OLD SURREY’S RECORD.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVII, Issue 203, 28 July 1937, Page 6

OLD SURREY’S RECORD.

BUSY RACING SEASON. I FOUR FIRST PLACINGS. | {By> “Spectator.”) j Bred by his owner, Mr L. 11. Collinson, the popular Palmerston North sportsman, Old Surrey, who scored in the sevenfurlong hack event at Marton on Saturday, lias had 21 starts this season for four firsts, five seconds and four thirds. The Hunting Song—Martulla gelding who, like most others by the same sire, is partial to soft going, has been consistency itself, but at times has had an exasperating run of minor placings. A bold galloper, he is an excellent track worker, and stays on at the finish. He has won £325 in stakes from his first placings this season, besides additional amounts from his nine minor placings. so that lie has paid his way. His connections are as yet- undecided whether Old Surrey will fulfil his Winter Cup engagement at Riccarton in August. Wins by Old Surrey have been registered in ihe Junction Handicap at the Marton meeting on January 2; a sevenfurlong hack event at Woodvillc on I ebruary 2; over the same distance at the Rangilikci Racing Club’s meeting on March 6; and at Marton on Saturday, lie was galloped on at Manawatu Racing Club’s meeting in April and, after a spell, ran unplaced at the Manawatu winter meeting, following up this with two good seconds at the W ellington meeting before racing at Marton. Olcl Surrey, who promises to win many more races, is a very honest galloper, his dam, that good mare Martulla, having won £2500 in slakes for Messrs Collinson and J. Walker, after being acquired as a yearling. Martulla was by the New Zealand Cup winner Tortulla, by lorpedo from Honeysuckle. Dawning Light Surprises. Dawning Bight, who showed bril.iancc early in her career, but who has been subject to periodical recurrences of bleeding trouble, slipped away from the field at the five furlongs and atempted to steal the honours in the Closeburn Huck Handicap at Marton, but was beaten a length by Old Surrey, one of the most solid hacks of his age. Dawning Light was bcing given her last chance after a series and, in consequence of her performance, may not be going to the stud for some time yet. (fratefui Sent Home.

Grateful, who was trailed at 'lakanint for some months, did not prove successful and lie has been returned homo. He did not appear to relish the heavy going. He has had quite a number ot changes of stables, and for many months has nof been able to reproduce the form with which last season he showed indications of developing into a first-class handicap horse. r lhat season, his first on the turf, the Raceful gelding had 15 starts for six wins (including the Prince of Wales Handicap ai Avvapuni), three seconds, and a third.

Improvement in Middle. The Centrepiece gelding Middle, winner of tho Otairi Ladies’ Bracelet at Marton, is a greatly improved horse since being taken over by Mr I. Iliggic, of Okoia. Ilirangi, half-brother to Pango, and from L. Knapp’s stable at Awapuni, looked a winner a furlong from home, but was cut down by Middle in the last few strides. Dollar Bill Destroyed.

Tho Paper Money gelding, Dollar Bill, which was recently turned out for a spell, suffered injuries while running in a pad dock, and it was found necessary to de, stroy him. Dollar Bill, while a member of J. S. Shaw’s team at Riccarton, showoO some smart sprint form, but he had done nothing of noto for some time.

Speedy May Song. The race she had at tho Opotiki meet ing at Tauranga last month has pro\eJ beneficial to May Song, who won tho Ilangitane Plato at the Manawatu winter meeting last year by six lengths from Aube, and sbo may be seen to better advantage at Gisborne than was the case at Tauranga. Sho has become rather skittish on the tracks of late, but slio invariably behaves herself on race day. She will probably have the services of J, Winder in her Gisborne engagements. Waikari Jumps Badly.

Waikari, a -winner at Waimate, ano usually a good fencer, jumped badly throughout the Pareora Steeplechase at Washdyke on Saturday, and was a long way in the rear with half a mile to go. His rider, Mr H. 11. Elworthy, who had several narrow escapes over tho first circuit, kept his mount up to his task, but the gelding fell two fences from home, and Mr Elworthy had a nasty fall.

Lady Hoariri, Lady Iloariri, winner of tho maiden event at Marton, two years ago gave some promise in filling minor placings. She is a five-year-old daughter of Taneriti’s brother Iloariri, a useful sprinter himself a docado back, and she is owned and trained by Mr M. G. Podjursky, of Wanganui. Lady Iloariri was taken to the front within half a furlong and she stayed there. Ilalf-way clown the stiaight it looked as if the favourite would catch her, blit she refused to yield and was going as well as her challenger, though only a neck in front at the post. A Proficient Fencer.

Shillelagh Wood, who created such a good impression at Washdyke, is an aged mare by Woodcnd from Direct Hit, a Longbeach-bied mare by Flectliam irom Lucky Shot, by Calibre lrom Tupuwai, by Seaton Delaval. She is a smart jumper, and when she landed ovor t lie last fence in front of Black Banner in the Tcschemaker Memorial Hunt Cup her prospects looked bright, but her rider, V. Langford, lost hia whip earlier in tho race and was unable to got tho* most out of his mount. On the other hand Black Bannor finished very solidly and would probably hu\e proved successful in any case. Horses at Hawera. Friesland ha? rejoined the active brigade at llawera after his spell looking in splendid health and displaying his old lightbeartednoss at exercise. Ho has not been allowed to get gloss and should come to hand as soon as required. Naughty Marietta, looking well, has rejoined R. Brough’s team O. Cox’s rising two-yeur-olds, Lickom and Ruling Star, are Doing sent along more solidly, and Licketn in particular will be ready at short nocico. River Feale, the half-sister to Colleen Gain

by Tidal is hitting out boldly in her work, and last' week sprinted three furlongs on tho sand in 41sec. —a fair effort for the track. One Whelu, who injured lnmself while galloping, is mate ing recovery and doing well, but will not be brought in for some limo yet. Remainder of Team.

R. Fryer, who is in charge of the remainder of J. Fryer’s Ilawera roam while Fryer is in Australia, has six horses. in active commission, including Royal Fire, Ned Cut lie, Captain Bligh (by Captain Bunsby—Mollecn Clge), a rising two-year-old full relative to International, Vadanoo (who has just resumed track work) and 1,0 Grand, the latter to come in from a short spell ill a few days. Mile at Ellerslie.

Some time ago the Auckland Racing Club decided to make alterations to the course proper at Elierslic, and in consequence n new starting point for mile races will be in operation for the summer meeting. The work has so far advanced, in fact, that there is a possibility that the mile races at the spring meeting in October may be started from the new post. The now post will give a straight run out from the barrier of three furlongs oetoro coming to the turn, 'there will also be room for larger Helds. Two Spring Meetings. Two spring meetings are to be held this year by the Avondale Jockey Club, which lias absorbed the Dargaville Racing Club.