SPRING RACING

Auckland Star, Volume LXXVI, Issue 199, 23 August 1945, Page 9

SPRING RACING

FOXBRAE AS JUMPER

SPECIALIST HAS IMPROVED (Special.) PALMERSTON N., this day. So far, Brantome's elder half-brother Foxbrae has been a failure, but, like Brantome, he shows natural ability as a jumper. On Tuesday he was responsible for a dashing: display, which was marred only by his tendency to "reach" ■ for his fences. Foxbrae has had one race over hurdles, showing up prominently for a mile at Awapuni in March, but he has done a lot of schooling since then, and it would not surprise to see him playing a prominent part in the decision of the Hack and Hunters' Hurdles at Isew Plymouth.

Specialist has improved appreciably as the result of his race at Hastings, and, with his trainer in the saddle, he went pleasinglv on Tuesday over half a mile. This big Broiefort three-year-old raced on onlv four occasions last season, winning at Woodvilie and securing the first prize at Pahiatua from the dead-heater Dutch Mary, who carried him out wide. He ran a good race at Trentham and then concluded his two-year-old career by running Royal Raider to a neck in the Manawatu Sires' Produce Stakes. Specialist is engaged at New Plymouth and meets the Hastings winner Observatory on llio better terms. However, he is not particularly well treated, as he is now rated at 21b above the minimum, despite the fact that he finished well back at Hastings. Newel Post has sharpened up a lot since he made his debut at Hastings, but this tall Spiral three-year-old may yet need a couple of races to bring him *nto winning form. He is working well, as is his stable mate Gyration, who is also engaged at New Plymouth. Gyration nets not sported silk since he dead-heated with Currency Lass over six furlongs at Hastings last April, but he has done a lot ot work in the past few weeks and may be listed among early winners. To ISace Next Month Tremello is regaining the bloom he showed before his hard race m the Trial Plate at Trentham last month. Ihe Kingmaster three-year-old, on Wellington running, should" lose his maiden status at Wanganui, but it is unlikely he will be started against Master Robin in the ""would not surprise to find Reversion the elect of the New stable for the Wanganui Guineas. The Ringmaster— Imposture gelding is a very hard puller on the tracks, and, consequently, he does a lot more work than would be normally apportioned him. He appears to have come along fast in the past fortnight. Merger is back in work after a blief spell, following his fall over Golden Memory at Hastings. He was not entered for the Hunt meeting at New Plymouth, but, as he has done well, it is possible he may be kept going for the Waikato 'orders, which made a successful debut at Hastings in June, lias been kept going-quietly in the interim. This Croupier three-year-old is a smart galloper, and one to watch at the approaching meetings. Trentliain Prospects Sir Bradbury is rapidly approaching form, and in running the best half-mile at Awapuni on Tuesday, left the impression that he could have done much bettei had be been pushed. Sir Bradbury is to resume racing at Wanganui at the beginnine of the month, and he w ill be nicely forward for racing at Trentham in October. The metropolitan track is his favourite course. . Dileas and Blanket, the two good class handicappers in the New stable, aiei in great oaler to recommence racing. Blanket has been kept going along quietly since he ran third in the Parliamentary Handicap and he leaves the impression that, in filling out, he has grown a little, too. Dileas may be all the better for a race, but, as a Thompson Handicap winner he will always have to be respected, and it is unlikely that he will be produced short of the requisite condition.