FANCIED HURDLERS

Taranaki Daily News, 2 May 1935, Page 10

FANCIED HURDLERS

COPEY PROGRESSES WELL COLOSSAL SHOWS GOOD FORM.

HANDICAPPING OF TOPTHORN.

(By

"Hurry On.”)

There was no galloping on. the New Plymouth tracks yesterday morning, all the horses being restricted to tasks of the useful variety. Nearly all the horses with engagements at Hawera on Saturday will have their final trials this morning, when the work is likely to prove interesting. Fit Trio.

H. Dulieu has not given Chief Marionette, The Tiger and Gold Mission much galloping since their return from Feilding, but they are a fit trio and one more gallop should see them ready for their tasks during the week-end. Knows the Way Round.

That game little bit'of horseflesh Copey continues to do well in his preparation fpr the jumping season and is sure to be one of the fancied runners in the Egmont Steeplechase at Hawera on Saturday. He certainly knows his way round the Hawera country, and the clever manner in which he goes through instead of clearing the brush fences is pretty to watch. He has certainly learned something from his past experiences.

Ready For His Task. Racing condition has in the past often played an important part in the decision of the Tangahoe Hurdles at Hawera, and in this connection no horse in the field this year will strip fitter than Tom Fryer’s charge Colossal. This young hurdler has won his last two races over fences, and with 9.8 is not overweighted. Riders For Hawera.

H. Dulieu’s -successful apprentice R. W. Savage has been engaged to ride Kurapae, Seamond and Sporting Song at Hawera. L. Dulieu’s mounts include The Tiger, Gold Mission and. Friesland. Race Should Improve. Him.

Though Invictus failed to fill a place at Marton the race should work an improvement in him. He should strip a fitter horfee in the Tangahoe Hurdles at Hawera on Saturday, but on Marton running it is hand to see him beating Esteem, who won really well on Saturday.

Wino Improved. Wino has furnished. into a class galloper. He always showed ' prdmise, but has been hampered by various troubles, i and only now has come fight, a position that reflects credit on his trainer, A. S. Ellis, states The Press. One who has a big opinion of the four-year-old is L. J. Ellis, who considers he is the makings of a big winner. It was proposed on Saturday to start Wino,in his second engagement over seven furlongs, and another easy win seemed to await him, but on the, advice of Ellis the owners decided not to overdo him, and he was withdrawn. Horses For Auckland. The only Riccarton-trained horses nominated for any of the principal events at the Auckland Racing Club’s winter meeting are Royal Limond, Rebel Chief and Horowhenua. ■ The first-named appears in both the Great Northern Hurdle Race and Steeplechase. Rebel Chief is in the King George Handicap, seven furlongs, and York Handicap, one mile, and Horowhenua is in. the Cornwall Handicap, one mile and a-quarter, and the York Handicap.

Bred to Stay. Sisterina, winner of the Hanna Memorial (Handicap at Greymouth last Friday, is a four-year-old mare by Arrowsmith from the Kilbroney—Marta mare Matty Carling, so that she has a good stayers’ pedigree, on the dam’s side at least. Marta, a daughter of Martagon, was sired in England and foaled after the importation of her dam (Ronetta) to the Dominion. The family has not yet been notably successful here, but Matata (dam of Nightlass), Falmart, All British and Mount Marta (Hawke’s Bay Guineas) have all been winners. Sisterina, who is held on lease by Mr. J. Leonard from her breeder, F. Holmes, has been racing only this season. After several placings she had her first success at Westport a fortnight ago. As she ran third again, finishing fast, on Saturday there seems to be promise about her.

Well-Known Sportsman. The late Mr. Gaine Carrington, whose death occurred at Gisborne last week, was widely known as a breeder of high--1 class bloodstock. In recent years, through Hunting Song especially, his stud has ranked as one of the most successful in the Dominion. He was highly esteemed by all sportsmen, particularly by those in New Zealand who knew him best. His connection with breeding extended from his early days. Bom in Taranaki 66 years ago, Mr. Carrington went to the Gisborne district in his youth and spent much time in breaking in horses. Among horses whom he owned were Swordfish, Crackshot, Sarasen, Gazeley (imported), Multifid, Polydamon (imported), Cynic (bought from Sir James Carroll), Colossus (imported), . Hunting Song (imported) and Defoe (imported). In addition a horse named after Mr. Carrington became well known in Australia. This horse was from his stud; as also was Pink Coat, who is now assisting Hunting Song to carry on the Matchem male line through Hurry On in the Dominion.

Topthorn’s Weight. As Topthom has accepted for his engagement in the hack sprint at Hawera on Saturday it seems that this horse’s previous form, though not at all recent, has been overlooked by the handicapper in allowing him in on the minimum, writes “The Watcher” in the Dominion. Topthom, who is a chestnut gelding by Hunting Song from Lady Bentinck, is now rising six years, and although he has been off the scene since a three-year-old his form is first-class. As a two-year-old he raced seven times and was only once out of a place. He commenced his career by giving Silver Scorn 21b. and running second to her in the Lyttelton Plate, five furlongs, at the C.J.C. midsummer meeting. His next start was at Wellington in the autumn, when, with 7.5, he ran third in the Plunket Nursery to Tout le Monde and Might. He was beaten by. a head at the C.J.C. Easter meeting in the Russley Plate by Fleeting Glance, to whom he conceded 101 b., and on the second day was unplaced. At Ashburton in May he was third in the Trial Stakes, won by Brown Pearl. He was second in the Novice Stakes at Oamaru in July, with Palantua third, and at his last start that season he won the Novice Stakes at Amberley, beating Hurlingham. As a three-year-old Topthorn raced only twice. He won the Cashmere Plate at the Grand National meeting, beating Palantua, and the following month he struck Silver Scorn again in the Longbeach Handicap at Ashburton. Silver

Scorn was then on her way to her brilliant three-year-old triumphs, but Topthorn, at level weights, ran second to her, with The Quorn third. Top thorn’s long absence from the turf, added to the trouble which caused his retirement, may of course see him unable to stage a “come-back,” but that remains to be seen, and his form warrants him being nearer the top of the handicap than where he is.