RACING Somerset Fair Should Win Gloaming Stakes

Press, Volume XCI, Issue 27563, 21 January 1955, Page 4

RACING Somerset Fair Should Win Gloaming Stakes

(From Our Own Reporter)

WELLINGTON. January 20. 1 Somerset Fair, winner of 11 races, J the last nine in succession, will be the attraction at Trentham on Saturday when he contents the Gloaming Stakes, one mile and a half, for three-year-olds. Since he last raced here, and beat Ray Ribbon in the Wellington Guineas, Somerset Fair has developed into a massive horse. He has also added the Waikato Guineas, the A.R.C. King s Plate, the Clifford Plate, and the Great Northern Derby to his tally. All of these races he won by wide u margins, but probably his best effort! 2 was in the Clifford Plate. Although o there were only six runners, Somerset jn Fair was securely boxed until into a the straight, where he had to be pulled, C back and come on the outside. He cantered home an easy winner by more L than four lengths d After this race, northern critics had no hesitation in rating Somerset Fair tl at least the equal of Mainbrace. Gren-; {J ville Hughes, the regular jockey fori? both, says that there was only one j ll Mainbrace. but that Somerset Fair is “a very good horse.” a At the same time, ‘there is a ten-' N dency to underwrite Auckland form, j 4. especially by stayers, when they race; 1 at Trentham. If Somerset Fair is to c be beaten therefore, it might very well t> be by the leading south challenger.l u Ray Ribbon. z Better Horse Now V Ray Ribbon showed good weight- a for-age form here in the spring, when b he was second to Saboteur in the Harcourt Stakes, one mile and three fur- " longs, and he is a better horse now. a His two Wingatui wins, in the Dun- 4 edin Cup and the Hazlett Gold Cup, 1 were well above average, and his fail-1 a ure in the Wellington Cup was not entirely his own fault. He suffered a slight setback the day £ before the cup race, but the major P cause of his defeat was probably the v slow pace over the first mile. In addi- d tion, he was galloped on in the run- F ning. He is sound again, and working attractively, but a winning < chance would depend on a fast-run * race, and there appears little likeli- b hood of this. 1 The fillies, Zizette and Glenlee, a are prospects for minor placings. d Zizette has improved a great deal since £ the spring, and her finish for third in t] the Wellington Stakes was attractive. In the same race, Glenlee lost a d probable place by a check in the run- tl ning. Both will appreciate the longer E distance. Riccarton stables are well represented in the principal mile race, the a January Handicap, but the firm track tl is taking its toll. There is a pos- ti sibility that none of the three representatives from Riccarton—Sawdust, F Declare and Sir William—will start. j ( Sawdust has not raced since his 5 good second to Ray Ribbon in the F Dunedin Cup, but he will be much tl better suited over this distance, and if started will be one of the favourites. ° Declare disappointed in the Anni- „ versary Handicap last week, and his trained (J. C. Tomkinson) has labelled him a doubtful runner. h Sir William has been walking f tenderly during the week, but worked g in improved fashion this morning. His t game second to Ma Reine would en- 1 sure solid support for him. F Will Take Beating 0 If these three are absent, Redcraze n looks a certain favourite. This has been his best distance, but his d Pahiatua Cup win over one mile and }■ a quarter at his last start (beating ” Lovely Bouquet and Golden Galleon) d drew attention to his prospects in a major handicap. Back to a mile in I the meantime, he will take beating. h Corona Fox may be his most difficult opponent. . Steel Grey has shown her best form ovu’i this distance. She was a fair t seventa in the Wellington Cup, and t will be more in favour back to the f shorter journey. • - Travesty. Relinquish ' and Probator are the form trio in the Mungaroa s Highweight. and Jutland and Maire > will also appeal. The probable fav- I ourite is Probator, which has impressed with his work and condition J since he arrived here. A close and 1 unlucky second at his last start is t sufficient form background, and he ► has improved since. t The principal hack race of the year s at Trentham is the Douro Handicap, f on? mile. It has drawn a capacity ’ field. The best recent form is held by those at the top of the handicap. However, these may be passed over s for those with a more mediocre back- l ground but with a pull in the weights, fl Nottingham (10st), Galileo Ost 81b), ? and Writer Ost 71b) have raced very well over the holidays, and best at 1 the weights may be Writer, an open ( handicap winner at Marton (beating n Aureomycin and Isisford) and third in 1 the Pahiatua Cup (a nose behind Golden Galleon). c Highly Regarded 5 Clara’s Revenge has a good reputa- * tion iri Taranaki, and worked attrac- s trively with Hot Drop this morning, s Gold Trend is back to form, and c might have finished closer to the 1 winner last week had he not been ! forced to keep with the leaders after 1 jumping out from No. 1. Historic Era was an impressive winner at Tauherenikau, and this 1 form should not be discounted, as 1 there were good hacks behind him. ; Best of the light-weights may be i Cornflake, which will be bracketed with Strada. and White City. i Avenge, fourth in the Wellington 1 Stakes, should do better under the 1 handicap scale in the Nursery Handicap. He won twice at Hastings at his ‘ previous starts, carrying good weights, j Luckydale is Rear good form, although ; he is not favoured with Bst 31b. The speedy Zariba, and the much improved Nicotian are prospects for the minor 1 money. Selections are:— 1 11-30 a.m.—Mungaroa High-weight: Jut- 1 land, Probator, Maire. 12.10 p.m.—January Handicap: Corona ( Fox, Red Craze, Pharoah’s Castle. 12.55 pan.—Gloaming Stakes: Somerset ' Fair, Ray Ribbon. 1.40 p.m.—Wellington Racing Club Han- 1 dicap: Field Chief, Toparoa, Clinker—The j Lum bracket. 2.25 p.m.—Ruapehu Handicap: Ameri- ■ cus, Bulla, Demijour. 3.15 p.m.—Nursery Handicap:* Avenge, 3 Luckydale, Great Seal. 4.5 p.m.—Metropolitan Handicap: Tam- ' rin, Hot Drop, Ma Reine. 4.50 p.m.—Douro Handicap: Gold Trend, Decisive. Strada-Cornflake bracket. The fields, with form and available 1 riders, for the double races are:— '

