Topics of the Turf

Auckland Star, Volume LXII, Issue 66, 19 March 1931, Page 15

Topics of the Turf

STABLE AND TRACK NOTES.

Notes and news from everywhere

AMMON RA'S TRAINER. Amnion Ra, wlio was recently purchased by Mr. C. Sheath, of Sydney, has gone into M. Poison's stable at Randwick. It is stated that J. Jamieson will go to Sydney next week to supervise his training. SILVERMINE'S PROSPECTS. The success of Silvermine in the Thompson Handicap at Trentliam will draw attention to his chances in the Easter Handicap at Auckland at Easter time. Last season he finished third in the Easter Handicap when carrying 8.6, necks dividing the placed horses, and on his latent effort lie should again be hard to beat. A PROMISING JUVENILE. Luval. a two-year-old half-brother to Grand Tea by Valkyrian, ran a good race in the Waitekauri Handicap 011 the second day at Pacroa and looks like developing into a useful sort. He was always well up with the leading division and only failed in the last fifty yards. Luval is a well grown youngster, who displays a lot of quality. He is sure to win races with a bit more experience. SAME FAMILY AS BOBRIKOZF. Grand Talk, a three-year-old filly by Grandcourt from Tall Talk, broke her maiden status at Paeroa 011 Tuesday when she dead-lieated with Gay Idea in the Hikutaia Hack Cup. She was well hack in the early stages but finished on remarkably well and she will only have to repeat this form to win in much better company. Tall Talk, the dam of Grand Talk, is by Finland from Gossip, and therefore a full sister to Bobrikoff. AN EASY WIN. Biddy's Boy made no race of the St. Patrick's Handicap, the chief event at Paeroa on Tuesday, winning from end to end. This threc-vear-old has been racing well under big weights, in hack events, and this no doubt accounted for him being a warm favourite for the event mentioned, in which he had 7.0, and was only meeting a moderate field. When right, Biddy's Boy has any amount of pace, and, having previously shown his ability to handle soft tracks, he should do well during the remainder of the season. A MARKED IMPROVEMENT. Gay Idea ran an indifferent race on the first day of the Ohinemuri meeting, never being prominent at any stage of the Komata Handicap, seven furlongs, in which she started eighth favourite. However, in the Hikutaia Hack Cup cn the second day Gay Idea was a good second favourite, carrying over £250 more than on the first day or £14 less than Trishna, the first fancy. Gay Idea was never further away than fifth and was third turning for home. Finishing on she dead-heated with Grand Talk for first place, which was a marked improvement on her first day's effort. PRINCE LU RETURNS.

Prince Lu, who has been off the scene for some time, was given a couple of races on the flat at Paeroa, and (lisdisplayed a lot of pace in the early part of his races. This gelding is looking exceptionally well and promises to be in great order for forthcoming hurdle events, the first of which will probably be tho Brighton Hurdles at Ellerslie at Easter. Prince Lu has shown a partiality for Ellerslie, for last season he finished second to King's Guard in the Grafton Hurdles and the Ponsonbv Hurdles, while he was also narrowly beaten by Taumai in the Campbell Hurdles, all these events being run over two miles. FAILURE OF TRISHNA. Trishna, after his good effort to Marjoram in the Netherton Highweight on the first day at Paeroa, was sent out favourite for the Hikutaia Hack Cup on Tuesday, but disappointed badly. He was never in the picture at any stage of the race, and is evidently a horse of moods. His best performance since his arrival from Australia was in winning a highweight handicap at Takapuna in the spring, but in his next start at the same meeting, when solidly supported, failed. Trishna looked in first class condition at Paeroa, but apparently he will have to be carefully placed to gain another stake. A GOOD EFFORT. Royal Survey, who has been on the improve since he dead-heated with Silene for second place, in the Moana Handicap at Takapuna last January, ran one of the best races of his career when he finished within a nose of the deadlicaters, Gay Idea and Grand Talk, in the Hikutaia Hack Cup at Paeroa on Tuesday. The Surveyor gelding ran very wide at the liome turn, but finished 011 at a great pace on the extreme outside and was in front a stride past the post. Only for covering a lot of extra ground at the turn he would have won. Royal Survey is handicapped by being slow to begin, but with more experience he should improve in this respcet. Royal Survey is a solid type of hack of whom something good can be expected. WEST AUSTRALIAN SPORTSMAN. Among the arrivals by the Maunganui from Sydney 011 Tuesday was Sir. L. V. O'Hara, of Fremantlc, who, with his brothers, Messrs. J. J. O'Hara and J. P. O'Hara, takes a very prominent interest in horse racing in West Australia. Sir. O'Hara stated that they have imported more horses to that State from New Zealand than anyone else, the list including Don Quixote, Prince Paladin, Phoenix Park, Lord Abbey, .Redenui, Atum Lad, Nadarino, Los Ambus, Autobiography, Star Raid (full-brother to Stealth) and Banket. They also owned Seven Stars, the fullsister to Prodice and Phaola, and halfsister to Amnion Ra. There was a big meeting in Perth every week, and like other parts of Australia and also New Zealand they were feeling the financial depression and stakes had to be reduced. However, racing was going along well. During the last few months a double totalisator had been introduced and it had proved Very popular with the public. Tn connection with the importation of New Zealand horses to Australia, Mr. O'Hara thought that there, would not be the same business done as formerly, owing to the rate of exchange and the prima «e duty charged, which considerably increased the cost of the animal. Mr. < v Hara is 011 a health-recruiting trip and intends to proceed to Wellington this evening.

