Truf Notes

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 686, 11 June 1929, Page 12

Truf Notes

CONDUCTED BY "EARLY BIRD

Napier Winter Fixture The Napier Park Racing Club’s vinter meeting is to be held on Friday and Saturday. First day acceptances close tonight. Pakuranga Hunt Meets of the Pakuranga Hunt Club for the remainder of this month are as follows: Today, at Ardmore; Saturday, June 15, “Greenmount,” East Tamaki; Tuesday. June 18, Opaheke; Saturday, June 22, Flatbush School; Tuesday, June 25, Ramarama; Saturday, June 29. Homai Railway Station. For Hastings Young Thurnliam, Master . Arch, Town Rambler, Princess Rain and Merry Mason represent Auckland province’s contribution to the entries for next week’s Hawkes Bay meeting. Promises Well Judging by the remarkably good entries received, the winter meeting of the Hawkes Bay Jockey Club on Frida” and Saturday of next week is going to be a splendid success. For the H.B. Steeplechase 17 have been nominated, with no less than 27 engaged in the big cross country event the second day. There are 16 entered fo.r the H.B. Hurdles, and of course the events on the flat have filled as usual. Residing at Ellerslie A. McCormac was riding at the Egmont-Wanganui Hunt Meeting at Hawera on Saturday and at the end of the day’s sport returned to Auckland. It is his intention to reside at Ellerslie in future. On Holiday Hurdle jockey J. Sharkey left for Sydney at the end of last week and intends to spend a few weeks holiday on the other side. Out of Commission While exercising on the roads .recently Diamond Queen broke away and in consequence cut; herself rather badly. She will necessarily be spelled for some time now, and the loss to owner-trainer J. Ross is serious, for the daughter of Flying Comet recently showed winning form. Turned It In Whenuanui had every chance in the Flying Handicap at liawera on Saturday. securing a slight advantage at the start and then waiting on the pacemaker until the home turn, where he collapsed right awav. The class was weak, and it certainly cannot augur well for Whenuanui’s prospects. One For Pikimai After an unsuccessful trip to Ellerslie Pikamai was immediately taken back to Hawera—his home town— for racing there on Saturday. In his hurdle engageme. t he was at rather decent odds, considering the calibre of the field he met. There was never any doubt as to the result in the last half-mile, and his win was sufficient to indicate; that if placed correctly he will do better with further opportunities over hurdles. Produced later in the Hunt Pikimai was tailed off at the start, eventually falling at the fourth fence. Pikimai carries old Nukumai’s colours, though he is not an inmate of the same stable. Too Small For Weight New Plymouth trainer E. George had two horses engaged in the Flying Handicap at Hawera on Saturday, but he scratched Oration and decided to rely upon Melissa. It was a big task to ask the filly to carry 9.10 on a track not suited to her. That she was not equal to the task was no surprise. Welter Weights are obviously against Melissa, and it will probably be next season before she is seen again in winning vein.

Improving Jumping ability lias never previously assisted Waitaunaha in his engagements over hurdles, but notwithstanding he ran quite a respectable race to finish second to Hikurangi Girl in the Hunt Cud a.t. Hawera. on Saturday. His leppmg showed improvement too, and if he continues on the upgrade—his age is a factor, against that however, —he should prove a profitable sort to own.

Failed Badly Though backed down to a short price in the Hunt Cup at Hawera on Saturday, Maidos failed to run up to expectations and was a long way behind the placed t\Vo at the end. His weight was responsible in part for his moderate display, but his jumping was indifferent—totally inferior to the polished displays he put up over the Ellerslie country just nrior to the recent meeting here. A lighter scale of weight should make a vast difference to Maidos.

Caterpillar Changes Hands Following on her runaway win at Dunedin on Wednesday, Caterpillar was purchased from Mr. P. Delargey by Mr. J. Richardson-for 750 gs. The Paper Money filly will remain under J. Pearson’s charge at Riccarton. and probably in the spring she will be given r chance to earn distinction in Sydney. There is no doubting Caterpillar’s speed, and next season she should take high rank as a sprinter, Mr. Delargey purchased her last winter for 150gns., and as she won five races carrying his colours, the Christchurch sportsman had a profitable innings. Scored Twice

Eeft Standing in a five furlong race and then two score comfortably. That was how Hop wood won the Waver ley Handicap at Hawera on Saturday, it was small wonder that when produced in the last event he was a warm favourite, notwithstanding an additional 71b. rise. Backers never had any real cause for anxiety, for though slow away Hopwood was in a favourable winning position at the turn. He buried the onnosition in the final run home, and obviously he was a champion in the class. Small fields somewhat assisted the Bisogne gelding, as his inability to begin found him tailing the field for a furlong in each start. He should not have difficulty in accounting for better class opponents. Failed To Stay Until they reached the last hurdle in the Hack Hardies at Hawera on Saturday Polyphemus was acting as pacemaker, but as is usual with him he compounded quickly in the final furlong, stopping to a walk. The distance was only a mile and a half, and if Polyphemus is to earn any noted success at hurdling he will need to improve in stamina and perform more generously. Won Well

Though Airtight was at cramped odds for the Hack Hurdles at Hawera on Saturdav backers had no hesitation in accepting the price. Owner J. Fryer’s gelding made few mistakes on the journey, and always handily placed to the leaders had the race won two fences from home. Airtight is a big powerful chestnut and one that should not be hindered by weight. He beat a very weak field, but nevertheless created a good impression. It will be remembered that Airtight went very well in his two outings over the big Ellerslie country, and is one to keep in mind for a hack steeplechase.

