Rupee Not Expected To Race Again This Season

Press, Volume XCIII, Issue 27912, 8 March 1956, Page 5

Rupee Not Expected To Race Again This Season

trotting

.. The outstanding six-year-old stallion Rupee is unlikely to race again this season.

He was in steady work some weeks ago, with racing at the Addington Easter meeting this month in view. However, when the programme was announced, there was only one suitable race for Rupee—a free-for-all over one mile and a quarter on the second day of the meeting. Rupee’s owner-trainer, J. Grice, decided he would not bring him back to his peak for only one race, and he was practically put out of work. He has not been turned out, but several days a week he is given light jogging to prevent his becoming too gross.

It is unlikely that there will be any other suitable races for Rupee during the rest of the season, and he may not race again until next August, if there are suitable limits then.

Rupee more than paid his way this season with £3065, the result of one win and four placings * from six starts. His total earnings are now £14,100, the result of 13 wins and eight placings from 22 starts. Rupee started the season by beating Excelsa and Beau Marie to win the Farewell Handicap at Addington on August 27. He paced the mile and a quarter in 2min 35 4-ssec—an outstanding effort for so early in the season. He did not race again until early in October in the Ashburton Flying Stakes. He received a bad check racing to the straight, and finished brilliantly for fourth after pacing the mile and three furlongs in 2min 51 2-ssec, only 1 l-ssec slower than Johnny Globe’s world record for the distance recorded in the same race.

He did not start again until the New Zealand Cup, when he paraded in robust condition. He was always handy, but failed to match Our Roger’s finishing sprint after pacing the two miles in 4min 13 3-ssec. On the second day of the meeting in the New Zealand Free-for all. Rupee failed to earn stake-money for the first time in his career. He broke at the start, and lost a lot of ground. Even then he finished fifth.

Rupee was runner-up to Caduceus in the Ollivier Free-for-all, a race he had won the previous season. He paced the mile and a half in 3min 5 3-ssec, well inside his own previous record, but 1 l-ssec slower than the time returned by Caduceus. His only other start this season was on the final day of the cup meeting, when he was beaten by Johnny Globe in the New Zealand Pacing Championship. Rupee’s full record is:—

Giving Away Time Reason Why is giving away four seconds to start in the Salisbury Handicap at Washdyke. The Light Brigade three-year-old is still a maiden pacer. Other horses on their correct marks were balloted out of the race by the Timaru Trotting Club.

Vodka Sails J. S. Shaw, the Riccarton ownertrainer, sailed from Wellington on Monday evening with his trotter Vodka, which he avill campaign in the United States. Vodka paraded at Hutt Park on Saturday, and trotted a yery easy mile in 2min 21sec, the last half-mile in Imin Bsec. He was accorded a great ovation for his last appearance in New Zealand. Vedette and Shy Return Vedette and Shy, which raced unsuccessfully at the Inter-Dominion Championship carnival at Harold Park, returned to New Zealand early in the week. Shy paced some fair races in minor events at the meeting, but failed to win for her West Eyreton owner-trainer, F. G. Holmes. Vedette

finished fourth in his first qualifying heat and seventh on the second night of the meeting. He did not race afterwards. Consistent Pacer Cossack Post has had an exasperating run of placings in recent months, but he may have a change of luck in the Salisbury Handicap at Washdyke on Saturday. Last week, he was narrowly beaten by Bracken Brae in the City Handicap at Hutt Park. If he races up to that effort on Saturday, he will be hard to beat. In his last nine starts. Cossack Post has had one win and six placings. He is a five-year-old stallion by Light Brigade i from Betty Wrack, the dam also of i Fair Isle. At Springston Welsh Heir and Mark Dale are now being trained at Springston by J. H. Winter. Welsh Heir, a five-year-old stallion by Direct Heir from Avondale Lass, has failed to win a race this season, but he has been twice placed from eight starts. He has a fair turn of speed, and over short distances he may soon show form.

Mark Dale, a four-year-old halfbrother by Landmark to Welsh Heir, created a good impression when he won at Oarnaru at his first start for the season. His form since then has been most disappointing. Rellek’s Fast Mile

The aged Logan Derby gelding Rellek paced one of the fastest miles ever recorded in the North Island when he returned 2min 2 2-ssec in a special attempt against time at Claudelar.ds on Saturday. Driven by his trainer, J. P. Baker, he had the assistance of his stablemate, Scottie’s Glow, as a galloping pacemaker. The record for one mile at Claudelands is 2min Isec, returned by Single Direct several years ago. The world record for a grass track is Imin 59 4-ssec, recorded by Johnny Globe at Epsom in December, 1953. Won at Invercargill Girl Brigade showed that she is one of the best three-year-olds produced in Southland this season, when she won the Southland Stakes at Invercargill last Saturday. She began well from 24 yards, and was soon handilv placed. She had the race in safe keeping early in the run home, and won with something to spare. Raced by Mr A. D. Campbell, who bought her for 400 guineas at the national yearling sales, she is trained at Winton by H. W. Cox She is by Light Brigade from a winner in Caledonian Girl, by U._ Scott. She is a half-sister to Waitaki Joe, a winner for Mr Campbell, and is a member of the taki Girl, Vivanti. Victory Dale, and same family as Waitaki Power, WaiKid Logan. Girl Brigade should soon extend her record.

Brackets for Saturday The following horses will be bracketed at trotting meetings on Saturday:—

Timaru Club.— Claremont Handicap: Highland Glen and Royal Triumph, Kaboon and Thumberlina. Salisbury Handicap: Corinthian and Flaroma. Dmaru Cup: Te Koi and Kingsdown Direct. Timaru Nursery Stakes: Allanah Marie and Silver Wings. Lord Balfour and Our Ada. Wai-iti Handicap: Straight Eight, Te Koi and Kingsdown Direct.

Wyndham Club.— Redan Handicap: Fiery Cross and Helen Spencer, Orai and Certina, White Clouds and Fencer Farmers Handicap: Custom and Rosedall, Similas and Sir Tatton. Express Handicap: Cobar and Redcliffe Hall Glenalmar and Hudson Bay. Telegraph Handicap: Brawl and Ronella, Jylland and Blazing Queen. Vice-President’s Handicap: Heather Walla, Sandy’s Gift and Worthy Admiral. Au Revoir Handicap: Argyle Lad. Super Royal ?2jL Do< ; tO KT P avid ’ Captain Cook and Sergeant Nelson. Fiona and Locklea, Lucky Hall and Master Tony t ? rey T?, u ; ers win not sta rt in the Johnny Globe or Au Revoir Handicaps at Wyndham.

Stakes Age Starts Wins Placings £ 2yrs 3 3 — 2225 3yrs 3 3 — 2275 4yrs 4 3 1 2105 5yrs 6 3 3 4430 6yrs 6 1 4 3065 — — — . ■ Totals 22 13 8 14,100