DUNEDIN FORM

Press, Volume LXXXV, Issue 25741, 1 March 1949, Page 7

DUNEDIN FORM

RACING

money lender was WELL RIDDEN

excellency impressive Money Lender, winner of the Otaeo Handicap on the first day of the Dunedin Jockey Club s autumn meeting on Saturday, has an unbeaten record in his three starts in open company. On Saturday he made his seventeenth appearance in a race this season, and he has thrived to such an extent on his recent racing that he should continue to do well at forthcoming meetings. His connexions missed the acceptances for the first day of the Wellington meeting at Trentham on Saturday, and he will probably start on the second day at Wingatui. The Winmcre lour-year-old gelding is not the most tractable of horses trained at Riccarton, but since his elevation from the hack ranks the Riccarton apprentice M. R- Jones has handled him well in his three wins. Jones rode Money Lender to advantage at Wingatui. His decision to establish a winning break on his most dangerous opponent. Fine Night, with two furlongs to run meant the ‘difference between victory and defeat The two horses were pn terms racing to the straight, but .on the turn Money Lender was kicked up and in a few strides he opened uo a handy lead of about two lengths Fi ne Night, which had been rushed through to the front from the tail of the field •with about six furlongs to run, gameiv responded to a hard ride in the straight but he failed by half a length to bridge the gap.

Money Lender is a son of the Paper Money mare Mercenary, which was bred by Mr H. D. Greenwood. Mercenary’s dam, Egotism, was by Demosthenes from Conceit, by Boniform from Lady Wayward 11. a Ladas mare whose dam Vane was a sister to Flying Fox, an outstanding racehorse and founder of a successful sire line in France. Lady Wayward H, one of the last mares that Mr g G Stead imported from England, had a most successful stud record. Her first foal, Emperador. was a top class sprinter, winning the Middle Park Plate, Great Easter Handicap, and Challenge Stakes at Riccarton, and the Jackson Stakes twice Among her descendants which showed good form were Lord Nuffield (Stewards’ and Members’ Handicaps) and his halfbrother, The Joker, which won the Wellington Cup and the Great Autumn Handicap. More recent descendants of Lady Wayward II are Tenor Royal, a good handicap horse in the North Island, and Attractive Air, which ran second to Baygundi in the Maungatua Handicap at Wingatui on Saturday. Bashful Lady, twice winner of the Winter Cup, was another notable member of the family Money Lender’s sire, Winmore, is by Winning Hit from Lady Aske. and he is thus a half-brother to Golden Air, a winner this season. Lady Aske was got by PhUamor from Nightdew. by Night Raid—Lady Victoria, by Pilgrim’s Pro-gress-Lady Lillian, by Phaeton—Lady Zetland. St Bruno’s Escapade Having been troubled by soreness as a result of galloping on firm tracks, St. Bruno, which is an acceptor for the New Zealand St. Leger Stakes at Trentham next Saturday, was given salt-water treatment near Dunedin before the autumn meeting which opened at Wingatui last Saturday. One morning last week while swimming some little distance from the shore St. Bruno broke awav from his attendant and started to swim further out to sea. It seemed likely that a valuable horse would be lost until his trainer, H. A. Anderton, whistled desperately. Then the Salmagundi three-year-old changed course and swam back to the shore. One wry observation on this escapade was that St. Bruno was making the trip the hard way to Sydney, where he has been nominated for important races this autumn.

St. Bruno found the track too firm for him when he was produced in the Autumn Handicap at Wingatui on Saturday. He moved very short in his preliminary and in the race was last all the way. He is unlikely to race at Trentham unless the track is soft, and if he goes to the post he may be handicapped by his restricted preparation. Super’s Class Super will have a strong South Island followng if he takes his place in the field for the Thompson Handicap on the first day of the Wellington meeting on Saturday. He outclassed his opponents in the St. Andrew’s Handicap at Wingatui on Saturday and, although he will be in stronger company at Trentham, the handsome Nearco five-year-old will probably occupy the position of favourite and, most likely, will make a great bid tq justify that position. Super was well handled by the Southland apprentice C. M. Cassidy on Saturday. He was eased into third place behind Night Fighter and Trident after a furlong had been covered and when asked for an effort racing across the top he soon had the result In safe keeping.

