TURF NEWS AND NOTES

Wairarapa Times-Age, 22 February 1941, Page 3

TURF NEWS AND NOTES

CURRENT TOPICS FROM STABLE AND COURSE Racing in England 'BY "THE GRAFTER.".) The war has had a serious effect on racing in England, but the controllers of the sport have carried on under a restricted schedule. Taking all the facts into consideration, last season was voted a fair success. The leading owner was Mr Esmond Harmsworth, who raced the ill-fated filly Godiva, winner of the substitute One Thousand Guineas and Oaks Stakes. A few months after winning these events she died of blood' poisoning in Ireland. Mr H. E. Morriss, who won the Derby with Manna some years ago, was the leading breeder, and F. Darling easily headed the trainers. His horses won 25 races worth £16,166, twice as much as the team of W. R. Jarvis, who finished second on the trainers' list. Jarvis was the owner of the French colt Pont I’Eveque, who won the New Derby, but fell from grace when beaten a month later in the Champion Stakes by Stardust and Hippins.

The Aga Khan was unlucky to supply the runner-up in both Two Thousand Guineas <won by Djebel) and Derby < won by Pont I'Eveque). Both winners came from France and were not entered for the original classics but got in when fresh entries were taken after the cancellation of spring meetings. Compensation was forthcoming for the Aga Khan when he supplied winner and runner-up in the St. Leger. run at Thirks after three postponements. The horses were Turkhan (by Bahrami and Stardust <by Hyperion >. Both are being retired to the stud. G. Richards won the jockey's championship for the fourteenth time in 15 years. Ho rode C 8 winners.

Out of Hack Class. Monie Cristo ran cut of his hack engagements successfully by taking a double—the Linley and Huntly Hack Handicaps— at the Waikato meeting Ho has now won three races this season. and with one victory last year his total stake-winnings amount to £770. Monte Cristo is by the Now Zealand Derby winner Bronze Eagle, sire of a number of useful horses, while his dam Archeno. is an Archiestown marg bred in 1919.

Monte Cristo should prove to be a payable proposition in open company, as he stays on well in his races and has good speed.

The Punting Game, Nature, having forgotten to endow punters with any brains, gave them compensation in the shape of a neverending supply of cash to placate their natural enemies, the bookmakers, writes a follower of racing. "1 read where a certain Mr Murphy, of Nevada (U.S.A,), had built a house out of 10.000 bottles and had lived in it for 15 years." said a disgruntled punter. "Thai’s nothing. I have built 10 houses and 10 motor cars for It) different bookmakers out of 10.000 useless betting tickets 1 have received from them in the last 15 years."

Return to Form. Zonda, the winner of the V.A.T.C. I Oakleigh Plate in time which equalled i the race record, affords another example of a class two-year-old returning to form after a comparatively lean ■! reason at three years old. Zonda at ' two years was first-class and in seven i starts she was never out of a place. I She won the V .A.T.C. Debutante ; Stakes for fillies. was third in the i Maribyrnong. won the Mimosa Stakes, | a division of the Federal Slakes, and J ran second to High Caste in the V.R.C. . Sires’ Produce Stake's and the AscotI vale Stakes, being the best of her sex ; at two years. Last season she won only I one race in 14 starts, though she was i placed on live other occasions. Zonda ' is by the Phalaris horse Manitoba from i Mistral, one of the late Mr E. E. D. I Clarke's successful families. Mistral being by Cyklon from Deneb, by The Welkin. Mistral is sister to the darn of Hall Mark. RACING FIXTURES ! Feb. 22, 24.—Te Aroha. ! Feb. 22, 24.—Woodville. Feb. 22, 24. —Westland. | March 1. —Franklin. I March I.—-Rangitikei. , March I.—Banks Peninsula. ; March 7, 8.- -Cromwell. ' March B—Clifden, { March 8. —Carterton. I March 8, 10.—Taranaki. March 13, 15.—Wellington. March 15, 17.—Ohinemuri. i March 20, 22. —Manawatu. March 22, 24.—Bay of Plenty. March 22, 24. —Oamaru. March 27, 29—Hawke's Bay. March 29. —Waimate.