THE TURF

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 19767, 15 February 1927, Page 4

THE TURF

NOTES AND COMMENTS (By “Early Bird.”) The first of the visiting horses for the local meeting on Thursday and Saturday arrived last night. The track work this morning and to-morrow should be interesting. Among the horses that arrived yes- • terday were Shirley. Rascal, King’s Folly, Rapine, Decoy Bird. First Acre, i Bonhomme, Ardath and Little River. j Ngata, Vast Acre, and Bissac are due ' to arrive this afternoon from Bulls. Silver Tray was scratched yesterday • afternoon for the Petre Hack. Hie sympathy of sportsmen will be extended to Mr W. Russell, judge for the Wanganui Jockey Club, in the bereavement he has sustained by the loss of his mother. For the half-year’s racing to January 31 the statistician of the •Referee” has computed that Absurd (£12,709), Solferino (£12.336), and Paper Money (£11,244) are at the head of the winning sires’ list. En Route was reserved for the second day of the Dunedin Jockey Club’s meeting, but he broke down during training operations on Friday (writes * * Mascot”) and had to be withdrawn from his engagement. The Kilbroney-Black Ada. filly, Piuthair, is more than paying her way this season as the three wins, a second and i a third to her credit have returned her ■ owner. Mr R. A. McKenzie, of Palmer- i ston North, £2130. The absence of Centrepiece from the | Dunedin Handicap on Saturday was ' caused by soreness. He advertised his I affliction after the Dunedin Cup, and so it was decided to allow him to for- I feit the remainder of his Wingatui en- • gagements. Melissa’s performance at New Ply- } mouth on Thursday was enhanced by ■ the fart that only with difficulty was she held on the small course. She was j trying to run out all the way round the bend, but once into the short straight she galloped smoothly, and scored attractively. She had three sec- ! ond placings. and one win in four i starts. According to report, the Wellington | owner, Mr W. J. Jorgensen, owner of ; the Auckland Cup winner Tanadees, is retiring from the ranks of owners, and all his horses will be sold. At present his trainer, J. McLaughlin, is on holidays in New’ Plymouth. Mr Jorgensen's retirement is due to his intention :o make an extended trip to Europe. At the Taranaki meeting J. Barry ind T. Green each rode three winners, McDonald, R. Reed and B. H. Morris tv.>. • ach, and L. George, W. S. Bagby, T. Bound and T. Tito one each. ; E. George was the most successful • trainer, leading in three winners. H. I Brough, O. Cox and L. each led : in two, and C. Jackson. T. Lloyd, J. j Brown, W. Pine, J. M. Cameron. F J. Uarmont and R. Johnson one each. Balboa (who was formerly owned by Mr T. H. Lowry», one of the most neglected yet proved tyres in the Dominion. was sold last week to go to South Australia. Balboa, himself a first-class racehorse and a Derby winner, did not get many chances to distingunsh himself as a sire. Yet he left Baldowa, Laugh ting Eyes and Queen Balboa, three horses that proved they could go fast and carry weight. Valicare’s brother, the record-priced Avant Courier, is working nicely at j Epsom (Vic.). He hhs thickened out ' a good deal, and is now a very hand- ' some colt. In the spring the youngster ' contracted shin soreness, and was j thrown out of work after running in | the Breeders’ Plate. Another costly colt at the same course is Farrago, brother to the brilliant New Zealander, ' Thespian. Farrago was in Sydney in j the spring, but did not race, and he has not yet made his debut. He belongs to the V.R.C. 'chairman. Mr L. K. S. MacKinnon, who paid 2500gns for hii» as a yearling. A third interesting colt at Epsom is Eurythmos, who is said much to resemble his sire, Eurythmic, and shows a lot of pace. Shortly after John Wyse (imp.) had been put in work, his owner, Mr J. O’Dea, was disgusted to discover that he was a bleeder, comments a Sydney scribe. The imported gelding is a great galloper in private, and for that reason alone, Mr O’Dea is persevering with him. After John Wyse bled the first time here, he was eased up for a few weeks, and then raced, and pulled up. The gelding lost so much blood that he could scarely walk from the track. Mr O’Dea then consulted a veterinary surgeon, who informed him that he had pust received a new treatment for bleeding. The owner decided to allow John Wyse to be treated. An injection is made in the gelding’s tongue at intervals. The cost is £1 a time, and as John Yyse has been treated 16 times, the experiment is proving costly. That, however, is not worrying his owner. John Wyse has not galloped more than a couple of furlongs recently, but is to be tried out nevt week. It will be interesting to see if the new treatment proves successful. The following account of the race for the Rotorua Cup is taken from the Auckland “Star”: New Moon, Royal Form, Hangawera. and Thursby were the scratchings for the Cup, leaving a field of eight. Spoony carried about a “fiver” more than Miss Verd, while Dayguard was next in request. Charlady and Miss Vera were first to show out, but Ring the Bell soon ran to the :ront with Dayguard, Miss Vera, Wenlay, Charlady, Lord Star, Spoony, and xamehameha next. So they raced past lie stands. Along the back there was ittle alteration, except that Wenday lad run up third, and Spoony was improving his position. Ring the Bell, . Dayguard, and Wenday were practically on terms as they crossed the top, with Miss Vera and Charlady together next, followed by Spoony and Kamehameha, while Lord Star was last. Wenday turned for home just in front of f Ring the Bell, Dayguard and Spoony. The last-named had Wenday’s measure at the distance. Fifty yards from home Miss Vera and. Lord Star came on the scene. A great finish saw Miss Vera win by a head from Lord Star, who beat Spoony by a similar distance. Wenday, Charlady, Dayguard, Kamehameha, and Ring the Bell followed as ’ named. Charlady did not g>et too good

