Racing World

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXI, Issue 19049, 28 June 1924, Page 7

Racing World

By

EARLY BIRD

HAWKE’S BAY FORM REVIEWED NOTES AND COMMENTS. The Hawke’s Bay Hunt meeting will be held at Hastings to-day. Supporter and Silver Fish should go well in the Hunters’ Hurdles. The former sehooled well at Hastings on Wednesday morning. Of those in the Hack Hurdles, *Bonibrook and Molyneaux have a good deal to recommend them. Master Black and Royal Heather went well enough on Wednesday and lluusday to put them among the possibles for the Hack .Scurry. Happy Days and Barrier will again he in opposition to-day, this time in the Kawera Handicap. Of the nine engaged in the Hunt Cup, Sturdee has a big weight to carry, and Kovno and Gaze may be too good for Thursday’s winner. Pukctoi and Sunny Roe are a useful pair claiming an engagement in the Horonui Hack Handicap. 'The last event on to-day’s card is the Soutra Hunters’ Flat, and Good Mark and Ngapacnga may be endowed 1 with too much pace for the others. R. Thompson. C. Mason, J. R. Kaan. A. McDonald. C. Reed. L. G. Morris, J. Nixon, R. Hunt, F. A. Waddell, E. War nor, H. Griffith, and R. Hatch each rode a winner at the Hawke’s Bay meeting. Judging on the weights declared yesterday, San Forte and Nukumai appear to be nicely in at the Wellington meeting. One would also like Tenterfield. but his jumping on Thursday at Hastings was terrible. Any other horse would not have completed the course.

Joy Ride ran two good races at Hastings. Hr only failed over the last bit on Thursdav.

Happy Days showed good form at Hastings, where, in the hands of Roy Reed, he gave two pleasing displays.

Avonlea’s turn cannot be far off. Since the last Wanganui meeting she has been threatening to win a race, but generally manages to have two or three in front of her at the finish. It was so at Hastings.

Sir Rosebery got his leg mixed up wth some wire last week and received injuries which will throw him back in his work.

The Hawk was on the course at Hastings on Thursday. He was looking well, ami may be taken over to Sydney next month with other members of j. Cameron’s team.

The crack two-year-old Nigger Minstrel, together with a good loo’ ing stable mate in Phoenix Park (ancther youngster) were sprinted up the stright both days at Hastings. The Wanganui Steeplechase winner. San Forte, was going particularly well in thy June Steeplechase on _ ..ursday, when he was mn off at the post and rails by another horse. Riderless horses caused trouble at Hastings on both days in the cross country races, and on Thursday especially they helped still further to reduce the fields.

- Gardenia (Boniform—Malt egarde) is a very smart filly, and she will be quite as smart as he? dam. Gardenia is a whole lot better than her full brother, Bodyguard. Kovno scored in her only start at Hastings. She is a good jumper, and this stands to her in a race for the Guian forte mare is not endowed with a great deal of pace. The All Black gelding Gaze ran Kovno to a neck on Wednesday, and he can be looked upon to show some improvement, for he has not been up long. The expensive Cambric could not see out the full distance in the Woodlands Steeplechase. He is a splendid fencer and may yet return Mr W. H. Gaisford one hundred per cent, on his purchase price.

