TURF TOPICS TERSELY TOLD

Taranaki Daily News, 23 July 1931, Page 11

TURF TOPICS TERSELY TOLD

Trentham: thy name is mud! ♦ # * ♦ Heavy race tracks make , light pockets.

Trojan Melody came home singing ragtime on Saturday. * * * •

But after all one good divvy atones for three dismal days of punting.

Staghunter was given away the other day. Serves him right; he gave us away often enough. « • • •

Our astronomical expert has nothing on H. Gray. Didn’t Hector steer The Sun to victory, on Saturday!

Amnion Ra will open his spring campaign in Sydney in the Hobartville Stakes on August 29. • • ® • If racehorses earn their winter oats, we suppose that yearlings deserve their winter groats. • ® ® Paquito is to be tried over hurdles. Never a really sound horse, the experiment does not appear promising. • • • ■• Compris is regarded as a certain starter in the Melbourne Cup and has already embarked on an exacting preparation for the big two miler. • • • • The consistent form shown by Malahat at the autumn meetings will be considered to-day by the bettors at Gisborne. • • • • . Princess Elizabeth won the Hawke’s Bay Hurdles in good style and should have too much pace for the rest in the Park Hurdles! at Gisborne to-day. • I • • • Royal Finance finished so fast on the concluding day of the Wellington meeting that she seemed certain to have won in a few more strides. * # # # Judging by the poor prices offering for bloodstock at the recent Wellington sales, buyers consider that “bargain sales” have extended to racehorses. # * * * Fiji is a fine cut of a horse, and although not raced at Trentham he is in apple pie order for early spring engagements. He won at his first start, at Otaki. **♦ . • Waterpower had a busy time at the Wellington winter meeting starting in five races for a first, a second and three thirds. She was a model of consistency, and should be among the winners again before long. « * * • Desert Lad has been a great disappointment on the flat, and he is to be 'n-iven a chance to redeem liiniscl-’ as a hurdler. So far his schooling efforts have been slow and cumbersome, but he may improve with experience. « * « * Dunraven is galloping in fine style at Riccarton, and will strip very fit for nearby engagements. Belvoir, another of F. D. Jones’ string, is moving nicely, but Taragona is still showing signs of lameness. • • • * Blacksmith showed winning form at Hastings, and will race at Gisborne, where the opposition does not appear to be very strong. This horse jumps well, and may make amends this winter for past disappointments. • « « ® Although trained at Foxton practically throughout his career, Nukumai raced on that course on only one day, running second in the Foxton Cup and third in the Harrington Handicap on the same afternoon. ■ . • • . • • Although Omeo has don; little else but sprinting at Awapuni recently, he showed at Trentham that he can still jump as cleverly as the best of them, and if Knapp keeps him on his feet he will; have to be reckoned with at Riccarton. Under Control. The Sun. who had misbehaved at the barrier earlier in the meeting, had H. Gray as his pilot in the Crofton Handl- . cap. In the hands of tne crack jockey he behaved like a gentlem n and in the race was always going well. Apart from his tricky barrier manners, he is a good sort, a bold galloper, who should easily run out a mile. Nukumai has won the Winter Hurdles on three occasions,, and performed a like feat in- the Junipers’ Flat at Riccarton. Each of those races he has contested six times. Sargon as a Sire. The good three-year-old Sargon, who displayed fine form in Australia and Auckland in the spring, is to be retired to the stud. Before and after winning the Alison Cup at Takapuna in November, Sargon was troubled with lameness, and although he was got to the post for the Great Northern Derby on January 1, the trouble developed more seriously. Some time afterwards Sargon was fired in the hope that he might become sound again, but his case is now regarded as practically hopeless. Also it is unlikely he will be trained again. Sargon is by Catmint from Hukapapa (the dam of Catkin), by Snow King from imported Marie Odile, by St. Am ant.

Mud-larks knock form out of shape, e • • • The pro —and the con —ferenee is over again. • • • •

The punter who goes to races to make money deserves all he makes.

The Gisborne three-day winter meeting opens to-day. • • • •

Commercial travellers are independent these days. They don’t take orders from anybody!

H. Gray’s winning rides on The Sun and Manawhenua at Trentham on Saturday raised his tally to 112. # # • •

Handy has improved in appearance as the result of his recent'racing and will strip very fit for the Gisborne Steeplechase to-day.

The name Tokatea was disallowed for the Potoa-Unity colt in J. Gray’s stable, but Te Monanui’s brother will race as Night Warrior. # ♦ • •

Rigoletto has been purchased by Trainer J. Cameron and will race in his nomination in the hack steeples at Gisborne to-day.

The Smuggler disappointed at Trentham. Perhaps he was afraid to bring home the bacon with the Minister of Customs looking on.

Alf. Neale has four horses in work at Bulls, but only one (Chief Savage) is (it to race at present. The Chief should <vo well at Awapuni. " ® •

Aiguille is a half-brother to the good winners Autihnnia and Autumn Sun and will make his first appearance in the Maiden at Gisborne to-day. He gallops well.

Te Hoia‘ who is a sluggish galloper for the first few furlongs of his races, is cited as a possible Auckland Cup winner. His half-brother Te Kara had similar tendencies.

Tidal .(Sea Sick —Ceeilie IL), the French-bred horse who raced successfully in New Zealand and Australia, is now located at Hastings and will do Stud work in that district.

“Eno,” Pungaehu:—Dark Prince fell at the first fence in the Wellington Steeplechase. He is usually a clever jumper, but judging by the way he won the July Steeplechase, he seems to lack nothing in staying ability. o • • •

Fresh Breeze ran really good races at Trentham,'and if the weather conditions are favourable to a short-winded horse, he should take some heading off in the weaker fields at Timaiu on Saturday. « « # •

Our old friend Royal Mint ran two fine races over sticks at Trentham, but it was asking him a lot to compete again on the third day. Properly placed he should win good money over the small obstacles.