CLASSIC LIGHTS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIX, Issue 139, 15 June 1938, Page 23

CLASSIC LIGHTS.

FILLIES TO FORE.

ALL-AGED STAKES. HONOURS TO THREE-YEAR-OLDS. AFTER EARLIER FAILURE. It may be only a coincidence that the winners of each of the three All-Aged Stakes which have been decided have also contested the New Zealand Sapling Stakes when a year younger, and, although regarded as possibilities for honours, were all beaten for first place in the Sapling The initial contest was won by Pot Luck, who, when a candidate for the big event for two-year-olds, was considered to be a good thing if lie left the mark. If • . ! lie finished out of a place. He was then purchased by Mr. F. Stafford, and. under the guidance ot M. Holmes, won the All-Aged Stakes by a neck from Graham Direct. In 1937 Frisco Boy won the All-Aged by a length from Dark Hazard. Along with another candidate from M. B. Edwards' | stable in Zincali, Frisco Boy was rated as a likely winner of the Sapling Stakes in the previous year, and did well to beat all but Parisienne. Then, at the recent meeting of the Ashburton (lub, another three-year-old in Horsepower, who occupied ihird place in the two-year-old classic in 1037, won the All-Aged Stakes by a head ironi Ginger Jack. 1 lie special handicaps adopted in connection with the race have brought about fine contests anil exciting finishes, and although thi ec-year-olds have so far gained all tile honours none of them has had anything to spare at the finish.

WIN TEN SAPLING STAKES. MEMORIES OF AHURIRI. 7 'eature of the New Zealand Sapling Sta is that ten out of the twenty races tot aic coveted honour have gone to the female of the species. Only four colts have won, geldings having been (successful on six occasions, but, 011 the other hand, it could be argued successfully that the greatest horse to win the race was Ahuriri — the great son of Cathedral Chimes and that wonderful mare Muricata—whom Aucklanders will remember winning the Cup here in 1927, in addition to two New Zealand Trotting Cups. Instituted by the Ashburton Trotting Club in 1919, with a stake of £375, it is now worth £1200, and is the richest classic event in the trotting calendar. The first three contests were won by Doraldiua, Childe Pointer and Latona, after which Ahuriri shed his radiance on the trotting planet. He was owned by Mr. K. M. Morten, who performed the hat-trie k by winning the prize in the two following years witli the gelding Taurekareka and Kohara, who also trained on to win the New Zealand Trotting Cup. Enawah was the first North Island trained candidate to win the New Zealand Sapling Stakes, when she was first home in 1927. Then in successive years fame Sonoma Child, John Jinks. Arethusa, Silver do 010, Taxpayer, War Buoy, Moana 'lama, Frisco Lady, l'ariisicnne, Two's Loose aid Bed Rock. Students of breeding attribute the success ot tillies to the fact that they develop more quickly than colts and geldings and are more level-headed at that age; that the preparation necessary to equip them for such a contest has less effect on the nervous organisation of fillies than it has on colts. Those who have watched the doings of candidates for classic events claim that fillies are more easy to train than colts, but invariably colts go on to reach greater heights as three, four and five-year-olds.

CHAMPIONSHIPS.

TASMANIA'S OPPORTUNITY. AN AUSTRALASIAN DERBY. After some little discussion which arose out of financial conditions laid down initio' venue of the next Austi alasian Championships meeting, Tasmania has decided to agree to the stipulation regarding L.S.I), and conduct the 1939 championships. Now, it is by no means unlikely that light-harness enthusiasts in Australia's little isle will display further initiative ami inaugurate an Australasian Derby. Although (lassie races for three-year-olds have been conducted by most of the New Zealand clubs for many years past, and Adelaide (S.A.) had a Derby last year. Tasmania has not had a classic event for some time. It would be fitting, therefore, that Tasmania should stage a spectacular comeback by being the first to conduct an Australasian Derby. In view of the fact that three-year-old trotters from now 011 will be of much better calibre than formerly, it would not be too much to make the race a divided one. and perhaps with the proviso that if trotting entries did not come up to expectations this division could be deleted. Variety is everything, and if the best three-year-olds in the Commonwealth and New Zealand were to meet at Launceston what a boost it would be for the InterDominion Carnival!