Deceptive, A Notable Stayer, Retired

Press, Volume XCVI, Issue 28447, 29 November 1957, Page 4

Deceptive, A Notable Stayer, Retired

Deceptive, which has been off the winning list for more than a season and in four starts this term had failed to do better than eighth, has been retired. The eight-year-old Alonzo gelding, which was raced throughout his career by Mr S. F. Besley, had some notable staying performances to his credit. Two of his most important successes were gained at Te Rapa, where he won the two-mile Waikato Gold Cup in successive' years, in 1954 and 1955. In his six seasons on the turf, Deceptive won 12 races and gained 16 places from 70 starts. His stake earnings amounted to £14,115. Deceptive was trained by the late L. Knapp, for whom he gained all his successes until December, 1955, when he was transferred to E. Temperton’s team at Awapuni. Deceptive did not race at two years, but quickly displayed his galloping capabilities early in his three-year-old season. At his first start, he finished second in a novice race at Levin in October, 1952, and at his second appearance decisively won the Trial Stakes at Rangitikei. He was successful again at his third start, in a division of a hack race at Feilding a fortnight later. Two further places from five starts followed before he had his first win in open company in the Besley Memorial Handicap at Waverley. His fourth success came two starts later in the Connelly Handicap at Wanganui, and he completed his first season by finishing third in the Manawatu Winter Cup a week later. His stake earnings for the period amounted to £1425.

Deceptive was placed in three of his first six starts, including a third in the Manawatu Cup, as a four-year-old, before winning the Freyberg Handicap on the second day of the Manawatu fixture. Unplaced performances in the Royal Wellington Cup and the Wellington Racing Club Handicap at Trentham followed before he was again successful in the one mile and a half Wanganui Cup. At his next start, he finished third in the Egmont Cup and a fortnight later gained another easy win in the Taranaki Gold Cup. His best iron ttypee more starts that sea-

son was a third in the H. O. Nolan Handicap, one mile and a half, at the Auckland Racing Club’s autumn meeting at Elleslie. At this stage, he had increased his winnings by £3490. Deceptive’s five-year-old season was his most lucrative. He raced 15 times for three wins and two placings worth £4780. He failed to show form in his first four starts, but at his fifth outstayed a big field to win his first Waikato Gold Cup. Another four unplaced performances followed before he gained a decisive win in the Egmont Cup. At the first of his next two starts he was narrowly beaten by Hyspin in the two-mile Autumn Handicap at Trentham, and then gained a similar place behind Redcraze in the Awapuni Gold Cup, three weeks later. Deceptive’s third win that term was gained in the Hamilton Handicap at Te Rapa—his last start for the season.

The form of Deceptive in the early part of the next season followed a pattern similar to that of the previous year. He recorded four unplaced efforts before winning his second Waikato Gold Cup, in which he carried second top-weight of 9-4. He held his form at his next start to win the Manawatu Cup, his only other success for the season. That was also his last race from the late L. Knapp’ stable.

In his other seven starts that season under the guidance of E. Temperton, he gained four places which included fourths in the Wellington Cup, the weight-for-age Trentham Stakes and the Awapuni Gold Cup, and a second to Finito in the Feilding Cup. His winnings that term were £4300. Last season Deceptive failed to regain his earlier good form, and from 11 starts his best was.a third, worth £l2O, in the Marton Cup. Deceptive is the second foal of the Solicitor General mare. Duplicity which left other good gallopers in Delude, also by Alonzo, and Detect, by Faux Tirage. Clink, the dam of Duplicity, was by Clarenceux from Wink, by Winkie from Judith, which was by a grand sire of stayers in Martian. Judith was out of the Englishbred mare, Hebrew Maid, by Orion from Jewish Maiden, by Sheen by Maid of Lorn, by Barcaldine.