FOXSPEAR MAKES QUICK RETURN

Press, Volume LXXXII, Issue 24982, 17 September 1946, Page 4

FOXSPEAR MAKES QUICK RETURN

RACING

FIRST RACE FOR NEW OWNER

When he won the County Hurdles at Ashburton, Foxspear made a quick return for his owner, Mr J. S. Shaw, who purchased him after the Grand National meeting. Shortly after passing the sevenfurlong post. Foxspear had no difficulty in running up to the leader, Sea Dog, and the pair continued in the lead until the three furlongs, where Sea Dog commenced to drop back. Although both Montello d’Oro and Sandy Cape were within striking distance of Foxspear at the last fence, the Foxlight gelding had too much pace in the run home, and won comfortably by two lengths and a half. Foxspear took his fences in good style and, with his pace, he may be a difficult proposition for the class of hurdlers about at present. Brother to Air Ace

Having only his fourth start in a race, Le Sonnet, a little-fancied candidate, won the first division of the Novice Stakes at Ashburton on Saturday in good style by two lengths, after being slow to find his feet at the start Although he was slow early, Le Sonnet obtained a good run on the rails over the first three furlongs, and actually covered very little extra ground in the race. He had worked his way up into fifth place with three furlongs to run, and was just in behind Cloud Song, Lorna Leigh, and Palomino at the straight entrance. Approaching the last furlong, he came through on the inside and soon reached the front, not being troubled to win by two lengths from Grand Melee, which finished fast and made up a lot of ground in the straight. Le Sonnet is by Leighon from Gay Sonnet, and is a brother to Air Ace and a half-brother to Gay Parade, a sprint winner a few seasons ago. He was carrying plenty of condition on Saturday, and is likely to improve with racing. His Second Start

Penetrate, the winner of the second division of the Novice Stakes at Ashburton, was the second of the three winners which the Riccarton trainer, C. H. Fairman, produced during the day the other two being Foxspear and Privilege. The manner in which this three-year-old Revelation gelding won suggested that further success is due for him. Penetrate was in about eighth position when the field had gone a furlong, but had moved up a few places by the time the field turned for home. In the run home, Robingay raeched the front, but Penetrate came on the outer and finished very strongly to win well by two lengths. Penetrate was having only his second start in a race, and he is open to improvement. Penetrate is owned by Mr W. R. Toon and was purchased as a yearling for 270 guineas. His dam, Siega, is by Siegfried from Auriculus, by Lucullus from Wairarapa, by Sunny Lake. Siega has bred another winner in Sedgemere. a full brother to Penetrate.

Locally-bred Juvenile Winner Demonic, an easy winner of the Juvenile Handicap at Avondale last Saturday, was bred at Mr A. Louisson’s Ladbrooks stud, and sold as a yearling at the last Trentham sales for 525 guineas to Mr H. M. Waddington, of Lower Hutt. Last March he again came under the hammer and was sold to his present owner, Mr D. J. Langley, of Hastings, for 670 guineas. Demonic is yet another two-year-old from the famed Eulogy family, being a bay colt by Defaulter from Gay Helen, by Illiad from Praise, by Limond from Eulogy. His dam, Gay Helen, is an unraced halfsister to Serenata, Representative, Russian Ballet, Montezuma, and Regal Praise. As a yearling, Demonic was a big-framed backward sort, and at one stage did not look as if he would be forward enough to send to the sales. Even when sold last March, he did not look as if he would come early. However, he has obviously made considerable progress during the winter, and evidently has the speed that Defaulter imparts to his stock. In the Srevious week, Demonic was unplaced in le first division of the Avondale Stakes, run over four furlongs; but his race on Saturday was run over five furlongs, and he is credited with having run on strongly at the finish.

