GOSSIP FROM ALL PARTS

Waikato Times, Volume 127, Issue 21189, 12 August 1940, Page 11

GOSSIP FROM ALL PARTS

The best has not been seen of Turaki since he came north, but he may be found racing up to his reputation during the Grand National meeting. Cashmere Plate The Cashmere Plate is open to horses three and four years old that, at time of nomination, have not won a race. Thr»ee-year-olds carry 8.0 j and four-year-olds 8.11. Don’t forget, j Density I It is reported that Density, who has i not raced since the South Canterbury i Jockey Club’s autumn meeting, looks in wonderful order to commence a ; spring preparation. There does not ! seem much prospect at present of her getting away to Australia, but the trip would be undertaken if transport conditions improved. Lady Montana Lady Montana, third in the last Winter Cup with 9.2, is down to 8.9 this year. She has won only one race since then, but in that she beat Sovereign Lady at level weights in the Riccarton Handicap. A return to that form would make her a formidable contender. High Caste High Caste will not start in th'* Melbourne Cup, as J. T. Jamieson is convinced that the Bulandshar four-year-old is not a stayer. Whether he runs in the Caulfield Cup depends on j the venue of the race. The V.A.T.C. ; course is at present a military depot, and unless the suspension of recruit- | ing alters the position the Caulfield j Cup will have to be run at Fleming- ; ton, where the straight is much longer. Pipi One of the unluckiest horses ever saddled for the Grand National Steeplechase was Pipi, who finished second in three consecutive years and third in the following year. The only 1 other Dunedin-owned horses to fill a ! place since then are The Brewer, second in 1915, and Tuki, who ran third in 1928 in Mr J. M. Samson’s colours. Tuki won in 1925, when owned in the North Island. Bred the Right Way A lot of use was made of Streamline in the Longbeach Hurdles, but j it is probable that his trainer-rider j was intent on giving him a rousing | gallop in preparation for the big ! race at the National meeting. It J was Streamline’s first outing since , the beginning of June. Streamline is one of the best-bred jumpers in the game. He is by Day Comet, about the most successful sire of jumpers in recent times, from Sailor’s Hope, dam of Fast Passage. On that pedigree , he should stay all day. On The Flat If Tidewaiter wins the Jumpers’ Flat race, he is likely to start a warm favourite for the Grand National Hurdle Race. On the flat he is . meeting most of his opponents on j much worse terms than in the ; hurdles. The differences in fact are very substantial. For instance, Streamline will have no less than 38 lb the better of it compared with the hurdles. Jewelled Girdle 431 b., Kaiwaka 401 b., and so on.

Clarion Call In 1936 Clarion Call 10.4 ran second to Jolly Beggar 9.10 in the Grand National Hurdles. The following year Clarion Call 10.12 ran second to Cottingham 9.2, a head between them. In 1938 Clarion Call 11.1 won the Grand National Steeplechase and ran third with 11.3 to Padishah 10.5 and Fireguard 9.11 in the Grand National Hurdles. This year he is up 141 b in the Grand National Steeples, and has 91b more in the Grand National Hurdles than when he ran third. He now meets Padishah on 181 b better terms than in 1938. Clarion 'Call did not run at Riccarton last year.

Comes From Good Family Ann Mie, who finished second to Don’t Forget in the Maiden Stakes at Riccarton on Saturday, is a three-year-old filly by Robespierre from Wym-Wym, by Night Raid from Peho, by Winkie from Little Owl, by Treadmill from Glenowlet, by Clanranald from Madowla, and thus traces back to the Clifford stud. Glenowlet was a very smart performer in her day, while Madowla produced Quarryman, Kirriemuir, Glenculloch and Masterpiece, all good performers in their day.

Flashlight’s Credentials Flashlight, who has forced his way into consideration for the Grand National—he would get a substantial rise in weight if the hand’eapper’s han/’s were free —is a ten-year gelding by Shambles from Snapshot, who is by Calibre from First Glance (winner of £4000). in his first season as a jumper, when seven, he notched three wins and two seconds in seven attempts. He was one of the sufferers in the pile-up at Ashburton, but his last two appearances have resulted in wins in the South Canterbury Steeplechase and the Homeby Steeplechfse. Hard Times Shortly before the French . surrender, Claude Halsey, who has trained in France for many years, had one horse killed and six injured by a bomb that fell near his stables at Chantilly. One cannot help wondering what has happened to French horses, trainers, and jockeys. Many racing men were on active service, including R.‘ Brethes, who visited England this year and won two races on French horses at Newmarket. Several trainers and jockeys were practically penniless when they arrived in England from Belgium. They were unable to bring away any of their possessions, and were trying to get billets in English stables. Now that England has gone out of racing their position is worse than ever. Aussie Ra The Australian-bred gelding Aussie

Ra, who came from the clouds to run second in the Winter Hurdles at Trentham confirmed the impression that he had gone on improving by the way he came home at the Christchurch Hunt, and the Taranaki jumper is a force to be contended with in the Grand National Hurdles. He is a natural stayer and an improved jumper since he acted as runner-up to Padishah in the Grand National last year when practically a novice at the game. Prepared 6y that noted old-time jumping rider Percy Johnson, Aussie Ra is in the hands of a man who knows what is required to win such a race. Johnson has given Aussie Ra a much longer preparation this year and he has not rushed his charge, who appears to have reached the peak of his form by gradual steps. A Costly Candidate The Raker’s withdrawal from the Winter Cup would be disappointing to early speculators who had at the time, every encouragement to fancy his chance. He was kicked at the post in the Brabazon Handicap, and it was decided on the eve of acceptance day not to go on with his engagement. L. J. Ellis will now have the mount on Grey Honour. P. Spratt, who rode Grey Honour at Trentham and again last Saturday, was offered the mount on him in the Cup after the Wellington meeting, but accepted the ride on Wagner. Last year Wagner Drought off the surprise of the National meeting when he won the Heathcote Handicap on the last day from the favourite, Ned Cuttle, and Norseman. He showed form Th his last start by running third in the Winter Oats at Trentham to Royal Star II and Lady Tinkle. Twelve months earlier he de-ad-heated with Centrepoise on the last day at Trentham, so apparently he is a last day horse.