STABLE AND TRACK NOTES.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVI, Issue 186, 8 August 1935, Page 19

STABLE AND TRACK NOTES.

RIDER FOR DUNMURE. A. J. Peart, who won last year's Grand National Steeplechase ou Valpeen, hat been engaged for Dunmure in this year's contest. Dunmure's usual rider, V. Lang ford, was engaged for the season foi Punchestown, and is booked to ride that horse in the big race at Riccarton. BORN TOO EARLY. Sennight, by Day Comet from Week End, the dam of Weatheiwise, foaled a filly to Pantheon at Mr. P. Miller's Kia Ora Stud, Scone, New South Wales, oe July 26. This was rather unfortunate, foi the youngster ranked, as a yearling or August 1, and in consequence will bt unable to be entered for classic events. DOING LIGHT TASKS. King Mestor, who joined E. S. Groat's team last week, is rather low in conditioi and is only doing easy tasks around th< roads at present. When the King Li gelding builds up a bit he will be given < course of schooling over hurdles and late] on will be seen out in jumping races. H< has already had a little experience in thai department, which should be an advautagi to him later on. A LIKEXY LIGHTWEIGhV. According to southern reports Free Ail has done everything right in her schooling tasks at Riccarton, and she is regarded at a likely lightweight in the Grand Nationa Steeples next week. Free Air was nol raced at Trentham, but her form at th< Great Northern meeting was encouraging If this mare is free from the soreness thai troubled her a short time back when sh( goes to the post in the big steeplechase a< Riccarton good support is likely to b< accorded her. HAS SHOWN PROMISE. Racing Lady, ■who has been in regulai work throughout the winter, is expectec to make her reappearance at the Paku ranga meeting. She has not done mucl fast sprinting, but has been allotted plentj of solid pace work and is well forward ii; condition. So far the daughter of Racefu! has not won a race, though she has showr a fair amount of promise, having twe seconds to her credit in her last three contests. With slight improvement this mare should pay her way at the country meetings. MIGHT SURPRISE. Southdown is a horse who might sprinc a surprise in the Winter Cup (says "The Watcher"). He has been working very well on the tracks, and although he had not had a race for several months, having been gelded since his last appearance, ht was "specked" by one or two good judges for his outside price on Saturday. Southdown did not begin fast and was at the tail of the field in the first few furlongs, but he was travelling well at the finish. The extra furlong in the Winter Cup will be all in his favour. FAILED TO STAY ON. One of the unplaced division that attracted attention in the Selwyn Handicap at Riccarton last Saturday was Whaddon Chase, by Hunting Song from the Absurd mare Marsurd. He is owned by Mr. J. A. McDougall, owner of Nightly, and although five years of age has done very little racing. He made a forward move passing the distance and looked like gaining a place until his condition gave out. He is typical of, the Hunting Song bieed, and at ■present-displays- no ; EJg"ns'-6f the 'unsoundness which has restricted the activities of so many of that family. PREPARING FOR SPRING MEETINGS The Avondale owner-trainer W. Gough has King Tut and Sebrof going on the right way in view of the spring meetings. Sebrof is an untried four-year-old brown gelding by Lucullus from an Elysian— Graceful mare. He is therefore a brother to Prince Lu, winner of numerous hurdle races, including the Great Northern Hurdles in 1931. The most recent addition to the stable is Gar Vaals, a three-year-old bay gelding by Vaals from Gortyn. This novice is a half-brother to Sabatini, winner of several races in the Hawke's Bay district during the last couple of seasons. WELL NAMED. Bereft, who carried the colours of Mr. H. A. Knight, showed promise at the Christchurch Hunt meeting last week. She is a small-proportioned filly by Polazel from Miss Varco, but in her track work and also in her race on Saturday she displayed a tendency to stay on. This would not be surprising in the face of her breeding. Mies Varco was by Night Raid from Weathermark, by Varco from Weatherwitch, by Treadmill from Windwhistle, by Clanranald from Weathereye, by Maxim. Miss Varco died in 1932 when producing Bereft, and the youngster, who is thus appropriately named, was hand-reared at Racecourse Hill. BIG WEIGHT AWARDED. Greensea, after his successes in Sydney recently, was awarded 14.2 in the Brush Hurdles at Canterbury Park, Sydney, last Saturday, but he did not start. In recent years no Melbourne hurdler has been handicapped to carry anything near 14.2, the weight allotted Greensea in the Brush Hurdles. Mr. J. H. Davis, V.R.C. handicapper, eaid that s he had not given any horse 14.0 since he had been doing the club's handicapping. Mr. Davis added that 13.10 was the highest weight he had allotted, and that was to Clan Robert at Flemington some years ago. Mr. S. Griffiths, V.A.T.C. handicapper, has never given a Melbourne jumper 14.0 or more to carry.

ROOM FOR IMPROVEMENT. Polydora made some dashing efforts in the Longbeach Hurdles at the Christchurch Hunt meeting last Saturday, but she struck one fence heavily enough to bring down most jumpers (says a southern writer). She lost a good deal of ground, and the mistake must have taken a lot out of her, so there was some reasonable excuse for her failure to run on in the straight. In addition to this setback, she had a slight attack of colic overnight, and it was not until she showed signs of being right again in the early afternoon that it was decided to produce her. Polydora will have all the week to freshen up again, but it would appear that her prospects in the Grand National Hurdles will depend on her jumping, and, taking a line through her displays at Washdyke and Riccartor., there is plenty i of room for improvement in that department. She will be able to hold her own as far as pace and staying on are concerned. UNFORTUNATE MISHAP. Witui would have won the Lawford Steeplechase at the Christchurch Hunt, meeting on Saturday by a large margin but for his unfortunate mishap at the last fence. He did not strike the fence hard enough to bring him down (says "The Pre«s"), but lost his footing on landing, and in spite of the efforts of his rider, R. Beale, he went down, and while prostriite Dan Russell scrambled over him without causing any damage. Beale was quickly on his feet again, without releasing hie reins, but by the time he remounted Dan Russel had got well away, and Para- j sang had got over the fence, so he merely i trotted Witui home. With Witui out of J the way the race should have been a gift to Dan Russell, but the latter's rider failed to notice Parasang creeping up on him on ! the inside of the track until it was too '■ late, and although Dan Russell responded when called upon, Parasang then had the , race won. In addition, Dan Russell's rider, J. Kerr, was without the help of his irons, which had been lost two fences from home, so there was every justification for the stewards taking a lenient view of the incident when Kerr was called before them for an explanation. 1

PAKURANGA HUNT. Nominations for the annual meeting of the Pakuranga Hunt, to be held at Ellerslie on August 24, close with the secretary of the Auckland Racing Club, Mr. W. S. Spence, at 5 p.m. to-morrow. IN THE MARKET. Sir Charles Clifford has had more than one inquiry lately for Knock Out. The Winning flit mare is under offer at present, -and if sold she will go into another Riccarton stable. TO AVERT DANGER. Believing that the dangers associated with steeplechasing should be lessened, the V.A.T.C. has decided to convert the remaining two jumps on the Caulfield steeplechase course to brush. The Australian and Knowsley Steeplechases at Caulfield next Saturday will be the first events to be run over all brush fences. Last year the Australian Steeplechase course was over 24 fences, but this year 26 jumps must be cleared. Brush fences will be discussed at a meeting of the V.R.C, committee to-morrow.