Northern Notes

NZ Truth, Issue 943, 22 December 1923, Page 9

Northern Notes

(By "Spearmint.")

The owner of Landbird has a grouch against the Licensing Committee. He went to the expense of taking his horse to the Waipa meeting, but on arrival at the course was informed that his rider had lost his license and he was too late to engage another rider. The jockey m question was m trouble some weeks ago, but he was not informed until he arrived on the course that his license had been withdrawn. It would be meeting the owners of horses if such disqualifications were made known earlier.

The Waipa Racing Club had a wonderfully successful meeting, with a good increase m the totalisator turnover and , other receipts. It will be found that there is a good profit over the fixture, which was well run by Secretary Wynward.

i By no stretch of Imagination could they be called a good, lot of hurdlers doing duty at Waipa, but several of tbe:n will see a better day. Lady Hill ran a good race and it was only m the last half furlong that General Rose bested her for the lead. Bright Light, the Taumarunui winner, was nlso going on at the right end. This is a promising sort that should do well over big fences as tho Waipa jumps, which are very stout, did not find any trouble for him. His owner, Mr. Ccc Emanuel, intends spelling the Charlemagne II gelding for a couplo of months and m thc winter he will send him south to take on races of the description named.

Old Gay Boy, with bandages on both front legs, was v runner m the hack hurdles at Waipa. He finished m the middle of the field and when the 'chases come on during the country circuit ho will bo well ready to play his part.

Somo Fashion Is nt her best now and she should pay her way well on the country circuit. She is beginning better m her races nnd ns she is a good Btuyer she Bhould be able to win over a mile. At Waipa sho was ridden by It. Reed, but there were several hotter backed runners ln tho flrsi event, She drew No. 1, but wa.s soon headed off and was just behind the leaders Into the straight. Then she came out and won easily. Later In the day she was saddled up again and In much better company Just failed to beat the well-backed Sir Burnett. The latter showed a great improvement on bis recent form and thero were several good winners over him.

York Abbey has not furnished much during his spell. He i« one of the leggy type cf Quin Abbeys and will require ago to be at his best.

King Quin was ridden Into the ground In bis flrst start at Waipa and. of course, he stopped badly m the straight.

Take Take i.s a great beginner when right, but at Waipa ho was ridden In behind and finis-hod fast behind Some Fashion. He started again later m the day. but this was bad tactics as he has been up no time. Needless to say he ran badly.

The win of Uncle Jack m the Waipa Maiden was very popular ns his owner Is a steward of the club and one of the hardest workers m It. He trains the winner and the cheers which greeted bis victory must have been niore pleasing to him than thc stake

Thero witn a very big field m the Maiden at Waipa and half the homes had no chance to *how their best form. The favorite wax the llanno^palr of two-year-olds and with an ounce of luck Abbey Bells would have won. hut she wan badly placed at the Mart und then had to work her way through a big field. Under such circumstances lt wan a meritorious* performance to get second.

The imported Drawbridge was well fancied for the Maiden at Waipa, but he lost his rider at tbe start of the race. He has been a most unlucky horse and twice now he has lost his pilot.

Prince Lupin, who was bracketed with Abbey Bells m the Maiden at Waipa, had a reputation for pace when he was first tried, but he then went off. He looked well enough at the Waipa meeting, but no idea could be obtained as to his ability as he had no show at any part of it. He has been left m the Royal Stakes at the A.R.C. meeting, but this was probably an oversight.

One of the best conditioned horses seen at Waipa was R. McMiken's Glencairn, but he failed to show up m the Cup.

There was good money for Te Kara m the Te Awamutu Cup, but he failed to get near the leaders at any stage, though he was again running on at the finish. On that form his Cup prospects next week do not appear rosy.

Royal Box was produced m the Te Awamutu Cup. but at no stage of the race did he become prominent. He looked as if he wanted a race' and should be better at his next start.

After the field had gone three furlongs m the Cup at the Waipa meeting it was apparent that nothing had a chance but Tinokaha, Boomerday and Musketoon. who were well clear of the field. ' The former, who led all the way, won nicely, and thus showed that the Taumarunui ' form Was no fluke. Boomerday met him oh 121 b better terms, but had no show.

Musketoon was ridden by W. Ryan m the Cup nt Waipa as it was feared that W, Bagby would aot be strong enough to keep the imported horse on the track. This surmise was probably correct aa he gave Ryan a lot of trouble and ran out badly at each turn.

Stork could not handle the turns at Waipa and he finished last m the Cup;

C. Coleman went to Te Awamutu last week to arrange for the National winner. Oakleigh. to be sent back to his stables. Oakleigh takes a lot of getting ready now, hence the desire of his trainer to get an early start on him. Quite possibly he will be sent to Australia this coming winter.

