WHOORAY USEFUL STEEPLECHASER

Press, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 25276, 30 August 1947, Page 4

WHOORAY USEFUL STEEPLECHASER

MAY WIN HUNT CUP AT NEW PLYMOUTH TO-DAY Only a few newcomers will oarade in the Taranaki Hunt Cup Steeplechase at New Plymouth to-day, but numerically the field will be It-rger than that in the Egmont-Wanganui Hunt Cup last Saturday because of the presence of a number of horses that contested the hack steeplechase last Saturday. The best prospect artiong the newcomers is Whooray, which has registered two firsts and a second in his four starts over country this winter. An eight-5 ear-old gelding by Illumination from the Day Comet mare Click Clack, Whooray is a product of the hunting field, . and is trained by his owner, Mr T. Lupton. Whooray won the Hack and Hunters’ Steeplechase on the first day of the Wanganui winter meeting. At his next start he was successful in the Hack and Hunters’ Steeplechase at the Rangitikei meeting on June 21. Master Play beat him in the Matal Steeplechase, which was his only start at Trentham, and at his last start he failed in the Pakuranga Hunt Cup, finishing a moderate fourth. To-day he will be receiving 131 b from Ellerton Hall and at sucn a difference in weights, may have the latter’s measure. Political Boy is also engaged in the Hack apd Hunters’ Hurdles, but he has not raced since Tast March, and may need a race He was a winner over country two seasons ago. The lower weighted division in the race have little to recommend them, 'and Whooray, Ellerton Hall, and last Saturday’s double winner, Pomade, look like taking part in the finish. Wanganui Guineas Candidates Several candidates for the Wanganui Guineas will be racing at either Fcxton or New Plymouth to-day, and some interest will attach to their showings. Last season Franada made a good impression in his few races and he was a useful fourth in the Waverley Hack Handicap at New Plymouth last Saturday. He should be improved with the race and is likely to be prominent in the Urenui Hack Handicap to-day. Dunkerron showed promise when she won a maiden race at the Rangitikei Hunt Club’s meeting last month, but she .failed to run out seven furlongs last Saturday. She will run over the same distance to-day, and unless she shows improvement can be written off. as a Guineas prospect. At Foxtbn Marilyn will have her first race of the season among the open sprinters in the Robinson Handicap. Marilyn won two races as a two-year-old and looked like running on. One of her failings was that she was liable to miss the jump out. Molly Adair won at her last start as a two-year-old and will have her first race Of the season in the Motua Hack Handicap at Foxton. In the same race is Distinction, a Foxbridge gelding that should show useful form this season. He won one race as a two-year-old, but he always# looked as if he would benefit with a bit of time. In Work Again The imported mare, Blue Lace, is back in work with J. S. Shaw’s team. Blue Lace had only five races last season for a first, a second, and a third. She has come in in good order for another preparation and may develop useful' form this season. Her sire. Pheroshaz, is now at the stud in New Zealand, but sired a number of winners in England. In the 1946 season he was represented by 11 winners of 23 races and £Bl3B in stakes. Restricting His Riding R. Heasley said at Wingatui last Thursday morning that he intends to do very little riding in future. He will retain his ; licence to ride in high-weight events but l will not accept any mounts in jumping I races, although he will probably ride Royal Writ when he resumes racing. As a rider of jumpers Heasley has no superior in New Zealand, but he is troubled by increasing weight. He took out a trainer’s licence last season. Price Not Stated A cable message states that when interviewed in San Francisco, Mr Charles Howard declined to give the exact) price he had paid for the Australian sire Ajax, but said that it was approximately 100,000 dollars. He said that he would bring the horse to Los Angeles on the first available ship. To Be Spelled As he is not suited by firm tracks, Pensacola is to be turned out for a good spell on the spring grass. Pensacola retains most of his speed and although R. Wilson succeeded in winning a race with him during the winter, his form on the whole was disappointing, and it is hoped that he will come right after a spell. Pensacola showed good-class form as a three-year-old. winning the New Zealand Derby ana the Canterbury Cup. As a four-year-old. he won the Harcourt Stakes at Trentham. Arrived in Melbourne

Da Vinci arrived in Melbourne from Brisbane on Friday last week, under the care of J. M. Cameron. Reports say that Da Vinci is very well at present, and is to race in Melbourne while the tracks are soft. In New Zealand, Da Vinci’s best performances were on firm track:?. Air Ace Schooled Air Ace shaped well in a school over two hurdles at Wingatui on Thursday morning. He will start in the hurdle race at the Otago' Hunt Club’s meeting next -Saturday if a suitable rider is available.