HASTINGS TRACK NOTES AND GOSSIP

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXIII, Issue 7, 19 December 1932, Page 2

HASTINGS TRACK NOTES AND GOSSIP

The fast work on Saturday morning was fairly interesting, but the tracks were anything but fast, or maybe it was the horses. Practically all the galloping was on the plough. * * •

Cuddle was first out and, carrying over Bst., ran her half-mile in 52}, about as good as anything of the morning. This filly has fully recovered from her mishap. She is not as forward as other maiden candidates, but by the time the Hastings meeting comes round will be near right.

Cuticle and Shrewd were companions in a seven-furlong gallop. The former led for more than half-way, but from then on the Manawatu Cup candidate had it oh the Paper Money mare to finish ahead in 1.33}. Shrewd is very fit and may surprise next Monday. » •' *

Sunstead was given pace work and appears to have made' a full recovery from the accident that prevented him fulfilling Woodville engagements. « * ■

Gold Medal, who has no close engagements, with a welter weight in the saddle, took 55 to do the half-mile and for him this was very fair.

Royal Shift and Swift and Sure ran the sanle distance in 53, with the tatter going the better of the pair at the finish. The Bold and Bad gelding impresses as if on the verge of coming back to early spring form. Royal Shift hardly went as well as expected, but maybe a heavy track is not to this three-year-old’s liking.

Toboggan worked on the sand and was allowed to come down the straight at top, to run 12 for the last furtong. The Hunting Song inaro appears to be siightly sore. (

Bernera had it on Royal Highness at the end of four furlongs in 53}. Thu latter commenced on his wrong leg and was never going at his best. Bernera was always a good galloper and, although nowhere near ready yet, indicates that with a few races lie will soon bo “sitting up and taking notice.”

Princess Bell, White Fang and Head Sevang were m that order at the end of six furlongs m 1.19}. Princess Bell did her task in a convincing manner and should pick up a hack race m the very near future —say Awnpuni. • • •

High Grader, looking a vastly improved horse, was not given fast work,

but was anxious to go faster than the allotted task of pace work. He moved very freely.

Sabatini did not impress. He was sent once round, taking 1.25 to do the fast six.

Speed was not galloped. The Diacquenod gelding has freshened up considerably and it will not be many days ere he proves that his form of last season was no flash in the pan.

Halphyllis ahd Lavina took 55 to do half a inile, but were onHy galloping ifi patches. Lavina ran about a fair deal and this no doubt was the reason of the nature of the gallop. d • Oil Painting and the full brother to Imperial Fame did not do so badly to register 53} tor half a mile, 'line tatter over the final fifty yards had the grey’s measure and with a little more time may develop into a useful sort.

• • • Mr G. D. Beatson's Mercian King three-year-old filly and Squeeze did their half-mile on the grass and took 51}, but were by no means fully extended. This pair licked along over the first two furlongs to register 24secs.

Three two-year-olds, Limbohn (Limond—Bonny Briar), a chestnut filly in L. Stowe’s stabte by Psychology— Sunny Roe and a Mercian King filly of L. Berry’s were allowed to do thred at a strong three-quarter pace. All three are on the backward side, being the last to go into active training in these parts.

There was very little to choose between Oourt Lady and Bramblttorn at the end of seven in 1.34}, but neither were out to test the watch. The latter, on appearances at any rate, is a decidedly improved horse and should do well over the holiday meetings.

The Arausio —Hoy filly and Hylesta (Hymestra—Egyptian Flower) did paca work on the grass to come home the last furlong at top in a tick under twelve; Hylesta is a promising sort, but may not be forward enough to give a good account of himself at the approaching local meetings. The same applies to another of J. M. Cameron’s young horses, Sir Nigel (Grand Knight —Very Hot).

Dusky Crown (Crown Imperial— Mungista) was not galloped, doing solid pace work with a brush up over the last furlong or so.

Asterisca and Granny Quex went very well to get to the end of their half-mile in a tick under 53.

Ex Dono, with the best of the weights, was slightly ahead of Fondle and Gold Ruler at the end of a mile, which occupied 1.50}, the last once round in 1.45}. Fondle did the task the easiest of the trio, but all went well.

Slippery was, ever so much too good for Goshawk over half a mile in a shade under 53. The former was fighting for his head over the first half of the journey, waiting on his mate, but when it was found that Goshawk could not go Slippery was allowed to run along, otherwise he would have improved on the time. Goshawk, after he cooled down, was obviously lame. No doubt his knee is troubling him again and therefore the Magpie gelding seems an unlikely starter at Hastings.

False Scent Was doing nowhere near his best to run along half a mile in 54}.

» • - Bradman, on the grass and doing his very best, took 65 to cover five furlongs and on that effort does not appeal for his Manawatu maiden engagement.

Great Charter who also goes to Awapuni, over the same distance but on the plough, took 66}. Over the last furlong the big fellow was stopping badly and he appears to be nowhere near the form of last season, when he did so well.

Red Bank and Outward Bound, carrying well over lOst apiece, ran once round in 1.52, but were not out doing their best. Outward Bound finished well in the rear, but could have done better.

Royal Parade, rapidly getting into shape, and Teller, separately, did pace work. Tho latter is not going so short as a few weeks back.

Courageous was back doing pace work and, although it may be a little early to speak confidently, on appearances his trouble has been got the best of. No doubt, all the same, the old fellow would welcome a good day’s rain, but as far as that is concerned he is not the only one by any means.

Kimbo, with a good hold all the way, ran six furlongs in 1.30. This fellow is a very fit horse, and perhaps at Marton will make amends for recent defeats.

Manuiri' and all the balance of G. Greene’s team, with tho exception of False Scent, were given steady pace work.

Lady Spy and Royal Dash, from a standing start, ran five furlongs on the grass in 64}, a very good effort. The latter, with a big pull in the weights, held a decided advantage at the finish. Lady Spy did not show quite sufficient form to warrant her aceptance at Auckland. Royal Dash went better than any local maiden candidate engaged at Waipukurau.

Jack Green, the local horseman, will not be present at Waipukurau or Hastings, having been engaged to ride Chopin and others at the two abovementioned meetings.

It is not often that the “N.Z. Referee’’ errs, but in making the Statement that Shrewd, a winner the second day at Woodville, was trained by Mrs G. Macdonald, of Awapuni, it was incorrect, as the King Mark gelding has won every one of his races under the charge of tho Hastings trainer, V. H. Colollo.

Margaret Rose recently fell foul of a wire fence, and it is quite likely will bo unable t<f race at the Ideal meetings. This is very bad luck for owner Laurence Gray, who had tho Hymestra mare in excellent trim, and a win or two looked most likely.

Gold Trail’s failure at To Awamutu on Saturday was expensive to local spCrts. This particular track is on the small side, and Was perhaps greatly against the long-striding Chief Ruler filly. Even making 'this excuse for the loftalite, klio can now have but little, rhnueft of defeating bo New Zealand