TURF GOSSIP

Press, Volume LXXV, Issue 22830, 2 October 1939, Page 12

TURF GOSSIP

Spring Racing at Washdyke The programme of the South Canterbury Jockey Club’s spring meeting on October 14 is a most attractive one, the principal events being the Teschemaker Handicap of £240, one mile and a quarter and the Flying Handicap of £l5O, six furlongs. The Otaio Hurdles of £l3O, one mile and a half, the Tycho Hack Handicap of £l2O, six furlongs, the Kerrytown Hack Handicap of £l3O, one mile and 35 yards, and the Spring Stakes of £l2O. for two-year-olds and upwards that have not won a race to the value of £SO, five furlongs, complete the galloping programme. Nominations for all events will close with the secretary at Tijnaru at 9 p.m. to-day. Reminders Nominations for the Wellington Racing Club’s spring meeting will close at 5 p.m. to-day. Acceptances for the Dunedin Jockey Club’s spring meeting will close at 5 p.m. to-day. Wlngatui Candidates In Action Interest in training operations at Riccarton on Saturday was centred in the few horses to represent Riccarton at the Dunedin one-day programme on Saturday. Winning Rival and Great Swoop were out before breakfast, and together galloped seven furlongs on the trial grass in Imin 29sec, finishing abreast. Settlement and Prudent Prince covered six furlongs in Imin 18sec on the plough. After the interval, Spartan, assisted by Rebel Lad, ran seven furlongs in Imin 31sec on the grass. Grey Night and Doria reeled off half a mile in 48 4-ssec, the latter hanging on solidly to her older companion. A Speedy Filly One of the fastest sprints recorded on the plough for some time was credited to Density, who reeled off five furlongs in Imin 0 3-ssec. This filly has furnished exceptionally well, and her prospects for the season look very bright. A Faeroa Winner Sunola, winner of the second division of the maiden event at Paeroa on Saturday, is a brother to Round Up, to whom he bears a strong resemblance. The Wrong Course Lucidus was out clear of the field for half the journey in the Maramaru Steeplechase at Paeroa on Saturday when he took the. wrong course and was pulled up, and Little Briton, who ran second, was disqualified for running inside a flag. A Cup Possibility A Hawke’s Bay correspondent states that the best effort of the gallops at Hastings on Thursday was that of Centrepoise, who, after 12 furlongs at a solid pace, came home against the steel, the last three in 38Jsec, putting more life into the task than ever before. He will race at Hastings and then, all going well, will receive a final polish for the New Zealand Cup engagement. Thoroughbreds from England The stallion Revelation, purchased on behalf of Messrs F. J. Savage and Sons, Waimanaia, Bay of Plenty, has reached Auckland from England. He was bred in 1932 and is by Manna, who won the Derby and Two Thousand Guineas, from White Bud, by White Eagle from My Own, by Minoru, who also won the Derby. Caerlaverick, a brood mare by Ellangowan. from Masr, with a colt foal by April Fifth, who was purchased on behalf of Mr J. Fletcher, Auckland, has also arrived. Several other thoroughbreds for southern breeders purchased by Mr C. E. Robertson are included in the consignment and they will be sent to Wellington. In McLean Stakes ' Gold Flight has been kept up to her work at Riverton. Present intentions are to start her in the McLean Stakes in spite of the 101b penalty she has received for winning the John Grigg Stakes. Last week the Nigger Minstrel filly was affected by a cold, but is throwing this off. Guineas Candidate Nigger Boy’s track work at Invercargill during the week has not been as impressive as formerly. It was thought that he had thrown off the cold which troubled him a fortnight ago. but it appears to have come back on him, and there was a doubt last week about him carrying out his Dunedin Guineas engagement. Not in Classic Dark Flight has thrown off the cold which troubled him last month, and has been sprinting well at Riverton. His efforts Rave not Reen very serious, however, and it has been decided not to start him in the Dunedin Guineas, but in the hack sprint. Bred at Ashburton Sleeveless, who won another race at Otaki on Saturday, is a three-year-old filly by Valkyrian from Chivalry, and was sold ,by her breeder, Mr E. B. Newton, of Ashburton, at the yearling sales at Trentham for 80 guineas. Chivalry is by Gay Lad from Lady Talbot, by Pilgrim’s Progress from Lady Lilian, by Phaeton from Lady Zetland. Sleeveless is considered to

