FROM TRACK AND STABLE

Taranaki Daily News, 18 April 1932, Page 4

FROM TRACK AND STABLE

NUKUMAI GETTING READY

MYSTIC PEAK SOLD FOR INDIA.

ACCIDENT BEFALLS SOUCHONG.

(By “Hurry On.”)

Old Nukumai is getting through his tasks in good style at Hawera at present and ■will be in splendid order- for the jumping season. R. C. Mlles, who is meeting with a lot of success at present, will most probably be his rider. Mr. P. F. Wall’s speedy gelding Souchong was injured while returning from the Hastings races on April 2. He was in a float, in which horses are carried with their heads out. A passing lorry loan struck Souchong and burst a blood vessel in his head. It prevented him from racing on April 9, but is not expected to have any serious results. According to statistics published in last week’s Referee, the Hawera mentor J. Fryer, with. 19 winners, is third on the list of winning trainers. Others well up are E. George 14, O. Cox 13 and J. Brown 12. J. M. Pine with 20 winning mounts is the most successful Taranaki horseman.

t Spoon has left the stable of G. Murray Aynsley,- at Ricearton, her owner, Mr. G. P. Payne, having placed her with F. E. Jones. The, Tea Tray mare* is at present enjoying a spell, which will continue till it is time to get her ready for spring racing.

R. E. Coveny will make a trip north for the Manawatu meeting, where he will do most of the riding on Sir Charles Clifford’s horses, Straighteourse, Winsome Hind, Porlock and Fleeting Glance, in addition to handling Great Star and Grand Review for Mr. J. H. Prosser. He will return for the South Canterbury meeting. Lady Quex failed rather badly the second day at Avondale, but this was not her true form. She is in the J. JI. Johnson Memorial Handicap at Awapuni with 9.4, and the brown mare is sure to come in for solid support. She has already shown a partiality for the course, having won on her last two appearances there. ;

There was some schooling at Ellerslie on Thursday morning, reports the Star. Absent (D. Craddock) and Dominican (Bert Rae),' were sent over the steeplechase fences on tlie flat, after jumping a couple of hurdles in the centre. Absent, who has had more experience than his companion, gave the better display over the big obstacles, but Dominican showed promise for a novice. Spring Abbey (R. Olive) was. sent over the pony hurdles twice. He jumped rather big, but with experience should improve. Rose Latour (R. Olive) was also put over the pony hurdles twice, and, on the second occasion' jumped fairly well. There wa% some doubt before he left Sydney as to*whether Nightmarch would fulfil his Awapuni Cup engagement, but as he has. been accepted for his trainer, A. McAulay, must be quite satisfied with the condition of the Night Raid horse. It is said that he is to be specially prepared for the next Melbourne Cup. He He Avon this event in 1929. R. Reed still being in Sydney, A. E. Ellis will have the mount on Wednesday.

The four-year-old mare Fondle has made substantial improvement during the past few weeks, and her first attempt over a mile at Hastings on April 9, when she won, showed that she will not be troubled by a journey. She is on the small side, however, which will probably prevent her reaching good class. Fondle is well named, being by Leighton from tlie Martian mare Caress. Caress is a sister to Quest, a useful performer in the colours of Jlr. V. Riddiford. Quest, by the way, is still doing duty as a hack at Trenthain.

According to reports from Jlelbournc, the New Zealand-bred Jlystic Peak, by Romeo from Refinement, was sold last week and will be sent to India. He was bred at Auckland by Mr. E. Alison and taken to Australia as a yearling, where at auction he was purchased for 550 guineas by Mr. A. G. Barlow, who raced him successfully. Subsequently Mr. P. B. Quinlan, bought him for 1500 guineas. Carrying his colours, Mystic Peak won the Cantala Stakes and William Reid Stakes, one of Greenline’s Moonee Valley downfalls. In the Futurity Stakes last year Mystic Peak nearly defeated Phar Lap. It was only the outstanding brilliance of the champion that saved him. Jlystic Peak had a light season at the stud last year and only resumed racing a few weeks ago. The New Plymouth contingent paid its way at Masterton, though the failure of Gibraltar in the cup was a big disappointment. -He jumped out well enough, but soon drifted, and before they had gone half a mile was well back. He quite failed to produce his usual strong finishing run. Easter Time, making his first attempt over a mile and a-quarter, went a really good race, only failing by inches to get second money. His display was very encouraging and he should be well in the picture at Awapuni on Wednesday. Orapai won the open six on Saturday and would probably have reversed positions with Imperial Fame on Friday had his rider not allowed him to run itide entering the straight, Gibraltar and Easter Time will race at Awapuni, but Orapai is to return home to-morrow.