TOPICS OF THE TURF

Star (Christchurch), Volume XLIV, Issue 643, 22 December 1932, Page 9

TOPICS OF THE TURF

S)/oTES AND NEWS FROM EVERYWHERE

close this evening for the Waikouaiti and Oamaru meetings, the time being 9 o’clock in each instance. * * * * Acceptances for the Wyndham meeting close at 5 p.m. to-morrow. Acceptances for the Wairarapa meeting close to-morrow at 8 p.m. * * * * In addition to M. Kirwan, W. J. Pascoe and A. Messervey. the Riccarton jockeys W. Brown and H. Due will be riding at the West Coast meetings. QUIET TRACK MORNING. Half a dozen trainers are away in Auckland, and others who are on the eve of departure for various centres have their horses already at their top, so the final galloping morning at Riccarton before the holidays was very uneventful. The inside of the trial grass and the plough were available for fast work, but few horses were required to make time. Riccarton is showing signs of summer now, the last week or so having made a big difference to the appearance of the centre of the course, where burning off the grass has commenced. m * * * Ramo and Night Flyer, who are likely to meet their engagements at the Waikouaiti meeting, ran a useful mile on the plough at Riccarton this morning. FOR WEST COAST, H. Nurse will leave for the West Coast with his team to-morrow night, and as usual will make Omoto his headquarters for the circuit. The Hunting Song—Love Token filly, who is a member of his travelling team, will race as Dahas. Ringing Cheer and Scarlet Pimpernel, two others of the party, ran five furlongs on the inside of the trial grass this morning in lmin 5 1-osec. Polydora completes the team. 363 RACES IN 14 DAYS. Saturday will be a busy racing day in Australia, but it will be a blank day in New Zealand, as Monday has been chosen for the opening of holiday racing in the Dominion. At totalisator meetings from December 26 to January 9, both dates inclusive, 233 galloping races and 130 trotting events are set down for decision on New Zealand courses. * * * * G. J. Pine, who recently underwent a severe operation, has returned home after some weeks in hospital and is making good progress. BEEN OFF THE SCENE. An acceptor for Hokitika on Monday is Shining Star, who has not raced since he ran unplaced in the Dillman’s Handicap at Kumara on April 8, 1931. Now a ten-year-old, he is by Star Stream from Musical Moment, and made his first appearance in a race as a three-year-old in the Juvenile Stakes at Awapuni on December 30, 1926. Most of his racing was done in the North Island. In sixty-three starts he has only four wins to his credit, but his record also includes twelve seconds anti ten thirds. His last win was achieved at Ashhurst on January 22, 1929. * * * * Rothen, who was narrowly beaten by Denise at Riccarton last Saturday, will accompany Ranelagh and Hurlingham south for the Waikouaiti and Oamaru meetings. Importance will probably race at those fixtures, but will not fulfil her engagements at Wingatui.

