DOUBLE LIGHT

Press, Volume LXXXIV, Issue 25553, 22 July 1948, Page 7

DOUBLE LIGHT

RACING

reappearance at WASHDYKE Considerable interest will be taken in the performance of Double Light in the Pareora Steeplechase at the South Canterbury Hunt Club’s meeting at Washdyke on Saturday. In a year when the North island has again provided the principal contenders for Grand National candidates, Double Light stands out as one of the b ® st _ Prospects among an indifferent lot of iSouth Island candidates. Double Light came into prominence at Riverton at Easter, when he won at each of his three appearances at the meeting. On the first day he scored an easy win in the Waiau TUick Steeplechase, of two miles, carrying 9-7, and he won the Otaitai Hack Steeplechase, also over two miles, with 10-5, just as easily on the second day. On the third day he tackled the open steeplechasers in the Autumn Steeplechase. Carrying 9-10, he led over the last mile and • again scored an easy win, beating Eleanor Star, the winner of the Great Western Steeplechase on the first day, and Night Prince winner of the Riverton Steeplechase on the second day. Double Light has not raced since, though was an acceptor on the first two days at Wingatui. His stablemate, Lisheen W 9J* the Otago Centennial Steeplechase with Eleanor Star in third place. On the second day at Wingatui, E’leanor Star beat Lisheen in the Wingatui Steeplechase when in receipt of 181 b and was also . successful in the Dunedin Steeplechase on the third day. Double Light had no difficulty in ac*or Eleanor Star over the rqore difficult Riverton country, which makes his form look good by comparison. He is regarded as a better jumper than his stablemate Lisheen, which was outclassed in the Wellington Steeplechase, and his re «?P£ earance at Washdyke on Saturday will be watched closely, in the hope that he may prove to be an addition to the small number of South Island candidates that appear likely to offer more than token opposition to the classy northerners Brookby Song and Master Meruit. Double Light is an eight-year-old gelding by Man’s Pal or Sir Simper from ?. ?*? g Light by Tractor from Dazzling Light, by Kilbroney from the famous brood mare. Simper. The family bred a previous Grand National winner in Astral Flame, the latter’s dam, Illume, being a sister to Dazzling Light. Sir Simper, the probable sire of Double Light, has left some fine jumpers, among them the successful performers, Anglo-French and Noko, which finished first and second respectively in the Grand National in 1943. Boolamskee’s Misfortune

Boolamskee rather surprisingly came to grief with six furlongs to run in the Winter Hurdles at Trentham last Saturday. His fall was apparently just as much a surprise to his rider, J. Nicolson, as it was to the spectators. What- was more unfortunate was that the inside panel of the hurdle where Boolamskee fell had been partly flattened and he caught it as it was swinging back after a horse in front had hit it hafd. At. the time. Boolamskee was handily placed in behind the leading division and was going particularly well. In fact it looked almost an odds on chance that he W’ould finish in a place. Last Saturday Boolamskee looked in better condition than when he ran in the Trentham Hurdles, and he promises to be at his peak when he lines up for his fourth attempt at the Grand National Hurdles next month. He has been weighted at 11-0, and will meet Corineus on 131 b better terms than he did in the Winter Hurdles. Both are fine stayers, and the extra two furlongs and 160 yards is not likely to suit one any more than the other. Boolamskee has a fine record in the race. After losing 50 yards at the start, he fell at the last fence when handy to the leaders when Arabian Night won in 1945, he ran second to Bramble Song in 1946, and he won last year carrying 10-4. This year he has had more racing over hurdles than in the last two years, and he appears none the worse for it. At the weights he looks to have bright prospects of joining the select list of dual winners of the race, and on the day Corineus will find him no mean rival to concede 91b to. Winter Cup Candidates The only prominent Winter Cup candidate engaged in the Claremont Handicap at Washdyke on Saturday is Frances, which has not raced since she scored her notable win in the Thompson and HuU Handicaps at Trentham last March. Frances came on to Riccarton for the Easter meeting, but one of her forelegs filled slightly and her owner-trainer, D. P. Wilson, took no risks and did not start her. She has been in' work a few weeks, and the Claremont Handicap on Saturday is her only engagement before the Winter Cup. Other candidates for the Winter Cup in the same race are Graeme, Bath Slipper, Verdant, Winning Cheer, Magnaform, Siegtone, and Erinborough, but some of them may not survive the acceptance stage. Owner’s Stake-winning Record When Town Survey finished fourth in the Winter Hurdles at Trentham on Saturday and earned £125 for the placing he carried the season’s stake winning aggregate of his owner, Mr W. S. Goosman, past the £25,000 mark. This is easily a new record for the Dominion, the previous best for a single season being £17,224 which horses owned by the late Mr T. H. Lowry won in 1916. Stakes in those days, of course, were not on the same high level that they are to-day. Mr Goosman finished twenty-ninth on the list of winning owners in 1942 with £1789 and since then he was fourth in 1943 with £5223; third in 1944 with £7603, sixth in 1945 with £4312, first in 1946 with £14,037, and first in 1947 with £11,005. Mr Goosman has been a plucky buyer at the national sales and has also bought several horses in training. At times he has had more than 20 horses in work divided among three trainers. Record Entries

