SPORTING

Grey River Argus, 6 December 1938, Page 3

SPORTING

Racing Note* Erination for Cup: - Mention of Erination recalls that he is an entrant for 'he Auckland Cup and it has been given out that he is to receive a special preparation—-from now on only—for the big two-mile flat race at headquarters on Boxing Day. It is certain that this gelding will very much appreciate the letdown from 13.9 to 7.0, and he should be capable of going much faster under the lighter weight. However, the Auckland Cup is not an easy race for any horse to win, and it is a moot point whether racing over stiff hurdic s with 13.9 is a good foundation upon which to base an Auckland Cup preparation.

Fine. Showing: Jack Tar’s showing in the handicap event at Ellerslie was a meritorious one, for this was only his second outing of the season and he was meeting many horses that had been kept going throughout the fspring. It is probable that the Captain Bunsby gelding s next outing will be at the Waipa fixture at Te Rapa a fortnight hence, or he may be kept for middle-weight events at the Auckland meeting, w„hen there will be plenty of handicap races to Suit him. The recent outing should improve him a good deal. He is not in the Auckland Cup, the stable entry being Birthday Boy, a fact that m ay mean something.

Penzance: While Penzance has to date won only one small race, her fine showing against Tepoto on the opening day of the Auckland Mid-Spring meeting was certainly conductive to the view that she should add her second victory to her record before very long; In fact, she was the only horse able to. make a show against Tepoto, and the form was enhanced in value when her conqueror scored again on the second day.

Chokebore Plans: The Riccarton trainers IJ. and A. Cutts will have two teams, comprising seven horses, on tour during the Christmas and New Year/ holidays, for the trustees of Sir Charles Clifford’s estate. They will compete at three different meetings in the North Island. Four of the horses will be sent to the Auckland Racing Club’s meeting. Trenqh Fight, Paper Slipper, and the two-year-old Winning Rival are definitely booked for this trip. Good Passage and Great Flight are being nominated for hack events, buc only o ne of them will do the Auckland trip. The other will accompany Wild Chase and Counterblast to the Manawatu and Wairapapa meetings. Probably some other horses from this stable will be seen at Trenthafn in January, after which the Canterbury Jockey Club’s Autumn meeting, will claim attention.

Another Paper Slipper? One of the most pronounced drops in handicaps in the intervening twelve months sine? the last Railway Handl' cap was run is recorded in the case of Golden Sheila. She contested the event last Boxing Day with 8.11, and finished in the ruck. Now she has been dropped 161 b to 7.9, and as she has not- done much racing this season and appears to be*’ improving it would not occasion surprise if she were to race prominently under this impost. She may even be another Paper Slipper.

A Feature: t An interesting feature of this year s Auckland Cup field is that the four horses placed last Boxing Day are again handicapped. They are The Buzzer, Knight of Australia, Argentic, and Kelly, although there is some doubt as to Argentic’s lining up this time. Stretto, Marie’s Acre, and Orate] respectively first, third, and fourth last year in the Railway Handicap, are also engaged again. The runner-up, Ben Braggie, is missing.

Early Fancy: One of the early fancies for the Auckland Cup in the north will be Mazir, for he has already won twice this season and is still in with a handy weight, 8.8., though it is all he merits. The Whirlwind gelding did not compete in the race last Boxing Day, but two years ago he finished fourth behind Cuddle, Argentic, and Scotland. He had 7.11 then and he seems to be a better horse now.

Poor Lot: The jumpers seen out at Ellerslie were by no means a good lot, and this was demonstrated by the fact that Erination finished third each day, carrying 13.8 and 13.9. However, the first day’s winner, En Tour, held out some hope at Te Rapa a week earlier that he was on the up-grade, and he won really well. This fencer is a natural jumper who should be capable of winning in the best cross-country class next winter. He has won both over hurdles and steeplechase courses at Ellerslie. Screen Lord Returns:

Screen Lord has made steady improvement in the past few weeks at Hastings and when he lines up for the Maiden Stakes at Woodville it will not be overlooked that he showed some good form last season as a two-year-old, writes “Motjuroa.” A full-brother to Movie Star, he ran third to Ivar and Beaupartir at Napier Park and he was fourth to Rakahanga. at his last start, twelve months ago.

