FROM TRACK AND STABLE

Taranaki Daily News, 20 June 1934, Page 13

FROM TRACK AND STABLE

' MORE ’CHASERS NEEDED S RECENT FORM DISCUSSED. BOUDOIR SHOWS IMPROVEMENT. (By “Hurry On.”) The race that she had on the opening day at Hastings evidently worked an improvement in Boudoir, for the filly won decisively on Saturday. She collared the pace-maker, McHeath, in the straight, and running on strongly won by a good half length. It was a solid performance on her part. Enjoying a Spell.

After racing at the Great Northern meeting Thespis was taken by J. Burgess to Cambridge, where he is to be spelled for five or six weeks. When taken up again Thespis should not be long in getting on to the winning list, for he is the makings of a capital hurdler. It is recognised now, however, that he cannot handle the soft tracks.

Many Horses Held on Lease. The A.J.C. calendar has a record of over 900 horses raced on lease in New South Wales. Many of these will never win a race of any kind, but well-known performers included are: Rogilla (until December 4, 1934), Canegras, Closing Time (until September 15, 1935), Bold Boy, Dover Patrol, Havaspot, Journal, Legislator, Love Song, Mitebite, Multudo, Jacko, Regal Son (until May, 1935), Turbine and Upoko Ariki. The Oldest Dam.

In reply to a question as to the oldest dams of English classic winners, the London Sporting Life stated that the dam of Nutwith, the 1843 St. Leger winner, holds the record. She was an unnamed mare by. Comus, and was 24 when she threw Nutwith. The Oaks winners, Lonely and Vespa, were out of 23-year-old mares, as was The Colonel, a St. Leger winner. A Dashing Display.

A great deal of interest was attached to Lord Ranald’s showing in the Pareora Steeplechase at Timaru on Saturday. Ridden by the veteran W. Scobie, he gave a dashing display of jumping, and, though comfortably beaten by Umtali at the finish, was responsible for a good performance. He pulled up quite sound, and was taken back to Riccarton after the meeting by T. H. Gillett, who will prepare him for his future engagements. Luna Lux’s Condition.

Luna Lux is causing his owner-trainer, Mr. G. D. Beatson, quite a lot of anxiety, and it is stated from Hastings that this good steeplechaser may break down .at any time. It was for this reason that he was not started at the recent Hawkes Bay meeting. Every endeavour will be made to keep him on his feet until the Wellington Steeplechase, and take the risk of a final breakdown in that event. It is most unfortunate that this good jumper should be in this condition at a time when good steeplechasers are so scarce. A Promising Hunter.

In Ngareta, the Waitara woman hunting enthusiast, Miss E. Hicks; has a promising type of hunter. This Chaminade mare is only four years, and is a proficient fencer. She won the firstclass hunters’ steeplechase at'New Plymouth on Saturday in good style, after being set a solid task over the last circuit. She won the Maiden Hunters Steeplechase at the Taranaki Hunt meeting last September, when among those who finished behind her was Hauwai, who was second to Valpeen in the Great Northern Steeplechase. Tradesman Not a Stayer.

From his showing in the Woodstock Stakes at Te Awamutu on Saturday, Tradesman will have to be kept to sprinting if he is to pay his way. He was always nicely placed, but commenced to drift after going seven furlongs, and eventually finished well back. He is a brilliant horse over six and seven furlongs on a heavy track, but that seems to be as far as he can go.

Dearth of Steeplechasers. Though the Great Northern drew a great field, the steeplechasers at all the meetings outside the Auckland province have proved financial failures to all the clubs. The fields have seldom exceeded half-a-dozen, and the class engaged has been rather ordinary. Even though the stakes are not what they used to be a decent sort would have had no trouble in paying its way. Riotous is a good example of how a steeplechaser could be placed and won three races very easily. There are plenty of good hunters around, and, even in this province, the writer has seen several who could make many of the alleged steeplechasers in commission at present look second rate. The hunting field has supplied the country with many of its best cross country performers, and it is to this source that the clubs must look if they desire patronage for their cross country events.

TARANAKI TROTTING CLUB. MEETING OF COMMITTEE. At a meeting of the Taranaki Trotting Club committee, the chairman (Mr. W. C. Weston) reported on the conference of the Manawatu, Wanganui, Hawera and New Plymouth Trotting Clubs. A decision had been reached that the body should be known as the West Coast Trotting Circuit. Council. Mr. B. McCarthy (Hawera) had been appointed president. A letter, was received from the New Zealand Trotting Association advising that the re-registration -f the club had been approved. The chairman was appointed delegate to the New Zealand Trotting Conference at Wellington on July 11. Remits to be placed before the council were discussed.