Dormant Favoured In Trentham Winter Oats

Press, Volume XC, Issue 27403, 16 July 1954, Page 4

Dormant Favoured In Trentham Winter Oats

RACING

(From Out Own Reporter)

WELLINGTON, July 15. Dormant, runner-up to Elixir in the Parliamentary Handicap on Wednesday, may turn the tables on the Te Rapa horse in the Winter Oats,.the first leg of the double at Trentham on Saturday, the concluding day of the Wellington winter meeting. Dormant will be on 61b better terms because of his defeat, and Elixir has now risen to a place in the weights from which the stayers have found difficulty in producing their best form in the heavy going on the first two days of the meeting. C. H. Mackie had to change his ground several times on Dormant to get a run on Wednesday, and this eased Elixir’s task. It was another good performance in the record of a good, consistent galloper, and a win for him would be well deserved. The Hastings-trained four-year-old put in a long stayer’s run to finish third in the Whyte Handicap last Monday. Interest in the Parliamentary Handicap was confined to Elixir and Dormant over the last furlong, so it is very likely that Elixir will be in one of the places again, if he has an equally good run in this field of 21. He stays well, and the Trentham going has allowed him to improve on any of his recent performances. Payloch got closest to Elixir and Dormant at the finish of the Parliamentary Handicap, and, as she was also runnerup in the Whyte Handicap, she has a form background to be respected. This Hawera-trained Balloch mare has not run a bad race for some time m a busy season, but it is quite likely that she will be at long odds again on Saturday. She _ has certainly found success elusive in a busy programme since she last won in May, but a slight change of luck could help her to improve on a string of minor placings.

Topmast Improving „ ,§ ir Nicholas and Topmast, fourth and nftn in the Parliamentary Handicap, are again engaged. Sir Nicholas finI sh . e % more strongly for his placing, but Topmast may yet have to regain his best form. He missed racing at Hawke’s Bay before coming to Trentham, and should be improved with nis racing here. Topmast won the Winter Oats last year, under 7-13. He could do so again this year under the same weight. . The form of the others at the meeting has been nothing to enthuse about, ® veteran Pierre should be one of the improvers. He was running on for eighth in the Parliamentary Handicap, and he will get top marks if he can improve enough to carry top weight to victory at the expense of his younger opponents. Pierre is now rising nine, but is as bright as ever. J race at Kiccarton next month. Glenkay is smart, but has not raced since early in June. She was left in her box on Wednesday because she had been showing traces of tenderness where she bruised a sesamoid. However, her trainer, T. Stokes, said she could have raced on the day. Golden Coronach, the beaten favourite m the Whyte Handicap, also dropped out of the Parliamentary Handicap field. The best has been seen of him as a miler, but he won a mile and a quarter hack race earlier in his career. The chance of such a good Wl mi er P erf ormer has to be respected. r> m- e sootheners, Royal Voyage, Baffling Eyes and Battle Ensign, were well beaten on Wednesday. The moody Royal Voyage was also unplaced m the Parliamentary Handicap last ar^J? efore running Topmast close in the Winter Oats. The ability is there, but the Orari horse’s form has been patchy.

The Second Leg i Th< i Onslow Handicap, the second leg of the double, gives Prince Regent a good chance to win his second race for the meeting. He is up 91b for his success in the Members’ Handciap on Wednesday, but the heavy ground should not anchor him under 8-10. Iz»rd Milling, which got closest to him on Wednesday, is not in this field, and Pharaoh’s Castle, third in that race, will not find it easy to turn the tables even at a difference of 81b. Pharaohs Castle was two and a half lengths from Prince Regent, and was weakening at the finish on Wednesday. Himiler has a Whyte Handicap win to recommend his chance, and will be running over his best distance, but in a r ? c ? with a higher scale he will probably find his rise to 9-5 troublesome. Such a good galloper in bad ground, however, must be given a strong place chance. Curzon has faded under his weights m his two appearances at the meeting, and the search for one to topple the favourites may best be directed towards the bottom of the handicap. Fir-Bolgs, a creditable fourth in the sprint last Monday, and Sanford, which filled the same position over seven furlongs at Hastings two starts back, are likely light-weights. Sanford’s placing at Hastings was on a firm track, tfut he has run some of his best races in bad ground. Winter Hurdles The Winter Hurdles, the second leg of New Zealand’s famous hurdling treble which opens with the Great Northern Hurdles and ends with the Grand National Hurdles, is, as usual, a race of considerable interest, and one that gives quality to the programme. The early favourite is the Awapunitrained Solar Mist, a good staying Lambourn gelding, which easily won the Great Northern Hurdles at Ellerslie last month. Solar Mist carried 9-11 and ran the two and a half miles on an easy track in 4min 34 3-ssec—a race and New Zealand record. He has gone up 121 b to 10-0, but will meet Silver Archer, the third horse in the Great Northern Hurdles, on 81b better terms. Silver Archer easily won two hurdle races at the Great Northern meeting, after Solar Mist beat him. That explains the adjustment of the weights against him. The Winter Hurdles has not been a good race for * horses well up in the weights, mainly because most contests are run in bad ground. Twelve of the last 20 winners have carried less than 10-0, and only three winners, Jewelled Girdle and Corineus (twice), have won with more than Solar Mist’s weight. Corineus. a highclass jumper and great weight-carrier, carried 11-8 to victory in 1949. when he won the race for the second time.