| a passage, and was knocked back at j the entrance to the straight just when making her run. Dayguard found the early pace too hot for him to allow him to stay on at the finish. Wenday ran a good race, while Lord Star surprised with the great run he put in at the finish. He was last three furlongs from home, and was only beaten by a narrow margin.

While racegoers generally may smile indulgently at the enthusiasm of the Moorefield ladies who, after Cave Dweller’s runaway win, exclaimed,

‘•Now bring your Valicares! ” it is extremely doubtful whether the limit of i the Peter the Hermit gelding has yet j been discovered (writes “Poisedon” lin the Sydney “Sun”). He has been I an exceedingly payable proposition to the Moore brothers, who have won | £2502 in stakes with him, is easily i the best performer got by his disappointing sire, and is now at the top of his form. Cave Dweller is evidently one of the treasures that in their races run up to trials, as when he has been in the market he has seldom been out of the money, with a record of 10 wins, four seconds, and five thirds and his feat of winning four consecutive handicaps is one seldom seen. Many of his best races have been at Moorefield, where he is trained, and clearly he knows a very twist and turn of the rather tricky Kogarah course. His trainer, R. W. Mackinnon, who places his horses shrewdly, has after many experiments apparently satisfied himself that Cave Dweller’s metier is middle distance racing, as he 1 has just failed more than once in |“f]ving” company. Seeing that he j runs out a mile so stoutly, it would be • interesting to see the gelding tried in I the weak mile and a quarter fields of ; the moment. Another comparatively ; recent discovery that Mackinnon has i made about Cave Dweller is that he ; does best on a light preparation. The i gelding had had only one rousing gai--1 Top between his win in the Gold Cup ! on January 8 and his race last Satur- ■ dav week.

ROTORUA CONCLUDES PELHAM AND HEISLER WIN. [ Per Press Association. ] ROTORUA, Feb. 14. The weather was fine for the concluding day of the Rotorua meeting and the attendance good. The totalisator handled £17.571, showing a decrease of £2602 on the meeting. Results: — Tarawera High Weight.—2 Rangatahi 1. 1 Hangawera 2, 4 Kamehameha 3. All started; three-qf triers of a length; length. Time, 1.45. Electric Handicap. —1 Alonsoa 1, 8 Rene Maunga 2, 3 Daytaro 3. All I started. Short neck; length. Time, ’ 1.16 2-5.

j Firing Handicap.—2 Heisler 1, 1 ■ Archeen 2, 4 lllingar 3. Also: Quini ette. Three-quarters of a length; length. Time, 1.4 3-5. President’s Handicap. —1 Pelham 1, 3 Charladv 2, 6 Wenday 3. Also: Day Guard, Spoony, Tall Timber. Half a length each way. Time, 1.42. Rennie Hack. —1 Branson 1, 3 Some Lady 2,2 Valkon 3. Also: Capt. Cobham. Rangeawaho. Head; neck. Time, 1.15.

