SPORTING NOTES

Te Awamutu Courier, Volume 68, Issue 5944, 17 May 1944, Page 5

SPORTING NOTES

ON RACIN'G AND TROTTING BRIEF ITEMS FROM THE TRACK (By “Old Rowley”) A Son of Gay Shiela • Prior to his surprise win last Saturday the three-year-old colt Gaymeer had been out only twice, the second time at the Waikato meeting, where he was well in it to the far turn, but compounded badly and finished at the tail of the field; so it was not surprising that the public did not support him. He is by Vermeer from Gay Shiela, and if he has inherited the best qualities of his dam he should be worth keeping in mind, for he should go places in the racing game. Gaymeer is trained by his owner, G. Cpurtney, of Ngatea. Harry Long, Trainer When Fine Kin raced at Te Rapa she was listed as under the care of J. McSweeney, her owner, but he subsequently passed her on to the “depression ” jockey, Harry Long, who evidently knows a little more abou'a horses than riding them, for she won the Second Trial Handicap at Te Aroha in a style which was much better than she has shown before. There are many who were pleased to see Harry get the win to his credit, and it is to be hoped that he makes as great a success of his training venture as he did of his riding career. Waikato Ahead Punters, who will barely have recovered from the pasting they received at Te Aroha last Saturday, have a bigger problem ahead of them at Te Rapa next Saturday, when the fields for the Waikato Racing Club’s winter meeting appear to have plenty of scope for surprise. Many of the wise-heads, particularly the arm-chair punters, are avowing their intention of awaiting Waikato results and plunging on the Great Northern meeting, but there is every probability that they may miss badly. Just a Gift ! If the streets are not paved with gold in Te Awamutu, the pounds, shillings and pence appear to be so easily picked up that “ Old Rowley” is tempted to turn from his lowly profession in an endeavour to fill his pockets with the gift money that the gullible are casting out with both hands. What with sweeps, doubles, trebles, pick the placed horses, first in four races, and what-have-you, this scribe calculates that there must be a small fortune changing hands every week—and “these blokes wot pays out” moan about the cost of living and the burden of their income tax. What would you do ? Justly Rewarded The connections of Gold Cape were justly rewarded last Saturday when the four-year-old scored a hollow victory in the Waimata Hurdles. Geld Cape has shown consistency of late, and it is quite on the cards that he will add further to his winning list; but it may pay to remember that he will be meeting some really good ones if he is started in any of the open hurdles events at the forthcoming meeting; and while it is only right to enthuse over his improvement a modicum of caution may save a pound or two of hard cash. Badly Burnt It is qiute common knowledge now that Betterman was “expected,” but those who can give most information about Harvey Evans’ charge are those who burnt their fingers very badly with Jollyfox and Constitution. Certainly Constitution ran a fair race, but the failure of Jollyfox should not have been unexpected, for he has shown in recent racing that he is not as good as his track? form would suggest. A mile event might see him to better advantage. No Relation There seems to be an impression that Moutoa Lad, winner at the Otaki meeting on Saturday last, is similarly bred to Moutoa Bond, which ran third in the main event. Moutoa Lad is by North Island from Black Jane, while Moutoa Bond is by Bulandshar from Moutoa Treasury. Both, however, are owned by F. Easton and trained by P. Burgess. A Booster for Spiral What an honest little mare Lady Spiral is turning out to be. She started her four-year-old career very quietly, with three unplaced perform.ances, but since then she has started sixteen times for twelve places, among which are six wins. If this is a sample of Spiral’s progeny we should see some sturdy performers on the trick this next season.