TURF TOPICS

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Issue 1597, 2 December 1920, Page 17

TURF TOPICS

Mr. O. S. Watkins is the possessor of a yearling filly and a colt foal, both sired by Absurd from Commerce (dam of Royal Exchange). It is reported that Mr. W. G. Stead is sending twelve mares to Absurd this season, and that next year the fee of the sire named will be raised to 200 guineas.

Rose Pink, who ran third in the Ashhurst Cup last week, has a notable record in connection with this event, having been returned a winner on two occasions, and acted as runner-up to Multaine last year.

Since Mr. F. Shaw, of Wingatui, purchased Jack Symons for £l5O the son of Handsome Jack has won eight races and £1671 in stakes.

The Taranaki sprinter, Silver Link, who acted as run-ner-up to Tigritiya in the Railway Handicap at Ellerslie last Boxing Day and who claims an engagement in the corresponding race to be run at the A.R.C. meeting on the 26th inst., figured among the acceptors for the Pohangina Handicap (six furlongs) at Ashhurst last week, but was not started in that event. The daughter of Achilles —Secret Link has not raced since fulfilling her engagement in the J. D. Ormond Memorial Cup at the Hawke’s Bay Jockey Club’s autumn meeting at Hastings at the end of April last.

H. Gray only had one mount on the opening day of the Takapuna meeting, this being on Hyrax, who started favourite for the Ngataringa Handicap, in which he ran unplaced. On the second day, Gray rode in five races, and was only once out of a - dividend. He won the St. Andrew’s Handicap on Cleft, and the Pupuke Hack Handicap on Scrap o’ Paper, the former horse being favourite, and the latter second in request, while he rode Namutere into second place in the Rakino Handicap, and filled the position of runner-up to Prince Willonyx as a result of his capable horsemanship on Ohinewairua in the Welter Handicap. His other mount was Lightning, which failed to gain a place in the Cautley Handicap.

Although the Melbourne Cup winner, Poitrel, is at present enjoying a wellearned spell, it is the intention of H. J. Robinson to recommission the son of St. Alwynne about the end of the present month with - a view of having him in readiness to compete at the V.R.C. autumn meeting at Flemington.

Fingon, the full brother to Finmark, who realised 1100 guineas as a yearling brought 800 guineas at auction in Melbourne last month.

Latest news of the New Zealand horseman, L. H. Hewitt, was that he had taken his departure for West Australia for the Perth Cup meeting.

The Wolawa —La Notte two-year-old colt, Munus, ran consistently in his engagements at the Auckland and Takapuna meetings, being third in the A.R.C. Welcome Stakes, and fourth in both his starts at Takapuna. Recent form points to Munus taking a prominent part in the decision of the two-year-old events at the A.R.C. summer meeting.

The pacing gelding, Partner, who raced consistently last season, and won in stakes £1215, has left A. Fleming’s stable. Amongst the races won by the son of Petereta were the N.Z. Gold Cup of £5OO, the Otahuhu Cup of £5OO, and the Campbell Handicap of £5OO at the Auckland Trotting Club’s autumn meeting.