FROM TRACK AND STABLE

Taranaki Daily News, 30 July 1932, Page 4

FROM TRACK AND STABLE

SHATTER MUCH IMPROVED CROUPIER WELL AT ELLERSLIE, r.' ■ • ' - ROYAL REIGN’S RECENT FAILURE. (By “Hurry On.”) Since his two wins the final day at Trentham Merry Peel has been one of the most discussed lightweights in the Winter. Cup. He figures in the Levels Hack Handicap at the South Canterbury meeting to-day with 9.6 to carry over a mile and 35 yards, and though this is further than he has previously attempted there is every reason to believe that he will stay on. He will have to show up here if he is going to win the mile event at Riccarton. The West Coast horse Giggleswick went a really good race last Saturday and looks nicely placed in the Claremont Handicap at Timaru to-day with 8.61 Most opposition is likely to come from Rascal, who is showing signs of returning to form. Dainty Ways, who is now trained on the West Coast, is reported to be a very promising recruit to the jumping game and is expected to show up at Timaru to-day. Southern reports state that Gallant Fox has been blistered and is having a •pell. Ha will not be raced again until the spring. This three-year-old brother to Ringing Cheer is a smart galloper, but he is not sound. Croupier pleased by the way he sprinted two. furlongs at Ellesrlie on Thursday morning. He is reported to be in great order and will be quite ready to race when tllp partnership tangle has been completely straightened out. . Advice was received by J. Fryer prior to leaving for Sydney that Copey injured one of his legs wljen he hit a fence hard in the Grand National Steeplechase at Flemington: The log filled a good deal, but the injury is yielding to treatment and it is hoped to get Copey to the post in good trim to contest the Australian Steeplechase at Ca.ulfield next month. Shatter was given his first sprint since he resumed work when he went three furlongs with Topthorn at Riccarton on Thursday. He shaped very well, doing his task in good style.. He has developed into a solid-looking sort, who will play his part in the best handicap class next season. Gay Ballerina, the Dominion’s chamr pion two-year-old and best stake-winner of the 1928-29 season, resumed racing at Roselull recently after an absence of over 13 months. According to' the Sydney Referee, she looked very bright, and apart from being thicker had changed but little since she first raced in Sydney at three years. With ordinary luck she should soon pick up another race, and not before it is time, seeing that her last win was at Moorefield in November, 1930. J. King is training her. ; In the horse, whether he be thoroughbred, general utility horse, or draught, docility is a valued quality, remarks a leading authority. Although many foals appear, quiet enough, they do not, as a rule, have much confidence in mankind unless they are handled almost as soon as they are born. If during the first day after birth the foal is rubbed and patted continuously and made familiar with the smell and presence of a human being it will in most cases remain a docile animal, but if the first day is missed the best opportunity for its training in docility will be lost. The Riccarton trainer J. H. Prosser is restricting Great Star, Grand Review and Scarlet Robe to easy tasks at present. They are in the best of health, but they will not be hurried, as they will not be required to do any racing .for some time yet. Scarlet Robe, by Robespierre from Bonsign, has grown into a handsome horse and he may be a really good three-year-old. Two more members of the team, rising three years, are ready to go into work. They are both by Agrion, one being a filly from Theda, the dam of Great Star and the other a colt from Half-a-Brace, an imported mare by Bachelor’s Double. They have been broken in, but their owner is undecided what to do with them, the three horses he has in hand making as big a team as he cares for.

National Runners in Action. Quite a number of Grand National candidates claim engagements in the Soluth Canterbury Steeplechase to-day. Showfall, Lucess, High Pitch and Lord Ranald are the most prominent, while the' presence of the double winner at Trentham, Okapua, will give additional interest to the race. This will be Lord Ranald’s first race over the big fences since his retirement, while High Pitch will be making his debut as a steepleehaser. Both’ have been schooling well at Riccarton, but Okapua’s wins at Trentham were very convincing, and he will probably be the elect of backers. Royal Reign at Riccarton. Royal Reign was a disappointment in the Homeby Steeplechase last Saturday, reports the Christchurch Times. She looked to have a chance going to the last fence,' but she failed in the run home. She. may do better next month, over the bigger country on the. course proper, as she showed at Trentham that she was a proficient jumper. She is owned and trained by Dan Moroghan, who renewed many old acquaintances on Saturday, He trained at Riccarton' for several years and he had charge of Phaetontis when he won the Grand National 26 years years ago. Later Monaghan removed to the North Island. He took Rewanga and Hythread to Ricearton for the Grand National meeting 15 years ago, winning a flat race with each of them. He .will receive hearty congratulations from many, friends if he gets a stake with Royal Reign ’next month.

Owing to a misunderstanding it was stated that the hunting at Mr. Halcombe’s to-day would be at Mr. Sheard’s. The hunt will be held on Mr. Halcombe’s property, Kaipikiri Road, Urenui.