TURF TOPICS TERSELY TOLD

Taranaki Daily News, 16 January 1931, Page 4

TURF TOPICS TERSELY TOLD

The Wellington Cup fixture opens on 1 Tuesday. * * * * Fernden developed lameness at Manawatu and it has been deemed wise to' spell him for a short while. # * # # The manner in which some racing clubs are cutting down stakes may be summed up ae “Reductio ad absurdum.” * * * * King George only won two races last season, worth a total of £3BB. If His Majesty cannot find the royal road to •success in the sport of kings, what chance have we got? The three-year-old ..Protomint ran some good races, in . the. spring classics and,, on his weight-for-age form, would seem to possess excellent chances of losing his maiden status at Ashhurst. * * * * According to a report presented to the committee on Monday night, a profit of £7BO was made over the Marton summer gace meeting. The Marton Jockey Club has big liabilities, and one could have wished for an even greater profit. # # ♦ * For a win in an open sprint at : one of the country meetings, no proposition reads better than the Tarquin three-year-old Hampton Park. He is just about-cherry ripe. * # # # Paquito was very lame . after the Auckland Cup, and "he was unable to race again at Ellerslie,- while he met •additional trouble, as he cut one of his eyelids, presumably in his box. He is to have a long spell. # * . • » ■Star Stranger, Vertigern and Concentrate, winners of the last three Wellington Cups, are acceptors for Tuesday’s race. Cynisca won- this event thrice, so it may not be impossible'for one of this trio to repeat his- earlier performance. ♦ , #- * .♦ have had a good run in the Wellington Cup, especially in earlier years.- Those of that age to succeed were Castaway (18'74), Korari (1876), Cynisca (1890), Renown (1901), Gladsome (1904), Nightfall. (1905), and Rapine (1923); < •' * . # : *. * > When Advance, “The_ Black Devil,” won the Wellington Cup in 1903, he shouldered the .fiig'burden of 10.4. Other heavy imposts were carried successfully by Tambourini (9.13), Guy Fawkes (9.6), Maritana (9.4), Tasman (9.6), Uniform (9.3), Achilles (9.4), and Star Stranger (9.8). # * * * The ex-North Islander Shortly was lame after his racing at Invercargill last week and he will have to be treated to a spell. He won the Wyndham Cup on New Year’s Day, so he has already proved a bargain to his South Canterbury owner. * # The disappointing Star God • (Martian —Star Lady) has been sold and will do his future racing in Tasmania —the home of the crocks! .Star God has 9.8 in the Hobart Cup, but is not greatly fancied. * . * * ' « i The New Zealand-owned GemlighL (Treclare —Headlight) partly atoned for ’recent failures when he dead-heated with Traymobile (Tea,Tray—-.Tireless) in the 'Berala .Handicap- : at the Warwick Farm meeting on January 3. They were equal first favourites. . 1 • «,. • « ’ Clopton, won over a mile and a quarter at-Ellerslie,; but he wars mot greatly 1 fancied,for the Goldfields Cupi:. He was never far away from the leaders and ' put in a good finishing effort' in the straight to get second. He ran another good race in the Thames Plate on Saturday. His performances were impressive and he may win a decent handicap over- a middle distance before long. « . # * * From 1874 to 1889 inclusive, the Wellington Cup was run over two miles and the time record is credited to Pasha, who won with 8.4 in 1887 and occupied 3-min. 36|<sec. for the distance. Thb Cup' is now contested over a mile apd a half and the time record is jointly shared by Mdioha (8.7)., Insurrection (7.0), Enthusiasm (8.5), and Star Stranger (9.8), who each took 2min. 31 sec. for the twelve furlongs. This equals the New Zealand record for the distance. Watch White Fang. White Fang has run three good races recently and his turn does not appear to be far off. He was second to Arrow Lad in the President’s Handicap, one mile and a quarter, fit Awapuni, and occupied a similar position to Royal Parade in the Liverpool Handicap, nine furlongs, . at the same meeting. At the W'airarapa fixture he was runner.-up' to 'Stanchion in the President’s Handicap, nine furlongs and 80 yards. White Fang has not won since the Avondale autumn meeting last season, but if started, at Wellington should make his presence felt. He won the Consolation Handicap there a couple of seasons ago.

