GENERAL NOTES

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXII, Issue 36, 26 January 1932, Page 2

GENERAL NOTES

G. Jones left Wellington for Sydney last Thnrsda-- with Lady Pam, Spear Lad, Actaeon, Rulanut and Cape Royal, all owned by Mr. W. R. Kemhall. Sastrugi, winner of the Novice Stakes at. Ashhurst, displayed good promise earlier in the season when he

ran second to Merry Ruler in the Debutante Stakese at Wanganui last September. However, his form fn the interval has been rather disappointing, but now that he has reached the winning list better things can be expected oi him. By Lord Quex from Iceball, this two-year-old is bred on good galloping lines, but lack of size may prevent him from developing into anything above the ordinary.

The progeny of Waterwings have brought in a lot of money for G. M Currie. Agrion, by Limond, was purchased by Mr. G. D. Greenwood for S7sgns., while his full sister, White Wings, cost Mr. W. Scholium 725gns. Another filly was purchased by Mr. H. Duff, of Sydney, for 420gns., while Mr. V. Riddiford paid 2400gns. for a colt by Limond, which equals the record price paid for a yearling in New Zealand. He was named Zetes, but so far has not raced. In 1930 a Pombal— Waterwings scolt cost Mr? A. Louisson, of Christchnurch, OOOgns., and he races under the name of Water Polo. Last year Mr. G. D. Greenwood paid OOOgns. for a <wlt by Limond, and on Thursday last Mr. E. J. Watt, of Sydney, wont to 650gns. for a colt by the same sire. * * It was intended that Timorous would form one of J. T. Jamieson’s team for Australia, but she will not now make the trip. However, Jamieson will still have three horses for the trip, as he is taking Dr. E. H. B. Milsom’s filly Prolyxo (Ammon Ra’s sister) in place of Timorous. Prolyxo was in Australia in the spring, when she did not race on account of developing shin soreness. On returning to Auckland she was given a short rest and then prepared for the Takapuna Jockey'Club’s Spring Meeting, where she accounted for the two juvenile events like a good filly. As a result of these performances, Prolyxo was thought likely to have good prospects at the Auckland Racing Club’s Summer Meeting, but she did not do altogether well before that meeting and her efforts fell short of expectations. She certainly finished third in a juvenile handicap, with 9.3, but it is doubtful whether she was seen at her best at the meeting, and it will not be at all surprising if she does much better in the autumn. * # • Gaine Carrington, who on Saturday accounted for the juvenile event at Trentham, was got by Hunting Song from the Martian—Lovelorn mare Left and so is half-brother to Peter Jackson. Like the latter, ho was bred and is owned by Messrs. Smith Brothers and is trained at Hawera by J. Fryer, who also counts among his team Grey Linnet, winner of the Telegraph Handicap last Wednesday, Gaine Carrington’s only previous public appearance was in the Fitzherbert Handicap on that day, so that he has not been long in getting onto the winning list. This so promising youngster bears, of course, the name of the well known Gisborne studmaster who imported Hunting Song.

Nominations for the Wanganui Jockey Club’s autumn meeting (also forfeit for Jackson Stakes are due on Friday next, the 29th inst., at 9 p.m.

Prince Pombal, the two-year-old halfbrother by Pombal to Veilmond, who has been seen in the limelight of late, is booked to leave for Sydney to com pete at the autumn meetings in Sydney and Melbourne. The youngster, who is the property of the Wellington sport, Mr. J. A. Taylor, was purchased by him as a yearling for 200 guineas, c • • The Hawera lightweight horseman J. M. Pine had a great innings at Ashhurst, piloting home five winners, including the hat trick on Haulbowline, Grand Jury and Sastrugi. In his two remaining rides he was second on Acora and third on Gran Chaco—a truly wonderful performance. C. W. France rode tho winners of the other two flat races. • • • Standfast is likely to be seen out with the hurdlers in the near future. The ' Valkyrian—Unity gelding has shaped with a degree of success in his training as a jumper at Matamata, at which centre he is down for racing next month. # # * That good winter performer Nuku uiai is being hacked about by his owner at Patea preparatory to going into regular work again. Nukumai is now in bis fourteenth year and has reached an age where his form may deteriorate rapidly, but he won the Winter Hurdles and the Awapuni Steeplechase at his two last starts last season and is undoubtedly carrying his increasing years remarkably well. * * « Fred Jones’s proverbial good luck has been somewhat under a cloud of late, and lit has nothing of as yet disclosed outstanding excellence in his stable. However, he scored a couple of minor successes at Trentham last week. The first was with Limerick's not altogether worthy brother Dunraven in the Ruapehu Handicap on the first day of the meeting. Then on Friday he won the juvenile event with Hilary, who carries the colours of the Wanganui sportsman, Mr. G. F Moore. This youngster comes of a good winning strain on the dam’s side, being by imported Diacquenod from Phrosa, by Limond—Cowl • » « Antique is likely to be a wellfavoured candidate if produced at the Takapuna meeting. The Te Aroha owned and trained gelding ran good races at the Auckland summer meeting to be third and then second in mile events with 8.7 and 8.3 in the saddle. The Tonbridge—Unique gelding has not had a start since then, but he has got through a regular measure of work in the interval. His form at the Takapuna summer meeting last season was good, the Cup being to his credit, while he recorded a triple dead-heat with Paganelli and Gold Money ill the Jockey Club Handicap. • . • * Limeen, who raced well on the Taranaki circuit during the holidays, is working in good style at Te Awamutu. I'lio Limond filly is engaged in handicap company at Takapuna, but if very hard ground is experienced this week she may not strike out to the best effect. Huntingdon, who quickly reached the open grade, will be engaged with the sprinters at Takapuna. The Hunting Song—Arbroath gelding is a galloper above the average and should soon add to bis earnings. • * * West Abbey is among the horses nominated for the hurdle race at. the Matamata meeting. The Quin Abbey —Colleen gelding, who has shown successful form as a jumper, has not raced for several seasons. Kairuri is a Te Awamutu trained candidate for highweight racing at Takapuna. It was on this course that the Surveyor gelding won his first race.

