TARANAKI CUP

Dominion, Volume 37, Issue 126, 23 February 1944, Page 7

TARANAKI CUP

Sixty-ninth Contest This Week

(By St. Simon.) The Taranaki Jockey Club will hold its cup meeting at New Plymouth on Saturday, and the acceptances are large enough to ensure the success of the fixture. 1 lie fields are drawn mainly from district stables. Nearly all the Auckland ai >d Waikato horses entered defaulted on Monday night, but there is a smattering from Hawke’s Bay and Manawatu. and it will be interesting to note whether they are successful in reaching the scene. Transport restrictions *do not affect the Taranaki club so much as other clubs less fortunately situated. There are sufficient horses trained at New Plymouth and at district centres within float and walking distance to make a regional meeting possible and with fair prospects of success. The New Plymouth track also is situated within the borough boundary, and except for natrons from outlying districts the railway problem does not exist. Sixty-Nine Cups. The Taranaki Cup, which will be run on Saturday, will be the sixty-ninth contest. The field of 13 includes last year’s winner, Yogi, and other visitors engaged are Vivid Night, who is trained at Awapuni. Amigo, who is trained at Wanganui, and Wee Bnn, who is trained at Opaki. All the other acceptors are trained in the Taranaki district as far south as Hawera. Probably tho local favourite will be Corday. who is to be ridden by*L. J. Clutterbuck, but .Tonatliar Jo. Embroider and Sunblaze (if produced here) will also claim a good following and the race appears likely to- be keenly contested, even though it lacks a little in class from tlje usual Taranaki Cup standard. Track Freshened Up. There was heavv rain in New Plymouth on Monday, but it was fine and humid yesterday. The track, which was hard during the summer period, has been thoroughly freshened and will be in perfect condition for Saturday, even if more heavy rain falls. Few tracks in the Dominion can recover as rapidly from a soaking as the New Plymouth course. Trained in Stratford. Among the acceptors for the I-lighweight Handicap nt the Taranaki meeting is the ■Wellington-owned Novni*aine. who has not raced since the Grand National meeting in August. This half-brother to the New Zealand Cup winner, Cerne Abbas, developed bleeding trouble last winter just when htf-appeared likely to develop good form. JI. W. A. Lewis had him in hand for soma time and now he is a 'member of the team trained at Stratford by F. Hill. Crudon Bay Sold. The new owner of Cru’den Bay. who was sold recehtly by Mr. A. Chisholm, is Mr. T. Fletcher, sen. The marc is still in Southland, .but as soon as transport can be arranged she is to join P. Spratt’s stable at Trentham. She was bought for breeding purposes, but as she is In racing condition it is intended to give her a few races before retiring her to tho paddock. Crtiden Bay is a five-year-old mare by. Salmagundi from Lochlnggan, a gdod performer a few years ago in Mr, Chisholm's colours.

Nawab Freshened Up. Since his return from Trentham. where fie was very decisively beaten by Subdued in the Wellington Stakes, Nawab has had an easy time and ho lias freshened up splendidly. In spite of the fact that he failed at Trentham. Nawnb Is a very good colt and present indications are that he will be in capital order for his autumn engagements, which include the Great Northern Foal Stakes at Ellerslie. Without making excuses it may be said that he probably did not show his very best tn the Wellington Stakes, in which he just beat Colais for second. However, Colals proved at his next attempt, that he also was good by winning the Nursery Handicap practically from end to end and vciy easily, / Greatly Improved. One of the most Improved horses at Ellerelle is the four-year-old Hot Pursuit, who has' been successful in OaC’h Of liis three starts this season. Though he lacks size, Hot Pursuit has thickened considerably in the paet few months and it is probable that he will continue to show improvement yet awhile. In future ne w)H have to do his racing in open company and he may have possibilities over middle distances when he is more matured. Hot Pursuit is bred to stay, being by Foxbridge from Caliente, winner of the Mitchelson Cup, by Polnzel from Fortune’s Wheel, a full-sister to Phar Lap, by Night Raid from Entreaty.

.Navroze Right Again. '■ The injury which put Navroze out of aet.’ph in the spring was unfortunate because he was showing much promise. Since his return to racing he hits had only Ono run, being unplaced hi the Putarurii Stakes at Mataiiiata, and bn that occasion he was probably not at his best. Navroze has improved in appearance in the past couple of months, having grown and thickelied and he is going along nicely without doing anything out of the ordinary. He may be one of D. J. Arnott’s candidates for the early ineetingg if the country circuit is continued. Showing Dash.

After having four races in the early part of the season, Landvevor was sent away for a ehOrt spell in November, ahd he came back very bright find fresh. Since his return Lnndveyor has niade excellent progress and he has shown plenty of dash in a couple of sprints recently. He is among the entrants for the Walhou Handicap, six furlongs, at Te Aroha. Landveyor races well under auy conditions, but he is in his element when the ground is .soft.

Promising Apprentice. The apprentice G. Hughes is one of Auckland’s most promising young jockeys and he rode very well at the Rotorua Racing Club s annual meeiiig at iSlatamata, winning the cup on Corot and the second division of the Arawa Park Stakes on Recipient. In addition he was second on Funny Fox. third on Dinky Di and fourth on Llanarth. Hughes is attached to N. Cunningham's stable at Ellerslie, and he ifi making the most of the opportunities that are coming his way* His most important success to date was the Takapunu Cup last month on Vollfox

Trophy Winners. The prize for the trainer gaining most points at the Wairoa meeting Was won by J. F. Nicholson, and the Trenthain apprentice, J. Ghrth, won the jockeys’ trophy. Finished Racing. Scottish Dale has been retired from racing. She wrenched herself recently, necessitating a spell, and the original plan to retire her 1 after Easter has been advanced. Owned by Mr. J. R. McKenzie and trained by F. D. .Tones, Scottish Dale is an attractive five-year-old mare by Foxbridge from Brama, by Thespian from the imported Spearmint mare Drax. She has won some good races, cnief among them the Great Easter and Members’ Handicaps, at Ricearton. and the TVaikouaiti Cup. Wellington Nominations. Nominations for the Wellington Racing Club’s autumn meeting close today at 5 p.m. At the same time forfeit is due for the North Island Challenge Stakes. Owners and trainers are again reminded that by giving as much information Rs possible regarding transport arrangements when making entries today they will assist the stewards in making a favourable, decision about the holding of the meeting. Answers to Inquiries.

“Reader,” Palmerston North: (1) Gold Quest was not in the race card tor the Carroll Memorial at Wairoa. (2) £3/1!)/-. “Interested.” Wanganui: Kinsman did not race at the Rotorua meeting. “.Terrs’,” Shannon; (1) £3/7/- and £2 14/6. (2) £6/15/-. (3) £l/12/0. "Old Crony,” Lower Hutt: (11 £5/11/-. (2) £5/11/-. (3) £l/9/0.