TURF GOSSIP

Press, Volume LXXVI, Issue 22920, 17 January 1940, Page 10

TURF GOSSIP

Reminder . • Nominations ' for the Canterbury Jockey Club's summer meeting will close at 5 p.m. on Friday. Riccarton Horses at Trentham The team sent by Riccarton stables to the Wellington Racing Club's summer meeting is exceptionally strong in quality, and notwithstanding the poor showings made by southern horses at the previous two meetings at Trentham, and at the Auckland gathering during the Christmas holidays, there is every prospect of a more successful trip on this occasion. The recent fine weather has given every opportunity to trainers to .give their horses all the desired work, and any failures will not be for want of preparation.

Lockit, Cymric, Phil, and Scold figure in the Trentham High-weight Handicap. Lockit won a similar event at Oamaru . in good style, and in his present condition he will be difficult over a mile, especially on the roomy Trentham track. Cymric won two maiden events at Reefton, but, although he is a most attractive and promising galloper, these successes do not recommend him for to-morrow's ordeal. He is a doubtful starter, however. Phil would appear to be out of his class, but Scold has to be kept in view. She shpuld have won a race at Wingatui lasr month but for boring off the track, and is being tried under high-weight conditions in order to secure the services or a strong horseman. Lockit and Scold should do best of the quartet. The Stakes

Doria soon freshened up after her trip to Ellerslie, where she did not thrive very satisfactorily. On her form, she should hold her four opponents in the Wellington Stakes safely. In Apprentices' Plate In Not Out and Scarteen, Riccarton can claim two of the most promising young horses seen out during the holidays. Both haye won similar races. and their riders on those occasions will again be in action. On form to date, there would not appear to be much between the pair, but Scarteen may prove the better stayer. The Juveniles

Don't Forgei Retrogression, Speedwell, and Shikari are carded for the Fitzherbert Handicap. Don't Forget's solid weight was earned by his minor placings at the New Zealand Cup meeting; and, should he win, his success will be popularly received, as it. is some time since his owner. Dr. M. G. Louisson, has had a win, and his present trainer, C. Emerson, has yet to lead in a winner for his patron. The youngster has been doing good work of late, and in a sprint last week he and Speedwell recorded the fastest time. 47 2-ssoc. for half a mile on the outside of the course proper, clocked for some years oast. Speedwell is by Myosotis from the Martian mare Love in the Mist, and is the makings of a high-class galloper. He finished better than Don't Forget in the sprint under notice, and his effort to-morrow, his first in public, will/ be of interest to Riccarton track-watchers. Retrogression is one of the few Chokebore two-year-olds opt this season. He is by Magnus from Retrospect, dam of a good horse in Recollection, and has given every" encouragement in his track work. His stable-mate. Shikari, who races in different interests, has had some experience, but has disappointed, no doubt because he was still growing, and it may be that the best of him will not be seen until next season. Don't Forget and Speedwell make most appeal-of the visitors., The Cup Candidates With Royal Chief, Willie Win, Moorsotis, and The Wrecker only in the Centennial Cup, Canterbury investors will hot have as many as usual to pick and choose from, and it is doubtful whether any of them will be. at all confidently supported. Royal Chief has gone on the right way since being recommissioned,' and galloped well before going north, but with such a big field, his chance of an uninterrupted passage, especially from his usual rear position over the early and middle stages, cannot be considered very favourable. Willie Win is now well down in the weights, but it has to be recorded that he has not won a race for more than two years, and has not done anything in regent months to point to his prospects of making a recovery in such a solid field as this. Moorsotis was left in the Gup in preference to, tackling the Anniversary Handicap, as it was considered that

