Topics of the Turf

Star (Christchurch), Volume XLIV, Issue 522, 3 August 1932, Page 10

Topics of the Turf

yiOTES AND NEWS FROM EVERYWHERE

TJOYAL BENGAL is reported to have done well since racing at Trentham. He is certainly among the Winter Cup possibilities. * * * * The seat of Town Beauty’s trouble is a tendon. Trentham opinions about its seriousness differ, but a tendon is a bad place to have any trouble in. THESE DIFFICULT TIMES. It is a cheering sign, to note that the Wellington Racing Club has reinstated the New Zealand St Leger even though the prize-money—£2so—seems almost appallingly small. Probably the much improved results obtained at the recent Wellington Steeplechase meeting had a good deal to do with the decision. Racing in British countries has really been built up on the framework of classic races and their abolition, even if temporary, is a dangerous expedient. One of the worst effects of the depression on racing in New Zealand has been the dropping of time-honoured events in favour of a race more calculated to* help the totalisator. It can be a false policy. Phar Lap in Australia ruined many events he ran in as betting mediums, but he was such a drawing card that what was lost in that direction was more than made up in others. A New Zealand racing club which last season showed it realised that good horses are good drawing cards was the Manawatu Racing Club. Before the Awapuni Cup in April it issued special advertisements directing public attention to the fact that Nightmarch and Gay Crest were to meet in the event. A trotting club—Ashburton —had the enterprise this year to stage a new event for class horses, and the crowd those horses drew abundantly justified the courageous experiment.

The latest arrivals at Riccarton comprise a southern contingent-. The jumpers Calham, French Fleet, Nylotis and Matu are included with Consono, Palantua and Prince Tractor in addition. A GIFT HORSE. When Head Serang won the Waikanae Handicap at Gisborne on Saturday he registered his first success since he scored as a three-year-old in an open sprint at the 1930 Hawke’s Bay autumn meeting. At the time he was held in high regard, but his reputation was subsequently tarnished by repeated failures. He was given to his trainer, W. Griffiths, as a gift early last season, and- Griffiths has had to race him for nearly a year to get a win out of him. He was reported recently to be working well again at Hastings, and as he has just turned six years ojd he may be worth persevering with yet. OTHERWISE IT’S SIMPLE. Among the things that most racing people would like to know at the moment are: (1) Will Paris screw at his fences on Tuesday and unseat his rider, as he did once and nearly did twice in a school yesterday? (2a) Will Billy Boy, in the race, try to dodge that ditch in front of the first of the Kennel double? (2b) If he clears the fence once, will he do it twice ? (3) Is Town Beauty lame or is he all right? (4) Will Lord Ranald see the post? (4a) If he does, will he break down in the race? (5) Is Snowfall really feeling his years or is he just coming right? Apart from these and a few other considerations, the Grand National Steeplechase does not look any more difficult than any other big event, but that, of course, is not saying a great deal, after all. * * * * At Trentham yesterday, Bright Song, ridden by A. Jenkins, gave a dashing display when schooled over hurdles. She has taken very readily to jumping, and should be worth keeping in mind. ANOTHER VISITOR. In addition to Normandy, Tobaccoland and Solitaire 11., Colossical will be shipped south from* Wellington towards the end of this week. Now a three-year-old, Colossical had five unplaced runs in the season that has just ended. He is a colt by Colossus from Brightly, by Gazeley, a son of Grey Leg, an English horse by Pepper and Salt from Quetta, by Bend Or. At Trentham yesterday Colossical was beaten half a length by Gold Sand over five furlongs in lmin 6sec. * * * * CAME HOME FAST. Trentham tracks yesterday were faster than they have been lately, but Normandy* (H. Hunt) required nearly 30sec to do the first two furlongs of what was intended to have been a six furlong gallop, but, picked up by Red Sun (W. S. Jones) at the half-mile, he came smartly home from that point in 50 3-ssec. His companion, who is backward after a blistering, proved of little use to him. * # *

Compris is coming to hand fast and should not be overlooked at the coming meeting.

