D.J.C. CHAMPAGNE STAKES

Press, Volume XCIV, Issue 28154, 18 December 1956, Page 6

D.J.C. CHAMPAGNE STAKES

Bow Tie Has Best Prospects SURAPT DOUBTFUL STARTER "The Press" Special Service DUNEDIN, December 17. With the top-weight. Surapt, a doubtful starter and Fidelis out of form at the present time, it would appear at this stage that the chances of Wingatui stables winning the Champagne Stakes at the Dunedin Jockey Club’s meeting on Saturday rest with Bow Tie. Eow Tie has done well since he finished brilliantly to catch Top Flight on the post, for a head decision in the Wyndham Handicap, at the Southland Centennial meeting last month. The Beaumaris colt will again be ridden by the stable apprentice, R. J. Mackie, jun. He was lucky to get a start in the race at Invercargill. He got away from his attendant on the way to the birdcage and galloped on the tar seal towards the stables. Fortunately he was caught before he had come to any harm and he was taken back to the course in time for the race. Bow Tie was not as far forward as his stable-mate. Surapt, when the Resurgent colt won the McLean Stakes, but he surprised in that event when he overcame a slow beginning to take third place. Bow Tie is raced by his North Otago breeder, Mr A. G. Duthie, who purchased the colt’s dam, Lady Paigle, with a Gold Nib filly at foot, at the dispersal sale of Mr H. Halliday’s thoroughbred stock at Wingatui, for 225 guineas. Well Related Bow Tie is a half-brother to two-year-old winners in Delayed (D.J.C. Stakes) and Deploy (South Canterbury Juvenile Handicap and Southland Two-year-old Handicap^.

According to his trainer, J. W. Pankhurst, Surapt may miss his Christinas engagements. The Resurgent colt was eased up after the Southand meeting last month, and it is considered that he is not tuned up enough to race at the Dunedin Jockey Club’s meeting.

After his McLean Stakes success. Surapt had three hard races, and it is possible that he will be put aside until the autumn. At Riccarton he was fourth to Coq d'Or. Her Ex, and Mexico in the Welcome Stakes, and on the second day of the meeting, finished a length and half a length behind Fidelis and Distant Day in the Irwell Handicap. At Invercargill he lost the Bluff Two-year-old Handicap by a narrow margin to Kelp after losing ground at the start. Fidelis has already had seven races, including two unplaced starts at Trentham. Her other five starts resulted in her Irwell Handicap success, three seconds and a fourth. Her form has been giving her trainer, A. E. Didham. some concern lately, and on Saturday she failed to respond to the vigorous riding of L. W. Hare in her trial at Wingatui. She could come right over night, but in the meantime her chances on Saturday do not look very bright.

Mav Improve Black Star, which is trained by A. I. Powell for Mr G. J. Barton, was not prominent in his two races early in the spring, but his breeding suggests that he is capable of better performances. By Gabador from Gay Star, Black Star is a brother to Gabrielle, which won her first three races and £2415 as a two-year-old. Black Star has been back in work only a short time, but he has been getting through useful tasks on the track. Sea Buoy, the other Wingatuitrained candidate, is a member of H. A. Anderton’s team, and may require time to be seen at this best. By Defaulter from Sea Beacon, Sea Buoy had a touch of strangles after he raced at Invercargill, but made a good recovery.

Silver King ran a splendid trial for the Dunedin Cup when he galloped over six furlongs on the plough yesterday morning. He was ridden by his race-day jockey, R. J. Skelton, and 0001(1 have improved on his time of Imin 18 3-ssec. after running the opening .three furlongs in 37 l-ssec. The track was cutting out after overnight rain.

Charge Dismissed.—lt was reported yesterday that on a charge against the jockey, N. B. Holland, before the judicial committee of the Ohinemuri Jockey Club at Paeroa on Saturday, no action was taken. Actually, the charge that Holland had failed to ride Royal Zorra in the Shaw Handicap on the horse’s merits was dismissed.—(P.A.)