AWAPUNI FORM

Dominion, Volume 31, Issue 156, 29 March 1938, Page 15

AWAPUNI FORM

Some Promising Horses NOTES AND COMMENTS Nocturnus Breaks Down . (Br The Watcher.) Aiwui was a good two-year-old and won under big weights, but she has taken time this season and at Awapuni she gave Higns of returning to form. .She displayed plenty of pace the first day and was able to finish fourth on Saturday over a furlong longer. Oaks Candidate. Icing’s third in the Awapuni Gold Cup was a good effort and she will take some beating in the Great Northern Oaks if she repeats that form. Below Par. , „ ~ , Smoke-Screen seemed to have lightened up with his Wellington racing when he paraded for the Awapuni Gold Cup and his running suggested he was below par. Apparently his connections were of that opinion also, as they scratched him for his engagement in the Tamatete Handicap on Saturday. Sticks on Well. Nereus ran two consistent races at Manawatu. He sticks on well and his turn is due. Back to Hawera. Notium and Trilitha were enter'ed for the Hawke's Bay meeting, but they returned home after racing at Manawatu. A Promising Filly. Enthusiasm’s contributions to the turf so far, Hunting Queen, Entheos and Great Hope, have been no more than useful, but her, latest to race, Ecstatic, may be nearer her dam’s class. She is a rich chestnut by Laughing Prince, and in her first race-at' Manawatu on Saturday she showed great brilliance to go with Rakahanga for over half a mile before she weakened. Ecstatic looks an early winner. Nocturnus Out. Nocturnus broke down badly at Oarnaru last Wednesday and, according to L. J. Ellis, it will be a long time before he. races again, with considerable doubt , whether, he will ever stand up to another preparation.

A 1 New’Starting Post.' : Thd ■ Ee'ilding Jockey Club has made arra‘ngemen,ts with.the A. and P. association for.the use of'a piece of land so that it’will’ b’e?p6ssible, to have the seven-fur-long .'barrier moved' to allow a straight run do'wh the back, as at Awapuni. It ris hoped to have the new starting post ready, for the next. 'spring meeting. This is a b'adly-nheded improvement at Feildiug, where the ,present seven-furlong start is on,-the turn.

Going Ha.rd. Several horses are feeling the effects of hard going and a good downpour would be appreciated by the majority of chibs with races just ahead. When the sting is out of. .the ground there- is also the likelihood of considerable variation in current form.

Nightniarch Getting Winners. Horses by Nightmarch have shown good” winning form this season, Haerepo, Roaming, Nightcalm and Phalanx all being by the Night Raid horse. Phalanx is a. solid customer and his party were -WeJiare<l‘'foF-his forward showings at Manawatu. After his two successes in the spring he went off form at the New Zealand Cup meeting and, after a couple of-iftarte there, .he,.did not appear again until last week. The dam of Phalanx is Winkie from the imported mare Oil Wells.- Oil Wells was bred in America and was imported by Mr. Harvey-Patterson. She threw several foals, but' as racehorses they did not make a name for themselves.

Should. Bq, a Stayer. ' Old Bill, the half-brother by Siegfried to Florence Mills, was having his first race in the juvenile event at Awapuni on Saturday. He looks the type to improve, and on his breeding should make.a sound stayer. He was not nearly ready, but made quite a creditable showing, and finished fifth.

Clerk of Scales at Feilding. Mr. A. H. McGuire, clerk of the scales at Feilding, will be unable to officiate at the forthcoming Easter meeting, and his place will be taken by Mr. D. Stevens, who acts in that capacity for the Manawatu Racing Club.

Auckland Easter. There is a big field in ; the Auckland Easter Handicap, but on the' whole the class of mile is not outstanding. .Stretto, Oratory, Catalogue, Smoke Screen, and Francis Drake, all visitors with the exception of the first-named, are probably as good prospects as any of the local horses.

Cocksure. Cocksure, a double winner at Oamaru, is out of the Kilbroney mare Sapient, whose dam, 'Merit, .was imported by Mr. Vivian Riddiford. Cocksure ’had not raced since October, so his form is all the more meritorious.

Well Out in Front. ,L. J. Ellis went to the Manawatu meeting five wins ahead of C. G. Goulsbro on the jockeys’.ladder. With six wins there against Goulsbro’s, three, Ellis is now well out in front, eight wins ahead.

Stratford Acceptances. Acceptances for the autumn meeting of the Stratford Racing Club to be held on Saturday next will close to-night at 9 o’clock with the secretary, Mr. C. R. F. Tilley, Box 65, Stratford (telephone 345). Kinnoull. During an interval between races at Oamaru on Saturday Kinnoull was galloped six furlongs. He broke away just inside the six-furlong post, and travelled two furlongs from a slow start in 26 2-5 and six furlongs in 1,14 4-5. The last half-mile was run in 48 2-5. Kinnoull was allowed to ease up toward the finish, and the next two weeks’ work should bring him into racing shape. Sales. The Maxwell breeder, Mr. J. G. Alexander. sold his yearlings at the Melbourne sales this month, and he obtained 575gns. for a Beau Pere —Cocoanut filly and 400 gns. for a-Captain Bunsby—-King Cup colt. Hawke’s Bay Acceptances. Acceptances for the first day of. the Hawke’s Bay Jockey Club’s autumn meeting to be held on Thursday and Saturday next will close to-night at 8 o’clock with the secretary, Mr. A. lb. Wishart, P.O. Box 13, Hastings, telephone 2591. Willie Win. Reliable reports from Ricearton indicate that Willie Win, after a doubtful

period in his preparation, is -now working along soundly and well. If all goes~ on the right way he will be one of the fancied candidates for the Great Autumn Handicap.. Not For Sale. A Dunedin sportsman requested Mr. Murray-Aynsley to put a price on Sovereign Lady, but she is not for sale. C.J.C. Easter. First acceptances for the C.J.C. Great Easter and Autumn Handicaps are due at 5 p.m on Friday, which is general eu- . try day for the meeting. Forfeits for the [ Champagne Stakes and Challenge Stakes , are also due. Answers to Correspondents. “Rope,” Wanganui: You are on vala-. mito. “Ewart,” Wellington : There is no rule covering the point. You are certain- > ly entitled to some consideration in the matter. “Amative,” Greytown: £l/7/-. “Gloaming,” Wellington: (1) H/J/b • (2) £2/16/6; (3) £l/2/6; (4) 12/-; (5) £2/11/-; (6) £l/9/-; (7) £1 19/6; (8) £2/15/-. “The Count,” Masterton: £5/6/6. “Bus,” Wellington: (1) 13/6; (2) £1 “Kaiwarra”: (1) The first Duke of t Gloucester (Aip was won by Royal e Pupa: (2) apprentice allowances are 71b. until he wins 11 races, 51b. after 11' and up to 21 wins, 31b. after —1 and up to 31 wins. “Dick,” Otaki: (1) £l2/7/-; £4/0/6. (2) £l5/5/6; £3/13/6. (3) £3/11/-: £1 (4) £2/15/-,