If Kiliard could be prevailed upon to jump his fences he would win races. At present he shows an inclination to shirk them by running off. and at Hastings on Wednesday he endeavoured to do this ami as a consequence he went through the wing of a brush fence. •Supporters of Landbird got a good price about his chances on Wednesday in a weak six-horse field, and he duly won, and nicely. On the second day the pace set by Waioeka Jack was too warm and he was made to carry his big weight all the way. Punters who laid odds on Merrv Singer in his first effort over hurdles were very game, and optimistic. The Merry Moments gelding certainly jumped splendidly, but he had no chance with Landlord, who is no champion, ami was lucky to get second place. On \\ ednesday at Hastings Waioeka Jack (Conqueror Sabretache mare) was left a dozen lengths at the post in the Whakatu Hurdles, and at the end of a quarter mile he was leading the field! ?onsequently he did not finish well, ind was very tired on coming in. On the strength of this good showing Waioeka Jack was made favourite the second day. and after keeping with the field for the first half- mile his rider sent him along and within two furlongs was out twelve lengths clear, eventually to win in easy fashion. Making his debut at Hastings for the first tbm- over the hurdles, Detroit displayed jumping ability, but the exertion tired him and he was well back at the finish in his only start. The running of Kohu on both days at Hastings savoured of training the horse in public and at the expense of what one often hears called “the mug punter. ’ There was £56 invested on Kohu on Wednesday ami £33 on Thursday, and the chestnut ran accordingly —well back last each time. It is not often that one sees a horse, after getting an even break, toiling along twenty lengths behind the leaders after going a couple of furlongs, yet that is where Vagabond was in the Hawke’s Bay Hurdles. The horses in front were making the pace a cracker, as will be recognised when it is said that the time for the race was four seconds faster than the previous one over the same distance, when Landbird won. Vagabond improved his position nicely later in the race, but the old fellow had set himself a hopeless task.

At Napier Park last Saturday Jovial won the Hack Hurdles all the way, but it Hastings on both days the other riders went with the full brother to Toy Ride, and consequently he never zot a break on the field. Alteration is a long way from being a number, for it was Only his pi.neness that enabled him to beat En Route in the Hawke’s Bay Hurdles.

At the.straight entrance the latter had several lengths’ lead, but Jack Kaan rode Alteration hard and just got there by a head. En Route, looking better than when at Wanganui last month, ran a good race in the open hurdles at Hastings the first day. McSweeney had him in a nice position before taking the lead half a mile from home, and he hit the straight with an apparently unbeatable advantage. However, he tired badly over the last furlong, to be beaten by Alteration in the last few yards. En Route was heavily supported in a similar race the second day, but he crashed through the first fence, and £655 crashed also.

Admiral Codrington did not settle down in the Hawke’s Bay Hurdles, although he fenced well and finished fourth. On Thursday the Admiral ran much more generously, and at the distance appeared to have the Turamoc Hurdles at his mercy, when Woden came with a remarkable second run and headed Admiral Codrington right on the post, although a dead heat would have occasioned no surprise. Woden ran two good races at the meeting. Percy Rayner rode Admiral Codrington in both races, and despite his vigorous riding on Thursday the chestnut was stopping at the post. Fresh from her dual successes at Napier Park, the public made Mahuru a warm order for the Hawke’s Bay Steeplechase, and she duly won, but only after a hard tussle with Red Cent. Mahuru jumped very cleanly throughout the piece, and she may win a more important cross-country race before the winter racing concludes. Alan McDonald rode Mahuru, but he appeared to take a big risk in pulling the mare from second place right to the back after going a little way. Consequently the daughter of Merry Moments had to be ridden hard over the last six furlongs to overhaul Red Cent, and it makes Mahuru a real good one that she was able to accomplish this difficult task.

Red Cent gave a fine display in the Hawke’s Bay Steeplechase, and if he stands up to his work a good race should come his way. Kipling’s form was all at sea, and makes one still wonder how he did the hat trick at the Dunpdin fixture. To Mairc .raced indifferently at the meeting, and he was lucky to get ’a dead-heat for second money on Thursday, for Zeus got that position by a good head. W. Easton rode the latter vigorously over the last mile and despite the fact that he struck the second last fence hard and lost an iron, he finished on better than Te Ma ire.

