TOPICS OF THE TURF

Star (Christchurch), Volume LXVI, Issue 20274, 7 April 1934, Page 16

TOPICS OF THE TURF

y/wTES AND NEWS FROM EVERYWHERE

ACCEPTANCES for the Reefton Jockey Club's meeting close at 9 p.m. 01* Monday. * ‘ * * * The Avondale Jockey Club’s meeting will be continued on Monday. * * * * Nominations for all events at the Amberley meeting on Saturday, April 28, close at 8 p.m. on Tuesday. * * * * RODE FOUR WINNERS. By his win in the opening event at Omoto yesterday, L. J. Ellis brought his total of winning rides this season up to that of K. Voitre. He previously drew equal last month, but Voitre regained the lead at Westport. Ellis proceeded to ride the next three winners and became that many in front of his rival. His remaining mounts yesterday were Full Crop, who finished second, and Gold Sand, who ran unplaced in the concluding event. Since the last meeting at Omoto, the birdcage has been considerably enlarged and provided with a new entrance. The change is a decided improvement. WASHDYKE NOMINATIONS. The South Canterbury Jockey Club has secured an excellent list of nominations for the autumn meeting, which will be held in a fortnight. Riccarton stables are very strongly represented and with many candidates from Otago and Southland, there is material for some of the best racing seen on the Washdyke course in recent years. * * He * The postponed Waimate meeting has drawn an excellent list of including several horses from Riccarton. The new date, two days before the South Canterbury meeting, seems to have appealed strongly to owners. He He Hs * A. D. Webster is getting ready for another Australian trip. He will leave next month, taking ten or twelve horses. ELLIS PAYS DIVIDEND. Although L. J. Ellis had the mount, Battle Queen was only fifth favourite in a field of six for the Novice Stakes ftt Omato yesterday. The popular fancies were Gayspear and Copenna, who is now racing in the name of her trainer, J. P. Low, of Omoto. Scratchmere Star was first away, while Arctic Star dwelt a little. Copenna had a brief spell in the leadership, and then Battle Queen took charge from Copenna, Sky Rest, Gayspear and Arctic Star. Battle Queen was first into the straight from Gayspear, Copenna and Arctic Star. Battle Queen was stopping as they neared the post, but hard riding by Ellis got her home by a head from Arctic Star. Copenna was a length away third, with Gayspear and Scratchmere Star next. F. Escott, of Greymouth, owns and trains Battle Queen, who is a five-year-old mare by Paladin. Arctic Star is a three-year-old halfbrother by Diacquenod to White Doe. * * * sfc Judging from the brief cable news, the yearling sales in Sydney have net been the great success this year that was hoped. Heroic yearlings were in the boom, but the progeny of other sires seem to have gone at disappointing prices. THIRTY YEARS ON, Aesculus, -the winner of the Hawke’s Bay Cup on Saturday, gave Mr T. H. Lowry nis first success in that event since Madrigal won for him in 1904. GOOD PERFORMANCE. Haulbowline put up a good performance in the Flying Handicap, run over five furlongs and a half at Omoto yesHe had 10.4 to carry, but made light of it. Hopping out of the barrier smartly, he led throughout, and won by two lengths and a half from Full Crop, who finished well enough to cut Free Rose out of second place by half a length. Awamutu and Royal Sceptre were next. After Haulbowline had won for T. R. George at Reefton in January* he changed owners and is now trained at Omoto by M. Conza for Mr G. Linton, of Greymouth. SUPERSTITIOUS. America’s most successful trainer last year was Hirsch Jacobs, who saddled up 116 winners. He is reported to be very superstitious, and referring to this “ The Bloodhorse ” (Lexington, U.S.A.) says: “Jacobs thinks publicity brings bad luck, and does a horse scratching stunt whenever a black cat crosses his path. Says he has to scratch a horse three times, else the Jonah will fix him. He didn’t say whether his * scratching * means withdrawing the horse from races three times or merely rubbing fingers on the horse three times. The latter process would be less time-consuming and quite as efficacious.”

