TURF TOPICS TERSELY TOLD

Taranaki Daily News, 19 February 1931, Page 10

TURF TOPICS TERSELY TOLD

Ammon Ra —pid! #*# « s i Orby’s Choice is ours also. # * * 0 A hot favourite; In The Shad*. # ■» * * Democratic is very common. 0.00 # Easter' Time is getting closer all the time. o**o Impetuous does not stop when she starts. #oo® In The Shade will soon be in the limelight. # * Watch Royal Bengal for a good cut at a maiden race soon. # * ft # The Hawk is just about rctffiy for a museum. #'* * * Omeo ran all over the course— Roameo. * * # * Cuticle is getting sharpened up for Wanganui. * 0 * • Statuary is solid over eight and a half furlongs. 0 * * ® Historic is a surprise nomination for the open sprints at Rangitikei. ft # 0 * Rangitikei entries, number 263 for 14 races. Last year they were 267 for 16 events. /#* * * Phar Lap set the fashion, and now Gay Lap and Laptown are lapping things up in the North. * 0 * * Recent totalisator returns appear to have been suffering from a drop too much. 0 * 0 • Wingatui always runs • good races at Wingatui and surprised there last Thursday. #oo# Gold Dawn looks well enough, but she is not as solid as her sister Bright Glow and five furlongs is as far as she can go in good company. o*oo Twelve months ago Democratic was promising great things over hurdles, but his recent displays have been mediocre and he seems to have lost all his pace. 0 0 0-0 Phar Lap opened his autumn campaign in the St. George Stakes last season and was beaten into third place by Amounis and Parsee. This year the champion won without being extended. o*oo Havering’s continued progress is reported from Takanini, and the Haweraowned sprinter should be worth remembering for his next engagement. * * 0 *

Crennatown was not as badly injured as first supposed and the big Archiestown gelding has responded well to veterinary treatment. However, the accident will not improve his prospects for his immediate engagements.

Because she was born a day or two before August x, Impetuous, the half-sister to Ceremony> has to race as a three-year-old. In spite of this big handicap she is class enough to be a payable proposition. o*oo

Royal Acre had every chance on the Taranaki circuit and was rather lucky to win a race. He has not improved to the extent suggested ■ by his earlier efforts over the battens.

Tobaccoland was considered by some to stand a great chance of winning a race at Hawera, but he was badly beaten each day, and it now looks as if mile racfes are too far for him.

Full Mark was the most consistent hurdler on the Taranaki circuit, winning two races and running two seconds. He is not very good class, but should be useful where the company is not too strong.

Arikira, who won the Nolan Cup in good style at Hawera, was decidedly lame at New Plymouth last week and consequently did not show his best form. He seems to be a good sdrt and should soon\ make amends.

Royal Finance was eased up after her racing at Christmas and she met better conditioned hacks last week. The race she had the first day improved her considerably and she should soon strike winning form again. o'o 0 0

Spearopa, who features in the maiden event at Wanganui to-day has been schooling promisingly at Awapuni. A repetition of Spearopa’s sprifag form would make him very hard to beat today. • • * »

That consistent middle-distance performer King Willonyx is looking bright and healthy and should more than pay expenses at the Dargaville meeting which opens to-day.

Ammon Ra heads the two-year-old winning list in New Zealand with £2535. La Poupee is next with £2070 and there is a big drop to Fair Weather £9lO, Baroscope £835, Tea Chat £760, Golden Wings £625, Dulen £550, Easter. Time £470, Aspian £469 and Chief Jewel £430.

Eaglet looked well enough when she contested the Flying Handicap at New Plymouth, but she was slow to find her feet and was in an impossible position for the remainder of the jourpey. Over the extra distance at Wanganui-to-day she will have time to get going . 0 ft 0 0

Hector Gray 'was to have ridden In The Shade in the Paul Alemorial on Saturday, but Silvermine was paid up for in that race and Gray had to ride the Hawera sprinter. No suitable rider being available, In The Shade had to be scratched, but he will race at Wanganui to-day.

First Acre has not run a really good race since he returned to New Zealand and it was surprising to find the money pouring in for him in the Paul Alemorial, when he was sent out a solid second favourite. Even with the money in, his form was not much better.

Paitonu had a race at Hawera and one at New Plymouth, but it is apparent that he is not as forward as he was last year. He will need to improve out of all knowledge if he is to have a chance of repeating his last vear’s victory in the Thompson Handica p.

The most disappointing runner at New Plymouth was Alelissa and her second and third were much below her best form. However, this mare had not done a great deal of work since the holidays, and she should show a big improvement as the result of those gallops.

