ON THE TURF

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXVI, 5 April 1933, Page 6

ON THE TURF

NOTES AND COMMENTS The champion Silver Scorn was given a run over a. mile and three furlongs at Riecarton on Monday. It was not possible to time her over that distance, but she ran a mile and a quarter in 210 1-5. The first half took 51 l-sseo, five furlongs iu 1.3 4-5, seven 1.30 2-5, and the mile 1.43 4-5. She did not appear to he going at this pace, and her rider, A. Eastwood, sat still on her throughout the task.

Royal Artist, winner of the Mitchelsou Cup and the Wellington Cup, who lias been resting since the Te Aroha meeting, has rejoined P. E. Pope’s team at Takanini. The two-year-old filly Star Artist, a full-sister to High Comedy, notched a. third and a second in her first two starts in the spring, but failed to reproduce the form in her subsequent outings. She has a nice turn of speed and may later on fulfil her early promise. Fast Passage, who resumed work a few weeks ago after a spell, with a view to running in the Great Easter and Great Autumn Handicap, has been eased up. One of her legs showed signs of weakness, and, with no sign of the tracks becoming soft, it was feared she might break down if persevered with. She will be spelled for a few months, and then may be tried again for spring engagements. Witli the Winter Cup, New Zealand Cup, and Auckland Cup to her credit she has been one of the season’s star performers. In addition to Autopay, Golden Hair, First Acre, and Bayacre, Counterplay and Manchu were shipped to Sydney from Wellington on Saturday. They were in charge of W. Stone, who will train them at Randwick for their Christchurch owner, Mr E. Middleton.

A. E. Ellis was hooked to ride Fast Passage in the Great Autumn Handicap, hut as she lias been withdrawn lie will now have the mount on Shatter, while he will be on Cricket Bat in the Great Easter. A. Eastwood has been engaged to ride Rebel Song in both the Great Easter and Great Autumn Handicaps, and L. J. Ellis will pilot Merry Peel in the former event. The nomination of Golden Wings for the Great Easter Handicap at Riecarton was overlooked on the closing date, but it is satisfactory to note that the brilliant Awapuni gelding will be a visitor to the meeting. Ho has been left in the Challenge Stakes, run on the second day, and has been nominated for the Courtenay Handicap on the first day. The Australian-bred mare Solitaire 11. (Saltnsh —Fairy Lass) has been sold by Messrs Aitken and Wood to Mr W. Jeffries, of Hokitika. Solitaire 11., who is a five-year-old, showed some promising form at times, but on the whole her performances were disappointing. She has plenty of speed, and the West Coast tracks may suit her. Brambletorn is enjoying a well-earn-ed holiday. The gelding, who was bought cheaply by bis present owner, Mr J. Allison, of Porangahau, lias proved a really good investment. His younger full-sister, Thornproof, who is also the property of Mr Allison, is mow under the tuition of D. Moroney, who has had such a good run with her brother. Thornproof, who lias been off the scene for some time, will make her reappearance at Waipukur.au on Easter Monday. Fencing splendidly for a novice, Ganpat scored an end to end win in the Toko Handicap at Stratford on Saturday. His rider displayed judgment in taking the lead and allowing his mount to have a good view of each obstacle. It was a promising debut and Ganpat looks like making good at the jumping game. High Commissioner, a good favourite on both machines, was well handled, being in a good position all the way. He should be improved by the race.

Davistock is evidently returning to his best form, judging by the easy manner in which he won the Stratford Hack from end to end. He was always going at his ease and was never in danger of defeat in the run to the judge. Arikitea was always in the first three but could make no impression on the leader at the business end.

The Dominion’s two best horsemen, R. Reed and K. Voitre, were seen at their best at the finish of the Autumn Handicap at Stratford, lteed just squeezing Chopin home by the narrowest of margins. As usual Chopin tailed the field in the early stages, but he commenced his run three furlongs from home, lie was almost on terms at the straight entrance, but won only in the last few strides. Voitre on Carfex never covered a yard of extra ground, keeping to the rails all the way. He looked like holding Chopin off 60 yards from homo, but failed. Lucky Alice attempted to win from end to end, but was done with a furlong from home. Monaloff was in the picture all the way, but weakened in the run home. Seatown was going exceptionally well when he fell two furlongs from home. The announcement by the Auckland Racing Club that it has not been found necessary to reduce stakes for future classic events, is one of the most important decisions in the racing world for some considerable time. There lias been such a downward slide in this connection lately that several important races of this description have entirely vanished from the calendar, and the check given to this trend by the Auckland Club will bo received with great satisfaction by owners and trainers. The undoubted success of the win and place system of betting has no doubt had a bearing on the decision, and possibly some other clubs may soon be in a position to follow the lead. The aged gelding Pantler, engaged in crosscountry company at the forthcoming Riverton JI.C. meeting, was placed third in the steeplechase on each day of the Winton.Jockey Club’s annual fixture last year. He is raced as a son of Panmure (imp.) from Footstep, by De Witte from Ecliptic, by Sir Lancelot from Total Eclipse. As lie was foaled away back in 1918, Pantler is no chicken at the racing game, comments a Southern writer.

