Topics of the Turf

Star (Christchurch), Volume XLIV, Issue 143, 18 June 1931, Page 12

Topics of the Turf

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RACING NOTES. Nominations for the Wellington Racing Club’s winter meeting will close on Monday night. * * * .* In connection with the South Canterbury Jockey Club’s meeting on Saturday, a special train, taking passengers and horses, will leave Christchurch at 7 a.m., and is due home at 10.5 p.m. Excursion fares will, be available on this train. * * * * Royal Mint and Raid have returned to Riccarton, looking in good order, after an absence in North Canterbury, where they have been qualifying for hunting events, with the Brackenfield Hunt. * * * * The two-year-old filly, Rose of Orange, in D. Campbell’s stable, is getting through useful tasks at present. She will be nominated for next month’s meeting at Trentham. * * * * A. J. Peart will ride Thurina in the steeplechase at the South Canterbury meeting. The Thurnham gelding, though only a novice, has been showing considerable promise in his work. * * * * G. H. Humphries will ride Arikiwai, Isa and Whatnot at South Canterbury, and probably he will be on Quinopal. si: * * * A. E. Ellis will handle Glenrowan, Taragona and Greenaway at South Canterbury. • * tfc * Elude has been working well, in view of his engagement at South Canterbury, where he will be ridden by J. W. Jennings. * * sfc . D. O’Connor will ride Troilus in the hurdle race at South Canterbury, while he will be on Royal Saxon in whichever race he contests. * * * * Iv. Hawkins will pilot Locksley in his South Canterbury engagement. This rider has been a regular attendant at Ricoarton during working hours, since he came here y to reside, and he has been seen in action more than once on jumpers, as well as in gallops on the flat. * * * * The Christchurch Hunt Club will not hold its usual race meeting this year. This fixture, held at Riccarton on the eve of the Grand National, was very popular with owners and the public, and the decision to abandon it will cause wide regret. R. J. Mackie will ride Arrowzone and Lady Noel at Napier. Lady Noel ran good races in maiden company at Otaki, and looks improved as a result. She should hold her own in the similar class she will be meeting at Napier. * * * * A. Jenkins, who broke a collarbone when Easterly fell at the Auckland winter meeting, expects to be fit enough to resume riding at Napier. He has been engaged for Disrank and Princess Elizabeth. t}: sfe * W. Hawthorne has schooled The Warden since his arrival at Trentham, and he has .shaped well. The Warden fell at Wanganui, and as he still exhibits a hard-pulling tendency, he will require more experience before he becomes proficient at the game. Hawthorne has Hastings working well, And she finished much better than Pat’s Boy l in their work yesterday morning.

Although Lucess ran good races in the Great Northern Hurdles and Great Northern Steeplechase, it was obvious to close observers that he was just past the peak of fitness, and lost form instead of improving as the meeting progressed. This son of Lucullus is a very useful sort, and it is only a matter of his coming right again to make his presence felt among the best of our hurdle racers or steeplechasers.

Five of the seven runners in the Maiden Steeplechase at the Waikato meeting were without any previous experience of steeplechasing, and it proved an uninteresting contest, more especially when the favourites Westbroke and Whakama fell at the third fence. The winner turned up in Domestic Trouble, -a solidly-built six-year-old mare by Warplane from the Signor mare Charwoman, who scored very easily at the end after a good fight to the last fence with Snow Prince. She was making her first appearance this season, but last term raced six times without earning a share of stake money.

In view of the present state of racing a proposal to come before the Racing Conference delegates next month, sponsored by the Dunedin Jockey Club, is sure to cause discussion and create interest. According to the present rules, no club shall hold more than four meetings in the year, save with the consent of the president, The Dunedin, Clubs seeks the abolition of this rulej and there is much to be said at the present time in favour of its proposal. The passing of the remit would mean that clubs like Canterbury and Auckland, if they found it advisable, could split up their four-day fixture into more than one meeting. Wellington could take a day away from its three-day winter fixture, and hold it on a more convenient date. Other clubs could no doubt make similar adjustments, and altogether it does not appear easy to find arguments that sensibly dispute the Dunedin view. * * * If a remit sponsored by the Wellington Racing Club is adopted at the annual meeting of the Racing Conference next month, the draw for barrier positions may be made on acceptance night. The rule would not be novel, as in Australia the draw in important races has for many years been made and announced some days before the race. The information is there considered of so much importance that, in events such as the Melbourne Cup it is even cabled to New Zealand. The arguments that are usually advanced against the practice here are that it would assist illegal betting, writes “Rangatira,” and that it might cause the withdrawal of certain acceptors. Thoroughly analysed, such arguments do not appear to hold much weight. The total amount of illegal betting would probably not be affected, and few reasonable owners who had made the acceptance payment would keep a horse that had been specially trained for a race in his box simply because the draw was not altogether as might have been desired. To meet the case of races in which a late payment has to b© met Ilia rule would, of courso, need to provide that in no case should the draw be made until after the final payment.

