TURF GOSSIP.

Press, Volume LXXX, Issue 24370, 23 September 1944, Page 5

TURF GOSSIP.

Not Followed Up It-is a peculiar but established fact that payers of big dividends have accomplished very little of note after their surprise successes. Ephialtes and Karamu were comparative failures, the latter going for three years before he won another race. Sibella and Nightglass at no stage raced up to their earlier form. Stavros was in rather a different class—he met with an untimely end shortly after his unexpected win. The record-holder, Wairoa Belle,-did not win again. Night Robe is .engaged at Orari to-day and it will be - interesting to- see how he fares, and to what extent he will be supported by -the public on this occasion. Stonyhurst-bred Included in the acceptors for the Ohapi Handicap at Orari to-day is Little Blondie, a three-year-old ally by Wild Chase from Fracas by Winning Hit from Scrimmage by Antagonist. Little Blondie was purchased as a- rising • two-year-old at the Stcnyhurst bloodstock sale at Riccarton last year for 500 guineas by her present owner, Mr E. N. Fitzgerald, of Gisborne, owner of Kindergarten. This will be the first appearance of Little Blondie, who is in E. J. Ellis’s stable at Washdyke. Riders at Orari

Riding engagements as follows have been made for to-day’s programme at Orari: —K. Thomson: Night Pal. R. Reg--ister: Norse. M. Hollands: Roman Son. A. Williams; 'lceland Spar. C. Mackie: Eastern Slipper, Findon, Night Believer. K. Ford: Falconbridge, King Burn, Racket. C. McDonald: Chelton, Takuta, Rex Maitland, Trueway. F. O. Campbell: Arustra, Debater. D. Stove: Olga’s Choice, Authentic. A. Messervy: Ration, Lucky Girl, Wise Girl, Guile. H. Ford: Baffling, Maggiore, Joygiver. L. J. Ellis: Weld Cona, Air Lord. Bill Gundi. C. Wilson; Ganges. Warrigal, Arctic Dawn. Salary. A. M. Ellis: Velvet Slipper. N. Crombie: Prince Leighon. D. Thistoll: Mister John, Fur Coat. W. Boag; Lex. C. Stokes; Kilcato, Twelve Pointer, Lyndon Lea. R. Frame; Surama. B. Brodie: Bowmore, Eastern Coin. Bracketed

Bracketed horses at the Geraldine meeting to-day will be as follows: —Ohapi Hack Handicap: Easter Slipper and Eastern Coin, King Burn and Listen In, Little Blondie and Miss Quickly, Mister John and Olga's Choice. Ration and Royal Don, Saint Joachim and Smile Again, Salmaform and Surama, Tikakoura and Takuta. Velvet Slipper and Classey Vixen. Productive Family Among the unraced three-year-olds in work at Ellerslie is Chung Chong, a gelding by Lang Bian from Oriwal. He belongs to a family that has produced a few good slayers. Orlwai being by Arausio from Waterlea. by Boniform from Sunbird. by Martian from Mary of Argyle, by Grafton. Sunbird was a sister to Ardenvohr, winner of the New Zealand Cup in 1916. and to Mascot, winner of the Auckland Cup in 1918.

Waimate Racing Club The annual meeting of members of the Waimate Racing Club was attended by the largest number of members for some years past. The loss on the year’s working was reported to be £4ll, which included £53 for preliminary expenses in connexion with the abandoned race meeting last season. There was a falling off in revenue from members' subscriptions. In 1943 the sum of £146 was received, but for 1944 only £BB was forthcoming. Regret was expressed .at the deaths during the year of Messrs M. Bowler, M. J. Corrigan. T. V. Cooney. H. Delargy, P. Keugler, G. McKenzie, and P. O’Donohue, and reference was made to the long service to the club of Mr A. J. Hoskins, who was' secretary for 35 years, and who resigned during the year because of illhealth.

