A SUCCESSFUL RAID

Evening Post, Volume CXXV, Issue 109, 11 May 1938, Page 15

A SUCCESSFUL RAID

VIRACIOUS AND DISTURBED

It is becoming nothing, unusual for Auckland stables to make successful raids on Taranaki stakes, and at the Egmont Meeting on Saturday a feature of the day was the double gained by the Whangarei establishment controlled by H. Scally. Viracious gave the clue to his possibilities by going round the field for third behind Fafner and Advance Plane on the opening day. But Disturbed was quite an unknown quantity to roost oi the public when he scored in the final event on the card.

Neither of these visitors had previously won a race, though both had done a fair amount of it during the past two seasons. A month back each had filled a minor place at the Whangarei Meeting, but in Disturbed's case it was only a third in a three-horse field.

For a horse of his ordinary form credentials Viracious was relatively well supported on the opening day last week, for he was sent out fifth favourite in a field of sixteen. On his finishing run he looked one of the unlucky competitorsi It was possibly because Viracious missed that Disturbed- was not produced in the concluding event that day, the stable waiting to recoup itself on the final day.

When the final day came it was a little surprising to find Viracious sent out favourite for the Shorts Hack Handicap, especially with 81b overweight, but he amply demonstrated in the race that the confidence was not misplaced. For a first choice he paid an excellent price. So when the final event, the Borough Hack Handicap, came along, there were several who observed that Disturbed was from the same stable, though racing in different interests, and, carrying 9Jlb overweight, he was backed much better than he would have been if Viracious had not previously won. Perhaps some thought the colours were the same, too, as the difference was small, the earlier representative donning emerald green and white spots and the latter emerald green and gold stars. Viracious was doing his first racing in the colours of his trainer (H. Scally), who took him over on a year's lease only on April 16. Previously he ran in the interests of Mr. G. D. Dudley, of Whangarei, a patron of the stable. He was bred by Mr. W. Dudley, and was a gift to Messrs. G. D. Dudley and A. Brott, the last-named later selling his half-interest. Now four years old, Viracious i 6 a gelding by the Australian-bred Westcourt norse Appellant (sire of Royal Appellant, etc.) out of the Catmint— Freesia mare Viburnum. Viburnum was useless on the Turf, but her halfbrother, Respirator, won several races, and earned a claim to remembrance by figuring in a triple dead heat with Vali and Gemlight at a Franklin MeetI ing about eight years ago. It is an old unnumbered colonial family that has survived through Viburnum's great grandam Winnie. Freesia being a fullsister to Bouvardia, the dam of good performers in Barometer, Quinvardia, Alonsoa, Tea Tattle, and Silver Jubilee, and a half-sister to Tecoma, the diam of Royal Doulton and Quincoma. _ Disturbed is alsq by an Australian sire, being a three-year-old bay gelding by the imported Hurry On horse Excitement (sire of Bimilla, etc.) from the Dominion-bred Birkenhead—Peace mare Restful, who won a number Of races in New ! Zealand before being sold to the stud in Australia, Restful was half-sister to CBakwana (dam of Indian Sage and Orders Bright, in turn dam of Navaho). La'Paix (dam of Auto Pay), etc.; and Peace was sister to Success (dam of the Great Northern' Derby winner Kilwinning) and closely related to' The Banker (New Zealand Cup), Elysian. Battle Colours, CHarmame. Full Flight, Bonny Doreen, etc. It is therefore, a most successful distaff ancestry. Disturbed was one of the purchases made at the Sydney sales two years ago by an Auckland syndicate comprising Dr. W. C. Ring, Dr. McG. Grant, and Messrs. J. A. Court, A. J. Court, G. B. Deery, and H. Morpeth. He cost the syndicate 200 guineas. The syndicate raced him without success last season, and in January he was disposed l of to his present owner, Mr. : H. Cotter, of Whangarei. -Other horses .bought at the time by the syndicate were Highborn (by Baralong), Hich Sea (by Heroic). Silver Glow (by Silverburn), and Brazilian (by Brazen), j Highborn so far has done best of them, as, sent over to Australia and racing under the nom de course of "Mr. W. C. Auckland." he was twice a winner in Sydney during the spring. The syndicate also bought three yearlings twelve months ago in Sydney, one of them, Milanion, by Baralong, being a Winner at the recent Avondale Meeting.

BOOMERANG'S SETBACK

Boomerang was out of luck on the Egmont trip, as not only did he fail to complete the stable double on the opening day but he broke down during the running and is likely to be of! the scene for some weeks. It is unfortunate for his connections, as he is very well at present and this is his best time of year. T. R, George believes that Boomerang would have won the Mcßae Cup but for the breakdown. He was doing it very easily behind Ned Cuttle on the turn, but failed to come home with his customary verve on heavy ground. The trouble, caused by overuse of liniment, will probably not prove serious, but it will mean the missing of Wanganui and probably also of Manawatu.