Ohinemutu Hark Cup.—3 Rarangi 1,2 Air Queen 2. 6 Star Comet 3. Also: lllingar, Ngarare. Alonsoa, Lord Guy, Abbey pay, Ballachulish, Lady Centra, Queen Rewa. Length; half a length. Time, 1.32.

Borough Handicap. —3 York Abbey 1. 4 Dobbin 2, 5 Value 3. Also: 1 Serang, 2 Bright Comet. Short neck; length. Time. 1.15 1-5.

Farewell Handicap.—7 Author 1, 6 Gold Fern 2, 2 Miss Egypt 3. Also: Ring the Bell, Ring Potoa, U rail a, Haerera, Nucleus. Head; neck. Time, 1.31

WOODVILLE MEETING ENTRIES FOR FIRST DAY Oringi Hack Hurdles Handicap (hack), of 130 so vs.; 14 miles. —Matu, Sir Wai, Kalakaua, Anchor, Vexatious, Polyastra, Empire Camp, San Pedro, Borealis. Axle, Calluna, Peneus. Son o’ Mine, John Nod, Archon, Cracker Day. Maiden Stakes of 100 soxs.; six furlongs.—Mandarine, Desert King, Kilmoylor. Arrow Boy, Gordon Swift, Dream Girl, Wailong, Mister Gamp, Lucre, A.halama, Dreamy, Kindle. Grey Lady, Greengrocer, Sweet Chimes, Galan, Kalos. Merry Sarto, Roburant, Eloquent, Waicullus, Limosa. Woodville Cup Handicap, of 350 sovs.; 11 miles.—Opa, Tiega, Mimetic, Nukumai, Magna Charter, Perle de Leon, Vertigern, Merry Day, Hipo, Novar, Thunderclap. County Handicap (hack), of 125 sovs.; six furlongs.—Jemidar, Avazone, Loveband, Lin Arlington, Kilmezzo, Coot, Moepat, Break o’ Day, Aston, Roscnor, Polonaise, Hypnotic, Royal Time, Nastori, Jazz Baby, Some Lad, Royal Land, Ladv Cynthia.

Ruahine Handicap, of 200 sovs.; six furlongs. —Zarisee, Plain Sailing, Papaponga, Decoy Bird, Black Mint, Mireusonta. Jazz Baby. Lady Ideal, Wilderness, Egyptian Flower, Horoniea. Sapling Stakes Handicap, of 130 Sovs.; five furlongs.—Wild Pigeon, Ar-rowsmith-Taipairu gelding, Hygrade, Vigilance, Royal Lineage, King Quex, Marsurd, Cavity. Brampton, King Midas, Moabird, Miss Trillion, Shrewd, Lansdowne, Mori, Panther, Callanmorc, Duck’s Egg, Euratum, Great Charter, Blue Mist, Arrow Lad.

President’s Handicap, of 150 sovs.; seven furlongs.—Beaumont, Vesperus, Gardant, Vivo, Blonde, Decoy Bird, Coot, Willow Wai, Peneus, Wilderness, Horomea, Star Area, Killocra, Buoyant, Wristlet, Starboard Light, Penman, Modern Tongatotoa, Royal Diadem, Benmure. Everest, Morose.

Victoria Hack Handicap, of 130 sovs.; 1 mile and a distance.—Elicit, Loveband, No Favours. Queen’s Choice, Elvaette, Conviction, Sottana, Radiate, Archon, Sunlike, Twink, Inoe, Kilburn, San Pedro, Capitulation, Onward, Vertigern Fiery Comet, Colarina.

