Truf Notes

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 418, 28 July 1928, Page 6

Truf Notes

By

EARLY BIRD

Two For Reed Kaiti and Royal Lineage are likely to be taken to Riccarton for the Grand National meeting. They are both reported in good order, and they should not return without some of the stake money. It is mentioned that R. Reed will be riding the pair. Caught in Time

Relegated to Hurdling Piet, a member of J. Williamson's team, who has raced with success during the past months, will probably make his next appearance over battens. lie is restricted to walking exercise just now, but is to resume serious work at the beginning of next month, when schooling lessons will ligure on his routine. Both in Good Order Abbot’s Delight has continued to progress since being placed under H. Hastedt’s care, and the former Australian galloper is now carrying himself very jauntily. He has been schooled at headquarters of late, and for a novice has acquitted himself well. Golden Krist. the other member of Hastedt’s stable, is also doing nicely, and he will not be long in sporting silk when the new season is under way. In Work Again Since .returning from Matamata* several weeks ago, where he had been in retirement for a period, War Officer has been hacked about the roads in company with his stable-companion. Thursby. R. E. Brown now deems it advisable to give the pair more strenuous exercise, and on Monday they will make a return to the Ellerslie tracks. Thursby is showing the benefit of racing at the recent Te Kuiti meeting, and he should be capable of crediting his connections with further successes in the early part of the new season. Chesterfield Proud of His Son “As active as in his two-year-old days,” is a term applicable to Chesterfield, the sire of New Zealand’s champion lepper, Beau Cavalier. The writer had the pleasure of viewing the chestnut horse at Takanini recently, and he looked a picture of health and condition. Visitors are apt to make the horse restless, with the result that he indulges in several headlong gallops round his paddock, the dasli he infuses into his efforts calling to mind the dash of the Beau. At the present time Mr. J. P. Sinclair has three of Chesterfield’s progeny running on his farm. Chesterfield is one of the least represented sires in the-racing world, and Beau Cavalier is about the only good representative he. has. The matrons sent to Chesterfield have not been of very good class, and consequently his chances of occupying a prominent position on the sires’ winning list have been remote.

At Randwick one morning last week. In the Shade threw its rider in the centre of the course at Randwick. while at exercise. The rider was not injured, and the New Zealand galloper was captured before doing any damage. After the Treble

Mr. L. C. Hazlett has a representative in each of the big races at Riccarton next month, Pamplona being in the Steeples, Overdrawn in the Winter Cup, and Craigmore in the hurdles. The last-named galloped clean away from the other runners in his only outing over hurdles at Wingatui, and his performance left the impression that a greater distance would not trouble him. England And The “Tote”

An English paper recently stated that the totalisator did not assist the punter, but on the other hand charged dearly for holding his money for a few minutes. Some of thp English bookmakers contemplate doing business at starting price, and pay 10 per cent, over the totalisator dividend if the machine becomes legalised. Dubious And The National

If Dubious has improved since the Dunedin winter meeting he must be given a chance in the Grand National Steeplechase to be run next month, says the Dunedin “Star.” It is a big thing to ask a horse to win the Grand National Steeplechase the first time out over the Riccarton country, every fence of which takes jumping, but Dubious is a clever horse, and should have no difficulty in getting round. With only two starts over country lie cannot be called an experienced steeplechase, but in each of those starts he showed himself to be a safe fencer, and for that reason must be given a chance.

A Forlorn Hope? Mr. A. G. Macdonald accepted with The Babe in the Grand National Steeplechase in a hope that the gelding will throw off the leg trouble which prevented his appearance at the Wellington meeting. He is making satisfactory progress, but with an interrupted preparation, he is unlikely to be in order to tackle the big ordeal, and it would not be surprising to find his name missing from the list of final payments.

The Feminine Tipster On the eve of the Derby a writer in the London “Sporting: Life,” referring to the feminine interest in racing, says: . . She is quite capable of giving you at least as good ‘information’ as you are likely to get from your friends at the club, or from the charlady whose cousin twice removed on the distaff side once ‘took in’ for the family whose elder son was once asked for a match by the stable boy who had been seen talking to the groom who once worked for the trainer who might have had charge of the favourite if the world had been placed differently.” REMINDERS Nominations for the Marton Jockey Club’s spring meeting close at 9 p.ni. on Friday, August 17. Entries for the Wanganui Jockey Club’s spring fixture are due at 8 p.ni. on Monday, August 20. Final payments and acceptances for first day events at the C.J.C. Grand National meeting close on Thursday, August 9.

