SPORTING

Press, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22249, 13 November 1937, Page 20

SPORTING

— ♦ I I (CONTINUED FROM PAGE j 17) ! METROPOLITAN I DAY j | CONCLUDING PROGRAMME AT RICCARTON FIELDS REVIEWED IN DETAIL The Canterbury Jockey Club's metropolitan meeting will be concluded at Riccarton to-day, and as fine weather can again be expected another attractive programme will be presented to racegoers. • The course has had a good deal of artificial watering since Wednesday, and it will probably provide better going than earlier in the week. The principal event, the Metropolitan Handicap, has filled with a select field of proved stayers, and each candidate is entitled to receive serious consideration. The Members' Handicap has also attracted a high-class field of sprinters, and the three-year-old event, the Stonyhurst Handicap, will be contested by some of the best of the age at the meeting. A review of the various fields is as follows: 12.32 p.m.— SUBURBAN HANDICAP, Of £350; second horse £SO, ana. third horse £25 from stake. One mile. Cottingham 11-9—On his Cup and third day's form, appears to have bright prospects in this company. The Surgeon 11-3—Would not have to improve much on second days form. Mount Val 10-12—Has been very disappointing this season. Last Link 10-B—Has had three hard races, and may be feeling the effects. Sunny Blonde 10-I—Won similar event in effortless manner on second day, and should be favourite again. Hcloise 9-13—Not on previous form at meeting. Miracle 9-11—Has the ability to make good in this class. Superex 9-10—Would like a softer Peacock 9-B—Having his first race on programme.' Has plenty of speed and may upset calculations. Windward 9-6—Fair. Drinkup 9-3—May do better with a strong rider. | Grampian 9-I—Sure to be prominent, but hardly up to this. Cottingham is to be started in the Suburban Handicap provided he does not show any effects of his two hard races to date, and the weight should not stop him from taking part in the finish. His most formidable opponents nppear to be Sunny Blonde and The Surgeon. 1.12 p.m.— SEYMOUR HANDICAP, Of £300; second horse £6O, and third horse £3O from stake. Hack conditions. Seven furlongs. Lord Nuffield 9-I—Has shot up in the weights, but is above the ordinary hack. Janet Gaynor 8-9—Liable to be in front all the way once more. Epic 8-3—Will have to improve on previous display. Nolana 8-I—Useful, and may be prom* inent at right- end. Phalanx 8-o—Disappointed on third day, but race may have done him good. Rockingham 7-6—Looks better in this than in Stonyhurst. Norapman 7-s—Must have a good chance. Drinkup 7-4—Dealt with. Studley Royal 7-2—Not seasoned. Haerepo 7-I—A likely place-getter again. Sure to have improved. Fog Peak 7-o—Only fair chance. Short Circuit 7-o—Too far. Night Wings 7-o—No recent form. Mulatto 7-o—Has possibilities for a place. Sunbeam 7-o—Will not be as well supported as on previous appearance. The previous 'winners of like events. Lord Nuffield and Janet Gaynor, are sure to command the bulk of public Interest, but they will have strong opponents in Phalanx, Rockingham, Norseman, Haerepo, and Mulatto. The favourites may be Phalanx, Lord Nuffield, and Sanet Gaynor. j 1.57 p.m.— CRESSY HANDICAP, Of £350, second horse £7O, and third horse £35 from stake. One mile. Trench Fight 9-6—Failed on third day, ! and it looked as if his race on I Monday had left its effect. Queen Dorothy 9-3—Has been very useful in the south this season, but will find this company harder Davolo 9-3—The form horse. Big Dook 8-11—Won over this distance at Trentham, beating Oratory and Dictate. Likes soft ground. Small Boy 8-B—Not decided whether he will start in this or in Metropolitan, but the latter would seem to be his mission. Dictate 8-B—Would be in keen demand if some rain fell in the meantime. Wild Career 8-2—Will no doubt have; some place followers on his third day's effort. Wino 8-I—Out of form. Petersham 7-11—A decided place proposition, and may win. Milford 7-9—Always likely to be prominent. Araboa 7-9—Has been very in and out, and may surpiise in this. Last Link 7-7—ln high-weight. Daring Deed 7-7—Can always get to the front, but seldom stays there. Myriam 7-7—A useful performer and will not be neglected. Waitaka 7-7 —Track too hard. Swordstick 7-7 —Will be one of the outsiders. Roamhvr 7-7—Cannot be ignored for a place. There should be a wide range in the speculation on the Ci-essy Handicap, and it is difficult to forecast the ultimate favourite division. In the absence of Small Boy, Davolo, Dictate, and Queen Doft>thy make most appeal. j 2.37 p.m.— ! PIONEER HANDICAF, | Of £SOO, second horse £IOO, and third! horse £SO from stake. For two-. year-olds. Five furlongs. j Surmount 9-o—Has had to pay for hisj Wanganui win, and minor plac- j ings since. Distance may trouble i him. i Peerless 9-o—Was probably unlucky! on third day, and likely to be \ favourite here. Defaulter 7-13—Won well on Monday, and liable to improve by his two races more than pair above him. Eastern Heir 7-s—Also a likely improver with racing. Godfrey 7-0 —Fair only. It is unfortunate for the club that so many dropped out of the Pioneer Handicap, but the issue nevertheless appears very open* No doubt Peer-

