Turf Notes

Evening Post, Volume CVI, Issue 56, 15 September 1928, Page 23

Turf Notes

Showing Improvement. Keddar is particularly well just now, «nd his showing at Wanganui last Thursday suggests that this gelding is on the upgrade, which means that he will pay his way in middle-distance races this season. ' Wellington-owned Two-year-olds. Owing to the fields being too large (there were fourteen runners in each heat) the rehearsals (or two-year-olds at Wanga,nui did not give some owners much satisfaction. A few of the youngsters did not jump out smartly, and were unable to hit out freely. Francolin, who won the first division, appears to be a very sob.er filly, and as she is well forward she had little difficulty in showing her superiority. Imperial Guard is a particularly nice stamp of colt, but as yet is a little highly strung. Little Chance in N.Z. Cup. With five successive wins to his credit, Pale istar came in for a lot of support at Wanganui on Thursday, bui at no stage of the race did he appear to have a chance Luckily for his big body of supporters, the race went to Vigilance, who was bracketed with Pale Star. As Thursday's lot was the only strong field Pale Star has met, his previous run of success may not have required the effort of a good one, and we will have to wait and see if ho is out o£ the ordinary. From Aristocratic Stock. • Speed Light, ' the two-year-old half-sis-ter to those illustrious gallopers, Gold Light, Beacon Light, Bnzzle Dazzle, and Affectation, was among the juveniles that galloped at Wanganui. She is a soberlooking filly with plenty of size, and in her first gallop ran two furlongs m,25 .. seconds, which suggests her having the •. family speed. A Southerner. For six furlongs in last Thursday's Wa-n-anui Guineas, Full Feather raced really well, aiid up till that stage he was just on the heels of ♦Episode. As he had not done any racing," and not much fast work for a long time, Full Feather's effort was suggestive of better things. If he is taken-Sonth.for the Dutiedin Guineas next month, he should give a good account of himself. Knightiike. Knightlike looked particularly bright when sent out to race last Thursday. He was solidly supported by backers and owing to the large size of the field he was paying quite a good- price. However, his supporters were doomed to disappointment, as when the field settled down he was giving To Atiawa and others quite -i dozen lengths start. He made up a ot of ground to finish a close filth. It subsequently transpired that a leg boot on Knightlike became loose during the running, and no doubt this affected his chance. Out of Luck. For many years A. M'Donald experienced extraordinarily good luck in his precarious calling of a steeplechase and hurdlu i-ace- rider, but of late he has been subject to an extraordinary number of tails. When one realises that since the end .of ' last May M'Donald has had something like twenty falls,, it is nothing short ot - miraculous that he has not sustained serious injury. At Wanganui last Thursday, Brigadier Bill fell with M'Donald, and a remark was passed that both horse and rider might do better after a spell. Still Infirm. When Gaze went out to contest the hurdle race on- the opening clay ot _ the Wanganui Meeting, he was obviously lame. In fact, it looked cruel-to race him- yet in the actual race he was always going weft, and .over the final stages simply outclassed his opponents. it would appear that the gelding never got over his bad fall at.-Ellerslie, which is most un- ., fortunate, as. there is. little doubt about^ . ■ hia being good. ... Their Luck Changod. ■•-• Of late years, the Wanganui Jockey Club has been most unfortunate witn its meetings from a financial point of-view, < and this in spite of the fact that the best of our horses have competed at these . gatherings. Thursday, however, saw a change in the luck, as despite the fact that climatic conditions' were bad for days prior to the opening of the meeting, it cleared in the early hours of lhursday, with the result that the club had the most successful day experienced for a long time. „ Retired to the Stud. That once fine handicap performer Te Monanui has bid farewell to. our racecourses, and on Wednesday last be was sold for stud purposes to a Dargaville breeder. He will take up his duties lnp,mcdiately in that district. A great allround performer, who was up to any weight, Te Monanui is just the type who should get good stock. While Te Monanui had not broken down hopelessly, his late owner is to be congratulated in retiring him before that happened. A Good Gallop. Considering the amount Of rain- that had fallen, and the fact that the. race track was on the heavy side, the time registered for Thursday's Wanganui Guineas of lmin 44 2-ssec was really good, as the distance is about 15 yards over the mile. Estland won the race in lmin 41 2-Osec, and Reputation registered lmin 42sec, but these fast times were put up on a con- . Crete-like track. . , Short of a Gallop. Prior to Thursday's, race, Episode had been galloping in a style that led her connections to regard the Wanganui Guineas as good as won by her. Once again, however, the fact was brought home that a horse liiust be well seasoned to run right out a solid mile. Over the first six furlongs of last Thursday's race Lucky Light took Episode along at top, and when Consent came along with a late run Episode had nothing in reserve. An Exceptional Gelding. Eeremoana had not done a great lot of solid work prior to Thursday's race at Wanganui. and the fact that he drew number l(i at the barrier made his chance look hopeless against well-seasoned sprint- : ers. However, Reremoana demonstrated what a brilliant gelding he is by showing pace with his welter weight to place him in the firing line as they passed the winning post. Well Forward. The Fordell trainer F. lilley had his team well forward for the opening day of the Wanganui Meeting. Cashier and Consent both won, and Laughing Prince, with luck against him, went well enough to suggest his capturing a good race ere the season is very_ far advanced. Another member of the same team in Limited had all chance spoilt by being badly left at barrier rise. Should Pay Her Way. In Valpre (Chief Ruler—Valaric), the Hawera trainer O. Cox appears to possess a filly that will win races. Owing to being somewhat high strung she had done little or no fust work, yet in the two-year-old parade at Wanganui on Thursday last her second to the well-seasoned Francoliu was very attractive, more so on account of Valpre starting from the outside and losing ground at barrier rise. Promising Juveniles. The two-year-olds that took part in - last Thursday's parade at Wanganui were a, particularly good-looking and well-grown lot, but owing to an abnormal rainfall ■ during the last few weeks the big majority were somewhat backward in condition. With racing and improved tracks, some nf them will show much improvement during the next few weeks. Is There a Risk? At Wanganui last Thursday ii couple of dozen two-year-olds took part in the parade. They were divided into two lots and were sprinted a couple of turloiiK". Tho two-furlong barrier is placed on the turn into the straight on this course, iind it is questionable whether it is a wise policy to start such largo numbers of green and -uneducated youngsters on a Imnd. Afl was only to be expected, some o£ the juveniles hardiy know how tq cau-

ter down a straight stretch, so it is obvious that a risk is being la ken in such parades. Is the Material at Fault? There must be something wrong with the leather used in some of the racing gear of to-day. Jt is hardly possible that owners, trainers, or jockeys ask for anything but the best quality. _ If inferior grade material is used, it must fail owing to the fact that it is made very

S. P. Andrew, photo.

light and is subject to a tremendous test of strength. Knowing these facts, it is annoying for backers to find the horse they support beaten through some of the gear giving away. At Wanganui'Jast Thursday both Beaumont and Upoko had their chances spoilt through a mishap to the gear.