Amateur Rider's Severe Injury During the light-weight steeplechase event at th© point-to-point meeting at Gisborne yesterday, Rufus fell at on© of the back fences. His rider, Mr. C. Tietjen, was badly crushed and was later removed to the Cook Hospital. Mr. Tietjen is reported to have sustainde a dislocated neck and is in a serious condition. The Red Flag At a point-to-point meeting an old farmer had his mare running in the last race, and giving instructions to his son, the jockey, said: “And if I can’t get a good price for my money, them needn’t win, because we can take 'er over to the other meeting next week, and she can win there. However, if I do get my money on, I’ll wave my red handkerchief when you come round for the last time, and ride your hardest, my lad.” Having been to the bookies and found eight and ten to one offered about his horse, the old man had a good bet. Returning to the rails he waited until the field came round for the last time. Putting his hand into his pocket he found he’d lost his handkerchief. A Despised Jewel This is the story of a despised racing pup, not a foal. A well-known dog raiser in Johannesburg, South Africa, was about to do away with what he considered a “weed.” It was a weakling whippet, tail between legs, bleary eyed, without a yelp or grunt. A woman happened to be present, and answered the appeal of her heart. And she has been richly rewarded. Basking in the sunshine of her kindness, the dog, within a few months, improved, and a curve came into his tail. He was trained to run, and eventually sold. To-day, under the name of Prince Orb, he is a champion with a record of less than for 200yds. During his three years of running he has won numerous races. The one-time whippet weed is now a world challenger, and is called the “wonder whippet.” To Replace Good As Gold

Despot was disposed of after his race at Timaru on Saturday to the Southern owner, Mr. W. Baird, who raced Good as Gold and Battle Maid with success during the season just closing. Despot, now rising four years old, was purchased as a yearling in Australia by J. McCombie, who has not had much success with him, but he has been a fairly consistent place-getter, his 11 starts this season producing one win, four seconds and four thirds. It was generally considered that he should not have been beaten on Saturday, Jbut, on the other hand, he has invariably weakened at the end of his races, and it may be that he could not have done better even if ridden vigorously over the closing stages. A Southern writer said his rider certainly seemed to take matters too confidently, but with his experience of the gelding’s previous failures under pressure, he probably adopted what he considered the rightful tactics on a galloper who has proved himself a non-stayer. Wanganui Improving

Excerpts from the president’s address at the Wanganui Jockey Club’s annual meeting this week: The president congratulated members on the fairly satisfactory state of affairs resulting from the year’s operations, for after providing for depreciation on buildings and plant the loss for the year stood at £509 4s 6d, as compared with last year’s loss of £1,694 19s 9d. This was considered by the committee a very satisfactory state of affairs in view of the general decrease in totalisator returns throughout New Zealand. During the year the amount of £1,500 had been applied in reduction of the mortgage on the Westmere property, so that the club’s indebtedness over that property now stands at £12,500. He hoped that the club would be able, in the near future, to pay another £2,500 off the mortgage on the Westmere property, thus reducing the amount to £IO,OOO, at which figure the farm would be self-supporting and would enable the club to give more in stakes. If the club’s appeal over city valuations was not upheld they would have to pay out over £1,400 in the coming year on its present course. With the large amount of money that was spent in the city through the holding of race meetings they should, he said, have some relief from burdensome rates and taxes. Roar Of The Crowd

Few people will believe that Lord Derby’s colt Fairway was relegated to thirteenth place in the Derby absolutely on his racing merits. Had he finished third or fourth I should have accepted the situation and acknowledged that my confidence in him was misplaced. I am making no excuses. Fairway as a classic proposition proved a failure at Epsom; but why? Was it entirely through lack of speed or stamina, or both? Recognising all the circumstances of the race, its associations and preliminaries, I am perfectly certain, says a. writer in “Sporting Life,” that Fairway defeated himself before the field started on its journey which ended so sensationally. The crowd in the paddock, the roar of the ring, the delay at the post, and the thrice broken tapes were inclined to rule out the highly strung temperament and found the weakness. It is perfectly clear to me that speed and stamina are not the only essentials for a Derby candidate, and when twelve months henco attempts have to be made to solve a similar problem I for one shall be inclined to rule out the highly-strung colt, whatever his form has been in public and on the training grounds. It does not quite appear to me as the highest test, but we must take things as their are. The Derby will always be run at Epsom, and the winner will be the horse who can triumph over all the disconcerting elements of crowds and noises, and, worst handicap of all, the standing start. Felstead triumphed over all these difficulties, and fully deserved the honours of the race.