The Australian Jockey Club’s meeting will be concluded to-morrow, when the King’s Cup, one mile and a half, will be a great attraction. In addition, the C. W. Cropper Plate will attract the sprinters over six furlongs, at weight for age. QUIETLY ROMPS HOME. Quietly ran two good races in the Papanui and Gimcrack Handicaps at Riccarton, finishing fourth each time, and she was sent out a hot favourite for the Stewards’ Handicap at Omoto 3*esterday. Verden was second choice. The latter was a little slow off the mark from No. 1 position and was last when the field left the straight. Marmoration led off from Sir Pombal, Lady Rene and Wise Choice. Halfway, Marmora tion led from Full Crop, Quietly, Verden and Maroha. Quietly ran up to Marmoration at the home turn. They reached the straight together, but Quietly then shot ahead and won by five lengths from Lady Rene, who beat Wise Choice by half a length for second. Marmoration was a head away fourth, then Sir Pombal and Maroha, with Verden last. The time, lmin 20 l-ssec, was a record for the course for six and a half furlongs. Quietly was formerly trained at Trentham by W. M’Conkey for Mr W. K. Kemball, but is now trained at Riccarton by S. Barr for Mr H. L. Bowker. By Chief Ruler from the English mare Timid, she is a three-year-old sister to Timorous, who was a winner in Sydney for L. T. Jamieson. SOLID PERFORMANCE. Prostration was responsible for a couple of solid performances at the Wairarapa meeting. His effort under 9st 91b on the second day, when he met a well-performed older horse like Speed at level weights, and beat him decisively, was excellent. Prostration all along has looked like developing into a good class handicap horse, and his autumn form enhances his future prospects. WILL DO EVEN BETTER. Hazoor’s wins at Tauherenikau were very popular, his owner, Mr W. Howard Booth, being a steward of the club. Hazoor was extremely unlucky in the Champion Hack Cup at the Wellington meeting last month, and it was no surprise to see his forward showings at Easter. As he carries weight well, further successes should be in store. RECOVERING. Aga Khan was. unable to run at the Feilding meeting, owing to ricking a muscle, but he is reported to be making a satisfactory recovery. A POPULAR MEETING. The Riverton Racing Club has the distinction of holding the only fixture in Southland that extends to three days. It arouses interest in the south that is not fully appreciated by the sporting community in the northern provinces. Some idea of the crowds that are attracted will be realised from the fact that the gate receipts at the recent meeting amounted to £2177. £SOOO BREEDING GRANT. Lord Digby, president of the Hunters’ Improvement and National Light Horse Breeding Society, at a luncheon at the Royal Agricultural Hall on February 26, prior to the annual show, announced that the War Office had sanctioned a grant of £SOOO for light horse breeding for 1934. Of this amount, £4500 had been allotted to thoroughbred premium stallions and £SOO for the native pony breeds, which had been in danger of extinction. These included the Dales and Fell, the Welsh Cobs and the Pembroke Roadster. Lord Digbv also referred to the grant of £2OOO made by the Racecourse Betting Control Board to the society for the award of premiums for thoroughbred stallions for 1934. Although the War Office grant was only one-sixth of the sum allotted annually up to 1931, it was absolutely invaluable in enabling the society to carry on its vitally important work. With the probability that the War Office grant might be renewed annually for the next few years, it was hoped that several good young stallions would be purchased before t}ie 1935 session commenced. Owing to the uncertainty, none had been purchased during the last two years. Lord Digby announced that the Duke of Gloucester had consented to become president of the society for 1935. AT SECOND START.