FINAL TRIALS AT TRENTHAM

SMART GALLOP BY IDAHO

(From Our Own Reporter) | WELLINGTON, January 20. 1 Idaho enhanced his prospects in Saturday’s Wellington Racing Club Handicap s [When, he ran the best mile at Trentham 1 • this morning. The champion three-ycar- s ; old Somerset Fair’s time was only a trifle „ i inferior, and others who impressed over ® I a distance were Sawdust. Sir William, s j Gold Trend, and Sugar Bowl. X The best sprints were credited to Tam- 1 ' rin. Lingual, Zariba. Hot Drop, Clara’s s . Revenge. Japonica. Fair Chance, LuckyI dale. Ma Reine and Corona Fox. Galloping took place on the outside of £ the course proper, where the going was L : flint-like, and on the plough, which had I : been watered and was damp and deep t in places. I On the course proper Idaho (N. East- 5 wood) was under a hard hold a length 1 land a half ahead of Gold Quality (R. G. McSeveny) at the end of a mile in Imm I 143 sec, the last half taking 50 3-ssec. and s I the final three furlongs 37 3-ssec. i I Idaho is improved with his Wellington Cup race, and he will be much harder r 1 to beat over the shorter distance on Sat- < ; urday. f Somerset Fair (G. F. Hughes) trailed t Zizette (C. H. Mackie) and Watch and -r Wait (W. Hanlin) in the early stages of 7 a mile, w’ith Half-a-Crown (N. Eastwood) ; bringing up the rear. In the final furlong 1 Somerset Fair strode to the front effort- S lessly, and beat Half-a-Crown by a length, f with two lengths to Zizette and Watcn c and Wait. The distance was run in Imin ‘ 43 2-ssec. The last seven furlongs took Imin 30 l-ssec, the last half-mile 51sec, • and the final three furlongs 36 4-ssee. j f At Concert Pitch f Somerset Fair is at concert pitch to C maintain his unbeaten sequence in the 5 Gloaming Stakes. Half-a-Crown galloped j kindly behind his companions, and finished well. He will be better suited by the , distance of the Wellington Racing Club ‘ Handicap. ] Gold Trend (L. J. Ellis) and Macduff j (N. Eastwood) were associated over seven ; furlongs. The former established a big J early lead, but Macduff was only a length ‘ behind at the finish. Gold Trend recorded ' Imin 31 2-ssec, the last four in 52 2-ssec, i and the final three in 38 3-ssec. Mac- < duff ran the final three furlongs in 38sec Gold Trend was allowed to coast over the final furlong. He looks better now , than when he raced last week. 1 Tamrin (A. J. Stokes) did not have to « do his best to run half a mile in 50sec. < the best of the morning over the distance. < He ran the final three furlongs in 37 2-5 i sec. He is improved with his outing on. the first day. The two-year-old Zariba (I. Noanoa) J again showed brilliance when he left 1 three furlongs behind in 36 l-ssec. His 1 track work suggests he will take part in : the finish of the Nursery Handicap. , Hot Drop (C. H. Mackie) and Clara’s , Revenge (J. A. McFarlane) ran five fur- J longs in Imin 6 l-ssec. the last four in 1 51sec. and the final three in 37 2-ssec. ! Hot Drop was doing slightly the better at 1 the end. He has gone on the right way ( since winning last week. Clara’s Revenue did exceptionally well for a hack. He should give a good account of himself 1 in the Douro Hack Handicap. Not Well Treated Luckydale (J. A. McFarlane) sprinted half a mile in 50 l-ssec, the final three 1 furlongs taking 36 3-ssec. He shows a 1 good deal of promise, but he is not well 1 treated in the weights in the Nursery . Hancicap. Ma Reine (R. J. Skelton) was shading ! Field Chief (A. E. Didham) at the end of five furlongs in Imin 5 4-ssec, the last four furlongs being run in 51sec. and the < final three in 37 3-ssec. ( Ma Reine has thrived in the lasi few < days, and will be hard- to beat again in ' the Metropolitan Handicap. Field Chief ’ looks well and may not be without oros- ' pects in the Wellington Racing Club Handicap. Corona Fox (R. J. Skelton) beat Mighty 1 Dollar (A. E. Didham) by a length over < half a mile in 51sec. the final three fur- 1 longs taking 37 4-ssec Corona Fox looks ready to race well in the January Handicap, providing she does not take too much out of nerself ' before the event. Mighty Dollar was hard < held during the trial. He failed on the should make amends on Sip I? on (R. G. McSeveny) coveieu haff ' a mile impressively in 50 4-ssec. He has shown a good deal of promise, but wiU ' haye his hardest test in the Douro Hack Handicap. Antiope (C. H. Mackie) was not .ifter • time while running half a mile in 50 ’“5 s ® 0 - She races next on Monday. King’s Lady (R. J. Turnwald) could have improved on the 52 3-ssec it took hy