RACING CHAMPAGNE STAKES AT RICCARTON

Press, Volume XCVII, Issue 28553, 5 April 1958, Page 7

RACING CHAMPAGNE STAKES AT RICCARTON

Braganza May Be Best Of Field

The Riccarton-trained Braganza and the Hastings filly Cabonne will meet for the first time in the Champagne Stakes on the first day of the Canterbury Jockey Club’s autumn meeting on Monday. 'lt seems likely that they will dominate betting and the finish of the two-year-old classic. Cabonne is the only North Island representative, but will be a strong one. Her record is nine starts for three wins, three seconds, two thirds, and one fourth. Her last success was on January 2, a month or so before Braganza had his first race. Her latest appearance was in the Manawatu -Sires’ Produce Stakes in which she was the best of the two-year-olds from the southern half of the North Island but was shaded by the Takanini-trained Up and Coming. W. D. Skelton, who has not yet been successful in the Champagne Stakes, will ride Cabonne on Monday.

Braganza is owned by Mr A. N. Smith, for whom Hush Money won this race four years ago. He did not begin racing until February 1, when he finished third under 7-10 to Airephelia (9-2) and Allemande (7-7) in the Middle Park Plate at Riccarton. His performance gave every evidence of early improvement and that was confirmed at the Wellington Racing Club’s autumn meeting, where he was unbeaten in two starts. He was not put to the test in winning the Plunket Nursery Handicap under 7-8 and the Pacific Handicap with 8-5. He had a chance to show his adaptability at Trentham. He won the Plunket Nursery Handicap on a firm track, but the ground was soft oft the second day when he practically coasted after running clear well outside the furlong. Blonde Sprite, Pinnace, Brummel, Struan, Sunny Mom,i Airephelia, Gaytana, and Waterfall are ether winners in the Champagne Stakes field. Good Record Blonde Sprite has taken high ranking among those of her age by winning three races, including the Canterbury Jockey Club’s Welcome Stakes and the Wellington Stakes for her Christchurch owner, Mr W. H. Williamson. Like many other two-year-olds, she could not match the best of her older opponents at weight-for-age in the North Island Challenge Stakes, but since then she has run third in the Manawatu Sires’ Produce Stakes. Her best performances have been marked by gameness and dogged finishes, and one of them would make her an almost certain place-getter. Pinnace’s form has fallen away since he won over six furlongs under handicap conditions at the Wellington Cup meeting, and it appears that Blonde Sprite will be the stronger half of Mr Williamson’s bracket. Airephelia has taken high ranking in the South Island by winning at five of her 11 starts this season. Her latest success was in the Dunedin Jockey Club’s Champagne Stakes. She carried 9-0, and among those behind her were Sunny Morn, Waterfall, and Gaytana, which will oppose her again on Monday. Airephelia has had all but one of her races in the South Island. She was taken north for the Royal Welcome meeting at Trentham in February and ran fifth under 8-13 in the Mey Handicap. Cabonne carried 11b more and finished second to Selling Fast. If that race is an accurate pointer. Cabonne should beat Airephelia again. Brummel beat Pinnace narrowly and the other two-year-olds easily at Motukarara in March. In itself it could not be rated a winning race trial for the Champagne Stakes, but this

lightly-raced Defaulter gelding should still be improving, and might not find the class beyond him. Warstep Stakes Juventas, Mindanao, and Goudvink, three daughters of Dogger Bank from North Island stables will play important roles in the finish of the Warstep Stakes if they run up to their best fortn. Juventas won the first running of the Warstep Stakes a year ago for Mr J. G. Alexander, and Mindanao gave that owner a memorable day by winning the Champagne Stakes. The Juventas-Mindanao combination looks a solid one in this field. Juventas began a fresh campaign only last week, and has had only a light programme as a four-year-old. But she made the grade in open company toward

the end of her three-year-old career, winning over a middle distance at Egmont. She also raced with credit against the sprinters at Trentham last July, so she is probably more versatile than most if not all she will meet at a mile on Monday. Mindanao has taken fairly high ranking among the three-year-old fillies this season.’ Her last two races have been handicap events, "and in one of them, the Opunake Cup, she finished fourth after pacemaking. Earlier in the season she won the Hawke’s Bay Gold Trial Stakes, ran fourth in the Wanganui Guineas, third to Sarcelle and Marie Brizard in the Desert Gold Stakes at Trentham, second to Froth in the New Zealand Oaks at Riccarton, and second to Froth in the.Koatanui Stakes —she went under by a nose—at Wanganui. Goudvink, from Hastings, was fourth in the Katanui Stakes and has improved her serviceable record since with minor placings. The South Island’s best will probably be Pink Rose, which has had four wins and two seconds

in six starts this season. Olympic Flame. a winner against the hack stayers at Riccarton in February and a fair fifth in the New Zealand Oaks last November; and Her Ex, which has been racing creditably for minor placings in open sprints on the provincial circuit, may be the best of the others.