SMOKE SCREEN'S JUVENILE

Evening Post, Volume CXXIII, Issue 60, 12 March 1937, Page 13

SMOKE SCREEN'S JUVENILE

A brilliant late run from almost an impossible posftion landed Smoke Screen winner by a head over the outsider Only One in the Pacific Handicap. This made Smoke Screen's third success in four starts to date, his only defeat being in the Great Northern Foai Stakes, and he is without much doubt among the three or lour best juveniles in the Dominion this season. Smoke Screen's chance seemed rather forlorn as the field came over to the course proper piloted by Relative, Screamer, Haughty Winner, and Top Row. Instead of making up ground he was then still losing it, after having been fairly handy in behind the leaders early. It was not till nearing the last furlong that B. H. Morris got him to respond, but he then came along like the class youngster he is, and, ridden hard, he caught Only One with a last effort just short of tha post. Smoke Screen has been ffelded, so there are not likely to be any Australian trips for him. He is a bay son of Limond and the Thespian —Cowl mare Curtain, and he is thus a full-brother to Gladswood, the defunct Loud Applause, and Pelmet, and a close relative to Veilmond. Mr. Russell Grace, of Wanganui, went to 600 guineas at the national sales last year to secure- this fine sturdy young-, ster and the outlay, to which he has already contributed £520 in gross stakes, should be repaid many-fold before the next season or so is over. Though the three-year-olds of the coming term promise to be a solid lot, Smoke Screen will be a formidable contender for any classic honours, and he may meanwhile even make a worthy bid for the Challenge Stakes prize against Francis Drake tomorrow. Only One is an improved colt who will- win before he has many more races. He swept up from fifth past the leaders in the straight and then it took a good one to catch him. He is a chestnut colt by Limond out of that excellent .-performer My Own, a daughter of Lord Quex. A week ago he was a certainty beaten at Napier Park through being left at the start: Haughty Winner put up another good effort in defeat., for, after drawing the outside marble,.'he was always up near the front, and it was only his extra weight that prevented him making a better fight of it with Only One and Smoke Screen after he had collared the leaders. He is " another Challenge Stakes possibility if started. The Crooner was another who came up in 'the straight with a challenge, but the full effort was beyond him and he just held fourth place from Accomplice, who had been always m the middle of the field. Screamer, Relative, and Top Row all faded, and Royal Chief never made the least impression.