SONERI RETURNS TO RICCARTON

Press, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 25244, 24 July 1947, Page 4

SONERI RETURNS TO RICCARTON

RACING

SCENE OF EARLIER TRIUMPHS

Twelve months ago Soneri gave racegoers at Riccarton their first taste of her qualities when she finished brilliantly to head off Leigh Barton on the post in the Brabazon Handicap. That race was the second of a string of nine brilliant victories that earned for her the distinction of being not only one of the best performers in the country, but o-ne of the best mares ever to have raced in the country.

Soneri followed her Brabazon Handicap success with a brilliant win in the Winter Cup, Leigh Barton again filling second place. In that race she drew No. 23 at the barrier in a field of 24, but was in third place at the end of two furlongs. She held her position to the straight, then drew out in the run home to win as she liked. That performance established Soneri in the public eye, but there was a still more brilliant performance the following Saturday, when she won the August Handicap with 9-11. On that occasion she drew the outside position at the barrier in a field of 19. She began brilliantly and was in third place at the end of two furlongs. She had the race won as soon as the field straightened up, and came down to the post with her ears pricked, amid applause from the crowd. Soneri was not produced again at the meeting, and her next start was in the six furlong Wairongomai Handicap at the Otaki-Maori meeting on October 12, when she again won easily. At her next start she made her first appearance in a weight-for-age race, winning the Harcourt Stakes, of one mile and a quarter, run at Uie Wellington spring meeting held at Awapuni on October 28. The race was run on a heavy track, and she beat Longsword and Kindergarten (a shadow of his former self) very comfortably. Soneri then came on to the last New Zealand Cup meeting, when, on the first day, with another sterling performance, she won the Stewards’ Handicap with 9-13. On the second day she had a comfortable win over Golden Souvenir in the Churchill Stakes, the mile and a quarter journey being too short for the latter, when Soneri was allowed to make her own pace. Memorable Race

On the third day came that memorable race with Golden Souvenir in the Canterbury Cup, of one mile and a half. Soneri led to the half-mile, where Golden Souvenir got up on terms with her. The pace was then on, and over the last three furlongs the pair staged one of the sternest battles between two class horses ridden by two top-class jockeys ever seen at Riccarton. As they neared the post neither could gain the advantage, and the judge could not separate them as they crossed the line. Such a gruelling race evidently dimmed Soneri’s brilliance temporarily, as at her next appearance, in the Trentham Stakes, run over a mile and three furlongs at Trentham in January, she could finish only third to Beau le Havre and Bruce. Soneri was then off the scene until last June. She made her reappearance in the King George Handicap at Ellerslie on the King’s Birthday, but she missed the jump out and lost her chance, finishing in the middle of the field. The following Saturday she revealed all her old brilliance when she won the mile York Handicap with 10-1, outclassing the field and running the distance in Imin 38 2-ssec on a rain-affected track. That was her last start as she was not produced at Tren-

