TURF TOPICS.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XIX, Issue 1096, 13 April 1911, Page 4

TURF TOPICS.

Aristos was very lame after working on Thursday morning, but W. Mobberley reckons the black horse will shake this off before the A.R.C. meeting.

D. Moraghan is beginning to ask Master Soult to hit out on the tracks. Th’s fine horse is not much above himself, and no trouble should be experienced in getting him ready to race.

The B’rkenhead gelding Da-wn is a regular attendant on the tracks, ’out his work would not indicate him as a winner at the approaching gathering.

There was a lot of money in Auckland for Gunboat the second day at Manawatu, but the good thing was beaten by Meroze.

Kakama has received a steady preparation for the Easter Handicap and though many good judges regard a mile beyond her, I opine that, given a dry track, Mr. McLeod’s mare will be a tough proposition to cope with. * * .* . * Frank Ross had old Pukenui on the track last week. The bay gelding looks like standing a preparation, and were he to score for Frank it would be a popular victory. * * * * A promising sort who is receiving his education from F. McManemin is a black son of Cuirassier the property of the gentleman who races under the nom de plume of “W. Lang.” He is a fine looking horse, and if he does not turn out well I shall be much mistaken. t * 9 9 ■ Rutter, a son of Cuirassier and Reproach, in T. Williams’ stable ,is not moving so attractively as was the case a couple of months ( ago, when he showed a lot of pace in his work. It is stated that the . horse is not feeding well and this is the cause - of his going off. Miss Winsome is bowling along ■ nicely again, and the .meeting bfe--1 tween our local champion and 'the Southern two-year-olds is being ■ eagerly looked forwardto. Malwa is a promising sort and he may keep Miss Winsome very busy whenever the pair meet.

Excalibur is. jumping fairly well, and the little fellow: should be amongst the contestants in the Maiden Hurdles at the meeting.

Dinkum, in J. Chaafe’s stable, knows how to negotiate the small fences, but he does not appear to stay well '

The St. Paul gelding Prophet is looking well, but shows signs of soreness. However, he hits out freely enough -when galloping and promises to 'be dangerous in hurdle events ahead. R. Percival will ride Prophet- in h’s engagements,

The Spalpeen colt . Harrigan is staying better in his. work, and one morning last week showed up atractively ip a gallop with Spectre.

J. McHugh has had First Wairiki and Blackbird down to Ellerslie occasionally- The first-named is looking nice, but Blackbird appears as slow, as ever.; ...

' Ben Jonson’s half sister Sphinx is very well and her efforts on the track suggest that she will be handy when hack events are being decided at Ellerslie.

A nice cut of a horse is Dudeen, in F. Ross’ stable.

The Seaton Delaval horse Celtic, who is now in J. Chaafe’s hands, does not improve, and he was very tired after running once round on the sand one morning last week.

Boanerges is claiming a host of admirers for the Easter Handicap in which event the brown horse will be ridden by Arthur Oliver. It is the popular opinion that but for the bit breaking Boanerges would have won the Manawatu Stakes.

Haernoa, in P. Jones’ stable, is a horse shrewd ones are waiting for, but in the writer’s opinion Haernoa is much over-rated, which backers will find out to their cost. He is a quick beginner, 'but that is all that can be said of him.

If George Absolum is taking Santa Rosa and Waimangu to Australia it will be some time before he does so, as Waimangu is still very lame

J. Conquest will have the mount on Cullinan :'n the Easter Handicap. The black horse has been shaping well in his work, but the opposition may be a little “classy” for him.

Nothing is going better at Ellerslie than the Soult mare Kakama, and with B. Deeley in the saddle she will count numerous admirers for her engagement on Saturday. If the Soult mare can only jump off with the field then she should be a tough proposition for the others to cope with.

One of the best five furlongs registered on the track, during the last few days is down to the credit of Tattoo. The son of Leolantis is very •well just now and backers should not overlook him at the meeting.