less will be better supported than Defaulter. 3.17 p.m.— METROPOLITAN HANDICAP, Of £1000; second horse £2OO, and third horse £IOO from stake. One i mile and a half. i Cuddle 9-12—A big weight, but in her I present form she is capable of 1 carrying it to advantage. ; Catalogue 8-13—Won going away at end of mile on third day, and extra journey should not find him I out. | Argentic 8-9—Last year's winner, but j shaped badly at Trentham and also in New Zealand Cup. Cerne Abbas 8-B—ls handily placed and will be again tough. Queen Dorothy 8-6—Highly estimtaed i in this company. Queen of Song 8-3—Has been given i every chance with this impost. I Silver Streak Br-l—Has won twice over ( mile and a quarter, and third in New Zealand Cup, so appears to be well placed, especially when compared with, say, Queen Dorothy. Last Refrain 7-11—Distance may be a little too far. Small Roy 7-10—On Auckland performances must be difficult if reserved. Boomerang 7-3—Sure to be prominent for a good portion of ordeal. The Metropolitan Handicap should, as in previous years, provide one of the most interesting tussles of the meeting, and each candidate will have a large following. Catalogue, Small Boy, and Cerne Abbas will probably be the final selection by the public. 4.2 p.m.— HAGLEY HANDICAP, Of £300; seco.d horse £6O, and third horse £3O from stake. Hack conditions. Nine furlongs. Siegmund 9-2—Has raced consistently and will again be prominent. Sovereign Lady 9-I—Her second appearance at meeting, and may do better than on first day. Parquet 8-11—Is 'certain to have a large North Island following. High Glee 8-B—Always liable to be in at the finish. Rousseau 8-B—Would be one of the favourites if softer track. Ardchoille 8-7—Was very unlucky on third day. A. E. Ellis will be in saddle to-day. Roaming 8-6—Better in earlier engagement. Thermidor 8-4—Must be respected. Natty 3-4—Fair. Sir Hugh 7-12—Was prominent for over a mile in Otaio Plate. Miracle 7-10—In high-weight event, Settlement 7-7—Will probably start in Stonyhurst. Elegy 7-6 —An interesting contestant in the face of her good Oaks effort. Rabble 7-s—Also in Stonyhurst. Maroha 7-o—Will not be in much re-

quest. Made Money 7-o—Not fancied, Ardmaylc 7-o—No form. Clubman 7-0 —No form.

Like the Otaio Plate, the Hagley Handicap should provide an interesting contest, and the best supported may be Siegmund, Sovereign Lady, and Ardchoille.

4.42 p.m.— STONYHURST HANDICAP, Of £350; second horse £7O. and third horse £35 from stake. For three-year-olds. One mile. Haughty Winner 9-2—Won Dunedin Guineas in easy manner, and has had only one race over six furlongs since. Night uress 9-I—Showed encouraging form on third day, and coming right with racing. Will be bracketed with Haughty Winner. Top Row 8-9—Has raced prominently this spring, and a likely placesetter. Happy Night 8-s—lmpressed by his win in the Apprentices' Handicap and has to be seriously regarded

again. Lazybones 8-3—Will need to improve considerably. , , Settlement 7-7—Has been unlucky over the early stages of his races but has finished on solidly. Rockingham 7-s—Has not raced up to earlier promise, but may surprise in this small field. Rabble 7-s—Hardly up to this standard as yet. Dividend 7-o—Later on. Three-year-old form of the season is well represented in the Stonyhurst Handicap, and the final summing up of investors may be in favour of the Haughty Winner-Night Dress bracket and Happy Night.

