THE TURF

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 77, Issue 108, 9 May 1934, Page 5

THE TURF

WANGANUI JOCKEY CLUB

STEEPLECHASE FIXTURE TO-MORROW AND SATURDAY. BRIEF REVIEW OF CARD. (By “Kestrel.”) With tho prospect of yesterday’s boisterous weather clearing up before the Wanganui Jockey Club’s winter meeting opens to-morrow, there is every reason to view the approaching gathering with a high degree of optimism. The fields are of generous proportions and the quality is such that intending racegoers should be on good terms with themselves, for interesting racing should be provided. The opening event to-morrow is set down to start at noon, and the other events follow at intervals of forty minutes, with an extra five minutes before the principal races. The Wanganui Garrison Band will play no small part in the entertainment of the many visitors expected at the opening day, for this favQurite combination will play a programme of popular music. On Saturday the Queen Alexandra’s Own Band will be responsible for the music. The principal event to-morrow will lie the Century Hurdles, with the Grandstand Steeplechase serving as a pipe-opener for the richer Wanganui Steeplechase on Saturday. The Empire Handicap and the Winter Oats are the main events on the flat, while the hack races also have excellent fields engaged. On Saturday, in addition to the Wanganui Steeplechase, there will

bo the May Hurdles for the hurdlers, but overshadowing the other flat races is the Champion Hack I'late, for which Mr. John Donald, of the Westmere Ktud, has donated a trophy valued at 55 guineas, to go to the owner, while he has also given generous trophies for the successful trainer and jockey too.

In the Trial Hack Handicap, for which thirteen are carded, Full Throttle, Leo .Colossus, Argument, Royal Passion. High Exchange, De Trop, M(£leath, and Snowball appear to be the pick, with Leo Colossus, Full Throttle and De Trop as the likely favourites.

Eleven sprinters aro down to contest the Winter Oats, with The Tiger, last year’s winner, at the foot of the list. . Royal Hunting, View Halloo, Pomp, Good Hunting, Porotiti, Royal Bengal, Cullus and The Tiger will have pleijZf of friends, and perhaps Good Hunting, View Halloo and Pomp will make most appeal. The Grandstand Steeplechase field numbers seven, including the Egmont Steeplechase winner (Riotous), the Marton Steeples winner (Tunbridge), and the promising Manuiri and Don Erma. As the public will follow form they may prerer Riotous and Tunbridge to Don Erma. The hack distance event, the Balgownie Hack Handicap, Las attracted sixteen acceptors, including the bracketed Jayson and Red Rufus. Werohia, West Tor, Taitoru, Rust, Nightguard, Tres Sec, the bracket, Headmistress and Boon may be held to comprise the favourite division, and investors may show a preference for Rust, Werohia, and Red Rufus. A problem is presented for backers in the Century Hurdles, for which the field of seventeen includes a bracket in Make Up and Stanchion. Hounslow, Easterly, Consent, High Falutin’, Knollmere, High Grader, Invictus and Million must make considerable appeal to backers, and t’xe thre favoured, may be High. Falutin’ Millon and Invictus. The fourteen remaining in the Empire Handicap are a useful lot of middle-distance performers, with the main division comprising Spiral, Copper King, Ida Merling, Ruri, Senegal, Lack, Stitch and Chopin. Of these Spiral, Ida Merling and Ruri may do best. The hack sprint, with which the clay’s racing will conclude, is another puzzle, for there are seventeen engaged and more than half must be given good chances. Pladie, Arena, Gay Seton, Moatoa, Merry Way, Colenso, Illuminate, Cawbeen, Moneygran and Grumpy do not exhaust the possibles, but in selecting Arena, Moatoa and Moneygran backers may not be far astray. THE WANGANUI RACES FLEA TROM “OUTSIDE” PATRONS The following letter from a correspondent who is content to call himself “Hill-ite” speaks for itself: — “I notice that your racing writer has put in a pica for the ‘outside’ patrons at tho Wanganui races, and suggests that one shilling should be charged for admission. Well, 1 have patronised the ‘hill’ in Jackson | Street for throe years now just because the wife and I can’t afford to pay two shillings each to go to the races. Now that we have a few shillings to spare the wife objects to paying the money io go in and wants me to stay home and dig the garden. She is such a ter-. -or for a bargain sale that if the club reduced the price to one shilling we’d both be there on Thursday and Satur-