be orii of the best young hacks raced in the North Island in recent years. At Otki on Saturday The aged Hunting Song gelding, Huntiig Cat, brought off a surprise win in the Ling Memorial Stakes, the principl event at the spring meeting of the Otaki-Maori Racing Club on Saturdiy, paying nearly half a century on the win machine. While he won well vith a good run from the back, he was lucky to beat Yours Truly, who lost a good position down the back stretcli through interference and then just faled to reach the winner in the run hone. Tooley Street ran only a fair rate to finish fourth. The Q»en Sprint The favourite, Gay Chou, put up a good performance to win the open seven furlongs, having to pull out an extra effort at the finish to stave off a stroag challenge by Notium. Too much use was .made of Royal Star 11, who -went past the leader, Screen Star, on the turn, and weakened to fourth in therun home. L. G. Morris’s pair, Disdain and Laughing Lass, both ran good races to finish just behind the placedlot; Globe Trotter showed pace but was never dangerous, and the distance was too short for Arctic King, who is looking exceptionally well. At Randwick on Saturday The opening of the Australian Jockey Club’s carnival at Randwick on Saturday did not favour many of the New Zealand horses engaged. With Beau Vite and Gold Salute in the Derby, it was generally thought that both would dispute matters with the Australian representatives, but neither showed up. There was some satisfaction, however, in the fact that High Caste and Wilson, second and third respectively to Reading, were bred in New Zealand. Royal Chief made a game attempt to win. his second Colin Stephen Stakes, 1 and his performance in once more coming from last to dispute first place must have been very spectacular. Mosaic, who dead-heated with Royal Chief, was bred at Koatanui, and. was sold as a yearling to J. T. Jamieson for 310 guineas. He is one of the few of Posterity’s progeny to reach high class. His dam. Inlaid, was imported from England, and was produced by Invincibe from Lade by Ladas. Parquet, trained at Riccarton by F. Christmas, is by Limond from Inlaid. ‘ Mosaic has 9-1 in the Caulfield, and 9-0 in the Melbourne Cup, and D.’ Munro has been engaged to ride him in the latter event. Mosaic was not accepted for In to-day’s Metropolitan, in which Royal Chief will endeavour to repeat his last year’s success Royal Chief’s two remaining engagements at the meeting, which concludes next Saturday, will be the Cravenl Plate, a mile and a quarter, on Wednesday, and the Randwick Plate, two miles, on Saturday, and no doubt he will encounter Mosaic in both races. The Epsom Winner Geebung, winner of the Epsom Handicap at Randwick on Saturday, has 6-10 in the Caulfield Cup, for which he was strongly supported after his success in the Camellia Stakes at Rosehill on September 17. Even before this win, he was considered to be thrown into the Cup, and had only to strike his real form to win. Geebung, however, had not yet shown ability to stay, but his Epsom win would no doubt be pleasing to those who have supported him at Caulfield. The Derby Trio Reading, winner of the Australian Jockey Club Derby, was bred by Messrs A. E. Thompson and Sons, and is by Marconigram, from Gravure by High Art. from Encre, a half-sister to David. He cost his present owners 400 guineas as a yearling. Last season he had eight races, for four wins, one second, and two third placmgs, his stakes amounting to £3676. His best success' was in the Australian Jockey Club Sires’ Produce Stakes at Randwick at Easter, in which he inflicted a surprise defeat on High Caste, but High Caste later in the week beat him in the Champagne Stakes. This season the pair were unplaced in the Chelmsford Stakes, and a week later, in the Rosehill ’ Guineas. High Caste beat his rival by half a head, with Wilson in third place. Wilson, again ,third to the pair in Saturday’s race, is a stable-mate of Ajax, both being trained by F. Musgrave. He was bred by Mr R. Holden, of Hawke’s Bay. and is by Siegfried (now at Otautau) from Liiock by Limond from Lovelock by Martian from Lovelorn, a well-known South Island family. Wilson was sold as a yearling at Trentham for 1050 guineas to Mr C. Wheeler, of Adelaide, acting for Mr J. Wren, and following the colt’s early success as a two-year-old. Mr Wheeler secured, for Mr Wren Wilson’s yearling brother at last January’s sale for 1400 guineas, the second highest price of the sale. SHORTER IN MARKET CATALOGUE AND MELBOURNE CUP (By CARBINE.) Catalogue appeared to be very well when he embarked for Australia. It is considered the four weeks which he should have in Melbourne will be sufficient to get him ready for the big two mile contest, notwithstanding that he has not raced" since August. He will be located at Mentone, while in Victoria. Mr E. L. Barnes, who accompanied him, said that for an old horse Catalogue had been working well. He thought he should run good races in Australia, but facts to be faced were that this year’s Melbourne Cup field looked stronger than last year’s, that the horse is a year older, and that he has considerably more weight. Not since the earliest days of the race had a horse won two successive Melbourne Cups, but while the odds were against the party they were off to see what they could do. Alan McDonald has gone as trainer. The party may return to New Zealand in December. A little New Zealand support for Catalogue was forthcoming recently, and later, advices are that in consequence JlTie shortened iij. the betting market. ’V