TURF TOPICS

Hawera Star, Volume LIV, 7 November 1935, Page 3

TURF TOPICS

{By “Childers”)

Racing Fixtures

Hov. 7, E.C. Nov. 9—Hawke’s Bay ,T.C. Nov. 9, 11, 13,16—Canterbury j.C. Nov. 16—Carterton E.C. Nov. 16, 18—Waikato E.C. Nov. 23—Bay of Islands E.C. (at Pukekohe). Nov. 23—Levin E.C. Nov. 23-—Southland E.C. Nov. 30—Ashburton County E.C. Nov. 30, l>ec. 2 —Takapuna J.C. Nov. 30, Dec. 2—Feilding J.C. Dec. 7, 9—Dargaville E.C. Dec. 6, 7—Woodville District J.C. Dec. 14—Waipa E.C. Dec. 14—Hororata E.C. Dee. 14—Otaki Maori E.C. Dec. 26—Waipukurau J.C. Dec. 26, 28—Taranaki J.C. Dec. 26, 28—Dunedin J.C. Dec. 26, 27, 28— Manawatu E.C. Dec. 26, 28, 30—Westland E.C. Dec. 26, 30, Jan. 1, 2—-Auckland E.C.

Eiccarton Prospects.

Track work -during the past few days at Eiccarton has thrown little further light on the pi-aspects of the Cup candidates, in fact it appears to have clouded the- issue to a still greater extent than before and the public are undoubtedly going to find it extremely difficult to sort* out the winner on Saturday. Similarly, the “second leg” of the double, the Stewards’ Handicap, is a Teal puzzle, as the majority of the candidates all have excellent recent form to their credit.

A Consistent Galloper.

Few open Company sprinters at RicCatton can equal the record of Cranford, who has seldom been out of a place in his many starts on the southern course. At the Cup meeting last year he was third to Grand Sport and Copyist in the Stewards’ Handicap on the opening day, won the Criterion Handicap on the second day and was third to Mobile and Cricket Bat in the Members’ Handicap on the final day. Twelve months previously he was second to Silver Streak in the Stewards’ Handicap, thus on Saturday he will be making his third attempt to win this race. On his most recent form he must be given a Toyal chance, for he has been racing really well. At Orari in September he was a close third with 8.8 to Kinnoul (5.3) -arid Bon Tray l (7.1) on the opening day, while on the second day with S.lO he was beaten oniv by a head by Bon Tray (7.6), with Silver Streak (8.10) in third place. At South Canterbury last month he was second with 8.7 to Rebel Chief- (8.9), and he was once again in the money at Eanlcs Peninsula on Saturday, when he ran second with 9.1 to Davolo (9.3).

Kow Tow Pleasing.

On the strength of a smart three furlong sprint on Tuesday .morning Kow Tow has advanced in favour for the C.J.C. Welcome Stakes and his chances on Saturday are now assessed highly. Apparently he has improved considerably since Trentham, where he made his' first appearance with the colours up to run a promising third to Kindheart and Paper Slipper in the Taita Handicap, and on the second day was third to Paper Slipper and Pawning Light. Certainly, Kow Tow is bred the fight way, for he is by Limond from Homage, thus being a full-brother to Honour and Episode and a close relation to Commendation, Epitaph, Humbug, Legatee, Lysander and company. It is a family noted for its great success as two and three-year-olds.

Blares and the N.Z. Cup.

In view of the fact that each of the last three New Zealand Cups have been won bv mares in Fast Passage, Palantua and Steeton, more than usual interest is being paid in the five members of the sex which still remain in Saturday’s race. Of these, Cuddle and Tuirau make most appeal and should put up a great fight to keep up the winning sequence. Caliente seems to have gone off, while neither Steeton nor Vanestep could be regarded as possibilities on their recent form.

Vintage in Demand,

Although he has not had a race since his Australian trip last autumn, Vintage is steadily coming into favour for the New Zealand Cup and he promises to be one of the best supported on Saturday. Lack of racing will be the only thing against him, for there is no doubt that if he were produced at his best it would be difficult to see him defeated. Cuddle is the ruling favourite, yet it should be remembered that oh’the last occasion the pair met Vintage carried 9.9 and beat Cuddle 7.10 with Tidiculous ease in the Wellington Cup Now Cuddle is required to carry 81b more and Vintage 41b. less than at •trentham. Of the pair Vintage looks the better stayer.

