RACING NEWS.

Auckland Star, Volume LV, Issue 167, 16 July 1924, Page 9

RACING NEWS.

STABLE AND TRACK GOSSIP. (By WHALEBONE.) BACING FIXTURES, SEASON 1924. ,„,, 19 south Canternury Hunt Club. JJJ. s< _waunate District Hunt Club. July 2< a 1 "1 26 —Glsnorne O-C pnketoi was well up at Wellington, and should show to better advantage later on. nsira Uralla. Knighthood, and Lady Rldinilp which competed at tlie WeUinston meeting, returned borne yesterday. Raffertv and Gold Plane were sent over rnur hurdles at Ellerslie yesterday morning, tbe rormer umsbing in front. Lady Fingers should do better later on. sue has plenty of speed, and seems, on Trentham running, to be raciug into form. princess Nata was sent to Gisborne yesterday This nily is in good nick, and may be hard to dispose ot in some of her engagements. Comical was well up at the end or the Winter Oats Handirap at Wellington on Saturday, occuping third position. He did not seem to get too good a passage in Hie early stages. Winning Hit attempted to win the Winter Oats Handicap at Trentham on Saturday from end to end, and beat aU but Arch Salute. He loots as though he is returning lo lorm. Llewellyn and HoKKomai were given a couple of spins over the fences on the Hat at EUerslie yesterday morning-, and both jumped well. Llewellyn pleasing most. He is a bold jumper. Carawock ran a good rare In the Wellington Steeplechase, and eventually unisbed third Seeing that he had only gone up 4lb in the Grand National Steeplechase he must be one of the possibilities. Demand seems as though he is likely to turn out more than userul over the sticks. He got a second and a third at Trentham last week, and by the way lie shaped is sure to improve. He was good on the flat. Lady Ridicule had done little work prior to leaving Auckland for Trentham. and it was somewhat surprising to see her nnlsli on SO well in the Liverpool Handicap on Saturday. \V3ssail was the only one to head her at the nnish. Tussore, by Nassau rrom Brocade, raced well at Trentham, and was always in the limelight till entering the straight. On the " first day the gelding ran wide at the entrance to the straight, or else he would have had a good chance. Guanaco jumped well at Trentham on Saturday, and appeared to have a good chance "of securing the big portion of the prize half-a-mile from home, but Fireblight proved just a bit too good for him. Guanaco seems to be improving. Prince Rufus. which started at Wellington, was brought back home yesterday. His trainer, M. Tutchen. informed mc that it was unlikely that he would be sent to Christchurch, as he had had a good deal of hard racing recently. Bodyguard, which was destroyed at Trentham on Saturday, is a mil brother to Gardenia, the speedy filly that is as yet unbeaten, having credited her owner with three wins in as many starts. Bodyguard won several races berore he was put to hurdling. Fireblight was made favourite in the second Hack Steeplechase at Trentham on Saturday, and duly landed the stake. He had a much easier task than on the first day, when he met Bustler, securing the ! verdict by four lengths. Fireblight will do better. Kovno. which won at the recent Hawke's Bay meetings, showed a good turn of speed and ability over rences when she raced in the Wellington Steeplechase. She led the held for a considerable distance, and it should not be long before she again collects a stake. Musketoon was brought back to Ellerslie yesterday after an unsuccessful trip to Wellington. He showed up well in the Parliamentary Handicap on the first day, but was never near the front on Saturday. It has not been definitely decided whether he will he taken over to Australia. Boadicea, which is trained at Riccarton, showed a lot or pace in the Liverpool Handicap at Trentham 'on Saturday, finishing third. She was always handy, Hut had to give away weight to the rest of the field. She has lib less in the Winter Cup at Christchurch, and should he on hand at the end of a mile. Goldpiece ran well at Wellington, finishing second to Miss Mickey in the High Weight Handicap, and winning the Talavera Hurdle Race on the second day. He is trained at Foxton. and is a six-year-old gelding by Masterpiece-—Jacket. More should be heard of him for he has pace and can Jump well. Sir Rosebery did not show up as well in.the Wellington Steeplechase at Trentham on Saturday as he did in the Great Northern. He was never prominent, and finished well back. He had 11.8, and is in the Grand National Steeplechase with -11b less, but after his showing at Trentham one does not erpect him to win the big Southern event. Abbey Bell, which ran in the interests of the Waikato owner Mr. R. Hannon during her two-year-old career, when she won close on dOOsovs. in stakes, lias been purchased recently by a couple of brothers at Frankton, and will race in their colours next seasons Abbey Bell is in regular work with the members of M. J. Carroll's team at Te Rapa. The committee of the Waikato Hunt Club has appointetPMr. F. W. Edwards, of Auckland, bandicapper for its meeting at Te Rapa in October. Mr. Edwards, who is well known as a yards adjuster in connection with trotting events, has acted as handicapper at the Te Aroha Jockey