Conway To Return Next Month

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31786, 17 September 1968, Page 5

Conway To Return Next Month

M. G. Conway, the New Zealand trainer who has been preparing a team in California for J. Elmore for about the last two years, will return to New Zealand later this month with only one regret. He will have to leave Pacific Cross and Fairfleet behind in the United States.

Both are New Zea-land-bred mares which made a name for themselves before being exported.

Racing columnists !n California have been particularly enthusiastic about Pacific Cross’s winning run in the Palomar Handicap at Del Mar recently. The racing editor of the San Diego Union says Pacific Cross “made good in a smashing manner.”

He goes on to say: “Testimonial that Pacific Cross’s performance was no fluke was her time of Imin 9sec for the six furlongs on tap of fractional times of 44 2-ssec for

the half and 58 3-ssec for the five furlongs.” Conway, in a letter describes it as a remarkable effort. “She was 15 lengths last after a furlong and 25 lengths from the leaders after two. In the last 50 yards she was going away in every stride.”

Conway says that Pacific Cross has really thrived. “She has thickened out and I am quite sure she likes the dirt tracks better than grass. “Pacific Cross,” he writes, "requires little or no work and I am doubtful whether she will respond to the rather robust pattern of American training." Fairfleet had not yet settled down, although she has im-

proved considerably In condition during the last few weeks. Pacific Cross was one of 25 winners since May from Conway’s team which, from being of no account early in the year, is being regarded as probably the most formidable for its size in California. In official listings up to and including August 24, Conway hail had 18 starters at the Del Mar meeting for five firsts and four minor placings. His record is considered notable because of the smallness of his team —he has 11 horses* compared with an average of 30 for most trainers.

Conway hopes to be home in time to attend the Waikato Hunt meeting on October 2. VALUABLE FORM

There have been few occasions in the last 20 years when John Grigg Stakes form has not proved of value in relation to the Dunedin Guineas.

During that period eight of the winners of the Ashburton event also won the Dunedin Classic. All were Canterburytrained and six of them were prepared in Riccarton stables. Of the other seven which contested both races only two finished out of a place at Wlngatui. It was firmly established at Ashburton on Saturday that Riccarton three - year - olds should again play dominating roles in the first of the new season’s classics in the South Island this year. Barring accidents Harold Bank and Every Post, the best behind Hombre on Tuesday, will both be definite runners in the Dunedin Guineas. But there is still a fair amount of uncertainty about a campaign at Wingatui for the John Grigg Stakes winner.

Hombre’s trainer, V. D. Clutterbuck, said yesterday that the guineas would be the only race at the Dunedin spring meeting in which Mr D. W. Wild’s smart three-year-old would be entered. But, he added, he would prefer that he did not run.

There is good reason for Clutterbuck’s decision to bypass the Dunedin Guineas with Hombre. “I’m not concerned about him not running out the mile strongly, but I don’t want him to have too much travelling and hard racing before the Wellington Guineas next month,” he said. “As far as I’m concerned, after he runs in the open sprint at Orari next Monday I would prefer he didn’t race again until he goes north. There are bound to be barrier trials to keep him in trim before Trentham.” Although Harold Bank and Every Post were clearly outpaced by Hombre on Saturday, both could be seen to much better advantage at a mile.

There was much promise in Harold Bank’s solid finish in this, his first race since the Grand National meeting gnd his second since Easter. Hi# trainer. J. L. Barr, is convinced he will need no further racing before the guineas. He was allowed to drop out of the open sprint at Orari next Monday and was not entered for the corresponding event on the first day at Wingatui. On the other hand. Every Post is likely to have one further race before the Dunedin Guineas. If he is weighted favourably on the first day of the Dunedin meeting he will compete in hack class.

Every Post could have been unlucky not to finish closer than third in the John Grigg Stakes. After receiving a check half a mile out he was never really properly balanced and had no chance of setting out after the elusive pacemaker until they started the run home.

Conditions For Cup (N.Z. Pre*. Association) WELLINGTON. Major plans for this season were announced yesterday by the president of the Wellington Racing Club (Mr I. D. Reid) at the club’s annual meeting. Main items Include a change In conditions governing entry for the Wellington Cup, the inauguration of a Wellington Oaks Stakes, and an Increase in the stake for the Wellington Steeplechase. Previously only flrst money counted for eligibility for the Wellington Cup. Now if a horse gains any stake of 11500 In any open flat race other than a high-weight in the North Island, or any stake of 81000 in any open flat race other than a high-weight in the South Island, or total stakes to the value of S3OOO, he will be eligible to enter. Second, third and fourth horses in an Auckland Cup. the second and third horses in a New Zealand Cup and the second horse in a Canterbury Cup are some of many examples for which the minor stakes are sufficient for Wellington Cup qualification. The Wellington Oaks Stakes will carry a stake of 88000 and will be run on the third day of the Wellington Cup meeting. The distance has been set at one mile and a quarter, which is considered sufficient for three-year-old fillies at that time of the year. The Wellington Steeplechase will be worth 87500, inclusive of a fifth stake of 8100, an increase of *lOOO. Mr Beid said in the 1067-08 season that capital expenditure had been confined to essentials. Net totalisator revenue for the year was down 126,786, partly because of the economic conditions and partly because of the weather. Mr Reid said, however, that the previous year had been a record one and any comparisons should take this into account.