TOPICS OF THE TURE

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Volume 59, Issue 50, 31 March 1930, Page 3

TOPICS OF THE TURE

(By "The Squire.")

jqrriNas day by day.

Owners and trainers will do well to hear in mind that nominations for all events in connection with the Autumn fixture of the Waipukurau Jockey Club to be held on Easter Monday, close with the secretary at Waipukurau at eight o'clock to-night. Those who wish to use the wires to carry out their instructions will note the itelegraph office at Waipukurau remains open until 8 p.m. sj: * * Despite the spell of dry weather which has been so strongly in evidence for many weeks past, the tracks on the country club's course are in tip-top condition, with a good covering of grass on the racing path, while the plough was never as good as it is at the present time, the univerfeal opinion of trainers who are using it being _ to the effect that it could not possibly be improved upon. ^ * H. Goldfinch, whose condition at one time was of a very serious nature, has turned the favourable corner, as he has been able to leave the hospital in Auckland, where he had been located for some considerable time, and is now at his own home. It is anticipated that a good. whiie will elapse ere he will be able to follow his calling. At tlie time of his accident Goldfinch was on the top of the poll of the successful jockey s for the season in the Dominion with 46 wins. The position is now held by Hector Gray with 48 successful mounts.- * * * The injury that prevented Chrysology putting in an appearauce to contest the Sires Produce Stakes at the Manawatu Meeting last week, is yielding to rest and treatment, and it is anticfpated that he will be able to fulfil his engagements in the Great Northern Champagne Stakes at Ellerslie next month. His owuer-breeder, Mr T. H. Lowry, has been very successful in the event, as he has supplied the winner of the race upon seven occasions, Downfall, Soltano. Tete^a-Tete, Bjorneborg, Finmark, Nigger Minstrel and Gascony having won for him. He holds pride of place as being tbe most successful owner represented in the race. * * * The only other local-owned equine who Iias made payment for the event is Jenny Diver, whose owner-breeder, Mr J. S. McLeod, has yet to see his colours borne with success. ❖ * * • The excellent performance of Toxeuma in the Manawatu Stakes last week gives rise to the presumption that he will be well in demand at Hastings next week, in the J. D. Ormond Memorial Gold Cup, an event that he finished third in last season, when Silver Paper and Reremoana filled first and second places respectively. He was then mulcted in a ten pounds penalty. Next week he will bave to put up a seven pounds penalty, bringing his impost up to 9st. 71b. ❖ * * Amongst those handicapped for the Nursery Handicap, to 'be run on the first day of the Autumn venture of the Hawke's Bay Jockey Club, is Courtesy, the full-sister to Honour (Limond — Homage) that Mr T. H. Lowry purchased for 1500 guineas as a yearliug. « * * A trio of new beginners at the lepping business, in _ King's Jest, Tiega and Zippor, are in the one, two and three places respectively in the ' handicap for the Mangatarata Huvdles, to be competed for on the first day of the Autumn gathering of the Hawke's Bay Jockey Club. * * * For a novice King's Jest has shown good form, as he finished second in each of his essays at Napier Park, and altliough he has got 11 stone standing against his name he has proved of such good class on the flat, in addition to which he has shown that_ he only requires more public practice to make him proficient at the obstacle paa*t of the sport, that he will be a difficult proposition to overcome. * * * That the dispenser of avoidupois was not eutranced with the opportunities of nearly half of those nominated can be gathered from the fact that nine of them figure on the minimum line. * * * Of the nine handicapped for the Hawke's Bay Cup only one of them, in High Court, was amongst the runners. in the race last season, Mr White' s gelding then carrying seven stone. In the present instance he has got 7st. 101b., The Hawk heading the poundage of adjustment with nine stone. If it were possible to produce the much travelled, much-raced son of Martian and Sparrowliawk in anything lik© his old form, with the going to his liking, it would not be a race. It is apparent that The Hawk has not entirely lost his pace and determination, for he won the Taranaki Cup, run over the same distance as the Hawke's Bay Cup, 1£ miles, as only a good horse could. / i % * * He. certainly only had a feather weight to carry, 7st. 51b., but the field he silenced was of much stronger calibre than will be pitted against him at Hastings, in addition to which the competitors will not be numerically strong, an advantage to a contestant who has a good load to carry. * * * As an eight-year-old, Rapine won the event with lOst. 71b., which proved tliat a good horse with a J>ig load on boaid was capable of scoring, and no one can deny that The Hawk has assuredly demonstrated that he was a good one. His essay in the Taranaki Cup also bears out the contention that his days of usefulness have not yet deuarted.