Officers were elected as follows; —president, Mr J. Matheson; vice-president, Mr M. J. Meehan; committee, Messrs J. F. Cooney, E. C. d’Auvergne, S. Dixon, W. F. George, Rupert Harrison, A. Medlicott, J, Mitchell, jun.. J. H. Mitchell, L. C. Jones, and G. McCulloch: treasurer, Mr W. F. George: finance committee, Messrs J. Matheson, M. J. Meehan and W. F. George: ground committee, Messrs J. Matheson, M. J. Meehan, W. F. George, and J. Mitchell, jun. Reappearing Fair Trial, winner of the Riverton Cup last Easter, may make his first appearance for the new season at Wingatui next week. At the Otago Hunt meeting last vear Fair Trial won the Vauxhall Handicap. He is in the Tally Ho Handicap this year. After winning two races at the Riverton, meeting at Easier he was taken out of training. He has wintered well and should add to his record this season, Should Win

Lightfair. who won a race at the Christchurch Hunt meeting and was the victim of interference in each of his faces at the Grand National meeting, resumed hurdle racing at Awapunl to-day, being top weight, with 10-11 in the Paiaka Hurdles, . The class is not strong and his most dangerous opponents appear to be Po-Huka and Ascot Bloom, -If Lightfair runs up to his Riccarton showings he should • win, Pekoe Dead

The . 10-year-oJd Pekoe died last week. He had his list race in the Combined Hunts Cup Steeplechase at Hawera on August 26, when he pulled up lame. Pekoe was a bay gelding by Kiosk from Court Step, by Grandcpurt from Orozino, by Finland from D’Oro, a sister to Desert Gold. He was a very useful and. versatile performer who might have been even more successful- ■if he had- not -been affected from time to time by unsoundness. Pekoe won seven races on the flat, including the Opunake Cup, once over hurdles and once over country. Probably his best performance as a jumper was his third to The Dozer and Tidewaiter’ in the Grand National Hurdles In 1941.

TROTTING NOTES

Metropolitan T.C. Entries of present yearlings for the New Zealand Metropolitan Trotting Club’s New Zealand Derby Stakes, 1946, will close at

5 p.m. on Friday next,

Methven Acceptances Owners and trainers are reminded that acceptances close on Monday, September 25, at 5 p.m. —1 Abolition of Arm Bands

The New Zealand Metropolitan Trotting Club has decided to support the Canterbury Owners’ and Breeders’ Association in its agitation for the abolition of arm bands.

Jottings Pcarlene, a three-year-old filly with near engagements, is by Jack Potts from Dillon Squared, therefore a full sister to Joan Conquest. Garforth ran quite a good race for fifth in the maiden event at Ashburton last Saturday. This big Jack Potts five-year-old is owned and trained by J. Grice, whose last good horse was Chatmos. Lottie Jinks, wno will make her first appearance in a race in the Geraldine Trot to-day, is a four-year-told mare by Sandydale from Lady Cello. This is the family that produced those two fine pacers, Author Jinks and John Jinks. Nola Wrack would not need to improve a great deal on Ashburton form to have a good chance of paying a dividend at Geraldine to-day. Her time for fourth over two miles last weelf was 4min 35sec, and it was only in the last furlong that she was outstayed by Water Ranger and Pencarrow.

Lady Spray Is a three-year-old of undoubted ability. She was fourth in, the "blanket” finish to the Welcome Handicap, won by Slavonic from Worthy Gold and Jack’s Son, at Addington, in August. Perhaps a yard would have covered the first "five horses on that occasion, so the form of Lady Spray was up to classic standard. Promising Young Pacer

Water Ranger is a promising young pacer. He was hopelessly outclassed over two miles by Traverse at Ashburton last week, but’pacers of the merit of Traverse are not often encountered, and Water Ranger should win in his turn. He looks a good-mannered stallion, and will probably find the turning mile and a quarter journev at Geraldine to-day much more to his liking than the long stretches over two miles at Ashburton. All-aged Stakes

The only horse affected by the conditions in the All Aged Trotting Stakes providing for an extra penalty of 24yds is Royal Worthv.'who will be on 96yds, Those eligible for the limit of this race include Casablanca, Sure Gift, and David Dryden, and the 12yds division may be confined to Blue Horizon, Fantom, Desmond's Pride, Believe Me, Teddy Gregg, and Forewarned. Among those whose marks would be 72yds are Range Finder, Douglas MCElwyn, and Margin. Malden Trotters

Among the maiden trotters engaged at Methven with something in the way of form to recommend them are Yahoo, Probable, and Bancor. Yahoo s capital showing when he ran Castigate to half a length over two miles at Trentham wlh probably elevate him to favouritism next Saturday. Probable was third in the same race, and showed a good turn of speed in a previous race at Timaru. Bancor was second on two occasions last year, and led most of the way, when Dtaten by Gelert in the good time of 3min 26 4-ssec at Ashburton on Boxing Day.