Outclassed the Opposition As northern critics expected, Majesty outclassed the mediocre field that opposed him in the Avondale Guineas, and when he dashed to the front soon after turning for home the race was over. Although Majesty lost about five lengths at the start, he did not take long to make up his ground, and he passed the post a length and a quarter in front of the pacemaker, Ganjah. Majesty is engaged in. both the Great Northern Guineas and the Wellington Guineas, and should his engagement in the latter race be continued, there is a distinct possibility of his meeting Privilege, Blue Trout, and Howe, all of which can be considered formdgble opponepts. First Winner by Beau Vite

Veine d’Or, the winner of the Juvenile Stakes. >t Carterton last Saturday, is the first of the stock of Beau Vite to win in New Zealand. She is a brown filly from Gold Vein, by Hunting Song f oni Bayana, by Birkennead from Matiri, by Torpedo from Whatiri, by Musket. Veine d’Or was purchased as a yearling by Mr T. Coltman, of Wellington, for 410 guineas. She is a small filly, but is reported to have a lot of pace. Her dam is a halfsister to Bayacre, a winner in both New Zealand and Australia, and comes from the Sharkie family, which has previously produced such winners as Beaulivre and Silver Link. Showed His Best Form

Although he has frequently disappointed, Avonbridge showed that at his best he is .a much better galloper than the average hack when he won the PenscrQit Hack Handicap easily from Botany, another little-fancied runner, with the still less-fancied Siegw-ood third. Avonbridge moved up to join Botany in the lead with -furlongs to run, and the pair led into the straight. Botany was soon under pressure to challenge Avonbridge: but the latter was always going easily, and was not extended to win by three lengths. When he won the mile Halswell Hack Handicap at the Banks Peninsula meeting as a three-year-old last November, Avonbridge looked like developing good form, but the only occasion on which he reproduced his form was at Greymouth last March, when he won over a mile and a quarter. If he has become more solid with age, Avonbridge will not take long to emerge from hack class, and even then should pay his way. Howe Wins Easily

Unbeaten in his three starts as a three-year-old, Howe was an odds-on favourite for the Wanganui Guineas on Saturday. He began well, and led with Blue Tie for two furlongs, when Robin's Reward took the lead. Howe trailed the leader until two furlongs from home, when he quickly settled the issue, and from that stage the result was not in doubt. The mile was run in the record time of Imin 40sec, which represents a good gallop for the Wanganui track. The "Dominion” states that Howe will not run again until the Wellington Guineas at Awapuni in October. In that race he will be meeting strong opposition, and a good line on his prospects for the New Zealand Derby should be obtained. King’s Horse Beats Cottrase

Th~ victory of the King’s horse, Kingstone, over the French Derby winner Coaraze in the Great Yorkshire Stakes, of one mile and a half, at York on September 4, was immensely popular in England. Kingstone was in receipt of 31b from Coaraze, and finished in a determined manner to win by two lengths. Kingstone was bred at the Royal stud, and is by King Salmon from Feola, by ’^ ia L Ma rcus, and is a half-brother to the One Thousand Guineas winner Hypericum. He was not in the top flight as a three-year-old, but won his last four races nevertheless. Couraze is by Tourbillon from the famous mare Corrida, until recently the third greatest stakewinning mare in the world. Corrida, a daughter of Coronach, was taken by the Germans in the retreat from France, and has not been heard of since. She was owned by Mr Marcel Boussac, who races a large and powerful team, and has often been successful in England. Photo-Finishes A photo-chart apparatus to record the finish of races may soon be in use by the Auckland Racing Club. A start has been made in constructing the tower in wLich the equipment will be housed. It is hoped that the apparatus will be in operation at the club’s spring meeting at Ellerslie on October 12.—(P.A.) Geraldine R.C. ,^f£ cpU ; n , ces * Ra = in S> Withdrawals (Trotting) for the Geraldine Racing Club’s meeting on Saturday next will close with the Secretary Mr L. D. McKenzie, Geraldine, to-night at 8 p.m. Telephone 262. —Advt.