Canadian, the youngest horse in the field—he is rising five —won the Waikato Hurdles in May and finished about four lengths in front of Solar Mist, which was running on for third. Solar Mist conceded Canadian 111 b, and he will meet Mr W. S. Goosman’s Foxbridge gelding on 81b better terms on Saturday. That makes Solar Mist look the better prospect. Indian Scholar was going particularly well when he lost his jockey at the second last jump in this race last year. He was right at the peak of form then, having won the Parliamentary Handicap a few days earlier, but he has not produced a trial of similar quality this year. Indian Scholar may be beaten at the weights by Cabana, the Winter Hurdles

winner under 9-12 last year. Cabana nas 61b more on Saturday, but he is returning to form, and some further improvement may be expected on his secdnd to Opposition in the Trentham Hurdles last Monday. Sonloch, unbeaten in two- starts at the meeting, faces a tough test here, but should do better than any of those below 10-0. Lay Off, Game Felous, Fox Fun, and Peaseblossom, the first four home in the Wellington Steeplechase, should again dominate the finish of the Eric Riddiford Steeples. The shorter distance and the adjustments in the weights are expected to help Fox Fun more than the others. Brackets are:— Riddiford Steeples: Peaseblossom and Green Light. Crofton Handicap: Sir William and Selector, Master Touch and Nokonui, Prince Shar and Saunter. Selections: — 11 a.m.—Talavera Hack Hurdles: Bullenzo, Riverstone, Pictavia Boy. 11.42 a.m.—Novice Handicap: Gay Silk, Foxborough, Dollar Area. 12.25 p.m.—Eric Riddiford Steeplechase: Fox Fun, Lay Off, Peaseblossom. 1.10 p.m.—Winter Oats: Dormant, Elixir, Topmast. 1.55 p.m.—Winter Hurdles: Solar Mist, Cabana, Silver Archer. 2.40 p.m.—Crofton Hack Handicap: Bulla, Sir William-Selector bracket, Strada. 3.27 p.m.—Onslow Handicap: Prince Regent, Pharoah’s Castle, Sanford. 4.15 p.m.—Kia Ora Hack Handicap: Beaverbrook, Ballast, Balveine. Fields, with form backgrounds, and available riders , for the double races are:—

TRENTHAM RIDING ENGAGEMENTS (From Our Own Reporter) WELLINGTON. July 15. Riding engagements for Trentham on Saturday include:— M. V. Coon: Manoeuvre, Chief Justice. C. H. Mackie: Al Capone, Dormant, Bulla, Annexe, Pharaoh's Castle. K. A. Nuttall: Foghorn, Gunpowder, Lord Milling. R. J. Skelton: Locherbie, Harleston. K. A. Thomson: Topmast. Fir-Bolgs, Red Bill. High Street. A. Johnson: Nokomis. F. H. Skelton: Indian Sue. D. D. Gough: Sailing Signal. Bretton, Upright, Bowater, Saunter. N. B. Holland: Golden Coronach, Wayren, Beaverbrook, Gay Silk. T. S. Carbin: Jetsun, Mainlander, Tarwe. R. B. Sheild: Dinkum, Peaseblossom. W. J.’Broughton: Pierre, North Sea, Sir William, Leighon’s Star. J. W. Harris: Shaun, Canadian, Amiens. A. J. Stokes: Ballast, Carnaval. B. de Silva: Hope. J. S. Campbell: Prince Shar, Easterbrook. J. A. McFarlane: Black Oak, Pahoro. J. R. O’Neill: Quits, Sherris, Quantico.’ G. R. Tattersail: Tia Maria. B. M. Geor: Loyal Subject. N. E. Eastwood: Royal Invader, Fairy Whispers, Battle Ensign. R. F. Meynell: Payloch. J. H. Hely: Elixir, Silver Archer, Count Minerva. C. G. Low: Riverstone. J. P. Carter: Puketoi. Solar Mist. B. J. Langford: Sonloch, Lay Off. N. A. Crombie: Curzon. M. D. Peters: Pictavia Boy. W. L. Aitken: Flying Gainsborough, Educated. B. P. Wood: Selector, Golden Arch, Sanford. G. Jenkins: Barry. V. H. Simpson: Knight’s Star, Master Gregory. R. Eggenton: Dollar Area. R. B. Hill: Cabana. R. J. Turnwald: Fox Fun. C. McDonald: Royal Warrant. L. W. Hare: Balveine, Copperfield. J. R. Potter: Repayment. V. J. Sellars: Prince Subat. J. M. McDonald: Decapitate.

