NOTES AND COMMENTS

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXIV, Issue 80, 16 March 1934, Page 2

NOTES AND COMMENTS

(By “The Barb..’’) The North Island Challenge Stakes, seven furlongs, comes up for decision at Trentham the second day (Saturday) and is creating no little interest. The best of the two-year-olds claiming engagements are Custodian, Variant and Synagogue, and on their performances this season may not prove as good as the older division. The three-year-olds and upwards comprise Autopay, Silver Ring, Diatornous, Golden Hair and Red Manfred. This race should be the tit-bit of the meeting. « -s »■ The nominations received by the Hawke’s Bay Jockey Club for its autumn meeting are right up to those of last season. » # <► The decision of the H.B.J.C. to continue with the win-and-plaee mode of betting has mot with criticism in some quarters. • » • Father’s Choice (Lord Quex—Charlady), a member of L. D. Berry’s team, is now getting into shape, and in one or two runs of late has shown distinct promise, but his injured hock (when a loal) may affect him a little when the tracks are hard. Fondle has been turned out, and it is quite possible she will be mated with Lord Quex this season, as thir cross (Fondle is by Leighton) has in the few occasions used proved most satisfactory from a galloping point of view. Cuticle will in future bo tried over middle distances, and judging on her recent finishing efforts over seven furlongs should have little difficulty in running out a solid ten furlongs. » » • Sabatini is no friend of quite a few ! race-goer , nevertheless they may be interested to know that the Arausia ; gelding of late has thrown off that > soreness that has characterised his gal loping for some time, and at the pres ent time was never working belter. As the tracks have now lost their sting this gelding may prove well worth while this coming autumn and winter. • « • Royal Bengal had his first run along i the other morning for some time, and ’ went with al! his. pld-timij freedom and 5 brilliance.. When in the mood. Royal s Bent'iJ 's right nn tn metropolitan

form, and one that may be suited to winter conditions better than any other. Stitch has temporarily been placed with trainer W. McKinnon at Greenmeadows. His usual trainer, Jim Price, is unable to come down here ovet the Easter meetings, as he is busy with the rest of the team, hence the change in trainers for the present. • * • Cawbeen, who returned from Dannevirke last week-end without racing, is still suffering from a slight cold, which is gradually improving. She may go to Wairarapa to race over the Easter meetings, as also will Mr. C. Haldane’s team, Speed, Swift and Sure -and Queen’s Pride, but all will be back for the second day at Hastings, * * • Hunting Star is working attractively on the Hastings tracks, but is not being asked anything of a really serious nature. So far his “blistered’’ leg appears all right, but ho still wears heavy bandages when working. Asterisca has not been nominated for the Hastings meeting, it being deemed advisable to give her a good spell and so throw off the cold completely. » * • “ Abbey Fcale has been returned to her owner, Mr. M. Lane, who in all probability will endeavour to train her

himself. • • • The Cockpit —Molong filly in J. Pearson’s stable is gradually getting into shape, and is easily the best looking of anything that has yet been seen on the track by Cockpit (imp.). « * • Hunting Jay has joined up with W. Griffiths’ Hastings team. This horse is a hack above the average, and the next time out will have many supporters. Colds, but not of a very serious nature, are prevalent in local stables, and the latest to be in the fashion is Limbohm, so that his trip to Wellington had to be cancelled. This is indeed hard luck for his connections, as the Limond three-year-old is a very tit horse. • • • J. Lawry’s two Hunting Songs from Marsurd will race as (the mare) Marsong and the gelding as Wadden Chase. • • • So far Mahora is standing up to his exercises and it is hoped he will see out a preparation sufficient for him to come back to his best form, which is quite good enough for anv meeting. * * • Glassglough, the Lord Quex gelding half brother to Kick Off, has this last week or so showed a decided improvement in his track gallops. He is a fine lump of a horse, and it is the intention of his trainer to try him as a steeplechaser this coming winter. As he has been hunted he should not take long to develop. Brambletorn, who is running out at Porangah-au, is reported to be making a recovery from his lameness, but wjll not be brought, back into work for some months yet. Swift and Sure is gradually throw ing off his soreness, although ho still works a little “scratchy.’’ w * • Trainer G. Green has the two-year-old. filly liy Tractor out of Tigeroy back under his charge. She is a big filly, anil one that her immediate connections think something of. • « a In answer to a query, the followin'’ are the essential particulars in connection with the Flying Handicap. ( furlongs, rim Inst .lime nt Napier: 3/1 Slippery 9.3 (T Atkins) 1, 1/2 Rovnl ITuntine 9.4 (B 11. Morris) 2, 2/3 ITuntingdon 10/5 (L. G Morris/ 3 Also ran: 6/6 Cylinder (S. Wilson' fourth. 4/4 Chopin (J. Olsen! an* l 5/f False Scent (I. Callahan). Roval Hunt ing, from No. 1 barrier position, win out first from Slipperr, No. 1 nt the I barrier. These two had the race to themselves all the way, and any nd 1 vantage was with Royal Hunting, who I was nlwnvs nr tl.n hot in ’io

run to the winning post Slippery wore his older brother down to win by half a length. Time, 1.15 2-5. a « • Huntingdon, who was sold some time back to go to Western Australia has started several times of late but has failed to finish in the money. Another Fisborne-owned horse in Megaphone in the same State has been racing unsuccessfully of late. Although Slippery was obviously lame after being galloped on Tuesday morning he has been taken down to Wellington for the second day’s open six-furlong race.