It is problematical whether Sturdee would have won the Steeplechase on Thursday had some of the others completed the course. Gang Awa’ and Lin< ‘ was going particular!v kindly, with only a mile to go, when the former was run off and First Line, like the proverbial sheep, followed him’ However, Sturdee never put a foot wrong in the race, and there is no doubt he deserved the stake. This Advance gelding runs in the same colours as Mahuru, so that Mr C. F. Vallance had the unique honour of winning both the principal cross-coun-try events, and with different horses. On the preveious Saturday Sturdee ran a very poor race in the Hunt Cup. and that no doubt was responsible for him going out at such long odds. Barrier ran two fine races at Hastings. The first day, although he got away well, he ran into a whole heap ot trouble, but he came with a great run on the rails up the straight and buried the others for pace. On Thursday Barrier was sent out at a good price, and again ran well, heating all but Koodoo, who has been rather unlucky of late.

£40,000 FOR FIVEPENCE CLOCKERS ARE FOOLED WHEN HORSE APPEARS Ten cents worth of paint enabled R Bressler and his associates to “kill”* a group of bookmakers of the extent of about 200,000 dollars some years ago. writes J.J. Corbett in an American paper. Ina Wood was the medium for one 01 m7 C ?, Iggcst coups in racin g history. The filly ran some good races in the bouvh ami then, when the summer season opened, she was sent to the New i York tracks and given a few “under 1 wraps” workouts. I The boy reported back to Bressler that the filly was in great form and i ready to run for a king’s ransom. Bressler, knowing that every docker on the track was keeping an eye on the filly, decided to cloak her works ■so that the dockers could not report sensational trials back to the bookies. SPREAD FALSE REPORT. One day the report was spread that Ina Wood would not be worked again for a week or so. So far as the dockers knew,lna was remaining in her barn. But Ina wasn’t doing anything of the sort. She was working every day under the eyes of the dockers and being “tuned” for the killing Bressler had in mind. Ino Wood had a blaze faco and. white hind foot and hock. Those markings identified her with the dockers. But Bressler had hidden Ina’s indentity by the simply process of painting out the white marks on her head and bodv.

The dockers did notice an unmarked horse from Bressler’s barn doing daily workouts in spectacular fashion and they did try to learn who she was. But Bressler was non-communicative. And he also was clever enough not to

permit any persons other than stable connections to get a close-up of the paiuted filly. LAID GOOD ODDS. There came a day when Ina Wood’s name appeared in the entries. The bookmakers, having no report on her other than that she had worked fairly well for a few days then had bcifi to loaf in her barn, quoted very liberal odds against Ina’s chances. There was no real belting action on the horse up to the time the field paraded out of the padlock. Then, ot a sudden, came an avalanche of bets all round the ring, Dressier and his associates had timed their plunge to a nicety. They took the books unprepared and before the layers could make an appreciable cut in the odds, the Bressler crowd had wagered a fortune on Ina Wood’s chances.

The story of the race requires little telling. Ina Wood broke in front, and the farther she ran, the greater became her lead. She romped home in front—and the Bressler outfit collected something like 200,000 dollars —all because Bressler invested ten cents in a can of paint and shrouded the identity of his filly and got a huge price against he? chances.

NEWBURY CUP LONDON, June 26. The race for the Newbury Cup resulted:— Baton Rouge 1 Lauzun Keror * *Dead heat for second. Six ran. Won by six lengths. HAWKE’S BAY HUNT MEETING acceptances for to-day. HUNTERS' HURDLE RACE. (Of 125 sovs; 1% miles.)

THE GRAND NATIONALS NOMINATIONS. By Telegraph.—Special to Chronicle. CHRISTCHURCH, June 27. The following are. the Canterbury Jockey Club nominations for th* principal events at the Winter meeting:— New Zealand Grand National Hurdles, of 1500 sovs., about 2 A miles.—Merry Singer, Gamecock, Solfanello, Omahu, Vagabond, Tenterfield, Santiago, Sea De’il, Boomerday, Priitce Rufus, Peter Amans, Royal Fame, Likelihood,. Lochella, Silent King, General Advance, Maunga; Royal Star, Alteration, Tinokaha, En Route, Penury Rose, Wapping, Kohu, First; Born. Lochson, Bustler, Molyneaux, Sir Rosebery, Admiral Codrington, Crown Coin, Nukumai, Income, Ore Orc, Athens IL, Le Forte, Hyrax, San Forte, Captain Sarto, Mandrake. New Zealand Grand National Steeplechase, of 2000 sovs., 3A miles: Glenotus, Mahuru, Sturdee, Carawock. Omahu. Sea De’il, Oakleigh, Silverton, Fireblight, Mettle Drift, Galway, Pamplona, Palencia, Lochella, General Advance. Never Despair, Gang Awa’, Sansalino, Buckeye, Kohu, Dick, Bustler, Red Cent. Master Peter.. Polthogue, Luke, Tigerland, Whipcord. Sir Rosebery, San Forte, Kipling, First Line, Ore Ore, Silver Fish.

