ON THE TURF

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXVI, 7 April 1934, Page 8

ON THE TURF

ON GALLOPS A

RACING FIXTURES TROTTING FIXTURES By winning both races that he contested at tlie Auckland meeting Jonathan was responsible for two sterling performances. His victory in U H ‘ Eastcr Handicap was accomplished in a brilliant manner, for he was at the rear of the field when half the journey had been covered. However, lie responded gamely and got up to win in record time for the race. He sedred in the Huia Handicap on the second day very easily, despite the fact that no was conceding upwards of two stone to,tlie rest of the field. A. Cook produced the son of Thespian in rare order for his engagements and more money looks assured for him before tins season ends.

Gay Blonde’s effort in sharing the honours with Burnish in the Champagne Slakes on Saturday, entitled her to be ranked among the best of this season’s juveniles. Variant, who on Monday heat the southerners, was beaten on each occasion they met by both Burnish and Gay Blonde, so that the honours of, the season appear to be with the latter pair. Gay Blonde is certainly most consistent, as in her fourteen starts she has never tailed to weigh in. Her record is live wins, three seconds, three thirds and three fourths, while her stake earnin';* total £835. The definite supremacy of one or the other will not now he decided as both will go into winter quarters, but the meeting of the pair next season as three-year-olds will he of great interest.

When paraded for the Nelson Handicap on Monday, Alpinus looked improved! and raced accordingly. He was always in the picture, to finish sixth in that event, and it would seem that it may not he very long before lie is rewarded with a stake. A big fellow, Alpinus possess the capability when right, and jf lie continues to improve as he has been doing cl late he should he a useful sort for winter racing, particularly as he is suited by soft going.' One of tlie easiest wins at the Auckland meeting was that of Thespis in the Brighton for he quickly ran to the front and the issue was never in doubt. Although he made one faulty jump, his fencing was an improvement on his previous ellorts and he should he a good proposition during the coming jumping season. Thespis is an ideal £ype for hurdle racing, as lie is a proved weight-carrier and possesses more speed than the average run of jumpers. He still shows -■ tendency to run down his fences, but that should he overcome with the schooling he will get during the next few months. lle should lie a fit horse by the time the winter meetings come to hand. Arrowrose is a smart little filly, and although she is but a pony, she is speedy and courageous. It was fairly strong opposition that she met in the Dillman’s Handicap at Kumara, but after makihg the race nearly all the way, she still had the stamina to hold off a fast-finishing challenge In' Solitaire 11.

Marolia, a good-looking three-year-old by Martarnia-Wimple, won the Junction Handicap at Kumara like a good horse. His chances of securing a double success, were extinguished when he. was squeezed back in tlie Dillman’s Handicap, in which he finished fourth, after giving the others a useful start. Ho.should not lie long in adding another win to his credit.

Kamo had to cover a lot of extra ground during flu running cf the Ku liiara Goldfields .Handicap, but he won well in the end. He overhauled the leaders in the straight, and quickly headed them. Th c allowance of fill is which brought his weight to 5.9 was useful, as he was bulfetted about during the running. Riotous who scored his fust success as a steeplechaser at the Auckland meeting, created a good impression by tiemanner in which lie negotiated the big fences. He had had little previous experience, and in the circumstances nis display was highly satisfactory. This horse will have further opportunities • y gain experience before the steeplechase season begins in ear.irst, and more is likely to be heard of him later on. But for losing his position a leader in the Kumara. Goldfield Handicap, as they turned for the straight, Katun Hall would have been very hard to head off. He drifted back to fourth place, and was then disappointed in attempting to get up on the rails. Even so, ne finished close up, a nose behind Giggleswick in third place, and his prospects of collecting a stake during the circuit, appear bright. Although Gold Sand won the Highweight, Handicap convincingly at Kumara-, the aged gelding, Coll, made a bold bid to will this event for the fourth year in succession. He could not quite see out the distance, hut Lee nursed him well for a final run, and Gold Sand had to be shaken up in the straight. Now Unit Gold Sand has struck her best form, she should be a liyrd horse to keep out of a place during the remainder ol the Coast circuit. I). Hastings lias her looking in tip cop order, ami she will not be greitly troubled by weight. Sir Pombal, who went diappointing races during the Christ mas circuit show cd much improved form at Kumara. and, racing generously, lie just went under to liaroha- in the Junction Ilan dicap. He was not in a good position early, but with a strong run over the last quarter mile, lie gained oil the leaders, and headed Marolia just as they passed Hie post. King Ford displayed all his customary speed m tiie Iluia Handicap at Klicrshc, and although Jonathan beat him comfortably at the finish he was by no mean disgraced. The race was run u: record time for the course, for widen King Ford was mainly responsible as lie was out making the pace irom the start. J. F. Tutciien has the King Lupin gelding in tip top condition, ami ns lie has not been 'over-raced tins season he will lie dangerous in lutmc sprint events The race King Musk laid on the fii:.l day of the Auckland meeting proved benelHal to him ami ho displayed improved form in th» Nelson Handicap on Monday. He did not begin wi ii hi-, usual dash, and consequently was mu too well placed in the early stages ol the race. However, lie finished VRl '.' T fast- once he got an opening, but Lagoon, who had a. olear inn ihroirghouL, was 100 good for him n the u.-V Now that King Musk has shown In at no is returning to form again be should .>e worth keeping in mind dining tha n'sof the season.

