TURF

Gisborne Times, Volume LXXIII, Issue 11954, 26 May 1933, Page 6

TURF

FIXTURES May 27—Woodville District R.C. May 31 —, June 1, 3—Dunedin J.C Junes 2, 3—Otaki Maori R.C. Juno 3,5, 7 —Auckland ICC. Juno 10—Foxtail R.C. Juno 15, 17—Hawke’s Bay J.C. June 17—South Canterbury R.C. June 22, 24 —Napier Park R.C. June \23—Egmont-Wanganui H.C. June 24 Ashburton County R.C. July I—Oamaru J.C. Jnly o—Dannevirke Hunt Club. July B—Waimate District H.C. July 11, 13, 15—Wellington R.C. July 22—Hawke’s Bay H.C. July 27, 29 —Poverty Bay R.C. July 29—Christchurch Hunt Club.

PILLOW FIGHT AMISS SOME INTERNAL TROUBLE. HORSE TO BE SPELLED. AMERICAN FEED BLAMED. According to ‘'Collyer s Meekly”, Pillow Fight was in a bad way after his second race in America, and the veterinary surgeon vdio attended him attributed the trouble to the change from New Zealand to American food. Pillow Fight proved a bad sailor, and: lost 1401 bon the trip across from Auckland. Once ashore and convoyed by motor van to Agua Calicnte, ho showed interest in his surroundings, regained hi s appetite slowly, and actually began to train in a satisfactory manner. C. Morse (his Trainer), had high nopes that ilie Davis router would be lit and reac.y long before the date set for the Agua Calicnte Handicap. The race was to have been run on March 28, but the recent “bank holiday” occasioned continuance of the meeting until April 2, the big .race being scheduled for “Getaway Day." On March n. Morse sent Pillow Fight to the post in a six-furlong dash, in which he finished second to .Bahamas, the V*mp being 1.11 bat: very fast for this track: Bahamas won that race by a scant bead and Morse expressed Turn and fas pleased at the showing made bv the New Zealander.

THIRD TO GALLANT STAR. The next time Pillow' Fight started was on March 18. and this time he ran third. Gallant Star taking first and Old Depot second, in 1.42 4-5 for the mil© and 70 yards. Again Morse declared himself, fully pleased with the racers’ performance,' declaring him “not quite ready” for tile mile and a quarter test of the Calionte. A few days after this, however, there occurred the incident which put Pillow Fight' out of the running, so far sis taking a money place in the 1 big race. Early one morning there came n summons, from the New Zealanders’ barn for Dr. G. W. Foelscbow. track veterinarian Considerable secrecy surrounded the call, but haste "'as urged.,

WRITHING IN PAIN. Arrived there;. Dr. Foelscbow found Morse, Davis, '■ D. ■ Farrell, the New •Zealand jockey, and, a fey- trusted employees, gathered inside the stable. They led him to Pillow Fight’s stall, and there the veterinarian found - the horse down; writhing in convulsive pain, covered with sweat. Dr.Foelscbow quickly diagnosed-file trouble as locked bowels, and applied .heroic remedies, realising that tjhig was l necessary if the horse’s ■ life

was to be saved. For several hours he and the others worked on the suffering animal, and at length iheii efforts were successful. A little later Pillow Fight again was o.u his feet.

Pillow Fight, however, never has recovered completely from that illness. Oil March 20 he went to the post again, running third to Love.rsall and Lemon Hills at a mile and yards in 1.40. The New Zealander wa« beaten bv two lengths for Lhe place.

HORSE NOT READY. THis performance practically assured Morse that the hc.rso was not ready. but lie tried with him once more on March 29, at a milo and a sixteenth. This time. Loversall again won, with Satin Spar second. Mad Pursuit third, Rasper fourth, and Pillow Fight back in fifth place. The time wa s 1.44

If anything had been needed t° convince Morse that his charge bad little or no chance to finish in the money in the following Sunday’s C»l----iente, that last race provided the proof. Morse promptly urged Davis to scratch the racer, hut the owner declined to take such drastic action, prefenring to wait and see if anything. should happen to give his entry a chance. It was indicated that ho might even send Pillow Fight to the post on Sunday, gambling 400 dollars against 25,000 dollars.

It was learned by the writer, on excellent authority, that Pillow Fight will be taken-north' to some breeding farm near'" Safi Francisco. and be laid up there until lie regains his full strength and rounds into physical condition. Then he will be taken to the eastern tracks to campaign, probably going first to Chicago, and thence to New York, Maryland and elsewhere. An interesting sidelight on Pillow Fight’s illness wa s given by Dr. Foelscbow, who said that he is convinced the racer’s trouble was due to the shift from New Zealand to American feed.