5.27 p.m.— MEMBERS* HANDICAP. Of £SOO, second horse £IOO, and third horse £SO from stake. Six furlongs. Gold Boa 9-2—On Stewards' form is hardly likely to see out journey. Silver Streak 9-2—Will have plenty of support if reserved. Ben Braggie 8-12—Has not appeared since the Stewards'. On Trentham form he should not be discarded for his first day's display. _ Triune 8-11—Won open sprint third day last year with 8-9, and this race with 9-2. Won on third day again this year with 8-12, and should go near repeating double. Pelmet 7-10—May try to win from end to end. Black Thread 7-10—A stablemate of Ben Braggie, and a Trentham winner. Will be in demand. Rebel Chief 7-B—Form well known by now. Brunhild 7-7—ls sure to set a merry pace once she goes to the front. Invoice 7-4—May once again take part in the final tussle, and a win for him would be well received. Haughty Winner 7-3—Will be well supported if reserved. The meeting will be brought to a close with the Members' Handicap, for which a high-class field of sprinters will parade. This should be an extensive and widely distributed pool, and the placed division may, be confined to Ben Braggie, Brunhild, and Triune.

CHAMPION ENGLISH RIDER RETIRING FROM SADDLE S. Donoghue, who is retiring as a jockey and taking up training, was the guest of honour at a gathering in London recently, the company including the leading jockeys of the country. Lord Lonsdale sent a tribute saying: "I have the greatest admiration for his riding, his nature, and his life. I wish him every possible happiness in his new venture and the best of health to enjoy it." Lord Lonsdale added that he believed that Donoghue was one of the few men who had never been before the stewards. G. Richards handed to Donoghue a silver trophy engraved with the signatures of his brother jockeys. In acknowledging the presentation, Donoghue said: "I am not saying goodbye. I am merely stepping from the ranks. The proudest moment of my life will be when in my new calling I shall produce at Epsom the horse on which Gordon Richards will win his first Derby. The great race will remain incomplete until the name of Gordon Richards is notched upon its records." His Old Favourite Donoghue, in a broadcast before attending the dinner, bade an affectionate good-night to one of his favourite mounts, Brown Jack. Brown Jack recognised Donoghue% voice instantly. When his present owner. Sir Harold Wernher, heard of the proposal for Donoghue to broadcast, he arranged for a wireless receiving set to be installed in the horse's stable.

A VALUABLE BREED FOUR UNRACED JUVENILES Although eight Beau Pere youngsters have already raced in the Dominion, there are still four who were bought by New Zealand purchasers at the yearling sales in January who have still to make an aDpearance. They are a colt out of April Fool, bought by Mrs T. H. Lowry; a filly out of Timid, bought by Mr G.' R. Macdonald; a filly out of Rapide, bought by Mr W. R. Stead (Hasiings); and a filly out of Dignified, bought by Mr S. Major (Wanganui). The April Fool youngster, Beau Partir, is to race at Napier to-day. Among those who have offspring in Beau Pere's second crop are Mr W. H. Gaisford, who bought Silver Rule with colt at foot;' Mr M. Grogan (Westmere), who bought Barbacan with filly at foot; Mr M. Millar (Palmerston North), who bought Summer Time with filly at foot; and Mr S. Otway (Cambridge), who bought Dignified, with colt at foot, The majority of the Beau Pere yearlings and also brood mares sold at the Westmere dispersal were secured for Australia.

RACING FIXTURES

November 13—Canterbury J.C. (concluding day). November 13—Rotorua and Bay of Plenty Hunt Club. November 13—Napier Park R.C. November 20—Levin R.C. November 20—Southland R.C. November 20, 22—Waikato R.C. November 27—Ashburton County R.C. November 27, 29—Takapuna J.C. November 27. 30—Feilding J.C. December 4—Otaki Maori R.C. December 11—Hororata R.C. December 11, 13—Woodville District December 14 or 18— Waipa R.C. December 27—Waipukurau J.C. December 27—Westland R.C. December 27. 28—Dunedin J.C. December 27, 28—Taraoaki J.C. December 27, 28. 30—Manawatu R.C. December 27, 29, January 1. 3—Auckland R.C. ' „ ~_ December 31, January I—Greymoulh J.C. TROTTING FIXTURES November 13—Manawatu T.C. November 25. 27—Forbury Park T.C. December 4 New Brighton T.C. December 4—Waikato T.C. December 4—Wairio T.C. December 11—Reef ton T.C. December 27—Ashburton T\C. December 27—Gore T.C. December 27—Wairarapa T.C. December 27. 28—Westport T.C. December 28, 30, 31—Auckland T.C. December 29—Wihton T.C. January 1, 3-Canterbury Park T.C. January 4—Westland T,C. January 5, 6—Greymouth T.C. January 15— Cambridge T.C.

Suicide on Racecourse At the Windsor (England) meeting in September a well-known racegoer and a member of the Victoria Club, snot himself, dying immediately after he was taken to hospital. Earlier in the day he assured his friends that he had something good for the 3.30 race, and in order to get additional money to back it, unsuccessfully tried to sell his field-glasses for £5. After the numbers of the placed horses went up for the race in which he was interested, the man was seen by hundreds of racegoers to tear up some tickets and then draw a revolver from his pocket and shoot himself.