What promised to provide « se.nsalional race over a mile and a ha between Walla Walla and the champions of New Zealand in the match rai ■ at Addington on the second day completely spoilt, partly by misau\en-

NOTES AND COMMENTS

ND TROTTING

tore and partly by driving tactics. Walla Walla was clecled favourite, and with little delay ql the post ilar.iid L'>gm> was first away, followed by Red Shadow, while Walla Walla dropped into third place. No sooner had lie done this than August drove Jewel Pointer up on the outside, and 'with the ho-r.es in front loitering- the Australian was unable to make any progress. The order was Hie same for a. whole round, completed in lmiii 43 2-ssec, and still Harold Logan dawdled along in front of Red Shadow, with Walla Walla, directly behind, with Jewel Pointer on tiie outside of him and Lindbergh behind him. The driver, McKay, hid no option. He had eventually to dion back, and this he did just as the half, mile post was reached.' Harold Logan at this stage had a substantial lead, and though Red Shadow made a m'eat effort in the straight, he had no chance of beating (lie Canterbury crack. • As a match race the contest was a failure and it provided no indication of the merits of tiie horses. Walla Walla dip not have a- chance from the star!. He was the' victim of a bad position at the start, and hick in the running. Harold Logan looked even better than he did on Saturday, and as he was allowed to run the 'first mile in 2min 16 4-ssec, he had plenty in reserve to come his last half mile in 59 3-sscc. Harold Logan won well a most disappointing race, and his driver, M. Homes, cannot he binmed for refusing to make a fast pace, for any other driver could have had the front position. Red Shadow was given no test of his staying ability. H was merely a half-mile sprint, and he could not go with Harid Logan over this distance. Lindbergh was the unlucky horse of the race, for Jewel Pointer struck his sulky wheel and the Author Dillon gelding had to travel half the journey with a Hat tyre. He showed his brilliance for a time, but the extra handicap proved too much for him. Just when he elected to make his run from the back of tlie field Jewel Pointer went with him, and McKay pulled Walla- Walla out to go with the pair. Tlie result was that tlie Australian put his foot through Jewel Pointer’s sulky wheel, and struck himself immediately afterwards, which put Inin right out of the contest. Lindbergh was third, a minor award for a. great effort. Walla Walla followed and Jewel Pointer was last. Sectional times of tiie race will show the muddling pace at which it was run. They are: First two furlongs ’>6 l-ssec, half mile lmin 9sec, six furlongs lmin 43 2-ssec, mile 2min 16 4-5 sec, last four furlongs 59 3-ssec, lastquarter mile 29 l-ssec.

