TOPICS of the TURF

Star (Christchurch), Volume XLIV, Issue 300, 18 December 1931, Page 12

TOPICS of the TURF

J Notes and news from everywhere

ACCEPTANCES for the Auckland and Dunedin meetings close at 5 p.m. to-day. For the Westland meeting acceptances are due by 8.30 p.m. 4c 4c :je 4c J. Anwin, who rode Bravo when he beat Carbine in the Melbourne Cup of 1889, has been out of luck as a trainer in Australia for a very long time. He broke the run by saddling up a winner at the Ballarat Cup meeting this month. * * * 4c D. Cotton has decided to ride at the West Coast meetings during the holidays. M. Kirwan will also make that trip. GUSTAVO LAME. Gustavo pulled up lame after winning the President’s Handicap at Dannevirke on Wednesday. It may not be serious, but the news is disquieting. If there is anything much the matter, it is all the more unfortunate as he is described as having won like a champion. 4e * 4C 4= 1 Shatter, Dunraven, Juniper and Admiral Drake in charge of F. D. Jones, Great Star and Grand Review in charge of J. H. Prosser, and Delice, Jaloux, Azalia and Spoon in charge of P. V. Mason went north last evening en route to Auckland. THIS EAGLE CAN FLV. Bronze Eagle startled the watchholders at Takanini on Tuesday morning. With Heremai and Huntingdon as companions, he was sent six furlongs. The Derby winner strode home well clear of Heremai in lmin 13 3-ssec. That is the fastest six furlongs that has ever been run at Takanini since track work has been regularly recorded there. H. Gray was on Bronze Eagle. RACING EVERY DAY. The Victorian Parliament last year passed a Bill designed to reduce racing in that State. An effect was the compulsory closing of two Melbourne suburban courses—Sandown Park (one of the best natural race tracks in Australia) and Aspendale Park. Racing men were of pretty general opinion that the politicians had bungled their self-chosen task. The reduction of racing is not evident from this week’s programme for Melbourne and a 50-mile radius. It was; —Saturday, Moonee Valley; Monday, Richmond Trots; Tuesday, Caulfield charity meeting; Wednesday, Kyneton; Thursday, Pakenham; Friday, Gisborne; Saturday, Ascot. Moonee Valley, Richmond, Caulfield and Ascot are all suburban courses. Pakenham is only twenty miles out, Gisborne not much farther, and Kyneton about fifty miles from Melbourne. Anyway, Sunday is still free.

G. H. Humphries, who is on the suspension list, will resume riding at Waikouaiti and will also be at Oamaru. His mounts are likely to include Wise Choice and Topere. PETER JACKSON AND MOTERE. Peter Jackson belongs to the same family as Motere, who was awarded the last Auckland Cup on an objection. The Nigger Minstrel three-year-old is out of Left, and Motere is by Lord Quex from Left’s sister Lovematch. Left and Lovematch are daughters of Lovelorn (Melton-Hebrew Maid), v&as got in England and foaled in New Zealand. She was the dam also of Nones and Menelaus, among others. RETURNS TO RACING. Mr Sol Green, owner of Comedy King, Gladstone, Gothic, Strephon and other noted performers, will resume racing next month. He Nvas annoyed over an inquiry into the running of his mare My Lady Gay at Flemington in March, 1929, on an occasion when he had backed her heavily. He withdrew from racing in Australia but announced at the time that he would return to the sport when the progeny of Gothic were two-year-olds. His former trainer, the New Zealander, Lou. Robertson, has the juveniles Oratory and Cynara in hand for him, while C. T. Godby has charge of the youngsters Attempts and V erbatim. GOOD IMPRESSION. As a two-year-old laut season Soloist, by Hunting Song-Luceila, won only one race, but he displayed marked promise and indicated that he was a good galloper in the making. Soloist made his reappearance in the Kihikihi Handicap at Te Awamutu on Saturday afid he confirmed the good impression he created as a juvenile by showing up prominently until his condition gave out. The three-year-old should come on quickly now and he should be a verv useful member of A. Cook’s team at the late summer and autumn meetings. FIXTURES. ■December 26—Hurunui Turf Club. December 26—Waipukuiau J.C. December 26, 28—Westland R.C. December 26, 2S—Taranaki J.C. December 26, 2S —Dunedin J.C. December 26, 28, 29 Manawatu R.C. December 26, 29, January 1, 2—Auckland R.C. January I—Waiau R.C. January I—Waikouaiti R.C. January I—Wyndham R.C. January 1, 2—Wairarapa R.C. January 1. 2—Greyipouth J.C. January 1, 2—Hawke’s Bay J.C. January 1, 2—Stratford R.C. January 1, 2—Marton J.C. January 2—Oamaru J.C. January 2, 4—Southland R.C. January 7, 9—Thames J.C. January S, 9—Reefton J.C. January 9, 11—Vincent J.C. January 13, 14—Foxton R.C. January 16—Bay of Islands R.C. January 16—Birchwood H.C. January 19, 21—Wairoa R.C. January 20, 22, 23—Wellington R.C.