HELDS IN REVIEW

Evening Post, Volume CXXIV, Issue 110, 5 November 1937, Page 13

HELDS IN REVIEW

1 GOING SHOULD BE FAST

' Christehurch has also experienced ,tber««ent lengthy spell of dry weather, land the Canterbury Jockey Club would .•■fnow-.-beorftort unfortunate not to. have a fine Cup. Day. Last year the Cup /;%iif^:'-to--theTiUn; but such an occurrence Is very rare. Under the conditiohi likely to prevail tomorrow the Cup should be-a brilliant spectacle, ; with the race record time,' Palantua's 3min 22 l-3secy due to be bettered. The track, though it must be hard underneath, is reported to have a good sole of grass on top, which will help in relieving the jar. Fast times will be the order Of the day,, assuming that ' rain does not set in, as it did on the .. eve of- last year's racing, and such - times generally favour the more light-ly-weighted horses, particularly in race* over a distance of ground. The Julius all-electric totelisator. installed over two years ago, will take the betting' under the win-and-place system. The full quota of three place dividends is practically assured for every event. Improvements to the in'diCatof face of the machine, including .the removal-of.the reflecting glass that shielded the ribbons, were much appreciated at the meeting in August. .•■■■ Six-of the, eight horses who remain in the Derby field for Monday—Smoke Screen, Night' Dress, Lazybones, Lickem, Sigurd, and Stromboli—are listed among tomorrow's acceptors, and their efforts may suggest something ■to upset the form. The two who.aremissing on the opening day are Royal Chief and The Crooner, who finished first arid third respectively in the Har- , court Stakes at Trentham recently. : ■ Tomorrow's fields and. a review of the form are as follows:—-/ 12.32 ' ' " . fcSVMNG BBCSH HOTDLES, £300; lftnillw. fled Sun .... 11 S- les£ Unk ... 9 1 Tr»T«Dn* .... 10 7 Chaste 0 1 Jrhn Charlei;. 10 S fiufleiex .... 9 0 Silrer 81ght .. 19 0 -Fiord 9 0 ■ Redolent, ..>. 9 JO . Mount Val. ... 9 0 ' , 1 5!oiwu_;i ~iv. ..'.■.'9..'.-a>.ii.-i" B U 2£,/.-.,,- r ;' 'ti'^z j ■ "' -The^'only; iiories -ffotn :: the recent ; Trentham- field* in' the\;Spring Brush Hurdles'are Bed Sun, John Charles, and -Redolent, and, with Boughal and Donegal out of the way; they may-find the pace more to .their liking. Particularly should this apply to the topweight, Red Sun, who has an excellent record at Riccarton; with five wins, a Fecond, and a third in seven'trips over hurdles on the course, and whose second success at the last Autumn Meeting was under 101b more than he "'" has tomorrow. Red Sun on paper looks - on-: of the best propositions of the first day's racing. He should account for both John Charles, who is best when the going is softer than it is at present, and Redolent on the Trentham line. Among the fresh horses the best supported will probably be Travenna, who wasgood class at his best on the flat and has won over fences this season at 1'- miles: and 1 mile and 5 furlongs, feolwit will be remembered for liis surprise at the Grand National ' Meeting. Last Link was Solwit's victor at a stone different on the filial day in August, and Chaste is an improving jumper who is by that good sire of hurdlers, Cape Horn. A trio who will bo backed are Red Sun, Travenna, and ■.'.Splsyit,':,.;/; ;"; ' ' ■•:... " ;'a:'H ■■-'"■■ 'SPRING TI/ATE, £351); I mile . "Ardcßollle .:.;. 8 2 Sovereign I/ady 7 11 .Dropped; Catch''B.-2 Mckem ..;.... 7 7 -Ttousseatt: S 2 Night Dress .. -i' < Stegmund ..,'..i 8 2 HocMngham . .., 7 7 Stolen March. S 2 Sigurd ......\7 7 The Bigot ... ' S 2 Stromboli ... '< 7 NtHT ..i...i Tli Top Kow .... 