Club's meeting for several years past, while he has lined this position to other racing clubs in a temporary capacity in the past. *lr. j. k. Douglas has been appointed judge, and Mr. H. A. Massey clerk or scales for the October fixture. The Wellington Racing Club had beautiful weather for the opening or its winter fixture, but on the second day rain set In half-way through the programme, and the course was very heavy towards the end. in fact, when the horses returned to the birdcage arter the final Hurdle Race, the riders were covered with mud. On the whole the racing was most interesting, though first ravourites got a bad spin. Gardenia and Firelight being the only ones to salute the judge. .. The Wellington Steeplechase was one or the best cross-country events seen at Trentham for years; in fact, sportsmen who have patronised this gathering for a long time say that they have seen nothing better. All the competitors jumped well, and with the exception or Mahuru, which ran on", all completed the course. The finish between Pamplona and Omahu was exciting, Omahu just getting up in time to beat the South Wand representative by a head. The rest 01 the field were some distance away. ■Kohu seemed to have a chance in the Second Hack Steeplechase at Wellington, when it came to the last fence, ror he was m, 6 ? 3 .^ 11 ? Fire nlight and Guanaco, who nlled the first and second positions. However, on landing, Kohu had to be pulled up. and on returning to the paddock it appeared hPmS^iA 6 i lad rickea ms Hack. When Th^ c X? U£e l home n ' om 'he course later "gelding fell dead. Kohu was a good fPJ, ;„ ana I™™% other races won the Great Northern Hurdle Race last season. t™ Pi L mplo !' a V thoUß ' n beaten in the Wellington Steeplechase, must be given praise for Ir!.2 cc he . ran ' He was m ri '°nt ror the greater part of the concluding round after being wen up in the early stages and it was only arter crossing the last fence that heaf U w°. l th C, , c ? 1 a , ntl - bea , l home by a sSS.iDPh?J? ™ la ~ D the Grana National Steeplechase, Pamplona should show to advantage though Omahu seems to have the be=t or it, seeing that there was a difference of 4ib between them in the Wellington Steeplechase, and Pamplona is Mrton. s om3hU ° n 3 ' b W ° rSe * a? RicWassail, which has achieveri ramp recently by winning four races on end comparatively neglected in the betting in the Stewards' Handicap on the Hrst rlav at Wellington, where he ra, un p aced y He was a little better supported on the second day, and won comfortably, returnins- neariS a double-figure dividend. \Vassail possesses a great turn or speed, and, acmrS in some or the riders in the Liverpool Handicap on Saturday, he was only cantering «fm; way ,? own mc straight. Mr. H lan IS? and £2 v?? W 0f a B°°* «Wt lE Kj&O affi Uter CUP may not be

A. McFiinn will be riding at Gisborne, his mounts Including Scotch Mixture and Sweet Heather. Bustler was started on the first day or the Wellington meeting, and Firelight was the only one to head him in the Hack Steeplechase. He was accepted for on the second day, but went sore in the interim, and was not saddled up. He was brought back to Ellerslie yesterday. Kiiraire finished well in Tourth place in the Te Aro Handicap at Trentham last Wednesday, and scored nicely on the second day, returning his supporters the best part or double figures for his victory. He was always handy, and when it came to the business end beat Knighthood comfortably by a length. All, or nearly all, or the Quin Abbey tribe, display a bent Tor the jumping business. One or the stock, in Major Abbey, a winner on the flat this season at the Matamata fixture, has been following the Waikato hounds, and may pay his way if put to that branch of the game later on. New Moon, a Kiibroney gelding seen on the tracks at Te Rapa lately, is one or J. F. Tutchen's team. New Moon, which races in the interests of Mr. George Gillett, of " All Black" rame. is rising five years. Most or his racing has been indulged In on the East Coast circuit, where he has appeared on the winning list this season. Merry Singer again demonstrated what a good sort he is by carrying 11.7 into second place in the Talavera Hurdle Handicap at Trentham on Saturday, after winning on the opening day or the meeting. Mr. C. F. Vailance has got a userul string in Mahuru, Sturuee, and Merry Singer, and before the winter season is over they should all do him further good service. Curraghmore, the promising two-year-old daughter or Archlestown and Lady Gwendoline, which developed leg trouble rrom which blood poisoning later supervened and placed har in a dangerous way early last month. Is making steady progress for the better. Her owner (Mr. J. Carroll), has been working Curraghmore on the tracks at Te Rapa lately. Arch Salute finished second to Income in the Parliamentary Handicap, and on the second day won the Winter Oats Handicap. At the entrance to the straight he was handy, and when his rider let him go he showed a great turn of speed, soon collecting Winning Hit, which bad led throughout, and beat him home by a couple or lengths. Arch Salute is in great fettle just now. Bright Day, the Day Comet—Lady* Gwendoline