Durf Notes

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 837, 4 December 1929, Page 12

Durf Notes

CONDUCTED BY "EARLY BIRD

Waipa Fixture The annual race meeting of the Waipa Racing Club is to be held at Te Awamutu on Saturday week. Acceptances I'or all events close with the secretary, Mr. J. G. Wynyard, Te Awamutu. or with Messrs. Blomfield and Co., High Street, Auckland, at 5 p.m. on Friday next. Appointments Recent appointments made by racing clubs in the Auckland Province include the following:—Mr. H. Shaw, starter to the Dargaville and Waipapakauri Clubs; Mr. A. Tronson, judge to the Waipapakauri Club; and Mr. R. H. Skip worth, starter to the Te Aroha and Rotorua Clubs. Due For a Win The Rover’s return to form this spring has been very definite, for commencing at Te Kuiti he secured a dead-heat in the principal handicap on the second day and followed this up by notching a second and third in the big events during the Shore meeting. He is undoubtedly the form horse to follow in handicap events in the near future. About Again

The two-year-rold Our Comet, who was recently accorded a short respite, duo to a cold, made a reappearance at Ellerslie yesterday morning. This son ot Day Comet and Dady Hill has invariably shown a lot of speed when sprinted, and as lie is not being bustled he should be. aji the better for this treatment when a programme is in mind..

Will Improve Polyxena looked a picture when she came out for the Cautley Handicap at Takapuna on Monday and she went a fine race, too, failing to reach Leitrim only in the last 50yds. She dwelt slightly at the start and compelled to go all the way she did not have much in reserve in the final pinch. This was Polyxena’s second attempt at three years, and aJlowiug for improvement in the interim, sh.e should race prominently at the Ellerslie carnival at the end of the month.

Takapuna’s Success The going at Takapuna over the week-end was good, the rain having taken the sting out of the ground and provided easy going. Taking this into consideration, it was difficult to account for the small fields seen out in some of the events on the second day. The stakes were good, and yet for there was one six-horse field, one of seven, and two of eight horses. There are plenty of horses about the province, and this makes the dearth of runners all the more difficult to understand. The Takapuna Jockey Club enjoyed a successful meeting, and this result was indeed pleasing, for the club provides excellent stake money. Its action in inaugurating the Takapuna Plate has been amply repaid, for this event must be the most payable proposition on the programme, but in addition it furnishes the best of racing. For that reason alone the club is entitled to some congratulation. It is significant that the Takapuna Plate was the best betting race of the meeting. although this happy result could

scarcely have been foreseen when the “hack classic” was given a place on the programme.

Auckland Entries Matters in connection with the A.R.C. summer meeting will require further attention on Friday next, at 5 p.m., when general entries close with the secretary, Mr. W. S. Spence. First forfeits for the Great Northern Foal Stakes, Great Northern Derby. and Royal Stakes, also fall due on Friday. Manawatu and Marton Fixtures Nominations for the Manawatu summer meeting close on Friday next, and entries for the Marton New Year fixture are due on Friday week, December 13. Taxation The sum paid to the Government in the form of taxation in connection with the Takapuna Jockey Club’s recent spring meeting amounted to £5,611 11s 7d, made up as follows: £ s. d. Totalisator duty . . . . 1,888 1 3 Dividend duty . . . . 3,398 17 0 Stakes duty 271 0 0 Amusement tax .... 53 13 4 Total £5,611 21 7 Auckland District Committee At a meeting of the Auckland District Committee yesterday, an application by the Dargaville Racing Club to change their dates from February 20 and 22 to February 22 and 24 was recommended for .approval of the conference. The following programmes were approved:—Matamata Racing Club, February 8; Waipapakauri Racing Club, January 25; Opotiki Jockey Club, March 26; Rotorua Racing Club. February 15 and 17; Bay of Plenty Jockey Club, March 22.

