FROM TRACK AND STABLE

Taranaki Daily News, 27 July 1934, Page 3

FROM TRACK AND STABLE

SIDELIGHTS FROM MARTON CARDHU’S PROMISING SHOWING. CURRAJONG MAKING GOOD.

(By

“Hurry On”)

Good fields have accepted for all events at the Manawatu Racing Club’s winter meeting to-morrow, and the club should have a successful day. The hunters’ events especially have filled well, while the flat races should provide interesting racing.

Good Derby Stake. The value of the English Derby to Windsor Lad’s owner was £9352, against £9836 10s when Hyperion won last year. Second money on this occasion was £lll2 and third £556, and the breeder of the winner received £5OO. The added money was £3000.,

Only a Moderate. Coonoor bore a well-trained appearance when he went out to contest the. Rangitikei Hunt Cup, and he fenced well throughout. Deslandes rode him in good style, never covering any extra ground, and sent him after Currajong half a mile from home. He was unable to make any impression and he was not ridden out over the last furlong. He has always a jumper’s chance, but he is never likely to prove anything but a moderate.

An Auspicious Start. Cardhu made an auspicious start when he fairly ran away from the opposition in the Riddiford Steeplechase at Marton on Wednesday. He had previously competed twice at point-to-point gatherings, but this was his first attempt on a racecourse. He was taken over by Mr. K. McK. Duncan only after the point-to-point at Waverley on Saturday, and was not long in winning a race for him. Mr. Duncan stated that he was not likely to race until the Waikato Hunt meeting in October. Cardhu is a six-year-old by Daniloff from the Sweet Simon mare Sweet Flower. A Smart Hack.

The Cape Horn filly Lady Ina scored a most impressive win in the final event at Marton. She was rather slow to find her feet but though Saxony was carrying the field along she appeared to have no trouble in taking up a handy position before the straight was reached. Once fairly in line for the judge Marsh sent her along and she made short work of the opposition. She carried out her task in great style and is evidently a hack above the average. She is out of the Bezonian mare Kakawai, who has already given the turf a speedy one in Lady Fingers.

Gay Seton’s Defeat. Gay Seton was a well backed runner in the Paerata Handicap at the Franklin meeting on Monday. He soon ran to the front and was going so well at the turn that-he appeared likely to win, but he stopped badly over the last bit and was beaten out of a place. Nevertheless this form may not prove correct as it is probable that the heavy going affected him, and it is thought' that he might be in need of the race. He is in the Winter Cup but as yet no decision has been readied whether he will fulfil his engagement.

Had Every Chance. Amyril looked well enough when she paraded for the Closeburn Hack Handicap at Marton on Wednesday and she was made a good favourite. She soon went to the front with Invictus and was going along very comfortably down the back, where there was not a great deal of pace on. At the top of the straight Goldfinch became a little uneasy and drew his whip. She responded and took charge, but her effort was short-lived. When Raparahara challenged there was no fight in her. She has displayed all her old pace on the tracks but it would appear that there is a weak spot somewhere in her make up. Currajong Making Good.

Since being purchased by Mr. K. McK. Duncan, Currajong had proved a disappointment until his win at Marton on Wednesday. His form was so poor that it was thought the young Hunterville sportsman’s proverbial luck had deserted him. However, from the manner in which he carried out his task in the Rangitikei Hunt Cup there would seem to be more successes in front of him. He was in front practically from start to finish and stayed on far too solidly for his opponents over the concluding stages. By Lucullus from Minsk he is a full brother to the Grand National Hurdles winner Carinthia. He will be rdcing at the combined meeting at New Plymouth at the end of the month. Gentleman Rider’s Busy Day.

The gentleman rider, Mr. W. R. Duncan, had a busy day at Marton on Wednesday. He made his own horse War Eagle in the Riddiford Steeples and looked like making a race of it with Cardhu when his mount hit a fence very hard, and it was only by a wonderful piece of horsemanship that he recovered his seat and completed the course to take second money. He was out among the professional jockeys in the Hunt Cup with his other hunter, Avro, and was going well five furlongs from home when his mount gave him a spill. Back among the gentleman riders in the Bracelet he was a veritable Hector Gray. He had the ride on Santoft. When The Storm Wind was out making the pace a cracker Duncan did not become worried and lay well back until about half a mile from home, when he commenced a forward move. He waited until Dark Man had taken command at the distance and then brought Santoft along to score comfortably. It was a fine piece of horsemanship. Windsor Lad’s Physique.

The victory registered by Windsor Lad in this year’s Derby enabled those connected with the Blandford colt to have a laugh on those who had a tilt at him for his physique, which was viewed as below what might be expected from a candidate for Derby honours. The laugh may, perhaps, have been re-echoed by the other side when ■the colt was defeated in the Sandown Eclipse Stakes last Friday. After Windsor Lad’s early successes this year, “Mankato,” who is widely known as one of the leading authorities on the thoroughbred family, described him as a big, lengthy colt, built somewhat on the model of a ’chaser, and one that he would not class as a Derby colt in build. Other writers prior to the Derby were mixed in their views about Windsor Lad, though none were so critical as “Mankato, but it was fairly generally admitted that the colt could not compare in looks with the aristocratic Colombo. The Aga Khan’s Umidwar, tl three-year-old to finish in front of Windsor Lad in the Eclipse, was off colour a week or two before the Derby, and although he recovered and was made a slightly better second favourite than Windsor Lad, he could reach no nearer than seventh in the Epsom classic. He has always been highly regarded, however, and there is certainly more than a remote possibility of his following in Firdaussi’s steps by winning the St. Leger after filling a minor place in the Eclipse.