Turf Notes

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 259, 23 January 1928, Page 12

Turf Notes

Conducted by “EARLY BIRD”

May Do Better Sir Archie got away well in the Anniversary Handicap at Trentham the first day, only to lose his position in the :niddle stages. He was noticed running on at the finish, however, and was no - : far behind the placed division at the .judge. Not Sighted The ex-Auckland two-year-old Dumblane was seen out in the two-year-old handicap at Trentham on Saturday. He got away all right but failed to become prominent at any part of the journey. The Leighton gelding will probably do better in his second season on the turf. It is to be. hoped that he does, for his Dunedin owner is deserving of some recompense for his enterprise in paying a four-figure price for the youngster. A Useful Sort Duke Abbey enhanced his reputation on Saturday by the manner in which he accounted for Nincompoop and Le Choucas in the Anniversary Handicap. During the holidays the Quin Abbey gelding did not play such a prominent part as anticipated, but then he must have been off colour. It might be thought that he was a bit lucky to score on Saturday, but as against that he was running strongly at the right end. It is more than likely that we shall see the white-faced brown gelding pushing his distinguishing countenance to the front again before very long. L« Choucas Unlucky ,

There was no doubt that the backers of Le Choucas were unfortunate in not being able to save something from the wreck when the Magpie gelding was beaten into third place in the Anniversary Handicap on Saturday. The Northerner was always in the picture and was in charge at the false rail, with Gala Day on the inside of him also going well. Here Le Choucas began to hang out, and with Duke Abbey ranging alongside they met and gave such a bump tffat it could be heard all over the course. It effectively settled Le Choucas's chances, while Gala Day’s was not improved. Would Rapier Have Won?

On the weights Rapier was considered to have a good chance in the Wellington Cup. Now that the race is over there appears to be no reason to revise that opinion. Indeed, had he been started and received the same run that Star Stranger did he would have been a good thing. That is the writer’s opinion. Wellington critics would not have Rapier or Star Stranger, and they were largely influenced by the fact that topweights have had a disastrous run in the Wellington Cup. The result of Saturday’s race almost goes to show that Rapier would have been the good thing his admirers claimed had he gone to the post. Saved the North

Once again the story of one of our leading distance races is wrapped round the doings of South Island horses, who were prominent throughout the Wellington Cup. It was left to that good horse Star Stranger to prevent a repetition of the Auckland Cup. where Southern horses filled the three places. Over the first six furlongs Reed rode a waiting race on the top-weight, and he then made a forward move, skirmishing for an opening to take him over to the rails. This came as they were crossing the top just prior to entering the straight, the false rail being his objective—a favourite plan of Reed’s. Value of the False Rail

Star Stranger was going strongly at this stage, and when the false rail was reached he went inside and made a fast run. A furlong and a-half from home Star Stranger, Set Sail and Pink Note were running neck and neck, but inside the furlong post Star Stranger began to forge ahead, and under the whip he went away to win all out by a length and a-half from Pink Note and Set Sail, a head separating this pair. It was*a popular win. Only once has Star Stranger’s weight, | 9.8, been carried to victory, or rather I Advance won in 1903 with 10.4, so I that the Martian gelding’s effort must 1 rank with the best in the history of I the race.

Pink Note Was Unlucky There was but one horse that might have beaten Star Stranger in the Wellington Cup, and that was Pink Note. Chopped out at the start, this cost him a couple of lengths, and then after going a couple of furlongs, just before the field commenced to negotiate the bend out of the straight, he stumbled, making a quick recovery. He had pace enough to maintain his position, and for the rest of the trip he was never further back than fifth, while he was fourth into the home stretch. From here he finished welt, only to find the top-weight too good. However, he proved himself second best, and should win a decent handicap before long. Set Sails Just Fails There was no loitering at any stage of the Wellington Cup. Set Sail saw to that, for she made the pace a cracker, cutting out the first two furlongs in 26 1-5, the half-mile in 51, and the initial five furlongs in 1.3 2-5. She was still in the van in the straight, and a furlong and a-half from the judge she was joined by Pink Note and Star Stranger. Although she fought out every inch of the way she could not do better than an excellent third, and considering that she was out in front making the running it was a meritorious performance. Set Sail’s turn will come again soon. Piuthair Shortly The hard going was not in favour of several horses, and one of them was Piuthair. She got up fifth at the finish, which must be classed as a creditable effort, and it is obvious that, as last year, she will be found playing a big part in the cup events on the Egmont, Taranaki, Wanganui circuit. One Wellington Cup horse that could be safd to be unlucky was Countersign. She drew the rails, and going out of the straight the first time she was well back snowed in. Consequently in finishing a good seventh she did her part well.

Aussie’s Steady Drift With all his weight Aussie was made a big favourite in the Telegraph Handicap at Trentham on Saturday, and it was this weight that finally beat him. He got away well and lay right behind the early pacemakers, and he was still there two and a-half furlongs from home. From this point he began to drift, and finally finished In the middle of the field. The fact that Paganeili had scored earlier in the day made Aussie look a good proposition when one came to consider the fact that they had galloped together over five furlongs in a minute. But this time the weight made all the difference. Southern Sprinters Prevail

If the South Island horses failed to win the Wellington Cup they made no error with the open sprint on Saturday, for here they filled the first two berths. Paperchase proved the winner, and showed that she is more at home on the straight courses than the circular ones. Paperchase was not at all fancied by the general run of backers, and consequently she returned a price extending into good double figures. The Hawk Shows Dash One of the most pleasing features of the racing at Trentham on opening day was the sight presented by The Hawk as he sternly battled out the finish of the Telegraph Handicap. To show how much he was considered by backers it need only be mentioned tl.at he went out at something like 30 to one, and his few supporters must have felt elated when the old fellow was being quite cheeky at the home turn. Money Order only beat The Hawk by a head for second money, so that it would seem that there is still hope for the one-time crack. Crown Area’s Form

When he went out to contest the Telegraph Handicap at Trentham on Saturday Crown Area did not impress on appearance. In fact, his condition appeared to be against him, even allowing for the fact that he is never a good-looker. Nevertheless he was always among the leaders when they hit the course proper, and he finished fourth right up behind Money Order and The Hawk. Seeing that the Acre gelding had not raced since he finished second in the C.J.C. Stewards’ Handicap, it is only reasonable to expect Crown Area to be all the better for the race, so that he should be among the winners over six furlongs.