gelding which raced very successfully in the few starts he had last season, his most marked win being at Ellerslie at Easter, will be ready to race early in the new season. Bright Knight, the Lord Multma—Pretty Helen two-year-old, which races in -the same ownership, has also been put into work after having a good spell. The work or preparing the Hamilton Racing Club's new property at Te Rapa is well forward. The builders are making good progress with the totalisator bouses, the official siand, aud the horse staUs. A steeplechase course has Been laid out for two and a-hair miles and three miles events, with several permanent jumps ofr the course proper at the northern and southern ends. Oakleigh seems as though he has not enough pace ror the present day 'chasers, and with 11.13 at Wellington he never threatened danger. In tbe Grand National Steeplechase Mr. J. Henrys has given him i 2.5, but be can have little chance with that burden after his running at Auckland and Trentham. Oakleigh was sent South from Wellington to Riccarton on Monday night, in company with Royal Fame. The handicapper for the CJ.C. meeting appears to have been a bit hard on the old fellow. The jumper Lark Hall can bo expected to make his reappearance on the scene when the new • season opens, as the Carl Rosa gelding has been in work some time with J. F. Tutchen's team at Frankton. Following a fall sustained over the country at Claudelands early in the season. Lark HaU did not appear to tackle his tasks with the same reUsh. He has been subjected to a fairly lengthy spell, and promises to come up fresh for the crosscountry engagements next season. Walkaretu and Glentul, two or the best young steeplechase horses seen out In the Auckland province of recent times, but which had the misfortune to go wrong very early in their career over the big country, have been out at the Waikato hunt lately, ir they stand up it can be expected that they will reappear on the scene at the Labour Day fixture at Te Rapa. It is problematical, however, whether either or these jumpers will come through a really searching test. AUCKLAND RACING CLUB. The annual meeting of the Auckland Racing- Club -will be held at the Chamber of Commerce on Monday, August 11. Nominations for the offices of president, vice-president, five committeemen, ana three stewards must be in the bands of the secretary (Mr. W. S. Spence) by noon next Saturday. TURF TALK FROM THE SOUTH. CANTERBURY. (By Telegraph.—Special to "Star.") CHRISTCHURCH, Tuesday. Though the middle or the trial grass track was open at Riccarton this morning not many availed themselves of the -opportunity to use it. The track provided easy going, but all work was of a mild order. Deucalion is moving, a tune short at present, but strode along freely at the end or half a-mile with the jumper Blue Socks as a companion. H. Ellis' rising three-year-old Te Anau Lad is going on the right way, and acquitted himseir well in a three-rurlong sprint this morning. The Gay Lad gelding raced prominently last time out. and should get a distance in the new season. Water Mint, a half-sister by Greyspear to Pilliewinkie and Sprinkler, is another rising three-year-old that is doing well. She is owned by R. W. King, who expects to have Pilliewinkie- and Many Kittle ready for early spring engagements. Both were sent hair a-mlle this morning. Palestrina is being kept going, and though moving scratchily in easy paces seems quite at east when galloping. Her portion this morning was six furlongs with Carpentier, which also galloped well. Royal Star has recovered from the indisposition which caused him to miss the recent Trentham fixture, ancTlits work at present is encouraging. It is now considered certain that Parody and Gloaming will be shipped to Sydney in the near future, probably at the end or next week. They are to go into work at Randwick for spring racing. XV. Hobbs entertains hopes of having the coming three-year-old Bonito. by Bonirorm —Dearest, on the winning list before the 1924-25 season is far advanced. He is doing well in all that has been asked or bim. , , . R. Alexander's team has been increased by the addition or a four-year-old filly by the imported Saxby from Gold Coin, and a two-year-old filly by Saxby—Divinia, dam or Kilwa, which recently won over hurdles in New South Wales. J. R. Kaan is already at Riccarton, and intends staying in the South until the conclusion or the Grand National Meeting, in the interim he will be present at the South Canterbury, Waimate, and Christchurch Hunt meetings. The South Canterbury Hunt executive should have a successrul gathering on Saturday. The open steeplechase, has drawn rour with Grand National engagements: Master Peter, Tigerland, Palencia, and Whipcord. Two novices in hurdle ranks at the same meeting which appear likely to do well in this department are The Reaver and Winkapeep. The latter has shown ability over the small rences during schooling at Riccarton. GRAND NATIONAL MEETING. (By Telegraph. —Press Association.) CHRISTCHURCH, this day. General Advance and Silent King were scratched for the Grand National Hurdles at 9 o'clock this morning. Pavo and Pompey were withdrawn from all engagements at 9.45 a.m.