TURF NEWS IN BRIEF

Evening Post, Volume CXX, Issue 6, 6 July 1935, Page 23

TURF NEWS IN BRIEF

The Wellington Racing Club's Winter Meeting opens at Trentham on Tuesday, will be. continued on Thursday, and concluded next Saturday. The annual meeting of the New Zealand Trotting Conference will be held next Wednesday, and the annual meeting of .the-New Zealand Racing Conference'on Friday^ • ■•■■-;■ ' : . 'Sir Music, Who claims an engagement in the hack steeples at Trentham next Tuesday, ■ achieved his first : and only hurdles- success on the course two winters ago,' and he has not been a winner since, but he was twice third over the smaller fences at Ellerslie last month.

There will be no weight-breaking record in this year's Wellington Steeplechase, and if Valpeen succeeds he will be carrying lib less than Billy Boy did last year. Billy Boy, with his 11.5 last year, has carried the biggest weight to success in the race since there was a 12-stone maximum. ; ■ ■ ■

-. The only rider ip- this year's Wellington Steeplechase who has. enjoyed a previous: success in the race is J. p. Burgess, who was on: Billy Boy three/years ago, and' who will, pilot Haakon on Tuesday.. .

Times do not count for .'much ' in steeplechases, for the final figures usually depend on the pace the early leaders have set, but it may be worth noting that the best -time recorded lor the Wellington Steeplechase at Trentham, nearer 3J miles than the 31 miles if is stated to "be, is the 6min 54sec returned by Vascular under 10.2 in 1919.

Pasha, the three-year-old son of Rampion and Turkish Holiday, who was recently brought over to the Dominion from Australia on account of respiratory trouble, was operated on by Dr. W. C. Ring on Wednesday.

According to a Hastings report Souchong is getting over the after-effects of the blister that was applied to him a short time back. As the chestnut gelding is not able to produce his best on winter tracks, he is to, be allowed to take matters leisurely for some time to come, .

Topthorn figured in an, escapade at Hawera one morning recently, when he bolted, and, tripping over a rope, threw his rider, K. Grylls. Neither horse nor boy was seriously ljurt, although the latter was rather badly shaken.

Dr. A. McGregor Grant and the Hon. Eliot R. Davis will represent the Auckland Racing. Club at the annual meeting of the New Zealand Racing Conference next week. The secretary, Mr. W. S. Spence, will also visit Wellington.

A start has been made to get the brush'fences at Riccarton • into order for the Christchurch Hunt and Grand National Meetings. A supply of manuka is being carted to the course, and the work of building Cutts's fence was commenced on Thursday morning.

Roy Heed, who went to Sydney a month.or so back, fell foul of the stewards at Moorefield last Saturday. An inquiry into some interference showed that it was caused by Reed's mount coming' in a little too sharply. The New Zealand jockey was censured for not exercising more care.

Minerval, who was injured a short time ago, is still under treatment at P. T. Hogan's establishment at Washdyke. It has now been decided to have him examined again, and the future of the unfortunate gelding will depend on the nature of the veterinary opinion.

Mr. Campbell Merrylees, of jJ'anneyirke, has bestowed the name of Marjory Daw on the rising two-year-old full-sister to Princess Doreen that ho purchased at the sale of thoroughbred yearlings held at Trentham in JanuaryShe was one of the most attractive fillies paraded at the sales.

Southdown continues to make good progress at Riccarton and his reappearance will be awaited with interest. This is likely to be at Washdyke this month, to be followed by a race at the Christchurch Hunt Club's fixture on August 3. Such a programme should have him in good order for the Winter Cup.

The heaviest weight ever given lor a Melbourne Cup was 11.7 to' The Barb in 1869—he did not start. The year after lie won the Melbourne Cup with 10.5, Carbine was set at 10.12 —he was an absentee. . Phar Lap carried 10.10 in a Melbourne Cup, but the best he could do was to finish in eighth place.

The five-year-old Rivalli, who recently won the Brisbane Cup under 9.3, has been sold to go to India, where he will be trained by A. Higgins, who had charge of the New Zealanders Karapoti and Heremia after they left the Dominion. Rivalli won two races at the Autumn Meeting at Randwick, and he is by Rivoli from Number Four.' The purchase price of Rivalli