Head Girl, an eleven-year-old mare by Spearhead from Tonga Girl, performed an unusual jumping feat at the Tasmanian Turf Club’s meeting this month,'when she won the Hurdle Race, run over two miles, and the Brush Steeplechase, run over two and a-half miles. This was her fourth win in succession, and her fifth in eight starts. She had been successful in a jumpers’ flat race on the previous Saturday.

It would seem as if the respective owners and trainers of Ammon Ra and Bronze Eagle are doubtful whether these horses will make stayers, comments an Australian writer. Neither has been entered for the Melbourne Cup, which is rather remarkable, seeing that both are in the Victoria Derby. If either should win the Derby there will probably be lamentation because he is not engaged in the Melbourne Cup. The case of Bronze Eagle is the more surprising, as he has been entered for the Caulfield Cup. New Zealand three-year-olds in Hunt the Slipper, Movie Star, and Cypress (brother to Cylinder) may, however, represent the Dominion in both Cups.

Mr John Dewar, owner of the Two Thousand Guineas and Derby winner, Cameronian, is fortunate in two respects. One is that he is the owner of such a winner in his first year on the Turf, and the other is that such ownership could not operate in previous years. When his uncle. Lord Dewar, died less than two years ago, Mr Dewar was bequeathed by him a million pounds, two-thirds of the residuary estate, various properties, and all Lord Dewar’s thoroughbreds. Cameronian v/as one of them. The colt was described on the card on Guineas Day as the late Lord Dewar’s Cameronian, and this is the first time that a classic race has been won by a horse which was nominated by a man who died beforethe event. Up to May, 1929, the engagement of any horse became void upon the death of his hominator. TROTTING NOTES. Linkman is looking in fine order at present. The Matchlight pacer is on the big side but seems to be quite sound and likely to stand up to a solid Cup preparation. * * * * A two-year-old filly by Early Harvester from Reta Peter is being handled. She does not resemble either her sire or her dam in colour, being a chestnut, and she goes at the pacing gait, although both her parents were trotters. * * * 4s The three-year-old Native Cole, by Native King—Nita Cole, is a good looking three-year-old pacer, trained by H. Frost at New Brighton. He is coming on the right way and he should be successful in the new season. * * * * Aleron, who gave promise of being a good pacer early in his career, has failed to train on as well as was anticipated. He is at present turned out, but he will be brought in again shortly and prepared for the new season. * * * sis E. C. M’Dermott has Festival and Erin’s Pointer working well in training. The last named paced a fine race at the last Forbury Park meeting, but did not do so well at Addington early this month. **!!!* White Stranger had been working particularly well at Addington prior to the Ashburton meeting, but in the Farewell Handicap he failed to make a good beginning and was speedily out of the contest. White Stranger has improved a good deal of late, and had he gone off right he would have put tip a good mile and a half. He is by Denver Huon, whose stock are solid stayers. * * * * J. J. Kennerlev is working a three-year-old filly by Pedro Pronto from the Australian-bred mare, Rare Bell Direct. She is coming on well. She is a well grown, compact filly, with a capital way of doing her work. Her owner-trainer raced her sire and dam with success in the Dominion, Pedro Pronto being a brilliant pacer over all distances, who unfortunately injured himself in the paddock when being pre--pared for the New Zealand Cup. Subsequently he returned to Australia. * * * * Vesuvius is none the worse for his racing at the Canterbury Park meeting, where he won the King George Handicap on the first day, practically leading from end to end. He went the two miles in 4min 20 l-ssec, which was a very high grade performance. The operation on the pacer for throat troubles has evidently been highly successful and Vesuvius now sees out the two miles like a real stayer. He is not doing much fast work at present, but he will be racing at the August meeting at Addington.

Avernus, one of the Sapling Stakes candidates at Ashburton, was unluckv in the race, as he did not make a good beginning. Once he got into his gait he paced a fine race and at half the distance he was not far behind the leaders, but the effort to make up his lost ground settled his chance in the final part of the race. Avernus is a well-grown youngster by Nelson Derby from a Logan Pointer mare and he looks as though he will develop into a good three-year-old. He is trained by W. J. Gudsell at Tinwald, being in the same stable as that good pacer Pluto.

