NGAIO HURDLES

Press, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 25134, 15 March 1947, Page 4

NGAIO HURDLES

PAR AVION MEETS WEAK FIELD

A very poor field of hurdlers will parade in the Ngaio Hurdles at Trentham today, although the race carries a stake of £7OO. The top-weight, Voltaire, though useful, has no recent form. The most recent winner in the field is Par Avion, which is the likely favourite. At his last start, Par Avion won the Okaiawa Hurdles, of one mile and five furlongs on the second day of the Egmont meeting at Hawera on March 1. He was also successful at his two previous starts over hurdles on the Taranaki circuit at Christmas. An eight-year-old entire. Par Avion is by Ringmaster from Damaris, by Limond from Pennon, by Coriander from Eulogy.. The strongest opposition for Par Avion may come from Provider, which outclassed the field in the Linden Hurdles at Trentham last January. He was placed at his next two starts at Ellerslie, but did not give -such a smooth display of jumping as at Trentham. He had a run on the flat three weeks ago, and interest will be taken in his reappearance. Of the other runners Whackie, which is now on the schooling list and confined to this type of racing, is reported to be a doubtful starter, while Foxada and Rothnic have little form to

recommend them. Foxada won over hurdles at Hastings last August, beating a poor field.

Yearlings Broken In The Probation—La Vie colt, purchased for 1400. guineas by the Riccarton trainer, C. C. McCarthy, for Mr A. Murrell, of Sydney, has been broken in at the Inglewood Stud. Two other yearlings, a brown colt by Battle Song from Raphis, and a bay filly by Defaulter from Bonnie Agnes, a half-sistier by Nightmarch to the New Zealand Oaks winner. Sweet Agnes, owned by Mr Austin, have also been broken in. The Battle Song colt, which is a brother to Swingalong. is a very solid individual and has been named Cyrana, while the Defaulter filly has been named Debonair. Won at Last Start

Prince Coronach, a fresh runner in the Pacific Handicap at Trentham to-day, was successful .at his last start winning the Juvenile Handicap, of five furlongs, at the Pahiatua Racing Club’s meeting at Woodville on January 25. He did not beat a very strong field on that occasion, but three days before that had run third to Bay Fort and Night School, over six furlongs, in the Nursery Handicap at Trentham, finishing less than a length from the winner. He needs only to run up to his recent form to have prospects in today’s race. Prince Coronach is trained at Trentham by R. J. Belcher, and is by Coronach from Devoted, by Ringmaster from Lovers Lane, by Lord Quex from the imported mare Cheloma, which was a half-sister to the famous brood mare. Simper. As a yearling. Prince Coronach was purchased by Mr H. M. Waddington, of Lower Hutt, for 1350 guineas. Closely Bred

Beau Son, a three-year-old gelding by Sir Beau, has raced consistently this season and may be prominent in the Belmont Hack Handicap at Trentham to-day. In 11 starts Beau Son has had one win, four seconds, a third, and a fourth. At his last start he ran second to Sailor Boy over a mile at Masterton. It was his first attempt at the distance and he finished on well. Beau Son is inbred to the imported mare, Rosie Desfhond. his sire’s dam and his maternal grand-dam being sisters. Sir Beau is by Beau Pere from Rose Ray by Chief Ruler from Rosie Desmond. while Waiongona, the dam of Beau Son. is by Colossus from Just So by Chief Ruler from Rosie Desmond. Such close breeding as this is comparatively uncommon these days.

Riccarton Jumpers The Riccarton jumpers Lunaria, Roman Son, Prince Dolomite, and Gayfort are entered for the high-weight events at the Oamaru meeting next Saturday. The southern hurdlers. Sphere and Prize Ring, are also entered. Roman Son may race at Riverton at Easter, while Gay fort, which raced at Motukarara on March 1, may race at some of the northern meetings when ready. Battle Chief is working along satisfactorily, and will probably be racing at Riccarton at Easter. His stable-mate. Commemorate, came in big ,in condition, and will be prepared for | steeplechasing. He showed great promise

last season. Night Prince is also progressing steadily for G. Elliot. Schooling tasks have been postponed because of the hard tracks. Purchases in France The Gaekwar of Baroda has purchased Jolie Reine, dam of the European champion three-year-old Souverain, and the French filly Pirette. Pirette. is to go into the stable of S. Armstrong, and is to be trained with the Ascot Gold Cup in view. Jolie Reine is again in foal to Maravedis, sire of Souverain, and has been sent to the Beech House Stud. Plans have been made for a mating with Nearco. Jolie Reine is by Palais Royal II from Dolores, by Diligencg from Arris by Orby from Aroon. It is understood that the price paid for Jolie Reine is one of the highest figures given for a French-bred brood mare. The Gaekwar of Baroda was the purchaser of the yearling full-brother to Dante for the record price of 28,000gns. Sold to Australia

The thoroughbred sire Arvakur arrived in Wellington from Hastings on Thursday and was due to be shipped to Australia yesterday in the Wahine. Arvakur has been purchased from Mr W. C. Growcott, Ngaroma Park Stud, by Messrs Wright, Stephenson, and Company, Ltd., acting on behalf of a Queensland breeder. Arvakur is an 11-year-old . brown horse by Beau Pere from The feegum and is a halfbrother to High’ Caste. With few opportunities he has sired the winners, Hypholin, 'Ktimari, Clive Belle, Idle Along, and Vakura.

Big Betting Plunge Prominence has been given in Australian papers to the betting plunge on Master Dash in the Caulfield Futurity Stakes. Master Dash was backed from 25 to one down to nine to one, and it was reported that the commission was £3OOO, one of the greatest plunges associated with the Futurity Stakes. Although it has been reported that the extensive betting operations were not stable inspired, critics state that those who backed the horse obviiously knew what they were doing. In some quarters Master Dash was heralded as a mystery horse,ubut there was little myster” about his capabilities in New Zealand.

For Education Only F. A. Roberts’ two-year-old filly Citral should derive a good deal of benefit from her trip to Trentham. She sprinted well over half a mile* on Thursday morning, and should be in excellent order when she commences racing at Riccarton at Easter. Citral. is a two-year-old chestnut filly by Defaulter from Citoyenne, thus a sister to the brilliant Derene and Centime. She should repay her ownertrainer for the patient policy he has adopted with her. Bloodstock Sale

Annual Easter Bloodstock Sale: This fixture will be held at the A. and P. Showgrounds, Addington, on Wednesday, April 9. Over 60 attractively-bred lots have already been entered and attention is drawn to an advertisement on this page inviting further entries. Application forms will be posted on request to either of the joint auctioneers, Messrs Pyne, Gould, Guinness Ltd., and Messrs Wright, Stephenson, and Company, Ltd. —Advt.

Back at Addington Lady Spray, which was left in H. Purdon’s cafe at Auckland after racing at the Auckland Trotting Club’s meeting last month, disappointed in her race at the same club’s meeting last Saturday, and she -has been returned to Addington to be trained by A. Purdon. She may have her next start in the Cheviot Cup to-day. In Form <? Surely followed up her easy win in the Balfour Trot at the Gore Racing Club’s meeting on February 8 with a fine performance to win the Jellicoe Handicap by a length from Trustee at the Invercargill Trotting Club’s meeting on March 1. and. on recent form, her chance must be highly rated for the Edendale Handicap at the Wyndham Trotting Club's meeting to-day.