TURF NOTES

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 139, 2 September 1927, Page 6

TURF NOTES

By

Youngsters Gallop Yesterday Avoncourt and Nankin Blue were sprinted over three furlongs on the two-year-old track, and they moved along nicely to cover the distance in 44sec., which time could have been improved upon. Resumed Work

Challenge, who has been having a more or less easy time of it since the middle of July, has been taken in hand again by R. E. Brown. The chestnut appears to have benefited by the holiday. In Sound Order

Town Guard, although a visitor to Ellerslie, is, like the majority of others, on account of the wet weather, not able to do much in the way of fast work. The big fellow looks his old self and should do all that is required of him when next he steps out. Limerick for Metropolitan Doubts as to "Limerick starting in the Metropolitan, for which he has ruled as one of the favourites since his withdrawal from the Melbourne Cup, were seemingly removed last week, says a Sydney writer. Limerick was the medium of a substantial straightout commission, and he is now absolute favourite. One leading operator laid £2,400 against him in a single bet, and other bookmakers also laid him for large amounts. The commission had stable inspiration and outsiders \\ ere Quick to follow the lead. Limerick has 9.5 in the Metropolitan, a weight that has never been carried successfully by a four-year-old in that race. Eyes on Warwick Farm To-morrow the Warwick Farm meeting will be held, and it is more than probable that some of New Zealand’s better class horses will be raced there. Horses from the Dominion are engaged in every race, and include the following:—Hurdle race: Asleep; Campbell town Handicap, six furlongs: White Fang 8.8, Merry Mint 7.5. liobavtville Stakes, for three-year-olds, seven furlongs: Arikiwai, Agrion. Warwick Stakes, weight-for-age, with allowances: Limerick, Commendation. Spring Handicap: Commendation 9,5, and Rawhetu 7.10, Merry Mint 7 2 Glenlee Handicap: Battlement and True Blood. Forfeits for all events fell due yesterday.

Danger to Commendation The ante-post bookmakers who find themselves with heavy liabilities against Commendation for the Caulfield Cup would relish the win in Adelaide recently of the English-bred bilvius Imported by Sir Sydney Kidman, the Cattle King, who gave 1,750 guineas for him as a yearling, Silvius has scored three times in the last b V t his best Performance was Saturdays, over a mile and five furlongs, and he now rules as second * or tbe UI) - -A- three-year-old (ter to Australian time), Silvius is by the Polymelus horse Silvern, one ot whose sons won a distance race m • i ! l fe ™ days ago. Although Adelaide form is so poor, the manner oi ms wins, with a smothering finishmg run, suggests that, with only back ’ Silvius will be a formidable opponent for Commendation. Why the Difference? ?I b vf e were . two inquiries, both into 111 Jum P in s races, the nndints being l-ather hard to align writes Vedette,” of the Tmnii-i hunt meeting last Saturday. \\ Ken--13 tee nlpoVt ° f aea Comet in ihe Hunters' was severely reprimanded toi canjmg Maidos almost right off eol ! rse at the last fence. It was , i extenua tion that Sea Comet “ aba ? t ~ mi ? u thed horse, but he did not Ut * 'T. hen b y himself in the Hunt Cup, but hung to the rails like glue Banjuke Jumped out at all his fences m the Hunt Cup, and, shying at the un m verv re -a the Stan<J doubl C finished out - H ■ MeSweeney brought him m rather quickly and in''"th Gilgai a little, but certainly no more than, if as much as, Ren me on Sea Comet interfered with Maidos. Rennie’s incident was at the last fence, McSweeney’s a mile from home. Rennie received a severe reprimand, MeSweeney a week’s suspension meaning the loss of two days at Marton. On these facts it is most difficult to reconcile the two decisions. Doncaster St. Leger Reviewing the St. Leger, to be decided next week, a London writer says* I do not forget that Hossan was a tancied outsider for the Derby in which lie finished tenth of 23 to Call Boy, Hot Night and Shian Mor, and now that Call Boy is no longer eligible for the St. Leger and Hot Night is under suspicion—his owner has gone back to India—while Shian Mor is another “suspect,” it may be that Hossan might be a good outsider. At present the favourite is Lord Astor’s filly, Book Law, who won at Ascot after finishing a good second to JLiord Durham’s Beam for the Oaks._ Her offered price is short, with Hot Night nominally second choice. Tattoo, Shian Mor, Adam’s Apple, Sickle, Buckfast, Blue Boy, Bonny Boy 11., and Crown Emi blem nre next in order. Another was well beaten in the Irish Oaks this week, this being the One Thousand winner, Cresta Run. As to other races at Liverpool last month, Sir H. Meux’s St. Mary’s Kirk ran second again in the Abbevstead Handicap, being beaten by Mr. Reid Walker’s Invershin, who previously ran fourth to the Aga Khan’s Dark Japan for the Manchester Cup. Tin Hare on Cricket Ground Amateur sporting organisations are pposing the introduction of the mechanical hare at the Sydney Sports Ground. A letter of protest has been forwarded to the trustees by the South Wales Amateur Athletic Association. In May last the Amateur Athletic Association called the attention of the Minister of Lands to the far that work was in progress for the installation of mechanism at the Sydru Sports Ground, and entered an objection. The Minister was asked if tfi conditions of the dedication of ground allowed it to be used for the purpose. The reply of the Minister was that the trustees had been granted permission to test an invention at the Sports Qround, and at the time that was the only arrangement made. It was mentioned, however, by the Minister that if the machine proved successful the trustees hoped to receive revenue from such a venture, and further, that the ground was not used on Saturday evenings. It was also stated that if the machine did not interfere with the ground when required for athletic sports the trustees were entitled at their discretion to permit its use for mechanical hare racing.