Not so slippery: Lady Quex. ft # * ft Will soon be on the wing: Eaglet, # # # # Chopin has been out of tune lately. ■ * # ft Denier was well-named. • e o ju Vertigern: First Again. ® ® » • Monalof had one of his "on” days on Thursday. ® ® ® ® Stan. Bagby could teach circus riders a few tricks. \ ft ft ® * Tea Queen was a nice thing to go home with on Thursday and Saturday. # * * ® Chief Link clicked again, and at a great price for a Gray mount. * ft ft * The only start which most double bettors get is a late scratching. ♦ * # # Watch Ceremony for something high class. 1 ' # * ® ® To-day Wanganui, or “Whanganui”: that’s where we generally get '‘whanged.” • ® ® » Appropriate Marton newspaper captions: “Racecourse Relief Camp. All Doing Their Bit.” • # ® # Congrats to Tommy Green on his third Taranaki Cup victory. Piuthair and Yoma were the others. .# ft * » Pluck without luck keeps horses and punters in the ruck, and there (like this poor scribe) they’re stuck. ft • ft . « The punters could not raise any cash on Open Cheque on the Taranaki circuit. # ft ft ft. There is little doubt that Ernie George will soon win a race with the half-brother to Callapat. ##■■»» Peter Jackson is no champion, but he, has not run a bad race and may develop into a useful sort next season. ■* * # # . To show the popularity of the hack cup races it has only to be mentioned that this event has drawn 38 entries at Bulls. # ' ' # ft * Chief Savage is not a good “doer” away from home, but ran good races on the Taranaki circuit. He is sure to go better on his home track, Bulls. , . ,i * . ft « # Spanish Prince, the Prince Merriwee —'Spain gelding trained by R. Johnson, has broken down badly and has been sent home. # * ft * . Otairi has been a good winner for Mr. K. McK. Duncan, having earned £6BO in the 1928-29 season, £ll2O last season and £1075 this season. # # ® « Alf. Neale, who trains at Bulls, has patronised the Rangitikei meeting well, bis entries including King Acre, Chief Savage, Partaga, Latakia, Makira, Fairway and a Starstream mare. • • ft • Over a short distance Amorist is one of the best hurdlers in the Dominion. He won each day at Dunedin, shouldering a steadier of 12.4 on a heavy track on" the concluding day. • * ■ • # - • # y Tenacre won well at New Plymouth the first day, but faulty jumping spoilt his chances on Saturday. However, he is new to the game, and this young horse promises to do well over short hurdle courses. # * # « Consent was one of the unlucky runners in the Flying Handicap at New Plymouth, but he made amends the second day and won in a canter. He is very fit just now and must be respected in any company. * # ft .. . * Hunting Cry did not show his best form at New Plymouth last week, but better things can be expected of him before long. He is one of the best sprinters in New Zealand, but he was obviously feeling the effects of his recent racing. ft ft « » Paganelli was once famed as a brilliant beginner, but age and ,the fact that he has been tried over middle distances have impaired his brilliancy and he looks a better proposition over seven furlongs or a mile.' * * # # Having his first race for nearly six months, it was not surprising to find Ceremony carrying a lot of superfluous condition. He ran a great race in the Stakes, however, and will be one to keep on side with at Wanganui. * • # ft # Concentrate should benefit by his races at New Plymouth and it would not be surprising to find him included among the winners at Easter. He has been very unlucky this season. . * # ft * There was good money for Belle Star in each of her starts on the circuit, but she ran like a duffer. She promised last season to be a good sort and, though she has raced below expectations recently, she may show her true form later in the autumn. * ft # # There was an unaccountable backing for Paiko the first day at New Plymouth in'spite of his recent bad form. He showed no improvement, however, and finished nearer last than first. He now races in. the colours of his trainer, A. M. Wright. * ft # ■ # The apprentice C. W. Brodie seems to be the only one to get the beet out of High Falutin’. He rode the' Granflcourt gelding in the Manawatu, Stratford and Taranaki Cups, but Bert Morris was in the saddle in the Egmont Cup when High Falutin’ performed very poorly.

Pink Note has twice run second in the Dunedin Cup since winning the mile and a half race three years ago. Pink Note is a good class middle-distance performer, but lias not won a race since the Dunedin summer meeting in 1929. # # * * Since she struck form and won the Atiawa Hack Cup Calamine has not run a bad race, and her third to Vertigern and Royal Parade was a fine effort. She was very badly handled and might have won if more judiciously ridden! * * * # The Starting Times. The following are the starting times at Wanganui to-day:— Westmere Hurdles 12.0 Stewards’ Handicap 12.40 Alaiden Race '. 1.20 Juvenile Handicap 2.0 Earle Stakes 2.45 Victory Hack ... 3-30 Petre Hack . 4.15 Flying Handicap 5.0