STABLE AND TRACK NOTES.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIII, Issue 183, 4 August 1932, Page 14

STABLE AND TRACK NOTES.

VARIED RACING CAREER. On several occasions during his racing career Nassock has shown to advantage in middle-distance handicap events, but continual racing over hurdles and steeplechase fences may possibly have affected his speed on the flat. However, if this proves to be incorrect he will have more than an outside chance, in the Junipers' Plat Race at Riccarton on Tuesday next. DOING PLENTY OF WORK. The two local hunters Haakon and Thespis have accompanied a lot of usetui work at headquarters and both horses have hardened up in condition since they last appeared in public. Haakon was schooled over the steeplechase course on Tuesday morning and gave a safe display, though he did not shape too confidently over the

fences on top of the hill. This pair will contest jumping events at the Pakuranga meeting, and as they have previously shown promise among the hunters' class their prespects cannot be overlooked. WOODFUL AND LORD VAL. A. G. Parsons, who is to ride Woodful and Lord Val in their engagements at Christchurch next week, visited Matamata and was on the track on Wednesday morning • (says our correspondent). He rode both horses fast work, and they gave pleasing displays. Woodful is expected to improve on his Wellington outing, while no fault can be found with Lord Val's condition. He is a game horse, and with his Wellington conqueror, Chief Link, out of the way, Mr. Clothier made no secret of his estimate of Lord Val's chances before he left Matamata. WORTH REMEMBERING. Takahua was one of the novices racing at Trentham who should be worth keeping in mind for engagements early in the new season (says "Argus"). He was fourth in the Trial Plate and second in the Novice Handicap and on each occasion he owed his position to a brilliant finishing run. His dam, Outlet, by Provocation from Wailethe, is a sister to Comment, the dam of Inevitable. His sire, the imported horse Royal Divorce, was well represented last season by Royal Love, a useful performer over a journey, in spite of the fact that unsoundness made him difficult to train. •The manner in which Takahua finished in his Trentham races left a good impression regarding his prospectss over longer journeys. Royal Divorce, if given a fair chance, may leave some good stayers.

ONLY A RUMOUR. It was rumoured in Sydney on July 23 —tlio rumour arrived from Melbourne— that the A.J.C. and the VJI.C. intended to take action to prevent New Zealand jockeys from riding other than Dominionowned horses at the approaching spring meetings. When Mr. G. S. Howe, the secretary of the A.J.C, was asked at Warwick Farm (says "Cardigan) whether his club had considered such.drastic action he replied that as-far as he knew there was nothing in the rumour. While there are some New Zealand riders that Australian punters would prefer to remain at home, mainly because of their lack of ability, it would be unsporting to prevent New Zealand jockeys from earning a living in Australia. Apparently the recent action of the English Jockey Club in refusing to license jockeys from the colonies, led to the rumour.

TRICKING THE "BOOK." Many are the schemes used to trick starting-price bookmakers. Here is a new one which was successfully worked recently (says a Melbourne writer). A backer who had been in the habit of sending money orders to a bookmakers with his list of bets, secured a money order at a country town one Friday recently and posted it to himself at his city address in an envelope, addressed in pencil. The pencil address was erased and that of the bookmaker substituted in ink, the envelope thus having the country post mark. After the first race had been run the backer wrote a note to the bookmaker investing the amount of the money order on the winner. Going to the private box office at the G.P.0., he waited for the bookmaker's messenger to clear the box. As the lad was walking away the backer, ostensibly picking up the letter, which actually he had in his hand, exclaimed to the boy, 'Ts this yours?" The letter was delivered to the bookmaker with other lett'-rs. The scheme was never suspected and the backer received his "winnings."