Winter Cup, of 800 sovs., one mile. —Te Kawa. Merry Singer, Bonnie Winkie, Guncase, Mountain Lion, Tussore, Dominant, Solfanello, Avonlea, Broadwood. Mountain Signal, Pavo, Pompey, ’ Sunart, Cleasanta, Ravenna, Silent King, General Advance, Tinokaha, Sycorax, Deucalion, Winning Hit, Barn Owl, Rose of Athens, Los Ambus, Star Ranger, Wapping, Lady Ben. Boadicea, Yoma, Kuhio. Wharf edale,' Wassail, Happy Warrior, Paddy’s Hope, Entre Nous, Dame Straitlace Prince Ferouz, Sprinkler, Red Wink, Lucinette,. Purple Spur, Eucador, Ihapotoa, Avispado, Barleycorn. Gluement, Santonio, Duo, Valley Rose, Master Black, Counter Attack, Stream, Kerb, Cairo. Carpentier, Rosnil, L’ Amour, Soliform, Arch Salute.

In answer to a correspondent: Slowcoach fell in the Wellington Steeplechase and came out two races later and won the Winter Hurdles.

A BIG COUP

KAAHAMANU’S SURPRISE WIN. THE HORSE THAT WAS NOT dead: (By “Early Bird.”) Some few months ago it was reported that a horse named Kaalianianu dropped dead on the Hastings track. It was a case of mistaken identity, however, as several sportsmen found out on Thursday when tins filly was made tho medium of one of the most successful coups ot recent years. Kaahamanu did not die, but there are numerous pencillers round these parts who now wish that she had. ft is not generally known that Kaahamanu is a particularly wellbred three-year-old filly by Demosthenes —Lady Celia, and therefore a full sister to the brilliant performer Gasbag. The filly had only been started a few times, and she was given another run at Hastings on Wednesday, being supported to the extent of £4O in a. hack race over nine furlongs, and being the absolute outsider in a field of a dozen. In that race Kaahamanu was last to enter the straight, but she finished with a gameness characteristic of her good breeding and was not so far behind the placed horses when they reached the post. PREPARING FOR THE KILLING. Inspired by this performance, somebody promptly set to work to make preparations to make a big coup for the morrow. Tho “somebody” may have been one ot the connections of the stable or yet again he may not. It is immaterial in ally case. Kaahamanu was engaged in the Rakawa Hack Handicap,, another nine furlong- hack event, and when the horses lined up at the barrier everything was set for the big winnings which were expected to accrue from the commissions placed with the pcncillers on the West Coast of the North Island and other centres, and doubtless the penciliers for once were caught napping.