Tinokaha has been a wonderful bargain for his last two owners. Sold opt of R. Hanhon's stables for £50. he went oh and won several races for his .then owner, who later passed him on to Mr. L. "Bater for a good sum. He' has since gone on the right way and has won ,nearly two thousand pounds m stakes for the last-named. He is very useful up to ten furlongs, and. being* such a good beginner, he is always assured of a position early m his races.

Everybody seemed to think that the handicapper had taken a chance m only penalising Tinokaha three pounds for his dual win at Taumarunul, but despite this he was allowed to pay a false price .when he strolled to the front and stayed there m the Te Awamutu Cup.

The Huntervllle owner, Mr. .T. Bull, took two horses to the Waipa meeting, but returned home empty handed. They were Brigadier Bill, who could not handle the right-handed going, und Ngata, who was very unlucky to be beaten. The latter had a big weight and got a very bad run. Ho Is very well now and whatever his owner takes on at Christmas the punters would be well advised to be with him. If Trainer J. Morris can keep the bay gelding on his pins he will be at his very best very, shortly, as he is coming on with each race.

Finelli was backed like a certainty at Waipa, but she failed to run on In the straight. She went very fast over ' the first half-mile after missing the jump-out and the big weight beat her.' "' On' that form she does not appear to have much show In the Railway Handicap, but she will have 151 b less to carry and this may help her.

Taumarunui form worked out wonderfully well at Waipa, where nil the horses that had raced well on the Wednesday ran right up to their earlier efforts on Saturday.

In the past the Waipa Cup has often been a guide for the Auckland Cup. It can not be thia year as the winner is not engaged.

In. the past few years « the hacks around Auckland have not been of much account, but visitors to Ellerslle this year will find them a lot above the average. Horses like King Merv and White Comet will hold their own with the best m the land.

Black Cruiser was made a good favorite for the open welter at Waipa, but he could not handle the turns and ran last. He had shaped well when lie won at Taumarunui earlier In thc week and his trainer. Harry Rayner. was fully expecting him to win easily. His dismay was apparent when thc lesser fancied stable-mate, Veloclform, ran a close second to Gold Jacket.

Sycorax Is looking well now and sho will pick up a stake shortly. She has been working with Tinokaha and showing up well with him. She is a hard mare to ride as she gets her head down and gallops all tho way llko this.

A big punt was done on White Comet at Waipa nnd, despite the big field, he came home alone. On that form he will tickle up the best of them m the Shortland Plate, as he is evidently a greatly Improved horse.

Tarleton appeared to have tho Ohaupo Welter well won at the turn, but In the last fifty yards he collapsed and finished out of a place. The race will do him a lot of good and his owner will most likely start him m the Christmas Handicap on the first day and so givo him another run before the Derby. He will be very hard to beat In both events as Jones haa him looking a picture.

The Imported horse. Lnpldary, has been suffering with a cold and his owner was unable to start him at Waipa.

Slnco her win at Dannevirke tho Imported mare. Maria of Hereford, is a big boom here and she is expected to show up m tho Robinson Handicap. Hor owner will find it harder to win the' race In question than he did at Dannevirke.

Tc Kuri Is now coming back to his beat form and what beats him In the Itoblnson Handicap at Ellerslle will get the stake.

After an absence of thirteen months from the racecourse Starland was produced m the Welter at Waipa, and for a time he ran a good nice, but he was well back at the finish. The race should do him good and later on he should bo found equal to winning a race.

Tbe Shortland Plate will bo a great race between Pelham, White Comet and Suggestion. The latter Is a greatlyimproved three-year-old and will repay tho attention of backers.

It will be difficult to got a suitable rider for Gold Rein m the Christmas Handicap, hui with a rider like W. Bagby Jn the saddle he would be very hard to bout as lie lias all the best of the weights. Tarleton will also take a heap of stopping if his owner elects to rtari him m this race m preference to the Cup.

Sharpened up by thc racing he has had lately Peter A mans should bo about right now and with M. D. O'Shea In the raddle he will probably be made favorite for thc Grafton Hurdles.

Tho Railway Handicap nt the Cup meeting la regarded as very open, but good beginners like Mlreuponta. Tuklo and Murihaupo are Bure to give a grout account of themselvcM. Mlreusonta, with R. Herd In thc aaddlo, may be the actual favorite.

All the welght-for-age events at the Cup meeting have drawn good fields and should provide good contests. In the Foal, Stakes the presence of Inferno, Motley artd Klllochra, not to mention Sdn O' Mine, Nigger Minstrel and Day Guard, will mako for a stirring race. The favorite will he Inferno, who has v stride big enough to break the hearts of the others, and when he puts them In at the finish he will fly past the leaders.

The Derby will a)so be n very fine race. With Black Ronald. Ballymena, Tarleton, Razzle Dazzle. Wild Hind. Queen March and Suggestion it will be difficult to name the winner and those fortunate enough to back the tirst past the post will get a good price. Tarleton and Razzle Dazzle will both be very hard for tho favorites to dispose of.