NOTES AND NEWS. K. Voitre states that ho rode one more winner than was credited to him at. Marlborough, so with two more wnis at Wanganui and one at T\« Kuiti on Monday his total J s now 112, or within four of Gray’s record. B • * High Commissioner, a double hurdle winner at To Kuiti, was bred by Mr. James Bull, of lluntcrville, and is raced by the T’e Rapa trainer, J. F. Tutclien, who, in his day, was a fine rider of hurdlers and steeplechasers. High Commissioner has been a consistent performer over hurdles, and his last two displays indicate he is on the up grade. He had 9.0 in the Groat Northern Hurdles, hut was scratched some days ago. He is still in the steeplechase, however, in, which he has 9.0, and in his present form must have rl chance. Likemost of the stock of All Red, High Commissioner is a good safe conveyance.

Although neglected by backers at Te Rapa, protomint put up a goon third performance to Prolyxo ana. Speedniint. Repeals of the race indicate that lie ,was finishing °n strongly.. He 1 looks like being (.anger erous from new ou.

! It •• transpires that there was - a good deal moro merit in the win of Argentic at Ashburton on Saturday than would ■ appear on paper. The Christchurch writer “Argus” says that ho ran into trouble • before going two furlong,. losing a good deal of ground. He made it up gradually, and after being well placed half a mile further .on,, he topic , the lead at the entrance to the straight. H© appeared, to have tile race in safe keeping at this stage, hut lie' had to he ridden out to win by a narrow margin. Saturday’s success puts Argentic out of hack class,' hut-, lie looks capable of holding his own in open company.

Jayson wa s scratched for all engagements at Auckland Racing Club meeting at 12.50 p.ni. yesterday, and Peter Jackson for the Cornwall and York Handicaps, at 9 a.m.

The Cornwall Handicap bracket Taneriri and Manawhenua, are doing good work on the tracks at Ellcrslie. They have always raced well during the prevalence of heavy tracks, aim they are in good order for m-.xt mouth’s meeting. • « o Tlio Victoria Racing Chib stewards disqualified for twelve months R. Keane, owner, Stephen Murphy, trainer, and T. Lynch, jockey, for improper conduct in connection with the running of Polygonum in the Jumpers’ Flat Race at the Mentone meeting. Polygonum, who won the last Grand National Hurdles, was also similarly disqualified. All. the parties are prominent in Victorian racing circles. —P.A.

Aiguille lias been doing most of his work on the hills since he raced at Ppkekohe, and it evidently agrees with him, judging by his appearance. Ho looks brighter than usual, and if he goes on as at present some improvement in Ins form can lie expected. On Tuesday morning Aiguille was sprinted over four furlongs on the No. 3 grass track in company with Chief Cook and hit out with plenty of freedom, the pair recording the best effort of the morning over that particular distance.

Gibraltar won the President's Handicap at To Rapa in most convincing stylo, after being well up all the way. Ho came through on the rails half-way down, and though Ornamental challenged strongly she failed to catch him. Gibraltar has previously won at Ellcrslie and has now two races in’ succession and increased his weight in the Cornwall Handicap from 7.2 to 7.13. but this should not scrionslv inconvenience him. and ho should he hard to beat at E-llerslie.

The Great Northern Hurdles has frequently been Avon by a good flat performer in first season oA'er hurdles, and this year a likely ono in that category is True Blood. Ho lias an exceptionally good’flat record', and so far as journeys arc concerned, True Blood should not be troubled. He

has had a, fair amount of experience as a hurdler during the past few weeks, and although he did l not altogether shape at the Te Kuiti meeting as a definite Northern proposition he may run well. He goes tvell in heavy ground.

The Cornwall Handicap candidate Tarporly was saddled up for the chief flat event each day at Te Rapa, and considering these were his first

races for some considerable time he performed very creditably. ll© was well up for about a mile on the first day, while on Monday in the Waitomo Handicap, of that distance, he was fifth. Unfortunately, this horse is not sound, but he seemed to come through his racing at Te Rapa all right, and if he goes oti the right way in the meantime he should have something to say in any race he contests at the Great Northern meeting.

Membo, winner of the last Grand National Hurdles, is engaged next month in the Great Northern Hurdles but according to Riocarton reports, I>. O’Connor bas been engaged to ride him at Dunedin, which means ho will not be at Ellerslie.

