ON THE TURF

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXIV, 12 March 1930, Page 9

ON THE TURF

NOTES AND COMMENTS The Wellington Racing Club’s Autmini Meeting will commence at l'rcnChain on Saturday. In the Rinm Highweight Handicap Cileua Ray and Abcrfeldy sliouhl run well. Nine have accepted i'or tlio New Zealand St. Roger Stakes, one mile and tliree-ipiarlors. l'edestal, Duellona, Air Laddie. Vali and Swiftray liavo little to recommend them. Jaloux has shown disappointing track work lately. Aspiring lias been running well over sprint distances, but the distance of the classic may be too much for her. Hunting Cry has a good record, and should fight out the finish with the fast improving Waterline, which is the general first choico for the race. The PlunkeL Nursery Handicap should produce a great race. Awaken, Hard Words, Charmaine, Autopay, Appledore, Denny Diver, and Chief Jov all have a chance. Appledore looks like turning out a good one. and glowing reports have come to hand about Charmaine s speed. However. Hard Words has winning form, and will probably bo first choice, with Charmaine and Appledore next.

There is plenty of room for a surprise in the Thompson Handicap. The public will probably fancy Concentrate, Bright Glow and In the Shade, but Full Feather, Taneriri and To Awahina are each good enough to beat tho highestweightest horses, especially the latter if he has a strong rider up. In the field of twelve in the North Island Challenge Stakes, seven furlongs (weight for age), it is hard to go past that good sprinter Paganelli if the course is drv. Cimabno and Silver Paper will probably beat the younger horses. _ Havaspot ran well at the Wellington Summer Meeting and should find Tourist and Royal Opera hardest to beat in the Silverstream Handicap of one mile.

If Meadow Lark is himself on the day it will-be surprising if he is beaten. Richfield and Aspiring (if reserved for the race) appear to have the next best chances.

The last race is the Tinakori Handicap. Havaspot must have a chance if saved for this event. Otherwise Ex Donn and Hunting Call are smart ones. Hunting Call raced well at Blenheim. That good sprinter Havering, wlio was formerly trained at ITawera by_ his owner, Mr J. M. Corcoran, has joined W. Mantle’s stable at Now Plymouth. He is expected to make his next appearance at the Easter meetings. Everything points to Hector Gray taking the lead in the race for the jockeys’ premiership before very long, for his two successes at Bulls and tlie brace he notched at Napier Park places him almost on a level with H. Goldfinch, who at present lies very seriously ill in the Te A rob a Hospital. Though Gray was not seen to advantage in his efforts at Bulls lie deserved liis successes. Last week the new trainer, L. G. Morris, had the pleasure of providing for one of the patrons of tlie Fordell stable the winner of a trophy, this being in the President’s Hack Cup at the Rangitikei meeting. Erpiitant was ike medium