Try Luck was taken home by his owner after his double win at Tauranga, and it is not intended to go on again seriously with the three-year-old for several months. Try Luck is yet on the small side, but has plenty of time to fill out. Gay Lap was very little bigger than Try Luck at the same age. An interesting part of Try Luck’s history is that his dam was bought by Mr Te Mete as being empty the price being a. modest fiver. She foaled about seven weeks afterwards to Lapidary, the foal being Try Luck. What, was the greatest horse race ever run in the States? Moderns will vote for I’har Lap's sensational performance at Agua Calionte. Here are particulars of an old-time contest* which has, to our mind, more heroic qualities—it is assumed tiiat the story is based on fact. The race referred to was run in California in 1852, the contestants being Pio Pico’s Sareo, the undefeated champion of the cow country, and Jose Sepulveda’s Black Swan, imported all the way from Aus-

tralia to challenge him. The battle was “ballyhooed” (as they say) throughout the State, and thousands Hocked to the “track” to witness the match. The official stakes were 25,000 dollars in

cash, 500 mares, 500 heifers, 500 calves, and 500 sheep. “This race,” says the raconteur, “was not one of your ridiculous modern five-i’urlong sprints. These noble steeds raced nine miles, starting ou San I’edro street, near the city limits,’ and running four and one-half miles L> town and back again. The Pico entry took the lead. At the seven-mile pole, however. Black Swan, getting his second wind, shot past Sarco, and from then on it was just a ‘breeze’ for the Swan. Pico’s nag had looked great in competition with the ordinary ranch horses, but against the Australian speed demon he resembled a liiilkwaggon plug.”

1 A freak wager was laid by a bookmaker at Goslord, New South Wales, last week. Against Alice Gold, in the second division of the Encourage Stakes, he laid £IOO to a cigarette. The backer subsequently sold his ticket for ss, and the laugh was nearly on the fielder, as Alice Gold was beaten only by a short head.

Importance looks like proving a bargain at the 70 guineas which Mr B. F. Spiers paid for her at the clearing sale of the late Mr G. D. Greenwood’s horses in November, says “Argus.” She started off by winning a maiden event, of five furlongs, and since then she has shown promise of staying, giving confirmation of that idea at. Waimate, where she came with a late rush to win a mile race in the last stride. On present indications, this filly is likely to develop into a good performer next season. It need cause no surprise that she can stay. Her sire, Agrion, by Limond, was a Derby winner, and her dam, Egotism, is by Demosthenes from Conceit, by Boniform from the imported mare, Lady Wayward 11. (sister to Flying Fox), the dam of Emperador, a good class horse. Earlier in her career Egotism had several foals by Sutala, among them Pride and Jaloux, two useful stayers.

'The run of luck which commenced for F. J. Smith on the first day of the Thames Trotting Chib’s Meeting was continued on Saturday, when three more horses from his stable were suceussful, making his total number of winners trained at the meeting seven. As a result of those successes Smith has been elevated to second place on the winning trainer’s list, and to third place on the winning reinsmen’s list. The respective lists are now headed by C. S. Donald 26, F. J. Smith 21, and J. Bryce 18, and by C. King 21, M. Holmes 20, and F. J. Smith 19.

Pegaway further enhanced his prospects for the Te Aroha Cup by his victory on Saturday, and he is likely to be a firm favourite for this week’s race.

Events for 4.20 class horses decided during the present season in Canterbury have attracted very little interest with the exception of the recent New Brighton Meeting on the occasion of the meeting of Craganour and Indianapolis, but the fields for similar class races to be decided at the Easter fixture at Addington look much above the ordinary, and with Blue Mountain, Indianapolis, Ciro, Averlius, and Girvan included among the entries, very good contests can be anticipated . On Saturday morning some interesting work, in view of the forthcoming meeting ou the track, was done at Addington. Roi I’Or gave a very pleasing performance over a mile and a quarter in company with Tempest, Wrecker, and Peterwah, who started in that order iu front of him. A tthe end of a mile which took him 2.12 4-5, Roi l’Or was in second place to Tempest, and in a keen tussle to the finish Tempest had very little in his favour at the post. Roi I’Or’s time for the distance was 2.42 2-5. Tempest was in receipt of a start of two seconds from Roi l’Or. Peterwah trotted brilliantly all the way to finish very close up, and Wrecker was in line, Jput did not appear to put much dash into the final effort.

