ON THE TURF

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXIV, 20 June 1931, Page 11

ON THE TURF

RACING FIXTURES June 19, 20—Hawkcs Bay J.C. June 23—Egmont-Wanganui Hunt Club. June 26, 27—Napier Park R.C. June 27—Ashburton County R.C. July 4 Oamaru J.C. July 14. 16, 18—Wellington R.C. July 18—Waimate Dist. Hunt Club. July 23, 25—Gisborne R.C. July 25 —South Canterbury Hunt Club.

TROTTING FIXTURES

June 20, 22.—Aueklan<l T.C. July 4.—Oamaru J.C. (two events)

Gay Lap has been once out of a place in nine starts, and his four wins were worth £440, so he is still eligible for hack races. His defeat at Te Rapa was costly, but he should soon make amends. In at least one big race in the Dominion colonial bred sires lead; that race is the Great Northern Steeplechase and, of the 47 contests decided to date, 29 races have been won by the progeny of colonial-bred sires. The Australian-bred Spalpeen leads with four winners, El Gallo, Waimai and Master Lu having scored for him. Battlement, who has not raced since Easter, 1929, has been undergoing a preparation as a hurdler at Hastings and has given some encouraging displays, lie is to make his debut as a hurdler at Napier Park at the end of this month Aladdin is the first of the Hunting Song breed to make good as a hurdler and, as the oldest of the Hunting Song's racing are only four years, this lino may produce some good performers over the battens.

A ton of money was lost on Catoma during the first two days of the Great Northern meeting, and when lie won the Carbine Plate the majority had dropped him. He should win a good race this winter.

Ammon Ra and Bronze Engle are doing useful work at Takanini. Both are in splendid health, and, with the tracks In easy condition, they should have plenty of work before their 'departure for Australia

Seatown was unlucky to be born in a year In which so many exceptionally Jiigh-class two-year olds and three-year-olds were bred, and had His natal day been postponed a year or two years, he would probably have doubled his total of stake earnings, states a northern writer. Commendation. Lysander, Limerick and Kiosk were a quartette of brilliant perforfners who met Seatown at two and three years, and but for Commendation a New Zealand Derby would have stood to the credit of the Stratford gelding. However, it is significant to note that he has outlasted the select

NOTES AND COMMENTS

ON GALLOPS AND TROTTING

quartette who raced against him early in his career, and his recent success in the Cornwall Handicap indicates that he is far from a spent light. Umtali, who created a favourable impression by winning the Hunters’ Steeplechase at Wingatui, was having his first race for two years. There is no doubt Snowfall is the best ’chaser in the south of the South Island and, being a good stayer as well as ’.i clover jumper lie should be heard of at the National meeting.

Cricket Bat, who wound up his first season’s racing with a win in the C.J.C. Challenge Stakes, has attracted the attention of a Wellington buyer, but the deal was not completed. He looks very well to begin the preparation for the three vear-old racing. The Calibre gelding Guncasc isi stated to have taken on a new lease of life, and according to reports from Wingatui is in bright, healthy condition. As lie has been striding over 1 lie schooling hurdles with plenty of dash, the 14-year-old is apparently not yet a back number.

The veteran ex-North Islander Tuki gave one of the most finished displays of fencing at the Dunedin winter meeting, lie lias only to keep sound to pay his wav this winter.

Little Doubt showed up in his races at Ellerslie, finishing fourth ir the Fitzroy Handicap and occupying a similar position in (lie York Handicap, one mile. At Te Rapa he looked improved, and won Hie Winter Handicap in good style after waiting in behind the leadersi to tho straight. On Monday he was again well supported for the Hillside Handicap, and, after being much further back at the turn, came through on the rails to heat Valroe narrowly. Little Doubt is about at his best, and lie should be worth keeping in mind for forth joining engagements.

The Lord Quex gelding I’m Alone, who is now being trained at Hastings, is freely engaged in hack races at the Hawkcsi Bay meeting. Latest reports from that centre state that he is galloping in good style on the track and is expected to show up in his early engagements. I’m Alone has not raced for some time, but is a useful hack at bis best.

