Iceland Spar And Knight Commander Appeal In Autumn

Auckland Star, Volume LXXII, Issue 86, 12 April 1941, Page 4 (Supplement)

Iceland Spar And Knight Commander Appeal In Autumn

Even in the dying stages of his racing career Royal Chief has been •weighted up to the hilt by Mr W. P. Russell, handicapper to the Canterbury jockey Club, in the Great Autumn Handicap, second " leg " of the Easter double. It is a case of no chances taken.

With 9st 121b, the weight he carried to victory in the Metropolitan Handicap in November, Royal Chief has a job in front, of him and at this stage it looks to be beyond his powers, as in recent starts his form has lacked the dash that characterised his spring efforts, and there is little doubt that he has slipped a grade, though he looks as well as ever.

Sasanof holds the winning weight-car-rying record in the race, 9st 131b in 1920, while Warstep succeeded under 9st 111b in 1915. In addition to Royal Chief, Mrs J. Campbell also has Willie Win and Wardress engaged. Has Won Twice. Willie Win has already won the race twice, in 1937 and last year. He will break new ground if he completes the treble. The main things against Willie Win are lack of racing and the fact that he will only have one opportunity for a run before the race. In 9st lib he has a weight that will steady him, but it must be remembered that he has been a grand horse on his home track.

Wardress (8.4) is a useful staying mare, more often seen in a place than as a winner. She must always be given a chance over a distance. Should Stay On. Trench Fight (8.8) showed in his three-year-old days that he could get to the end of one mile and a half, being the runner-up to his stable-mate, Wild Chase, in the New Zealand Derby. He has had a chequered career since, but this season has been racing well, his victories including three races over a middle distance.

In November he was tried out in the Metropolitan Handicap, but ran himself out in front. Since then his progress has been excellent and if restrained in behind until the straigh. he should- be capable of being troubleSome.

Sir Crusoe has been tried out over a middle distance lately, being the run-ner-up to Night Pilot in the Taranaki

Centennial Cup when carrying 9st, while he was in a similar position behind Kindergarten in the .Awapuni Gold Cup, though the Manawatu race was no test for stamina. Looks Too Far. Sir Crusoe is handily enough placed in the handicap with Sst 71b, but the distance looks like troubling him. Thermidor (8.2) has not been impressive lately in a few starts and she would need to show marked improve-, ment to have a chance.

Occasionally Winning Rival (7.12) has shown flashes of form and there is no questioning the fact that on her day the Bulandshar mare is a smart galloper, possessing stamina, but her good days do not come every time out.

Consistent. Little Robin (7.10) must have an iron constitution as he has already had twenty-four starts this season for four wins, five seconds, four thirds, and three fourths. He recently began racing again and was the runner-up to Rakanui in the Hawke's Bay Cup, but failed on the second day. Dynasty alsc beat him in the Wanganui Cup.

In several of the more important handicaps this season Little Robin has been placed. He was third in the Wellington Handicap to Royal Chief and Sly Fox; third in the New Zealand Cup to Serenata and Taurangi, a position he lost through disqualification when his rider weighed in short; second to Royal Chief in the Metropolitan Handicap, and second to Serenata in the W.R.C. Summer Handicap.

Little Robin has shown a. liking for Riccarton before, and he is such an honest type of horse that he must be respected. Hearth (7.8) is a useful mare, but she is an unknown quantity over the distance and likely to find it too far. Has The Ability. Knight Commander (7.7) is very -well and though he only had a moderate lot to contend with in the Oamaru Cup, which he won with the greatest of ease, he appears to be a much improved horse. In several of his races he has been running on solidly, and he is given a chance to follow in the footsteps of two of his maternal ancestors, Lady Zetland and Lady Lillian, both winners of the race. Happy Ending (7.6) has some fair form in the North Island, but a better prospect at 7st 51b appears to be Don't Forget, a horse certain to be in the picture most of the way.

Iceland Spar (7.4) has yet to win a race in open company, but he has been runner-up to Doubleack in the Dunedin Cup, putting in a grand driving run from the rear over the last half-mile. He was also second to Not Out in the Peninsula Cup.

the Peninsula Cup, Iceland Spar was ghen a short rest. He is fit, working well, and a likely type to be in the fight over the final stages. It is unfortunate that he has to be allowed his own time to work up to his speed as this places him at a disadvantage, but tfce race may break in such a way that he may 'be handy enough at the straight entrance. It may be a race this time for the light-weights, and three to appeal are: Iceland Spar Knight Commander Little Robin '