with/7-3 on his back, as against the welter weights he has been carrying of late, he might create a surprise. He will, no doubt, be allowed to be one of the early leaders, and, as staying is Jiis strong point,.he is capable of taking part in the finish. The .Wrecker has no credential to be in ! the, race, arid no doubt he -will be.reserved for the Anniversary Handicap. Useful Hacks ~ • Phenomenal, Great Fligifl, Passenger, and Lord Lynn will represent Riccarton in the Ruapehu Hack Handicap. Phenomenal, trained mostly at Yaiahurst, has a marked turn of speed, but invariably fails to carry on with it. Great Flight, who failed badly-at Trentham. on her last visit m October, and also at Riccarton, has. to be taken on trust. She has certainly got through a lot of useful work, encouragpg enough tp decide on her trip. Passenger is a decided possibility. ! He won Over seven furlongs at Oamaru, going away and galloped exceptionally well last'week. Lord Lynn,-. owned by Mr ; J. R. McKerizie, is an improving young horse. He has shown an inclination to bore out in his races, but with L. J. Ellis up on this occasion, he may overcome the trouble.' Passenger and Lord Lynn make-most appeal. Cannot be Ignored

i Counterblast is. the only candidate in the Telegraph Handicap, .She has been galloping in brilliant style, and if she could only be produced on the qlay in the same order as at home, she .would have to be kept seriously^in view- Unfortunately she is a bad traveller, and takes a lot oiit of herself on race days. Still, she is worth consideration as a place« proposition. Higrh-class Field

I Paper Slipper, Dictate, 'Haughty Winner, Lady Leigh, Flame Queen, and The Wrecker are included in the'highclass field for the Anniversary Handicap. Paper Slipper has been, galloping as well as usual on the tracks, but as was the case before, all his work "has been on the plough-. Should the Trentham ground be soft, he may reproduce some of his ' well-known ability. Dictate's owner has given up .the idea, in the meantime at least, of •winning a big race with him, and in consequence he was not nominated ior the cup. He arrived back from Ellerslie in good form, and should make a bold bid over, a mile journey. '-Haughty Winner, who won this race 12 months ago, remained at Trentham I after his unsuccessful efforts over the 'holidays at Awapuni and Tauherenikau. He will have to improve a good deal to make amends. Lady Leigh is one of the gamest mares raced in the South Island for many years,.and but .for persistent knee trouble, she would have been a big stake earner. With the promise of yielding going at Trentham, she is deserving of attention. .Flame Queen putclassed her: opponents 'in two races at Reef ton, and is a better

mare than generally considered, but it is doubtful if she is up to this standard.- The Wrecker has better prospects* in this.'than ;in the. cup, but will nevertheless 'not be in much demand. Dictate and ; Lady Leigh will probably race prominently.,

Riding at Trenthatn Probable riders' and their mounts in th'e Wellington Centennial Cup to-mor-row are as follows:—A. E. Ellis, Royal Chief; W. Jenkins, • Catalogue; W. Br oughtori, Beaupa.rtir.;. P, Atkins, Centrepoise; M. McCarten, Malagigi; B. H. Morris, Beau Vite; P. Burgess, Sly Fox; H. Hibberd, Willie Win; A. Jenkins, Siegmund; G. Tattersall, Old Bill; J. Jennings, Queen of Song; A. Midwood, Lady Montana; R. McTavish, Gladyriev; C. Gciulsbro, Du Maurier; P. Spratt,. Norseman; L. J. Ellis, Beau Repaire; C. Wilson; Thermidor; R. Hawes; Mishna; : 'W. Evans, Tooley Street; Hi Long, Fils de Vaals; R. Home, Tidewaiter; H. Wiggins, Laughing Lass; <W;. Mudford, Globe Trotter; A.. Me~sservy, Moorsotis; W. F. Ellis, Moria's Song; V. Dye, Raeburn; K. Chote/ Windsor- Chief. 'Additional riding, engagements for other 'races are as follows:—P. Burr gess, ,'Eeau Coureur, Ruling Star, Sleeveless; S.' Wilson, Autolite; A. Foster; Pearl of -Asia; W. Broughton, Kadina;; G. , Goulsbro, Pekoe, Galteeiriore; ,N. Vaughan, Prediction; A. Midwodd,,'Lady Montana, Lady Tinkle; S. Waddell, •Lord? Cavendish; G. Tatter-sall,-Little Dorrit; H. Wiggins,' Sir Beau; BiH. Morris, Chary:

OWNERS AND TRAINERS. . Do .you want to be certain that your horse'will leave the. barrier and see out . the distance?. If so, consult GEORGE SETTLE, Consulting Chemist, 769 Colombo street, Christchurch. Call or write and give full particulars.

GEORGE SETTLE-has had over 20 years' experience with racehorses.