Topics of the Turf

Star (Christchurch), Volume XLIV, Issue 661, 14 January 1933, Page 12

Topics of the Turf

CJ} SwTES AND NEWS FROM EVERYWHERI

for important autumn events in Australia will close on Tuesday. The races concerned include the Newmarket Handicap, Australian Cup, Doncaster Handicap and Sydney Cup. He * * * T. H. Gillett is not certain whether he will make, the Wellington trip with Tea Garden and Sweet Agnes. If he does go, it will be on Tuesday and D. Cotton w’ill ride Tea Garden in his engagements. GALLOPS ON THE GRASS. The Riccarton tracks are very hard at present and as the majority of the locally trained horses have had plenty of racing, there was not much galloping against the watch this morning. Mostly the plough was in favour, but the No. 6 grass was used by a few trainers. On it, Counterplay ran half a mile in 49 3-ssec. Idolize covered a furlong further in lmin 3 2-ssec, while Hurlingham and Ranelagh galloped a similar distance in lmin 3sec. CAPABLE BUT UNLUCKY. F. D. Jones expected his apprentice, H. Mackinnon, who was injured in a race mishap at the Waikouaiti meeting, home yesterday, but the boy did not arrive. Probably he will reach Christchurch to-day. Mackinnon and Russell are two Australian boys whom Jones collected on his last trip to Sydney. Both show marked promise on the tracks, but so far Russell has had all the luck. He has ridden several winners while Mackinnon has yet to break his “ duck ” and moreover has had a nasty fall into the bargain. SILVER RING’S HOLIDAY. Silver Ring will not be seen in action again for some months. He has been sent out for a spell, which is likely to extend into May. This brilliant galloper does not seem to have been really himself this season and it is to be hoped for the sake of his plucky owner, Mr D. Fraser, who took him to Sydney and sent him to Auckland at Christmas, that the holiday brings him back to his excellent two-year-old form. His trainer, R. W. King, will take Idolize and Grecian Prince to Trentham on Tuesday. WIN AND PLACE SYSTEM The Dunedin Jockey Club’s recent summer meeting showed a profit. The club has decided to hold over the question of instituting the win and place system of betting until more definite information is obtained regarding the success of the new system.

D. P. Wilson is not sending his team to the Wellington meeting.

Concentrate on the plough at Riccarton this morning ran a mile and a quarter in 2min 18sec. Martian Chief assisted over the last mile. A BRUISED HEEL, F. Christmas leaves for Trentham on Tuesday with Red Heckle. Lord Masham would also have made the trip, but when the gelding returned from his West Coast trip, Christmas discovered that he had a bruised heel. Lord Masham’s form at Omoto suggested that he is well worth keeping in mind. He has always been able to gallop, but on the Coast he found his “ galloping feet ” in a race and the experience seems certain to be beneficial. A three-year-old by Robespierre, he has in the ordinary course of events all his racing in front of him. * * * He The following riding engagements are announced for Trentham for the first day of the Wellington Racing Club’s meeting:—S. Wilson, My Own, La Moderne, Gay Court? and Gay Coat; W. E. Shand, Milnrow; S. Anderson, Clangor. GREAT STAR TO TRAVEL. R. E. Coveny will go north next week to ride Great Star and Grand Review in their Trentham engagements. This pair were given strong work on the plough at Riccarton this morning. All going well, their owner-trainer, J. H. Prosser, intends to try Great Star out in Australia in the coming autumn campaign, and this good performer will be nominated for the principal events at Randwick at Easter. * * * * The acceptances for the first day of the Wellington Racing Club’s meeting are excellent, and some fine racing should be witnessed. Riccarton stables are, on paper at least, strongly represented. * * * * WIN AND A PLACE. The introduction at its next race meeting on March 9 and 12 of the win and place system of totalisator betting has been decided upon by the Waikato Racing Club. The system has proved popular at other meetings where it has been adopted, and the Waikato Racing Club feels confident that it will appeal strongly to local racegoers. * * * * Concentrate, who is one of the favourites for the Wellington Cup, won this race three years ago, as a four-year-old, when he carried Bst 101 b. Two years ago he was again fancied, but was sore in his final work and could not be started. Last year he was out spelling after his Melbourne Cup breakdown. ON THE PLOUGHIf Cricket Bat would travel as well in his races as he does on the track he would be more difficult to defeat. Without apparent effort he ran five furlongs on the plough at Riccarton this morning in lmin. 2 3-ssec. Assisted by Azalea, Jaloux ran seven furlongs in lmin 32sec. Nightguard and Juniper went six furlongs in lmin 19 2-ssec. Red Heckle took lmin 48 4-ssec over a mile task. Helped by Monastic for the first three furlongs, Argentic galloped five furlongs in lmin 4sec. Eupator and Chief Light went five furlongs in lmin ssec. Wise Choice and Robin Hood ran seven furlongs in lmin 33sec.. Importance ran half a mile in 52sec. Rational 11. and Gustavo went six furlongs in lmin 18 2-ssec. BACK TO FORM.

The fact that Eager Rose has been in the money in her last three starts indicates that the chestnut mare is back to form again, and she may not be *long off the winning list. This mare ran a great race when she deadheated with Jaloux for third place in the Summer Cup at Ellerslie, and the next time she repeats that form - she will be hard to beat. Eager Rose is due to make her next appearance at the Takapuna meeting at the end of this month, and if track conditions are favourable she can be' relied on to make a bold showing. WELL-EARNED REST. H. Rama’s pair, Manawhenua and Horowhenua, are still running out in the paddock, but will be put into work again shortly. Manawhenua did a lot of racing during his visit to Australia, and fully earned the rest he is now getting. The son of Acre and Country Picnic put up several good performances across the water, and as he is now only a five-year-old there should be plenty of opportunities for him in the future. Horowhenua failed to show any form worth mentioning during the trip. OFF-COLOUR. The disappointing performance of the Great Northern Stakes winner, Princess Doreen, in the Royal Stakes at Ellerslie last Tuesday, when she was badly beaten out of a place, was difficult to account for at the time, and her trainer, L. Wilson, was distinctly puzzled. The filly was blowing badly when she came back to the saddling paddock, and after being taken home she gave indications that she was not herself. Wilson called in Dr C. Ring, veterinary surgeon, who examined her and advised leaving her at Ellerslie for a day or so before returning south. On Thursday morning she appeared to be a lot better, and L. Wilson decided to rail her home to Awapuni. She has been left in the Wellington Stakes, but it all depends on her progress in the interval as to whether she will contest that event. RACING FIXTURES. January 14, 16—Vincent J C. January 19, 21, 23—Wellington R.C. January 21—Bay of Islands R.C. January 21—Wairio J.C. January 23— Ashliurst-Pohangina R.C. January 25, 26—Pahiatua R.C. January 27—Opotikl J.C. January 28—Napier Park ‘R.C. January 28, 30—Takapuna J.C. TROTTING FIXTURES. January 14—Wellington T.C. January 14, 16—Vincent J.C. January 21—Timaru T.C. January 21—Wairio J.C. January 26, 28—Forbury Park T.C.