JOTTINGS FROM TRACK AND STABLE

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20136, 4 January 1940, Page 3

JOTTINGS FROM TRACK AND STABLE

“TOTE” INVESTMENTS SUBSTANTIAL DROP CENTENNIAL MEETING FORM OF CANDIDATES By “Trenton” All holiday race meetings except two showed substantial drops in their “tote" turnovers. There were 14 meetings, and 12 of them showed a decrease of £66,660 10s, while the remaining two almost came to the rescue with increases totalling £53,675, to bring the figures to somewhere in the vicinity of last year. The two meetings to show an increase were Auckland (£50,446) and Waipukurau (£3229). The 1938-39 holiday racing period saw £809,420 pass through the totalisators, while at the Christmas meetings just concluded the total was £796,434 10s, a decrease of £12,985 10s. Not His True Form The Buzzer ran two poor races at Awapuni—a marked difference from the dash he revealed among the sprinters at Woodville. This cannot be his right form, as he looks a picture, but “Snowy” Morris may have his charge better for the Wellington meeting. It would not surprise to see him return to winning form at that meeting. Laughing Lass Well The solid races run by Laughing Lass in her most recent starts leave the impression that the roan Laughing Prince mare will just about be at the peak of her form at Trenlham this month. Laughing Lass has a good collection of wins at Trentham to her credit and as she is now down to a handy mark she will be in favour with followers of form. Effortless Win When Du Maurier won the Manawatu Cup, a more effortless win has seldom been witnessed, and one writer expresses the opinion that if the raco were run over again 20 times the result would be the same.

Interest will now be active in Du Maurier’s Centennial Cup chances at Trentham. The Manawatu Cup has more than once passed its winner on to Wellington. Sir Solo won at Awapuni with 7.9 and beat a good Trentham field with 7.8 in 1913. Next year Kilrain had 7.6 in the Manawatu Cup and won the Wellington Cup despite a rise to 8.3. Nobleman had 6.12 in his first Manawatu Cup and won at Trentham with 7.9 in 1918. The dis-

tance is the same and the run ot the tracks very similar. Smart Effort Duncannon recorded a very smart performance in winning at Awapuni, as after being last into the straight he was checked a furlong from the judge. However, he finished with pienty of dash and got up in time to beat the consistent Night Eruption. Duncannon has won through from maiden ranks to the open classes in a few months and it does not seem as if the best has yet been seen of him. He should be worth keeping in mind for the Centennial meeting at Trentham. Backed and Beaten Royal Sign has been the medium of heavy backing several times this season, but he ran his best race to date when he ran second to Myarion on Boxing Day. In that event a serious check at a critical stage probably cost him the race. This Laughing Prince three-year-old should make amends shortly. Cup Candidate Wellington Cup candidates appear likely toTind the Awapuni horse Old Bill the hardest to beat this month. The many admirers of this. goodlooking four-year-old son of Siegfried and Liaison were heartened by the brilliance of his success at Awapuni over seven furlongs on Boxing Day. Old Bill met some smart sprinters, but he produced a scintillating late run and the performance strengthened his position in the early market on the Wellington Cup. Staying is his forte and Trentham is a track on which he has raced very successfully. Premising’ Hack One of the most improved hacks in the Manaawtu district is Dunmanway and it seems as if he is about to fulfil his early promise. Tills big Lord Warden four-year-old was not lucky in the early part of his career, but lie lias become very solid this season and may win races over middle distances later. Te Aroha Enterprise Te Aroha is once more to the fore with its astonishing programme for the two-day meeting on February 24 and 26. The Herries Memorial Cup is worth £IOSO and the open six-furlong race carries £SOO. Two races carry £250 each, two £275 each, and the others £3OO or over. In all, the stakes amount to £6IOO, which would make to water the mouths of many city owners of racehorses across the Tasman Sea. Blow To Backers The form shown by Centrepoise in

the Manawatu Cup was rather a blow to his army of admirers, but there is no doubt that the race was not run to suit the top-weight. In addition, he was caught on the rails when the others in the field had made their runs five furlongs from home. Atkins did not knock the winner of the Metropolitan about when it became obvious that his task was hopeless. Centrepoise appears to have freshened up nicely since the Manawatu meeting and his work in the next fortnight will be watched very closely in view of his next race, which will be the Centennial Cup. Will Go Farther Sceptre ran up to her good form at the New Zealand Cup meeting when she opened her winning account at Awapuni, beating some promising maidens by a big margin. This wellbred filly has not done much racing, but she appears to have become solid and she will go on to better classes in the next few weeks. Working Well Again Lady Furst did not race at the holiday meetings but is to be given a special preparation for the Wellington Cup. Her racing at the New Zealand Cup meeting got to .the bottom of her, but she is now working well again. Screen Lord Amiss Screen Lord, who went amiss a few weeks ago, is still on the easy list and showing little improvement with treatment. It is likely that he will need a long spell. Stewards’ Inquiries The jockey H. N. Wiggins was fined .£5 by the starter for taking up a wrong barrier position on Royal Descent in the Midsummer Handicap at Ellerslie on Monday. The question of any further punishment by the stewards was held in abeyance. The apprentice jockeys F. Cleaver and J. Logan were cautioned for crossing over the field too quickly in the County Handicap at Ellerslie. The stewards held an inquiry into Millament coming over on to Foxsen in the straight in the County Handicap. The incident was found to be accidental. An inquiry held into the interference with Meadow in the Glasgow Handicap was adjourned. Sunola’s Success Reaching, the' front before travelling a furlong, the well-backed Sunola did not cause his supporters much anxiety thereafter in the Glasgow Handicap at Ellerslie on Monday and he finished full of running to score decisively. A full-brother to Round Up, Sunola is one of the most improved gallopers about and is likely to go on adding .to his record over a middle distance.