A CONSISTENT HURDLER. Quinsilia has proved himself one of the most consistent hurdlers racing 0:1 the country circuit recently and is doing well for a horse that has had a limited experience in this department. He finished first and second at Te Arolia and repeated the performance at Paeroa. On the first day of the latter fixture in a mile and a half event he was finishing on nicely, and, with a quarter of a mile further to go on Tuesday he won, though by a very narrow margin. Quinsilia is engaged in the Brighton Hurdles at Ellerslio at Easter, and his latest form warrants him having more than an outside chance in that race, as he gives every indication of staying 011. PURIRI PARK FOR AWAPUNI. Puriri Park, who only commenced racing at the Takapuna meeting in January, lias quickly made good, for after winning a double at the Te Arolia Jockey Club's meeting he ran two very solid races at the recent Paeroa fixture, finishing second 011 each occasion. His performance in the Wailii Handicap under 9.7 on Tuesday was most impressive, for he finished on very gamely when the pressure was applied. This horse looks like winning some good races when he becomes properly seasoned. He has been sent to Awapuni, where he will race in the Woodhey Handicap 011 Saturday. FROM A GOOD FAMILY. Hollyholm looked in first-class condition when he went out to contest the Waihi Handicap at Paeroa last Tuesday, which he succeeded in winning from a useful field of hack sprinters, thereby registering his first success. The Acre gelding began fairly well, and was always handily placed, to finish on in a very game manner over the last halffurlong. Hollyholm comes from a good family, for he is by Acre from Great Effort, by Provocation from Effort, by Advance from Endeavour. Effort was a good mard in her day, and won several races when trained by J. Lowe at Trentham. Hollyholm has always shown pace in his races, and now that he has got on the winning list further successes may go his way in the near future. A DOUBLE WINNER. Speedmint, who won both two vearold events at Paeroa, was in a class by herself among the juveniles. On the first day she was well back when the field straightened up for the judge, but put in a phenomenal run to win nicely. On Thursday she began well, but was allowed to drift in the middle stages. However, she soon made up her ground and was just in behind the leaders as they entered the straight, and, putting in a brilliant run on the outside, won by half a length. Speedmint has now won three events on end and there is no doubt that she is a very useful sort. She is a full sister to Mark Mint, who raced well when trained by P. E. Pope, who also has Speedmint. Speedmint is entered for a couple of two-year-old events at the Auckland autumn nveet-

A BRILLIANT YOUNGSTER. Bronze Eagle, who accounted for the two-vear-old events at the recent Wellington meeting, had only had one start previously, and that was in the Nursery Handicap 011 the first day ot the Auckland summer meeting. He won easily on both occasions, and in doing so ran right up to his brilliant track work. He is engaged in the Great Northern Champagne Stakes at Easter, and by the manner in which he ran out six furlongs on the second day at Trentham he should have 110 difficulty in successfully compassing an extra furlong. Bronze Eagle is by Brazen from TOl- - and was bred in Australia, Mr. A. Rhodes securing him for 320 guineas. He now races in the colours of Dr. W. C. Ring, and is trained by J. Gray at Takanini. A GOOD RECORD. Karapoti is certainly the best three-year-old in New Zealand, despite the fact that he was beaten by Nightmarch in the Trentham Gold Cup. He made all the running till within a short distance of the post, and, considering it was his first attempt over two miles, his performance was a highly creditable one. So season Karapoti has only suffered defeat 011 three occasions. He was third in the Mount Albert Handicap at the Avondale spring meeting, won the Great Northern Guinea?, won the Flying Handicap at To Awamutu, was unplaced in the Railway Handicap at Ellerslie, won the King's Plate and the Great Northern Derby at Ellerslie, won the Jackson Stakes at Wanganui, the North Island Challenge Stakes at Trentham, and finished second in the Trentham Gold Cup. He is engaged in the Easter Handicap and Great Northern St. Leger at Ellerslie. SIR MOND'S SUCCESS. The win registered by Sir at Paeroa on Tuesday was his best effort to date. He was never far away from the leaders, and finished on very gamely to beat Eager Rose and Marjora 111 by a very narrow margin. Sir Mond has been steadily improving this season, displaying good form at Whangarei, Rotorua and Te Aroha. He is a very solid customer, who thrives on plenty of racing, and in his present form he is quite capable of showing to advantage in a better class over distances from eight to ten furlongs. He has been nominated for the President's Handicap, one mile and a quarter, and the Easter Handicap, one mile, on the first day of the Auckland autumn meeting, and also the Autumn Handicap, one mile and a half, and the Islington Handicap, one mile, on the second day. AVONDALE JOCKEY CLUB. Nominations for all handicap events! to be decided at the autumn meeting ofj the Avondale Jockey Club, and forfeits for the All-aged Stakes arc due with the secretary, Mr. A. J. Farquliar, at 5 p.m. to-morrow.