CUP CANDIDATES AT GORE

Press, Volume LXXXIV, Issue 25638, 29 October 1948, Page 5

CUP CANDIDATES AT GORE

RACING

UNIMPRESSIVE SHOWING The New Zealand Cup candidates that raced at the Gore meeting did not enhance their prospects. Fine Night was certainly a winner on the first day, but Sal’s Pal, Brockie, and Sir Garnish raced well below expectations. Fine Night’s success in the Members’ Handicap was his first in.open company, and he won with a good deal to spare. On the second day, • however, he could finish only a moderate third, but the going might have been against him. Sal’s Pal was unable to handle the track conditions and, as he is a big-strid-ing gelding, it was not surprising that he failed to race up to his best on the turning track. Brockie had conditions to suit him, but he was not a possibility either day. Sir Garnish ran a fair race on the first day, but he was withdrawn on Monday. Spare 'Part was "hot produced on Saturday, and he was withdrawn before the appearance of the second day weights. There is nothing amiss with him, but no risks were taken with him on the heavy track. Salmon Spear was not produced on either day.

Southern Derby Candidate St. Bruno, whose chief mission at the New Zealand Cup meeting will be the New Zealand Derby Stakes, won at his first two appearances in open company at Gore in impressive style. In the open sprint on the first day he did not leave the issue in doubt and won with a lot in hand. He certainly had a good concession in the weights on a holding track, but the manner in which he so completely trounced sprinters of the calibre of Wantwood, Red Pickle, Patmos, and Super Flight gave a taste of his class. Produced over a mile and a quarter on a . sodden track on the second day, he won as decisively as he did the first day. He had to be shaken up at the top of the straight when Aganev looked like making a race of it, but the result was not in doubt over the last furlong. St. Bruno, which is a half-brother by Salmagundi to Listen In, has shown his best form on heavy tracks, winning the Dunedin Guineas under such conditions. Philastre, the dam of St. Bruno, comes from a family that has produced some very good middle distance performers. She was by the Son-in-Law horse Philamor, from Helen Hunt, by Hunting Song from Helen Rufus, by King Rufus from Helen Portland, an Australian-bred mare which founded a great family for Mr G. F. Moore. The best members of this family in New Zealand have been Reremoana, a high-class miler, and Lady Cavendish, which bred the high-class winner Golden Hair, which in turn is the dam of Double Chance, one of the best handicappers in the Auckland province at the present

Wantwood Returning to Form Of the C.J.C. Stewards’ Handicap candidates to race at the Gore meeting, Wantwood was most impressive. In the Stewards’ Handicap on Monday, when the going was very heavy, he finished on in his best style over the lasts furlong to get up for third, with half a head and half a length separating the placed horses. Under 9-2 it was a good effort, and Want, wood can be expected to make an early return to the winning list. Geisha Girl failed to see out the distance on the first day, and Red Pickle, which was sent out first choice in the Flying Handicap, failed badly and finished near the rear. The Hob was not produced, and it was reported that he had knocked himself. Full Play was withdrawn each day because of the track conditions, although he was’ at the meeting. Legislation May Change Racing Dates In the event of thfe Public Holidays Bill, which was introduced in the House last week, becoming law. the Wellington Racing Club will apply for a change of dates for its summer meeting from January 15, 22, and 29 to January 22, 24, and 29. Tl/e Pahiatua Racing Club, which is scheduled for January 8 and 29, will then be able to race on consecutive Saturdays, January 8 and 15. , The change will also affect the national yearling sales, the third and fourth days of which will be altered from Monday and Tuesday. January 24 and 25, to Tuesday and Wednesday, January 25 and 26. ImpressiVe Hack Winner Baygundi was an impressive hack winner on the opening day at Gore, when he outstayed the hack sprinters in the Kaiwera Handicap. He was back in fifthplace turning into the straight, but over the last furlong he came right away to win with a lot to spare. The Salmagundi three-year-old is to be raced at the New Zealand Cup meeting, where he will contest the hack stayers’ races, including the Otaio Plate. Baygundi has developed into a particularly good type of three-year-old since he raced last season, and there appears little doubt that he will go on to good company. His dam, Feather Boa, was a Full Feather mare from Per Boa, by Balboa from Perse, by Maori King from Perseis, by Positano.

Won Without Proper Penalty H. H. Phillips rode in two high-weight races over the week-end, but under different conditions. He put up 71b extra for Regal Lily at the North Canterbury meeting, and this directed attention to the fact that he rode Langham at his handicapped weight when he won at Motukarara. What happened was that Phillips s qualification as a jumping rider was not questioned on Saturday, but he was challenged on the subject by the actingstipendiary steward on Monday. The rule provides that a jockey must have had three rides in jumping races ’during the period of 12 months immediately preceding the meeting,” to qualify for highweight events without carrying a penalty. Phillips had had two jumping rides during the preceding 12 months, but his third was at Geraldine, in October of last year, a little more than a week outside the prescribed period. This was cleared up at Rangiora by Phillips carrying the 71b penalty required for a flat race jockey. Though he won at Motukarara on Saturday with 71b less weight than he should have carried, such a contingency is provided for in the Rules of Racing, as follows:—“If. when the first horse leaves the birdcage, no objection has been * taken by a stipendiary steward or other person interested, all the riders shall, for the purposes of such race, be deemed to have been by the stewards, and no objection shall lie against any horse on the ground that its rider was not eligible to ride, or that the horse did not carry the penalty.” From Old Stonyhurst Family Mount Barker, which showed up in her first two races at the Dunedin spring meeting, came into her own at Gore when she won at her two starts. She scored a runaway win in a novice division the first day and against the hack sprinters on the second day she won with al-

most as much in hand in heavier going. She is a particularly good type of Royal Chief filly, her dam, Soliad, being an Iliad mare from the Stonyhurst bred Scotch Wit, by The Ace from Scottish Star, by Clanranald from Safeguard, by Maxim from Teredo, by Apremont from the Traducer mare. Nautilus, who founded one of the most successful branches of the Mermaid family. Mount Barker has had little racing experience to date, but she has shown sufficient to indicate that she will develop good class form for her owner-breeder, Mr S. Lynch, of Riversdale, who also raced her dam, Soliad. Trainer’s Smart Action Recognised The Sydney Turf Club has presented a watch and a cheque to the trainer, S. Leech, as an appreciation of his smart action when he halted the three-year-old colt Dynamite when it bolted through the paddock crowd at Rosehill on September 18 and injured several people. Related to Signal Officer One of the best types of novices, produced at Gore was Chieftainess, who finished fourth in a division of the Benio Handicap, when making her first appearance in a race. She missed the jump out, and, after covering extra ground, she finished very resolutely. She is a three-year-old Royal Chief filly from Lackomai, an Irish Lancer mare from Some Signal, a half-sister by Some Boy II to Signal Officer, Waitoru. Trebleack, Doubleack, Ackemma, and others. Chieftainess looks like adding to the record of this family. Answer to Correspondent “Enquirer,” Upper Riccarton: £3 14s; £1 16s 6d. „ tt "Wager,” Cashmere: Keening. He did race again later. Canterbury Jockey Club Entries General entries for the New Zealand Cup meeting will close at 5 p.m. to-day. —Advt.