THE STEWARDS’ HANDICAP

Press, Volume LXXXII, Issue 25022, 2 November 1946, Page 7

THE STEWARDS’ HANDICAP

WEIGHTS REVIEWED Last season Master Dash gave some excellent performances in sprint races under big weights and it was only to be expected that he would be allotted something over 10-0 in the Stewards’ Handicap. With 10-2 he cannot be considered to be unduly burdened, but the odds are against his winning under that weight; in fact only six horses have won with 9-0 or more, the record being held by Arrowsmith, which won in 1920 with 9-13. However, last season Master Dash was equal to winning the City Handicap at Trentham with 9-10, the Okawa Handicap at Hastings with 10-2, and the Great Easter Handicap with 9-12. With the excep“or* , of the Okawa Handicap, Master Dash’s best weight-carrying performances were over seven furlongs. It is generally considered more difficult to win under big weights on the almost straight six furlongs course at Riccarton than it is over seven furlongs, and to win under 10-2 Master Dash will need to have everything in his favour. With 9-13 the brilliant mare. Soneri. is handicapped within 31b of Master Dash. There is a big difference in the total stakes that the two have won. Soneri having won £4217 during her career, whereas Master Dash won £5785 last ,season alone, and his total is £8460, but a sequence of six wins, in every one of which she outclassed the field, has caused Soneri*s rating. Soneri is also engaged in the New Zealand Cup, but she may hardly have had the preparation for that race The Stewards’ Handicap, followed by the Churchill Gold Cup and the Canterbury Cup would seem a more likely programme for her.

With 9-2 Leigh Barton has his share of weight, but he is a solid and consistent performer and always likely. Tuis. 8-13, was runner-up to Irish Note last year with 7-9. She is an inconsistent performei», but brilliant on her day. Verdant has 8-11 this year, against 7-13 last year, and Deprive 8-5 as against 7-7. Whitley with 7-13, has an increase of 111 b on his weight last year. With the exception of Soneri and Leigh Barton, the above all started in last, year’s race.

A number of the others In this year’s race were weighted for last year’s race, but the majority are- newcomers. Derene, Piccolo, Peter Gazelle, Dvmondy. Grill, Opulent. Red Pickle, and Voltaic, are all winners this season, while last season Flying Orders, Wantwood, and Sanskrit all showed great promise. A big field is invariably the rule in the Stewards’ Handicap, and this year should be no exception. Overdue

Notary, with two previous starts this season, finishing in third place on each occasion, was prominent all the way in the Backenfield Handicap at Motukarara, but faded to sixth over the final furlong. He was better suited by the firmer ground at Rangiora, where he got his head in front soon after reaching the. straight, in the Fernside Handicap, holding on for a narrow win, in an exciting finish, with five horses almost in line. This was Notary's first success since April, when he beat a field of hack sprinters at Washdyke. It is a great pity the Paper Money gelding is not sound, as he might have ■made a good class sprinter. He is still eligible for hack company, but his racing may soon be restricted by the hard tracks. Needs Firm Going The Hawke’s Bay Guineas winner, Opulent, which is a candidate, was made favourite for the Shorts Handicap on th» first day at Awapuni, but failed badly in the going. He started in the Aw&tea Handicap on the second day, but went just as poorly and it is apparent that he needs firm going. Opulent made an auspicious start in open company when he ran Da Vinci to a neck in the Flying Handicap at Hastings last month. Out of. Hack Company

Gold Song may not reach the class of his dam, the brilliant sprinter, Gold. Boa, but he has undoubtedly inherited a lot of her speed. At Wingatui he was beaten in the last stride by Triumphal in the Milburn Hack Handicap; but he gave the opposition no chance on either da> at Gore. His double success puts him out of nack company, and he may find the open sprinters a bit more difficult. From Famous Mare

Ac Ascot recently, Blue Train, the first foal of the brilliant mare, Sun Chariot, surprised by winning the Swinley Forest Stakes, run over six furlongs. Like his dam. Blue Train is raced on lease from the National Stud by the King, and is trained by F. Darling at Beckhampton. Blue Train is by the Derby winner, Blufe Peter. His dam won the One Thousand Guineas, the Oaks, and the St. Leger, He would create history if he won the Derby next year, as no winner of that race has ever claimed a Derby winner as his sire and an Oaks winner as 1 his dam. Still Up in the Weights j

John Gay, which had not raced since last March, competed in the open sprints at Gore, but was not prominent on either day. He was big in condition, and the slow tracks did not suit him. John Gay has not won a race since he was successful in the Doncaster Handivap at Washdyke in April, 1945, but last season he came close to springing a surprise when he was beaten by a nose In the last stride by Master Dash, in the Telegraph Handicap at Trentham. He also finished third to Master Dash and Lisheen in the City Handicap on the third day and those two performances have probably accounted for him remaining up in the weights Answer to Correspondent

“Curious,” Christchurch: Not available. Information could be secured from the secretary of the Wellington Racing Club.