Formby’s gallop with Boanerges and Lucille on Tuesday morning was an attractive one, and the way he finished up his task suggests that he is getting his form back. There are many who thing Formby will never come. back, but unless I am much.mistaken he will ’be amongst the stakemoney th's Easter.

While being schooled over hurdles at 'Bulls the other day Belario fell and injured himself so seriously that he had to be destroyed. Belario w r as a fair -performer . and Won several races both on the flat and over the small fences/, .his most important victory. being in the Century Hurdles at' Wanganui; '. 1

Dawn is moving very scratchy in his work and the big Birkenhead gelding is not at his best.

serious loss : i other day, when Belario- came ...to -grief .while.— being -tsehoble'd ‘over-’" the " hurdlds -aV" Bti-fls,'-and was so-badly injured tp j®ecessitate destrudtio’m; -X. .k'; ’

Lord Soult, who has run disappointing! lately, is evidently, expected to do better on Easter Monday at Feilding, as some ba'ckers’are supporting him to win the Mangaone Stakes, six furlongs, in which the- old champion has ’ 8.7. .

On his form at Awapuni John should run well in the Feilding if started there, in . preference to going south for the Great. Autumn. Goodwin Park (79) is credited with having done some good work at Fordell recently, and if he is at his best on the day he will be hard to beat. The same may be said of. Kauroa (7.8, as he has run consistently well lately.’ John and Taft were taken down to Awapuni, but a second by the former was the limit of the success scored. On the first day John did not ■ -hape well in the big money, but on the second day did better, finishing second to Te Puia in the Autumn Handicap. Taft failed to reproduce his track form, but the Freedom gelding, mav do better at Feilding.

The Highden stable made an offer of £4OO prior to the Farewell Handicap at Awapuni for the St. Clements —Ora mare, MerOze, but the' offer was declined. Meroze subsequently scored in that event, as she was expected to do after a record performance on the track in the morning.

The Racing Commission was waited upon -at Awapuni on Thursday by members of the Woodlands and Wairarapa Hunt Club, who urged that when the allocation of totalisator permits was being dealt with consideration should be. given to the claims of the hunt. club race meetings. The Commissioners replied that the matter would receive their consideration. There can be no disputing the fact that hunt clubs do a lot towards bringing out a number of good jumpers, and hence they are worthy of encouraging. Even if the Commissioners are unable to allow them tote permits, all the race clubs should combine to support them financially, and thus enable them to run their annual race meetings.

The Patea Racing Club’s Easter Monday meeting gives every indication of being a most successful gathering. The recent rains have benefited the’ track- which is now 1 in first-class order, and with the good fie’ds which are practically assured, the racing should be' very interesting. Quite a number of Wanganui sports intend visiting Patea in anticipation of witnessing some capital port- The club’s secretary reports that all arrangements are well in hand, and a record attendance is expected, providing the weather is fine. The club deserves success, as it caters very liberally for owners, and has spent a lot of money in improving the course and appointments. The officials treat visitors we 1 ! and hence the meeting is always looked forward to with pleasurable anticipation. The fact that nominations for the Wanganui Jockey Club’s Winter meeting close on Friday, the 21st, should not be lost sight of by owners and trainers. The valuable stakes offered for the principal jumping events should attract horses from all parts, and aT races should fill well. This gathering is in many respects the most enjoyable of the year’s fixtures, and is always looked upon as likely to throw considerable light on the prospects of the horses engaged in the Great Northerns and other big jumping events. From aT accounts, a number of very promising young’jumpers will make ■ their appearance at the Wanganu’ meeting next month, and much interest will be taken in their performances. C. Monk, the Wanganui rider, has been engaged to steer Lady Menschikoff and Tigerine at Feilding. The latest information re John is that he will be a strater at Feilding and that he will be ridden by W. Young in the big event. He appears to be all the better for the racing at Awapuni, and should be at his very best on Easter ’ Monday. The probabilities are that either he or Goodwin Park will start favourite.