through which Mr S. ,T. Gibbons seemed (lio beautiful canteen of cuiicry donated by tho president, Mr James McKelvio, and though the fact that the Paper Money filly was able to stay out tho seven furlongs in good stylo caino at? somewhat of a surprise to some, it was evident from (he support accorded her that knowledge of her stamina was not lacking, Equilant may yet prove to be 1 in the same class as others of the progeny of Equitas, while it is quite on the I cards that “Snowy” Morris will p'ovidu ■ winners of far belter events Ilia’* that contested at Bulls. The seven-year-old Paper Money -Hi(iroa gelding Bank Draft, who, before going to Australia, won races for Mr A. i McDonald in the North Island and subsequently for Mr J. Johnston on the West Coast of the South Island, is now going still further afield. Sydney papers state that he has been sold to go to j Japan, where, as some humorist has said, “they feed ’em on chrysanthemums.” , t, ~, Chief Joy, who was runner-up to Bells of Shandon at Te Arolia, is a brother to Polyxena, who was sold by J. 1. Jamieson'to Phar Lap’s lessee-trainer, H. ielford. Chief Joy is owned )jy Messrs U. Nicholson and E. R. Davis. lie showed plenty of promise early, but, unfortunately, something went amiss a'id the youngster hail to be thrown out of work for a time. It was then decided to mill him to the list, and his appearance on (lie racecourse has, therefore, been delayed. lie made a very promising lust appearance at Te Arolia. and from all accounts good things are expected of him U Apart from Hotweed. who headed the winners in France last season with 2.111,965 francs (£17,032), the Italian crack Ortclla was considered the best three-year-old on French courses last season. He is forecasted as one of fctreplum’s chief opponents in tho hnglism Ascot Cup, and was fourth on the season’s winning list ill France with 65b,950 francs (£5290). Ortello, wlw is by Teddy, sire of tho disappointing bvdney performer, Rionscup. scored Ins principal succes in the Prix do I’Arc do Triomphe, in which the German Oleander was t *'zippor has taken kindly to the jumping game, and is showing promise as hurdler. He is a half-brother to Landbird, anil a brother to Magna Charts, so it will not be surprising if ho turns out good over the small sticks. The challenge of Amounts to Gloaming’s stake-winning record of £4.s,iuu is attracting attention in Australia as well as New Zealand. According to a writer in the Sydney “Referee, Amounis is not likely to attain the record this autumn. He says: In Sydney he will bump Nightmarch, Phar Lap and Chide, but. all the same, should find races like the Roselnll Raw- ' soil Stakes and Warwick 1' arm Chipping Norton Stakes to his liking. Sir George Clifford will have four ■ horses racing at the Wellington meeting, after which thoy will go on to Awapuni. Tho three-year-old, Wateiline, is the one who will attract most attention. He commenced his racing career by winning a maiden event at Trentham in January, and since then he has come into the limelight by scoring twice in open company. He is a big fellow, with a long stride, and his winning effort ill the Midsummer Handicap at Riccartooi marked bun off for higher honours as a stayer. He will be hard to beat in the St. Leger next Saturday, and he will not be out of place in the Trentham Gold Cup and Awapuni Gold Cup. hull leather is in good fettle, and only has to show his best form to race well on the trip. Hurlv Burly may pick up some money among tile hacks. The fourth member of the team, the two-year-old, Ball Dress, has a fair turn of speed, but she is small, and she may not get beyond useful class. Count Cavour is in great order, and his recent efforts on the track show that he is back to good form. He is a candidate for the Trentham Gold Cup, in which he should run well, though it seems too much to expect that he will i win, unless the track is soft, when the conditions will improve his prospects. [He will be accompanied by Leader. This three-year-old is not up to the best class, but he should pay his way at the autumn meetings. F. Christmas will be at Trentham with Red Heckle and Flair. The former, though a delicate horse, has done a lot of useful work lately. He is a great galloper, and he will take a lot of beating in the Thompson Handicap. Flair has been moving rather scratchily of late but she is a smart sprinter, who may pay to follow. Te Awlnna is booked for another trip to Trentham, where she showed good form in January. It. Ellis has her looking at her best, and she should pay her way on the trip, though the Thompson Handicap, on the first day, will be a hard race to win.

According to a northern report, H. Gray is to be married in Wellington

oil 19th March. So far he has not do cidod where lie will take up his l'csi dcnco.

