STRETTO COMING

Dominion, Volume 31, Issue 142, 12 March 1938, Page 17

STRETTO COMING

Thompson Handicap

Candidate ST. LEGER FIELD Good Race Seems Assured

(BY

Carbine.)

Latest information from Auckland is that Stretto is well again, and that ehe is to leave for Wellington on Monday. She galloped very smartly on Thursday, and Auckland track-watchers are greatly enamoured of her chance in the Thompson Handicap. St. Legcr Field. Four horses remain in the New Zealand St. Leger, which is to be run at Trentham on Thursday next. They are The Crooner, Royal Chief. Courtcraft, and Mahutai. On his form Mahutai cannot be seriously considered, but the other three should provide a fine contest. Lines of Paso Robles. The six-year-old Paso Robles registered his best performance to date when he won the Franklin Cup last Saturday, and is an improver who may win another handicap before the season is much further advanced. Pasp Robleg has scored three times in his last four startg, and the manner in which he ran out the mile and a quarter in his latest outing indicated that he may be one of the best stayers among the progeny, of Spear Dance. Paso Robles is a son of Laguna 'Park, a daughter of. Romeo and Avon Park, by Sylvia Park —Tottie, by Dishonour—'Miss Cole, by King Cole — Tinambra, by The Marquis. Orange Bud. Mrs. J. Campbell has made another start with the four-year-old mare Orange Bud, by Polazel from Orange Blossom, the dam of Silver Ring. She has been off the scene for ten months, during which she has thickened out and grown. It will be late in the season before she is ready to race.

Top Row and Thompson. Regarding the Thompson Handicap candidate Top Row, a writer in the Christchurch “Star-Sun” says : —“Top Row seldom runs a bad race and this game three-year-old colt, who won the ■Publicans’ Handicap and was the runnerup to Paper Slipper in the James Hazlett Gold Cup at Dunedin, brought his total stake winnings up to £1968, his winnings this season being £1515. Last season he started 14 times for three wins, two seconds and two thirds, and so far this season he has raced 19 times for six wins, six seconds and one third. Each time he comes up fresh and looking for more and specially over sprint distances he is a difficult horse to head off. In the Telegraph Handicap at Wellington in January he ran the six furlongs in the smart time of 1.11, to have a half-head advantage from Lady Ina at the post. Top Row is by Colossus, a Polymelus horse which has sired a number of fast horses in New Zealand, from Hunt’s Up, a Hunting Song mare. Hunt's Up was never raced, but she is a sister to Desert Song and half-sister ' to good winners in Will Oakland and the spe_edy Finorn, who established an Australasian record of 1.24 for seven furlongs, whemshe won the C.J.C. Craven Plate.”,

Answers to Correspondents. “Annie’s Land,” Wairoa: £B/16/6 and ,£2/5/-. “Patient,” Wanganui: (1) £l2/7/6 and £4/12/6; (2) £l/0/6 and £l/4/-; (3) £2/13/6. “Sasanof?' Wellington: (1) £l/7/6; (2) £4/2/6 and £l/10/6; (3) £3/2/6; 74) £l/5/6'; (5) 15/-; (6) £3/2/6; (7) £2/2/6; (8) £l/4/-; (9) £2/1/6.

“Anxious,” Wanganui: (1) £4/7/6; 72) 16/6; (3) £l/3/-; (4) £1; (5) not available.