CAP & JACKET

Observer, Volume XLI, Issue 8, 23 October 1920, Page 4

CAP & JACKET

[By th_ Early Bran.]

RACING FIXTURES

October 23, 25—Gore Racing Club. October 23, 25—Wellington Racing Club. October 25—Waikato Hunt Club. October 25—North Canterbury and Oxford J.C. October 25 — Waverley-Waitotara Racing Club. October 25—Waipawa County Racing Club. October 28, 29—Poverty Bay Turf Club. October 30—Poverty Bay Hunt Club. October 30—Taratahi-Carterton Racing Club. November 6, 8, 10, 13—Canterbury Jockey Club. November 6, 10—Auckland Racing Club. November 17— Horowhenua Racing Club. November 17, 18—Winton Jockey Club. November 20, 24—Takapuna Jockey Club. , , November 27. December I—Otahuhu Trotting Club.

The Secretary of the Whangarei Racing Club, Mr. B. Harris, brought off a successful meeting, ably assisted, by the Stewards of the Avondale Jockey Club. The opening day proved successful in every department —good fields and close finishes—and big speculation were the chief features on the opening day. The half brother to Coromandel, Yankee Doodle, made a run-a-way of the Hack and Hunters' Steeplechase, establishing a new record of 6 mm. 2 sec. The Whangarei Racing Club are making much needed improvements to their race course, and were permitted to use the Avondale course. The opening day proved successful. Gatherer, with H. Gray in the saddle, had no trouble to land the County Handicap for the Northern Wairoa sportsman Mr. W. B. Gilsen, He started favourite. Twenty-three lined up on the opening event —the Maiden Plate. Stark, the favourite, had no trouble to down his twenty odd opponents. The colt is likely to have further successes. Before the start Prince Minchikoff bolted in his preliminary gallop, and hugging the fence, injured the rider's (Warner's) leg, and he was unable to ride in the race. E. Warner, recovering from the mishap, subsequently steered Scottish Knight, Yankee Doodle, and Maunu in the Hack and Hunters' Steeplechase and the Huanui Hurdle Mr. A. W. Gordon, the Stipendiary, had an easy day, only being called once on a minor case, the explanation offered was accepted. The weather broke before the last two races, but the races were run off without any serious accidents, punctually to schedule time. At the sixth hurdle Middle Mark struck heavily, and. lost his rider; when he reached the paddock it was found he had broken his hind leg near the fetlock joint. The old plodder Keystone fell at the fourth obstacle when going fairly, but the winner, Scottish Knight scored his first success over the battens.

The Kensington Juvenile Stakes sent out the Australian filly Smoke Concert a screaming hot favourite, but her supporters saw her left at the barrier. Arch Laddie won, paying a good dividend. The Whangarei Cup proved a monty for Mr. Jas. McNichol s Woody Glen, Glen Albyn-Waterford, at the finish nicely handled by McTavish. The gelding looked a picture of condition when he left the paddock. When that good old sportsman the late John Lynch, of Coromandel died he left his two sons, Peter and Jack, Coromandel and Yankee Doodle in his will, but the boys did not follow up the game. The favourite, Crowhurst, was beaten in the Manaia Handicap by Dead Sweet, who is trained by &. Pope, who had the son of Quin Abbey in fine racing trim. The winner of the concluding event, th e High Weight Handicap, Some Fashion, ran pretty well up to his best track form at Ellerslio, but is of a very nervous disposition. The nimble punters kept the bells ringing on the tatolisator, when the machines closed the registered amount totalled up to £39,729 10s., and what was registered at Kensington Park, Whangarei, last year was £21,018 for the two days. The track work has been interrupted with by the weather at Alexandra Park—on Friday the track had dried sufficiently for about 40 horses to put in good routine work. One of the fittest looking horses at Epsom at the present time is Harold Junior, and with a few pipe openers he should give a good account of himself next month at the A.T.C. fixture. The same owner-trainer JA. Brown) has Red Star in fine racing trim, his other string—a full sister to Harold Junior, a filly named Cetrichard, who is moving along attractively. S. Groat is keeping his team (of 9) well keyed up. Lord Rose, My Kat, Marble Hall, Tiki are all on the active list, and are fit and well. A. Julian is keeping Mint Boy and Eccentric in full work, the latter is acting as schoolmaster to a juvenile by Thurnham. Little Mable, named Master Thurnham, is owued by Mr. Hawkins, of Birkenhead. W. Orange and Mac Naughton have joined forces in training trotters and pacers—they have about 9 horses in work on the home (Epsom) tracks, including Nora Creina, the winner of the last Auckland Trotting Cup. W. J. Paull, whose stables are at Onehunga, is keeping his charges up to the collar for the First Meetingof the trotting season in Auckland. He has a trotting derby candidate, avlio is on the small side; the little fellow is a sweet mover. He is a son ot Stella C, and is named Stanley Dillon. Our Thorpe, the crack Southern performer, who is standing the seasons at Epsom, may be put into racing order when the season is over. He has been mated with the following we.ll-kiiown mares: —Lady Grattau, Lady Dan, Rosie Drift, Sweet Mint, Uniform, Raskill Belle, Nancy Patch, Wild Pilato, Lena Patch, Lady S., and others. Auckland Girl, the trotting mare, is to be put into work again under Orange and McNaughton. Huon Grattan and Grattan Abbey are doing well under these mentors. Harry Keising, the Te Aroha sportsman, lost a promising looking filly, a full sister to the useful gelding Gold Kip, by St Amans Pauline. Mr. R. Walker's maiden trotter, Bon Bon has started his preparation for the 1920 trotting season. The son of Bon Homme showed promising form last season, but was a bit wayward.

Mr. Swaffield, the Papatoetoe oavner, has let his Auckland Trotting Club Derby filly of 1920 drop out. The daughter of Wildmoor Casling has been named Cahmere, she is suffering from a bad cold. Our Thorpe, who is standing the season is located at Epsom, and is getting a fair share of the best local mares. He has 2 min.Sjsec against him for a mile. With ideal Aveather there Avas a big attendance for an off day at the Whangarei Racing Club Meeting. Some close finishes resulted, and everything Avorked smoothly. Speculation Avas again very brisk, the good figures for the tAvo days showing £87,110, an increase of £66----0561 over the meeting held at Kensington Park last year. The Hon. E. W. Alison furnished the winner of the Piroti Hack Hurdles with one of his own breeding— Golden Petal, by Obligadt Golden Rose, trained by A. Julian. E. W. Alison, Junior, went one better than his father by supplying the first and second in the Nursery Handicap Avith the two Australian bred youngsters Numatere and Smoke Concert, The Handicap Steeplechase proved a one-horse race—only four started. First Call leading most of the way. Yankee Doodle, Avho broke down and Peneton who also pulled up very groggy, with simple Sam a long way behind. In the Farmer's Handicap there are no less than forty five horses which have been handicapped. It will indeed be a lucky man Avho picks tho winner. Lady French 7-11, avlio has had several foals is among the number. The following Avere the successful riders at the Whangarei Racing Club Mee'ting—H. Gray, 3; E. Warner,2; Downing 2;,McTavish, 2; Glover,2; and Conquest, Henderson, Turner, WaLsh, and Goldfinch 1 each. When Mountain Gold returned to the bird-oage, after running in the Marsden Handicap, he Avas walking very tender, and may to be spelled.

Peneton, who could barely finish in the Hondicap on Monday will have to go into the paddock again for a rest.