A GOOD TEAM.

Auckland Star, Volume LXX, Issue 31, 7 February 1939, Page 14

A GOOD TEAM.

RICCARTON HORSES. FOR DOTfEDIN MEETING. ROYAL CHIEFS CUP PROSPECTS. (Special to " Star.") CHRISTCHURCH, Monday. Riccarton stables will have a good team for the Dunedin Jockey Club's meeting on Thursday and Saturday. Nightdress, Meal Bird, Rebellion and Dress Parade, though among the acceptors, will not make the trip, but there will be 20 horses to represent our training centre. Some of our horses showed form on Saturday entitling them to respect, while a few fresh candidates will come in with excellent prospects. In the Warrington Hurdles the only representative from here is Recollection. Me gave a good exhibition when he won at Riccarton on Saturday, entitling him to be a strong favourite, and the only thing that may favour some of his opponents will be the shorter journey. (Meat Flight, who was not raced on Saturday. should run well in the Berwick Handicap, as she is in good order. Teak will be dangerous, after his run in the Post Handicap as he will appreciate the shorter journey. Synthetic will also benefit in the same way. as he was one of the leader's to the straight in the Post Handicap. Second Tunings and Phalanx are both possibles in the Publicans' Handicap. It was only over the last bit that Top Row beat them in the Craven Plate ami, with a shorter journey and Top Row penalised 51b. they have prospects of reversing the positions. Rebel Chief has no recent, form in good company, but Counterblast will be hard to beat on Trentham running. One thing to lie noted, however, is that she has not won a race yet on a turning course, all her successes having been gained down the straight track at Trentham. Of the three Riccarton candidates for the Dunedin Cup. only Argentic ran in the Midsummer Handicap hist Saturday and he shaped badly. He has no recent form to commend him. Royal Chief has not had a race since his spring trip to Australia. but he has been working very well and is likely to be favourite. He will be hard to beat unless the ground is very heavy. Wild Chase has freshened up since he raced at Trentham and on his form there he w ill play a leading part. He seemed unlucky to be beaten on the final day by Queen of Song, whose Midsummer win enhanced the value of the

form, and Wild Chase now meets her on 101b better terms. With the sting out of the ground, Wild Chase should run well. Most of the two-year-olds who are in the Champagne Stakes were seen at Riccarton. Moorsotis will meet Gold Salute on 101b and Aranui on 141b worse terms, but he beat them so decisively in the Middle Park Plate that they will need to improve to reverse the placings. Of the three Moorsotis may be most likely to Improve. Master Hotspur was stopping at the end of five furlongs in the Lyttelton Plate on Saturday.

Cape Ga'bo went badly on Saturday in the Midsummer Handicap, but he is an unreliable horse. Rabble was going on well hi fourth place in the Midsummer and should get some money on this trip. Kilrobe has been galloping brilliantly and is certain to pay her way if she can stay a mile.

Settlement was unlucky on Saturday in the Halswell Handicap, his third being full of merit, as he lost his position and had a lot of ground to make up. He will read well again over a longer journey on 'the second day. Capricious showed good form when second on Saturday, just in front of Settlement, and should be prominent again. Rebel Queen did not stay nine furlongs and even a mile may be far enough. Spartan won nicely over seven furlongs and will be dangerous if he makes the trip, which is in slight doubt as he was galloped on.

SCRATCHINGS.

(By Telegraph.—Press Association.) DUXEDIN, Monday. Haughty Winner and Improvident were scratched at 11 a.m. to-day for all engagements at the Dunedin Jockey Club's Summer meeting.