ON WANGANUI TRACKS TRAINING PREPARATIONS YESTERDAY’S OPERATIONS {By “Kestrel”) Boisterous weather conditions ruled lor yesterday’s training operations, heavy rain overnight being succeeded by cold weather with occasional showers and a biting southerly which made matters unpleasant for track-watchers and trainers alike. Thc rain had not materially affected the trade, however, the wind soon drying up the ground, with the result that the going was as fast as could be expected. limes on number uiie tiack in some instances were exceptionally good when it is considered tiiat the horses ran into thc teeth of the wind over the initial stages of seven-furlong and six-furlong efforts. Nothing strenuous was exacted of Grand Joy, who spurted over the last half-mile of a circuit but did not better 52secs. Pomp (W. Rayner), dashed over five furlongs in pleasing style and registered 03 l-o for the full distance, the last quarter taking 26sees. As he was alone it was a good effort. Two Trial Handicap candidates in Alcides and Indefinite were associated in a bount over six furlongs, being clocked to run tho last five in 63 3-5 secs., the full distance taking them Imin. 18 3-ssecs. The first-named was | definitely the better of the pair. With a lightweight in the saddle Rust was the barest margin in front of Spiral at thc conclusion of a brush over seven furlongs after having trotted round once. They took Imin. 32 4-ssccs. for the distance, after running thc first quarter in 26 3-ssecs., half in 52 4-ssecs. and five furlongs in 66secs. Both were doing it’ nicely at the post. A very smart effort was that for which Grumpy and Cawbeen were responsible, the pair traversing four furlongs in a tick under 49secs. The first two furlongs took them 24 3-ssecs. There was not much between them at the finish.

Etiquette was sent three e furlongs, but her effort was spoiled by her collision with thc rail skirting the outside of the track. She was clocked to cover the three furlongs in 38 4-ssecs., which was only a moderate effort for a filly whose pace has been considered exceptional.

Tres Sec and Lady Cheval were associated in a four-furlong effort, but much of its value was lost when Lady Cheval attempted to jump the crossing at the straight entrance and eventually finished a dozen lengths behind her companion, who registered 50 3-ssecs.

for the journey after they had covered the first two furlongs in 24 4-ssecs. Cullus, by himself, slipped over four furlongs in 49 l-ssecs., the last three taking 36 3-ssees. He looks very weU and the turning course should suit him. Royal Bengal was sent over five furlongs, taking a shade over 64secs., but he was doing it nicely.

Six furlongs in Imin. 20sccs. by Tea Garden and solid pacewoik by Royal Hunting, Bon Aryan, High Grader, Million, Manuiri, Arauline, Hounslow, Royal Limond and De Trop completed the useful work done, while Knollmere left six furlongs behind in a shade under Imin. 18secs., wide out most of thc way. Tunbridge was scut over the double brush in front of the stands and the first steeplechase obstacle, a brush fence, at the seven furlongs, shaping well and doing his job without noticeable effort, though he appeared to get in rather close to his fences. Brown Abbey was slipped over five flights of hurdles in order to accustom him to thc battens after his steeplechasing essays at Hawera. The Mata-inata-trained gelding did not appreciate the task on his own, but little fault could be found with his display save that he rapped a couple of flights lightly. Thc only defection so far at the meeting is Saltpot, 12.35 for the Empire Handicap. MANAWATU RACING CLUB SIRES’ PRODUCE STAKE'S The Manawatu Racing Club has circulated particulars of the Manawatu Sires’ Produce Stakes for J 935 and 1936. Nominations of sires for the 1935 race have already been taken, and now the entries of the yearlings by these sires have to bo made next month, while at thc same time (June 8) sires have to be nominated for the 1930 contest, | There is one interesting feature about the conditions for the Manawatu Sires’ Produce Stakes during the next two seasons, and that is that the distance remains at seven furlongs. This is the longest race for two-'car-olds in the Dominion. The Great northern j Champagne Stakes at Ellerslie has expended to seven furlongs since 1930, I but poor fields in thc last couple of contests has caused the Auckland Racing Club to reduce the distance for future races to six furlongs.

MARTON JOCKEY CLUB

NOMINATION OF OFFICERS The following nominations have been received by the Marton Jockey Club as officers of the club: Patron, Mr R. E. Beckett and Dr. S. Skerman; president, Mr 11. J. McManaway; vicepresidents, Messrs J. R. L. Stanford, James Bull, S. J. Gibbons and F. R. 11. Brice; honorary treasurer, Mr J. Brice; committeemen, Messrs Lloyd Hammond, S. R. Hammond, W. R. Duncan, H. T. Whale, J. Quirk, and 11. S. C. Morrison. The annual meeting of the club will be held in the Jo«ckev Club’s rooms on Tuesday, May 22, at 7.30 p.m. CANTERBURY JOCKEY CLUB INCREASES IN STAKES . MORE FOB CLASSIC EVENTS [ Per Press Association. ] CHRISTCHURCH, May 8. Thc Canterbury Jockey Club at the monthly meeting to-day decided on several increases in stakes for thc November meeting. Stakes have been increased by £195 on the first day, £.130 on the second day and £lB5 on the third day. The Winter Cup lias been increased by £lOO. The club has also decided, in view of the decision of the Auckland committee to change the dates of the spring meeting to October, thus avoiding a clash with the Riccarton meeting in November, to make increases in thc stakes for this year in the classic races- Tho New Zealand Derby is increased from £BOO to £lOOO, thc New Zealand Oaks from £4OO to £5OO, and the Welcome Stakes from £5OO to £6OO.