7 7 ,pap«r Not*.. .. ~T U Lady Chat ( ,y. : 1 2. A very high dais of hack is carded, .. for the Spring Plate, at ite set. weights, and it wfil be a very difficult race to win. c It;is often such, and only two yeari ago Lowenberg was beaten in the event-by Chidden two days before winning the New Zealand Derby. Generally the likeliest group from which to seek the winner is the three-year-old section, but, though the age is well represented this year by . the D-rby aspirants Night Dress, Lickem, 1 Sigurd, and Stromboli, and also by other oromising sorts in Rockingham, : Lady Chat, and Top Row1, it may be the older lot who contain tomorrow's win- •■• ner. The Bigot, after his two excel- • lent performances at Trentham, seems the natural choice. It will probably be his last race among the. hacks, as he is how runninKout nominations. Another who will be in strong demand , is' Sovereign Lady who at her-last outing beat everything except Willie Win in open class on the final day. of the GranrNational Meeting, form that now read, exceptionally well. These two stand out among the older brigade though Siegmund is liable to do better at Riccarfon than' he did at Trentham and has at least a good place chance. . The three-year-olds may be .reduced to Rockingham, Lady Chat, and Night Dress on form. Those in demand will include The Bigot; Sovereign Lady, and. Rockingham. : ''mWOOD HANDICAP. X 300; 7 furlonee. Card Sharper. 813 Colombo ;... T » Nolan* »..-. 86 Norseman .... 7 9 B odeur S 2 li«dy Montana 7 7 tord Nuffleld. 8 a lu«tr»l ....* 7 ♦ Dollar Frinc*. 8 1 JJ« oh», i ? Mlracl* ...i. 718 Made Money .73 Orelt Ptl .... T 11 tog Peak .... 7 0 Cockiure .... 711 Screamer .... 7 0 Mo«rrt« .. TlO tonet Gaynor i 1.0 The field for the Linwood Handicap comprises mainly South Island hacks, with Card Sharper, Lady Montana, and Lustre the only northerners listedf. The name of Card Sharper will satisfy the majority of North Islanders who are at Riccarton. At the Wellington Meeting the Paper Money horse put up » remarkable performance in being out near the front all the way &:ter drawing No. 22 marble and then finishing third to Suleiman and Top Row; and as his trainer publicly announced on the previous day that the . horse had made a bad trip down the merit of the effort was all the more pronounced. It matters little that the horse was easily beaten by The Bigot and Lucullus Lad at his other outing at the meeting, as the Paper Moneys generally do not stand up to hard efforts , without. brief respites. ■ The South Island form is well disclosed, without a real line, however, to Card Sharper. Cocksure, always consistent, has come solid, and Great Pal's form at the Grand National Meeting, since when he has not raced, was excellent. Others who have been doing well recently are Nolana, Lord Nuffield, and MaToha. There is •■• itKHit-im? *a UPM& b«t-»4rio-wrho flej

serve notice are Card Sharper, Great Pal, and Cocksure. 2.37 NEW ZEALAND CUP, £2000; ■ .•'.,'.'■ , 2 miles. Wild Chase .. 813 Stiver Streak .7. 9 Argentic .... 811 Small Boy ... 7 5 Queen of Sonf 8- 8 Suneo 7 3 Tauramal .... 8 4 Rebel Lad ..7 2 FrJcsland ... 8 3 Boomerang .. 72 Lowenberg .. 8 0 Might ...... 7 1 Hunting Cat . Tl2 Linguist ~.. . T 0 Come Abbai ..' 110 Trebleack ... 7 0 - Hnzoor 7 9. .Cottingham ..7 0 The New Zealand Cup is a most open race this year, and, though it seems likely that Cerne Abbas wax remain favourite till the betting closes, even this much is not certain, for one or two of the others are liable to steal the post of favouritism from her, There is much to attract one towards the mare. She has the form behind her, and though now and again she runs below form there is a physical explanation" for this. It was exactly six weeks after her disappointing perform*, ance in the Avondale Cup that she went badly again at Motukarara last Saturday. She should now be back at her best again tomorrow. On her showings in her two races at.Trentham recently she is not lacking in stamina, and the Hurry On bequest from her sire, Lord Warden, should help her to get the full two miles with the pace on frpm the start. Others in the race who may be expected to find no trouble with the distance are Argentic, Queen of Song, Tauramai, Hazoor, Rebel Lad, Boomerang, and Might. Argentic seems just not quite good enough when faced at two miles