SALMON SPEAR IMPRESSES

Press, Volume LXXXIIi, Issue 25302, 30 September 1947, Page 4

SALMON SPEAR IMPRESSES

RACING

WILL REACH GOOD CLASS Although the race was not a true teat of stamina. Salmon Spear’s performance in the Ranfurly Handicap at Wingatui on Saturday was a good one. With nobody willing to make the pace, Salmon Spear pulled hard over the first five furlongs, but went much more kindly after Hansel took over the pacemaking from him with five furlongs to run, and W. F. Eliks got him in behind Hansel. In the run home he had to catch Signal Officer and he finished solidly to win by half a length. Although he was in receipt ox 201 b from Signal Officer. Salmon Spear must be given full credit for his solid finishing run, as Signal Officer is not an easy horse to head off once he is in front. Salmon Spear is one cf the most promising handicappers in the South Island and it will be surprising if he is not successful in one qf the big handicaps later in the season.

Salmon Spear is raced by the estate of the late Mr H. J. Riddle, who bred him, and is trained at Invercargill by F. W. Ellis. After his owner’s death some good four figure offers were refused for the gelding. He is a four-year-old by Salmagundi from Spearmaid, by Greyspear from Marsinah, by Martian from Black Bess, by San Fran from Lady Bevys, an imported mare by the 1879 Derby winner Sir Bevys. Earlier Spearmaid bred two good performers in the brilliant sprinter, Nigger Boy, winner of the Members’ and the Jockey Club Handicaps at Riccarton. and Spanish Lad, winner of the Invercargill' Cup, Dunedin Jockey Club Handicap and Publican’s Handicap and the C.J.C. Templeton Handicap. Good Guineas Trial

Both Coral Arc and Kartikeya registered good trials for the Dunedin Guineas at Wingatui on Saturday. Coral Arc left no doubt as to his superiority to the opposition in the second division of the Trial Handicap, and the race will improve him a lot. Coral Arc moved very short in his preliminary and blew after the race, but that was not surprising as he did no fast work for over a week after the John Grigg Stakes. Kartikeya was decidedly unlucky not to win the Kaikorai Hack Handicap, and his powerful finishing run from the rear of the field was impressive. On Saturday Kartikeya jumped out better than usual and was soon in a handy position a few places back from the leaders, but received a check early and lost his eosition. He did not become properly alanced again until he straightened up for the run home.

Both Coral Arc Kartikeya will be suited by the additional furlong in the Guineas. Southern opinion is that the undefeated filly Excellency will have no difficulty in running out a mile, but if there are any flaws in her stamina these two colts will find it out. Of the remaining Guineas candidates that raced on Saturday none was impressive. Beaugard ran only a fair race when third-in the first division of the Trial Handicap. He was never further back than fourth and passed only the * tiring Fonso in the run hom4. He looks open to improvement, but gives no indication of being up to the class of Coral Arc or Kartikeya. Sally Gazelle ran fourth in the second division of the Trial Handicap. and was running on, but also looks below the required class. Show Boy was never prominent in the Kaikorai Hack Handicap in which the favourite, Bay Fort, was a distinct disappointment. Bay Fort was one of the leaders to the straight but weakened with a furlong to run. It Was only his second race for the season and he will make a lot of improvement. He can be expected, to do better when ridden in behind. As at Ashburton a fortnight earlier. Bay Fort showed a disinclination to line up at the barrier, but when he did so he jumped out well. The most disappointing display of any Guineas candidate was given by the John Grigg Stakes winner. Zorro, which failed bcdly in the October Handicap after having every chance. His rider, C. McDonald, had him handy all the way. z After almost heading Botany at the distance, he failed to carry on and finished sixth. Later in the afternoon he was scratched for the race.

Juvenile Winner at Hastings Bolivar,' winner of the Hastings Stakes at the Hawke’s Bay meeting last Saturday, is a black colt by Beaulivre from Consummation, by Grand Knight from Consultation, by Elevation from Consolation, by Birkenhead. He was bred at Mr T. R. George's Rosswood Stud at Masterton and bought at the last yearling sales for 500 guineas by the Hastings trainer, P. Atkins, who prepares him for Mr H. Galbraith. Bolivar’s dam. Consummation, was a winner on the West-Coast and was a halfsister to Korero, winner of 11 races, including the Parliamentary Handicap at Trentham, Landmark, winner of the Great Northern Hurdles and Waikato Steeples, and Revision, winner of 14 races The hardy sprinter, Poutatau, also comes from this family.

