WOODVILLE TEAMS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23111, 9 August 1938, Page 7

WOODVILLE TEAMS

PROMISING JUVENILES LA BRU SHAPING NICELY FRANCIS DRAKE WELL FORWARD ■ f Woodville stables usually produce a good two-yetu'-old every year aud this season should bo no exception, for the present lot look to be the most promising that has been seen there for some time. On Saturday morning a number of them were sprinted in company over a couple of furlongs down the back and two that wore particularly impressive were La Brti and Lutanist. The outside of the course proper was used for fast work, the going being holding. Lutanist (Cavaney), Pen (Gilniore) and Silver Stick (Rayner) finished in that order alter sprinting two furlongs in 25 4-ss. Lutanist is the Constant Son—Lute String colt purchased by Mr. W. H. Gaisford at the Sydney sales and, although he has not been in a great length of time, he lias come to hand very readily and looks one that will make a name for himself. l'en, by Acre from Windbag, is owned by 11. E. Russell, who is at present away in Sydney with a team. Pen is a solidly-made colt, but his action is inclined to be faulty. Silver Stick, by Beau Pore from Silver Pule, is green and did not impress as well as his companions, finishing some lengths behind them. Bronze Flight (Gilniore) showed morn speed than lvobi (Coslord) while running two furlongs in 2C l-ss. Bronze Flight shaped well and is a smart looking colt by Bronze Eagle from Lady Borneo. Xobi, a half-brother by Bulandshar to Flanuuarion, is sturdily built, but does not appear to be a likely early winner. Smart Two Furlongs La Bru (Rayner) proved too good for Ivory (Cavaney) over two furlongs in 25 3-os. La Bru, by Beau Pere from Mandane, who is a line big iilly, is a very attractive mover and was most impressive. The Ringmaster—inlaid filly Ivory, although on the small size, is a keen goer and looks the right type for early races. The remainder of the two-year-olds, Loyal Queen (Laekhani —Foreign Queen) and Pern (The Buzzard—Culfort), were let off with steady work. Loyal Queen is a stylish-looking filly, but, owing to her trainer, J. Sullivan, being absent in Suva, nothing serious' has been asked of her yet. The Australian-bred Pern is one of the most attractive colts that has been seen at Woodville for a long time. He was brought in only recently, and it is not intended to hurry him. Francis Drake (Cosford) strode over five furlongs comfortably in 1.7 4-5. The Chief lluler horse has wintered exceptionally well and will be in forward condition for his spring engagements. Oourtcraft to Keappear Coronation (Cavaney) pleased more than Homily (Hayward) while executing a working gallop over five furlongs. Coronation, by Limond —Jewel of Asia, is bearing a bright, muscular appearance, and good things are expected of him this season. Homily has furnished into a solid fillv, and the halfsister to Courtcraft will probably be the stable elect for the Wanganui Guineas next month. C. McCullough's pair, Shining Hours and Flammarion, moved freely while getting through serviceable tasks. The brilliant but unsound Flammarion is standing up to his work well and should not he far from his best when asked to race at the Combined Hunt meeting at New Plymouth at the beginning of next month. Courtcraft is expected to come into work again this month. He has been hacked about on his owner's property for the last couple of months, and is now showing no signs of any leg trouble. Courtcraft will probably be seen out again in public at Christmas and is likely to be sent to Sydney in company with Coronation in the autumn.

BETTING FACILITIES PLEA FOR WIN AND PLACE AUCKLAND'S RESPONSIBILITY A suggestion to the incoming committee that the Auckland Racing Club should revise its programme with a view to attracting larger numbers in certain races was put forward by Mr. F. E. McKenzie at the annual meeting of club members yesterday afternoon. Mr. McKenzie said they witnessed the departure of horses to Australia because tho betting facilities provided by the club were not sufficient. In small fields and with a small pool, a large bet by an owner was not economic. The speaker thought the stakes now should be at least as largo as they were in the "boom" times. In comparing: the number of competitors in the Great Northern Steeplechase witli other events of similar calibre, Mr. McKenzie claimed _ that better fields would be attracted if the conditions were made lighter; say, a race of three and a-half miles, with a run over the hill twice only. He referred to the Clifford Plate and the Royal Stakes as events which could Avcil be replaced by good hack welter races. Tbe speaker inquired as to the feasibility of the club's falling into lme with most other racing and trotting clubs in reverting to the win-and-place betting system. In support, he quoted published figures showing the average of investments a race at Ellerslie and country clubs in tho Auckland Province, in which ho considered the .comparison was not in favour of the Auckland club. Ho himself had supported six winners in succession at a recent Ellerslio meeting and his profit liad been £l6. Mr. Nicholson: You did very well. Mr. McKcnzie urged the committee to study tho table referred to. Mr. Major protested that the ethics of inducing people to spend their last shilling was a false one, and, as far as the taking of horses to Australia was concerned, let them inquire of owners when they returned how much profit had been* made. They did not want bookmakers hero. In Queensland tho suppression of starting-price betting had resulted in the totalisator returns being almost doubled: He looked at the club's activities in a direction other than tho encouragement of betting. Rather should they strive to have taxation remitted for tho increase of stakes. They were now working on sound lines and he hoped they would so continue. The president said Mr. McKen/.ie's suggestions would be carefully considered. The Auckland Racing Club was tho premier racing club in New Zealand and other clubs were watching very keenly and continually reminding it not to put up stakes out of all proportion , and so give them a chance. If one wealthy club set a standard to which tho others could not aspire, it would bo doing a very harmful thing for racing. EARLY FOALING COLT TO FIRST LAP The first foaling of the season reported in Auckland comes from tho Mardella Stud, Otahuhu, where First Lap produced a colt to Vaals on Sunday. First Lap is by Lapidary from Trill.