From soon after l lie start Walla Walla was securely pocketed, and lo the average spectator there appeared no possibility of his finding an opening. A pace I hat would not have, clone credit to maiden performers was set, and though Harold Logan definitely showed his superiority over Red Shadow in a race run as this one was, there was no suggestion of a test over a mile and a half journey (comments the “Press”) ■ Tlie crowd was bitterly disappointed. The outstanding performance of tlie afternoon was registered, by Worthy Queen in tin: High-Class Trotters’ Handicap, and her 3min 14 l-sst-j for the mile and a half was bettor than that recorded by the crack pacers m the Invitation Match. Worthy Queen on (lie opening day had shown her form by trotting a mile and a half in 3miu 15 3-ssec, and establishing a world's race record for imlioppled trotters. This time she improved upon her first day’s efforls. and though ti e official time for (lie distance must go down as the record, private watches made her go 3min Usee from post to post. This is getting very close to the world's record of 3min made against time, and established by Peter Manning in America some years ago In this case it may be safe to sav that Worthy Queen’s record is the best ever made, for she bad to cover a good deal move ground than the actual mile and a half, and she did her time on a track only six furlongs in circumference, as against the mile circuit on which Peter Manning made history in America. It way a splendid exhibition from start to finish, made the more pleasing by the good judgment- and reiusmansliip of the driver. J. S. Shaw. Worthy Queen is the best mile and -. half trotter over seen in New Zealand, and it may be years before her official figures of 3min 14 l-sscc are lowered by one in her class llio finished display set- off all Iho disappointment -if the Invitation Match, and showed tlie vapid improvement that lias been made in the development at the unhopplc-d trotter. And while itlie (winner is given full credit for her win, another mare, in First Wrack, finished second after a- performance that has seldom been equalled in New Zealand. From a 3min 26sec mark she improved nearly eight seconds on her handicap time; a performance in this class only less remarkable than that of flic winner. Biddy Parrish, who finished third, also gave’ a high-class display, for thoughsiie was slow to find her 'feet, she gave away a good start, and fairly electrified' the crowd with her sensational burst of speed over the last half-mile Walla .Walla’s stable-mate Auburn Lad showed himself a pacer of class when be won the President’s Handicap like a really good stayer, and 'n a maimer be atoned lor the defeat i-r Hie champion. Always in __ a good position bis driver, WL McKay, took no risks of being hemmed in, and he raced the speedy local pacers from the three furlongs post. In liis finishing effort 1m showed the greatest gameness, and with a little more experi cine of New Zealand racing conditions iie inigli 1 - develop into a cup horse; GREYMOUTH JOCKEY CLUB GIGGLESWICK WINS HANNAN MEMORIAL QUIETLY COMPLETES DOUBLE GREYMOUTH, (ith April. The following were the concluding results on the first day of the Greymouth Jockey Club’s Meeting: Hannan Memorial, of £120; one mile and a quarter-—1 Giggleswick, 8.9,'

I 1: 4 Coomassic, 7.8, 2; 3 Sky Rover, j 7.9. 3. Scratched: Eton Hall. .Earthquake. Won by half a length, two lengths. Time 2.7 -I-.'). Metropolitan Hack Handicap, of .170; one mile —l Quietly, 8.1, 1; 2 Gold Arrow, 9.0. 2: Zetes, 7.10, 3. Scratched: Beltws-y-eoed, Forceful. I Won by a head, two lengths. Time M2. ' I Kaiata Trot, of £7O; one mile and a. quarter—s Replica, scr 1; 12 Eastern i Queen, GO yds Idid, 2; 8 Atraletle, 30 yds lilid 3. Won by a neck, two lengths. Time 2.50 4-5. Scratched: All Kings. Flying Handicap, of £7O; five furlongs and a half—l Haulbowline, 10.4, 1; 3 Full Crop. 8.6. 2; 7 Free Rose, 7.3, 3. Also started: Royal Sceptre, Margaret Rose, Awamulu, Arrowmaid, linasurvcy, Lackslon. Won by two and a half lengtiis. Time, 1.7. Totalisator investments were £4053, compared with £4542 last year. WALLA WALLA TO RACE AT WELLINGTON WELLINGTON, This Day. The Wellington Trotting Club was successful in its application for a permit which has become available, and has made an application to the [dates committee for 19th May. Mr 'Martin, the owner of Walla Walla, has agreed to the champion competing in a special race over a mile and a quarter, and it is understood that the owners of Harold Logan, Red Shad-... and Lindbergh have also agreed to alloy' their horses to race provided ! that all is well with them at the j time. Glenrossie will probably be an 1 additional starter m the event. SYDNEY YEARLING SALES < (United Press Association—By Electric, Telegraph—Copy right) < SYDNEY, 6th April. \ At tlie yearling sales a chestnut colt £ by Heroic from ,Shepherd Princess, described by the auctioneer as the living image of iiis sire, brought 1100 guineas, tlie purchaser being Mr R. Skelton. Another by Heroic from Tresseith also brought- 11C0 guineas, the purchaser being Mr E. O'Sullivan. A chestnut colt by Rampion fetched 500 guineas, and other Rampions made 85 to 275 6 guineas. A Brazen colt brought 260 E guineas, Legionnaire stock 140 to 425 1 guineas, Caledon stock 70 to 275 guineas E and ail Excitement filly 300 guineas. p V, THE STABLES FIRE | SYDNEY, 6th April. = The yearlings which perished in the ~ stables fire were a brown filly by Gros- - venor, winch had brought 70 guineas; a E black colt by Rosewing, 140 guineas; E and a chestnut gelding by Dieaque- f nod, 61 guineas. = George Price’s, -stable contained E Kuvera, Sir John. Ran- E chero, Blixten, Gladswood and severaj - others which took part in the A.J.C. t Autumn Meeting. Chatham was quar- E tered in a box on lire east side of the E stables, and was in no immediate danger E owing to the wind being in the opposite r direction. S: L. Chisholm lost polo equipment, liar- E ness and other gear valued at £2OO. E The fire is believed to have started E through a. cigar butt igniting coir mat- a ting in the arena.