Truf Notes

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 417, 27 July 1928, Page 6

Truf Notes

By

EARLY BIRD

End of Gisborne Fixture The Gisborne meeting concludes tomorrow. For the Classics At Ngatarawa (Hawke’s Bay), Mr. A. 33. 'Williams's pair of rising two-year-olds, False Scent (Hunting Song —Crisis) and Hunting Day (Hunting Song—Gay) are reported to be very fast. They are among the youngsters eligible for the Avondale Stakes in September.

Merry Damon Again At Hastings, Merry Damon, who is just coming back to his best, in company with the brown Imperial—Miss Renown gelding, ran five furlongs in 1.6 on Saturday.

Many ex-New Zealanders ] At the Goodwood (W.A.) races on 1 July 14, the hurdle race, two miles, j was won by Constellation, an aged . chestnut gelding: by Hay Comet from ; Tangiwai. lie was a rank outsider, but won by four lengths. Kilreid fin- ‘ Ished third in the Goodwood Handicap, ‘ one mile and a-quarter, and included in the “also starteds” during the day J were: Letter of Credit, Propeller and Girriebillie. Scion’s Brother Beau Geste, who won the .Levels Hack Handicap, has been in F. P. Claridge’s stable only about five weeks, prior to which he had a long spell, apd, as he had not done much fast work, he should be capable of a lot of improvement yet. It was an attractive performance, as he was running over the opposition at the finish, and the fact that he is a brother to 3cion, by Boniform from the imported mare Lady Jean 11., will be remembered in his favour when he is tried over a journey later on. Richer Than the Derby The Eclipse Stakes, won by the Phalaris horse Fairway, last week, is one of the richest prizes offering in England. It has now £1,500 added by the executive, and the remainder of the prize money is found by the owners. In 1927 £12,203 went to the winner, £9OO to the second, and £l5O to the third. The breeders of the first three horses received £ 500, £ 200 and £IOO respectively. Unplaced Again! A number of racehorses were killed in a railway accident. An owner and his trainer rushed to the scene to identify their horse. “That isn’t him. Nor that,” they said, pointing to two horses. They wandered on and espied two more animals. “That’s not him, either. But there he is,” pointing to a fourth horse. “Same in death as in life, not even in the first three!” King Lu and Australia If satisfactory arrangements can be made, Mr. R. B. Hines will take King Lu over to Australia for racing in the spring. The Lucullus horse is in exceptionally line racing condition, as proved at Trentham under heavy weights. According to the Canterbury Jockey Club liandicapper, King Lu ranks as one of the best milers in the Dominion. King Lu appears to be really at his best, however, in bad ground, and the tracks in New South Wales may not suit him so well. Still Going Fast On Tuesday, at Hastings, Raasay (9.2) and Gesto (8.10) were sent six furlongs on the plough, both .'iders being instructed to allow their mounts to do their best without being fully extended, says the “Tribune.” After the early heavy frost the track was dead and the time, 1.17. was better than anticipated. Gesto finished within a short neck of Raasay. In the gallop both colts pulled up remarkably well; in fact, you would have hardly thought they had galloped. The colts’ feet were clodded with dirt on pulling up, which gives an idea how the track was. Whangarei Club At the annual meeting on Wednesday night of the Whangarei Racing Club, reference was made to the committee’s purchase of sections adjoining the park, by which it was expected the club would be able to improve the one and a-quarter mile and the six-furlong courses. During the year the committee had completed several necessary improvements. Two tiers of steps had been erected in front of the grandstand. The birdcage had been considerably enlarged, and a trainers’ and jockeys’ stand erected therein. These improvements were favourably commented upon by the club’s patrons. The racing track has been top-di-essed with a considerable quantity of soil, manured and resown. Channelling and drains have vastly improved the plough. The president (Mr. R. G. Hosking) announced that Mr. J. D. Jones had intimated his wish to present a cup, and at a later date he (the president) would be able to announce definite particulars. Votes of thanks were passed to the officers and committee, and the sei*vices of the secretary, Mr. F. W. Web--1 ster, were eulogised. Mr. L. W. Kelson, the club’s vice-president, was congratulated on his election to membership of the N.Z. Racing Conference, a position of great honour, said Mr. Hosking, that afforded the whole club, and all sportsmen of North Auckland, a very proper occasion for pride. The Golden Touch The London “Daily Express” had the following references to the. owner and trainer of the Derby winner, Felstead* “Most things that Sir Hugo CuniifteOwen. an Englishman, has touched In recent years have turned to gold, and it was in keeping with his financial • success when the British American tobacco magnate led in one of the boldest-looking Derby winners which we have had since the war. Felstead has a rump on him which a heavyweight hunter could not better. ‘I have been East and West, but my joy place is Epsom to-day,’ Sir Hugo, who is noted for his breadth of smile, was heard to say. He told me that naturally, as a sensible racing man, he could only be more hopeful than confident, and Captain ‘Ossie’ Bell, his tall and distinguished looking Australian trainer, told me the same thing later. The owner had. however, taken some nice prices, far larger than the returned one. Although Captain Bell had been associated with so many big betting patrons—notably Mr. Gaulstaun —he bets only in trifles himself. ‘lt is only the second horse I ha*'e ever run in the Derby,’ he told me. ‘The first was Corolet. Mr. Leach, as you know, trained Orpheus, when he was third to my horse’s sire, Spion Kop, in the colours of Fedstead’s owner. Sir Hugo is particularly pleased because he bred Fedstead himself.’ ” ANSWER TO CORRESPONDENT “Argument.”—The six furlongs record is 1.9 4-5. held both by The Hawk and Chimera. This time ranks as an Australian and New Zealand record.

