Turf Turf

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 89, 6 July 1927, Page 6

Turf Turf

By

“EARLY BIRD"

racing [

Wellington’s Day The Wellington "Winter meeting is to be held on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday of next week. Pentagram Misses Pentagram, 9.8, ran unplaced in the hurdle race at Rosehill last Saturday. A few mornings previously, at Randwick, he galloped seven furlongs in 1.30 J, an effort that gave the critics to furiously think. Did Not Start Le Choucas and Clarus did not start in the Flying Handicap at Rosehill last Saturday. As cabled on Monday, the latter had a bad cold. He Choucas ran second (a dead heat) later in the day. Rode Three Winners At the Coura (New South Wales) meeting last week, Maurice McCarten iode three winners. This would be a measure alleviate the pains of the outburst made against him when he won on The Thorn last Saturday. Did the Hat Trick New Zealand-bred horses won three races at the Victoria (Sydney) pony meeting last week. They were: Tea Leaf (Tea Tray—Cresson), Joanee (Clarenceaux —Carol Singer), and Inclusive (Arrowsmith —Exclusive). The hi.st-named was a very hot favourite. Tea Leaf was also favourite, but at nice odds, while Joanee was at a big double-figure quotation. Son of Merry Roe Merry Melody is the name chosen for the vearling colt by Catmint from Merry Roe, while Mr. H. A. Knight has elected to call his I'olymestor—Protection gelding Tariff. The Book Is Out There is no greater admirer of (lioaming that the owner’s wife, Mrs. L>. Greenwood, who is at present in Sydney, and she has written a book entitled. •‘Gloaming, the Wonder Horse.” The “New Century Press” is handling the publication. Joc<ey’s Wanderlust A. Orrell, the well-known Newcastle jockey, is off to India again. Orrell always had the wanderlust, and few Australian jockeys have ridden in races in s.s many countries. He paid a previous visit to India, and has had experience in New Zeaalnd, and in most Stales of the Commonwealth. Winnings of Valais Valais is not likely to reach this year liis enormous stake-winning total of last season—£ 57,368. It is, however, practically certain that he will top the previous record of £43,114 which was held by Comedy King At the end of nine months his total was £38,796. Considering that since; the early days of Heroic, Fujisan and Manfred, Valais stock have not developed in time to win the rich youngsters’ races, the stakes won by them have been remar ka ble. Breeder of Valais Mr. W. M. G. Singer, member of the English Jockey Club and breeder of Australia’s champion sire Valais, was keenly interested in Australian racing during his recent visit to that country. Mr. Singer races several horses himself, and latest files from the old country show that his four-year-old King’s Oven, a son of Gay Crusader and Postbridge, won the County Moderate Plate, a mile race worth £IOO, at Bath on May 18. Another of Mr. Singer’s horses, Grassmoor, finished second to Colorado in the Newbury Cup last week. Did Not Pay Up Pamplona is said to have improved a good deal in appearance since he raced at the Dunedin winter meeting. In the Wellington Steeplechase Pamplona is weighted at 9.5, a substantial drop from the 12.0 he had to carry in the Otago Steeplechase-. Evidently the Wellington handicafc>per does not rate Wirgatui form as very high, for Cartoon, who carried 10.8 when he won the Otago Steeplechase, is asked to carry only 9.4 at Trentham. Both the Otago steeplechasers appear to be underrated, and every encouragement has been given to their owners to take them to Wellington. Pamplona did not accept for the Wellington Steeplechase. CiYcus Horse? Lord Crates’s conditions is not only puzzling his owner-trainer, J. Vidler, but also several veterinary surgeons. The gelding was taken to the meeting at Kensington on Monday, and appeared to be all right. After the jockey lvad weighed out. however, he developed lameness, and the stewards ordered his withdrawal. The gelding is lame one minute and walks and trots about the next as if there is nothing amiss. Lord Crates has been in the hands of I several veterinary surgeons. None of I i iem can locate the tr< üble. Vidler inI te /?? s to s P ell in the hope that he ■ will get over the trouble.

Weight in Winter Hurdles In considering possibilities for the Winter Hurdle Race at Trentham it is just as well to bear in mind that probably in no other hurdle race does weight tell so much. For the past eight years no horse has won carrying over 9.13, this being the weight carried by Nukumai in 1924. The failure of the top weights must be put down to the heavy ground that inva.riabiy rules at the Wellington winter meetings, and unless a dry period is experienced between now and the clay of.the race, the conditions are likely to be as usual. The consistent failure of the top weights is, ol' course, no assurance that they will fail again this month, but facts about big races like this have a habit of repetition, and they are generally a useful guide in summing up cases where all other qualifications are more or less equal. Valais Progeny at Trentham The first of the stock by the great Valais to be offered in New Zealand, including an untried two-year-old lilly and the gelding Lausannep a winner and a place-getter in leading events; and the imported English mare, Rapicle (a winner), by Polygnotus, is to be offered, at the bloodstock sales at Trentham on Friday of next week by Wright, Stephenson and Company, on behalf of the Westmere (Wanganui) breeder, Mr. John Donald, and the liveliest interest is being taken by sportsmen. In addition, there are Australianbred yearling colts, geldings and fillies by Comedy King (imp.), Great Star (imp.), Surchedon (imp.), Biplane (by Comedy King), The Verderer (imp.), OkrysoJaus (imp.), Polymestor (imp.), Pershore (by All Black), Violincello (imp.), and Australian Sun (imp.). These high-class youngsters are bred from female lines which have produced such great horses as The Tetrarch. Polymelus, Heroic, Cicero, John o’ Gaunt, Spearhead, Magpie, Musket, Trafalgar, etc, all entered for leading classic events. After these have been disposed of, many horses in training will come under the hammer. THE GOATS! HOW THEY CAN GO POITREL BAD AT BARRIER QUEENSLAND’S NEW PASTIME The Rockhampton carnival of goat races last week —the most important of its kind held in Australia—was attended by thousands, including a good sprinkling of Southern visitors. Koongal, the present Queensland champion goat-racer, swept the board in the principal events, winning a treble, including the Melba consolation The previous meeting, to which Dame Nellie Melba was enviously looking forward, was prohibited by the police because it was held in a public thoroughfare. Dame Nellie was much annoyed. The fields were very large for the 24 events, the competitors numbering 100. Koongal registered one very convincing victory, giving away 75 yards in two furlongs. ANOTHER MANFRED? Poitrel was the big disappointment of the meeting. He had been puttihg up great times on the tracks, but developed Mii nf red’s characteristics at the barrier. He was given two chances, but would not leave with the field. At barrier practice in the daytime he behaved well, but he has a strong aversion from night racing. His youthful owner has turned him out at the last minute, refusing a bag of marbles and a pocket-knife for him. A feature of the racing was the presence of a young girl driving her own racing spider, and she steered through the big fields as skilfully as the male drivers.