to run half a mile. She came fnm the- three furlongs in 38 4-ssec. Her stdblemate. Jutland (R. J. Turnwald) completed a similar task in 52 l-ssec. He is the likely favourite in the Wallaceville High-weight. Shows Promise Bugle Boy (J. A. McFarlane) finished solidly to beat Toselli (A. J. Stokes) ov a length over half a mile in 59 2-ssec. the final three furlongs taking 36 3-ssec. Toselli was feeling the hard ground. He is a half-brother by Wedgewood to Tesla. Bugle Boy shows promise on the track Cotton Tail (C. H. Mackie) and Chattan , (N. Eastwood) were companions over half a mile in 51sec. the final three furlongs taking 37 l-ssec. Lucky Instinct (E. Kirton) was clear of Aer Lingus (A. McKay), which moved very short at the end of half a mile in □3sec. The final three furlongs were run in 39 2-ssec. The best gallop on the plough was ve P.J u . rlo “B s b y Sawdust (G. Smith) and Sir . William (L. J. Ellis), which ran the distance in Imin 30 l-ssec. The final three furlongs took 38sec. Sawdust, which had the better of the weights, was a length m front at the finish. Neither is l.kely to start in the January Handicap unless there is rain. Sugar Bowl (A. McKay) showed her usual keenness while running seven furlongs in Imin 31 3-ssec. She was restrained to run the last half-mile in 54 2-ssec, and .the final three furlongs in 39 2-ssec. .Lingual (I. Noanoa) was doing much better than Rock (G. Smith) after running half a mile in 51 2-ssec, the final three furlongs in 37 2-ssec. Japonica (A. McDonald) had the better lenI en 9 ra , nd (G. F. Hughes) at the end of five furlongs, after sprinting the last tour m 51 l-ssec, and the final three in 37 4-ssec Could Have Improved Fair Chance (A. Morton) could have improved on the 51 4-ssec it took him to F un . h /l lf a mUe - The final three furlongs took 37 l-ssec. He is none the worse for his outing on the first day, and should race prominently again on Saturday. Keynote (R. G. McSeveny) ran the last four of six furlongs in 54 l-ssec. Te came from the three furlongs in 39sec ,„ Ren ®B ade (W. D. Skelton) and Iroquoi (B Gordon) kept together throughout half a mile in 54 2*ssec, the final three furlongs in 39sec. Galileo (N. R. McKenzie) ran five furlongs in Imin Bsec without having to do his best. The last half-mile took 53 2-ssec, and the final three furlongs 39sec. The two-year-old Karloon (G. F. Hughes) ran three furlongs comfortably in 39sec. She was unlucky on the first day. being very slow away. She will race next on toe final day of the meeting. After working at three-quarter pace from the seven furlongs to the half-mile, ShAun (C. H. Mackie) was a length ahead of Harleston (B. de Silva), after sprinting the final four furlongs in 55sec, the last three taking 39 2-ssec. Ray Ribbon (A. J. Darling) was under a hold alongside Relinquish (W. D. Skelton) throughout seven furlongs in Imin , 32 2-ssec, the last four in 53 4-ssec and the final three in 39sec. 1 Recovered from Injury Ray Ribbon has recovered from the injury he received in the Wellington Cup. Relinquish has good form to back up his , claim in the Wallaceville Highweight. Rio Negro (J. Williamson) completed pacework by sprinting from the three furlongs easily in 40sec. Dahlia (J. W. McDonald) was partnered by Blue Count (A. J. Darling) over three , furlongs in 38 3-ssec. , Rebound (R. J. Skelton) and Baby Dakar (D. Carson) ran the last four of five furlongs in 53 3-ssec. They came from ; the three furlongs in 39sec. Strada (I. Noanoa) finished strongly and ; shaded Royal Tryst (J. A. McFarlane) at 1 the end of seven furlongs in Imin 53sec. The last half-mile took 53sec, and the 1 final three furlongs 39sec. Strada worked well. Swift Gold (W. O. Ensor), a lazy track galloper, was a length in front of Swift Flutter (Barber) after running seven fur- • longs in Imin 37 2-ssec, the final half- ! mile in 56sec. > Poetical (T. S. Carbin) completed pace- > work by sprinting from the three furlongs I in 38 4-ssec. 1 Bosky (R. J. Skelton) was slightly L ahead of Americus (G. D. Lee) after run- > ning an easy mile in Imin 49sec, the last ) half in 55 2-ssec. and the final three 3 furlongs in 39 3-ssec. 2 Probator (W. O. Ensor) was clear of 2 Hickory Stick (R. J. Turnwald) after run--0 ning a mile in Imin 47sec. the last half 0 easily in 56sec. Probator will have to be 0 respected in the Wallaceville Highweight. & D. P. Wilson’s team was let off with pacework. Clinker has taken no harm 8 from his unsuccessful outing in the Wel4 lington Cup. He looks capable of making amends before the meeting ends. ?