Interviewed further concerning the unfortunate shooting of the racehorse Loving Clip, the owner, Mr Mervyn Wells, of Cambridge, said that in view of the possibility of further action being taken lie was not prepared to say much regarding the circumstances associated with the shooting of the horse, states an exchange. Mr Wells stated ihe had had two offers of considerable suras from Auckland and Ilunterville owners for the purchase of Loving Cup, lint decided the horse was worth more than the amount offered. Loving Cup had only been schooling over the “sticks” for seven weeks, and his prospects were bright, as indicated by his performance at Ellerslie. He intended taking Loving Cup to Wellington next month to compete there, and considered his chances wore good. In winning the Whitiora Hack and the Te Paliu Hack at Te Rapa, Valueless showed that he is a fairly useful sort. He is a four-year-old gelding by Valkyrian from Passionless. During tho present season he has done most of his racing in the Wellington province, winning the Novice Plate, six furlongs, at Woodville, in February, and the following month at the Rangitikoi meeting he won the Rangitoto Handicap, run over a similar distance. In the latter event lie beat Paratoo and Playground. The New Zealand-bred gelding Waterline, whose principal claim to fame lies in the fact that lie defeated Plmr Lap in the C. M. Lloyd Stakes at the Victoria Racing Club’s Autumn Meeting, will he put into active training again next week by Adam Skirving. Waterline contracted a severe chill when taken to Sydney for the Australian Jockey Club’s Autumn Meeting, and was unable to fulfil his engagements after the Doncaster Handicap. Since his recovery Waterline has had a beneficial spell, and Skirving lias every hope that he will be fit to challenge Phar Lap again in the spring. Royal Love hit out freely iu a seven furlong spin at Riccarton on Thursday morning reports the “Star,” in which he had no difficulty in beating Aberfeldy, who is in nice order for his first race over country. Royal Love will he ready t'o show further good form before the end of the winter. Fortune’s Wheel ,the five-year-old sister to Phar Lap, in Mrs J. Campbell’s< stable, had to he spelled some time ago j owing’ to meeting with a slight mishap. She is quite sound again, and she j is striding along in useful tasks. She lias put on a lot of condition and generally has improved in appearance, so there is hope for her as a racing prospect next season. Mr G. M. Currie’s new sire, Posterity, will make the second son* of Son-in-Law to reach New Zealand. The first is Siegfried, imported by Mr R. Holden, of 'Hawkcs Bay, last January. Posterity is out of Hemlock by Spearmint. Limosin, the five-year-old gelding by Limoiid from the Absurd mare Intrigue, suffered in jury during the running of j the final race on the first day of the ) Feilding Easter Meeting, and his death ! is now reported. Limosin was owned ■ and trained by IT. Brown, formerly of j Trenthain, but now of Otaki. At a meeting held some months ago ; it was claimed that the hurdles had been lowered by some unauthorised person in the interests of a certain runner (which subsequently won the event). On the first day of the recent j meeting of the Otala Racing Club a similar case took place, but the stipendiary steward on duty (Mr Saiulihuuls) noticed the interference with the jumps and had them raised to the advertised heights, Bald Man grows new hair with Brice s Special Strength Regenerator 5/6. Nees, j Chemist, Hardy street.

The performance of Sir Voyage at Ashburton when he won the Stewards’ Trot and recorded the fast time of 4.35 2-5, would not come asi a surprise to those who saw the son of First Voyage win at Hie Waikato meeting. It will be remembered that at the Waikato meeting he was on the front of the 4.50 class and he .made lii.s four opponents look as though they were not trotters at all. Tho track was heavy and Sir Voyage did not put up fast time, but the manner iu which he trotted made it clear that he was a fine trotter and woulu not he long in reaching the best company. On Saturday lie had His second start in the Dominion, and again he won. ft is very evident Mr Paul wast impressed with the performances of Tomkinson’s horse, as he has penalised him 48yds for the Auckland meeting, which brings Sir Voyage back to a 4.42 mark. For his two wins Sir Voyage has come hack 90 yards, or eight seconds. Mountain Mist, who was narrowly defeated, inis been racing very consistently for some time. He put up two good performances at Oamaru last month am) paid a big dividend when he won at the Canterbury Park meeting. He is a solid customer who will make further improvement. Satin King atoned for his .failures at Addington early in the month by winning the Ashburton County Handicap decisively, after being one ol the leaders all tho way. "It is evident that lie has quite recovered from his slight accident. His performance showed him up as a high-class pacer, and it is obvious that his Southland successes earlier in the season were the reward of merit. He will get a lot of money yet. in the best company. The performance of Sunny Bob in running second was a very line cue. He was up with the leaders all the way, and he put in a fine late dash. The’racing at Addington appears to have done him good. Rolio s slowness oft' the mark cost him some ground, but lie was well placed at the end of _a mile, and finished on strongly. He is improving steadily, and he should get a good stake over’ two miles early in the new season. Dillon Logan, who was well backed, settled his chance by breaking at the start, lie lost a lot or ground, but when lie settled down he paced a hue ll’.o three placed horses —Satin King, Sunny Bob and Rolio—all joined the rapidlygrowing list of horses eligible for the 'New Zealand Cup, provided the conditions are the same as last year.