Super has had eight races this season for four wins,’ two seconds, and one third, but his record would have been a better one only for his tendency in his early racing this season to veer out over the concluding stages. His class has been recognised by racegoers wherever he has appeared, for he has been a pronounced favourite in each of his engagements. Easy for Excellency Excellency was produced by F. W. Ellis in splendid order for the Autumn Handicap on the first day of the Dunedin meeting on Saturday, and her winning fierformance was consistent with her ooks. In spite of her 9-10 the brilliant Salmagundi mare outclassed the field after being ridden patiently by the trainer’s son, W. F. Ellis. With half a mile to run, Excellency had only The Grate and St. Bruno behind her, and she was at least five lengths from the leader which, at that stage, was Cipher. She . was moved forward racing across the top, and at the straight entrance she was third in the running behind Cipher and Bath Slipper. Once asked for an effort she put the issue beyond doubt in a few strides, and she had a winning margin of four lengths from Red Pickle, which ran a good race for his new owner, Mr F. J. Fay, of Dunedin.

Much interest was centred on Frances, which was making her first appearance since her success in the Auckland Cup. She was handily placed in third position with half a mile to run, but did. not improve from that stage and finally finished sixth just ahead of her stablemate, The Grate. The bracket was fifth choice in the betting, and there were only two other runners, Bath Slipper and St. Bruno, at longer odds. Frances has been paid up for in the Autumn Handicap and the Thompson Handicap on the first day at Trentham next Saturday, and her race at Wingatui should bring her into form for the engagement chosen for her. Frances won last year’s Thompson Handicap and completed a double for the meeting by winning the Hutt Handicap on the second day. The Grate found the distance of the sprint event on Saturday too short for her. She is an acceptor for the Autumn Handicap on the first day at Trentham. Bloodstock Sale Passings were frequent at the second annual Otago bloodstock sale held at Wingatui on Friday. The sale was attended by a large gallery of spectators, but there were few bidders. It was conducted by Pyne, Gould, Guinness Ltd., in conjunction with Wright, Stephenson and Co.. Ltd., and the auctioneer was Mr B. Clarkson. Most interest was centred on a yearling colt by Defaulter from Lady Paigle, but he failed to reach the reserve placed on him by the vendor, Mr H. Halliday, of Wingatui, and was passed at 650gns. The brood mare Panoni (Vaals —Angry Words), which has been served by Balloch. was bought by T. A. McLeod, of Wingatui, for 300gns. The vendor was Mr E - R- Curtis, of Patearoa. The second highest price of the sale Was 270gns paid by the Riccarton trainer, C- G. Humphries, for the six-year-old Siegfried—Lumiere gelding, Luminous Knight. A half-brother to Red Pickle, Luminous Knight won six races for Mr W. Swale, of Limehills, who raced Royal Lancer. Altogether 16 lots changed hands. Riccarton Successes Riccarton stables did not have a strong numerical representation on the first day of the Dunedin meeting, but their representatives fared well. Robin Redbreast dead-heated with Dinnyhazer in the Trial Handicap: Money Lender won the principal event, the Otago Handicap: Robinbye and Swayup had the finish of the two-year-old race, the Dunedin Handicap, to themselves; and Tuatea was the surprise winner of the final event, the Tradesmen’s Handicap. Robin Redbreast ana Robinfaye are trained by G. Ridgway for Mr J. M. Samson, and their successes were rewards for some consistent Performances earlier in the season. Smart Hacks Baygundi and Attractive Air. which finished first and second in the Maungafiia Handicap at Wingatui on Saturday, proved their superiority over the other runners in no uncertain manner. Both Were slow away and both showed brilliant •peed to improve their positions for the run home. Honours of the race were wi f h Baygundi, for when he was improvhis position, he was checked. After if, set- back Baygundi finished resolutely in the straight to overhaul Attractive Air, which had reached the front « the furlong, and he won by a neck •?’ n g away. Baygundi is a three-year-gelding by Salmagundi from Featherboa, and is trained at Thornbury r J}?■ Cor kery. Featherboa was by Fuli • cather from the Balboa mare, Perboa. March at Te Aroha rhe four-year-old Quick March scored nis second important success of the season when he won the Herries Memorial LUp, principal event at the Te Aroha •ockey Club’s meeting on Saturday. Last month at Trentham Quick March won rne Summer Handicap, beating Langham narrowly. He registered a solid performance on Saturday to win convincingly, CTom Redingote and Greekette. The finish was marred when the well-backed wond fancy. Master Coronach, fell while •oing strongly in a good winning posi-

tion just over a furlong from the post and Silver Secret toppled over him. Master Coronach received internal injuries and was destroyed. Last season Master Coronach won the Great Northern Challenge Stakes at Ellerslie, beating Excellency in the smart time of Imin 23 3-5 sec, a course record, for seven furlongs. Helio Withdrawn Helio was withdrawn from all engagements at the Wellington Racing Club’s autumn meeting at 11.30 a.m. yesterday.— (P.A.) Banks Peninsula Racing Club Acceptances Acceptances (racing events) and withdrawals (trotting events) will close at 5 p.jp. to-day. Advt.