GENERAL NOTES

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXII, Issue 193, 30 July 1932, Page 3

GENERAL NOTES

Though Nightmarch is booked to take part in the A.R.C. Spring Meeting he will not make an appearance in the Metropolitan Handicap, for which he was placed at the head of the handicap with lOst. 21b. According to Sydney exchanges he was withdrawn from the race three weeks ago. He is apparently to be reserved for w.f.a. events.

Little Lu, who is in training at Te Rapa, has qualified at the hunts in the Waikato. This gelding, who is by Day Comet from a Leolantis mare, thus having junipers’ blood on both sides, is in L. Everson’s team. He is to be nominated for the hurdles at the Pakuranga meeting.

• • • Chang has been schooled over the pony hurdles at Te Rapa and has shaped well. The five-year-old son of Day Comet and Lady Frisco had a race as a three-year-old If he stands up to his work the brother to White Comet will have prospects as a jumper.

Though Snowfall’s form this season has been nothing to enthuse over, Southern writers predict that the old fellow will make a much improved showing in the Grand National. He is a wonderfully safe fencer and a fine stayer, two very valuable qualities for the big Riccarton cross-country event. In addition he will have the services of that accomplished horseman A. E. Ellis.

Indications point to Woodfull being a companion for Lord Vai on the trip to the National meeting, says a Waikato exchange. Woodfull has been nominated for the Avonhead Handicap (seven furlongs) on the first day, the Woolston Handicap (six furlongs; on the middle day and the Redcliffs Handicap (seven furlongs) on the final day. In addition to his Winter Cup engagement Lord Vai is m the August Handicap (six furlongs) and the Selw.yn Handicap (seven furlongs), on the second and third days respectively.

The two Te Rapa jumpers, Luminary and Royal Visitor, were booked to leave on Thursday last for the Grand National meeting. Of the latter the Hamilton correspondent of the Auckland “Herald” says he has not been asked for anything of a very strenuous nature since returning from the Wellington meeting, but has been working soundly and is in good condition fur the trip. He did not thrive well at Wellington but Brady is hopeful ho will travel better on this occasion. Although he has been accepted for m the Grand National Steeplechase it is probable the minor cross-country race the first day will be selected for him instead. J." H. Mcßae will do the riding.

As to Luminary it is stated that he has done no schooling since the Great Northern meeting, but has galloped well during the past week. To all appearances he is in splendid order, but he may possibly need a race. It is proposed starting him in the Jumpers’ Flat Race on the first day, and this should serve as a good winding-up gallop for the Grand National Hurdles. The distance of the big event may possibly be against him, but the hurdle race on the last day should afford him an excellent opportunity of paying expenses AV. Rennie will be Luminary’s pilot at Riccarton.

The jockey T. Green left for Sydney by the Maunganui yesterday. Green is going across to ride Inflation in his Australian engagements.

The lightweight jockey W. J Broughton left Wellington by the Monowai on Tuesday on his return to Melbourne after spending a week in New Zealand. He will ride for L. Robertson’s stable.

The rising two-year-old colt by High Art from Baby Doll, in A. Cook’s stable at Te Awamutu, has been named Impasto. The youngster is a halfbrother to Royal Ruler and he is shaping very satisfactorily in his preparation for next season’s racing.

Great Emblem, who went amiss in the autumn, is to rejoin the regular brigade at Ellerslie next week. Great Emblem was blistered and turned out for a time after going lame, but he has been doing some work on the roads lately and is in good order to go ahead with a preparation. The Emblematic gelding should be a payable proposition this season if he keeps sound, as fie stays on fairly well. ‘

Referring to the amalgamation of tin two racing clubs in Gisborne, Mr J. \\ Nolan said at the annual meeting ol the Poverty Bay Turf Club last week that the arrangements had been finalised and racing next season would be carried out on the Poverty Bav Club’s course. The Racing Conference had granted the Poverty Bay Club eight days for the new season, so that there would be no loss of racing days in the district.

The Great Northern Oaks winner Speedmint has again been taken up by P. E. Pope at Takanini. She is at present only pottering about, but she will resume regular work on the track at the beginning of next month. Speedmint had up to date been a good and consistent filly and her present appearance encourages the belief that another profitable season is in store for her owner.

• • • The death has occurred in Christchurch of Jean McElwyn, one of the gamest and most consistent pacers ever raced in New Zealand She produced a filly foal to Jack Potts and was to have been mated with Silk Thread this season. She became very low in condition, however, and, although R. B. Berry took her home and made every effort to save her, she died last Saturday. Jean McElwyn’s blood lines compared favourably with the best in America, both her sire, Nelson Bingen and dam, Miss Spiers, being imported America by Mr E. X. Le Lievre Miss Spiers was got by Peter the Great —Widow Lola, by Onward — The Widow, by Welton—Maggie H., by Homer. Widow Lola is almost a sister-m-blood to Widow Maggie, dam of Mr McElywyn, 1.591, and Benelwyn, 2.11 who had he lived another 30 days’ would without doubt have entered the list of two-minute trotters. Jean McElwyn’s death is very bad luck for her owner, Mr D. R. Revell, of Auckland

At the conclusion of the Victoria Grand National Meeting W. Duncan was at the head of the winning jockeys’ list in Melbourne with 33i wins, with the apprentice, H. Skidmore, next with 33, while A. Reed was in close pursuit with 30J wins. Duncan has been premier Victorian jockey seven times in the last nine years. R. Inkson, a cross-country horseman, has achieved the high distinction this year of being sixth on the list, though he has not competed in flat events. Amongst the trainers J. Holt, 22J wins, was leading F. W. Hoystead 18, E. Fisher 14|, L. Robertson 14, J. James 13, and 8. Murphy 12.

A feature of the breeding of the winners of the two V.R.C. Grand National events that has not hitherto been noted is disclosed by their extended pedigrees as provided by “Beacon’’ in the Melbourne “Leader.” From these it will be seen that on the dam’s side both trace back to imported Gossoon, sire of Spalpeen, himself a great performer over jumps in the Dominion and the sire of many others who gained fame in this department of the racing game.

As cable messages have told us Dominion bred horses have not been showing much winning form at the better known fixtures in the Commonwealth. Nor have they had much success at the smaller suburban meetings, even among the ponies, where New Zealanders are wont to shine. However, Rosebery (Sydney) last week a division of the Fourteen-one Handicap was won by the Solferino—Sun Dance gelding Fun and Fancy, who was also a winner in a like event two or three weeks earlier. In the Fourteen-two Handicap at the same meeting the aged Martian mare .Battle Maid was very narrowly beaten into second place. On the following day at Menangle Park the Maiden Welter Handicap, one mile, was won easily by the three-year-old Tea Tray —Gazeworthy gelding Samovar.

According to the Melbourne “Sporting Globe,” double-event bookmakers reported a winning meeting over the Grand Nationals. One leading operator paid out £6OOO on the double, but he backed it with a fellow operator for £3OOO. Another fielder paid out £6OOO, mostly in comparatively small amounts, and a lot to country clients. The longest price about the Polygonum —Precocious double was 500/1, AVhile toward the day of the Hurdle" Race 100/1 was taken. Victory on the part of Areheson or Mosstrooper would have been disastrous for doublerevent bookmakers, as both horses were freely coupled with Polygonum.