Truf Notes

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 202, 15 November 1927, Page 10

Truf Notes

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"EARLY BIRD."

Promising Maiden i Royal Lover showed a lot of pace in her Whangarei engagements, and she should certainly get on the winning list before the season ends. She is by Romeo from Duchess Eudorus, and as she is only a three-year-old has a long career of usefulness before her. Improving Hack Winsome Boy ran two solid races at Whangarei, and is evidently in fine form. The first day he was installed favourite in the hack sprint, and finished second. On Saturday he was third fancy, and being ridden in behind the leaders he overhauled Golden Wedding in the straight to score nicely. L. Manson was seen to advantage on Winsome Boy. Finished Strongly Te Koroke was made a hot favourite for the Marsden Hack at Whangarei on Saturday, and he was aided to victory by the fact that there were only seven runners in his division. He was well placed early, and then drifted to second last. Once in the straight, however, he came with a fine burst, and he landed the half share of the stake by half a length. The small course was against the Humbug gelding, but once he was able to pull out his finishing effort the issue was never in doubt. Plenty of Pace Takutama was at a long price in the divided hack race at Whangarei on Saturday, and yet at one stage he was bowling along in the van so nicely that he was a possibility at the home turn. He failed to run on in the straight, however, and was beaten into fourth place. Takutama can best be described as a promising three-year-old gelding by the successful sire Quin Abbey, whose progeny must surely have been in the majority at the Northern fixture last week. Runs Two on End Billikins was produced twice at Whangarei on Saturday, and on each occasion she was placed. Pier first appearance was in the open five furlongs, in which she led for moss of the journey, only weakening over the last hundred yards. In the next race Billikins was saddled up once more in the hack sprint, first division, and making the running she was caught by Te Koroke near the post. Billikins has always been noted for her speed, and this season the daughter of Lucullus should again do her ownertrainer good service .round the country circuit. Double Mint Unlucky A veteran trainer at headquarters, George Laing, did not have the good fortune that he might have had. He had Double Mint to represent him, and on the opening day at Whangarei the daughter of Catmint was unlucky in the Spring Plate, going off the course at the turn, and then she finished well enough to get second and return a remunerative price. Double Mint was produced again on Saturday, and after missing the jump-out she came along fast in the straight to get third placing in a division affair, which meant that there was no second or third money. To Prepare for Ellerslie? F. Davis has returned home with Gascony, Great Charter, Doree and Pure Gold. The last-named did not start at the meeting as she went slightly sore. Gascony and Doree had only one start apiece, and Great Charter ran twice, winning the Jockey Club Handicap at his second start. F. Davis is a careful trainer, and all four horses named are worth looking after for events ahead. • Cloud Over Crown Area G. New has had some anxiety with Crown Area since that gelding finished second in the Stewards’ Handicap. The big gelding is not overrobust, and he had not done particularly well since arriving at Riccarton prior to his race on Saturday week. Next day the veterinary surgeon had to be called in. Fee Simple also struck trouble, injuring a leg slightly, and he could not be started on the second day. Big All Over It is not often, says a Southern writer, that horses trained by the Cutts Bros, are sent out as big as Centrepiece was on Monday at Riccarton. He looked very round and full, but possibly his condition was rather deceptive, for he ran a fairly decent race, and should go a good deal better still for the outing. Centrepiece ran some great races last year after a gallop in public, and possibly he will go on and do likewise this season. Like the Track One feature of the racing at Riccarton has been the forward showings of a couple of horses who have been condemned as unreliable—Lausanne and Battlement. Lausanne is all right, and so is Battlement. It would appear to have been just a question of striking the correct method of training them. Both have run sterling races—nothing could be gamer than Lausanne’s three finishes —and both will have to enter into future calculations. Disgraceful Exhibition One of the most unruly displays seen on a racecourse was that«registered to the discredit of Golden Wedding at Whangarei on Saturday. In the past the filly’s conduct has been the reverse of ladylike, but on Saturday she really surpassed herself. She created havoc among the other nine horses lined up in the second division race, and it could be seen that at least four horses —Amos, Cantab, Mosque and Glenetta —received attention when she lashed‘out. Golden Wedding delayed the start for just on a quarter of an hour, and as a result of her misbehaviour she is a certainty, one would imagine, for the schooling list. Such treatment would mean that the three-year-old would have to be placed on one side, for at present she is too young for hurdle, racing. Perhaps she may be retired to the stud. In any case it is unfortunate for M.r. W. M. Taylor to lose the services of a smart galloper through her unruliness.

