THE TURF

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXI, Issue 19034, 11 June 1924, Page 6

THE TURF

NOTES AND COMMENTS

(By “Early Bird")

The Auckland R.C. meeting is set down io conclude to-day.

Entries for future Classic Races at the Auckland Racing Club’s meetings close with the secretary on Friday, June 13, at 5 p.m. Particulars appear in the N.Z. Referee.

On Monday the track between the six and seven furlongs posts at Ellerslie was under water, and generally the go ing for to-day will be worse than on the opening day. In the circumstances some surprises may be expected. In the Tamaki Steeplechase, which opens to-day’s programme at 11.30 a.m., Ditto ran so well behind Sir Rosebery and Bustler the first day that he will be prominent, and the danger to him may come from Tuki.. There is a big batch left in the Ora kei Hurdles, and some decided improvement may be looked for in the form of Brigadier Bill and Landbird, who are the outstanding performers engag ed. Alan McDonald rides the Brigadier and Rangi. Thompson pilots Landbird. A good field of seventeen stand their ground in the York Handicap, and on the form so far disclosed at the meeting, Illumination (Wiggins), Zircon (C. Reed) and Pompey (Goldfinch) should be among the money. They can all go well in the mud.

Although there are only eleven in the Winter Steeplechase, there is the material for a splendid Jumping contest. Sir Rosebery (Copostake) Is to start here in preference to the first race, and it will be interesting to see how he fares with Omahu (L. G. Morris) at level weights. Sea De’il (C. Mason) will be very much at home in the heavy going, and it is expected that he will improve on his showing in the big Steeples last Thursday. Having seen the running in that race, the writer prefers Sir Rosebery to Omahu and Sea De’il.

First Born (R. S. Bagby) promises to start a hot proposition for the Campbell Hurdles, and his army of supporters will have to be content to accept a very short price. Peter Amans (E. Warner) and Boomerday (A. McDonald) may be found making the topweight do his best.

Of the twenty likely runners in the Visitors’ Handicap, trainer Jim Williamson has a strong team engaged— Pavo, Charlady (bracketed), Tactful, and Archibald—and a win for anyone of the quartette would occasion no surprise. There is sure to be big support for Rafa, but the writer expresses regard for the chances of Soliform (B. 8. Bagby), Tactful (J. O’Shea), and Bonny Canny (W. S. Bagby). The curtain will be rung down with the Fitzroy Handicap, which still has twenty-five left in. Given a good run, White Comet (R. Reed), Spoony (B. Rosen) and Finnote (McTavish), should be prominent, but it is a difficult race to deal with.

Prince Abbey was scratched at 11.40 yesterday morning for the Visitors’ Handicap at the A.R.C. meeting.

Prior to the third day’s racing at Wingatui, Mr. J. M. Samson purchased Kipling for £4OO. As the North Islander won the Dunedin Steeplechase, worth £350, he is already a cheap horse. Kipling remains in Rowley Hatch’s stable. Among the improvements effected at Trentham in the steeplechase course are the widening of the sod wall by 16ft., while the brush fence at the turn out of the straight has been shifted to a position near the crossing.

Lady Fingers has done no work for some weeks, and is said to be looking all the better for the let up. The mare will be ready again early in the spring, when she showed her best form this season.

The North Island hurdler. Captain Sarto, changed owners last week, and he raced on the third day of the Dunedin meeting in the colours of the Southland owner, Mr. D. Kilkelly. The price is said to be £5OO. He will in future be trained in South Canterbury by P. T. Hogan.

The Otaki treble winner Wassail is said to have changed hands, the new owner being Mr. F. Easton, who paid lOOOgns for him. It is a good price, and even if he turns out as good as he promises to be his late connections should be well satisfied. C. Emerson rode two dead heaters and a winner at Dunedin on Saturday, and is now equal to M. McCarten in the lead for the jockey premiership, both having ridden 4# winners. M. McCarten, however, will be riding at Ellerslie on the concluding day.

