RACING NEWS

Evening Post, Volume CXII, Issue 48, 25 August 1931, Page 6

RACING NEWS

BY "RANI

FORM AT ELLERSLIE

THE PAKURANGA MEETING

HORSES TO REMEMBER

(By Telograph.) (Special to "The Evening Post.") AUCKLAND, This Day. As form shown in many of the events at the Pakuranga Hunt Club's Meeting on Saturday will have a bearing on the spring fixtures it may be of interest to note how several of the performers ran, and the following comment is given with a view to clarifying the position for winner-seekers in the early season. Although St. Lucas won the Grcenmount Huuters' Steeplechase comfortably at the end, he would probably have had to be satisfied with second money it the favourite, Town Beauty, had not lost his rider at the first fence on the hill in the second round. It was then left to Lenaubin and ■St, Lucas to fight out the finish, and St. Lucas; won by six lengths. Mountain Lava ■was the only other to finish, and was nearly twd furlongs away. Clontarf Bill and Trampas fell in fhc first round. St. Lucas .was assisted by his good fencing TE HOMAI'S FAILURE. : _ Another odds-on favourite was defeated an the Harris Memorial Hurdles when Te Jlomai had to lower his colours to Land Measure. When Ruby Dawn fell at the second fence, Land Measure assumed command from Te Homai aud Pennyplain. Te .Hom3i and Pennyplain were under pressure chasing Land Measure at the home turn,'but they could not reach her, and she won very comfortably from Te Homai, who outstayed Pennyplain in the run home/ General Lv was fourth, with the others •well beaten. Land Measure showed improvement and ran on better than usual; However, To,Homai, who is sure to see a better day, finished very gamely. The consistent Valueless scored his third RiicceSßive victory in the Sylvia Park Handicap. : After jumping out first, he was ..steadied in.behind Exaggeration and Amber Link, and then came through in the straight to-win convincingly from Emancipation, who finished well on the outside. Ganpat, always %ell up, was weakening in third place-at the finish, where Catch'em ■was running on stTOngly in fourth position. Karangapai ran a very nice race to finish fifth, and he is one to remember, because he will improve considerably. Red Lion , did not jump out well, but was prominent .lust below the distance, only to bleed and fade put. Valueless should win races iri better 'company. . MALAHATS SURPRISE. The Gisborne representative, Malahat, at double-figure odds, was responsible for a surprise in winning the Jellicoe Handicap, for which Te Hoia and Gay Cockade ;Trere the favourites. Gay Cockade made nearly all the running, and he was still in charge from a bunched field entering the straight. Catoma looked like winning at .the distance, but Malahat finished on very strongly to. beat him fairly comfortably. Gay Cockade and Prince of Orange were close up next, with Flying Prince, Te Hoia, and Prince Val in a bunch. Malahat seems to stay well, and ho may win - something better at the spring meetings. ■Te Hoia' made a great effort on the outside after being well back most of the ■way, but weakened near the post. - Yet another favourite was defeated when Nukutere downed Billy Boy in the ' Pakuranga Hunt Cup. Coming down the hill the final tune Nukutere headed Billy ; Boy, who had made most of the running,. ! and he stayed on to win comfortably. .King's Counsel was a moderate third, and , St. Lucas fourth, the others being well : beaten. The winner is an improved horse and fenced in great style. Billy Boy ran a fine race with his weight, and «an be improved still further. Eoyal Visitor -was going and jumping well until ■ he lost his rider just before they went up ■the hill the last time. He is only a young horse and will be good next winter. UNLUCKY WILD