TURF TOPICS

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 1, Issue 2, 24 April 1939, Page 6

TURF TOPICS

—o I3y Zetland, A REAL BARGAIN The Paeron owned and trained Go'd Vaals, winner of the Railway Handicap at Tauranga followed up by scor ing in the Islington Handicap at Ei. lenslie, winning the mile in 1.37. By Vaals, from Gold Dart (Lucullus--Fraulein) Gold Vaals was bred by Mi" Thomas Andrews, of Els ton, To Aroha, who some years previously raced Dan Quin very successfully. When put into work as a okl the Vaals representative, thvu only of pony height, showed no particular promise of being a, turf celebrity, and he was .sold for the low sum of £20 to Mr Alan McNieol, a well known polo player. Within a few months Gold Vaals had grown considerably in height, so much so that it was considered he was worth another term of training, and he was leased to Mr F. Handlev, of Pao_ l'oa. In a very s hor t space of tin e he showed arre galloping ability ai d opened his winning account at a Ohinemuri meeting, the resultant dividend being what is generally termed nearly "four score." He has a familiar liking for Tauranga contests, and it is quite on the cards that lie will be there again for the June meeting. RACING MADE PAYABLE Cocksure, who was victorious in the Great Easter Handicap at the Can. terbury meeting, -s raced in the colours of the Hons ''Paddy" Webb and G. Hunter, both of whom thoroughly enjoy attending meetings where their horses are engaged. At a festive gathering ni the South Island a feu' weeks ago a speaker in proposing the toast of the Hon P. Webb ? referred to him as a fine sportsman, incident. aUy said he had o'ten wondered how the M'nister managed to ra-e about three horses on his Ministerial saiqry. Mr Webb rather astonished the non_sportsmne in the assembly by r evolving: ''I get considerably more out if our racing wins than I do from Parliament." WIN AND PLACE A few weeks ago the Auckland Racing Club decidvd to revert to the win and place totalisator system. It was instilled in making the change by the Easter meeting turnover exceeding that of last year by no less than £21,118. Another case of "Noth. ng succeeds like success. *- ANOTHER VETERAN SCORES oCunt Rousillion, well known in the Bay of Plenty, and now trained by R. Martin at Matamata, came to ife somewhat unexpectedly a-t Ellers'ie by winning the St Helier's Hurdles, one mile and three-quarters. More than once the Count has been on the verge of a breakdown, but emarkable to state he refused to be placed on the retired list., and in H 'ast winning effort one of the "also darted" was that solid performer o?i the flat, Jonathan, who in November 'nst won the Waikato Cup, defeat, 'ng front arnk performers. A MERITORIOUS TREBLE In Southland there is a cross-coun-trv candidate. Black Banner, that month has been distinguishing himself by performances of real merit at the Riverton meeting. He -couineled successfully each day, winning the Great Western Steeplechase with 11.8, the Riverton Steeples with 11.13, and the Autumn Steeplechase with 12.9. Doubtless if the meeting' had covered six days instead of three he would have been required to carrv something like 15st. Thus Black Ban nejr may be worth keeping in mind nl case ho mekes a Northern tour ir o.MI .Tunc.