Corinax Lauded to the skies just prior to the opening day of the Takapuna meeting, last year’s Auckland Cup winner, Corinax, came in for strong backing in the Alison Cup, but he disappointed even his most sanguine admirers, and was whipper-in— L a repetition of his form in this same event 12 months ago, when he ran in the rear throughout and subsequently won the Auckland Cup. Everybody apparently overlooked the son of Magpie on Monday, and aided by the poor start, his pilot, R. McTavish, was able to bounce him out and allow him to make his own pace all the way. There was never any doubt as to what the result would be, and this fine stayer had matters all his own once they hit the straight. It was a brilliant effort and demonstrated Corinax to be near the top of his form for his Auckland Cup engagement.

Surprised Them All It is only a few weeks since P. Corrigan made an appearance at Ellerslie with Ivairuri, and as it looked as if he had not accomplished sufficient work to lit him for Takapuna engagements, few of the track watchers were prepared to see him score such a striking win in the HigliWeight last Saturday. And the Surveyor gelding did it in really fine style, acquitting himself more like a veteran performer than one having bis first race. But there it is, and the only regret is the fact that the con-* nections of the horse did not have sufficient encouragement to help themselves to the handsome dividend —nearly a-third of a century. Kairuri has removed himself from the maiden class but as he is susceptible to a great deal of improvement, he will only require to train on to secure additional wins in good company. Cup Possibility

Prodice was served up as a hot order in the Alison Cup on Saturday, and as it turned out there was every justification for the support. The daughter of Catmint held the ace and a smooth passage on the fence in behind the pacemakers gave A. 10. Ellis an easy victory, his mount being bailed as the winner three furlongs from home. Prodice smothered the opposition so impressively that she must enter into discussions for the impending Auckland Cup, though, of course, her New Zealand Cup failure tends to the opinion that she is not a true stayer. Still, in the event of a slow-run race, the Te Awamutu representative may be expected to make a bold showing under her featherweight. Could Not Go On With It Prior to the recent Waikato meeting F. E. Loomb was doing very little with the two-year-old, Biddy’s Boy, and the juvenile’s third placing the second day of that meeting afforded a pleasant surprise.' The work exacted from him in the interim allowed Illumination’s son to strip a much fitter horse for engagements at the Takapuna meeting, but he proved a hit of a disappointment, stopping badly over the last furlong on Monday. With further racing, however, Biddy’s Boy may show that his form was all wrong. He is still susceptible to a good ded.l of improvement. Start Beat Him Prince Val romped home in the Borough Handicap on the opening day at the Takapuna meeting, and a rise of 51b in better company did not deter backers from giving him pride of place. His defeat was excusable, inasmuch as a ponr start resulted in his being quite a dozen lengths at the tail of the field with a furlong covered. Some progress was made down the back stretch, and the Valkyrian gelding was within striking distance, but the effort told, and he weakened visibly with the pressure on. He was right up behind the placed lot, however, and obviously with an uninterrupted run would have troubled the winner. Prince Val has not yet reached the zenith of his powers, and will take some beating in bis engagements at the A.R.C. meeting. Winning Owners The sum paid away in stakes in connection with the Takapuna Jockey Club’s spring meeting amounted to £5.500. The following is the list of winning owners:—G. Johnston. £595 and gold cup value £SO; F. E. Loomb. £535: John Williamson. £375; E. P. Andreas. £300: W. G. Emony, £300: Jas. Clothier. £275; Geo. Glenn, £275; A. E. Watkins. £250; Roulston Bros., £215: M. .T. Carroll. £215: J. IT. T. and T. A. George. £200: Dr. TE A. 11. Gilmer. £200: J. Ross. £200: D. Slewart. £200: Mrs. A. Muir. £200; Colin W. Anderson. £155; trustees estate late H. Friedlander, £150; E. George, £100: A, E. Leonard, £7O; Mrs. R. I. Caro, £7O: T. G. Duncan, £SO: J. T. Jamjeson. £SO: Mrs. W. D. Graham, £SO: C. G. Macindoe. £SO: E. H. Cucksey, £SO; Monteith and Willis, £4O; A. Cole, £35; AY. Montgomery, £35: A. Coubrongh, £3O; A. J. Toxward, £3O: Dr. E. A. B. Milsom, £25: Mrs. G. Carter, £25: Alexander and Kemp, £25; Wm. Dunn. £ls: Geo. Gillett, £ls: D. P. Moraghan, £ls; i total. £ 5.500.