THE ENGLISH SEASON THE LINCOLNSHIRE. We shall soon know something definite about the “Lincoln” and other of the important spring handicaps, (writes “Centaur,” our racing correspondent from London on December 3b), but, meanwhile, enterprising list layers are quoting odds against what may be regarded as an intelligent anticipation oi probable entries. And though, of course, some of these will be missing, it is conceivable that a fairly accurate guess has been made. It is probable, for example, that several of the Cambridgeshire competitors of last October will be found among the nominations, and there are a number of these in the lists. They include the. leading trio —Insight 11, Bulger, aqd Asterus, and the last-named hids the position of nominial favourite. Why the honour should have been conferred on the French colt it is not altogeth<j)F easy to fathom, unless it is that the successes of Sir Gallahad 111 and Tapin in consecutive years have prompted the layers to decide that no risks must be taken with Gallic candidates that have a touch of class about them, which virtue can assuredly be claimed for the Cambridgeshire third. The Handicapper’s Task. At the same time the handicapper for the Lincoln should have no difficulty in estimating the merirs of this son of Teddy. It may be argued that in the years in which Sir Gallahad land Tapin registered their wins the handicapper was to some extent caught napping. But in the case of Asterus there is the Newmarket form to furnish a line. Where the other two winners above 'nhmed were concerned the official compiler of the weights had in the main to base his calculations on what the ,(French “book” revealed, and it may be that the value of the French fotm was under-estimated. Asterus, however, is entitled to the highest respect on the strength of his remlarkably good showing in the Cambridgeshire, while a glance at his record in his native land discloses other excellent achievements.

There was a triumph in the race equivalent to the English Two Thousund Guineas, wherein he defetated a field that included Highborn 11, then unknown on this side of the Channel, but who has since made a big name among us. Asterus was fourth in the French Derby, which, like that at Epsom, is run over a mile-tand-a-half. He did not distinguish himself in the Grand Prix, but in the late summer ran the older Ptolemy II to a length in the principal event at Ostend, the distance of which was eleven furlongs. If the Lincoln handicapper is called upon to deal with Asterus, he is not likely to be unmindful of this evidence of excellence. Some Others. Insight II feilso figures at a relatively short price on most of the lists. This is just the- sort of horse that many would have hit upon as a likely one for the Carholme, even if he had not won the Cambridgeshire. Indeed, at this time last year he was a big tip for the race, but he was never entered. Now, of course, he will automatically advance in the scale as the result of his -amazing win last October. The nomination of Nothing Venture seems to be generally anticipated. This was the only three-year-old to compete in the Lincoln last March, and, in spite of the prejudice against runners of this age for the race under notice, he was backed down to second favouritism. Moreover, the colt acquitted himself with credit, even if he failed to qualify for any of the prizes. A wonderful consistent animal is the son of Prince Gallahad. He was the hardest-worked two-year-old; he began his three-year-old dareer with the Lincoln; and went on without a break practically throughout the season, finishing up with a series of praiseworthy victories.

Horse To Be Followed. Doubtless he will again come to hand early, tand he is essentially a horse to be followed, whether it happens that a Lincoln is to be included in his programme or not. The layers do not seem quite sure what to make of Delius. In some cases the price quoted against him is only a matter of <a few points above that obtainable against Asterus. In others nearly double these odds are procurable. Delius wtis one of the contestants in the Cambridgeshire already referred to, and his failure was almost as astounding as Was the succefl? of Insight IL On his form in a pretty searching trial at home he was made out t% be one of the handicap “good things” of the year, but he could get no nelarcr than fourth, a position he likewise filled when backed to recover the losses in the Liverpool Cup, when Elliott had the mount instead of the capable but lighter Caldwell. A good deal is likely to be again heard of Delius during the coming selason, and we may not have to wait very long before it is made evident that his real-*self was not revealed last autumn. Unlucky Purple Shade. Ainothcr even better-known horse than Delius that is regarded as a probable for the Lincoln is Purple Shade, and in this instance also a diversity of opinion exists as to what constitutes a reasonable price. Purple Shade is, like Nothing Venture, a model of consistency, though whereas the one has numerous successes to his credit, the other has invariably to put up with second or third position. Time and time again Purple .Shade has been narrowly beaten in first-cllass handicaps. Some at least he should have won with a wee bit of luck on his side. He is now rising six years of age, and his prospects of gaining renown ht his time of life are far from rosy.