and age will not aid him. There is a doubt whether Queen of Song is now capable of reproducing her splendid effort in the Melbourne Cup: twelve months ago, when she just missed a glace. Tauramai and Hazoor may not c as good as once they were, nor may Might Rebel Lad and Boomerang are the two in the lot named still susceptible to further improvement, and both have a real stayers' pedigree. Boomerang is preferred from Trentham, as Sunee's past failure over the j distance is not easy to explain except on the assumption that he lacks stamina. Success for Boomerang would be only in accord with some of his excellent recent work. Wild Chase and Friesland, though they may be among the better-fancied group, dp not appeal as true stayer?.T. Nor do Lowenberg* -Huntirig; Cat, and: Silver Streak; but Lowenberg,. as /a Derby winner, might get. two miles better than his stablemate, Friesland, about whom a lot has to be taken on trust. Small Boy and Trebleack will require to show improvement; and Linguist, despite her peing by Paladin, has an otherwise doubtful pedigree for two miles. Cottingham.,will stay, and, if the bulk of the others fail to do so, there are more improbable things than his filling a place. Stamina is essential for winning at two miles, and three who are believed to possess .this attribute are Ceme Abbas, Boomerang) and Rebel Lad. 3.22 . WELCOME STAKES, £750; 5 furlongs. Defaulter .... 8 5 Protector 8 5 Neptune .... 8 5 Gay Sou ..... 8 5 Eastern Heir » 8 5 Peerless 8 0 Compensate ... 8 5 Taurangl ..... 80 Passaform ..; 8 5 Ortyx .80 Baebura ..... '85 ... With Surmount and Amigo missing, the Welcome Stakes field does not offer a struggle among all the best juveniles; but Gay Son, who beat the pair in the Wellesley Stakes at Trentham, is among the runners, and he is likely further to demonstrate that he is No. 1 juvenile in the Dominion for the first quarter of the season. Gay Son is the part, with his.two attractive wins in his last two outings, and he will'be backed down to warm favouritism. Protector, winner of the Avondale and A.R.C. Welcome Stakes, will also be well backed, as reason was forthcoming to account for his failure at Trentham; but, through Surmount, Gay Son should beat him again. Compensate, the DJ.C. McLean Stakes winner, and who is by Paper Money, represents the best of the South Island form, and Ortyx indicated at Trentham that southern form was at least not far below northern among, the earily two-year-olds. The slogan at present, however, is "Look for the Beau Peres," and, besides Gay Son, the sire is represented tomorrow by Taura/rgl and Peerless. Peerless seems hardly good enough, though she will be better when she races less greenly; but Taurangi, easy winner at her only outing to date, may well measure up to classic standard. Eastern Heir is seasoned, but a race on the latter days may suit him better. Form suggests Gay Son, Taurangi, and Protector. 4.2 ■'• ■. ' ■.''.- APPRENTICES' HANDICAP. £300; 1 mile. AracholH» ~ » IS. Drlnkup 7■ 0 Helolso 8 10 Shirred Klbbon 7 1 Parquet .... 8 8 Babble 7 0 Lickem .....7 13 liidy Middleham 7 0 Owls Gleam . 7 11 Ardmayle ... 7 0 Wiß*»»rd ... Til Mob Rule ..: 7 0 Cocksure .... 7IS Clubman .... 7 0 Happy Night i 7 9 The Apprentices' Handicap. is generally won by one of the bettersupported section. If the three-year-olds Lickem and Mob Rule are to have any chance in their later classic engagements they should be capable of a forward showing in- this race. The race looks an easier one for Lickem than the Spring Plate, and his ownertrainer, O. Cox. a shrewd judge, apparently still believes that the colt will make good yet Mob Rule is from the same stable as won the race last year with Top Notch, who went on to add the Oaks, and though she has not yet shown any form she has a reputation. Parquet, who has made the long trip south, is a pointer from the north, as at her last start she beat everything except Besiege over a mile at the Auckland Spring Meeting. Ardchoille, on his Wingatui form, would be a prospect; and the North Canterbury winner Heloise, the Masterton winner Windward, and the former North Islander Shirred Ribbon are other possibilities, particularly Windward, who is very well at present. Happy Night and Drinkup are others in recent winning form. Of course were Cocksure reserved be would be favourite, but it is understood he will start in the Linwood with L. J. Ellis aboard. A trio who are likely to go good races are Parquet, Lickem, and Windward. 