TURF NOTES.

King Country Chronicle, Volume XII, Issue 1220, 5 June 1919, Page 5

TURF NOTES.

NOTES BY 'RIBBONWOOD.' The Ellerslie Carnival ha 9 advanced sufficiently to allow a discussion on the three big events. Cynic, the victor in the Northern Hardies, is an English bred horse by Henry Ihe First, and is an out-and-out stayer. 8e came into favoor on the eve of the meeting as a result of a couple of good schooling gallops when he went exceptionally well in the heavy going. In some quarters it was hinted —of course, after the race — that he was remarkably well handicaped. but this is not apparent as his form since be came to this country, ha« been very poor,. add even at Avondale in the autumn, be was banged right out and coold not win, while on the second day he fell. II is great improvement can be set down to the going, which was very heavy, and similar to that which be used to race on in Ireland. The falls of Art, Paraoa and Sleight of Band were unfortunate, but it does not look, on their subsequent form, as if the result of the race was affected. Thrace may have got a bit closer as he was wretchedly handled, and won on the second day.

Alteration ran bis best race to date when he won the Cornwall Handicap, but be seemed a trifle lucky to defeat laßt year's winner. Mangairahoe, who got a very bad passage. Tbe Tarauaki horse was suited by the rigbt-banded going, and there is no suggestion here of trying to belittle his performance. It is almoet superfluous to remark that tbe bookmakers all over the Dominion knew b!1 about it when Gray's mount won.

The Steeplechase was a very poor race, and contested by a weak 6eld. Waimai is getting on in years, and is not tbe horse he was. His burden of 12st 71b told its tale, though Tutchen rode bim a perfect race, while McDonald, on Master Lupin, made the top-weigbt carry his burden the whole way, and utilised the pace of tbe Wanganui Cup winner to serve his end. It was a good performance on the winner's part, as be had not previously started in a steeplechase, and no one had seen him schooled Yet he must have been well schooled for he certainly jumped in a quick, clean manner, and the much-talked-of hill was treated with scorn. A little bird whispers that during last year when he was spelling he was regularly worked on the hills at his owner's place, and taught to go up and down at his best pace, while it is a regular thing at J. Bulls' pl«ce that all horses from two years upwards are jumped over anything that comeß their way, such as logs, and gorse fencesTbia practice has been in operation for years, and a case in point was that of Gang Awa\ who was bred at Hunterville, and who, as a two year old, won a jumping competiton at Ohakea, in tb& Rangitikei. Tbe Levin meeting takes place on Friday, and amongst tbe runners in the Maiden is tbe two year old. American Beauty, who was placed second to Parorangi at Carterton. On this occasion American Beauty will be on her own track, and will not be meeting any of her own •ge, and so tbe price will not be a big one.