The Wellington Cup was first run in 1894, so Tuesday’s contest will be the' sSth. * # * * Mr. Frank Ormond’s nominations of Toxeuma, (Pakitere and Pewa for Wellington .were received too late. ° » * * * “Snowy” Morris will have : the mount • oh Concentrate in the Wellington Cup. He -was on top when Concentrate chased Nisrhtniafch home in the New Zealand ’ Cup. # * * * Baskier has now struck winning form and a brilliant beginner like ( the Archery gelding would seem to possess a great chance in the Siberia Handicap at Ashhurst next week. * * * # The Swell was a hbt favourite for the Ashhurst Cup last year, but was beaten outside a place. He ran a few fair races during the holidays and may be a harder proposition next Week. ’Silver Rule appears in the open sprint at Ashhurst and in a hack race. She has made a good recovery from the injuries she received at Stratford and should race well in whichever race she takes on. — * • • « Most of those engaged A&hhurst annual meeting were Seen in action at Foxton and a good guide for bettors should be obtained from the racing at the flax-milling township. Both are small, turning courses. * * * * , The New Plymouth lightweight horseman C. Goulsbro enjoyed a good run at . the last Ashhurst meeting, winning races on Abbey Queen (twice),* Paiko and Cerf, and his only other mount at the meeting was the outsider Kilorell, who ran second in the Hack Cup. « « * * r Belle Star appears to be particularly well-treated in the Raumai Handicap at Ashhurst bn Anniversary Day and would only need to show a slight improvement on her form at Stratford to be the hardest to beat. *#- * # Antique looked well when he went out to contest the- Goldfields Cup. He was never further away than third over the last six furlongs and once in line took charge to win nicely. # * * * The Riccarton two-year-old Solvent was galloped on while racing at the Auckland meeting, and she was in a bad way for a few days with blood poisoning. She is on the, mend how, and if ehe makes a quick recovery she . will be a competitor at Trentham. # # # *■’ ; Last season’s Welcome Sta'keis winner Royal Ruler has disappointed on several occasions since that victory, but.hefivy tracks have mainly becii responsible for his defeats. Now .that he has struck form it is reasonable. to assume th|it his. winning way is not yet at an end. , # o - ♦ . ; • Nominations for all events oh the first day of the Egmbnt Racing Club’s summer meeting close to-night .with the secretary,/. Mr. E. P. Cox, at 8.30 o’clock, p.m. , . ' -' ■*■’ ■ ■ ’* Tile Webster cast-off and hurdle failure Kilferoh (Kilbroney—FerqneHa) won the second division Of the Flying Handicap at the Rosebery pony- meeting on January. 'Toni (Leighton:—First Class) str.oll<?4 home in the Trial Stakes at the. same meeting, starting- at a long, price, • «......• ® Maori Boy’ : was well bsick .for the greater, portion of the way in the Gojdfieldjs Cup, blit. improved his position over, the .last couple of furlongs, being fifth when, .the post was reached. The going was not in his favour, for- he requires, a yielding, track to show his best. » *....... * Laptown, a ttiree-year-old filly .by Lapidary, showed a lot of pace in the Tapii Handicap at Thames. She was soon'in front and led the field to the straight, where, she ran very wide and. was beaten into third place'at the finish. Laptown, who is one of R. J. Mateer’s team at Matamata, will do better. • * * • Lucky Alice, a winner at Auckland has hardened up nicely as the result of her efforts under silk, and her prospects for future victories are bright. Domination, by ’LucullfiS; —Miss Floss, who- is also- in- J- H. - Wallace’s stable at Te-Aroha, is executing steady work bn the- tracks,, and may be expected to take part in the coming country cir- , cuit *** . w Of the riders who will most likely have engagements in the Wellington Cup next week H. Gray has won on Kilraiii and' Miss Mischief,.R., Reed has won on Maihoa, Rapine apd Star Stranger and. dead-heated on Rewi Poto and Kilmoon, H. Wiggins rode Insurrection, A. E; Ellis had the mount on Loughrea, while B. H. Morris has won the last .two. contests on Vertigern and Concentrate