HASTINGS TRACK NOTES AND GOSSIP

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXII, Issue 35, 25 January 1932, Page 2

HASTINGS TRACK NOTES AND GOSSIP

With local horses engaged this past week at Wairoa, Ashhurst, and Wellington, the Hastings tracks have been on the quiet side. A little fast work was indulged in on Saturday morning, but before breakfast, on account of the fog, it was impossible to get a guide on them with the watch. Shenanikida, Laconic and Sir Spear, who to-day leave for Pahiatua, where they will race on Wednesday and Thursday, all worked well. Shenanikida finished well at the end of her task, and it will take a maidener above the average to deprive her of the major portion of the stake offering ia the mid-week. • » • Laconic will be having his first race for some time. He looks nice—too nice, in fact—and it may take a race or two to bring him to anywhere like racing condition Although a five year-old and not yet a winner, Sir Spear has not been raced overmuch, and at Pahiatua, on the form shown at the Hastings meeting, might prove a profitable horse to follow. Rapallo, who in all probability will make the Gisborne trip, ran round on the plough in 1.45, but was not out to make time. Royal Flyer and Jen were mates over the same distance, with the former with a decided advantage in the weights, well ahead at the finish. Sumup, in receipt of a stone and a half at least, was too good for Baskier over three-quarters of a mile in 1.19. Sumup could easily have knocked off a second and a half. The Lord Quex mare is a very fair sort of a maiden candidate to take on the Poverty Bay circuit.

Two very handsome and racey fillies, the property of Mr. R. Gregory, of Clive, wei sent half a mile and did not belie their looks when running the distance in 49isccs. Outside Pillow Fight these are the most promising of local youngsters. One is a brown filly by Lord Quex from Lalla Rookh, therefore half sister to Ridgemount, Poetaster and Othon, whilst the other is by the same horse from Lady D, thus half sister to such good performers as Charlady, Chignon, and Co. The former appears to have the more admirers, but the writer prefers the Lady D filly as a racing proposition. » • » Lady Spy, unfortunately, when ready to race, has gone amiss. ’Tis nothing serious but she will miss the Poverty Bay circuit, * * * Toxeuma is warming up on the Greenmeadows tracks. He looks big and lusty, and will soon bo in racing condition. He will make his re-appear-ance at the Napier Park meeting early in March in preparation for more important engagements at Easter. # * * Gold Mag is now furnishing in the right way, and although he has yet to earn a placing bracket, he gives every indication of one day racing up to his breeding. So far his main reason for failure has been in his inability to get away with his field. ‘ « • Journet, who has been at Hastings since early in December under Trainer Duncan Hyslop, has been taken back to the ’Meadows and joined up again with McKinnon’s team. • * • The Pillow Fight bubble has bust. This writer, from the very first time he galloped, classified him as a topnotcher, but did say that he was not the one to prove an early two-year-old. He can gallop, and next season, as a three-year-old, ho will prove to be in champion class. Fifteen hundred pounds was brought to his owner in exchange for the colt, and the reply was “nothing doing.” When asked to put on a price he refused. Now, after his recent defeats, this Australian offer has been renewed, but has met with the same answer as before. In his engagement at Foxton on the sandy track he did not go too well when he ran second, and all was not right with the Night Raid colt. He could not take his place in the Wellington Stakes, and so it was surprising that such a valuable colt should be started at all at the meeting. Chrysology, beaten at Waipukurau and Hastings in mediocre fields, went to Wellington and won from whai could be termed a first-class field. • * • Court Yard, in his one and only start, was unlucky not to be in the money at least. He is a good colt, but the best will not be seen of him until next season. • . « Great Charter won at Hastings with 9.8 in the saddle in equally as good time as anywhere in New Zealand, which practically meant that at Irenthain he had two stone up his sleeve. His win was well expected, and the dividend a welcome surprise. # a * The Hastings tracks might be improved on but they are as good as any in the country, and the proof is that through all this long dry spell horses here still stand up to then work. Foi rears now the Hastings tracks have enjoyed a lower percentage than most tracks in the numbers of horses that have gone out. ft ft ft Araunah, the grey three-year-old by Hunting Song from Rewanga won on the final day at Trentham. This was J his second start only, his first being I at Awapuni a few weeks ago, when he j ran quite a good race. Purchased as a I yearling tn Gisborne at JOI 1 guineas hi \ Messrs McLeod and Slater th balance i in Ins favour, despite the good wm m. j Saturday, is still but very small Brown Sugar let her party and sup- ; porters down heavily at. Wairoa. , Before going to ths com m< ing she ran (as reported in this column) ! six furlongs in a tick over 1.14, ye 1

could not get into the money in a four-horse race. Imperial Fame, who was favoured by the rain that fell during the couple of days previous, won a double at Wairoa, and returned a better price than his supporters at home expected. Purchased for £lO early last month, the Clown Imperial—Miss Renown gelding, in that short space of time, has won three races, as well as three minor placings. The little fellow should prove a very fair winter proposition. San Quex failed in three hack races at Wairoa, but came out to win in open company, at least it was designated as such, although Toboggan was the only one out of hacks. San Quex will later on be put to hurdling. • * » A popular win at Wairoa was that of Fondle, as her owner is one of the “all wool and yard wide” sports. The little mare has not been in for a great deal of time but from the very first time she galloped she pleased. Only about 14 hands three, the four-year-old by Leighton—Caress (Martian — Tnchas) (imp.) is very well grown in other directions, and a little weight should not stop her. It is quite on the cards that now she is well and forward a win or two further will come her wav. Gold Medal, at the Wairoa meeting, continued to improve with each race, and succeeded at the finish in collecting third money. The aged son of King Soult and Voetgang fences extra well, and he is sure to collect a hack hurdle race or two for owner-trainer Joe Griffiths. Shrewd and Cuticle were the only Hastings-trained animals to take on Ashhurst, as Thornpro'of and Rapallo cancelled the trip. Shrewd, in the Ashhurst Cup, ran a poop race. Cuticle was always placed in the six-furlong race to win nicely, and as practically the same field was again saddled un in the seven furlongs, she certainly looked “the goods,” and there was eveiy justification of her being made the favourite, but she could not finish in the-money. She is useful, this Paper Money mare. uocal horses did fairly at Wellington, but not quite as.well as some expected. * * • Gold Trail, unfortunately, in he> only race, got galloped on, and could not start again at the meeting. There s nothing seriously wrong with MrJ). Douglas’s Chief Ruler filly, but the day after the mishap she was given a “ball” to cool her down, and so eased up for a few days. She will not race again until the early autumn. • • > Princess Bell ran third in her start on the first day, but from then on failed to show up. She was not as forward as most of the youngsters, and another trip on top of the Auckland one hardly looked the correct thing.