4.42 STEWARDS' HANDICAP, £800; 6 furlongs. Gold Bon 0 5 ReboJ Chief .7 ]0 Paper Slipper 9 8 Laughjng Lais 7 9 Bon Braggie ..00 Brunhild ... 7 (I Oratory 8 10 Pelmet 7 0 Emissary ... 8 0 Stolen March . 7 0 Alraa 8 8 Waltaka .... 7 0 The Stewards' Handicap has not attracted the large field this year that it customarily has done, and it also does not offer 40 wide * range of choice, .On

form as shown since the New Year, Gold Boa, Paper Slipper, Ben Braggie, and Alma seem to stand out from the others, and success lor anything else would be in the nature of an upset. Those who saw Ben Braggie in his single outing at Trentham could not but be satisfied that he is going to take a power of beating in tno Stewards', for few horses have ever won an open sprint in metropolitan class more easily than he did. One who has a definite chance against him on weight is of course Gold Boa, who beat him at their last meeting at 201b worse terms; but it is believed that Ben Braggie' might now have made up that difference, so much has he improved this season even on his good form of last season. Gold Boa nevertheless is a very brilliant mare over six furlongs. Another with similar brilliance and a splendid recent record is Alma, winner at both outings at the Grand National Meeting, and she is such. a popular mare in the south that she might even go out favourite tomorrow. One hesitates to name Paper Slipper as a possible menace to Ben Braggie, Gold Boa, and Alma, after his Trentham failures; but Trentham has never been a happy track for this Paper Money horse, who twelve months ago returned from a similarly disappointing trip north to surprise in the Stewards'. History in his case might repeat itself. ' Of the others Laughing Lass and Brunhild may merit main notice. All book form points to Ben Braggie, Gold Boa, and Alma 5.27 UICCARTON HANDICAP, £350; 9 furlongs. Big Doolc .... !) 2 Wild Career .. 7 9 Smolie Screen, 9 2 Petersham ..7 7 Davolo 8 9 Lassybonos ..7 7 Pukeko 8 8 Myrlam 7 7 Last Refrain , 8 8 Daring Deed.. 7 7 MilforU 8 0 A" three-year-old with a. Derby chance Is generally a good prospect in the Riccarton Handicap. Derby winners who have preceded their classic success in recent years by winning this race have been Wild Chase (last year), Sporting Song, Nightly, and Cylinder, and most of these have carried go.od weights. Even three-year-olds not up to Derby rank have won the Riccarton Handicap, as for instance King Colossus a few years back. Commendation preceded his Derby success in 1926 by winning the Riccarton under 9.9. On this line of reasoning, Smoke Screen, to have any .chance of reversing tables on Royal Chief in the Derby, should make a bold bid for the honours in tomorrow's handicap. Among his more formidable opponents should be the Trentham winner Big Dook, who is as well now as ever he has been, and was most pleasing in the manner of his recent success. Pukeko and Last Refrain are two other form horses, and Petersham's, recent trot of four successive wins among the hacks was indication ii it he is better than the company he was keeping even though he failed at Motukarara first time in open class. Davolo is in and out, but it is recalled that he was a good third to"wHlie Win and Sovereign Lady over this distance at the last Grand National Meeting. Wild Career, Lazybones, Myriam, and Daring Deed have all been winners this term. The issue may be abridged by the majority investors to Smoke Screen, Big Dook, and Last Refrain,