FROM TRACK AND STABLE

Taranaki Daily News, 23 May 1934, Page 4

FROM TRACK AND STABLE

HORSES FOR ELLERSLIE

SIDELIGHTS FROM TE RAPA.

TUDOR A PROMISING ’CHASER.

(By

“Hurry On.")

The New Plymouth trainer H. Dulieu proceeded to Ellerslie after the Te Kuiti meeting with Prince Colossus, Count Lendroff and Leo Colossus. The victory of Prince Colossus in the President’s Handicap at Te Rapa made Dulieu’s 15th winner for the current season.

Copey Falls Twice. That usually proficient fencer Copey has fallen in his two starts this season. Up to the time of his mishap at Wanganui he was jumping in grand style and reports from Te Rapa state that he was going exceptionally well when he lost his rider on Saturday. He is such a clever fencer that these two falls are not likely to impair his confidence, and he may pay expenses if taken to Ellerslie.

The Auckland handicapper must regard Hebei Star and Hunting Jay as a couple of super hacks in asking them to give weight to West Tor after B. Burgess’ charges’ efforts at Wanganui. On a course that did not suit him he ran two splendid races, and few of those who witnessed those performances would be prepared to see any hack give him weight and a beating on a big, roomy course like that at Ellerslie. For the Matron’s Paddock.

Speedmint pulled up lame after contesting the President’s Handicap at Te Rapa on Saturday, and it was subsequently announced that she would not race again. She is to be retired to the stud and will z be mated with Gay Shield’s half-brother Beau Pere. Opposition Too' Strong.

The Urenui-owned and Hawera-trained Silk Sox ran two good races at Te Rapa but found the opposition just too strong for him. On the strength of his third in the Rangitoto Hack Handicap on the opening day he was sent out favourite for the Farewell Handicap on Monday. Though he was prominent all the way he finished just out of a place. Silk Sox is the ideal cut of a jumper and it would occasion no surprise to find him being given a chance over the small fences. The Cornwall Favourite.

After his decisive win at Te Rapa on Saturday Prince Colossus has been installed favourite for the Cornwall Handicap to be run at Ellerslie on June 2. So far this season he has scored nine wins, but in the Cornwall Handicap he will be tackling his toughest proposition yet. The Te Rapa race has not proved a very reliable guide for the Ellerslie mile and a quarter in the past. Two years ago Little Doubt won at Te Rapa in such attractive fashion that the Cornwall Handicap was thought to be at his mercy, but on the day was ■well beaten into third place, Sunny Sky being the winner. Last year Gibraltar won at Te Rapa but was never sighted at Ellerslie. However, the Prince is such an honest customer and stays so solidly that he may succeed where the other two Taranaki horses failed.

Copper King’s Failure. After his decisive win at Wanganui Copper King was installed favourite in the principal race at Bulls on Saturday but finished outside a place. He was carrying a solid impost, but nevertheless he should have made a better showing. He was allowed to tail the field for the greater part of the journey at Wanganui, and it may be that he races best when ridden in that manner.

Promising Hurdler. Towards the end of last winter Catoma showed great promise as a hurdler. She Was put aside for many months but is Row bowling along in good style at Ellerslie. She figures in the Penrose fiurdles with 10.2 and is expected to inake a bold bid for victory. Like most of the stock of her sire Catmint, Catoma Ss at her best when the going is heavy. Fugle Call Suited.

The conditions at Te Rapa on Monday suited Bugle Call, and the son of Hunting Song smothered the opposition over the final furlong of the Farewell Handicap. He was solidly supported on the second fiay of the Egmont meeting, but his rider on that occasion made the mistake of keeping him handy to the leaders in ■the early stages, and his usual strong finish was conspicuous by its absence. On Monday he was allowed to trail along well back and never appeared on the scene until the last furlong, when he came with a great rush on the outside. He is not engaged in the Cornwall Handicap, an event in which he would certainly have been a lightweight possibility on a wet track. ' Has Big Possibilities.

