Knight’s Star Selected To Win Winter Hurdles

Press, Volume XCIV, Issue 28019, 13 July 1956, Page 4

Knight’s Star Selected To Win Winter Hurdles

RACING

(From Our Own Reporter)

WELLINGTON. July 12. —in If than ever, stamina r YttaHy necessary in the makeS > , 9/ th K- u' lnn , e ,'\ of the Winter W1!1 be run at Trentham on Saturday. Unless there is very f-“? d tomorrow, and that is unlikely, the track will be very a The ? e „ was rain last ni gW end a downfall today. in thf ht w S, t r - *?P we ight with 10-11 T am’hinn Hurdles, won the Lambton Hurdles over a mile and 41b uar Jf rs on Wednesday with s ‘ ■ years ago he was a hght weight in the Winter Hurdles stamina 0 ” l £ teS l ed ’ showin g great o. !n , hls Present form, again 5 Star should take beating

e . shares top weight with Noon H,,510 second in the Lambton Hurdles after being alongside Knight’s Star at the last hurdle. Knight’s w,tH 1 0 f P ,e d , oat r . of the Trentham 5“J dlas flel l last Saturday, but Noon S?rted r an ? n. wa J fourth behind R 5 k uck ’ J ord son and Harleston. These three horses are also engaged fnnrtV, Bangis Luck weakened to pacemaking in the Lambton Hurdles in which he carried He is a free goer and will have to improve on his latest perforcimpany 0 d 311 the way in this fel ‘ at ‘he first hurdle in the Lambton Hurdles. Some of his jumping m the Trentham Hurdles was ?i so “““rtain. and a bad leap at wXta t . hre . e thongs also marred Harleston s performance. _ Sonlock May Improve ♦u S °m locl L was the disappointment of the Trentham Hurdles field. He was javounte and made up ground for sixtn, out never heartened his supporters. Last year, Sonloch was second, and was giving the winner Amiens 211 b. His latest failure may perhaps be safely overlooked, because he will be racing on Saturday under different conditions to last week. His great stamina makes him a respected candidate. Northcliffe and Dusty Miller may not make the grade in this company. The wake is an interesting lightweight. He will have no superior for speed and the conditions will be much to his liking. He has placed form over hurdles, and if his jumping is reasonably good his class may carry him through. Brutus was disappointing in the Trentham Hurdles, but the slushy track suited him on Wednesday and he was running on for third. He was going well in this race last year until he made a bad leap and dropped his rider at the second last jump. Son Rae had no chance to show his ability in the Lambton Hurdles. He crashed over the top of Fordson on landing over the first hurdle. His wins before coming to Trentham made him a highly regarded young hurdler, though he has not yet had a real test for stamina. Keynote is being switched back from steeplechasing after his fall on Wednesday. He should not be troubled by this distance, but it is not unlikely that extravagant jumping will place him at a disadvantage. Beaverbrook had a slight setback before the meeting, but has benefited from his run in the Trentham Hurdles in which he was fifth. Winter Oats Eleven furlongs of very heavy ground was well beyond the reach of several runners in the Parliamentary Handicap on Wednesday, and the position will be no different in the Winter Oats, the first leg of ► the double on Saturday. If stamina and fitness are the main requirements, and they should be. Master Proven and Good Abbot should be in the thick of it at the finish, even though • they are well up in the weights. Good Abbot was first, and Master Proven third in the Parliamentary Handicap. Good Abbot has gone up 91b, to 9-8, which places him only 21b below Master Proven. Master Proven in the Parliamentary Handicap had 9-9. His gameness and strength were never more apparent than when he reached the lead going to the furlong, and then put up a great fight to hold it when Good Abbot and Programme challenged. Master Proven is hardy, too, and it will be surprising if he does not make another bold bid. Good Abbot showed much ability as a weight carrier under winter conditions as a hack. More than 9-8 may be needed to keep him out of the finish. There is nothing wrong with Siphon which was pulled up seven furlongs from home in the Parliamentary Handicap. He simply refused to gallop, but headed for the gate used on training mornings to leave the course.

