Turf Notes

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 687, 12 June 1929, Page 12

Turf Notes

CONDUCTED BY

"EARLY BIRD"

Napier Meeting The Napier Park R.C. winter meeting opens on Friday and is to conclude on Saturday. No Champions Some of the tlat race riding at the recent Wingatui meeting made experienced backers wish for the establishment of a jockeys’ school as found beneficial in South Australia, writes “Sir Modred.’* Incidentally Wingatui did not have all the bad riding to itself. Limerick In Order Limerick lias gone the right way during the past few weeks, and it is intended to give him some sprinting work as soon as the tracks provide softer going. The same steps will be taken in regard to Paquito. The Right Blood The St. Simon strain can be termed the predominant line in the pedigree of Great Star, whose sire is a grandson of the Galopin horse, while his dam, Theda, is by San Francisco (son of St. Simon). Three strains of Musket to which Great Star can lay claim on the dam’s side should enable him to stay well. For Trentham? Battle Colours, and Radiate have got over the leg troubles which prevented them from fulfilling Auckland engagements. D. Campbell has them in work again, and though they are being confined to easy tasks at present, they look like being ready to race later in the winter. Winner of Several Cups Euphonium, a useful performer by Elysian—Harmonious, had his career ended by a friendly bullet, having broken down badly again, his knee, the seat of his old trouble, giving out. Euphonium won among other races the Levin, Patea and Waverley Cups and was narrowly beaten in the Manawatu Cup, won by Novar. In stakes altogether his total amounted to upwards of £3,000. Schooled Well At Riccarton on Saturday Lord Ranald gave an excellent exhibition of fast, clean fencing. Ridden by W. Scobie, ho made no mistakes, and finished his task impressively. He is to race at the South Canterbury fixture. The gelding has improved considerably of late, and he is bound to have a big following next time lie is stepped out. Zeuxis (E. Shaw) and Gay Jim (G. Salt) were companions in a schooling bout over four hurdles. The pace was on all the way, and both horses gave good displays. Staying Home Pink Coat, who has the attractive record of four wins and a second as the result of the five engagements he fulfilled at the juvenile stage of his career, is stated to be wintering splendidly. The son of Hunting Song was not accorded a nomination for the Australian Jockey Club’s Derby, but he will have ample opportunity to distinguish himself in classic events set down for decision -next season in this Dominion, as he figures in the Dunedin Guineas, New Zealand Derby, Great Northern Guineas, Great Northern St. Leger and New Zealand St. Leger. Pink Coat is credited with being a colt of commanding physique, and he may be expected to stay well. Old Timers Some interesting turf identities figured at the Fairlie point-to-point steeplechases (says the “Lyttelton Times”). First- there was Scion, one of the only two horses which have won the New Zealand Cup and Auckland Cup in one season. Then there was Ayrburn, who won ten races in 11 successive starts and was then sold for four figures. But probably more notorious than either was Royal Despatch, who was responsible for the disqualification of F. D. Jones and M. McCarten. Scion won the two big cups, but that was over six years ago. On liis Fairlie form, when he was conceded 221 b and a beating by a mare who had never raced and had been out of the paddock only six or eight weeks. Scion seems a back number. He jumps well enough, however, and a year ago he was capable -of winning an open hurdle race at the Dunedin Jockey Club’s meeting. After Business The Paris correspondent of the “Horse and Hound,” says bookmakers in Germany do not allow grass to grow under their feet, as is demonstrated by an enterprising member of the craft who has sent a circular letter to a large number of French owners offering to bet on French racing on all Paris racecourses by letter, telegram or telephone received before 12 o’clock on the day in question. Although he offers to pay pari-mutuel prices with a limit of 20 to 1 to win and 6 to 1 for a place, he states that he will be obliged to deduct 10 per cent, from these prices because he has to pay a 10 per cent, tax to the German Government. If one German bookmaker is permitted to do business in that fashion others are sure to follow suit. As this would affect the tote to some extent, the probabilities are the French authorities will move to bar business by telephone or telegram. 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 £SO. 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. A.R.C. CLASSICS The attractive list of classic races for which the Auckland Racing Club stands sponsor will require attention at the hands of horseowners on or before Friday next. June 14, on which date, at 5 p.m., nominations close for the following events with the secretary. Mr. V. S. Spence:—Welcome Stakes (1929) of £I.OOO, Great Northern Foal Stakes (1929-30) of £1,250, Thirty-fifth Royal Stakes (1929-30) of £I.OOO, Great Northern Champagne Stakes (1930) of £I,OOO, Great Northern Guineas (1930) of £I,OOO, Fiftyseventh Great Northern Derby (193031) of £2,500, Great Northern Oaks (1931) of £7OO, and Great Northern St. Leger Stakes (1931) of £750.

Red Lion Improving Apparently the change from New Zealand to Randwick has proved beneficial to the three-year-old gelding Red Lion, for at Menangle (New South \ Wales) yesterday he finished second, being beaten by a narrow margin. Red Lion is now trained for the Auckland sportsmen, Messrs. J. C. and P. S. Gleeson, at Randwick by TV. McGrath. As the gelding has only been in this trainer’s stable a few weeks, his showing must be pleasing to this mentor and the owners. New Zealand Horses In Sydney Joy Day, Helotis and Starboard Light, recent arrivals from New Zealand. have been taken in hand by 11. Murrell, at Kensington, New South Wales. A two-year-old filly by Bourbon 11. from Bonny Briar (imp.), and a yearling chestnut filly by Chief Ruler from Gipsy Gold, arrived in Sydney from New Zealand last week. They are the property of Mr. A. J. Toxward, and are quartered at Messrs. H. Chisholm and Co.’s Randwick stables. Real Mudlarks Taboo and Fairy Herald are a couple of Southern gallopers who should be kept in mind for the meetings during the winter months. They showed up at Wingatui, on firm ground, and they will be much harder to beat as soon as the tracks become really soft, as they are great gallopers in mud. Rubbed Out Youth has a subtle wit of its own. I’ll prove it. Prior to an important Soccer match the goalkeeper of the home team, a famous custodian, was besieged by a crowd of small boys who requested his autograph. There was no time to satisfy the demands of all, but the player good-naturedly took the book of the nearest urchin and wrote his name in it. Subsequently he went on to the field, played a moderate game and let a soft goal through. Later, as he was leaving the ground he saw the youngster standing at a safe distance. “Hey,” cried the boy scornfully, “gotta piece of injarubber?” saying which he fled. Conference Remits The Rules of Racing provide that no programme shall include more than one race of a less distance than six furlongs for horses three years old and upwards. The Greymouth Jockey Club will make an attempt next month to add a reservation, under which this provision may be waived by the executive committee of the Racing Conference Another rule, compelling clubs to include at least two flat races of not less than a mile each day is subject now to a similar reservation, of which full use is made by clubs on the West Coast. The Amberley Racing Club is responsible for a proposal to come before tiie Racing Conference, that “Hunt clubs holding race meetings at which the totalisator is used shall hold such meeting during the period between April 1 and September 30.” As several races for hunters have to be included on the programme it seems only reasonable to insist that hunt clubs should hold their meetings in the hunting season (comments a Christchurch writer). A proposal will be introduced at the Racing Conference next month by the executive committee (at the request of the stipendiary stewards), that “No licensed trainer shall be appointed official starter or the starter’s authorised substitute or assistant.” The principle underlying this may operate harshly. There are many trainers who would make highly capable starters, but they are denied the opportunity of working up a connection without which they could not afford to relinquish training.