A resident of Waipukurau has Croesus running in one of his paddocks (says a Napier exchange). The half brother to champion Desert Gold carries his age well. He is now In his thirteenth year. There is just a probability that he may be given another opportunity to show his powers. Tenterfield has not done any schooling since returning to Masterton from Wanganui, but now the tracks show signs of becoming firmer the gelding will be given some jumping in view of the Napier and Hawke’s Bay meetings (says a Wairarapa correspondent). W. Hawthorne is keeping the Grand National Hurdle Race steadily in view, and all going well will have a useful pair in Vagabond and Tenterfield. Palencia was made a better favourite than Kipling in the Dunedin Steeplechase last Saturday. The favourite was jumping badly. He carried away the second of the stand double, made another mistake at the back of the course, and then ran off. Mettle left Kipling and Rudy Gold disputing Drift fell at the back double. This the matters, and the former stayed on best and won by over three lengths. Juan was a moderate third and Palencia was taken back and completed the course. T. O’Connell, who met his death when Isla Bank fell at Wingatui, was not among the first flight of horsemen so far as snuccess over country was concerned (says the Press), but was a game rider upon whom trainers could always rely to put novices through their elementary lessons. He was associated with Lochella in some of his efforts as a hack hurdler in 1919. His last win was on Hollow Log in the Invercargill Steeplechase at the Southland Racing Club’s Easter meeting. Thus a Dunedin scribe after last Saturday’s racing at Wingatui: The practice of the stewards in following the steeplechase fields in a motor car is open to strong objection, as it is very apt to distract the attention of the horses when they are going at a fence. It would be much better if stewards were posted at diferent parts I of the course during a steeplechase, and then an official idea could be gathered at close quarters as to what

is going on during a race, without 4 motor car being a probable disturbing influence during the most serious part of a race. Mr. T. H. Lowry has bestowed name of The Mahdi on his yearling chestnut colt by Egypt—First Blow, and Orcum on the brown filly by King John (imp.)—Desert Gold. Both of these youngsters have been engaged in several of the Australian Jockey Club's classic events, as have also Mr. J. S. McLeod’s ch g Runnymede, by King John—Tressida, br g Gicza, by Catmint (imp.)—Fair Rosamond, and br c Bennance, by Kilboy—Queen Lizzfe, and Mr. W. G. Stead’s ch g by Absurd—Lady Ball, br c by Absurd—Gold Painting, ch filly by Absurd —Lalla Rookh, br f by Absurd— Los Vegas, ch f by Absurd—Bayon, b f by Absurd —Bon Espoir, and Mr. A. B. Williams’ b c by Comedy King —Chu San. and b c Star Ranger, by Martian—Star Lady. A proposal will be submitted to the Racing Conference next month by the Rangitikei Racing Club making it necessary for anyone acting as a handicapper, clerk of scales, starter, judge or assistant judge to be licensed annually by the Racing Conference. It is now proposed that no two offices shall be held by one person unless by special permission, though, in cases of emergency, the stewards may, during a meeting, appoint an unlicensed substitute to fill any of the offices named for that meeting only. There is every chance (says the Paris edition of the New York Herald) that the greatest thoroughbred:; contest ever held in the annals of racing will be seen in America this summer. Mr. Samuel D. Riddle, the Philadelphia sportsman, is considering bringing Man o’ War back to the races. If he does he will match the immortal son of Fair Play against Epinard. the French champion, who is going to America in August. The English writer “Audax" of Horse and Hound, hears on the best authority that the legal proceedings between the Aga Khan and The Times will not be proceeded with. In a spirit of good sportsmanship the difference has been componed. The Indian owner had laid a charge of libel against The Times on account of remarks it made concerning the running of some of his horses.

A.R.C. MEETING SCRATCHINGS (Per Press Association.) AUCKLAND. June 19. The weather cleared to-day. There is every prospect of the Auckland winter meeting being concluded to-morrow. The following scratchings wore made to-day:—Savoury, Oraki Hurdles; Prince Abbey, Visitors’ Handicap; P 1onett, Fitzroy Handicap; Sir Rosebery, Tamaki Steeplechase. GIGGLE’S DOUBLE SYDNEY, June !•. The New Zealand-bred horst Giggle scored a double victory at K.indwick, winniug the Fust. Nursery Handicap on Saturday by a head, and the Second Nursery Handicap yesterday by one and a-half lengths. s'