Nominations for all events at the Otago Hunt Club’s race meeting at Wingatui on August 27 close on Friday at 5 p.m. * * * * On track form, the Paparua Handicap at Riccarton on Tuesday ought to be a certainty in two—Ringing Cheer or Bel voir. STEEPLECHASING FIND. Okopua (A. Skipper), Calham (E. Mackie) and French Fleet (C. Lowe) gave a good display this morning in a school V.ce round the fences on the course proper at Riccarton. Okopua appears to be a real find as a steeplechaser. The only events over big timber in which he has started were the two hack steeplechases at Trentham last month, and he won both. * * * •*= It might prove a mistake to attach too much importance to the failure of Lucess at Washdyke. Jumping £s his forte and his exhibition over the fences on the course proper at Riccarton y’esterday was impressive. RIDING ENGAGEMENTS. J. M. Pine is back again at Riccarton. His mounts next week will include Don Jose and Pixie Gold. H. Due will ride Silver Crag in the Cashmere Plate, but the other riding for T. Lloyd’s stable, including Adelphi in the Winter Cup, will be done by J. Barry. * * * * Judging by her gallop yesterday that consistent mare, Fast Passage, is maintaining all h-r form. She had four wins in succ- osion this winter, and followed them up with two seconds at Trentham. BUSY SCENE. Riccarton bore an animated appearance this morning. The No. 1 grass track was available for fast work, but no special gallops were attempted. The sand, the inside grass tracks and the No. 1 were all in use for serviceable exercise tasks. * * * * C. Gieseler is due to reach Riccarton on Saturday with a big team of Mr J. M. Samson’s horses. He has nine horses nominated at the C.J.C. meeting. OWNER GOT WEARY.

Another horse to place a win to his credit at Gisborne on Saturday after a lengthy"* lapse was Rasouli, also now just turned six years old. Without the Gisborne meeting he would have closed the season with a fairly long sequence of unplaced performances. His last win was at the Napier Park wunter meeting over twelve months ago. At the Grafid National meeting two years ago he 'scored a decisive victory in the Cashmere Plate, but he failed subsequently to repeat the form, and finally his owner, Mr C. Boyle, tired of him and leased him to the trainer, F. J. Corlett. Recently he was schooled and was reported to be a promising jumper, but he has not yet been produced in this role. TOBACCOLAND’S EFFORT. Tobaccoland (S. Wilson) jumped oft* from the six furlong post at Trentham yesterday and, picked up by Prince Pombal (A. Leach) near the five furlongs, ran the distance in lmin IS 4-ssec, the last half-mile in 52 4-ssec. Prince Pombal was leading throughout, but Tobaccoland was within a head of him at the finish. THE TREASURE HUNT. More N.Z. Men and Horses Sailing Away. (Special to the •* Star.”) WELLINGTON, August 3. Trentham’s final Australian contingent, comprising Autopay, Prince Pombal and St Bernard, sail for Sydney on Friday. All are very fit and should require little tuning up on the other side. It is by no means definite that Autopay will start in the Epsom, but if he goes on as he is doing now his owners may decide to have a tilt for their second successive Epsom with him. Prince Pombal is to contest the A.J.p. Derby, and J. Munro has been engaged to ride him. St Bernard’s mission is the Breeders’ Plate. J. M’Laughlin, the trainer of Prince Pombal and the owner of St Bernard, is still confined to his room, but he hopes to get about outside during the remaining day or two in readiness for his departure with his horses on Friday. He believes that he will quickly improve with the sea trip and the change of climate. Mr W. R. Kemball has decided to send Stag Horn, a two-year-old colt by Hunting Song from the Feramorz mare Frosty Morn, across to Victoria to link up with his Australian team in charge of G. Jones at Caulfield. This youngster is a well-grown and very forward colt, and in his trials to date has shown much promise.

RACE BROADCASTS. Turf Authorities Change Policy. NATIONAL WEEK RESULTS. Per Press Association. WELLINGTON, August 3. Running descriptions of racing and trotting events will be broadcast throughout New Zealand in future. This marks a complete change from the previous policy of the racing authorities. A beginning will be made by 3YA broadcasting events at the C.J.C. Grand National meeting on August 9, 11 and 13. The programmes on August 10 and 12 cf the Metropolitan Trotting Club will also be broadcast. An announcement to this effect was made yesterday by Mr H. D.' Vickery, chairman of the Broadcasting Board, who said that the board had received the permission of the racing authorities to broadcast running descriptions of the events on the programmes of racing and trotting clubs. Arrangements had been made to broadcast from the board’s four stations the Grand National Steeplechase, Winter Cup and Grand National Hurdle Race. Other events at both the meetings referred to will be broadcast only from 3YA. Mr Vickery added that in the meantime the board proposed to broadcast 'only from the courses at the four centres, but in special cases undoubtedly would go further afield. He desired to pay a tribute to the racing authorities for the courteous tr ;ment extended to the board during the course of negotiations. He said that the board was very much indebted to members of the recent Racing and Trotting Conferences for the reasonable and businesslike manner in which the whole matter had been handled. “ I had heard that negotiations were, in train,” said Mr George Gould, chairman of the Canterbury Jockey Club, commenting on the report that arrangements had been made for the broadcasting of the race meetings in the four main centres. “ It has not been put before us here,” he added, “ but I do not think we will stand out if the other clubs are coming