THE TURF

Evening Star, Issue 18741, 17 September 1924, Page 9

THE TURF

Gossip by Old Identity. Everybody talked beforehand about Motley for the Wanganui Guineas, but on tho course she appeared to be a bit off color, and as Infcrno’e owner and trainer hotli admitted that they fancied their chance, this son of Absurd and Ayah was made favorite, The Banker being next fancied according to tho totalisator showing. Inferno's appearance pleased tlie' crowd. He has grown into a commanding colt, and probaWy gets a good share of his staying power from his dam, who belongs to the All Eed family, and traces back through Hermosa to Pulchra. Anyway ho won very easily. Subjection made the pace for half a mile, when Gaillard closed on him and led into the straight, Inferno and Ilka next. At the distance Inferno was in command, and he won anyhow from Ilka, who finished well considering that she dropped back to last place after going a quarter mile. Motley was making a good run after three furlongs, when something interfered with her? “ Vedette ” says that Gaillard ran very well, as he was challenged by prac tically everything in tho race, and then was not far from the winner at the finish. The race was truly run, the first two furlongs being covered in 27sec. three furlongs in 39sec, and the first half-mile in Slsec. Tho full distance was officially timed Imin 46 l-ssec, but private watches made it Isec faster. Tho fancy pick of the publio_ for toe Mararangi Handicap at Wanganui was thc bracket of Comical and Diamond Ring, Winning Hit being next in demand. Aakari got left at the start. Yoma made the pace, but Irapuka went to tho front at the home turn. Diamond Bmg promptly challenged. Whilst they were racing for tho lend in the straight Yoma camo again. A fine finish saw Diamond -Ring win by a neck from Irapuka—a result wholly attributed to Hector Grays superior riding. Musketoon and Comical were doing well in the last furlong. Avola was going on all right till getting into trouble at the last bend. Arch Salute was never prominent, and Winning Hit also ran disappointingly. Royal Divorce, winner of tbo New Zealand Eclipse Stakes on the second day at Wanganui, is an English-bred colt b} Kiivrs Proctor—Jessamine. Subjection made the running till nearing the last bond, where Royal Divorce took charge, and he won by three lengths from Euthuciasm. Lilypond was a firm first favorite iqr the Melbourne Cup when the last mail left, with Tookarby ranking as first selection for Dio Caulfield . Cup. Queensland’s crack filly, Mountain Song, has won seven times and been twice second out of eleven starts. After a lengthy spell of sickness, the ex-Invercargill trainer Gibb M'Lean is out and about again, looking better than he has done for two or throe, years past, according to “ Sir Modred.” He is now located at Riverton, and expects to have charge of several horses at the seaside resort in the near future. Santorb, winner of the Doncaster Cup, is tile colt by Santoi— Countess Torby that ran second to Salmon Trout in the Leger. Rouen, winner of the New Zealand Cup is engaged at Otaki, and if he runs there it will be his first appearance this season. Gokllight may have a say with 9.3 m the Avondale Cup,-a mile and a-half, if really ready, and they say that the Eng-lish-bred Musketoon is likely to slay the distance. 1 fancy that Royal Present may be dangerous, and I would pick Boomerday in one if assured that he is fit and well. Rational’s defeat at Wanganui will drive backers to look elsewhere for the winner of tho Flying Handicap at Avondale. Wassail is sure to be backed if he starts, ami I should think that Soli form, Broadwood, and Miss Egypt are about the next best. Le Fort ran well enough at the National Meeting to give him a chance with 10.9 at Ashburton, but it is a second-rate field, and Mandrake may take some beating. Songbird is hooked to reappear in the Spring Handicap at Ashburton. I would sooner stand Moorland at a stone lighter, and perhaps Paddy’s Hope may beat the pair. If Stamisfc has developed and strips fit she should bo there or thereabouts in tho Tinwald Handicap. Kilfane is another that I have a liking for, and Clareina is no slouch.

There is no enll lo mown over Gloaming's defeat in the Chelmsford Stakes at Sydney. He, ran a great race and was only a length and a-quarter away in record tiine. Heroic, the winner, was a champion as a two-year-old till it came to the longer distances, and it was then said that he could not stay. Unit opinion must now be revised. A colt that can crack the record at nine furlongs mnv be able to pet the Derby distance, and it is now practically sure that Nigger Minstrel will have a formidable opponent in <ho A.J.C. Derby. Mr \V. Gardiner, whoso health has much improved, now has Corn Pigs and Cornflower in training again, in D. Wilson’s stable. Good-class entries for the Kurow races. As Duo did not accept for Avondale it may be true that he has gone wrong. _ General Advance will be in work again shortly. The Goodwood Cup this year provided a sensational race. Teresina, the eventual winner, was in a very nervous state in the paddock before the race, the sweat pouring off her, but she held her place in the betting. The four-year-old daughter of Tracery and Blue Tit was joined by Leonardo at* the distance, and the pair fought out a desperate finish, Teresina finally scoring by a neck. Leonardo had 7.2 against Tevesina’s 9.0. The following is clipped from an Australian exchange:—The tallest jockey riding at a country meeting worked a new oracle. The weighing-in “room” was a newly-covered bough shed, the rail supporting the. top being covered with a thick canopy of green leaves. This rail was just the right height for the jockey by a little pressure with his head to force down the balance, unseen by the weighing steward. He rode all day in the 51b saddle with no lead, in races in which he was supposed to carry weights ranging from Bst to lOst, and won four out of the six.

Meeting Mr W. T. Hazlett on, the railway station as he was leaving for Auckland, he told me that Fred Waddell, nephew of Stuart Waddell, has taken Gold Light and Waddell’s other horses to Auckland, as Stuart is busy with a large team at Napier Parle course. As to Razzle Dazzle, the trouble is in one of the hind legs, and the question of whether the filly is to race again will he decided after Avondale, when Mr Hazlett sees the trainer. If there is a doubt about the lof standing she will he put to the stud tin; season.

T thank Mr P. W. A. Munro for an invitation to the Kurow Meeting. The C.J.C. book of programmes for the 1924-25 season, as compiled by Mr F. O. Cothcr, is to hand.