DEATH OF TOM-TOM

Evening Post, Volume CXXXI, Issue 39, 15 February 1941, Page 15

DEATH OF TOM-TOM

A SEVERE LOSS

MISHAP IN PADDOCK

The West Derby studmaster, Mr. A. E. Preston, suffered.a severe loss the other day when he lost the brood mare Tom-Tom, who had to be destroyed owing to internal injuries. As a matter of fact Mr. Preston has been distinctly unfortunate with this family, for a few ..months ago he. had to destroy Catalihi, the dam of TomTom, when the mare was in foal to Defoe, while last spring he' lost a colt by Ninth Duke from Torn-Torn. Again Amiss. According to a report from the south Gopd Passage has been turned out again as the result of jarring a joint while training at Riccarton. This mare has more or less suffered setbacks throughout her career, and it was only at the recent. Canterbury Meeting that she resumed racing after an absence of two years. She revealed enough speed on that occasion to suggest that she would have returned to the winning list again. , ' To be Tried as Stayer. An interesting nomination for the distance races at the Te Aroha Meeting is the Railway Handicap winner Bronwen. who up to date has not won further than six furlongs. She was given a race1 over a mile and a quarter at Avondale last season, and shaped encouragingly to lead to within half a furlong of the finish, and. on that performance alone she should at least be equal to a good showing. Poker Dice Resumes.' Poker Dice, who was in the boom in the north a couple of seasons ago, is back in work in Takanini, where he has joined J. Cruses team. When trained by W. Townsend, Poker Dice earned the, reputation of being one of the fastest novices ever seen in the Auckland district, but his career ended prematurely through his ricking a joint, and he has been off the scene for a coupl eof years. At this stage of his preparation the prospects of his standing a preparation are regarded hopefully. Promising Sort. A good opinion' is held of, the north-; em two-year-bid . Regal' Pox, who opened his winning account at the recent Rotorua Meeting, and a promising future is predicted for him. He had previously revealed ability by finishing third -to Kaimanawa in the juvenile event at Matamata, but on this occasion he simply played with his opponents. He is another of the successful Foxbridge breed, being out of the Lackham mare Golden Princess, a half-sister to Pantoon, who has won several races in Australia during the past couple of years. A Long Absence. A good.deal of interest1 will be evinced in the display of Tudor if the aged-gelding is produced in the hurdle event at the Te Aroha Meeting next week, for it is just on two and a half years since he last raced. 'He is stiEOcained in the _W.aikatQ f . t where Ji\ is reported that he is wearing well, in spite of his age. Good. Record. Chokebore Lodge has a fine recordin the Middle Park Plate at Riccarton, for that establishment has supplied no fewer than 14 winners of the event. The first success came when Strong-, hold won in 1905. That victory was followed up by Glenculloch (1907), Fleetfoot (1908), Sharpshooter (1909), Madam • Madcap (1910), Antagonist (1911), Atitumnus. (1912), Adjutant (1915), Good Hope (1916), Winter Wind (1920), Winning Hit (1921), and Wild Chase (1936), while in 1937 Paper Slipper gave the : Clifford livery its thirteenth success. This year the Cutts brothers turned ~out another winner in Pleading, whose owner is connected with • the - Clifford family. ' Recommissioned. Airecent'recruit to the active ranks at Awapuni is: Clarion Call, and he is in splendid -order to undergo /a preparatiori for leading jumping events next winter, ■'■ He has - thickened out exceptionally well, and there is some reason for the contention that he will be as good as ever. Naturally he will be asked to carry big imposts both over hurdles and country, but he is a solid-type of horse who has previously proved equal to the task. ■■ Northern Campaign. f There is a- possibility that Riotous will be produced on .the second day of the Waikato Racing Club's Meeting and will then go on to the Te Aroha fixture. He was given a run over hurdles at Egmont last week, shaping with his usual brilliance, and the opinion was formed that even though he has reached an advanced age it should not be difficult to place Him for an early success, especially as the class of jumpers seen out so far is not outstanding. He is still prepared by L. Knapp at Awapuni. Reminders. Nominations for the Carterton, Racing Club's Annual Meeting, to be held at Clareville on March 8, will close on Tuesday at 9 p.m. with the secretary, Mr. H. Mortenson, Carterton.

Nominations for the Rangitikei Racing Club's Autumn Meeting, to be held at Bulls on March 1, wilt,close on Tuesday-at 9 p.m. with the secretary,: Mr. E..V. Wilson, Bulls. Acceptances for thti first -day, of the Woodville Meeting close at 8-p.m. on, Tuesday.

ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS. "H.B."—C.S., £5 and £1 14s.