PROFITABLE TRIP

Dominion, Volume 32, Issue 173, 19 April 1939, Page 17

PROFITABLE TRIP

Hastings Team Does Well NOTES AND COMMENTS Black Banner Improved (By The Watches.) The Hastings: trainer, S. J. Reid, had a successful trip to Avondale with the three horses of his patron, Mr. F. Ormond. Between them Ivar, kathbella and Nora Gregor won £485, placing Mr. Ormond at the head of the winning owners" list. Broughton Still Loads. H N Wiggins, who has hopes of catchin" W. .J. Broughton in the winning jockeys’ list, failed to add to his score at Avondale, but Broughton increased his lead by three. Finished for Season. Dainty Sue has finished racing for the season. Waverley Fields. Satisfactory fields have paid up tor the Waverley meeting on Saturday, and though there are only six in the principal flat race, the Batea County Handicap, those engaged will make it a very interesting contest. Friesland. Friesland’s showing at Stratford suggested that he might run well at Waverley. but be did not accept. He will no doubt be on band at llawera next mouth. Has Come Solid. Fiancee took a lung time to live up to the promise she showed early, but she has now come very solid and as she sticks on well she should earn some money beyond sprint distances. Ellis and Australia. The announcement that L. J. Ellis was going to settle in Australia was quickly followed by his denial. It would surprise most peonle who now "Jimmy” if he decided on Australia. Not that his undoubted ability would not earn him a good living there, but he is the type wbo would not lightly leave bis homeland.

Ajax and Gloaming. With regard to the ehanees of Ajax making up the £12,000 he is behind Gloaming in stake winnings, it has to be taken into account that Gloaming was a gelding and lasted a long time. He raced at nine years, (luring which season he scored many important wins. Ajax is a stallion. and as 11 rule they tend to become unreliable with age. In England a stallion of any class is seldom raced after four yeiirs’old. aiid then generally he is reserved for the big meetings like Ascot and Goodwood.

An Improved 'Cliaser. The steeplechasers produced at tl:cRiverton meeting were a poor lot and tintreble winner. Black Banner, was in a clns.: on his own. Black Banner, who has now won in hie last four starts, was one of the.very few jumpers at the meet-

jug not to make a serious mistake during the three -days. He almost fell in the Great ’Western but he made a great recovery and from then on jumped perfectly. There has been a tendency to underrate Black Banner’s Riverton performances ■because of the mediocre lot to which he was opposed. It must not be overlooked that at the finish of the three-mile Great Western journey Black Banner could have bettered his time of 6.31 2-5 had he been required to. This time has only been twice bettered in a Great Western contest in the last 20 years. When he won the Riverton Steeplechase on_thc second day Black Banner’s time of 5.11 4-5 represented a fresh time record for the 2Jmile journey. On this occasion he carried 11.13 and won as he liked. In the. Autumn Steeplechase he had the steadier ot 12.9 but again he jumped like a champion and won as he liked. Improved Staying Power. When first raced Black Banner lacked stamina but with age he has overcome this deficiency and can now be regarded as one of the best stayers produced for some time. Much credit for the develop-, ment of the Balboa gelding must be given his trainer, P. J. Boyle, who has had charge of him since the days he was first produced in the hunting fields. Black Banner’s Riverton form was good enough to suggest that he would play a big part in the important jumping events later in the year. He has the complete make-up of a leading steeplechaser, as be is a grand stayer, an accomplished jumper and able to act in good or bad going. He has now won £2043 in stakes. New Zealand Bred. Dagmar, runner-up in the two-year-old event at Randwick on Saturday, is a stoutly bred filly by Medieval Knight (son of Gay Crusader) out of Rapina, a halfsister by Paladin to Rapine, one of the best stayers ever produced in New Zealand. Dagmar was bred nt the Kia Ora Stud. New South Wales, her dam having been bought by Mr. P. Miller a few years ago in Canterbury. Egmont Nominations. Nominations for the winter meeting of the Egmont Racing Club, to be held on May 4 and 6, will close on Friday at 9 p.m. with the secretary, Mr. A. K. Fyson. Answers to Correspondents. “Form,’’ Paremata : (1) £3/7/6. (2) £2/14/6. (3) £lO/18/-. (4) £3/6/-. “Chris..” ’Wanganui: (1) £2B/5/-; £• 2/- (2) £5/4/-. “Turi.” Patea: £2/11/-. “5.W.T.,” Pukeora: (1) £3/1/6. (2) £l/12/-. (3) £l/8/-. “A.H.8.,” Wanganui: £6/8/6. “Reader,’’ Mnrton: (1) £l3/3/6; £2 13/-. (2) £6/9/-; £2/8/-. (3) £l4/10/6; £3/6/6.