In Form: The Awapuni trainer, Mrs. A.- W. McDonald, struck form to get effect at Feilding last week-end when she lined up four horses. Royal Record set the ball rolling by winning the Waituna Hurdles on Saturday and Thrasos followed the good lead by taking the Aorangi Trial Plate, the very next race. Later in the afternoon, White Gold, also at a generous price, finished fast into second place behind Sporting Gift. “Granny” had only one candidate .to produce on Monday and Old Surrey made the record three wins and a second in four starts by winning the Empire Handicap. Mrs. McDonald's team looks likely to be prominent during the holidays.

Freshened Up Again: Stretto had only 7.4 when she returned to the two-year-old form to win the Railway Handicap last year and this time she has 311bs. more to carry. '. However, there is no doubt Stretto has developed into a high class mare and her Australian form against Royal Chief, Gold Rod; Young Idea, King’s Head and Co., stamped her quality. Stretto Is reported from Auckland as having freshened, up

nicely . and there is evidence that she will be in excellent trim for the £l,OOO sprint.

Lady Fox: . Up to now, Lady Fox, the half sister to Gay Blonde and others, has failed to reveal any form in public, but on Monday at Ellerslie she ran her best race to date, and possibly the racing she has had is benefiting her, and some improvement can now reasonably be expected. Pocket Venus:

One of the most disappointing three-year-olds so far this season has been Pocket Venus, who, as yet, has not shown anything like the form that has been expected of her. Confidently expected to quickly earn promotion from the maiden ranks, she has failed to materialise in any of her starts this term. Possibly the soreness which restricted her preparation after the Paeroa Meeting may be advanced as an excuse for her failures, but her form has not been in keeping With the promise she showed last season as a two-year-old.

Royevrus:

The three-year-old Royevrus confirmed the good impression he created earlier in the season by decisively winning the Pupuke Plate at Ellerslie and the manner in which he disposed of the task makes his absence from the classic events regrettable, as he has proved one of the best of his age in the north. He ran fifth in his first attempt at open handicap company over ten furlongs at Te Rapa recently, and it is reasonable to expect the Surveyor gelding to be found a winner in this class in the near future. Hot Box: The Great Northern Guineas winner, Hot Box, is under a cloud, having developed an ailment on the morning of the first day of the Auckland Meeting, which subsequently led to his withdrawal from the Alison Cup field. He was a fancied candidate for this event, but his continued absence from activity since last Saturday points to the fact that his Christmas programme may be affected. It is to be hoped that he makes a speedy recovery as he would lend a lot of interest to the three-year-old classic events to be decided at the Christmas Meeting, as he had always given the impression that he would develop into a stayer, and one of the most likely northerners to have provided oppositio, to the crack southerner Defaulter.

Majority:

Majority proved his class when he won a double at Ellerslie, finishing like a champion under his big weight on .the second day. He was not nominated for the Railway Handicap but will probably be entered for the Taranaki Jockey Club’s Christmas Meeting, as his owner is a committeeman of the club.

Favourites in Railway: The A.R.C. Railway Handicap has not been an easy race for the favourites. In the 20 contests since the conclusion of the war the actual favourite has been successful only three times, these winners having been Stretto (last year), Silver Streak (1933), and Awarere (1927). Awarere was favourite only because he was bracketed with Aussie Ra, otherwise he would have, been a big outsider.

— Surprise results have featured this big sprint. Two years ago Adalene was twelfth favourite, and so was Royal Blood in 1922. In 1924 the winner, Master Doon, was fifteenth selection. Hunting Cry, at his first win, was tenth favourite, and Supremacy and Parody were eighth favourites to score.

Stretto and Others:

The highest weight carried, to success by mares in the A.R.C. Railway Handicap is 9.0, under which Cruciform was victorious as a three-year-old in 1901, and Silver Link as a six-year-old in 1921. The brilliant Cruciform carried 151 b. over w.f.a. Stretfo’s 9.7 in this year’s Railway represents 111 b. over scale weight. In 1u22, Glentruin, carrying 9.8, was beaten into second place by the outsider, Royal Blood.