Has Stamina Toparoa, winner of the last Melbourne Cup, will not be shaded for stamina by any of the others in this field, and on looks is a much better horse now than when he came back from Australia, but he may lack the racing condition required for this test. Red Star, Berne and Rutillant were beaten too far from home in the Parliamentary Handicap to place them among the stronger claimants. Rutillant did best of’ them finishing fifth after leading to the furlong. Bulla gave a superior performance to finish fourth. He improved several places from the home turn. It was his best run since he won over 11 furlongs at Tauherenikau at Easter, and he could improve on that placing. Patris ranged up close to the lead going to the furlong in the Parliamentary Handicap, but reached the end of h 3 run in a few more strides, and held his ground for sixth. The newcomer Fair Town may be the best of the others, but he has no form under Trentham conditions. The Second Leg The big weight of 10-8 is not expected to stop Peter Willonyx from improving a distinguished record under winter conditions in the Onslow Handicap, the second leg of the double. Peter Willonyx won this race a year ago under 10-7, and but for a string of failures on summer tracks he would have had much more to carry tomorrow. He has already won the Auckland Racing Club’s York Handicap, and the Wellington Racing Club’s Whyte Handicap this year. Peter Willonyx’s Whyte Handicap success under 9-12 over a mile was the performance ■ of a champion, and a champion he really is when the tracks are heavy. Win or lose on Saturday. Peter Willonyx will probably go on to Riccarton for the Winter Cup, said his owner, Mr J. R. May. today. Ngatoki chased Peter Willonyx home ir the York Handicap at Ellerslie, and after a failure in the Whyte Handican, won the Members’ on Wednesday. He should be one of the better place pros-”-cts. and should make Peter Willonyx giw of his very best. Glayva, Fir Himiler. Roval Warrant, and Kasr ei Nil will probably be the best of the others under the conditions anticipated. Kasr el Nil could not gallon with any freedom on a stickv track last Saturday. but he has shown some ability when the ground has been slushv and loose, and he wdrked attractively under those conditions this morning Selections11 am.—Talavera H*ck Purdies: Pictavia Nigger. Golden Fox, Baithen. 11.40 p.m.—Novice Handicap: Heilwon, lone. World Tour. 12.25 p.m.—Eric Riddiford Steeplechase: Wotan’s Gold, Cabana, Aligarh. 1-10 p.m.—Winter Oats Handicap: Master Proven, Good Abbot. Bulla. 1.55 pm.—Winter Hurdles: Knighrs Star. Sonloch. The Wake. T

2.40 p.m.—Crofton Hack Handicap: Port Rush, Moon Crest, Glenlyn. 3.25 p.m.—Onslow Handicap: Peter Willonyx, Ngatoki; Glayva. 4.10 p.m.—Kia Ora Hack Handicap: Fleur, Sovereign's Escort, The Bruiser. The fields, with form and riders for the double races are:— WINTER OATS HANDICAP, Of £2OOO. One mile and three furlongs, st. lb 1303 Master Proven (8), R. J.

RIDING ENGAGEMENTS FOR TRENTHAM

"The Press" Special Service WELLINGTON, July 12. Riding engagements for the final day of the Wellington Racing Club's winter meeting on Saturday include:— V. H. Simpson: 'The Wake, Peepin’ Thru’. G. Jenkins: Wotan’s Gold. N. B. Holland: Red Star, lone, Surcharge, Grand Effort. N. W. Belsham: Baithen, Harleston, Consort. C. A. Bowry: Bulla, Black Oak. J. Toki: Golden Arch. W. Reid: Pictavia Nigger. W. L. Aitken: Anticipate, Arcadian, Siphon. P. M. Mudgway: Brown Heath.

R. J. Skelton: Master Proven, Richard Chappel, Countless Jewels, Gay Lodge. A. E. Skinner: Ngatoki, Guarantor. B. L. Wilson: Son Rae, Flaming Jewel. V. J. Sellars: Inaugural, Toparoa, Official, Kasr el Nil. B. J. Langford: Northcliffe. Royal Monarch, Berne, Raumati, Fleetfellow. K. W. Dulieu: Hadfield. I. Noanoa: Cabana. A. Cowan: Brutus. R. G. McSeveny: Champion, Yankee Lad. B. J. Clements: Smith of York.

B. P. Wood: Instanter, Saunter, Oxon, C. McDonald: Fleur, Good Abbot. J. W. McDonald: Keynote. W. J. Broughton: Absent, Somaliland, World Tour, King of Joy. A. J. Stratton: Chase. A. G. Walsh: Rangi’s Luck. R. J. Schuster: Golden Fox, Top Dog. E. G. Low: Coinalot, Patris. F. H. Skelton: The Bruiser, Golden Coat, Royal Warrant. A. Johnson : Surian.

J. W. Harris: Peter Willonyx, Sovereign’s Escort, Sonloch. A. G. Waddell: Noon, Ronay. C. R. Cooksley: Million Dollar, Count Minerva. L. J. Hodren: Glayva, Greenmeadows. G. R. Tattersail: Heilwon.. D. D. Gough: Amber Ring. F. I. Robinson: Bullenzo. J. R. O’Neill: Zohov, Himiler, Debra, Colmar.