Seventh Second Placing Ruling Moment adopted his usual pacemaking tactics in the Spring Hurdles at Wingatui, but never got a chance to put a break on the field. He was going well when Wee Mac ran past him turning into the straight and held on well for second place. It •was Ruling Moment’s seventh second placing as' a hurdler. He has been distinctly unlucky on occasions, as he has run up against some horses that were above the average. Lost Art and Rink beat him last season and, though the latter was not a good hurdler, he was a capable performer on the flat. On Saturday, Ruling Moment -was no match for Wee Mac, which was a class above the average hack hurdler. Promising Maiden

In Glen Cona, the Riccarton trainer, A. S. Ellis, has a three-year-old that may prove a useful winner later in the season. He was one of the last away in the second division of the Trial Stakes at Wingatui, but showed a lot of speed to run up into seventh place on the home turn and finish sixth. A three-quarter brother to Weld Cona, a promising handicapper which metwith a fatal accident just as he was coming to his best, Glen Cona is a big-framed gelding that has yet to furnish, but he is a bold galloper and may not be long in leaving maiden company. Missed Jump Out Stagestruck looked a little unlucky not to score a surprise win in the Telegraph Handicap at wingatui. He was last away but secured a run on the fence from the home turn and finished about a length behind the winner, Deep Harmony. He was going the better at the post. Stagestruck was making his first appearance since last June, and on his running on Saturday should pay his way among the open sprinters in the south. He is a four-year-old gelding by Paper Slipper from Mary Pratt, by Song Bird from Compression, by Tractor from Sister Radius. The latter was the dam of the Wellington and Dunedin Cup winner. Loughrea, and of Circular Note, a useful sprinter a few years ago. Never Likdy . x Lord Dundonald was sent out a good favourite in the Ranfurly Handicap at Wingatui, but was never travelling like a winner, being at the rear of the field and beating only Brockie home. The strong finishing run that won him the Duke ol Gloucester Cup at Riccarton and the Tally Ho Handicap at the Otago Hunt Club s meeting was missing. x May Fulfil Early Promise When Sir Raimond ran third in the Dunedin Guineas at Wingatui last season and won a maiden race at Gore at his next start, he looked as if he would develop into a good performer, but later his form slumped. However, after his sound performance in the Kaikorai Hack Handicap at Wingatui on Saturday it looks as if Sir Raimond is going to live up to his early promise. He lost several lengths at tte start and it .was a stayer’s run that •brought him success. Sir Raimond has developed into a solid horse and he can be "expected. tW show to advantage over more ground. A brother to the good class staying mare Macedoine. Sir Raimond is by Salmagundi from Honest Maid, by Paladin from Honesty, by Martian. Overdue Win Bowlair scored an overdue win in the Clarendon Handicap at Wingatui, but she was hard pressed over the last 30 yards to hold off a determined challenge from Great Chum, which was a little unlucky as he lost his position in the running in the middle stages of the race when well placed. Dowlair is a six-year-old mare by Leighon from Amoena by Philamor from Taiamai, by The Nut from the Eng-lish-bred mare Lady Molly, and is trained by T. Hobbs at Oamaru for Mr W. E. Aubrey. Rider for Excellency Excellency already seems assured of favouritism in the Dunedin Guineas next Saturday, but she is likely to be in even stronger demand with the announcement that she is to be ridden by W. J. Broughton. It will be one of the few occasions that Broughton has ridden at a meeting south of Riccarton. Dunedin Scratchings The Riccarton candidates Citril, Detract, and Zorro were scratched for the Dunedin Guineas on Saturday. Wee Mac was scratched for all engagements on the second day of the Dunedin meeting. False Rail Wanted

Messrs J A. Higgs, E. Goulden, L. M. th McFarland, representing i-i lhn Bt°n branch of the New Zeai^MaJ£!2 Xers k ,^ainsrs • and Bre eders’ Asw^i ted on th e stewards of the Wellington Racing Club yesterday asking *S r + . c 9nsideration of several suggestions of the association. The main subject disSTS X as A he rest °ration of the false Jrf Treotham. Arguments in support or mis measure were advanced bv W. J T««i Ught . on : chairma n of the New Zealand Jockeys Association, who said members i"3,. n3s organisation were unanimouslv in of the false rail, and advocated its n oo every course where it was found Possible to install it. The stewracing club promised the depuration to consider their at " meeting.—CPA..) x