Taku Tama, who holds engagements at the Reefton meeting, ran half a mile on the plough at Riccarton this morning in 52 l-ssec. W. MDON ALP’S PAIR. Gustavo appears to be coming on nicely under the direction of W. M’Donald. He ran five furlongs in lmin 5 2-ssec on the plough at Riccarton this morning. Rational 11. freshened up with his easy time since the New Zealand Cup meeting. He has been sprinting lately, and M’Donald will take him south for the Waikouaiti and Oamaru meetings. DISTINGUISHED VISITOR. The most distinguished equine visitor to Riccarton these mornings is the Melbourne and New’ Zealand Cup winner Nightmarch, who regularly is ridden walking exercise about the centre of the course. Ill's new life seems to agree with him. and he jogs along contentedly and placidly. * * * If Silver Scorn runs in the Christmas Handicap at Ellerslie on Monday, it is probable that Cricket Bat will be reserved for the second day of the meeting. RIDING IN THE SOUTH. C. E. Eastwood will be riding at the Dunedin, Waikouaiti and Oamaru meetings. His mounts will include Metal Bird in the Waikouaiti Cup and Pharaoh in his engagements. E. Ludlow is also doing southern meetings, and his mounts will include Water Power. Night Lad, Wise Choice and Metal Bird (except Waikouaiti Cup). MAY REPAY PATIENCE. Chief Light, the four-year-old son of Chief Ruler and the Kilbroney mare Illume, has required time, but under the careful handling of E. Scoullar he looks like rewarding the patience exercised with him. On the inside of the trial grass at Riccarton this morning, he went nicely in running six furlongs in lmin 16 3-ssec, the last half-mile in 50sec. He is to race at Dunedin. F. HOLMES GOES NORTH. The only holiday engagements of Elude, who was let off with half a mile on the grass in 53sec this morning, are at Reefton, and he is likely to fulfil them. His part-owner and trainer, F. Holmes, will leave for Auckland this evening for the trotting meeting at Epsom. * * * * Owing to trouble in a foreleg, Weatherly has been turned out by F. E. Jones for two months. VETERAN TO REAPPEAR. Black Duke, who has been off the racing scene since he won at Riverton on Easter Monday, is engaged in events to be run at the Dunedin meeting next week. Now ten years old, he has started in 148 races, of which he has won 36. He has been second on 14 occasions, third 15 times and unplaced in 83 races. In prize-money he has won £7172. One of his performances was to win the Greymouth Cup on New Year’s Day, 1931 with list 31b on his back. OWNER WATCHES WORK. A. M’Aulay will leave for the south to-morrow morning with Water Polo and Nightguard, who are engaged at the Dunedin and Waikouaiti meetings. B. H. Brodie will ride Water Polo and H. Turner will be on Nightguard. Mr A. Louisson, owner of the two horses, was out at Riccarton early this morning to see their work. With Polydora for company, they ran five furlongs on the plough in lmin 3 4-ssec, the first two in 25sec. * * * * C. Emerson, who is at Ellerslie with Concentrate, will be attending his first Auckland Cup meeting since 1918, when he won the Great Northern Foal Stakes on Surveyor. He won the Auckland Cup on Warstep in 1914. * *e * * Captain’s Gift and Guarantee have arrived at Ellerslie from Dunedin. SPRINTING WELL. W. J. Broughton will ride Autopay in the Fitzherbert Handicap on the opening day at Awapuni. The Paper Money horse is very well, and is sprinting with his usual brilliancy on the tracks. He will run well at Awapuni, though Midinette is likely to be favourite, and a hard nut to crack. REDUCING OPERATIONS. Mr E. H. Cucksev, whose blue and gold colours are well known on Auckland courses, has decided to curtail his racing activities for the present, and he has made arrangements to lease two of his horses. Princess Bede and Baroscope. Princess Bede has been leased to a patron of J. Anderton’s stable at Matamata, and Baroscope to a patron of N. J. Prenter’s stable at Paeroa. * * * Fleeting Glance, Silent Flight and Drumfire, who leave for Awapuni this evening, were let off lightiv at Riccarton this morning. METAL BIRD GOES WELL. After breakfast at Riccarton this morning, Riri beat Verdun on the plough over half a mile in 52 l-ssec. Ranelagh covered seven furlongs io lmin 33 l-ssec. Silver Sight and Pakitere were lmin 20 4-ssec over six furlongs. Royal Sceptre reduced the time to lmin 19 l-ssec, but Metal Bird, in beating Wise Choice, lowered it to lmin 17sec. Importance went half a mile in 52 3-ssec. Starshooter, after going a couple of furlongs by himself was joined by Niggerhead at the six furlongs, and they ran home in Imm 19 4-ssec. Starshooter’s mile took lmin 46sec. On the inside of the trial grass, Counterplay ran five furlongs in lmin 3sec. The three-vear-old gelding by Martarma from Taraheke in the stable of F. Christmas, recently cracked a bone in one of his shoulders. He is now under veterinary treatment, and it is hoped to effect a complete recovery. RIVAL FOR RED MANFRED. Midian. who left Wanganui on Monday for Auckland, has done well in his preparation, and he will run well in the Great Northern Foal Stakes. Owner-trainer W. H. Dwyer is confident he will give Red Manfred and the others something to do to beat him, and he fullv realises the merit of their form