TURF NEWS IN BRIEF

Evening Post, Issue 13, 16 January 1936, Page 8

TURF NEWS IN BRIEF

With .only Silver Sail and Symcony among the final payments, the three-year-olds are poorly represented in the Wellington Stakes this year. The Wellington Stakes has been won by three-year-olds on 27 occasions and by two-year-olds on 11 occasions since it was first established in 1897. The last two winners, Diatomous and Limulus, have been in the older diviEntail lightened up after his recent racing at Ellerslie, and he may not reappear till the St. Legers in the I autumn. —— Spiral and' Moquette, who... will carry Mr. G. M. Curries colours at Trentham next week, are both well, though the two-year-old was disappointing at Ellerslie; Spiral will be ridden by G. Humphries and Moquette by R. W. Savage. The Wanganui trainer W. Rayner has been reported as stating that, although he thinks his own .charge (Spiral), will make a good showing in the Wellington Cup, he looks to Cuddle, despite her weight, to go near winning if she is in the same form as she was m at Ellerslie.

Although Grand Jury is the only Wellington Cup candidate who has previously won the race, Mr. R. J. Murphy (owner of -Cuddle) took the honours in 1930 with Concentrate, and the Trentham trainer J. W. Lowe (owner of Red Sun and Sunee) captured the prize in 1922 with Insurrection.

Contact is reported to be giving brilliant exhibitions in his early tuition over the hurdles at Hastings, and he may be produced in the role on the autumn circuit in Hawke's Bay.

In the telegraphed list of acceptors for the Komako Hack Handicap at Ashhurst appeared the name of Contract, but as Contract and his stablemate The Sandwicfh Man are acceptors for Trentham on the same day it is probable the Ashhurst acceptor is the Hastingsowned Contact, 8.5. Such similar names must often lead to confusion.

The Hastings gelding Solaria, who has been doing Auckland territory for some time past, and was also among the field for the Thames Meeting today, is an acceptor for both the opening day at Trentham and for Ashhurst. Under its special weights the Apprentices' Plate at Trentham' next Wednesday offers him a chance he could rarely get. , ■ . ■

After his two very hard efforts at the recent Mahawatu Meeting, Sky Pilot is a -surprise acceptor for the highweight at Trentham next week. It is possible that" he did not do well during his trip, north at Christmas, but a big improvement will be required for him to succeed next week.

Pahd, who was transferred some time ago to Riccarton with Dollar Bill, has been recommissioned by J. S. Shaw and will be given another opportunity to earn distinction as a steeplechaser. He will in future race in the same interests as Dollar Dill, those of Mr. D. Levin, of Wellington.

The brilliant Australian two-year-old filly Bonnie Legion, who has flow-won" three races in as many starts, .Jsawhed • and trained I. W W, J. Bryan; j^lio: formerly prepared trotting "horses <in; New Zealand. Bryan-never has more' than two or three-gallopers in training nowadays,, but he has had several useful performers- in the last ten years, notably Coolgong, Bonnie Rion, Bonnie Legion, and Bonnie Marjorie (dam of Bonnie- Rion and Bonnie Legion).