Beaupartir: The three-year-old Beau Pere colt, Beaupartir, who was second to Defaulter in the New Zealand Derby early this month, who will have Its next start in the Great Northern Derby at the New Year. Still a maiden, he has the unique record to date of five seconds in five starts. N.Z. Jockey’s Success:

J. McFarlang, who was first apprentice to H. E. Gray, at Takanini, and afterwards with L. G. Morris, at Marton, has had a short but varied race-riding career. A year before he completed his apprenticeship, McFarlane was thrown during a race at Riccarton and received extensive injuries. When he recovered he decided to try his luck in South Africa and his father, Mr. T. J. McFarlane, Whanga-' rei, has been- advised by cable that he had ridden a winner in his first ride-in that country. McFarlane was successful in New Zealand and en route to South Africa he rode a winning mount at Adelaide, so that he has won races in three countries. McFarlane is 21 years of age.

Persistency Won Out: Few horses were ever so persistent after Railway Handicap honours as was Silver Link, the brilliant daughter of Achilles and Secret Link. As a three-year-old Silver Link ran third in 1918, the following year she was second to Tigritiya, the next year she was again second, this time to. Statuette, and at last in, her fourth attempt in 1921 she was the winner from Anomaly and The Hawk.

Wotan: Wotan came up well after his race at Feilding and he will be prepared for. the Auckland Cup. No arrangement has been made regarding his rider.

Strong Candidate: Mr G. Murray-Aynsley has made it a rule for many years past not to rnro any of his horses at meetings which he could not attend himself, but decided last week to send Sovereign Lady to Waikouaiti and Oamaru, where D. O’Connor will be availab to ride her. Sovereign Lady is in excel' lent order just now, and her second placing in the Metropolitan Handicap suggested that it was unfortunate tb it rhe \vas not nominated for the Auck land' Cup. Plans Changed: The Sandwichman, who it was thought earlier would race on the

West Coast circuit, is now to go to Waikouaiti and Oamaru, and will, contest the Waikouaiti Cup. His stablemates, Glenogil and Gay Parade, wul probably be racing on the West Coast, while teak is to be given an easy time over the holidays, and will make his next appearance at Trentham next month

‘WESTLAND R.C. NOMINATIONS.

The nominations for the Westland R.C. meeting on December 28, will close this evening at 8.30 o’clock. Two trotting races are included on the programme. Trottinsr,,Notes LOGAN DERBY BREAKS RECORD. , , INVERCARGILL, December 4. The Australian horse, Logan Derby, paced a mile at the Wairio Trotting Club’s meeting yesterday in 2 min. 8 4-5 sec., breaking the Southland record of 2min. llsec. made at Winton, by Harold Logan. The conditions were very poor. Just before the attempt, heavy rain fell and the track was reduced to a greasy state. Logan Derby paced in road shoes. RACING FIXTURES. December 10—Hororata R.C. December 10, 12—-Woodville District J.C. * December 17—Waipa R.C. December 24, .26, 27— Manawatu R.C. December 26—Waipukurau J.C. December 26, 27—Dunedin J.CDecember 26, 27 —Taranaki J.C. December 26, 28, January 2, 3—Auck land R.C. December *93—AVestland R.C. December 31, January 2—Wairarapa " R.C. December 31, January 2—Greymouth J.C. December 31, January 2—Hawke’s Bay J.C. January 2—Waikouaiti R.C. January 2—Wyndham R.C. January 2, 3—Stratford R.C. January 2, 3—Marton J.C. January 3 —Oamaru J.C. January 3, 4—Southland R.C. AqsValia. December 7, 10-A.J.C. (Warwick December 10—V.T, and R.A. (Ascot). TROTTING FIXTURES. December 10 —Waikato T.C. December 26—Ashburton T.C. December 26 —Wairarapa T.C. December 26—Gore T.C. December 26, 27—WestportT-C. December 27, 29, 31-Auckland T.C. December 29—Reefton T.C. December 31 —Winton T.C. January 2, 3-Canterbury Park T.C. January 5, 6—Greymouth T.C. January 14 —Cambridge T.C. January 14—Timaru T.C. January 26, 28-Forbury Park T.C. January 28, February I—Nelson T.C