WELLINGTON RACING CLUB HANDICAP, Of £3750. One mile and a half. Lib. 0004 Hutton (14) 9 0 0310 Clinker (1), E. Fraser 8 13 0410 Idaho (2), K. Nuttall 8 12 1430 The Wake (12) 8 10 2033 Lucky Cast (21), S. A. Bo wry 8 8 3131 Golden Galleon (9) .. 8 7 0023 Field Chief (4j .. 8 6 0000 Royal Scrip (18) .. .. 8 5 0410 Kingship (13), C. H. Mackie .. 8 4 3100 Finite (15) 8 3 3110 Bosky (8), A. J. Stokes 8 2 3020 Swift Gold (16). W. L. Atiken 7 12 0120 Half-a-Crown (17), N. Eastwood 7 9 1130 King's Lady (19), G. F. Hughes 7 9 2000 Poetical (6), T. S. Carbin .. 7 7 0000 The Lum (3), R. J. Skelton .. 7 7 4022 Toparoa (10). B. P. Wood .. 7 5 0302 Gold Quality (11) 7 3 0000 Ballast (5). W. Hanlin 7 6 0000 Golden Arch (20) 7 0 2304 Sugar Bowl (7), W. D. Skelton 7 0 Bracket: Clinker and The Lum. METROPOLITAN HANDICAP, Of £2000. Seven furlongs. st. lb. 1014 Fair Chance (8), A. Morton .. 8 12 0220 Baby Dakar (17), W. L. Aitken 8 6 0211 Strato (18), W. D. Skelton .. 8 5 4001 Hot Drop (11), C. H. Mackie 10 Nelson's Blood (1) 8 4 8 3 4110 Foy (15) 0430 Denounce (2), G. F. Hughes 8 0 2 Tamrin (4), A. J. Stokes .* 8 0 0210 Rio Negro (9), K. Nuttall .. 7 13 0303 Japonica (14) 7 12 0421 Ma Reine (6), R. J. Skelton 7 12 2010 Beau Sol (16) 7 10 2010 Gonfanon (7) 7 10 0000 Three Step (5) 7 10 2101 Lucrative (Mb, B. P. Wood .. 7 9 020 Sports Port (12), J. A. McFarlane 7 8 0000 Rareka (13) .. 7 4 Scratched: Battle Fort.