HOWE’S DERBY PROSPECTS

Press, Volume LXXXII, Issue 25020, 31 October 1946, Page 4

HOWE’S DERBY PROSPECTS

RACING

SPLENDID TRIAL IN GUINEAS

NO SERIOUS OPPOSITION AT AWAPUNI

Howe recorded a splendid trial for his New Zealand Derby engagement in the Wellington Guineas. 'This Defoe colt has all the necessary qualifications to make a good-class performer, possessing size, conformation, and temperament, in addition to an easy action, with a long, smooth stride. In Howe’s five races as a three-ryearr old, his only defeat was by Julius Caesar in a six-furlong sprint at Masterton. -Even allowing that some of the Guineas field may not have handled the heavy track as well as he did, it is hard to imagine any other runner in the Guineas field, with the possible exception of Zealander, offering serious opposition to Howe in a race run in just over three weeks’ time. Howe can be expected to go on develqping and improving as well as the rest of the three-year-olds, and he will be a well-seasoned colt when he steps out to race on Derby Day at Riccartdn. Apparently it is not intended to race Majesty in the New Zealand Derby, grid it is to be regretted that he will not meet Howe in that race.

Finisher) Well Sir Royal did remarkably well to finish within a neck of Zorro in the Karitane Handicap at Awappni. He lost several lengths at the start, but soon became balanced and made up ground aft the way to the straight entrance. He was just behind the leading division commercing tire run home. At the last furlong Zorro had a useful lead on Sir Royal, but a splendid finishing run by the latter rapidly reduped Zorro’s advantage, and he had only a short neck to spare at the post. Sir Royal had his first race in the Wellesley Stakes, in which he was slow away, and finished in the middle of the field. A chestnut gelding by Tiderace, which is not generally recognised as a sire of early speed, Sir Royal is from Swing, a mare bred by Mr L. C. Hazlett, by Gustavo from Saxophone, by Nigger Minstrel from Compression, by Tractor from Sister Radius, the dam of Loughrea (Wellington Cup), Circulation (Dunedin Champagne Stakes), and Circular Note. Royal Lancer comes from the same family. Over the straight five and six furlong courses Sir Royal may be seen to advantage. Ran Two Sound Races Winning Ticket ran two very sound races at Awapunl, finishing on solidly under pressuret on both occasions. Like many of Lang Bian’s stock, he handles heavy going well, and has the makings of a good winter performer. He did not commence racing until last March, and altogether has had only 12 starts for two wins and three second placings. He is now a five-year-old, and is not likely to remain In hack company long. Wellesley Stakes Runner-up Full of Fun the runner-up to Lady Christine in the Wellesley Stakes, is a bay filly by the New Zealand-bred sire Joviality from Smoke Trail, by . GainscoUrt from Knight Ray, by Mountain Knight from Radiancy, by Sir Laddo from Ecliptic, by Sir Lancelot. Full of Fun cames from a succession of dams that either did not race or were non-winners; but she traces to Miss Rowe, a mare that was the ancestress of Kilcash (Mitchelson Cup), Vagabond (New Zealand Cup and £10,435 in stakes), and Martian Miss (winner of nearly £4000). At the autumn bloodstock sale at Trentham last March, Full of Fun was passed in at 55 guineas. At her first start this season Full of Fun finished third in the Carterton Juvenile Stakes; but she was badly left at her next start at Masterton. Full of Fun is on the small side, and may never go far. Coming Into Form Lady Chips’s second to Leigh Barton was an indication that she should not be long in returning to the winning list. Cn a track that was to her liking, she did not begin smartly, and was well back in the early running. She started to improve from the half-mile, and a good finishing run in the straight enabled her to beat Big Money, which was well placed most of the way. for second place. Showed Plenty Speed Peter Theio was restless at the barrier at Awapuni, and in the Awatea Handicap he was left several lengths behind. He then showed great speed, and in two furlongs was up in seventh place, and it was little wonder that he did not improve in the run home. In the Shorts Handicap on the first day, Peter Theio disputed the lead with Gold Shoes to the straight entrance, but did not finish on. , With a stronger rider, Peter Theio should have no difficulty in speed” g °* >en s P rints » as he has great May Show Staying Form Zealander showed his first glimpse of form for the season when he pressed Privilege hard for second place in the Wellington Guineas, and finished only a head behind her. Zealander is one of the lean spare type of Foxbridge colt, and he has not filled out a great deal since last season; but his running in the Guineas suggested that he should be seen to advantage over a little ground, and by the time the New Zealand Derby is run may be able to offer stronger opposition to Howe than was the case at Awapuni last Saturday. His dam, Gay Blonde, was a splendid race mare, being up to weight-for-age class in Australia, while as a three-year-old she won the Great Northern Derby. t Zealander shapes fike a stayer, and there should be no difficulty in his running out a mile and a half. Needed the Race Sanskrit has never been at home on heavy tracks, but ran surprisingly well to finish fourth in the Awatea Handicap. She was always struggling down the back, but when she was brought out on the better going in the middle of the track in the straight, she made some impression on the horses in front of her. Sheoeeded the race for her Stewards’ Handicap preparation, as she is a gross doer. Demonic Once the two-year-olds commence to race over six furlongs, one youngster that should make his presence felt is Demonic, a two-year-old cblt by Defaulter from Gay Helen, which is trained at Hastings by W. J. Evans for Mr D. J. Langley. In the Wellesley Stakes,- Demonic was slow away and did not become prominent until well into the straight, where a strong finishing run carried him into fifth place. Demonic is now a well-grown colt with a good style of galloping, and in the autumn he may reach the best class. He was bred by Mr A. Louisson at his Ladbrook's stud, and was sold at the last yearling sales for 525gns. He was sold to his present owner, two months later, for 675gns. His dam. Gay Helen, is by Iliad from Praise by Limond from Eulogy. Recently Gay Helen produced a colt to Airway. A Creditable Fourth Had Sea Fury’s connexions elected to start her in the Rimutaka Hack Handicap in preference to the Wellington Guineas, she might have won, as her close fourth placing ii> the Guineas, after making the pace for nearly five furlongs, was a good performance for a three-year-old filly still eligible for hack company. Sea Fury showed quite useful form as a two-year-old. winning once over six furlongs, and being second three times. Before the Guineas, she had a first, a second, and a third, in three starts. By Tiderace from Ohui, a sister to two good performers in Tamatete (a winner of more than £10,000), and Tukia (a winner of £7475), Sea Fury is likely to make short work of a hack field over sprint distances. To Appear Later T. R. George said at Awapnui that the high-priced colt Foxacre, a brother to Bridge Acre, Al Sirat, and Barwon, which he trains for Mr H. Harzmeyer, of Melbourne, will not race until January. Foxacre is a promising colt, but he slightly injured a shoulder before the Masterton meeting and no chances are being taken. To Race at Oamaru A New Zealand Press Association message states that the Waikouaiti Racing Club has been granted permission to race at Oamaru on January 1. The club originally applied, to race at Wingatui on that date, but the Southland clubs affected lodged a protest. The decision is a logical one, as it would have been difficult to transport both local and visiting horses from Wingatui 'to Oamaru during the holiday period for the Oamaru Jockey Club’s meeting on January 2. Hakim Rehandicapped For his win in the Wellington Handicap, Hakim has been rehandicapped 51b in the New Zealand Cup. making his weight 7-5.