SPORTING

Evening Post, Volume CXXXI, Issue 143, 19 June 1941, Page 14

SPORTING

CAPABLE AMATEUR

AWAPUNI TRACKS HEAVY

Mr. C. Curtis, an amateur rider, who had a success at the Dunedin Meeting on Islay Downs in the Achilles Plate, races that very useful sprinter Boloyna, and also Remembo. The latter appears to be a likely recruit to the ranks of the hurdlers, for the Balboa gelding acted as pacemaker for a good distance of the journey in the Greenfield Hurdles on the final day of the meeting. Apart from point-to-point meetings, Mr. Curtis had not previously taken part in a race, but he is a very keen amateur and before the race paid frequent visits to the Wingatui tracks. As a result of the success of Islay Downs, Mr. Curtis won a gold watch, valued at 15 guineas. First Attempt. Down to make his appearance as a 'chaser at the Ashburton Meeting is Recollection, who has been weighted at 11.5 in the Dromore Hack Steeplechase. At the Dunedin Meeting, in December the Polazel gelding won the Taieri Hurdles in comfortable style when carrying 11.4, and as he has been reported to have done well in his schooling he should develop into a useful sort. Death in Action. Included in the casualty list earlier this week was the name of Driver Sydney Potter, who served his apprenticeship with the late Fred Tilley at Fordell. While in the racing game Potter met with some success, but in more recent years he had been employed by the Wellington tramways department. Mapped Out. A team of southerners consisting of Gold Flight, Guste, Panara, and Waitoru are down to race at Ashburton, and they will then do the Oamaru, Wellington, Waimate, and South Canterbury Meetings prior to the Grand National Meeting. Guste has not yet raced this season, but last term won four steeplechase events in Southland. Failed. Rich Blood, an East Coaster who has been a frequent starter in classic events without any material reward, although he did run third, eight lengths away, to Sir Beau and Enrich in the Wanganui Guineas in September, is now back in maiden company at Manawatu, and may yet come up to expectations. Track Soft. The Awapuni tracks on Tuesday morning were very soft as a result of continuous rain on the previous night, and the course proper was closed, as was the steeplechase course. The indications are that the course proper will be holding for the opening day on Saturday of the Manawatu Winter Meeting. Two Appearances. At the Bay of Plenty Meeting on Saturday, Paymaster, one of the fancied candidates in the Stewards' Hack Handicap, had to be content with third place, but he came out later in the day to beat the open sprinters. Another to show improvement at her second attempt was Harmony.' After failing to gain a place in the seven furlongs' hack event, the Hunting Song filly later ran third over a mile. Harmony should improve on that performance before long. Coming -to Hand. The colours of Mr. W. H. Gaisford, of Oringi, Hawke's Bay, have not been very prominent lately, but it will be surprising if both Pern and Lutanist do not carry their record much further. The former is a solid-looking horse by the Australian sire The Buzzard, and Lutanist is by another Australian sire, Constant Sun. Both have had somewhat ■ interrupted careers, but if they keep sound they should win j plenty of races. I Back Again. Now rising eight years, Dictate is again at Mrs. J. Campbell's stable at Riccarton. The Chief Ruler gelding has been very consistent, if somewhat unlucky occasionally. He will not be ready to race for some time, however, and the current season will probably end without his being a winner, an unusual position for him. Far Apart. At the recent Dunedin Meeting, Milton Abbas, a three-year-old son of the Penury mai'e Kinetic, was prominent. On Saturday last another*1 member of the family, Tavern Song, who is four years older, competed at the other end of New Zealand. A seven-year-old by Hunting Song, Tavern Song was made favourite for the Otara Hurdles at Tauranga, but he was beaten by Radiant Bay. The latter had not previously figured as a winner, but he should go further as a jumper. Bart Imposed. Owing to the refusal of Esquire to race over the tan crossing at Ellerslie the committee of the Auckland Racing Club has decided to refuse his entry in future for all races beyond a mile. In the shorter events on that course, he will not be required to cross the tan. Indisposed. The Hawke's Bay horseman. C L. Kerr, who became seriously ill sfter, riding Lucullus Lad in the June, Steeplechase at the first winter meet-1 ing of the Hawke's Bay Jockey Club, has been advised by his doctor not to ride for twelve months. Some time ago Kerr met with a nasty head injury, and apparently he is still feeling its effect. Reappointed. The reappointment of T. Verner as trainer to the Hon. E. R. Davis and Mr O. Nicholson is announced. Verner was previously associated with the stable as trainer, but relinquished the post when the team was taken over by W Hawthorn, after the latter's return from Australia, where he had been one of Mr. W. R. Kemball's trainers.