PADDON FOR RICCARTON. Paddon, who won the Trentham Hurdle Race and the Winter Hurdle Race at the Wellington winter meeting, will leave this afternoon in charge of his owner, Mr. W. James, for Riccarton, to fulfil his engagements at the Grand National meeting. The horse has schooled well at Avondale since he returned from Trentham, and he is reported to be in first-class condition. GREATLY IMPROVED. Snowfall faded out in the last part of the South Canterbury Steeplechase., after beinj prominent all through the early stages. It was, however, a greatly improved performance compared with what he showed in his previous start on the same course a few weeks ago. The race should assist him. and as he is a proved jumper over the big fences at Riccarton he cannot be dismissed lightly from the Grand National calculations. COMBINE WELL. W. Scobie, who piloted Lord Ranald when he won the South Canterbury Steeplechase, has ridden the big Masterpiece gelding in his live successes over country. 'Scobie was a capable horseman a few years ago, when he did a lot of riding in jumping events. He is not often seen in the saddle now, but he handled Lord Ranald very capably throughout Saturday's race, and will again be associated with him if he is a starter in the Grand National. A GOOD EFFORT. High Pitch was responsible for a good effort when he ran second in the South Canterbury Steeplechase (says a Christchurch writer). Lord Ranald beat him decisively, but he settled all the others very easily. His jumping was consistently sound throughout the journey, and in view of the fact that it was his first appearance over country it was a very attractive performance. He only needs to shape well in his schooling to become a strong fancy for the Grand National Steeplechase. FAILED TO MAKE GOOD. When Te Homai ran second in the Hunters' Hurdle Race at the Pakuranga meeting last year a good future was predicted for the Quin Abbey gelding, but his subsequent form did not come up to expectations. It is some months since this jumper has had a race, but he is reported to be in good condition as the result of being indulged in a fair amount of hunting with the Waikato hounds. Te Homai is entered for the Harris Memorial Hurdles at the coming Pakuranga meeting, and if started should show up among the class engaged in that race. WON TWELVE MONTHS AGO. Malahat, who scored a surprise win in the-Jellicoe Handicap at the Pakuranga meeting twelve months ago, has been entered for the same event again at the approaching meeting. Last week at Gisborne this horse ran second to Teller in the Winter Oats, run over one mile and a quarter, with 9.6 on his back, which clearly indicates that he is as well as ever. If brought to Ellerslie for the coming meeting Malahat's prospects in the Jellicoe Handicap will have to be seriously considered, and his presence will lend added interest to the race. A FEUD. The "Empire News," according to a cable received by the "Sydney Sun" on July 29, states: "The arrival of the Australian jockeys Ben Rosen and W. R. Johnstone in France has caused a revival of the French jockeys' feud with foreigners. Several attempts have been made to prevent Rosen winning. He was forced on to the rails at St. Cloud, and had a foot injured. Johnstone, who is retained by the Epinard stable, was also warned that he would be interfered with. Leading owners are complaining to the authorities and threatening to abandon racing in France if no action is taken i against rough riding." JUMPERS' FLAT CANDIDATE. The form displayed by Luminary at the Great Korthern meeting was not impressive, but he has been doing plenty of solid work in the interim and was in first-rate condition when he left for Riccarton last week. Luminary has done no jumping since he raced at Ellerslie and there has been no news whatever from Riccarton regarding his work since he arrived there. However, the Day Comet gelding is a firstclass jumper, and the fact that he has not been allotted any schooling over hurdles is unlikely to affect his prospects to any extent. Luminary's first appearance at the National meeting will be in the Jumpers' Flat Race, and on past form he is a distinct possibility in that event.

TO CONTEST MINOR EVENTS. Since arriving at Riccarton the crosscountry candidate Okapua has been responsible for some pleasing displays over the big fences and he will be hard to beat in minor steeplechase events next week. This horse is a fast and clever jumper, which was fully demonstrated by his recent successes at Trentham, and he is likely to show up in more important races as he gains experience. His engagements at the National meeting include the Enfield Steeples, Hunt Cup and Aylesbury Steeplechase, and, taking a line on his Trentham form, where he beat Town Beauty on each occasion that they met, his prospects of extending his record at Riccarton appear excellent. YOUNGSTERS SPRINTED. Five youngsters, who became two-year-olds on Monday, took part in a run down the straight in an interval between races at the South Canterbury Hunt meeting on Saturday. Mr. J. M. Samson's threo finished in front, the Australian-bred Southdown (Rampion—Down South) putting in a late dash to head off Guarantee (Paper Money—Entre No_us), while Garter Knight (Limond—Anklet) was half a length away. Mr. S. D. McDougall's Nightly (Night Raid —Miss Muriel) and Mr. S. G. Ware's Polar Star (Silverado —Starmist) were not far behind. The five colts made a good show, being attractive-looking youngsters. Mr, Samson's trio were probably more forward than the others and gave the impression that they would be good when required for racing.

CHANGE OF LUCK. Although bad luck has dogged the Caulfield trainer V. O'Neill through the early part of the current racing season, his win with Longlands at the valley on Saturday, July 23, appears to have broken the spell of misfortune (says a Melbourne writer). It is only a few years since he was, in the thick of successes, even a Melbourne Cup coming his way with Spearfelt. His run of bad luck, however, was quite as disheartening as his period of success was encouraging, but O'Neill went on in his stoical way waiting for the turn of fortune. To-day he has one of the favourites for the Australian Steeplechase. O'Neill said that Longlands has always been hard to train, as he suffered from rheumatism. Longlands is still affected, but O'Neill has had some compensation for his patience in treating the gelding. Present intentions are that Longlands will run in the Australian Hurdles (on Saturday next) and the Australian Steeplechase. O'Neill is not certain that the gelding will see the post in the big events, as there is always the possibility of Longlands' rheumatism affecting 'him, and he did not want the public to lose' their money unnecessarily.