TURF NEWS & NOTES

Wairarapa Times-Age, 8 October 1938, Page 11

TURF NEWS & NOTES

CURRENT TOPICS FROM STABLE & COURSE Views on Racing Facts and Fancies FLAMMARION IN SILK AGAIN (By “The Cynic.”)

Flammarion, who was a first-class hack when at the top of his form two years ago, had his first race since April, 1937, when he contested the scurry at Otaki.

Jones, who trains Royal Chief, is a very modest punter, and just before the race a friend said to him, “What about putting £1 on your colt?” Jones replied, “I’ve got £1 on him, and you can have half of it if you like.” Royal Chief was a bit cramped in his action when doing a preliminary, and started the outsider in a field of five. Royal Chief finished his first season by winning the Champagne'Stakes and Challenge Stakes. As a three-year-old Royal Chief won the Wanganui Guineas and Avondale Guineas, but suffered a head defeat by Smoke Screen in the Great Northern Guineas. He won the Trentham Stakes and Harcourt Stakes and New Zealand Derby. Cuddle beat-him in the Canterbury Cup, and then came an unplaced performance in the King’s Plate, in which Courtcraft put up a New Zealand record of Imin. 36secs. by beating Trench Fight and Oratory. Royal Chief was the only other starter. Courtcraft beat Royal Chief in the Great Northern Derby. He beat The Crooner, in the New Zealand St. Leger, but Stretto proved too good for him in his final race of the season when they met in the Awapuni Gold Cup, won in 2min. 3secs.

Well bandaged in front, he was paraded carrying a mass of condition and did not look nearly forward enough to do himself real justice. He quickly showed that he has lost none of his former galloping ability. He took some time to get fairly balanced, but then settled down to his work and was ranging up on the outside of the leaders, well off the course, at the home turn.

He was not seasoned enough to fight on, but the race would do him a lot of good and .he appeared to pull up all right. Flammarion carried 9.9, a big weight for a fresh horse on a soft track. If he stands sound a lot more should be heard of him.

Regular Attender. The Duel has been a regular attendant at Riccarton recently under the care of H. Kearns. Now a five-year-old, The Duel has been off the scene for nearly two years, his last appearance being at Hororata in December, 1936. The Rapier horse, always small, has thickened out considerably, and what he lacks in inches has been made up for in his stocky build. Kearns is also working Alcatraz, a gelding by Robespierre from Zora, by Catmint from Verintia. Zora is a full-sister to Gold Cross, and a half-sister to Rebel Chief, so Alcatraz is bred on very similar lines to those of Rebel Chief. Dictate. Dictate, who has had an interrupted spring programme through being injured just before Ashburton and by missing a race at the abandoned South Canterbury meeting, will reappear at Trentham. While he naturally will be backward, a race is likely to effect a big improvement in the gelding.

Stallion Kiosk, The Wairarapa subsidised stallion, Kiosk, has not had many of his stock racing, but two, Amatory and Pekoe won races last season. Amatory opened his season’s account with a win at Otaki, and as both horses through Tea Tray, sire of Kiosk trace back immediately to The Tetrarch, it would be surprising indeed if they could not gallop. Another great tribute to The Tetrarch was the dual success of Royal Chief at Sydney, as Chief Ruler, his sire, was a son of The Spotted Wonder. (“Administrator.”) HAWKE’S BAV RACES SPRING HANDICAP TO HUNTING CAT. SENSATIONAL SPILL IN HURDLES (By Telegraph—Press Association.) HASTINGS, October 7. The Hawke’s Bay Jockey Club’s Spring meeting opened today in ideal conditions. The weather was warm and sunny and the track in perfect condition. There was a sensational spill in the hurdle race, five of the field of eight being brought down at the first fence. Totalisator investments were £6386 10s, compared with £7311 for eight races on a Saturday last year. Results:—

Looking Well. Trench Fight is very well at present, but his occasional bolting even under a strong jockey is not encouraging. Last Thursday, the Winning Hit horse took charge of his rider and ran a mile on the trial grass track at Riccarton in 1.38 2-5, first four furlongs in 48secs. On one previous occasion Trench Fight bolted in his preliminary, but if he behaves himself at Trentham, he should go close to winning, even though the Wainui Handicap, one mile; will mark his first appearance in public since last Christmas. Useful Exercise. Lofty has been getting through useful exercise since he returned to Riccarton, and so far, there has not been any recurrence of the trouble which formerly visited him. Forward Fettle.