COUNTRY. Investors were right on the mark in ; the Auckland Handicap, when the fay- - mintes, Taurua and Wild Country, finished ■.first and second. Taurua looked as if he might win comfortably at the distance, but he was all out at the finish to beat Wild Country, who came home well after being second to last at the half-mile. Grand Spirit, always well placed, was third, and ' Unl°?, f°"rth- , w"d Country, who was actually the early leader, was unlucky, and only for striking some trouble might have succeeded. The walk-in start assisted "Taurua, who found his feet much better than usual, and this won for him. ■• Dominican, with Mr. J. Morris in the saddle, was favourite for the Ladies' Bracelet, and he duly scored after being ridden a patient race. Ruby Dawn set a solid pace and was several lengths clear of Little Wonder for the first mile, when .Dominican came on the scene with a ."Strong run that landed him a comfortable •winner from Little Wonder. Ruby Dawn was a moderate third, aud Royal Visitor lourtn. - : Taneriri and the High Comedy-Royal Artist bracket were best backed for the JJunedm Handicap, but Biddy's Boy "aye nothing a chance and won brilliantly Biddy's Boy drew No. II at the barrier,' but he soon headed off High Comedy Baroscope, and Royal-Artist, and after that never looked like being beaten. Royal Artist hung on fairly well for second money, and Taneriri finished very fast from a long way back for third. High Comedy who was fourth, weakened near the end after displaying plenty of speed, and lea Chat did likewise. Biddy's Boy has a great burst of brilliancy, and is going to be a brilliant sprinter this season. SEATOWN AS SPRINTER Keatown is regarded principally in the Jight of a,stayer, nevertheless his presence in the Members' Handicap, sevens furJongs, at the Taranaki Hunt Club's Meetjng on Saturday should not be overlooked by bettors, particularly if the going is at all heavy. The 9.5 he has heen awarded js an easy weight for him, and if he can command a good position before the field reaches the straight there are unlikely to be many in the race who can beat him Dome.' It is necessary to search the records back to Easter two years ago to find the last occasion on which Sealown was produced at under-a mile. That was when he ran unplaced in the C.J.C. Great Easter, seven furlongs, won by Cimabue. His •mission on the trip, however, was the Great Autumn, IV4 miles, in which Night-march beat him by a length. Seatown's three wins last season were all over'a-.distance. The first was in the ...Vfitchelson Cup, one and a half miles, and 'then came successes in the Stratford St. George Handicap, one and a quarter miles, and the A.R.C. Cornwall Handicap, one and a quarter miles. His only start subsequent to the Cornwall was in the mile A.R.C. York Handicap on the final day, in which he finished from the.back into' eighth place after being in a hopeless position all the way. The records, therefore, do not point to his success at seven furlongs, but the company on Saturday is ■not. classy, and more unlikely things may happen than his leading this week's opposition to the post. BROTHER TO INNUENDO The most attractive and most forward of,, the score or mote youngsters being prepared at Takanini is stated to bo Tea Trader, a chestnut- -full ■ brother to Innuendo, being by Tea Tray from the speedy Absurd mare Epitaph, daughter of famed Eulogy, He has shown the most pace of any of the two-year-olds seen nut on (he track yet, and has become very solid, so that track watchers are expecting to find him an early winner. His present ntte of progress suggests his being an Avondale Stakes possibility. He was purchased at the last rales by Mr. "R. T. Reid, of Hamilton, for 27.7 euineaa, and is a 'member- of E. Pope's team;

