Coursing

Evening Star, Issue 23657, 17 August 1940, Page 8 (Supplement)

Coursing

Notes and Comments ! J

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WATERLOO CUP. The 1940 New Zealand Wateloo Cup was controlled by the North Otago Club on its enclosure at Oamaru. The Waterloo Cup, like the Centennial Cup, was a further triumph for the kennels of Mr J. Woodhill, of Napier, the cup winner being Betty Micawber (My Andy, Aus. —Bonnie Bett, Aus.),"who the previous month divided the Centennial Cup with her kennel mate, Bon Ton (Cinbon, Aus,— Keelesque, Aus.). Betty Micawber is a great bitch, undoubtedly one of the best ever raced in New Zealand. She is very fast, and when in on the game works most cleverly and with determination. She was produced in wonderful condition, as her performances proved. On fast and clever hares she piled up a large number of points throughout the meeting, and was still going on with it when the final course was over.

In the first round she scored 8J points to beat Wilga’s Worry (1J points), and in the next she scored 6 points to beat Dainty Footsteps by 5 points, while in the third round she scored 5 points to the half-point scored by Latest Addition. Up till the fourth, round she won all her courses with ease*. but in-this course was hard pushed to score a win over Red Chief by 5| to 4. In the semi-final she raced a bye, and in the final she met Top Row, who gave her a great tussle for the honours.

, The cup final was one of the best final courses for a Waterloo Cup on record. Betty Micawber led up and scored the first turn, after which a fine course took place on a very fast, clever, and cunning hare, who simply played with - the dogs. At one stage of the course Top' Row was ahead on points,. but Betty Micawber was not to be outdone, and came again with a fine burst of speed and determination. Betty Micawber fully deserved her second important success withip a month. Betty Micawber, who is a great performer on the speed . tracks, looks likely to rank among the best performers for a 1 while to come. Bon Ton, owing to illness, was not started at the meeting. It was unfortunate for Mr Woodhill that he had to withdraw this great performer. Mr J. Creegan’s Top Row (Latest Craze—Miss Dorado), the runner-up, showed his best form to date. At meetings held in the south Top Row had shown much promise, and for this meeting he was in great racing trim. Jfar so young a performer his exhibitions in every course were something to enthuse over. In the first round he ran a natural bye, and in the second he beat Matiere Pride by 5-3. In the third round he had his'lightest course, beating El Capitau by 3*o. In-the fourth round he ■ went a great course to beat The Miner by 7$ to 3, while in the semi-final, after three - hard runs,- he went another good course to defeat Royal Ensign by 10$ to_7s. Top Row, who was going better with each course, then went on to put up a good exhibition in the final, in which he was beaten by 14 points to 12. Top Row, who should be a much improved performer at his next meeting, will not reach his best form until next season. When in on the game he ' is very clever, but is just a little deficient iii pace. Messrs Smart and Macpherson’s Royal Ensign (Why Worry—Sultana), one of the best performers seen in the South Island in the last three seasons, put up a splendid performance at this meeting to bo third dog. Although his courses throughout were not so strenuous as those of Betty Micawber and Top Row, he nevertheless Avon them Avell, the extra runs in the semi-final counting against him and giving his younger opponent every chance after the hare had been turned. In the first round he beat Poorman by 4$ to Is, Avhile in the next he beat Sergeant-major by 5 to 4, and, running Avell in the third round, he beat The Clipper after a great course by 13$ to 7s. In the fourth round he ran a bye, which took him into the semi-final, in which he Avas defeated by Top Row. . Royal Ensign, who is now on the doAvn grade, will still win stakes if he can be kept in his present form. Red Chief (Native Chief—Miss Lupin), OAvned by Mr P. H. Donoghue, put up a remarkable performance in the Cup. It was his most, outstanding effort to date. To reach the fourth round he beat Darkest by 6$ to 2s, and in the second round Avent a good course to defeat El Gallo by 7 to 3. In the next course he won from Tap Dance by 3$ points to 2s. Red Chief, by his racing at this meeting, surprised South Islanders who had seen him in action many times. The North Island climate has certainly worked Avonders with him. Mr P. Ruddy’s Lead On—El Dorado dog, The Miner, Avas the dog who

created most surprise by hit performance. The Miner has nett before shown form enough at a meeting to suggest that he could win even a poor novic® stake. At this meeting and among New Zealand’s best he raced like a. really good one. To reach the fourth, round-The Miner had a bye in the first owing to the withdrawal of Bon Ton, while in the next he proved a good dog by beating White Worry 6-2, and •in the -third round he beat Whit® Craze by 5-2 J. WATERLOO PLATE. , The winner Of the Waterloo Plat® was Messrs Riding and Jackson’s Mungi Taipo (Why Worry—Bos), who put up a fine performance to win this stake. It is doubtful if this dog hasever raced so well. He won: the first round of the Cup well, beating Turn Again by 5 to 1. He was defeated in the next round by The Clipper by 4-2.. He then went into the Plate, winning the first round by default, Sergeant-; major being withdrawn. In the nextr round he ran a natural bye,'and in. the semi-final scored an easy win over Matiere Pride by 4-0. Going into th» final, he .met Sweet Shamrock, whom he defeated by 5-0 after going a splendid course. Mungi Taipo is one well above the average, and should not b» long in again reaching the winner’s lisa* Mr E. J. Fairbrother’s Little Shamrock (Electric Hope—Rahpipay) put up* his best performance to date at this, meeting to be runner-up in the plate. In the first round of the Cup he had little trouble in beating Dunkirk by; 6i-2. In the second round he was defeated by Latest Edition 2-1, and in the first round of the Plate he won by default, Dainty Footsteps heing_ withdrawn. In the second he went his besti course, easily defeating El Gallo by 9 points to 1.. In the semi-final he ran. a natural bye, this .taking him into .the final, where he was defeated by Mungi Taipo. WATERLOO PURSE. Mr J. T. Jarvis’s (N.S.) Poorman (Grand Laddie—Lady Diana), winner of the Purse, proved that he is a real top-liner when in good racing fettle. This dog’s form will improve from noy on, as he was not in really tiptop condition when the meeting began. In the first round of the Cup he was well beaten by Royal Ensign, 4|-IJ. Ha then went into the Purse, in which his form improved, with every coursf. In the first round he defeated Atua Rer® by 3J to .li, and- in the next round beat Turn Again by 4-2. In the third round he raced a,natural bye, while ia the semi-final he met his brother, whom he defeated after a great course _by 8$ points to oi, this putting him in tha final, which he won well by 4 points to I|. Poorman should prove to ba one of the best performers from noy on.

Messrs Riding and Jackson’s Mosquito Boy—Movie Star dog, Mosquit® , Kid, raced like a real champion, especially as he had slipped a muscle in hii near hind leg. In the first round of the Cup he was well beaten by 4J-U by White Worry. Going into the Purs® he won the first round by default. Boa Ton being withdrawn. In the next round he defeated Nigger Boy by 5 points to 2J, and he was in . his best form after this, defeating Pink Lad by 6 to 4J. He then ran a natural • bye, and in the final was defeated by Poorman, this being the poorest course Mosquito Kid ran at the meeting. All things considered, the performance ol this dog was excellent. Further notes on this meeting will appear in later issues.