On the totalisator there was only £9 4 invested on Kaahamanu, and those in the know who saw this must have been thrilled with the knowledge of the big killing in prospect. Exactly how much the shrewd heads set to win will never be known, but when it is stated that one penciller alone was committed to pay out over £l,OOO it may be anticipated that the amount would approximate five figures. THE COUP SUCCEEDS. “They’re off.’” shouted the crowd, all unconscious of the coup which had been planned. Going out of the straight Kaahamanu was last and then to make her position worse the filly ran out wide at the turn, and was still in the rear along the back stretch. With half a mile to go Kaahamanu put in a preliminary effort and as they swooped into the straight and made for the judge, four horses were in line and the filly was one of them. A little further on she was very much in the picture, and then, called on to go and win, she left the field, and, in sporting parlance, went on to win in a canter. The outsider had won and big money was to change hands as the result, but of this the public knew little ’or nothing. All they wanted to know was the dividend, and when they saw the figures pointing to a return of just under a score they gasped but took the setback calmly. Doubtless tho “heads” duly celebrated their victory in the best. MY BOOKIE Old Billy Fairplay is his name; His hat is white, his checks are red; And when once started at the game, His voice would raise one from the dead. His motto, writ for all to see: “Prompt payment and civility!” Frankly, he seems to like his work; Observe him with his eyes well peeled, Bellow to his perspiring “clurk” The odds of “Six-to-fourer-field!” Observe him. too, with beefy hand. Beckon us to the better land! No cook, who waits to hear the tread Of her pet p’liceman down the street, Goes so ecstatically red As he who knows the fav’rite’s beat! Or when some nippy seven-stunner Brings off a thirty-three-to-oner! His life is one of simple joys Reflected in his honest face: Scorning the tactics of “the boys.” He flees from ev’rything that’s base. In fact, when last I saw this man, He, like my fancy, “also ran!” —London Opinion.

Good Mark 10 13 Supporter 9 7 Cushat . . 9 12 Te Kahua 7 Fireblight 9 9 Ngapaenga . 9 7 Gay Bobbie . . 9 9 Kaika . . . 9 7 Silver Fish .. 9 7 APLEY HACK HURDLES. (Of 25 sovs; l J /j miles.) Molyneaux 11 3 Empyrean 9 3 Bonibrook 10 10 Crown Coin. 9 Communicate 9 9 Lady Hili . 9 0 Earthshine .. 9 7 Suspicion 9 0 Mosthenes 9 3 Landloper 9 0 HACK SCURRY. (Of 5 sovs ; 5 furlongs.) Ma<r- Beckwith 11 0 Pale Star 9 0 White Ensign 10 5 Request .. . 9 0 Sunny Roe .. 9 4 Hiwinui . . . 9 0 Merry Imp .. 9 3 Pukemohi 9 0 Treadwell 9 2 Foreign 9 0 Royal Heather 9 0 Master Black •t 0 Huikai .. 9 0 Bonlita . . 9 0 Damon .. .. 9 0 Macdhu . . . 9 0 KAWERA HANDICAP. (Of 150 sovs furlongs.) Barrier 11 5 Haurangi 9 8 Duo .. .. 10 10 Valley Rose 9 0 Civilform 10 5 Whariti .. . 9 0 Megan 9 10 March On 9 0 Happy Days 9 9 Hallowvonia 9 0 HAWKE S BAY HUNT CUP STEEPLE CHASE. (150 sovs; 2% miles.) Sturdee .. .. 12 7 Taihape .. . 9 3 Kovno .. .. 11 3 Tarakete 9 2 Gaze 10 3 Diamond Nap 9 2 Cambric . . . . 9 13 Silver Fish . 9 0 Te Opai . . .. 9 6 HORONUI HACK HANDICAP (Of 10 furlongs.) Tussore . . .. 10 12 • Master Black 9 6 Whariti .. .. 10 8 Sunny Roe . 9 2 Puketoi .. .. 10 6 Treadwell 9 0 Watchman 10 1 Kilroe . . . 9 0 Sensible . . . . 9 11 Damon 9 0 Mountain Top 9 8 Royal Heather 9 0 Velvet King.. 9 8 Foreign 9 0 SOUTRA HUNTERS’ FLAT. (Of 75 sovs; 1 mile and 1 furlong.) Good Mark .. 12 7 Ngapaenga . 10 7 Oak Rose 11 10 Fireblight 10 7 Kovno 11 2 Donnybrook . 10 7 Gay Bobbie 10 10 Te Kahua 10 Killoch 10 7 Floriform 10 7