The entries for the minor events at the Canterbury Jockey Club’s Grand National meeting totalled 1189. With the addition of the entries for the Grand National Steeples and Hurdles and the Winter Cup, the grand total was 1351, which is easily a record. The entry of 104 for the Longbeach Hack Handicap on the third day is also, a record for a race of its type. The only previous occasions when that total was beaten was in classic races for which entries were made as/yearlings. Won at First Attempt

Snowline, the ’ winner of the Waimate Hack and Hunters’ Steeplechase last Saturday, had not previously started in a race. He is a five-year-old black gelding by Kinnoull from Snowy Dawn, and is trained at Washdyke by E. J. Ellis for Mr L. Cooney. Snowline was always prominent and his task was made easier when half the field were eliminated at the stand double. Kinnoull, the sire of Snowline, looks as if he will prove a successful sire of steeplechasers as he had been represented by winners in Kiltie and Homestead earlier in the season. Snowline is an acceptor in the Pareora Steeplechase at Washdyke on Saturday, in which he will meet stronger opposition, and a better line will be gained on his possibilities. Won in Brisbane

Among the New Zealand-bred winners in Australia last week was Barmitzvah, who is a three-year-old gelding by Balloch out of Mit Muzzle, and was bred by Mr W. R. Stead, at the Sasanof Stud, Hastings. Barmitzvah won a race in Brisbane at his first start in Australia. He is owned by Mr H. R. Brien, Wellington, and is trained by V. P. Bernard. He was formerly trained at Riccarton by A. S. Ellis, and was sent to Australia in February. Always Struggling It was surprising to see Coral Arc sent out third favourite in the Crofton Hack Handicap at Trentham last Saturday after his showings on the two earlier days. Last Saturday he was slow away and was always struggling near the rear of the field. Coral Arc is likely to be improved by his racing at Trentham, and he may be a different proposition on the firmer going at Riccarton next month. Hardy Old Veteran The veteran. Town Survey, winner of the Winter Hurdles at Trentham in 1943, came home solidly in the same race last Saturday to gain fourth place, only a neck behind the third place-getter, Skywriter. Town Survey is now 11 years old, and age is beginning to take its toll, but he has more than paid his way this season. On the third day of the Easter meeting at Ellerslie on March 30, Town Survey established a record for two miles at Ellerslie when he won the Buckland Hurdles. Since then he has run second in the King Country Steeplechase at Waikato, arid second to Brookby Song in the Great Northern Steeples. Town Survey holds the distinction of having won the Great Northern, Winter, and Grand National Hurdles in one year.

Addition to Team G. S. Barr brought Newel Post to Riccarton when he returned from Trentham and he will be tried as a hurdler. Newel Post is a five-year-old gelding by Spiral from Lattice, by Pombal from Cowl, by King Rufus. He is owned by Mr L. H. Steele, and was formerly trained at Awapuni by L. A. Pine. He won three races as a three-year-old, but has recorded only minor placings since.

Turned Out E. J. Jennings has turned out the steeplechaser Tiny Atom and the two-year-old Pym’s Pride. The latter is still growing, and is not being hurried. Tiny Atom is not likely to race again.