TURF TOPICS

Hawera Star, Volume LIV, 25 October 1934, Page 3

TURF TOPICS

(BY “CHILDERS.")

Golden Bair Nominated. An interesting entry for major events at the Auckland R.C. summer meeting is Golden Hair, who has been nominated for the Railway Handicap, Xing's Plate and Clifford Plate, the distances of which are six furlongs, one mile and one and a-quarter miles respectively. In view of the recent reports that Q. Cox intends to permanently Teside in Australia, the entry of Golden Hair is rather reassuring, for apparently he has not yet definitely decided to forsake his former training quarters at Hawera. N.K. Derby Prospect. Sporting Blood won the Hareourt Cup so decisively from Pod Manfred and Davolo that he is now almost certain to be made favourite in the New Zealand Derby, while lie is also assured of strong support in the Stewards’ Handicap. Mr T. Fraser, in whose colours Sporting Blood is raced, has owned very few horses, but included in them was that other fine son of Hunting Song, Hunting Cry. Taitoru Goes Home. Mr J. Ruttiman’s lease of Taitoru having expired the Sandstar —Campbird gelding was returned to his owner, Mr P. Tito, of Pihama, yesterday. Taitoru will probably be given a spell for a short period prior to being placed in work again. At his best Taitoru is a smart galloper, so when recommissioned he should at least win hack raees. Bidam for N.Z. Cup. Several riders have been engaged for prospective runners in the N.Z. Cup. H. J. Ellis will have the mount on Sweet Agnes now that Spiral has been scratched. W. J. Broughton will Tide Waltop Park and S. Wilson Hazoor. A. E. Ellis has been approached by the connections of both Vintage and Davolo, but has not yet made a decision. Owing to the suspension of M. Kirwin Polydora is at present without a rider.

On* to Watch. Gold Gleam Tan a fine race in the Wilspn Highweight on Monday, hanging on in great style when challenged by Prince Reno and Leo Colossus over the final stretch. The Hawera horse is rapidly coming back to his best and owner-trainer' B. La Pouple should ■have him in rare fettle for Christmas and New Year racing. He will take a power of beating in hack sprint events and. .provided he remains sound ; he should not be long in graduating to open company. Gold Gleam will not race at Rangitikei on Saturday. Back in Form. Master Norval indicated that he is likely to stage an early return to the winning list by running an excellent second to Lord Val at Cambridge. He should be all the better for the Tace and should now come into favour for the Avondale Cup. Last season Master NorvaT was one of the most consistent middle distance performers to. race in the Auckland district. To Race in Australia. Sir Nigel showed by his fine win against open company at Trentham that he is one of the most improved horses in commission, and may develop into a star performer during the current racing year. There is a distinct possibility that he will be taken to Australia very shortly, accompanied by his stablemates, Gold Trail and Hybl'seus. The Hastings owner-trainer, J. M. Cameron, has previously done well across the Tasman with The Hqwk, Hunting Cry, Goshawk and Gold Mag, each of whom were frequently the medium of successful betting plunges.

Sandlark Given Away. After Sandlark’s indifferent running at Waverley his owner decided that there was little use in furtncr persevering with the Sandstar gelding and he has been given away to be used as a hunter. He should be well suited to his new role for he is a fine fencer. If Sandlark had not been affected in the wind, he might have been decidedly useful, and certainly would have been a winner.

Leading Jockeys’ Out. Coming close on the heels of the suspension of Australia's leading jockey, J. Pike, a further mild sensation has been caused by the suspension for a month of another prominent horseman in W. Elliot, who it will be remembered rode Phar Lap in America. Pike and Elliot are most unfortunate, for each would have been in great demand at the V.R.C. meeting, while both would undoubtedly have been on a faneied candidate in the Melbourne Centenary Cup. Bright Prospects. Up to the present Theo, as a stakewinner, is about the most profitable purchase made by Air E. Moss. The colt 'a last two runs have returned him £5375, and Theo now appears to have a mortgage on the Victoria Derby, which carries £3500 for the winner. On top of that comes the Melbourne Cup, with its £BOOO and a trophy for first. Of course, if Theo should win the Derby it does not make him “a good thing" for the Melbourne Cup, but it improves his prospects. In the autumn the A.J.C. and V.R.O. St. Leger each carry £IOOO for a win, so that, the races mentioned make nearly £19,000 possible for Theo this season If lie should win the lot it will be a nice return for the sum he cost as a yearling.