ATIRA/<

NOTES AND COMMENTS

STRIKES GOOD FORM

MALAHAT NEEDED TIME

Malahat, who scored a surprise win in (he Jellicoo Handicap, the principal handicap at the Pakuranga Meeting, on Saturday, is an example of how certain horses require time before they are seen at their best. It is only during the last few months that he has actually struck rich soil, but so definite has been his improvement that he must now be regarded as a lit match for the best average open company. Like most of the Gasbags, he is probably suited by a soft or holding track, and a middle distance seems to be his favourite journey. Malahat is now seven years old. He is a bay gelding by Gasbag (son of Demosthenes, and one of the best stayers of a decade back, winning among other races the Canterbury' Cup, 2% miles, und the Great Northern Derby), from Lady Louisa (dam also of Boy and Henna), by Camp Fire, and he traces back to the old 'colonial Woodstock taproot, which, while not now frequently represented among winners, still survives and produces occasional good horses. ' - . Malahat had his- first race as a four-year-old, when he was owned by the East Coast- sportsman, Mr. G. S. Symons. and trained by G. W. New at Awapuni. During that term he won three races and £250 in stakes. At the end of the season Mr. Symons hud him returned to Gisborne, and leased him for twelve months- to Mr. C. L. Ferguson, who was successful in winning only one race and £120 in stakes with him. Last December he reverted to Mr. Symons's possession, and was handed to the Gisborno trainer, A. G. Dixon, to start on another preparation. For Mr. Symons Malahat won at the Poverty Bay combined meeting, and was then taken on tour round the southern end of the Island in the late autumn and early ■winter, but' had to be content with placemoney oDly. In July Mr. Symons sold him to his former lessee, Mr. Ferguson, who transferred him to J. W. Nixon to train.: ■ For Mr. Ferguson Malahat has won-^wo jaces in quick succession, the latest being; worth £250, so that-he looks like-turning out a profitable investment. In all the horse has earned £900 in stakes. RELIEF IS ESSENTIAL AUCKLAND MINOR CLUBS The prevailing economic conditions and the embarrassing position of country clubs was.discussed at length at a special meeting of the1 Auckland Provincial Racing Clubs' Association on Friday evening last, and it was generally considered that some measure of relief must be obtained to make it possible for many of them to carry on successfully. A number of suggestions were made, for cutting down expenses and endeavouring to get some reduction or remission in taxation, and it was decided that concerted action should be taken -with a view to bringing about better conditions for racing in the country districts and reducing the prevent heavy charges. Suggestions concerning the amalgamation of certain clubs, and also the centralisation of racing in country, districts were also discussed, but no definite decision was arrived at. Delegates from the followiuj clubs were present: Bay of Islands Racing Club, Whangarei Racing Club, Franklin Racing Club, Waikato Racing Club, Waipa Racing Club, Te Kuiti Racing Club, Taumarunui Racing Club, Thames Jockey Club, Matamata Racing Club, Rotoruu Racing Club, Bay of Plenty Jockey Club, and Opotiki Jockey Club. THE DAM OF PAGANELLI According to a northern report, Ringdove (Collar—Miss Chaffinch), the dam of Paganelli, is believed to be in foal to Peach. Brandy. Ringdove was bred in England in 1905, SO; that she is now 26 years o£ age. She was. given by Mr. G. R. Crawford to a Bulls sportsman, Mr.T. Rogers, aud her previous foals that raced were Ringform, Bon Espoir, Cooling, (all by Boniform), Cashmere (by Demosthenes or Feramorz)j Cushat (by Feramorz), and Paganellt (by Lord Quex). SPEEDY TRENTHAM MARE One of the speediest workers at Trentham at present is undoubtedly the maiden four-year-old, Valrewa. This mare was formerly-in J.-M'Laughlin's stable and was a good track worker last year, but the best she could do..during that term ■was a couple of thirds, in nine starts. She was let up in the autumn, and on being returned in the early winter was handed to H. Benge to prepare for her next campaigning.-During the last month she has improved so steadily that there is now probably nothing at the centre that could beat her over half a mile or five furlongs. Her. breeding suggests that she required time to come into her own. She is by Valkyrian, few .of whose stock mature early, from the Freedom (son of imported Captivator) mare Hinerewa, one of the Hinuera stud mares that was sold when the stud was dispersed two years ago. Hinerewa is an own sister to two good northern performers in Wauchope and Hohungiitahi (including A.R.C. Railway Handicap), and is a half-sister to Whitianga, a winner and the dam of Red Sea. Hinercwa's earlier offspring were Lady Rewa (a good winner), Gold Mint, anil Orewa (a speedy youngster, also by Valkyrian, who won first start but did not stand- up to training). Valrewa is thus a full-sister to Orewa, and is a three-quarter sister-in-blood to Red Sea. The latter: was not seen at her best til! four years.old, ( so that this should be the year to'look'for winning form in Valrewa. She is much, more solid than' she was :last year, and if she reproduces her track work she must'quickly leave maiden ranks. ANOTHER NOTABLE WIN Latest, files to hand show that, the winner of this .year's Grand Prix de Paris, Barneveldt, whose sire (The Winter King) and dam (Black Domino) were both bred in England, was again successful at the Saint-Cloud Meeting on sth July. Starting at fair odds in a field of nine, he made the veriest hacks of his opponents in the Prix dv President de la Republique, ono mile four and a half furlongs, and wound up a six lengths' winner from Tourbillon. who earlier in the season had won the French Derby and had finished third in the Grand Prix, for which he was a very warm-order favourite. Barneveldt is owned hv the Comte de Rivaud, and the value of the Btake in his latest race was £3225, or exactly half.the"prize attached to tlie Grand Prix. TREKKING TO TRENTHAM Last season the ranks of Trentham trainers were augmented for the spring, summer, and'autumn months by temporary visitors from other parts who wished to avail themselves of the better accessibility, to meetings afforded by the centre. It is likely.- that there will be other such changes -of quarters this year, and the first visitor to arrive will probably be Air. P. A. Findlay, who is at present stationed at Te Aroha. Mr. Findlay is the owner of Marjoram and a two-year-old colt by Colossus from the Gazeley mare Brightly, the dam also of Gaimint and Bright Song, and he supervises the preparation of his horses himself. He has Marjoram out spelling at present, but he will bring the two-year-old to Trentham after the Wanganui Meeting and will again share the stable controlled by J. Kyle. The youngster is stated to be one of the most forward of hifi age nt To Arohn, but lift will probably not be raced until OetobeE,