He has been shaping well in hurdling company lately and is in very forward condition.

Prior to his success with Compris, R. Reed had not won the Wellington Cup since he rode Star Stranger tour years ago, but he has a remarkable record in the race. He dead-heated for first on Rewi Poto in 1919, and divided again on Kilmoon in 1920. He won outright on Maioha in 1921, and again on Rapine in 1923. Star Stranger’s success in 1928. followed by the victory of Compris, gave Reed four wins and two half wins in the race.

It is interesting to note, in the records of the Wellington Cup, the improvement that has taken place in times during the last thirty years. When Advance won in 1903, his time, 2.34 1-5, was a record. Since then Maioha 8.7, Insurrection 7.0, Enthusiasm 8.5. and Star Stranger 9.8 have all succeeded in 2 31. These figures were badly smashed when Compns 9.0 covered the distance in 2.26, which is not only the best in the history of the race, but is a record foi New Zealand and Australia. It should ba stated that when Advance won he earned 10.4.

That the Dominion’s stayers are at present of more even and probably of finer all-round calibre than they have been for several seasons past was shown again in the Wellington Racing Club’s Handicap on Friday (writes “Rangatira”) when another great race was staged, finished off with a thrilling climax. Victory rested with the always consistent Gay Crest, whose rider, H. Gray, accepted the drop on Admiral Drake in the straight, then drove his mount irresistibly to the front just as it looked as if the issue was already settled against him Ga» Crest fully deserved the win, which was a most popular one with the public. In twelve starts this season he has scored on three occasions, been second three times, third three times, and unplaced three times, two of the last-named occasions being at the beginning of the season and the other in the Wellington Cup This is indeed a truly fine record for a horse that has big weights to carry. This Australianbred six-year-old Shillinglee gelding has been a gold mine for his present owner. Dr. M. G. Louisson, who bought him from the Riccaiton trainer, F. D. Jones, just under two years ago for 600 guineas, a rise of 500 guineas on what Jones paid for him as a yearling at the Sydney sales. Jones had won £llO with him before disposing of him, but Dr. Louisson has since increased that total in the Dominion and in Australia to £5836 (£5726 in his own colours), of. which this season’s earnings to date amount to £1690. He has been under T. Lloyd’s care since Dr. Louisson purchased him. Gray seems to get the very best from him. Previously he had a very bad penchant for boring out at the end of his races, but he has always run a relatively straight coprse when Gray has been in the gaddle. On Friday Gray’e exhibition on him was a brilliant piece of horsemanship, and much of the credit for the success must be attributed to his clever riding. It is almost safe to say that Gray had him the winner only m the vicinity of the post, so accurately did he gauge his final stab for victory.

Sydney files now to hand show that the only win for Dominion breeding at the Canterbury Park meeting last Saturday week was gained in the ninefurlongs Park Stakes by Gipsy’s Fate. She is a five-year-old mare by Tonbridge—Gipsy Gold who as a three-year-old raced here without success in the nomination of Mrs M. R. Campbell. Writing of this achievement the Sydney “Herald’ says: “The stipendiary stewards opened an inquiry into the form displayed by Gipsy’s Fate, as compared with her form in the Mile Novice at Gosford last Tuesday, Her display was certainly a remarkable improvement on her effort at Gosford. On the provincial course she was not among the fancied candidates, although a short price was called about her immediately that race came up for decision. She did not run into a place. Ou Saturday W. Cook had the mount, and Gipsy’s Fate ran the nine furlongs in Im 565, which equalled the time recorded by Rolev in the Welter Handicap, and was only a second outside the course record for the distance held conjointly by Ring Boy, another New Zealander, and The Metropolitan win ner Strength.’’ At the same meeting two other Maorilanders. Snowbound and Intrepid, both by Weathervane, acted as runners-up in their respective races, the former in the Maiden Welter Handicap, 6 furlongs, and the latter in the open Welter Handicap, 9 furlongs, each going out a well-backed second favourite. Snowbound was very narrowly beaten, but Intrepid, who had been a winner at Gosford a few days previously, finished three lengths behind the winner. For the six-furlong Flying Handicap Hunt the Slipper was made a short-priced favourite, but could do no better than fourth. The New Zealand-bred Golden Gate, winner of the Challenge Stakes at Randwick last Saturday, was not in very great favour in the ante-post betting on that event, Bayacre, one of Webster’s team, sharing favouritism with two others For the second leg of the double, the Anniversary Handicap, 1| mile, to be run to-day, the Caulfield Cup winner Denis Boy, who also won the 10-furlongs event on Saturday, was quoted favourite along with another two. while Vertigern was on the second line with one other.