NEW ZEALAND OAKS

Press, Volume LXXXII, Issue 25030, 12 November 1946, Page 4

NEW ZEALAND OAKS

RACING

BUTTER FIELD THAN USUAL RICCARTON WELL REPRESENTED The field for the New Zealand Oaks Stakes promises to be one of the best in recent years, and although Privilege is likely to be the early favourite she will have some strong opposition, Without ever looking like catching the winner, Howe, Privilege ran out the mile in the Wellington Guineas in solid fashion, even though not suited by the going; and she should have no difficulty in running out a mile and a, half. The improving Lovemorn has shaped like a stayer in her races this season, and her winning performance on a sodden track in the Dunedin Guineas was an excellent one. She has shown her ability to handle any sort of going, and is likely to be well in the picture.

Ano-ther local candidate in Rahine also deserves consideration. So far, Rahine has been unfortunate that she has recently been deprived of an opportunity to pace because of the heavy tracks. She has been a consistent performer in her four starts, having dead-heated with Great Chum at Washdyke last month, and having been placed in her other starts, including a second to Privilege in the John Grigg Stakes at Ashburton, and is open to plenty of improvement yet. Little indication of Palm Bearer’s prospects as a stayer was obtained at Awapuni because of the heavy going. She is not a big filly, and comes from a family that has not recently produced any horses that stayed well; and a better line on her prospects may be obtained after she has had a race at Riccarton.

At this stage Spiora does not seem likely to get much further than a mile, even though her dam is a half-sister to Longsword. Cloud Song and Grande Melee have yet to win a race, and at this stage neither looks likely. Indian Dawn went amiss after racing in the John Grigg Stakes, and seems hardly likely to stay a mile and a half; nor would Paper Pattern or Connaught. The Trentham-trained filly Sea Fury ran an excellent race for fourth place in the Wellington Guineas, and was only a neck behind Privilege; but a mile may be her limit. The most serious opposition for the local candidates- may come from the Auckland-trained filly Regal Pra * se „ she is a sister to the New Zealand Cup winner Serenata, and her brother. Representative, just failed to win a New Zealand Cup. Her sire. Nightmarch, was a renowned stayer, while her dam, Praise, was an Oaks winner in 1930. Regal Praise was runner-up to Majesty In the Great Northern Guineas, and at her next start dead-heated over a mile in open company. At this stage Regal Praise and Privilege would seem to be the most likely candidates, both having a good background of form; but Lovemorn and Rahine are also likely to prove two worthy representatives for the local stables. Showed Return to Form

Lowry Bay has now become liable for a rehandicap in the New Zealand Cup. On the first day of the Napier Park Racing Club’s spring meeting he showed a return to form and won the Park Stakes Handicap, the winner’s share of the stake being £315, while on Saturday he won the Waiohikl Stakes, which credited him with another £2BO and made his aggregate for the meeting £595. The conditions of the New Zealand Cup state that a winner of any race or races to the value of £5OO after the declaration of weights may be rehandicapped... Lowry Bay is now eight years old, and is on fhe minimum in the New Zealand Cup. As a six-year-old Lowry Bay ran second to Kevin in the New Zealand Cup with 7-5, while in the autumn he finished third in the Great Autumn to First In and Palfrey, then won the United Nations Handicap at the patriotic meeting. His form after that was moderate, and last season he won only one race, a seven-furlong event at the wairarapa Racing Club’s meeting last Easter. The Foxlight gelding did not beat very strong fields at Napier, and the handicapper may take a lenient view of the eight-year-old contender foe New Zealand Cup honours. r Not Up to Expectations .? al C owan disputed second favouritism with Foxwyn in the Alison Cup at Eller?Jle. ° n Saturday. Auckland reports state that he ran prominently for nearly a mile and a quarter, but weakened in the run home. He drew the outside position at the barrier, and at the start collided with Duke Royal his rider, J. Williamson, breaking an Iron; but Balgowan was in front on the rails before the field had travelled two furlongs. This season Balgowan has failed to come up to expectations, and his only success in five starts was in a six-furlong sprint at Te Aroha. When he finished racing last season he was rated the best of the northern three-year-oldss, and some rated him the best of his age in New Zealand. However, Saturday was his third successive failure Over miodle distances, and his performances tend to confirm the opinion that Bruce would have been his superior beyond a mile last season even though he did win two open handicaps.

Verdant Unplaced % Verdant, an Auckland candidate for the Stewards Handicap, ran unplaced in the Cheltenham Handicap at Ellerslie on Saturday. He was second in the running to Rays Pal (which made a brilliant beg * ? nd held his position to the straight entrance and finished fourth Verdant is a stablemate df Chung Chong, and rac ,es in the same interests. On his last ylsit to Riccarton he was unplaced in the Winter Cup after being in the leading division to the straight entrance; and though he may be better suited by the shorter distance of the Stewards’ HandiS?E’< he . do< l s . not a PP ea l as a likely cansoftate for that race unless the track is Has Yet To Win The Invercargill-trained Spare Part showed promise when he ran second in the Cashmere Plate at Riccarton last August; but so far he has not managed to win a race This long-striding Salmagundi gelding Is not suited by heavy tracks, and may do better when raced over more ground and on firm going. Spare Part has not rac#d beyond seven furlongs, and at his last three starts he has encountered wet tracks. He finished third m the maiden race at Winton on Saturday, and may win soon. Related to High Play Kite High had his second win in succession when he won the Lochiel Hack Handicap at Winton on Saturday. He Is trained at Washdyke by E. J. Ellis, and had his first win when he was successful in the Novice Handicap at Gore on Labour Day. Kite High is a four-year-old gelding, and did not race until last September, when he ran unplaced at Geraldine. He is by Inflation from Inchkeith, by Musketoon from Tallulah, by Kilbroney from Miss Odille. The latter is the dam of High Play, who was also raced by Mr W J. Dore, the owner of Kite High. An Outsize in Horses F. D. Jones is now training one of the biggest horses and probably the biggest three-year-old ever seen at Riccarton. He is a bay gelding by Defaulter from Warden’s Queen, and is owned by Mr G H J. Reid, of Rotherham, who bred him. As a yearling he was offered at the Trentham sales, but was passed in at 200 guineas. He now stands over 17 hands, and is massively built. Old identities at Riccarton can recall few horses that approached him in size.