GOSSIP OF THE TURF

New Zealand Times, Volume LII, Issue 12250, 23 September 1925, Page 10

GOSSIP OF THE TURF

Talk from Track and Stable

(By

"CARBINE")

RACING FIXTURES September 24, 25—Geraldine R.C. Spring. September 2G—Australian J.C. (Warwick Farm Meeting). September 26, 28 —Avondale J.C. Spring. September 26—Napier Park R.C. Spring. October I—Kurow J.C. Spring. October 3,5, 7,lo—Australian J.C. Spring. October 3—Hawke’s Bay J.C. Spring. October 8, 10—Whangarei E.C. Spring. October 8, 10—Dunedin J.C. Spring. October 9, 10—Masterton E.C. Spring. October 14—Birchwood Hunt Annual. October 16, 17—Oamaru J.C. Spring. October 17 —Carterton E.C. Annual. October £6—Waikato Hunt Annual October 29, 31—Poverty Bay Turf Club Spring. November 7,9, 11, 14 —Canterbury J.C. Metropolitan. November 14, 16—Waikato E.C. Annual. , * TROTTING FIXTURES OcMber 17, 21—Auckland T.C. Spring. October' 24, 26—Greymouth . T:C 'Spring. October 26—Oamaru T.C. Spring. November 10. 12, 13—N.Z. Metropolitan T.C. Spring. November 20, 21 —Nelson T.C. Annual. NOTES AND COMMENTS There trill be racing at Napier and at Avondale on Saturday, and at Avondale again on Monday. Askari was the best of the hurdlers seen out at Otaki, and when he won on Monday he paid a very short price. Lady (iay ran £ood races. She won nicely on the opening day, and was prominent again on the concluding day; but Askari held her safe all the way, and when it came to a run home he defeated her very decisively. Askari was well handled by A. McDonald. Moon Moth, a mare by Gold Crest from a Worry mare, gave a fair showing for a while in the hurdles on the first day of the Otaki meeting, but was not'seasoned enough to stay on. The test at Otaki was not a severe one, as the -fences are small and the company was weak; but Moon Moth left the impression that she might win in minor company when she is a little more seasoned. A feature of the Otaki meeting was the riding of W. Bowden. His effort in getting old First Line' into second position on the first day was a masterpiece, and he rode a clever race later in the day when he ran second on Nukumai in the big race. There is no doubt that if Bowden was a little lighter he would ‘hip up amongst the most? successful of-the flat riders. As it is, there is no rider on the fiat or over hurdles who is riding with greater skill at the present time. It is understood that Mr W. Higgins sold Enthuse before he raced on Moiraay. The price was £2o, and the chestnut is destined-to do service as a hack. Enthuse is five* years old, and still eligible to race in maiden company/ It was stated at Otaki that in future Mrs •Sleighthome's horses will be trained at Otaki by F. Higgott. The Wellington sportsman, Mr J. A. Taylor, leaves Wellington on Friday on. visit to Australia. • Yesterday's report concerning J. O'Shea, who is in an Auckland hospital suffering . from pneumonia, was that he was then very dangerously ill, Hymestrason ran two good races ‘at Otaki. In. each event he showed a lot of speed, and the fact that he was well

seasoned enabled bim to stay on better the opposition. However, he will have to do better than he did at Otaki to show that he approaches being a good one. Sasham ran a fair race on Saturday, and is a decided possibility in maiden company. : ■ After “running a really good race on Saturday, Arrowboy ran very badly on Monday, and he will have to show the public something pretty good before -he is agaih entrusted with anything like the support he received at Otaki. . „ Our Jack ran attractively on Saturday, and it did not come as a surprise when he won the Trial on the second day,at Otaki. However, the support for Arrowboy and Imperial Purse was heavy enough to make him pay a price that, even his connections could hot have expected. Modern was backed with great confidence bn Saturday, and she pulled »her supporters through well ancKpaid a fair price. She won almost as well again on the second* day, and .this time, though the dividend was a little smaller, it was in reality particularly liberal considering the excellent line bettors had to work on. Bonhomme was a great disappointment at Otaki. He did not seem to be able to manage the bad .going, and in addir lion failed to get a'way from tbe barrier well. He might yet live up to what has been expected of him, but at present the chances look to be against his doing this; Another of Tilley's team, Kilia, also , failed badly at the meeting!. The most attractive performance of the Otaki meeting were those pf Degage; who won very easily on the first day and was ridden with wonderful confidence on the second day,’’when she gave the field a start into the short straight and then won. • Eonmark won the two hurdle races at the Ashburton meeting in a style whibh augured well foK future efforts among South Island hurdlers, but he will meet stronger opposition when ho next appears. Money Order showed great speed in the race he won at Riccarton. on Saturday, and never looked in danger of defeat once he was* on the journey. shapes like playing a prominent part in important sprint events later in tbp season. Before then, however, he will, probably be a. runner in the Dunedin Guineas, in which he can be relied on to keep his opponents very busy. Of the New Zealand Cup candidates who raced at Riccarton on Batatday, Count Cavour'did beet, by finishing third in the Ashburton Handicap. He is still far short of his best, however, and though lie should come on a lot during the next few weeks, he may not be fully wound up for a long journey even by November. - l*lie Trenfham owner-trainer, H. B. Lorigan, has made -a very successful start on his ,Scuth Island spring campaign. His colours were carried ui only three events at the Ashburton meeting, and thby were successful on each occasion, Eonmark winning the , two hurdle [races, while Orchid captured the Farewell Handicap. They are both booked to race this week at the Geraldine meeting. »• - . . . Mr H. A. Knight has decided not to persevere with the three-yhar-old 4 filly Currency, bv Paper M9nev from Kilroy, and «ho will bo retired for the stud. The two-year-old paradd at Riccarton on Saturday attracted eight youngsters. The Absurd—Procrastinate gelding was in front in the, early part, but Scrip (Paper Money—Zia) caught him on the post, after showing a nice turn of speed. Tbe field was made the -Gay Lkd —Arch Lassie gelding, Boniform—M.lstino filly, B&nk Note (Paper Money— Equitas), Paper Boy. (Paper Money—KiL teel), Crossbow (Archery—Peace), and Countersign (Paper Money—Ki Iberry). Some of tbo youngsters are still backward, but apart from that there was no 6iifcgestion of a serious race in Saturday's effort, which was purely educational.