Make Up had no difficulty in winning the King Country Steeplechase at Te Rapa on Saturday. He twisted somewhat at his fences early, but that was due to him being kept under restraint. However, when his rider let him go he jumped beautifully, and at the finish, though Lucoss got within a length of him, it was only on sufferance. On the second day his rider did not show much judgment. At one fence along the back be got within half a length of St. Warrigal, and when the former took off Make Up did the same, and in consequence had a “life.” At the fence near the half-mile lie again got into a. similar position, and , .Mac; Up took off again at the same time as St. Warrigal, with the insult that he topped the obstacle, tripped, ami shot his rider out of. the saddle. M Make Up laid been kept, clear of or alongside St. TVarrigal the mishap would not have occurred, for Make Up is a very active juniper. . It mil be recollected that Beau Cavalier, in the Wellington Steeplechase (won by Pouri) met disaster through the same tactics. At the double in from of the, stand .Henderson, who roue Bo.au Cavalier, .allowed Pouri to get within half a length of him at the first 4'ehce of t]ie stand.double. Pouri Look off. at the same time as. Beau Cavalier, and • nearly came down. Tho late E. ' Warner was on Pouri and, after getting him over • the second fiance eg- tlio double, sot • sail after Beau -Cavalier, and, catching him, got half a length or a little more in : front at the-next obstacle. -When Pouri jumped, so did Beau Cavalier, and that was the eud of Beau Cavalier, for Henderson fell into _ the trap- he had set for : Warner. Therefore, no notice should be' taken, of Make; Tip’s accident, and he. will be a Ivory hard horse to beat at Ellerslie. Last year Landmark won a steeplechase at Te Rapa, just before coming to Auckland, to win the Great Northern Hurdle Race, and Instory ba3 a good chiuice of being repeated.

Aladdin was schooled at■. Riecarton over a couple of hurdles, and shaped pleasingly. It Avas the first time he had been jumped for several months, but he has lost none of his remarkable ability.

Shoofcist and Purse will be ridden in their Woodville engagements by H. D. Robinson. They are both in good order after their recent racing. Red Top Aviil be ridden by S. Wilson. Red Top is working (well, but has not. raced for five months.

It. Tucker AA-ili ride Make Up in the Great Northern Hurdles, but as he will be on Copey in the Great Northern Steeples, W. Biennis lias been engaged for Make Up in that event.

The excitement caused at Wanganui .on Saturday among the connections of the Maori-Owned steeplechase winner Red Bank, prompted some amusing stories relating to Maori owners, and the Hastings trainer V. TP. Coßelo came to light Avitli the following: Some years ago when the late Harry Hickey Avas training at Hastings, a Native owner sent down a horse to him. The animal duly arrived, looking A-ery poor in. condition, ami Hickey Avired his owner: “Horse a»rrtoed.. Very poor.” Later in tlie day ho received the following reply from the Maori owner: “Give him the kai and'he’ll be pie.” It is alleged that this telegram Aras framed and is still kept in Hastings as a souvenir.

Christchurch writers have a good word for St. Joan, who showed plenty of pace out in front in the Longbeach Handicap at Ashburton. She is expected to make good when more seasoned. St. Joan is a three-year-old filly by Jericho from St. Leaven by Achilles from Lady Maorina by Stepniak from Reel by Medallion, one of tho best horses of his day. St. Joan is in the stable of F. D. Jones.

Old Kawini, avlio has fought many a game battle over Steeples and hurdles, was again seen in action at To Rapa. Tie is Arearing wonderfully well, and he made quite a gallaut attempt to capture the Kawliiu Steeplechase. He commenced to move up with a round to go and at the finish was only five lengths behind Wiltshire and two lengths behind the

second horse, Lucess. Kawini jumped well throughout, and Avjien one considers ho is in his thirteenth year it Avas an excellent performance.

Ruri, after his easy victory at the Franklin meeting, was thought to have an excellent chance in the President’s Handicap at Te Rapa and was solidly supported, bring made favorite on both machines. He made a very fast run up between the six and five-furlong post and was one of the leaders as they turned for home, but be was well back at the finish. IBs gear gave way during the race, and this accounted for his failing to finish on. Ruri looked well aud ho should show to advantage if raced at the Great Northern meet-

’ Tea Trader is described by the San Francisco papers as the “New Zealand picture horse.” At his firsu start at Tanforau he was cut out at the start, and was then beaten only a, Lead. Appended is a foan Francisco account of his second race there: “Tea- Trader tried again at Tanforau (April 22) arid it turned out to he a mere breeze tor the New Zealand sprinter. With Quickaway removed from contention with a late scratch, tho David J. Davis importation found tho Australian Handicap at his mercy He ran the A. B. Spreckcls course in Ini in. 9&*eo. fiat, tho fastest time e? the meeting. The crowd installed 'lea Trader a top-heavy favorite The New Zealander meant business. Meeting practically the same field in which he was beaten previously, he defeated them in such a. convincing manner blurt no doubt of his ability remains. I'olydorus, making bis first out of the season, was a surprise second, beaten five lengths. The winner broke quickly, chased French Honey down the back stretch and, swinging wide at tho turn for homo, drew out in a gallop. Boy Painter, English importation of Gordon B. Towne, of San Francisco, made his American debut, lie showed little.” A