ON THE TURF

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXVI, 5 September 1934, Page 7

ON THE TURF

NOTES AND COMMENTS | Nominations for tlio New Zealand Cup, of £1275, two miles, to bo run at Riccarton on 3rd November, have closed, and, with a total of 59, compared with 45 last year, the response must be considered .highly satisfactory in view of the absence oi' so many good horses m Australia. Jlio North Island contributed 28, Riccarton 16 and other parts of the South Island 15. Following is the list Cleaner, 1 eter Jackson, Jonathan, Arikira. Beryl Latour. Ilorowhenua, Free Air, Hazoor, Walton Park. Timorous, Argentic, llanelagh, Spiral,' The Smuggler, Taitoru, Martian Chief, Gay Broney, Aesculus, Kemal Pasha, Ventrac, 'Sungem, Minerval, The Khedive, Gold Trail, Locksley, Steeton, Vocal, Polydora, Princess Doreen Royal Artist, Catalogue, Totolomni, Paladin—Fail-form gelding, 3yrs, Red Racer, Gainsfid, Red Manfred, Copper | King, Great Star. Rocket, Delrain, King's Knave, Vintage, Sweet Agnes, Tout le Monde, Cough, Some Shamble, Silver Sight, Synagogue, Might, Pawky, Nightguard, Inflation, Limbohm, Nightform, Grand Sport, Sporting Blood, Courtyard, Blue Boy, Davolo. Mr L. Field, owner of the Grand National Hurdles winner, Huntiquc, reports that the injury to the Hunting Song gelding is not so serious as was at first considered, says an Auckland paper. The horse is under veterinary treatment, to which the injury is yielding, and it is expected that he will be sound enough to race in another month I or two. A renOi-t from Sydney states that Silver Ring and Nisrhtß have been backed to win £IO,OOO over the Epsom and Metropolitan double. The Masquerader has also come into favour for the Epsom Handicap. The fact that Peter Jackson has been entered for the two principal handicaps at the Wanganui meeting indicates that the Nigger Minstrel gelding is training on satisfactorily. This horse has not raced since lie returned from Australia some months ago, and consequently may not he forward enough to do himself justice at the meeting mentioned. However, his form will be closely followed by racegoers, in view of more important engagements at a later date. The hunter Ardmanning has done well since he raced at the Pakuranga- meeting and is now more solid-looking than ever ho has been. He is a reliable jumper, and although he has not vet Avon, a race several placed performances are down to his credit. Ardmanning only began his racing career last Juno and he has been steadily improving since then. The Paper Money horse Inflation has been in work for some time at Awapuni, hut it was not till a few days ago that he was accorded liis first sprint, being sent over three furlongs. He appeared to run the first furlong slowly, yet he completed his task in 38 l-ss. which made it clear that he was travelling faster than his action indicated. Inflation, who carries many of the characteristics of his grandsire \Bonifomi), gave Mr H. E. Edmunds a wonderful introduction to the racing game by winning £1377 in bis first season. Although lameness restricted his activities considerably thereafter, he is not now shoving any sign of the trouble and, as he comes to hand quickly, he should be ready for racing within a brief space of time.

One of the unlucldest horses at the Auckland meeting was Impromptu, who should have won the Massey Memorial Handicap. Beginning with his usual dash Impromptu soon made up,.his ground and was in third place at the straight entrance. He was kept in behind Wee Machine coming up the straight, but in going fpx- an opening ho broke and lost a length at a critical time. His driver, C. Moran, then pulled him out, and ho came home in great style, only half a length behind the winner. Had Impromptu made his run on the outside he would have won easily There is no doubt the son of Pedro Pronto is a brilliant pacer, • and there are few in the Dominion who would ■' beat him over sprint distances. At the New Brighton Trotting Club’s ■meeting on Saturday the failure of favourites during the afternoon restricted speculation, and the sum of £14,182 handled by the totalisator staff represented a decrease of £2250 on the £16,432 invested at i,he corresponding meeting last year. Tire track was jn splendid order, and while it has been faster on occasions, it provided ideal footing for the pacers and trotters. From start to finish the racing was frill of interest, and f y bis victory in Mir- Bnrvvoo.i Handicap William Tell showed himself a greatly improved pacer, and one likely to reach the best class. Tempest won the Wainoni Handicap in most impressive style, and Header and Ruin, winners of the two events for unhoppled trotters, both gave displays that promise furtner ~nccess.

The Bur wood Handicap was a capital race from start to finish, the field running in close order for a mile and a quarter, when Worthy King and Erin's Princess dropped out of the contest. Smoko Screen was momentarily in front; but at the end of a furlong Grand Finale rushed to the lead and with Gunmetal, Smoke Screen, Golden Direct and William Tell following showed the way for over a mile. Golden Direct was then left with a slight advantage, but half a mile from homo William Tell raced up on the outside, and was actually first into the straight, with Golden Direct, Jolly Wave, and Bey Spec all making a bold showing. Over the last furlong William Tell showed undoubted superiority and as he passed the post with a- clear two lengths in his favour lie was by no means fully extended. He gave a first-class display and looks like developing into a class racehorse. As recentlv as the August meeting last month William Tell showed winning form over a mile and a quarter, but this time he showed that he could stay as well as sprint. He is by Four Chimes, a breed of horses that J. Bryce has had phenomenal success with. Golden Direct went another solid race, but found one just too good', and the luck of the running did not favour Rey Spec, who finished at a great rate to rob Jolly Wave of the third prize. The latter is definitely on the improve, and J. Bell, jun., may nick up a stake before long. Smoke Screen apparently had every chance but failed under the pressure, and Grand Finale faded out after his initial effort at pacemaking. Gunmetal' went, a useful race as also did Harold Denver Worthy King never appeared to be going comfortably and Erin’s Princess had had enough at the end of a mile and a quarter.

Racing in sulkies lends itself to very spectacle incidents at times, and Wink Eye and the driver, L. Frost, provided a. big thrill for spectators at New Brighton on Saturday. After the field in the Seaviow Handicap had become well strung out at the end of a quarter of a mile, Wink Eye stumbled and fell. Frost was catapulted from the sulky in a kind of slow-motion process, and after apparently being suspended in the air for an appreciable period, he landed on the mare’s neck. He at, once grasped the hridlo and soon had his charge under control without any damage to others in the race. Frost escaped injury excepting | for a shaking, and for his quick action in a, risky position lie earned a well-merited i cheer from, the crowd.