The Awapuni trainer L. Knapp produced two of his jumpers at Te Rapa on Monday. Tudor had no difficulty in settling the opposition in the Hack Steeples, Valpeen being second. Later in the day Valpeen was produced again in the Kawhai Steeplechase, and this time had his revenge by just beating Riotous. This form makes Tudor appear good, and there appears to be no doubt that this son of Little England is one of the most promising young jumpers in commission. In his two starts over hurdles he has had no trouble in disposing of the opposition, and he proved on Monday that the big fences have no terrors for him.

High Pitch Destroyed. High Pitch severely injured one of his forelegs while contesting the King Country Steeplechase at the Te Kuiti meeting on Saturday and was destroyed. He did his early racing in the colours of his breeder, Mr. W. G. Stead, for whom he won the Railway Handicap at Ellerslie in 1926. He was subsequently sold to Mr. J. Irwin, Paeroa, and again proved a good stake-winner both on the fiat and over hurdles. He was always particularly

partial to soft tracks. He was by Surchedon from Shrill and therefore a halfbrother to Father’s Voice and the two-year-old General Quex, who is in O. Cox’s stable at Hawera.

Lord Ranald to Start Again. A very interesting nomination for the Craigmore Steeplechase at the South Canterbury winter meeting is Lord Ranald, who has been off the scene since he ran fourth in the New Zealand Grand National Steeplechase of 1932. As a five-year-old in the winter of 1929 he had one ran on the flat and then won four steeplechases in succession. He then disappeared from the scene until the winter of 1932. Then, after an unplaced run over hurdles, he won the South Canterbury Steeplechase and then his Grand National effort sent him into retirement. But for ypsoundness Lord Ranald would have attained high rank as a ’chaser. When the Starter Failed.

On being congratulated on his excellent starting Sir Gilbert Dyett recently remarked that there were at least two disgruntled punters who did not share the opinion that he was a good starter. “It was at Richmond,” he said, “and I had a particularly large and fractious field of ponies to get away. One pony was at odds on and particularly bad at the barrier, and it did not take me long to realise that the rider of this pony was not at all anxious to win the race, as he kept backing away when I had succeeded in getting the others in line. Finally, however, this pony literally dragged himself into line, and I let them go, but the rider thought otherwise and, like a practised hand, swung his mount away and was duly hopelessly left The ranger of the course always had a few sheep grazing on the course, and at that moment they were in the vicinity of the starting barrier. One of these two disgruntled backers of the favourite pointed to the sheep, and said: ‘Have a go and see if you can get the sheep away!’ Not be outdone, his mate added: ‘Wirth’s circus will be here soon. Get some , practice starting a team of elephants.’ ” S|r Gilbert has had no experience of getting sheep and elephants away to a good start (says the Sydney Referee), but he certainly has handled many “donkeys” in his long period as starter to the Victorian Trotting and Racing Association.

Spoon Retired. Spoon has been sent back to the paddock and has definitely been retired from racing. She is now six years old, a daughter of Tea Tray from Warlove, by Martian from Stepdancer, by Stepniak, and was bred by the late Mr. C. G. Dalgety. At the dispersal sale of the stud following Mr. Dalgety’s death Spoon was bought as a rising three-year-old for 700 guineas by Mr. G. Payne, who left her with G. Murray-Aynsley to train. As a. two-year-old she ran for her breeder in seven races, being in the money each time, and winning the Lyttelton Plate and Motukarara Juvenile Stakes. As a juvenile she contested 13 races, winning for Mr. Payne the Akaroa Handicap, ten furlongs, the Stonyhurst Handicap and the Craven Plate. At four years she had the distinction of beating Croupier in the Criterion Handicap and later won the Glasgow Handicap at Ellerslie. Following a trip to Australia she lost form, and although she ran good races afterwards she never fully recovered. Latterly she has appeared in the interest of her trainer, F. E. Jones, who has now decided to retire her and to breed from her. Her relationship to the Stepdancer family, as well as her own performances, should ensure for her a successful career as a brood mare. ELLERSLIE SCRATCHINGS. By Telegraph—Press Association. Auckland, Last Night. Ellerslie scratchings from all engagements are High Commissioner (1.35 p.m.) and Paddon (4 p.m.).