Hollycombe Hurdles, one mile and a half—2 Soho, 11.7 (I. Rohloff) 1; 4 Glenvane, 9.0 (R. Savage) 2; 7 Boat Song, 9.0 (A. Tinsley) 3. Also started: 3 Red Rufus fell, 1 Lovelilt fell, 8 Thrasher fell, 6 Agog fell, 5 Royal Record fell. Head; 10 lengths. Time, 2.49. Imperial Plate, five furlongs and a half—l Hagen, 8.0 (P. Atkins) 1; 2 Titter, 8.3 (B. H. Morris) 2; 5 Carrington Hall, 8.7 (P. Burgess) 3. Also started: 13 Gay Laura lost rider, 7 Penny Farthing, 9 Classical, 6 Centrepoise, 3 Stern Chase, 12 Night Attack, 10 Arabic, 8 Chequers, 11 Hunting Moments, 4 Royal Ace, 14 Electra. Length and a quarter; four lengths. Royal Ace was fourth. Time, 1.8 4-5. Empire Nursery Handicap, for two-year-olds; four furlongs.—l Nora Gregor, 8.0 (P. Atkins) 1; 4 Silver Bat, 8.0 (H. J. Callahan) 2; 6 Katesbridge, 8.0 (S. Anderson) 3. Also started: 5 Sunola and Sleeveless bracketed, 5 Trench Law, 3 Serenata, 8 Madonna. 7 Kinkajou. Five lengths; three. Serenata was fourth. Time, 47 3-5. Spring Handicap, one mile and a quarter.—s Hunting Cat, 8.1 (H. J. Callahan) 1; 1 Master Cyklon, 8.10 (B. Stowe) 2; 4 Curie, 7.4 (J. Mudford) 3. Also started: 6 Tiger Gain, 7 Slippery, 2 Tres Sec, 3 Buster Brown. One length and a half; neck. Buster Brown was fourth. Time, 2.9 3-5. Epsom Handicap, amateur riders; one mile and a quarter.—4 Tail Light, 12.4 (Owner) 1; 1 Hamarin, 11.9 (H. Dods) 2; 5 Umpire, 11.11 (S. B. Monteith) 3. Also started: 2 Trailer, 3 Misurina, 9 Master Hector, 6 Patches, 10 Lady Stella, 8 Coil, 7 Colenso. Half a length; head. Patches was fourth. Time, 2.13. Otane Hack Handicap, six furlongs. —2 Lady Chat, 8.5 (B. H. Morris) 1; 5 Dainty Sue, 8.4 (S. Wilson) 2; 3 Bold Step, 7.11 (J. Chaplin) 3. Also started: 4 Thala, 9 Lucullus Boy, 10 Shani, 1 Hinepit, 8 Diana Tetrix, 6 Lindrum, 11 Gaiwind. Length and a half; neck. Diana Tetrix was fourth. Time, 1.14. Homewood Flying Handicap, six furlongs. — 4 Rakahanga, 7.1 (R. Howell) 1; 3 Brunhild, 7.12 (P. Atkins) 2; 5 Jazz Boy, 8.1 (H. J. Callahan) 3. Also started: 2 Peter Beckford, 1 Joviality, 8 The Bigot, 10 Royal Minstrel, 7 First Chapter, 13 Padishah, 11 Pladie, 6 Fossicker, 12 Speed, 9 Cullus. Three lengths; half a head. Pladie was fourth. Time, 1.13 4-5.

Mr Cotton has Grey Honour in forward fettle for immediate engagements and, although the Honour horse has been somewhat wayward before doing his track work of late, he is in great nick. Cotton’s sprinter will be accompanied to Wellington by Kinnoull, who also is in fine form, and by Kilrobe, who is likely to shape well in hack sprint events.

Winning Form. As 'the result of good track efforts in recent weeks it was not surprising to see The Masquerader return to winning form in the highweight event at Kurow, but it was rather surprising when he was only third favourite in such a moderate field. The chances are that the Great Easter Handicap winner of 1934 will still win a decent race. Manetho. Manetho has returned to Riccarton and has rejoined the active workers. He looks particularly well at present, but his owner-trainer may find it difficult to get the gelding to survive a preparation for hurdling.

In Work Again. Haughty Winner seems to have thoroughly overthrown the complaint which he developed in his heels and C. McCarthy is able to work him regularly now. He is likely to reappear at the Cup meeting. At the same fixture another member of the same stable, Improvident, should also come back. This colt has shown remarkable development in recent months and he looks a typical racehorse. It will be surprising if he does not turn out more than useful, especially now that he has been given time to come to hand. He will not be three until well into December.

Royal Chief. From lGOgns. as a yearling to a £ 10,000 four-year-old Royal Chief has improved considerably since he raced as a two-year-old. Royal Chief started 12 times as a two-year-old and won five times,and was placed six times. He scored his first win in the Pioneer Handicap with 8.9 in 60 l-ssecs. He next won the Great Northern Foal Stakes, beating Francis Drake, who turned the tables on him in the Royal Stakes. Paper Slipper 10.0 beat Royal Chief 8.9 in the Middle Park Plate, and Haughty Winner beat him into second olace in the Dunedin Champagne Stakes. Royal Chief was unplaced in the Pacific Handicap. He then won lhe North Island Challenge Stakes. Paper Slipper 9.6, Haughty Winner 7.5 and Francis Drake 7.12 ran away from Royal Chief 7.8 in the early part of the race. Francis Drake, who broke a cold in his preliminary, collapsed after reaching the straight. Paper Slipper and Haughty Winner were fighting it out when Royal Chief came from nowhere and won by a nose from Paper Slipper, with Haughty Winner a head away in Imin. on a slow track. F. D.