FROM TRACK AND STABLE

Taranaki Daily News, 28 April 1934, Page 4

FROM TRACK AND STABLE

preparation by make-up NO SUCCESS AT NELSON.

(By

“Hurry On.”)

Though Make Up did not win a race at Nelson,, the racing he had at that meeting is sure to have improved Mm. This Nelson-Blenheim circuit has proved a good training ground for T. R. George’s jumpers in the past. Coming at the end of April it enables him to get them tuned un for the big events of the winter. The Early Favourite.

As a result of his decisive win in the high-weight on the second day of the recent' Avondale meeting Emancipation is almost sure to be the early favourite for the Great Northern Hurdles. He was undoubtedly the unlucky horse of the race last year when his rider Brian Sullivan was far from well. The boy is now in improved health and can .be depended upon to handle the big gelding to advantage. J. W. Cathro has given his charge a patient preparation nd he r going to strip a fit horse on June 2. An Untimely End.

The untimely end to the career of Acervate at. Marton removed a most promising chaser from the ranks of cross country horses. She came to the front quickly a little over a year ago, when after running a fine race at Wanganui, she went on to Ellerslie and annexed the Hunt Club Hurdles and the Hunt Club Cup. She ran several other good races, though the Napier Steeplechase was her only other win. She commenced this year with a second in a hurdle race at Awapuiii and was thought to have a great chance at Marton. She was going so well when the mishap occurred that it would seem that she must have won. Her loss* is most unfortunate for her owner, Mr. G. H. James, a hunting enthusiast, who bred her and on occasions rode ■ her in her races. Acervate was an eight-year-old black mare by Acre from the Stepniak mare Ruse de Guerre, and; she was thus, a half-sister to Ruse, the . dam of the useful Lady Spy. This is. the family descending from the successful colonial tap-root Moth, the ancestress of many notable pierformers, including such as Crackshot (Auckland and Canterbury Cups), Osculator (beaten by a head by Wallace in the V.R.C. Derby), St. James, Pungawherewhere, 'and Pink Note (Dunedin Cups), Aeolus, Tetford (Wanganui Cup), Pink Terrace (Oaks), Vogengang, Tranter, etc. A Midnight Steeplechase.

The indisposition of Major “Algy” Burnaby, chairman of the Quom Hunt and a good sportsman, prompted the Sporting Life last month to recall a famous midnight steeplechase back in the “Naughty Nineties” in which the Major was the central figure. The horsemen were clad in nightshirts, and the Major was the Winner. r This mad escapade, which had its inception in. the fertile brain of a lady, occurred in. the neighbourhood of Melton Mowbray afid started from the bouse of Mr; Cecil .Fane, so well known then as the “Old Clubs” Most bi the competitors dined there; The moon was at its full, but when the time had arrived for the race the- sky had clouded over, and it was dark—very dark. But these intrepid horsemen had come prepared for their, race. Booted and spurred, with nightshirts ready to slip over their clothes, they were not to be cheated. Railway lamps were hurriedly borrowed from the obliging station master, ghostly apparel was 'pulled on, horses were mounted. ■. /-