NAPIER PARK CLUB "The Press" Special Service WELLINGTON. July 12. .The double at the Napier Park Racing Club’s winter meeting on Saturday will be on the Birthday Handicap and the Winter Oats Handicap. . The going will be soft. Riding engagements include: — C. H. Mackie: Sleipnir, Bassanio, Turon, Countess Kanui, Spirene. D. Connolly: Super Rides, Golden Sally. C. Farrall: Post Boy. E. Connor: Vai's Hope, Emphasis. J. Garth: Sly Boy, Fictitious, Niggle, Great Line, Gala Day. D. Grubb: Lord Huron, Foxing. A. C. Messervy: Napoli, Sabetta, Ben Lux, Red Dome. I. Lord: Martius. G. J. Smith: Hamiltonian, Miss Brookfield. R. A .Howell: Affect, Putaruru, Major Neptune. J. T. Anderson: India, Prince Halyard, Coral’s Lass, Royal Equerry, Court Jester. C. P. Dixon: Glenone. N. L. Cavaney: Amble, Fiordland. A. T. Goss: Kentucky Tiki. E. Griffin: Glitterwings. B. Lord: Gold Trend. P. Williams: Genteel, Arabian Chief. C. I. Goss: Maquana, Tamatoa. Selections:—

10.45 a.m.—Waiohiki Hack Hurdles: Tamatoa, St. Peter, Cambria Heather. 11.25 a.m.—Trial Plate: Portray, Julian, Turon.

12.5 p.m.—Newstead Hack Handicap: Great Line, Ben Lux, Heroic Dogger. 1 p.m.—Birthday Handicap: Gold Caste, Bassanio, Easterbrook.

1.40 p.m.—Park Steeplechase: Keahmar, Hialeah. Third Ruler.

2.20 p.m.—City Hack Handicap: Amber Inkpot, Glitterwings, Judge. 3.5 p.m.—Winter Oats Handicap: Noumea, Sleipnir, Lucky Strike. 3.45 p.m.—Greenmeadows Hack Handicap: Niggle, Partake, Royal Hope. The fields, with form, for the double races are:—

SCRATCHINGS ISSUED The following scratchings have been issued for meetings tomorrow:— Waikato Secretaries’ Handicap: Atom Grattan. Roche Handicap: Gay Derby. Napier Park Park Steeplechase: Third Ruler. Trentham Riddiford Steeplechase: Blhck Son.

Skelton . 9 10 0201 Good Abbot (1), C. McDonald 9 8 0320 Siphon (3), W. L. Aitken . 9 4 200 Toparoa (5), V. J. Sellars . 9 4 0100 Red Star (2), N. B. Holland . 9 1 4200 Berne (11), B. J. Langford . 9 1 3100 Rutillant (13) . 8 11 0040 Fair Town (12) . 8 7 0040 Bulla (4), C. A. Bowry . 8 5 0000 Patris (7), E. G. Low . 8 3 0020 Intuitive (6) . 8 3 6400 Glenlee (10) . 8 0 0000 Muscille (9) .. . 8 0 ONSLOW HANDICAP, Of £1200. Seven furlongs. 0311 Peter Willonyx (18), J. W. Harris . 10 8 0000 Lucrative (11) . 9 10 1201 Ngatoki (12), A. E. Skinner . 9 7 0110 King of Joy (15), W. Broughton . 9 6 0203 Glayva (1), L. J. Hodren . 8 13 3010 Kasr el Nil (14), V. J. Sellars 8 12 2100 Gay Lodge (2). R. J. Skelton 8 9 0404 Fir-Bolgs (4), C. A. Bowry . 8 7 3000 Copperfield (13) . 8 2 2000 Himiler (3), J. R. O’Neill . 8 2 2400 Royal Warrant (9), F. H. Ske - ton .. .. . 8 1 1 3300 Impeller (5) . 8 0 1003 Autojet (16) .. . 8 0 3200 Beau Ray (8) . 8 0 0000 Bomere (10) .. . 8 0 0000 China Clock (17) . 8 0 0000 Lord Milling (7) . 8 0 0300 Saunter (6), B. P. Wood . 8 0

BIRTHDAY HANDICAP, Of £450. One mile and three furlongs. st. lb 4000 Maquana (2) .. . ..9 0 4200 Gold Caste (4) .. 8 13 0020 Bassanio (9) .. . ..8 6 0300 Easterbrook (1) . ..8 4 0000 Fictitious (7) .. . ..8 2 0000 Gay Minstrel (8) . ..8 2 0030 Annexe (6) . ..8 1 0000 Hamiltonian (3) . ..8 1 0000 Sodality (5) ..8 1 WINTER OATS HANDICAP Of £350. Seven furlongs. st. lb 4330 Sleipnir (1) . 9 6 3010 Noumea (7) . 8 8 Gold Tiki (3) . 8 5 2200 Lucky Strike (11) . 8 5 2000 Cocoamyle (10) . 8 1 0000 Gay Minstrel (4) . 8 1 0000 Beau Song (5) . 8 0 1000 Countess Kanui (9) . 8 0 00 Duke of York (12) . . 8 0 000 Major Neptune (6) . 8 0 0000 Napoli (2) . 8 0 0200 Post Boy (8) .. . 8 0 ———