Track and Stable Comment

Making Steady Improvement. Prince Colossus made a fair showing in the Waverley Cup, and as he is improving steadily he can he expected to win soon. He seems to be of the type that needs plenty of raeing before they reaeh the fop of their form, and it would occasion no surprise to find him doing better in the summer and autumn than in the spring.

Prospect for V.R.C. Oaks. The success o fthe New Zealand-bred filly Quarto (Tea Tray—Quadrilateral) over eight and a-half furlongs at Caulfield on Saturday draws attention to lier prospects in the V.R.O. Oaks. Tlje opposition is not likely to be strong and as Limyris is also engaged, it appears quite on the cards that the winner will claim me Dominion as her birth place. Last year the V.R.C. Oaks was won by the Hawera filly Golden Hair.

Will Win Races. In running second to Harvest Moon at Waverley on Monday, The Ark caught the eye as a likely winner in the near future. He was finishing much faster over the final stages than Harvest Moon and a stride past the post was in front. Although he is rather too old to become really good, this son of Thespian should have little difficulty in more than paying his way against hack company.

Puzzling Form. The South Island “dark horse’’ for the N.Z. Cup and Derby, Tauramai, is certainly giving critics something to think about. After running almost last in a maiden event at the Dunedin spring meeting’s opening day he came out in the Dunedin Guineas to score a sensational runaway victory. His next appearance was at Gore on Monday, where he was made a warm favourite, only to run last in a field of five. Then to everyone’s surprise he was started in a similar class of event the following day, and had no difficulty in downing a field of ten, carrying one pound more in weigh! and running the distance in 2 2-SSec. faster than the winner recorded on the previous day. To students of form, Tauramai’s four starts have had rather confounding results, and as he will not run again before contesting the N.Z. Cup, it is rather difficult to assess his chances in this event.

Open Sprint Proposition. Moatoa ran an excellent second to Lady Kyra in the open sprint at Waverley, and with a slightly stronger rider in the saddle he may have defeated the New Plymouth filly. He looked rather burly after hi's recent let-up, and should be benefited by the race. Sprint events on metropolitan courses may be beyond iMoatoa, but carefully placed he should be quite a good proposition at lesser gatherings, and he is one to be kept in mind for the Taranaki-Stratford circuit at Christmas and New Year.

Auckland Nominations. The nominations for the major events at the Auckland summer meeting gives an indication of the probable whereabouts of many prominent horses at Christmas. Among the best of those entered, Polydora, Jonathan, Red Manfred, Solarium, Spiral, Gold Trail and the leading sprinters were all expected to be in. Of the New Zealanders entered, who either have been, or are at present, racing in Australia Caliente, Limarch, King March, Nightly, Sirona, Orac, Diatomous, Silver Ring, Autopay, Golden Hair, Safari, Persian, Custodian, and Marcus Cicero are included. Classy gallopers engaged who have not yet raced this season include King’s Knave, Minerval, Southdown, Rocket and Silver Streak. Notable absentees from the lists are Master Brierly and Limbohm, who are both apparently to remain in Australia. As usual, there are a good many "has beens"" and "never will bes" entered.

Appreciates Ascot. Prince Pombal is a good example, says "Pilot" in the Sydney Referee, of "horses for courses." A failure for a long time after he came from New Zealand, he won his first race in Sydney at Ascot in August of last year. His Sydney wins now total nine, and six have been recorded at Ascot, two at Kensington, and one at Victoria Park. In a little over fourteen months Prince Pombal has run in 36 races, and they have so thoroughly agreed with him that his win at Ascot last week was probably his best performance up to date. As mentioned on previous occasions, lie is closely related to Veilmond, being from the latter’s dam, Veil, and by Pombal, a half-brother to Li ni on cl.

Horseracing in Russia. Whenever there are men and horse 3 there will be horseraeing. Soviet Russia is no exception, as witness the following cable to English newspapers on September 8 last: The "Great. All-Union Prize," commonly referred to as the Soviet Derby, and worth £6BOO in prize-money, was run to-day at Moscow. It was contested by ten of Russia’s most promising three-year-olds, and was won by Evolution, who covered the distance, of 2400 metres (approximately 14 miles) in 2min. 34 sec. The owner of the winner was the 33rd Vozhod Stud. Other Important events decided on the same day included the Kalinin, Kaganovich, and Voroshiloff Stakes. All racehorses in the Soviet Union are the property of the State. No private owners are allowed.