MODERATE FORM

Dominion, Volume 32, Issue 224, 20 June 1939, Page 13

MODERATE FORM

Displays At Hastings NOTES AND COMMENTS Sporting Song Destroyed (By The Watcheb.) The two Hawke’s Bay meetings did not produce anything sensational in the way of new talent for jumping events ahead, but Peter Beckford is young enough to go on to better things. He now has two starts for two wins over hurdles. On the first occasion at'Gisborne he beat Small Boy only by a head, but Saturday’s display showed him to be greatly improved, and it was the best hurdling form of the meeting, as Curie and Small Boy had run first and second the previous Saturday. Peter Beckford was bred by his owner, Air. E. Loisel, but did his early racing on the flat for Mr. G. D. Beatson. He is rising seven, and is by Hunting Song from Sarty, by Sarto —Love Token, an English mare who also left Sartist to Sarto. Sartist was a useful horse when trained by H. Nurse for Mr. G. Fulton. All the stock of Sarto could jump, and as the Hunting Songs have also shown great aptitude for the game, there should be a good future career for Peter Beckford. Moderate ’Chasers. The class among the steeplechasers was moderate, an exception being made of Padishah. Wykemist rather impressed by his win in the Hawke’s Bay Steeplechase, but he broke down badly last Saturday, and the race was won by Rapa Waiata, who was only third the previous week. Promising Sort. On the flat there was a similar lack of outstanding class, but Areas, last Saturday’s maiden winner, might be an exception. He is the first foal of his dam, being by Hunting Song from Callisto, by General Latour from Prodice, Areas is thus closely related to several brilliant gallopers, including Gallio, who is a sister to his dam, Te Hero, Phaola and Ammon Ra. Areas was bred by Mr. D. R. Walker and his trainer, A. Cook, of Te Awamutu, and wag secured by Air. W. lorns after being passed at the 1938 sales. Late Start. Another maiden who might go on to better things is Tideway, who rau a creditable second at his first start in a race. Tideway is rising five years and is . by Tidal from Cetus, the dam of Mercian Queen and The Grasper. End of Sporting Song. The Hunting Song gelding Sporting Song had to be destroyed last week as the result of the injuries he received during the running of the Hawke’s Bay Steeplechase. Sporting Song made a good start as a jumper and would probably have made a name for himself had he remained sound. An Improved Galloper. Skyrena’s effort in carrying 10.2 to victory in the Final Handicap <it Greymoutli on Saturday after an earlier success during the day stamped her as a much more solid filly than generally considered. She is lightly framed and is never likely to carry much condition, but evidently there is nothing amiss with her make-up. Iler breeding is interesting, as her dam, Gobble, comes from the Eulogy family. She has been nominated for the Wellington meeting next month, and as she seems epually at home on hard and soft tracks she may be worth following on the trip. Former Jockey. W. Young, formerly crack horseman both on the flat and over jumps, is seriously ill in Lewisham Hospital. L. J. Ellis. L. J. Ellis may resume riding at Ashburton next Saturday. Owner Indisposed. The well-known Greymouth owner Air. D. H. Roberts has been confined to hospital for the last few weeks, and his condition on Saturday was stated to be serious. New Zealand Blood. Pibrqch, a four-year-old horse by Windbag, has been having a winning sequence in Alelbourne recently, and on Saturday last won the principal flat race at Caulfield in a style which suggested that more would come. Pibroch’s breeding is of New Zealand interest. His dam, North Star, is by Great Star (half-brother to Papyrus), from Alartian Princess, by Martian —Two Step, by Stepniak. Pibroch’s dam is a half-sister to Laughing Prince.

Doing Well. Winning Rival, a two-year-old by Bulandshar from Rivalry, has gone on the right way since she rejoined the team of H. and A. Cutts, following a good spell. She showed smart form in the spring, and as she owed her two successes to strong finishing runs she may be seen to advantage over a distance next season.

Rehandicapped. As the result of his success at Greymouth on Saturday, Donadea has been rehandicapped from 8.3 to 8.10 in the Moreton Hack Handicap at the Ashburton County Racing Club’s meeting next Saturday.

Unsuitable Track. Treasurer’s recent race and track form made him appear a good proposition for the Greymouth meeting, but he was unable to handle the soft ground, while the turning track also troubled him. The trip would do him a lot of good, and his failures can be overlooked. He is booked to race at Ashburton and at Trentham.

Otaki Acceptances. Acceptances for the Otaki Maori Racing Club’s winter meeting on June 2-1, close tomorrow at 8 p.tn. with the secretary. Mr. N. Winiata, Otaki. Good National Nominations.

Nominations for the Grand Nationals, Winter Cup, Beaufort and Lincoln Steeplechases, and Sydenham Hurdles, close on Friday at 5 p.m. Versatile Riders.

Many old-timers are prepared to argue that the best all-round jockey New Zealand has produced was W. Clarke, who won three Grand National Steeplechases and three Grand National Hurdle races. On the flat, races he won included the Stewards’, Great Faster, Oaks, Champagne Stakes, aud Dunedin Champagne. A later generation awarded the honour to W. Young, who won a Grand National, two Grand National Hurdle races, and a Wellington Steeplechase. On the flat Young won the New Zealand Derby, Great Northern Derby, Stewards’ Handicap, Great Autumn, Champagne Stakes. Manawatu Cup, Wellington Cup, Thompson Handicap, and many other races. Another versatile horseman was S. Henderson, four Great Northern Steeplechases, a Great Northern Hurdles, and two Grand Nationals, but on the flat he was not in the Young class. Among present-day riders, the all-round title must be awarded to A. E. Ellis. This rider has to his credit two Grand Nationals, three Grand National Hurdle races, a Great Northern Steeplechase, and Hurdle race, two Great Westerns, and two Otago Steeplechases. On the flat lie has taken three Winter Cups, an Auckland Cup, two Wellington Cups, Dunedin Cup. two Riverton Cups, Metropolitan, Avondale Cup, three Awapuni Cups, Timaru Cup. Invercargil, Cup, and a long list of semi-classic and classic races.

Answers to Correspondents. “S Nelson. (Il £3/4/-; £l/6/-. (-) £2/19/6. (3) £l/6/6. (-1) £l/8/-. (51 £4/3/6. (6) £2/17/-. “Ngata,” Palmerston North: (1)

1/-. (2) £2/18/6. (3) £l/11/6. “Form,” Paremata: (1) £4/11/-; £2 2/-. (2) £2/17/6. (3) £l/17/-. “’Thomas,” Wellington: (1) £2/14/6. (2) £ll/2/6; £2/19/-. “E.D.W.,” Palmerston North: £2. “Top.” Wellington: (1) £3/6/6; £1 11/6. (2) £2/6/6; £!/!</-. (3) £2/4/6. “Query,” Wairarapa: High Delight was not bracketed on the first day with Prival. VaaDo and Prival were bracketed on the second day. High Delight was bracketed with Rival, not Prival, so it is difficult to see how you could back a High Delight-Prival bracket on the third day.