APPRENTICES' PLATE

Evening Post, Volume CXV, Issue 13, 17 January 1933, Page 4

APPRENTICES' PLATE

THREE-YEAR-OLD GROUP

The winner of the Apprentices' Plate, seven furlongs, on the first day of the Wellington Summer Meeting usually comes from the three-year-old division, and it certainly does not look as if it is going to prove otherwise this year. Argentic, Chock Say, Farmer, Glenvane, Glowlight, and Worship are a group of the age who will indeed take a power of beating. . .

! Argentic is one of Silverado's brilliant ■offspring, and his three wina in three starts at the New Zealand Cup Meeting included the Apprentices' Handicap, ~ in which he was ridden by A. Ruisell, who j will again be on him on Thursday. His one start since November was oai the first day at Reet'ton, and his half-length defeat there wheu carrying 9.S in open company will not be held by many against him, for he was finishing -very, strongly at the end. of the seven furlongs. Chock Say, a filly by Lord Quex, is one of the most promising middle-distance hacks in commission in these parts. She was unlucky not to have won her two races at Awapuni during the holidays, but, going on to Hastings, she scored twice, on the first day by- three lengths in the open mile and a quarter handicap, run in 2min 5 3-ssec, really excellent time, and on the .second day by a head in a mile hack handicap, in which she carried 9.1. I. Callahan will probably have the mount on her. • ■

Farmer is one of the most honest yet of Pombal's somewhat erratic progeny. He has not done much racing, but in his .most recent efforts has gone very solidly. He won at Feilding early last month, and in two starts during the holidays outclassed a hack field over six furlongs on. the first day at. Awapuni, and on the last- day ' was placed fourth in the open Kawau Handicap, though lie certainly- impressed many' as unlucky not to have been placed in the money. The Trentham , distance may be a shade too far for him.'

Glenvane, a. pacy gelding by Weathervane, won his first four races, all this season,, but he met defeat finally at Waikato 'in November. During the holidays, however, he got on to the winning list again in the. open Midhurst Handicap, &Vz furlongs,,' at. Stratford, scoring'by two and a half lengths. On. the second day of the meeting; he was beaten only a head by Green Linnet over six furlongs,'giving 51b to the mare; who; it will bo remembered, • won. the Telegraph Handicap at Trentham last January. He has the requisite early speed for a race like Thursday's, does not require much, urging, and can stay. G. J. Jones will be. on him.

Olowlight, . a filly by Silverado, was somewhat disappointing -as -a two-year-oldi but it was soon discovered this season that what she required was a bit of ground. . She has been racing well lately, and-since her two wins over seven furlongs during the holidays has gone on the right way in her track work. W. G. Duncan has been engaged to ride her. Of the New Plymouth pair, however, Glenvane. would look, the likelier prospect. ~ .-.■..-■..-

Worship is another offspring of P6mbal, and he is probably. the .best bred horse in-Thursday's-geld, for he is a son of the' very successful brood.mare, Homage, the dam.of Honour, Episode,.and Courtesy. He has won only twice yet, but he scored very convincingly in the Linwood Handicap, seven furlongs, at the New Zealand Cup Meeting, beating a very big field. :Since.then he has raced only twice, once* on the last day at Eic-carton,-and once during the holidays in an open seven at Wingatui, in which he was well fancied but failed to finish in a place. He seems to be a more typical Pombal .than Farmer, .but on his day- lie is, a .really hard one. to dispose of.,