A Comeback Private advice has been received in Auckland to the effect that Sir Rosebery, one time trained and owned at Ellerslie, captured the steeplechase event at Victoria Park, Adelaide, on Saturday. He is said to have won by ten lengths. . Roman Abbey For Flemington It is stated that there is a prospect of owner-trainer R. Hannon taking Roman Abbey and Tinokoa to Australia shortly. The former is engaged in the V.R.C. £2,000 G.N. Hurdles and the £5,000 G.N. Steeplechase. A Rough Trip The Maunganui arrived at Sydney yesterday morning after a very rough trip from Wellington, several of the 11 racehorses on board being injured. Catuna was the principal sufferer. Among the horses on the Maunganui were Oratrix, Concentrate, Royal Duke, Oral and Joy Bird. Huirangi Girl’s Success Prominent for most of the journey in the recent steeplechases, Huirangi Girl was ticked off as a likely contender for honours in less select company. And the opportunity was forthcoming in the Hunt. Cup Steeplechase at Hawera on Saturday, when the mare was saddled with a nice handy weight. Huirangi Girl had H. Dulieu's services, that jockey employing similar tactics as when he unsuccessfully piloted Mangani at Ellerslie. On this occasion they were successful, for Huirangi Girl soon went to the front and had a commanding lead over the last two fences. Only once did she make a really bad blunder and that was two fences from home. Placed to the right advantage. Huirangi Girl can be expected to earn further distinction as a ’chaser, for she is a fine stayer. Idun In Winning Vein

The ex-Ellerslie four-year-old mare, Idun, by Valkyrian—Whitianga, and therefore ranking as an elder sister by one year to Mr. J. L. Hannon’s Red Sea, who recently ran live seconds on end, must be more fortunate than her Invercargill-owned relative. At a meeeting of the West Australian Turf Club’s fixture on May 18 Idun was made the medium of a plunge in the Rott.nest Handicap (six furlongs) and duly landed the goods by a neck in 1.152 to the tune of a nice price. In the following event, Australind Welter Handicap (one mile), three other New Zealanders in Appian Way (Tractor —Juda), 8.6, Indian Sage, 8.9, and Anticipate, 9.7, filled the places, with Anticipate starting as first fancy for the event. Appian Way won by a length and carved out the eight furlongs in- 1.44. Dispute Now Far-reaching

There is every indication that the Waikato Hunt Club and Waikato Racing Club will have to sink tlielr supposed grievances over the allotment of the Labour Day date, a squabble that has been kept alive for several years, and has done no good to racing. On the contrary, it has enabled opponents of racing to take full advantage of it. Unless the two clubs can come to some amicable arrangement, it is certain that some of the politicians will seize on this dissension as a means of wrecking the Gaming Act Amendment. This is likely to include a most important clause for racing clubs not generally known in an additional 1 1-4 per. cent, rebate on the first £20,0 00 of totalisator turnover. This £250 per annum, which will amount to some £25,000, will be of considerable advantage to the small clubs, and the Waikato clubs belong to this category. In the interests of racing generally obviously their only reasonable course is to bury the hatchet and settle the matter. Further, it looks more than probable that they will have to unite against a common foe, for the Auckland Trotting Club is out for the Labour Day date, and has some political support. The Waikato clubs depend largely on patronage from the city of Auckland for their meetings, and if the Auckland Trotting Club secures Labour Day the date will be of little use to either. Their obvious slogan is •’Unite.”— “Evening Post.”

The Last Lap At a meeting- of the Patea Licensing Committee on Wednesday the closing time of licensed booths at .race meetings was discussed following a suggestion by Sergeant Henry that the closure should coincide with the commencement of the/last race instead of a quarter of an hour later, as at present allowed. Necessity for attention at the booth for the quarter of an hour following the last race meant the engagement there of police officers who were then needed in the supervision of traffic leaving the course said the Sergeant. Mr. Ryan submitted that the present system was a common one throughout the province and had not, so far as he was aware,, led to any abuse. The extra quarter of an hour was a matter of convenience to the public, said Mr. Ryan further :i reply to the Sergeant. After a short discussion the chairman stated that the matter would be further considered by the committee with the view to the adoption, if desired, of a principle in dealing with such provisional licenses. Made A Noise There was a small queue at the theatre box office. One man went off after having purchased his tickets, absently leaving his change of three half-crowns behind him. The next in the queue looked at the money and said to the box office clerk, “What do you do when this sort of thing happens?” “Oh,” said the clerk, “1 rap furiously on the window with a sponge.” TAKAPUNA CLUB The Takapuna Plate and the Wynyard Plate, to be run, respectively, at the spring and summer meetings of the Takapuna Jockey Club next season, are a brace of events in next season's racing at Devonport. Both races (popularly known as “hack classics”), are for now two-year-olds and upward. Each event carries prize-money to the amount of £420, with a gold cup for each race of the value of £BO. The distances of the respective races are seven furlongs. Nominations close next Friday, June 14, at 5 p.m., with the secretary, Mr. F. D. McVay.