Ex Dono, By Acre The new addition to T. F. Quinlivan’s establishment, Shortlands, can lay claim to have been bred the regal way, as he was got by Acre from Bess Laddo, by Sir Laddo —Cecile, by Gold Reef —Puwerewere, by Nordenfeldt— Pungawerewere. In addition, this coming two-year-old colt, Ex Dono by name, displays the possession of power and is brimful of property. He is owned by a Wellington follower of the sport, who after Quinlivan had secured him expressed a wish to become his owner. The deal was soon effected. Half-Mile Races

It is now permissible Yinder an alteration in the Rules of Racing to run a two-year-old race over a four-fur-long course, or a furlong shorter than the rule which had a brief existence making it obligatory for nothing under five furlongs. The stewards of the Dunedin Jockey Club think that it would bo generally appreciated by owners if the McLean Stakes were decided over the original distance of four furlongs, and with that object in view the club has circularised own-

ers with youngsters engaged, asking if they would agree to the curtailment, writes “Sentinel.” It may be taken for granted that in the earlier part of the season four furlongs is quite long enough, particularly if the race follows a winter which hinders the preparation of a two-year-old. When considering the matter so far as Wingatui is concerned, it should not be overlooked that the four-furlong start provides a straight run for two furlongs from the rise of the barrier, whereas a five-furlong race begins on a turn, which makes the draw for position an important factor in deciding the result. Another point to consider in connection with Wingatui is that the early part of a race over five furlongs is decided up a rise, and so accentuates the distance, which is a matter to be considered! in the early part of the season. If the owners interested collectively agree to the shorter distance, then it will be adopted, but there must be absolute unanimity on til© question. The two-year-old handicap run on the second day of the spring meeting rests, #:> far as distance is concerned, with the programme committee. WINTER CUP TRENTHAM’S AMBITION HAS SIX FAIR CHANCES (Special to THE SUN) WELLUSTGTOJSr, Thursday. Can we win the Winter Cup? That is a question which is being asked at Trentham, and there are some who answer it in the affirmative. Trentham has six representatives in the difficult Riccarton mile, which is to be decided on August 14, and opinions are rather varied as to which, if any, of the half-dozen will be the one to bring home the prize. The Top Weight

One of the half-dozen, Black Mint, has been allotted the post of honour. He is the head, of the handicap, and though the 10.11 he has to carry is not a burden- his party can complain of, seeing - that he won a mile race at the Wellington winter fixture under 10.7, he is not the principal fancy. Horses with big weights rarely win the Winter Cup, and for that reason Black Mint is not in as strong favour as some of the others, though it is recognised that he will only have to repeat his Trentham performance to be one of the hard ones .to beat. Should Run Well Another who is not enthused over a great deal is Royal Damon, whose weight is 10.3, but it seems to be a mistake to hold this fellow’s chance so lightly, as he gave great promise of better things soon when he ran close up to the placed horses on the last day at Trentham this month. Probably he will grow in favour as the day of the race approaches. His rider in the Cup will be T. Green. Ring Boy has a fair following, many maintaining that a mile will suit him better than the mile and a-quarter of the Parliamentary Handicap, a race in which he finished third. With 9.S he has a handy weight. That solid battler, Royal Game, does not seem to have done as well lately as could have been desired, and even with only 9.6 to carry, lie is out of favour. If the track receives a good soaking before the meeting. the chances of Royal Game will ‘be enhanced. Trentham's Fancy .. Be |J fw ncied of all the six is Panther, the Kilbroney-Pussyfoot gelding who ran such a sterling race when Taboo just beat him in the open six-furlong event on the first day of the Wellington meeting. Panther showed a lot of early speed in that race and stuck on well to the end. Big courses suit Inm ad he will be at hime at Riccarton with its long straight. At 9.6 and with B. H. Morris in the saddle, his prospects are highly thought of by Trentham touts, and he is likely to be one ot the favourites when the totalisator closes. The least fancied of the whole batch is Decoy Bird, who is in at the minimum. but must need a race. RACING FIXTURES July 26. 2S—Gisborne R.C. 1928-1929 Season August 4—Christchurch Hunt. August 4—Poverty Bay Hunt. August 14, 16. 18—Canterbury J.C. August 25—Hawke’s Bay Hunt. Sept. I—Marton J.C. Sept. I—Otago Hunt. Sept. s—Dannevirke R.C. Sept. 6—Dannevirke Hunt. Sept. B—Taranaki Hunt. .Sept, 13, 15—Wanganui J.C.