PROSPECTS FOR TOMORROW MATAMATA CLUB “The Press" Special Service AUCKLAND, July 15. The Matamata Racing Club’s winter meeting will be held on Saturday, and if there is no rain before then the going will be easy. The double will be on the President’s and Arawa Hack Handicaps. Riding engagements include:— H. Ferrall: Lachlan, Snowflash. I. Vasas: Kolo, Fiery Ways. G. J. Murray: Tactful Lad. R. A. Barron: Sleepy Jean. Imagine. D. F. Cameron: Armed, Reshure, Queen. A. C. Leatham: Refreshing, Flying Slipper, Pride of York. W. J. Mudford: Fair Beau, Lenah Valley. O. McMullan: Eagle Nib, Comic Strip, Chatfield. J. Hartley: Prince of York. D. A. Loader: Cutlass. L. W. Carlton: Kauri Hou. P. Braithwaite: Gay Peter. D. Austen: Gocup. J. F. Grylls: Slane King. A. Morton: Mudjekeewi, Lucky Cruiser, Golden Idea, Black Or. W. K. Anderson: Tingaroo. J. Gibbs: Rareka, Golden Era. A. O. Clark: Clancy. F. E. Osborne: Sutherland, Eversharp. J. Foster: Mallard. J. R. Gillies: Te Waotu, Twilight Ranger, Bonny Jinx, Questionaire. R. C. McKenzie: Clear View. N. Manning: Tactful Lad, Golden Brown. T. J. McKee: Dupjon, Mont d’Or, Goldbearing or Lord Barra. A. E. Skinner: Ecilagwen Kevin’s Pride. J. Quigley: Sun Fox, Sandy. J. T. Anderson: Treasure Chest, Canon Royal, Rangipapa, Benton. G. Gemmell: Peter Boy, Bannoch. Scratchings are:— Arawa Hack Handicap: Teina, Pyrometer (Balmeta and Triennial re-enter the field). Broadway Hack Hurdles: High Chancellor (Fair Beau re-enters the field). Tainui Hack Handicap: Royal Festival (Dillian re-enters the field). Selections:— 10.45 a.m.—Okauia Hack and Hunters' Steeplechase: Bowlaway, Master Joe, Sleepy Duke. 11.35 a.m.—First Peria Handicap: Kolo, Aristide, Wrexham. 12.20 p.m.—Broadway Hack Hurdles: Karona, Instant, Twilight Ranger. I. p.m.—President’s Handicap: Golden Idea, Aboukir Bay, Rareka. 1.55 p.m.—Te Poi Steeplechase: Silver Blue, Yusuf, Master Joe. 2.45 p.m.—Second Peria Handicap: Cricket Shield, Trench Light, Garry Sirron. 3.30 p.m.—Arawa Hack Handicap: Clennam, Ecilagwen, Her Grace. 4.20 p.m.—Tainui Hack Handicap: Mudjekeewi, Shine, Rangi’s View.

WINTER OATS. Of £2000. About one mile and thre furlongs. 2000 Pierre (1), W. J. Broughton .. 9 0 4001 Elixir (13), J. Hely .. 8 13 1000 The Wake (11) 8 12 0221 0010 Glenkay (6) Gulden Coronach (9), N. B. 8 11 Holland .. 8 10 0132 Dormant (18), C. H. Mackie .. 8 9 1004 Sir Nicholas (10) 8 5 3200 Bretton (21), D. D. Gough 8 4 1010 Mainlander (7), T. S. Carbin 8 3 4023 Payloch (15), R. F. Meynell .. 8 2 0420 Golden Arch (17), B. P. Wood 8 3010 Toparoa (12) .. 8 0220--Royal Voyage (5) 8 1 0000 Windsor (20) 8 0 0300 Topmast (8), K. A. Thomson .. 7 13 1100 Baffling Eyes (3) 7 12 0100 Battle Ensign (16) 7 10 0032 Lord Milling (14), K. Nuttall 7 10 0200 Berne (2) 7 10 0000 Foxrelio (4) 7 7 0000 Gay Gitana (19) ONSLOW HANDICAP, Of £1200. Seven furlongs. 7 0110 Curzon (6) 9 6 3001 Himiler (8) .. 9 5 0001 Prince Regent (9) 8 10 0024 Chattan (3) .. 1 8 0010 Delayed (5) 7 1000 Upright (2), D. D. Gough .. 8 4 0400 0003 Sleipnir (12) .. .. Pharoah’s Castle (11), C. H. 8 2 Mackie 8 > 0040 Sanford (7), B. P. Wood 8 0004 Fir-Bolgs (10), K. A. Thomson 8 0210 Clever Lass (1) 8 0000 Major Neptune (4) 8