* * * * The new volume of the New Zealand Trotting Stud Book has made its appearance and a copy is acknowledged. It is issued by the New Zealand Trotting Association, the compilation being in the hands of a member of the staff, Mr W. 11. Larcombe, who must have devoted a lot of time to the work. *lhe book is much larger than any previous volume and an effort has been made to include all eligible mares, though this has not been possible, through the neglect of some breeders. A new feature of the book is the inelusion of extended pedigrees of all stallions and mares imported to New Zealand during the last two years. The Stud Book should interest all followers of the trotting sport. * Logan Fraser is a brother to Mister Pointer, being by Logan Pointer from Jessie Fraser. Mister Pointer took a long time to show his speed in races, but this season he has raced particularly well and has been very successful. Logan Fraser, on the other hand, although frequently backed, has failed to race up to expectations. It is quite evident that Logan Fraser possesses speed, otherwise he would not have been supported by his connections so frequently, but there must be something that prevents him from showing his best with the colours up. He was one of the outsiders in the Trial Handicap at Ashburton, but he was in the mix-up that occurred soon after the start. 11 is owner-trainer, J. Grice, of Ashburton, has had a long experience with pacers and has turned out a number of good winners, but in the meantime Logan Fraser looks to have him beaten in regard to producing his best in a race. ASHBURTON COUNTY RACING CLUB. In the list of nominations for the Ashburton Cpunty Racing Club’s winter mooting', Diamond Jack was omitted Ih® Dromor* and Major teront from th* 'Wtnch'mor* Trot. Dunmv«n is entered lrx the Maronan ii 1 m V l .*’ should nat appear in the JMuy tlold Handicap.

WANGANUI NOTES. (Special to the "Star.”) WANGANUI, June 17. A likely runner in the Winter Cup is Knollmere, the three-year-old son of Grandcourt—Orozino. He is in steady work again after a let up, which appears to have done him good. He was given a run over five furlongs yesterday, and covered the distance in lmin 4sec. lie ran the first quarter under 24sec, and three furlongs in 36sec. Knollmere is to run at Trentham next month, if the going it not too soft. The Riccarton track should suit him, and if he goes to the post fit and well he will take a power of beating in the \\ inter Cup, as he should run a very fast mile. J. Barry will attend the Napier Park meeting, where his mounts will include V alma and I’m Alone. Valma is to run in the five furlong race the first day at the Park, and in the hack hurdles on the second day. The Warplane mare ran half a mile this morning on a heavy track in 53sec, and was going easily at the finish. Among the entrants for the Wanganui Guineas of 1932 is a colt by Grand Knight—Civility. This youngster is owned by Messrs 11. M. Speed and C. G. Russell, and has been 'named Bold Baron. Mr L. G. Paul, owner of Arisus, has a nice looking gelding by Pombal out of Admyra, who is being put through his preliminary pacings. Messrs T. J. and P. A. O’Neil, owners °f Paratoo, have a couple of rising two-year-olds, who should make good if they go on all right. One is a brown gelding by Weathervane—Margarette, who has had the name Parasol bestowed on him, and the other is a gelding by Thespian—Joanfax, w-ho will race under the name of Jonathan. Mr B. T. Bennett has given Auctioneer and Kowhatu a lot of work on the sandhills, and they both look in good shape. H. Dulieu is expected here next week and they will then be schooled in view of the Wellington winter meeting. Auctioneer ran such a good race in the hack hurdles at Wanganui that his prospects of winning some races over the sticks look good. . - Rayner has been sending his yearlings along in short sprints. The most forward of his trio is the filly Midinette (Limond—Motley). She was given a run over three furlongs with Impetuous as a companion yesterday, and they covered the distance in 39isec on a heavy track. Impetuous has been kept going all through, and is in good shape. She promises to be hard to beat in her early spring engagements. Midinette was not asked to do her best, but the way she was hitting out at the finish suggests that she will win some races as a two-year-old. The colt Linoleum, by Limond Inlaid, is a sturdy little customer who should make good, but he may need time. The filly Genesta (Thespian—Damans) is a well grown youngster, who has a nice style of moving. So far she is not showing so much pace as Midinette, but is more solid looking. The rising three-year-old. All Humbug has not been long in work after a spell, but he is shaping up nicely. He may be taken to Trentham next month for the Trial Stakes. The steeplechaser Flying Swift has gone wrong, and the last has probably been seen of him on the race track. Pomp and Pedestal are both in steady work, and they look well after their holiday. Rayner will not race any of his team until the Wanganui spring meeting comes round. The Wanganui Jockey Club received excellent entries for the classic events of 1932, eighty-six having been nominated for the Guineas and eighty for the Jackson Stakes. Harold Rayner, formerly of Waverley, but now located at Marton, is training Interlocutor, the two-year-old son of Nigger Minstrel—Equitas, who won a race at Otaki. Interlocutor is to be taken to Trentham next month for the Trial Stakes, all going well in the interim. He promises to make a good three-year-old.