THREE-YEAROLDS

Press, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 25306, 4 October 1947, Page 4

THREE-YEAR-OLDS

GUINEAS RACES SHOULD CLARIFY FORM

Three-year-old form this season will be clarified a little to-day with the running of the Dunedin Guineas and the Hawke’s Bay Guineas. The heavy track will prevent much value being placed on the Dunedin Guineas form, but the race will serve to show whether the unbeaten filly Excellency is going to be other thari a pure sprinter. Excellency has been' nominated for the Desert Gold Stakes at Trentham, and a win for her to-day will bring her into favour for that race, in which she will be pitted against the best fillies in the North Island. It is significant that W. J. Broughton has travelled to Wingatui to ride her. Coral Arc, Kartikeya, and Bay Fort remain in the Guineas, and some idea oi their capabilities will be gained on how they fafe with Excellency. The withdrawal of Great Trek from the Hawke’s Bay Guineas robs the race of a great deal of interest, but nevertheless it should be quite an interesting race. After winning attractively over a mile and a quarter in hack company last week, Liebestraum is likely to be favoured. He may not match some of the others for brilliance, but none of them will match him for stamina. Dunkerron had everything in her favour when sne won .the Wanganui Guineas, and more idea of her worth will be gained to-day. Distinction was unlucky in the Wanganui Guineas, and after his win over seven furlongs in the Epsom Hack Handicap at Hastings last Saturday, in which he beat Sweet Nymph at level weights, his chances will be favoured to-day. He has always looked like running on, but has taken time to find his form.

If the Matamata-trained Ninnid takes his place in the field, he will give an added interest to the race, as he was one of the leading two-year-olds in Auckland last season. In his only start this season, he ran second to Tiger Tan in the Stewards’ Handicap at Thames on September 20 after making all the pace. Ninnid showed brilliance as a two-year-old and will be more seasoned after a race. Sweet Nymph is a good filly in the making, and after failing in the Wanganui Guineas made an improved showing when she ran Distinction to a neck last Saturday. Both Dunkerron and Sweet Nymph have been entered for the Desert Gold Stakes at Trentham. Liebestraum and Distinction are still in the Wellington Guineas. Italian Sire for U.S.A.

American breeders continue to be interested in the importation of stallions from abroad The latest purchase is the high-class Italian sire, Vezarmo, which is to go to Mr W. J. Salmon’s stud at Lexington. Kentucky. Vezarmo left Italy for the United States last month, travelling via England. Now 11 years old, Vezarmo was the best horse in Italy in 1939. He won the Italian Derby and the Gran Fremio di Milano, one mile and seven furlongs, m Italy, and was later sent to Belgium, where he won the Grahd International d Ostende, of one mile and three furlongs, in which he defeated some highclass French horses, including Goya. A few days earlier he over a mile and a half. Vezarmo is already a proved sire, and last year was third on the winning sires’ list, and was the leading living sire. He has been represented by two classic winners . Vezarmo it; a bay by Ortello (by Teddy) from Volage, by Haversac II (by Rabelais, and sire of Nearco’s dam) from Valse Brune, by Arconte (by Melton). The best horses in Italy are of a higher class than is generally realised, and several outstanding sires have gone from there to other countries. Nearco, which was unbeaten as a racehorse and has proved , highly successful in England and seems certain to be the leading sire this season, is probably the best horse to leave Italy. Two other high-class horses in Niccolo de Arco (half-brother to Nearco) and Torbrido, are now at the stud in England. Ortello, the sire of Vezarmo, and the leading sire in Italy for a number of years, was exported to the United States last year, but died shortly afterwards.

Out For a Spell Harley has been turned out for a spell and will not be brought in again until next year. Harley is a big-framed three-year-old gelding by Lang Bian from Malo, by Hunting Song from Katuscha, by Quin Abbey from Lady Gwen, by Leolantis. - His dam is a half-sister to Matoru, the winner of 11 races, and comes from the same family as the useful Auckland handicapper, Gay Lally, and the Great Northern Steeplechase winner, Survey. Harley is owned by Mr W. R. Toon and traindH by J. S. Shaw, who purchased him as a yearling for 700 guineas. His only race to date was in the John Grigg Stakes at Ashburton, in‘which he was unplaced. When fully furnished Harley will be a massive horse and/ a good type for a’ jumper if he is not successful on the flat. Closely Related to Bruce Roya! Lark, which is engaged in the Novice Handicap at Wingatui, is a mare that is likejy to show improvement with racing. Royal Lark is closely related to Bruce and Royal Tan,’ being a four-year-old mare by Royal Chief from Gay Lark, by Panmure from the Gay Lad mare. Mudlark, the granddam of Bruce and Royal Tan. Incidentally, Otetanui, the dam of the last two, foaled a colt by Neptune last Saturday. She is now owned by Mr O. F. Watson. Rojgal Lark is raced by her breeder, Mr H. S. W. Faulks, and trained by H. A. Anderton at Wingatui. Addition to Team

A two-year-old colt by Battle Song from Raphjg has joined J. S. Shaw’s team at Riccarton. He. has plenty of size, and will be raced by his breeder, Mr Ken Austin. Raphis, a sister to Phar Lap, has previously bred John o’ London to SolicitorGeneral, and the John Grigg Stakes and Great Northern Oaks winner Swingalong to Battle Song. Over More Ground

Grand Pal will be making his first attempt beyond seven furlongs when he contests the Salisbury Hack Handicap, of one mile and three furlongs, at Wingatui to-day. At his only start this season Grand Pal ran second to Relampago in the President’s Hack Handicap at the Otago Hunt Club’s meeting a month ago. Grand Pal has always shown promise, but in several of his races last season he ruined his chances at the start. He is a four-year-old gelding by Man’s Pal from Alms, by British Empire from Grand Eclat, by Martian from the New Zealand Cup winner Lady Lucy, There have been several outstanding stayers from this family, including Star Stranger, Naps, second in the Melbourne and Australian Cups, Fulmen (New Zealand Cup), and] Antares (Auckland Cup). On the Right Side * Zealander revealed bls true ability when he won the open sprint at Otaki last Saturday by six lengths At his previous start Zealander had failed when tried over a mile and a quarter at Foxton finishing a moderate fourth after having every chance. On that occasion Zealander, which suffers from a wind affliction, was not assisted by the heavy atmosphere. Conditions were to his liking last Saturday and he showed that he is capable of holding his own in the best sprint company, agd there should be further opportunities for him before his wind affliction becomes too pronounced. Zealander is raced by Mr A. Grant, of Fairlie, and Mr F. W. Hughes, of Sydney, and was purchased as - a yearling for- 1750 guineas. With his winning stake of £4OO last Saturday Zealander has returned his purchase money, his total winnings now being £2038 10s. " Two-year-old Race

The Southland Racing Club has included a non-totalisator five-furlong handicap for two-year-olds, with a stake of £l5O, on the programme for its spring meeting on November 15.

South Canterbury J.C. South Canterbury Jockey Club acceptances for raejng events close Tuesday. October 7, at 5 p.m. Advt.