TURF TOPICS.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XIX, Issue 1104, 8 June 1911, Page 7

TURF TOPICS.

Auckland will not have over three months’ spell from racing, the next gathering being that of the Avondale Jockey Club, which takes place in September. * « * • Paisano in his two starts just ran as well, as many expected him to on the light preparation for which he had been responsible. In the Northern Hurdles he came down at the third fence, while in the Remuera Hurdles he was never a winner at any part of the contest. * * * * The victory of Hautapu in the big steeplechase at the A.J.C- meeting came as a surprise to Aucklanders who were of opinion that the little son of Mitiora had had his day. 9 • w H. Gray rode two winners at the Otaki meeting, the Taranaki rider scoring on Gninboat and Gay Lawless. • •99 On Tuesday Santa Rosa was responsible for a great half mile, the son of Soult breaking 50sec. for the journey. On the same morning Jack Delaval sprinted three furlongs in 37 secs., going nicely at the end. * * * * C. Brown, the local horseman is thinking of taking a trip to the “other side” shortly. • * * 9 Reumac was only started once at the meeting when he “finished fourth in the Great .Northern Hurdles. He is a nice cut of a hurdler and over a two mile course should be worth watching. * * * *

It is simply wonderful how Turbine comes up now and again and pays a big price. Everyone knows of his great pace, and yet when engaged in a race of six or seven furlongs, he is generally neglected on the machine It is on these occasions that Turbine makes Mr Morse’s handicapping look small. * • « • With an Auckland rider on Corazon, there would have been just a chance of him being defeated in the Great Northern. A local horseman, knowing that Antarctic had not done much ■work, may have let him. steal a march and expected him to come back, and then wake up and find that he had left his run on Corazon too lat®. * * * * The running of Antarctic in the Great Northern Steeplechase without doubt proves him to be one of the best ’chasers seen in the Dominion for some time. With but a couple of exceptions the only work he did on the tracks was to trot a couple of times round on the sand. * * * During the three days at Ellerslie, only two actual first favourites, Whakaweira (G.N. Hurdles), and Antarctic (Winter Steeplechase) were successful. 9 9 9 0 Mr. Catherall, owner of Whakaweira, purchased the son of Pilgrim’s Progress for the small sum of 22 guineas. From this it will be inferred that the horse has proved a profitable investment to his present owner. * * * » By riding two winners at Otaki and one at Ellerslie yesterday H. Gray is now only one win behind Whittaker in the winning jockeys’ list. * * * * Backers report a bad puting for them at Ellerslie the last day. This is not to be wondered at when St. Amans, {Pleiades, John and Smilax each won a race. On their previous running it was hard to see how they were going to win. H. Gray was riding yesterday and succeeded in piloting Wauchope to victory. * * • * The running of John in the Campbell Hurdles was in marked contrast to his previous days’ displays. J. Chaafe has taken Prophet in hand again, and all going well this fine hurdler should be among the runners before long. • * 9 9 The much discussed, The Native failed badly at the meeting. He only started twice and failed to gain a place. 9 9 * ♦ F. Flynn who got hurt while schooling Red McGregor was extremely unfortunate as had he notmet with the accident he would haveridden ‘both the Northern winners.

Red McGregor ran such a poor race in the Winter Steeplechase that his chance in the Great Northern, had he stood up, must have been a "very small one. * * * * In each of his two starts over the big country at Ellerslie little Sol came to grief, and, strange to say, that it was the second fence each time which brought about his downfall. * * 99 Old Kremlin pulled u pvery groggy after running in the hurdles on the second day and he will be treated to a spell. * * * * Gunboat, the winner of the Raukawa Cup, has been running very consistently lately. Cowan (Okaihau and Delegate). Coleman (Smilax and John) and Mr. Hirst (Lloyds and Winiata) each rode two winners at the Northern meeting, while each of the following horsemen rode one winner: —R. E. Brown (Goodwin Sands), MrFlynn (Kremlin), Pritchard (Whakaweira), M. Ryan (Sea Elf), Mr H. Dingle (Golborne), S. Brown (Wauchope), T. Howard (Miss Explosion), Whittaker (Sphinx), Hercock (Corazon), H. Gray (Wauchope), Buchanan (Turbine), W. Young (Spectre), F. Lind (Pleiades). Scott (Antarctic), and C. Brown (St. Amans).