Soneri looked particularly well when she was exercised on the plough at Riocarton yesterday morning, and has furnished into a powerful-looking mare. She looks bigger and more muscular than she did in the spring, and it is not surprising that she can master the big weights she does. With 10-13 she has a tremendous burden in the Brabazon. Handicap on Saturday, but with all her weight she will be hard to beat; and it is safe to say that no victory would be more popular. National Hurdles Candidates Schooled The Grand National Hurdles candidates, Battle Chief and Matapan, provided the chief interest in an otherwise quiet morning at Riccarton yesterday, when they were associated in a run over six hurdles They kept together throughout, Matapan providing the only blemish in an attractive display of hurdling when he hooked the third fence. Matapan has won at his last two starts, being successful in the Century Hurdles, of two miles and a furlong, with 10-0, at Wanganui on May 31, and the Rangitira Hurdles, of one mile and seven furlongs, with 10-8, at Awapuni, on June 7. He is a seven-year-old gelding by Night Raid from the Martian mare Battleflag, the dam of the successful steeplechaser Slayer. Matapan is a solid stayer, as is to be expected on his breeding, and will see out the Grand National Hurdles journey better than most. Battle Chief has never looked better than he does at present, and, like Matapan, is a solid stayer. With 10-1 he is handily weighted in the Grand National Hurdles. In the next few weeks there is every prospect of Battle Chief adding to the £1485 he has won since his present owner, Mr L. N. Hodgson, purchased him for 55 guineas last August. Clean Display Fairyhouse, a 10-year-old gelding by Day Comet from Fairness, thus a threequarters brother to Test Pilot, attracted attention by his clean display over eight of the trial steeplechase fences. He was ridden by his owner, Mr J. D. Roberts, and is a candidate for the Hunt Cup on Saturday. Kinrara showed a lot of pace to finish clear of Wane and Silverstream in a fast run over six hurdles. The trio cleared the first hurdl- together, after which Kinrara and Silverstream drew clear of Wane. At the third hurdle Kinrara outjumped Silverstream and soon drew well cleat. Wane went past Silverstream in the run to the last hurdle. Kinrara gave a good display, and this solidly-built Ninth Duke gelding should have a future as a jumper, as he is only a rising four-year-old. Brackets on Saturday Bracketed horses at the Christchurch Hunt Club’s meeting on Saturday are:— Lawford Hack and Hunters’ Steeples: Ballyaggan and Waihopi. Haldon Stakes: Cerisette and Jacquee; Lodestar and Magnaform; Maka Maka and Ned Kelly; Paramour and Royal Saleve; Strathconan and Weldrest. Brabazon Handicap: Whitley and Clyde Bridge; Dash o’ Dink and Nightblush; All Quality and Lovemorn; Te-Muka and Sahib. Kennels Hack Handicap: Stabilisation and Vulnerable. More Visiting Horses Arrive A. E. Didham arrived from Wellington yesterday with Foxchase, Special Flight. Amorlad, Baffling, Brockie, and Batal. The last two were sent on to Wingatui last night. Unfortunately Amorlad got down in the float travelling from Trentham to Wellington, and suffered minor injuries that may hinder his preparation for his engagements at Riccarton. Other horses to arrive yesterday were Bay Robe, Town Survey, and Roman Ned. Haldon Stakes Divisions

Unless the number of starters in the Haldon Stakes at the Hunt Club’s meeting at Riccarton is reduced to 26, the race will be run in divisions as follows: First division: Dark Arrow, Imasong, Miss Mahatma. Wide Range, Ballockbuie. Broie, Cerisette, Confidence - Trick, Detract, Golden Hope. Helio, Magnaform. Ned Kelly, Royal Saleve, Weldrest. Second division: Gay Quest. Takhnau, Renege. Agenda. Beaugard. Carry On. Jacquee. Count Minerva. Faultrosa, Gold Medallion, Lodestar, Maka Maka. Paramour, Strathconan.

Handily Placed In the Brabazon Handicap last year. Whitley dead-heated with Dash o’ Dink for third place behind Soneri and Leigh Barton when carrying 8-3. In the interim Whitley has won five races and been placed on seven occasions, and has earned, a total of £1660 in stakes. He is fortunate enough to come into the Brabazon Handicap with 8-9, a rise of only 61b on last year’s weight. Most of Whitley’s successes have been gained on country courses, but this year he showed his ability to run out a good seven furlongs at Riccarton when he finished third to Derene and Red Pickle in the Great Easter Handicap. In his recent races Whitley has been ridden in behind quite successfully, and with similar tactics and the relief he has received in the weights he has had to carry recently, it will not be surprising if he takes part in the finish of the Brabazon Handicap on Saturday, in spite of the class of the top-weights.

Flying Ace as Hurdler Flying Ace, winner of the Thompson Handicap at Trentham in 1944, has shown better form on the flat than the average hack hurdler, and judging by his success in the Pukehou Hack Hurdles at the Manawatu Hunt Club’s meeting at Awapuni last Saturday, may have a good future as a hurdler. He was credited with a dashing display of jumping and had the race in safe keeping half a mile •4rom home. Flying Ace will now come to Riccarton for the Grand National meeting. On the first day he is engaged in the Trial Hurdles and is weighted at 10-11. Top-weight is Desert Trek with 11-12. At the weights the hack hurdlers may find him a problem. Formerly Trained at Riccarton

Scotch Tweed, Battle Area, and Destine, which died on the voyage to* Australia in the Waitaki a few days ago, were part of a consignment of horses for Mr W. Hallum, of Perth. They were purchased by C. H. Fairman along with several others some weeks ago. The three horses had all been in training at Riccarton. Scotch Tweed, a five-year-old gelding by Tweed II from Ceanothus. was trained by C. H. Fairman, while Battle Area, a three-year-old filly by Battle Song from Black Shadow, was first trained by C. Emerson and later by R. P. Register. Destine, a two-year-old gelding by Defaulter from Waiwene, was in training with E. J. Jennings for a short time. Prana, which was also in training at Riccarton this season, was also one of the consignment.