advised the auctioneers, Wright. Stephenson and Co., Ltd.', that he had sold the colt privately. and that he would be trained for his new owner by J. Brown, Hawera. At the sale of other stock, the majority of the lots were passed, the owners' ideas of value being too high for buyers. The following sales were made: — On Account of G. M. Currie, Koatanui. Gns. Br. c.. lyr„ by Posterity—Lattice, M. Maranovich, Auckland .... 200 On Account R. Brendon, Esher, England. F„ 3yrs„ by Tommy Atkins — Cloelia. J. Nash, Dargaville 575 On Account W. T. Bailey, Palmerston North. , Br. g„ Wenewene, aged, by Royal Divorce colt —Knapsack, E. N. Cunningham. Lower Hutt 52J On Account H. Jensen, Auckland. Ch. c„ Aberdovey, 3yrs„ by Cambria Park —Towyn, W. J. Sullivan. Bay of Plenty 19 On Account R. H. W. Holden, Poukawa. Classical, b. m., syrs„ by Siegfried —Polonaise, served by Theio, Te Manuiri Stud, Waipawa 52 J On Account D. Gough, Petone. Merry Smile, ch. m„ syrs., by Rulanut — Merry Twinkle, served by Croupier. R. H. Biggar, Gisborne 321 On Account A. M. Branch, New Brighton. Miss Dignity, M. Maranovich. Auckland 150