"EARLY BIRD”

The Final Day The Marton meeting concludes tomorrow. Getting in Work Both Slump and Amos are being kept in useful work during A. Julian’s absence in Taranaki, and their stable mate. Royal Bonus, is also being subjected to strong exercise. Of the trio, however, Slump will perhaps be the first to earn a stake for the Ellerslie stable. Wanganui Acceptances Acceptances for all events the first day (including the Guineas) of the Wanganui meeting, together with entries for the two-year-old parade that day, close at 8 p.m. on Monday. Prefers the Country Both Speechless and Baby Bun are keeping trainer T. George from being idle, and they are getting through a good preparation for the spring meeting. Either of the pair is likely to occupy a dividend place when thoroughly tuned up, but their trainer, as in the past, may travel them to some of the country meetings, where the class is not as a rule very strong.

About Thursby It was expected that Thursby would make a bold bid for victory at the Pakuranga meeting, but he found those pitted against him in the Jellicoe Handicap a little too good. Last season Thursby won two races as well as notching three seconds and a third, and in future events he is capable of making his presence felt, provided he is racing on top of the ground. May Make Good

W. Ryan has worked a lot of improvement in Importer recently, and this eight-year-old son of The White Knight is bearing a nice appearance. Since be*' mor ted fro. gland he

has failed to do anything on the flat that suggested him as a payable proposition, but now that he has shown in schooling tasks aptitude to negotiate the battens, hopes are entertained that he will return some of the cash expended on him. A Fair Showing Those who noticed Athenry’s performance in the Sylvia Park Handicap at the Pakuranga meeting, when he ran third to Festina Lente and Cantain Cobham, may be encouraged to give him every chance when next he carries silk. Starting from number 12 position at the barrier, he did not get a good run early in the race, and going out of the straight suffered a severe bump. It was not until the field had gone over half a mile that the son of Mullingar got into his stride, and in such heavy agoing he did well to get up third.

Rushed Him Some bookmakers —not many, fortunately—can scarcely refrain from being objectionable when a backer refuses to take the price offered him, says an exchange from Australia. At a registered meeting recently, a backer inquired the price of an outsider. “Ten to one,” was the reply, and when he started to move off, the book yelled:

“Twelve to one,” and then, in quick succession, offered, “Fourteen to one; sixteen to one,” and before the backer got out of hearing: “Twenty to one, just to see if you want to bet.” Thereupon the backer replied: “Yes; lour hundred to twenty.” “What!” ejaculated the book; “not me. Hundred to five’s enough.” And his backdown was thoroughly enjoyed by those people who, while recognising a bookmaker can please himself as to the price he offers, object to being derided because they are not prepared to do business on terms preferred by the bookmaker. District Committee Meets

At the monthly meeting of the Auckland District Committee yesterday the transfer of K. V. Gill’s indentures to J. PI. Wallace was approved. The suspension of T. Chaplin, jockey, for one month by the ' Pakuranga Hunt from August 20 last was endorsed. Several applications for licences were dealt with and forwarded to the Licensing Committee of the conference.

The Waikato Plunt point-to-point programme for September 3 was approved; also the Pakuranga Hunt point-to-point on October 1.