GOSSIP OF THE TURF

New Zealand Times, Volume LII, Issue 12251, 24 September 1925, Page 8

GOSSIP OF THE TURF

Talk from Track and Stable

(By

“CARBINE”)

NOTES AND COMMENTS Printemps ran a great race on the first day at Otaki,. and on this form looked to have a good chance in the principal event on the second day; but > on this occasion the old fellow was a little disappointing.- However, he is very well, and though now nine years old, may yet add to his winning list. It was generally recognised that Merry Day was unlucky on Saturday at Otaki, and she proved this on Monday by winning the Memorial Stakes very decisively. She was not well placed when the field turned fqr home, hut she cut them down in the straight and won easily. Even allowing for the fact that the best was not seen of some of the opposition, backers want to realise that the little mare is returning to form, and to remember that at her best she was pretty good. Padonna ran a v4ry poor race on Saturday, but on Monday gave a much better showing and finished up his task over six furlongs very determinedly.

x Miss Hupana is as well now as ever she was—probably better. The easy manner in which she won at Otaki on Saturday made her look a certainty on Monday, and she was backed down to evens; but luck was against her. Hymestrason got the best of the start, and Miss Hupana, giving him 221 b in,weight, had to be bustled along to catch him. She was with him at the home turn, but the effort had taken a good deal out of her, and half way up the straight her rider decided to apply the stick. In searching for his whip, however, he allowed the mar© to slow down, and 6he lost ground at a critical stage of the race. Hymestrason appeared to win easily, but there would nave been nothing between the pair had Miss Hupana had as much of the luck as the Hymestra gelding had. Clandhu is coming on nicely with racing, and should be a fit horse next month, when he has a New Zealand Cup engagement to fulfil. The Kilbroney yearlings bred at Waikanae received a good advertisement in the two-year-old race at Wanganui, filling first, second and fourth places. The winner was Kilperon (from Peronilln), the second waß Kilmoyler (from Maltegarde), and the fourth was Glen Innes (from Glen Helen).

.In Wellington the favourites for the New Zealand Cup are Gold 'Light, Haze, Musketoon, Pilliewinkie, Count Cavour, and Nukumail Gold Light and Pilliewinkie have a lot of weight; Count Cayqur is reported to be backward; Haze is fancied because of the Mason influence; and Nukumai does not seem to be class enough for the race. So it is pretty certain >that the order of favouritism Will soon undergo a change.

Rapine has come into considerable favour for. the; Avondale Cup, and despite his 9.9 is expected to run- a good race. He is a good class horse, and if he has the services of Roy Reed he will have a lot in his favour on the score of horsemanship. The light-weights Erne and Ballymoy II have a lot of followers for the open

six at Avondale, and among their strongest supporters are the Ellerslie track-watchers. R. J. Mason returned from Sydney yesterday with Gloaming, Lucinda and Haze.

Several trotters were brought across from Sydney by the Ulimaroa, which arrived here yesterday. Among them was Snow Shoe, a hay gelding for E. J. Smith, of Christchurch; and Royal Time, for P. Sharp, of Petone. The Hawk has hod some notable experiences in the Hill Stakes, the mile weight-for-age race which he won at Rosehill on Saturday. Two years ago he beat Beauford, whose career practically closed with that race, as he had to be given a long spell, and only made a brief but unsuccessful appearance last autumn. Last -year The Hawk again contested tho Hill Stakes, running third to Ballymena and Gloaming. One effect of Saturday's win ie that the brilliant Martian gelding will now be recognised as a force to be reckoned with in some of the rich weight-for-age prizes at Randwick.

The steeplechasers, Tigerland and Whipcord, having finished racing for this season, have been sent home by R. Longley, to be spelled) for a few months, after which they will return to Ricearton, to be prepared by their old trainer fbr next winter’s jumping campaign.

A threerjear-old filly by Tractor from Arai-te-TJru, has joined R. Longley's stable.

The two-year-old Battlement,. by Martian—Polymnia, has been gelded and F. D. Jones will give him a spell before putting him into work.

Malaga is booked to race at the Geraldine meeting this week* F. D. Jones realising that Tie requires plenty of racing to bring-him to his best. He will also make the trip south for the Dunedin meeting, where he will have as a mate the promising two-year-old Bank Note, by Paper Money from Efcjuitas.

R. Alexander intends to race the tliree-yoar-old Philanderer at Geraldine, after which he will make the trip to Wingatui, where he is engaged) in the Dunpdin Guineas. The Gay Lad gelding is on the improve, and apparently he has been sharpened up by the race he had last week. He is not a brilliant beginner, but he gives evidence of staying. Pilliewinkie is subject to rehandicapping for the New Zealand Cup as a resiilt of his'win' in Australia on Saturday, but (remarks the Christchurch /‘Star") as the conditions of the race only allow him tp go up one pound, to 9.6, hi & weight-fdr-age impost, it is probable lie will be left in his original position. The five-year-old Nassau mare, Zaragoza, a half-sister to Malaga, has rejoined F. D. Jones’s team,, after being worked by W, Holmes for some time. She looks in good order and as she has shown some speed, she may soon be a money-earner.

L. A. Pine is to ride. Value in the Avondale Stakes. This youngster is by Paper Money—Grey Linnet, the dam of that good horse, Songird. Value is owned, by F, Loomb.