Lady Rene, who had run second in the Stewards’ Handicap, was again produced for the Otira Handicap for which there was a field of ten. She was well supported, but Gold Sand, with IMhs in the saddle, was the favourite. Animated and Tea Garden were the early leaders from Forceful, Juniper s™* i, L f f dy M*H ne ’ Tea harden led at the half-mde from Animated,* Forceful Lady Rene and Juniper. Tea Garden led into the straight, but was challenged at the distance by Lady Rene, who got the better of the final struggle and won by half a length. Coll, who finished well was a length and a half away third, with Earthquake, Forceful and Juniper next. Lady Rene, who won a double at Westport last month, Omofo° d and tramed by J- Harwell,' of GIGGLESWICK’S success

There were six starters for the Hannan Memorial Handicap at Omoto ye fu e^ ay ' Giggleswick was favourite with Ramo second choice. Noteworthy set off as pacemaker and opened up a gap of several lengths from Giggleswick and Sky Rover, with Ramo last. There was little change until half a mile from home where Ramo moved up and the field closed on the pacemaker. Little Doubt took charge at the far turn from Noteworthy, Sky Rover, and Ramo. Noteworthy dropped out. Little Doubt, Sky Rover, and Ramo reached the straight practically on terms with Giggleswick, lying in behind them. Giggleswick came fast on the outside to take the lead with Coomassie in pursuit, the result being a win for Giggleswick by half a length. Coomassie beat Sky Rover by two lengths for third with Ramo fourth and Noteworthy last. The time, 2min 7 4-ssec, was smart for Omoto. Ellis completed a hat trick on Giggleswick, who is trained at Omoto by C. J. Walshe for Mr W. Greenhill, of Greymouth.

WELL-EARNED SPELL. Cricket Bat left to-day ’ for his owner’s stud at Stonyhurst, where he will be given a good spell. He has done a lot of racing during the last few seasons, many of his engagements being hard contests, in which he has had to put up with place money. Though he has been a very sound horse, he has shown some signs lately of going off, and a rest in a good paddock at Stonyhurst should be of great benefit. BRED FOR SPEED. Sir Charles Clifford has purchased a yearling filly from the late Mr H. M. Reeves’s Hororata Stud and she has arrived at the Chokebore Lodge stables, where H. and A. Cutts will break her in, in preparation for racing next season. The filly is by Tea Tray from Scrip, a Paper Money mare, who was a smart galloper. Though small, the filly is neat and of racing appearance, and she is bred on very speedy lines. FILLY WINS DOUBLE. Quietly was saddled up again for the fifth race, the Metropolitan Hack Handicap. She carried a penalty of 81b for her success two races earlier. She was a very hot favourite, Jolly Beggar and Gold Arrow being best backed of the others. Patrole was the early leader from Rhea, Quietly, Zetes, Tentcall, Eaton Hall, and Jolly Beggar with Gold Arrow last. Half way, Patrole and Rhea were in front from Quietly, Zetes, Eaton Hall and Gold Arrow. Rhea had sole charge a furlong further on and led round the home turn from Gold Arrow, Quietly and Zetes. Gold Arrow was first into the straight but Quietly at once headed her. Gold Arrow, however, hung on well and lost by only a head. Zetes was two lengths away third with Jolly Beggar, Patrole, and Rhea next. Ellis had his fourth consecutive win. Eaton Hall met with interference three furlongs from home, and, dropping back, finished last. An inquiry was held into the. incident but no action was taken. RACING IN EUROPE. There was not as much racing on German tracks last year as in 1931, when 1985 races were run. Last year the number dropped to 1762, and horses in training decreased to 1630 against 2097 in 1931. Mares used at German studs totalled 539 last year, against 1038 in 1929. It is stated that the cost of keeping thoroughbreds in Germany is three times higher than in Hungary, where feed has been very cheap for some time. The horse that earned most money in France last year was Cappiello (by Apelle), w’hose total was approximately £19,000. Poland gets its full share of racing, judging by the fact that K. Jagodzinsky, who headed the winning jockeys’ list in 1 that country last year, figured in 317 events, of which he won 84. The most important of the eight Polish tracks is at Warsaw. RAflNr; FIXTURES, April 7, 11—Avondale J.C. April 11—Reefton J.C. April 14—Masterton R.C. April 19—Waimate R.C. April 19, 21—Whangarei R.C. April 21—Marton J.C. April 21—South Canterbury J.C. April 21, 23—Nelson J.C. April 27, 28—Pahiatua R.C. April 27, 28—Marlborough R.C. April 28—Amberley R.C.