Riccarton Handicap Guide. At the C.J.C. meeting last year Sporting Blood Won the Riccarton Handicap |t on the opening day and went on to win H-X both the Derby and the Canterbury Cup. Twelve months previous Nightly had accomplished exactly the same feat. Thus more than passing interest will be centred in the running of the Biccarton Handicap on Saturday, when Derby candidates in Heritage, Plato and Bompalong will attempt to keep up the standard set by Sporting Blood and Nightly. Of the trio Heritage looks by far the best proposition.

Caliente Off Colour.

Davolo in Form.

Shambles Breaks Leg,

Eiders for Saturday.

Good Prospect,

Has Performed Well

Will be Dangerous,

Change of Stables,

Whangarei Riders,

Feilding Nominations.

j (Friday) evening

track and stable chat

Further engagements for Eiccarton are. H. Goldfinch, Document, Dollar Bill, Manetho, and Big Dook; W. H. Jones, Penelope and Princess Eawene; A. C. Messervy, Sky Pilot, Taillight and Slasher.

H. Wiggins will ride Fersen, Lowenberg, Variant, Kotou, Plato and Kurapae. He will not remain for the last day, as he has engagements to fulfil at Te Eapa. S. Wilson is definitely on Argentic in the Cup, and he will also ride McHeath.

Monanui had two races at the Auckland spring meeting and in the Mitchelson Cup performed very fairly, considering it was her first outing this season. She was prominent till the straight and then faded out. She raced in the King Edward Memorial on the second day, and though she failed to show up as prominently she should be in excellent fettle for her Whangarei engagements this week. She has 9.0 in the Cup, and if: she takes on that event she should be one of the hardest to dispose of.

After racing at the Auckland .meeting last month Irnamint had to be eased up owing to a knock she received while contesting the King Edward Memorial Handicap. The injury was not serious and she is in regular work again at Ellerslie and will probably make her next appearance in the Waikato Cup. This mare has registered some good performances this season, and as she is capable of running out a solid mile and a quarter she will haye plenty of opportunities to add to her record during the next few months.

Valrent made liis appearance at the Avondale meeting, where he ran second to Jewelled Girdle in the Maiden Plate, seven furlongs. This was a good effort considering the field, and in a much better class on the second day he was fourth to Kahapa, Nun Nicer and Con Fuoco, all good winners. In the Normanby Handicap on the second day of the Auckland spring meeting he made a fair showing for most of the -way. Valrent is engaged in the Spring Plate, six furlongs, at Whangarei next Thursday, and a repetition of his Avondale running will make him very dangerous.

Grey Honour has left the stable of F. Christmas, and joined that of D. Cotton, this move being made by his owner late on Tuesday afternoon. Christmas is unlucky in losing the services of this promising three-year-old just when he has brought him to the point where he looks like going, on to win good races. The change of stables will mean that Christmas’ apprentice, Hibberd, who was to have ridden him in the Stewards’ Handicap, will be replaced by another jockey.

Biding engagements announced for the Whangarei meeting are: L. Clifford, Crooning, Tamaihipa, Enlightenment-, and Tidalin; A. Murray, Melbroney and Jmpellant; E. Stanway, Orenda; L. Dulieu, Ballvmoney; A. G. Parsons, To Broney and Landlubber; W. Thomson, Lady Diana; J. G. Burgess, Merry Lap.

Owners and trainers are reminded that nominations for the Feilding Jockey Club’s spring meeting, to be held on November 30 and December 2, will close with the secretary, Mr E. G. Goodbehere, at S o’clock to-morrow

When she won the Mitehelson Cup Caliente deservedly came into favour for the New Zealand Cup, as on that showing it appeared that she would be one of the hardest to beat in the big Eiccarton event. Since then, however, it seems tltat she has gone right off colour. She ran a poor race at Trentham, while she has been galloping very badly during the past week. In addition, it is stated that she has gone rather sore, so her Cup chances look far from bright.

Having his first start since July, Davolo won the Le Boris Handicap at Banks Peninsula on Saturday in most convincing style, it being a decidedly smart effort. While in the past he hasgenerally registered his best efforts over slightly longer journeys, Davolo has at times ran some really good Taces over six furlongs. Thus he cannot be left out of calculations entirely for the Stewards’ Handicap as, with 7.13, he is very handily weighted. His smrirt five furlong gallop in company with Silver Streak on Tuesday further enhances his prospects for Saturday.

While being loaded into a truck on Monday the stallion Shambles broke a leg, but an attempt is being made to save him. By Phalaris from Fluff, by Eider, Shambles was a good perfofmer in England, especially as a three-year-old, when he secured four wins, six seconds and one third in 13 starts. With the exception of Vintage, his stock have not been anything out of the ordinary, although Shatter, Quite Soon and Nightmare were useful performers.