iloneymoon was responsible for one of the most brilliant efforts of the morhing when he ran two miles in 4.32 4-5, the last 10 furlongs in 2.44. Honeymoon is at the peak of his form at present, and providing he is not troubled by soreness he should soon be racing prominently. It is seldom that figures such as these are recorded by trotters at Addington, more especially by a horse still racing in a moderate class. Silver de Oro gave a most pleasing display over a mile and a halt. She had as companions Indianapolis, Denver City, Great Thought, and Neeoro, to whom she gave starts ranging up to the 48 yards she conceded the leader, Indianapolis. Silver de Oro and Neeoro were closest to Indianapolis with a quarter to go, but Neeoro tired, and although Silver de Oro paced very fast over the final furlong, Indianapolis had a slight margin at the post. Indianapolis took 3.19, so it can be seen that the effort of Silver de Oro was of great merit.

DISQUALIFICATION REMOVED DARGAVILLE CASE AUCKLAND, 4th April. A further development in the Dargaville racing disqualification case occurred at a meeting of the Auckland district racing committee when an application by R. E. Horne and A. G. Murray, jockeys, for the removal of their disqualification for twelve months imposed upon them, was granted. The case concerns the running of the President’s Handicap at Dargaville on 3rd December last, when the winner was Alloy, with Tetrachatc second, Hannibal third and Thespis and Bronze Tray unplaced. Horne, the rider of Hannibal, and Murray, the rider of Bronze Tray, were disqualified for twelve months on the ground that they conspired to assist Tetrachate to win.

WESTPORT JOCKEY CLUB ACCEPTANCES FOR ANNUAL MEETING (By Telegraph—Press Association) WESTPORT, 3rd April. The acceptances for the first day of the Westport Jockey Club’s Annual Meeting are as follows: — Trial Hack Handicap, of 65 sovs; six furlongs —Arrowmid, 8,1; Gold Arrow, 8.0; Dawn o’ Day, Marmoration, 7.5; lmasurvcy, Shootist, Nocturnus, 7.4. Bullcr Handicap Trot, of 75 sovs; 2.30 class; one mile—Silver Whip, War Sheila, Parallax, Zara Bingen, Lough Erne, Glengowrie, Bingen Palm, Marian Drusus, Cling Clang, Wracketeer, Marian Bingen, Queen Author, scr; Levanter, 12 yds blul; Red Comet, Plain Pearl, Great Wilkes, 36; Lorelei, Cinema, 48; Admiral Wrack, 72; War Chance, 132. Morley Handicap, of 135 sovs; one mile. —Miladi, 9.0; Ravine. 8.12; Argentic, 8.7; Little Wonder, 8.0; White Doe, 7.13; Miss Mercia, Don Jose, 7.8 j Eaton Hall, Noteworthy, 7.7; Gold Bag, Shootist, Fallow, Atone, 7.0. Electric Handicap, of 75 sovs; five furlongs—Full Crop. 9.0; Projection, 8.10; Royal Sceptre, 8.9; Little Wonder, 8.7; Flower. Subdivision, Awamutu, 8.0; Lady Rene, 7.3; Imasurvey, New Bov, 7.0.' ... Granity Handicap Trot, of 75 sovs; 3.45 class; one mile and a half —Silver Whip, Lazy Pete, Lough Erne, Glengowrie, Bingen Palm, Eastern Queen, Royal Wrack, Levanter, Queen Author, scr; Plain Pearl, 36yds Mid; Cinema, 48; Admiral Wrack, 72; Fernbrook Lass, 96. Scanlon Handicap, of 90 sovs; seven

furlongs —Projection, 9.5 ; Coil. Taku Tama, 8.12: Pakitere, 8.10; Miss Mercia, Don Jose. 8.8: Eaton Hall. Noteworthy, 8.7; Coomassic, 8.3; Jael, Ardfinmui, Shootist, 8.0.

1 Orawaili Handicap, of 80 sows ; six furlongs—Gold Sand, 8.12; Hampden, Knoekaiong, 8.4; Flower, 8.0; Gold Arrow, 7.12 ; Reserve Fund, 7.9 ; Jael, 7.7 ; Dawn o’ Pav. 7 5. Ku.ruitiea Handicap, of 80 so vs ; six furlongs —Mihuli, 9.1; Full Crop, 8.10; I Monastic, 8.7; Projection, Little Woii- | der, 8.6; Royal Sceptre, 8.5; Purse, 8.2; White Doe. Subdivision, Lady Rene, 7.3; Gold Bag, 7.0. NEW ZEALAND HORSES AT SYDNEY FIRST ACRE’S FIFTEENTH CROSSING (United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph— Copyright) SYDNEY, 4th April. Scratchings from the Doncaster Handicap include Rogilla. Six New Zealand horses arrived today in good condition after a stormy trip. The ship slowed down on Sunday. Autopay and First Acre thrived well on the journey as old travellers. This is First’ Acre’s fifteenth trans-Tasman journey.