Through the sleepy streets of Melton the horsemen rode,. waking the echoes with their clatter.. Lamps were placed to mark each fence, another was hung on a tree which was to be the turning point. The race. started. , Strange as it may seem, there ■ were no serious mishaps. Count Zbrowski was, leading when he fell in landing at the last fence, and Major Burnaby, then in the Royal Horse Guards, was the winner. Later advice from England announces the death of Major Burnaby. It was stated at the time the above article was written that the Major was the only survivor of the famous midnight steeples, but another' of the riders, Mr. Charles McNeill, now resident in France, has since written the Sporting Life, claiming obviously with justification, that hs> is still alive. Mr. McNeill was able to supply an interesting addition to the story of the race; Major Burnaby, it appears, arrived Without the necessary nightshirt. Lady Augusta Fame, who was the proposer of the race, came to the rescue with “a beautiful creation of her own, complete with pink ribbons.” Maybe it was the pink ribbons that proved too much for the'opponents of the gallant Major. Back Again. The Hawera trainer W. Pine returned to New Zealand on Tuesday with Peter Jackson and Colenso, who have done their autumn racing in Australia. It will be remembered that Peter Jackson was taken from New Plymouth to Marton by motor float,. almost immediately after he had finished second to Carfex in the Taranaki Cup in February. He was put on the Limited at Marton and shipped to Sydney the next day. Though Peter Jackson did not- win a race in the Commonwealth he earned £6OO in' place money, while Colenso’s win early in the month was profitable to her connections. New Zealand Stud Book. Preparations are now nearly completed to place particulars for the next volume of the New Zealand Stud Book in the hands of the printers. The keeper of the Stud Book has. been much inconvenienced by the dilatoriness of breeders in making their returns, but the volume on the whole should now be fairly complete and its appearance will be welcomed after- the interval of four years since the last volume. Offer for Spender. An Auckland racing man made an offer to Mr. J. D. Power, of New Plymouth, for his two-year-old Spender during the week, but no business resulted, Mr. Power being unwilling to part with the colt. Spender is by Lord Quex from Gold Painting, the dam of Tinterette, and was purchased by his present owner, at the Trentham sales. Though he has not as yet been seriously tested he has demonstrated on the track that he knows the way to gallop. Racing Fixtures. April 28—Marlborough R.C. April 28—Pahiatua R.C) April 28—Amberley R.C. May 2, 3—Egmont R.C. j!lay 10, 12—Wanganui J.C. May 11, 12—Southland R.C. May 19—Rangitikei R.C. May 19—Ashburton County R.C. . May 19, 21—Te Kuiti R.C. (at Te Rapa). HAWERA TRACK GALLOPS. LITTLE WORK ON SOFT TRACKS. All tracks on the Hawera course Were much softer yesterday morning than they have been for several months. Several of the tracks, including both ploughs, were almost completely under water. The weather was unfavourable and there was not a great deal of galloping, most of the trainers preferring to wait until conditions improve. All galloping was done on the trial grass, which did not cut up nearly as much

as might have been expected. A strong wind was blowing, which assisted the horses-down the back stretch,but hampered them in the straight. Gibraltar (Feasey), Arouse (Vaughan) and Copey (Tucker) were associated over six furlongs at working gallop pace. Both Gilbraltar and Arouse seemed to relish the nattire of the ground and were going much easier than Copey at the close in 1.23 3-ss. Later Copey (Tucker) was sent over three steeplechase obstacles—a brush fence, post and rails and hencoop—giving his usual perfect, exhibition. Copey has made a much .more rapid recovery from his leg trouble than was expected. However, he is far from properly l right yet, as the injured member is still very swollen, and the Marble Arch 'chaser appeared slightly lame on completing this schooling. Tliere was .little between Ingenuity (Shield) and Sandlark (Feasey) at any part of a five furlongs bout in 1.45. For horses of their .class the time was rather smart and both moved pleasingly. By the manner in which they hit out on this occasion neither should be troubled by the going in the event of it becoming really heavy. Colossal (Duncan) and Richfield (Flower) were also sent five furlongs. After Colossal had made the early pace he was overhauled by Richfield in the straight, the pair being practically together at the post in 1.5 l-2s. While the time was only fair, Richfield’s (effort was very satisfactory as he hit-out more kindly than usual. Colossal did not impress as much as on Tuesday. Diagand (Robinson) covered five furlongs unaccompanied in 1.7• l-2s. He was not fully extended and could have improved considerably on this time had it been required. Stanchion (Tucker) had Monaghan (Conway) as a companion in a schooling bout over a ground of the hurdles. Giving a much improved display, Stanchion jumped reasonably well throughout. Monaghan also went better than on Tuesday and did not tire nearly as much. Fantastic (Grylls) jumped each fence faultlessly in a similar task. Chief Line (Tucker) also made no mistakes when schooled over x a round. He seems to have taken to jumping very kindly and his poor showing at Marton on Saturday was not in keeping with his schooling efforts. Beau Star, Oriel, Autumn Leaf and the Colossus gelding did easy work on the oval. One Whetu, Carfex, The Tiger, General Quex, Aga Khan, Round Table, Royal Peak, Taitoru, Hybiscus, Million, Bon Aryan, Eara and the Ruapapa gelding were given pacework on the two-year-old track. Ruri and Silk Sox made use of the sand. Educational exercise on the two-year-old tracks was allotted Golden, Promise, the Gascony filly, the Mint Leaf gelding, the Lord Quex colt, the Limond filly and the Nigger Minstrel filly. ’ On Wednesday morning the trial grass was much harder and faster when three of the visiting horses were galloped. Royal Bengal (Flower) dashed over a couple, of furlongs in 25 l-ss. moving in excellent style. De Trop (Flower) and Cawbeen (Trillo) were on terms after three furlongs had been covered in 37 l-5s. —about an average gallop for hacks of their class.