TURF NEWS AND NOTES

Wairarapa Times-Age, 1 April 1941, Page 3

TURF NEWS AND NOTES

CURRENT TOPICS FROM STABLE AND COURSE

Great Autumn Burdens

(BY

“THE GRAFTER..”)

Some big burdens have been successfully carried in the Great Autumn Handicap. Warstep won with 9.11 in 1915, Sasanof with 9.13 in 1920, Red Wink with 9.2 in 1925, Grand Knight with 9.4 in 1926, Hynanna with 9.6 in 1928, and since the last-mentioned year Queen of Song 8.13 is the highest weight successfully carried. This year Royal Chief has been allotted 9.l2—the same weight as he carried in the Metropolitan Handicap, which he won in 2min 31 1-ssec. Little Robin ran second with 7.8, and the unplaced lot included Serenata 8.1, Wardress 8.0, Trench Fight 7.3 and Knight Commander 7.2 J. Trench Fight goes up 191 b, Little Robin 21b, and Knight Commander 4Jlb. It will be seen that Royal Chief is not badly treated, and, in fact, a repetition of Riccarton form would make him entitled to favouritism. Royal Chief was third with 9.9 in the W.R.C. Handicap to Wardress 7.71 and Proud Fox 8.0, with Little Robin 7.1 and Not Out 7.0 unplaced. He had 9.10 when fourth in the Summer Handicap, won by Serenata 7.12 from Little Robin 7.0 and Wardress 8.0 in heavy going. Royal Chief was unplaced with 10.0 in the Dunedin Cup, in which Iceland Spar 7.2 was second, and Wardress 8.11, Winning Rival 8.7 and The Wrecker 7.4 were unplaced.

Military Maid

It is reported that Military Maid has done well since her arrival at Riccarton some time ago. She was unplaced at the Wanganui meeting in her only start this season. Her form last season included two wins. She won over six furlongs at Otaki in heavy going, and at Manawatu with 8.11 in lmin 16 2-5 sec. She finished with four unplaced performances.

Great Easter Handicap. In the Railway Handicap run at Trentham Kentucky 7.6 won from Autolite 7.0 and Enrich 8.5. Rebel Mate 8.6, Not Out 8.3. Hearth 8.4. and Leighnor 7.0 were unplaced. In the Great Easter Kentucky goes up 81b, Enrich lib and Not Out 21b. Hearth is dropped lib and Rebel Mate 41b. Doria 3.0, who was second in the Thompson Handicap, goes up 71b and Don’t Forget 7.111- goes up 211 b. Autolite has dropped out of the Great Easter Handicap. i

May Return to Saddle.

’ Military call-ups are continuing to reduce the number of flat race jockeys to such an extent that Steve Donoghue. at 56. is considering returning to the saddle. Donoghue is at present training 42 horses owned by the Duke of Westminster, Sir Walter Sassoon, Marcel Boussuc and others, and has had numerous successes. Donoghue says he is not feeling old. “I ride daily, and love it. I do not think I would have any trouble in riding today or in winning, either,” he said. A special dispensation from the Jockey Club would be needed in Donoghue’s case, because it is against the rules to ride and train too. * A Lucky Gift. Not even Monte Carlo offers greater chances of sudden affluence —and bankrupey. of course—than the racecourse. Three Sydney bookmakers who always travel together to provincial meetings take it in turn to buy the race books, but. by mistake, two of. them bought the programmes for Gosford. ■■Here, do what you can with those.” said one of the bookmakers as he handed the spare books to a man who had tried to “bite” him for the price of admission. It was bread upon the waters. After the last race the bookmaker was given £3. “Here’s your 3s and £2 17s interest” —by the “biter.” And here is the story: The “hard-up” sold the books. With the 3s he had backed the first two winners on the •’outer.” Paying his way into the course before the third race, he backed each of the remaining six winners. He built his three racebooks into £l7O. Rakanui. Rakamii took the passage from hack to cup company in his stride at Hastings on Thursday. He was still running out hack nominations at the Manawatu meeting, although at the Wellington meeting he brought his winning stakes up to £Bl5. His total earnings now are' £l3BO, including the value of the trophy in the Hawke’s Bay Cup.

Willie Win. Willie Win, who has won the Great Autumn Handicap twice, in 1937 and last year, is expected to take his place in the field again this month, but the other two stable representatives. Royal Chief and Wardress, will bo more forward. Willie Win has not raced since September and he has not yet been given any fast gallops.

Riders for Wanganui. Riding engagements for Wanganui include the following:—B. H. Morris, Belle Cane, Foxiana; W. J. Broughton, Miss Phaleron, Half Crown, The Monarch, Little Robin, Surveyor-General; H. N. Wiggins, Imperium, Mittie, Flying Hawk; A. Midwood, Gay Fox. Counter, Vivid Night; P. Atkins, Nightward, Scandal, Parlato; S. Waddell, Kevin. Beau Ciel; S. Anderson, Erinscourt.

Feilding Cup. The following are the nominations for the Feilding Cup Handicap, one mile and a quarter: Royal Star 11, Friesland, Kotua, Ruatiti, Dynasty, Colonel Bogey, Hunting Cat, Piastre, Alexcelia, The Monarch, Mittie, Filbert, Happy Ending, Pearl of Asia, Gladynev, Kilometre, Aurora’s Star, Gold Bridge, Amigo, Gay Fox, Authoress, Sir Crusoe, Last Acre, Notium, Old Bill. Rustem.

Auckland Easter Handicap. The following are the weights for the Easter Handicap, one mile, at the Auckland meeting: Kindergarten 9.1], Pirate King 8.11, Black Thread, Orolio 8.10, Lou Rosa, 8.7, Suleiman 8.6, Gladynev. Bronwen, Serenata 8.2. Our Jean 8.0, Duvach, Enrich 7.13, Gold Vaals 7.12, Gay Rosette, Globe Trotter 7.11, Foxseh, Brazen Bold 7.10. The Ring 7.2, Tellsom 7.1. Sir Cameron. Aero Kmg, Brahman. Brazilian, British Talent. Dinky Di. Esquire, Erlick, Full Hand, Gay Seton. Lornacre, Monte Cristo, SurveyorGeneral. Town Survey, Young Paddon, Venture 7.0.

President’s Handicap. Weights for the President’s Handicap, one mile and a quarter, at the Auckland meeting are: Lou Rosa 9.4. Cornish 8.11. Royevrus, Royal Appellant 8.7, High Delight 8.5, Night Pilot. The Ring 7.13, Tellsom 7.12, Sir Cameron, Homily 7.9, British Talent 7.G. Clipper 7.1. Venture, Chain Acre, Kas--pian Acreman. Tea Gong. Erlick. Hunting Bee, Ascot Bloom. Hunto, Porn, Brahman, Night Hawk 7.0.

T. R. George's Team. T. George will have his team split up at Easter. Serenata will be at Auckland, Kentucky,' Circular Note and Pay Roll at Riccarton, and the rest will be divided between Feilding and Wairarapa. RACING FIXTURES April 3, s—Wanganui (at Awapuni). April 4, s—Whangarei. April s—Otautau.5 —Otautau. April 5, 7—Westport. April 12—Tuapeka County. April 12, 14 —Auckland. April 12, 14 —Feilding. April 12, 14 —Wairarapa. April 12, 14, 15—Riverton. April 14 —Waipukurau. April 14 —Kumara. April 14 —Beaumont. April 14, 15—Canterbury. April 19. 21 —Avondale. April 19, 21—Greymouth. April 26 —Reefton. April 26—Waverley. April 26—South Canterbury.