RACING Braganza Favourite For Guineas

Press, Volume XCVII, Issue 28701, 26 September 1958, Page 4

RACING Braganza Favourite For Guineas

Braganza will only be extending a long list of successes by Canterbury three-year-olds if he wins the Dunedin Guineas tomorrow. But there will be some interesting features associated with his victory if he does make the grade, which seems likely. Braganza is trained at Riccarton by J. C. Tomkinson, but is owned by Mr A. N. Smith, president of the Dunedin club. Mr Smith has had several very good gallopers, but has not yet won a Dunedin Guineas. Nor has the Riccarton jockey, A. J. Stokes, who will ride Braganza.

Braganza will be a short-priced favourite after two victories in his two previous races as a three-year-old. He also won twice in a light programme last season, and has now confirmed early impressions that he will be a very good winner, up to a mile at least. On what he has done so far he has looked a good deal better than most of the recent winners of the classic at the corresponding stages of their careers. ’ Eight of the last nine winners of *the Dunedin Guineas have been from Canterbury stables, but only three of them, Swayup, Chowder, and Shah wan, also won the Ashburton John Grigg Stakes. Put To Test Braganza was put to the test by Blonde Sprite in the Grigg Stakes this year, but responded generously when ridden out in the last half furlong, and his mastery of a good Qlly was clearly apparent in the last few strides.

His finish of seven fast-run furlongs on a testing track was reassuring in view of his test over a mile in the Dunedin Guineas. Like most of the others he will be having his first run over a mile, so much must be left to conjecture. But Braganza is entitled to favouritism, and he will occupy that position with credit. Other Canterbury three-year-olds in the field are Gay Defoe, Ghana, Pinnace, Blonde Sprite, Rhythm Rein, and Aireplielia. To oppose them are Matlock, Sunair, and Minglow, from Wingatui, and the Invercargilltrained Callander colt, Struan. Blonde Sprite and Pinnace . will be bracketed, and it will be a powerful combination if both go to the post fit and Well. On his record, Ghana is one of the lesser lights, but against 'that is evidence that he can run a mile out. He was tried over that distance against hacks at Ashburton on September 13. He finished a close sixth, and with anything like a good run he might have won. Gay Defoe and Rhythm Rein are from Washdyke stables, and Airephelia is trained at Orari. Next to Blonde Sprite, Airephelia was the best two-year-old filly last season.

This season she has raced twice for thirds in the Rakaia Three-Year-Old Handicap and the John Grigg Stakes.

Highly Creditable Braganza and Blonde Sprite were beyond challenging distance of Airephelia in 'the John Grigg Stakes, but her placing was highly creditable, for she was last but one in a field of eight at the half mile.

Airephelia will have strong backing to fill one of the places. Matlock, a brother to Avenge, and a winner against the hack sprinters last Saturday, is owned by G. J. Barton, who has won the Guineas with two horses named Ark Royal. The first Ark Royal won in 1927 and the other completed an unusual double in the classic three years ago. » The 1955 Dunedin Guineas winner has since been a good winner as a stayer and he is top weight with 9-9 in the Grandstand Handicap tomorrow. Gay Defoe is a son of defaulter, the Dunedin Guineas winner in 1938, and sire of Rustler, the 1951 winner. Gay Defoe made a good impression in winning a division of the Christchurch Hunt Club’s Haldon Stakes in July. He did not race again until the Geraldine meeting on Monday, when he ran unplaced in a hack sprint. McLean Stakes Form Panoli, the McLean Stakes sixth, has been scratched for the Juvenile Handicap. McLean Stakes

form gives Subtrist, which was fourth, a bright chance. Subtrist was a distant fourth in the McLean Stakes and her chances are not rated any higher than those of Surhine, which will be having her first start. Surhine sprinted fast at Wifiga* tui last week, but was from the McLean Stakes because her connexions considered she would not beat Feleka, Desert Chief, and Royal Leigh. Thes£ youngsters filled the. first threfe places.

Surhineis a brown filly by Resurgent from Hineroto and is a sister to Roto Ra, winner of three races as * a two-year-old. Off-course double fields, with form.

vu-vuuiac uuuuic ucius, vvnn iuiiii, are:— GRANDSTAND HANDICAP, Of £500. One mile and three furlongs. st. lb. 96 Ark Royal (6) 9 9 077 Cassius (11) 8 12 23 Blue Count (9) .. 8 7 001 Coinalot (1) 8 4 0805 Nasib (8) 8 1 825 Master David (3) 7 11 0883 Aquarius (7) 7 7 98 Landon (10) 7 7 980 Pot Luck (4) 54 Peril (5) 7 7 442 Willie Wolseley (2) Bracket: Ark Royal and Per FEDERAL HANDICAP, Of £450. Seven furlongs 7 7 11. "st. lb. 2 The Wanderer (4) 9 5 2840 Ben Ledi (11) 9 0 0 Compensate (3) .. Subside (6) 8 11 8 11 0 Treasure Pond (5) Black Star (12) .. 8 6 8 2 541 Royal Chant (8) 7 13 0753 Fair Summer (9) Lady Verona (10) 7 10 7 8 8199 Iroquoi (14) 7 7 8 Jamell (7) 7 7 000 Royal Way (1) .. 7 7 486 WaterfaU (13) 7 7 5 Winning Wave (2) 7 7 Bracket: Jamell and Winning Wave.