Breather for Second Wind Fred Davis has sent the two-year-old Second Wind back to Hastings to be turned out at Okawa until aft6r the New Year. Royal Game Still Journeying % Royal Game has gone back to Trentham from Riccarton. His next start will be in the Levin Cup on Saturday, in which event he will be ridden by R. Reed. Beacon Light’s Form Beacon Light’s two performances at Riccarton were a complete reversal of each other, comments “The Watcher.” In the Metropolitan Handicap he was in front all the way and just got beaten by Te Monanui, and in the Jockey Club Handicap he was last or nearly last throughout and finished up in that position. All going well with Beacon Light he should be one of the possibilities for the Auckland Cup. A Poor Substitute Last year a number of leading trainers urged the substitution of a three-year-old handicap for the Electric Plate, at Riccarton, the event being quite a success for 10 useful three-year-olds went to the post, the race being won by Seatown. This year, however, the race was most disappointing in numbers, for only Rotor, Wild Pigeon, Don Jose and Latin Quarter accepted and started. Useful Hack Royal Doulton ran two excellent races at the Whangarei meeting, although the track did not suit her at all. On Saturday she was made a good favourite for the hack seven furlongs event, and after getting away all right she lost her position. She came again over the last bit and was only beaten by a big outsider in Miss Potoa, who on her recent form was at a truly royal price. Backers seemed to forget her good effort at Te Rapa last month. Hawke’s Bay Youngsters This season as yet our two-year-olds when raced outside the district have ,failed to win a race so it is only natural to assume the class suffers in comparison with that of the other districts, comments a Hastings writer. Raasay’s form, through bad luck, cannot be accepted as true, while Tea Miss has not raced up to track form at either Trentham or Riccarton, as trainer W. J. Donovan made no secret of the fact that the Tea Tray filly was the most brilliant up to five furlongs that he had ever trained. Perhaps our youngsters later on in the season will prove up to classic standard. Big Winners The total sum of £17,700 was distributed in stakes at the Canterbury Jockey Club’s meeting among 54 owners, the principal xvinners being as follow: —Mr. G. D. Greenwood, £2,270; Mr. G. G. Holmes, £1,400; Mr. E. L. Riddiford, £1,135; Mr. H. A. Knight, £1,120; Sir George Clifford, £735; Mr. T. H. Lowry, £710; Mrs. W. D. Graham, £700; Mr. C. G. Dalgety, £635; Mr. G. Gerard. £550; Mr. I. Lupton, £540. Still Buying Strongly Battlement was sold on Saturday by the executors of the estate of the late J. F. Buchanan to Mr. J. M. Samson, of Dunedin, and the Martian gelding ran in his new colours in the Fendalton Handicap. At the price, 400gns., Battlement should soon repay his outlay at the Southern fixtures. He has gone into C. Gieseler’s stable at Wingatui. Mr, Samson now has horses in commission at the following stables: J. B. Pearson. Riccarton; F. and A. Trilford, Washdyke; S. G. Ware, Wingatui; and C. Gieseler, Wingatui. Not Popular The majority of owners abhor divided races, for generally they result in a very small stake for the two winners, and nothing for the other place-getters, in addition to which the dividends go to the winners only. This was very evident at Whangarei on Saturday, for out of 26 acceptors (seven over the safety margin) only 17 came out to be saddled up. There were seven in the first and 10 in the second, so that there were actually two under the maximum. However, owners will not withdraw their horses unless they are certain there is to be a division, and .clubs are well advised to say straight out that there will be a division. Any doubt on the matter may easily lead to confusion, so noticeable at the Avondale meeting a few weeks ago.