Guy Parrish, <he American-bred stallion, was at the stud at Oaniaru during tho season just closed, but it is expected that lie will be brought to Addington in the near future and will join W. J. Towkinson’s stable (says tho “Press’), lie will race in tho interests of the Christchurch sportsman. Mr M. O'Brien. Guy Parrish is a stylish trotter, with undoubted speed, but unsoundness has prevented him from standing a searching preparation, hast year he was fired, and it is Understood that this operation has left him sound. Guy Parrish is a full brollior to the American sire, Arion Guy, 1.59. June Nordica, who won the mile and a-half event at Motukarara, was bred by her owner, N. L. Price, who also trained and drove her (says the Christchurch “Times”), he is by Harold Dillon from the King Colo marc Nordica, and like her dam, is a big upstanding mare who in no way resembles her sire, be is six years old and lias not done much racing, lie did not seem likely to lemnin sound and her owner wisely allowed her to remain in tho paddock until she was thoroughly developed. June Nordica has been in work for some little time past at Addington and has been showing excellent form in her training. In the Wairewa Handicap sho made a quick beginning and led throughout the race, winning easily in fast time. It looks as though the high opinion formed of her by her owner as a young mare will be thoroughly realised, and that June Nordica will soon bo found racing in the best company over a tw'o-niile journey. By winning the big race at Invercargill Erin’s Fortune gave further proof that she is the smartest pacer at present in commission in Southland. She should he heard of on northern tracks later on, as she has not yet revealed anything like her best gait. In Belle Axworthy Mr It. Young lias one of the smartest pacers in. Auckland, and though she is yet racing in middle-class company she is well able to take care of herself any time she is called upon to meet the best, says an Auckland writer. The daughter of Travis Axworthy—Belle Bingen has speed to burn, and, as sho is only four years old, there is plenty of racing before her. So far she has not been seriously tried at two miles, but up to a mile and a half she has done all required of her, and at Christmas she won at twelve furlongs in the smart time of 3.21. At Otaliuhu last week she decisively defeated a smart field at a mile and a quarter, going 2.46 3-5, which means that she will have to meet a better class in future. Just how good she is remains to be seen, but at this stage the best has not been seen of her.

Morning Sun has lightened up a good deal since he started racing this season, but he paced a great race in the Washdvke Handicap at Timaru. Making a good beginning, lie was steadied going along the back the last time, and finished up with a good burst of speed. He was bred in Southland, and is by Sungod, whose progeny are racing with great success at present. Eugene de Oro seems to be best over short courses. In the Washdyke Handicap, he made a capital beginning, and he was always with the front division. He just failed to withstand the late run by Morning Sun. Eugene de Oro is racing very consistently this season. Salient won the Fairlio Handicap at Timaru after leading all the way. The Brent Locanda pacer won decisively in the mud at Wellington last month, and has improved a good deal in the meantime. He is a long-striding pacer and a fine stayer. Ho will be seen in better company over two miles in the future.

Shady Spot went a fine race from the back mark in the Fairlie Handicap. Tho Sungod pacer, who is partial to a long distance, made up her ground in fine style, and was next the winner when half the distance was covered.

Kyra, who won the Temuka Handicap at Timaru, was for some time in W. J. Toonkinson’s stable, but is now trained by R. Townley. She is an aged mare by Bon Homme from that good trotter Gemma, who showed fine form in her races in Southland and Otago. Kyra has solidity to recommend her. and me improved a good deal on her .handicapped time. R. VownLv thus won both trotting events oil the program me. Cushla D’Or put up fast time in winning the Wai-iti Handicap at Timaru, as she was handicapped at 2.17 and went 2.12 2-5. She started the season by winning a mile and a half race at the New Brighton meeting in September, and since then she has won again over the same distance, and has been placed on three other occasions. She has not always kept solidly to her gait in races, but she has always shown a lot of speed. She is by Rey de Oro from Ma Cushla, and, being only a four-year-old, she may develop into a high-class pacer when she properly controls her speed in races. In her latest effort she went without any mistake throughout. Athalone’s great stamina gave him the victory in the Timaru Cup. With six furlongs to go he was sent to the front, and from this point the result of the race was not in doubt. Athalone is by Harold Dillon, and is one of the best stayers now racing. He lias raced particularly well for the last two seasons, and is fast reaching the best class. WELLINGTON SCRATCHINGS (By Telegraph—Press Association) WELLINGTON, 11 March. Wellington scratchings are : Thompson Handicap—Bright Glow; In tlie Shade for all engagements; Royal Parade.