ARRAY OF THREE-YEAR-OLD TALENT

Evening Post, Volume CXXVII, Issue 111, 13 May 1939, Page 22

ARRAY OF THREE-YEAR-OLD TALENT

POTENTIAL CHAMPIONS OF THE FUTURE

(By "ArikiToa.")

Judged on the basis of the splendid array of three-year-olds who raced this season it is many years since the Dominion has been so rich in potential handicap performers. Thus, there is every reason to regard the future, in this department at least, in a very optimistic light, for there is a distinct possibility that the rank will be further augmented by the inclusion of several other horses, who did not produce their best on the hard tracks that were offering in an exceptional season.

- There is no doubt that Defaulter1 must be awarded first place, on performances both in the Dominion and Australia. In many quarters it is the firm opinion that he will be troubled in no small measure by the Beau Fere colt Beaupartir, but it is worth noting that the pair have measured strides on two occasions, and each time Defaulter has triumphed, even though the margin has been comparatively small. Again a glance at the stake-winnings Of the pair reveals that Defaulter has earned over £4000 more than his most formidable rival. There is no gainsaying 'that Defaulter is one of the greatest three-year-olds bred in the Dominion, and this is taking into consideration all the old-time celebrities. Ad-: mittedly he was defeated when he met the best handicap performers in Australia, but can anyone name any three-year-old that would have been equal to overcoming the circumstances that contributed to his defeat? He scored in three weight-far-age events across the Tasman. and in none of them could he be said to have had the "best end, of the stick." y Taken all round the record of the son of Defoe is a most attractive one, and, inclusive of his successes in Australia, he has registered 11 firsts and a second in 13 starts this season, which altogether substantiates the opinion of his trainer, F. A. Roberts, that he is easily the best three-year-old racing in New Zealand or Australia today. MADE GREAT HEADWAY. Beaupartir has, if anything, made more rapid strides towards the top of the tree than any other colt or filly of his age this season, and there is ] ho getting away from the fact that with Defaulter out of the way he! would have been acclaimed among the great. By no means a lucky colt, this is shown by his six consecutiye seconds in' the opening stages of his racing career, he has worked his way to the! top by sheer courage and determination, and his last five starts have been productive of five successive victories. In all, his record reads 12 starts for five firsts and six seconds this term, his one and only unplaced performance being when he finished fourth in the King's Plate at Ellerslie, the race in which Smoke Screen covered the mile in Imin 35 3-ssec. Beaupartir numbers among his victories the New Zealand St. Leger Stakes, the Great Northern St. Leger Stakes, the Awapuni Gold Cup, and the A.R.C. Easter Handicap, these events incidentally being secured on end. He has won over all distances, and as there is every indication that Defaulter will again go to Australia ?in the spring he should continue in winning v^.i when the classic and wejght-for-age events come up for de- j cision next season. As yet he does not measure up to Defaulter's stand-' ard, but what the future has in store is still in the lap of the gods. 'The Trentham filly Peerless definite-! ly deserves to be awarded third place, for she was a class above the other members of her sex in both the New Zealand and Great Northern Oaks, and also it should not be forgotten that Beaupartir had to be ridden right out to.defeat her by the narrowest of margins in the Great Northern St. Leger Stakes. She gained two victories in handicap company, and in each instance she triumphed by superior staying powers. Meantime she is somewhat light of frame, but age and racing should prove beneficial to her physical development, and next season she promises to be a high-class handicapper. - Easily the most-raced three-year-old i of the season has been Gay Son, and towards the end 6i the current term

his record suffered in comparison with others. Altogether he competed on 24 occasions for four firsts, two seconds, and six thirds, the distances ranging from six furlongs to a mile and a quarter. His form has been a trifle dim- i cult to follow during the past few months, but when in the mood he falls! very little short of top class. Another, who would probably have taken a higher ranking but for his yagaries j is Te Hero, whose high-spiritedness has resulted in his early retirement to the stud. Few colts of his age have more speed than the son of Heroic, but his temperament has found him prac-| tically worthless as a racing proposition. MAY DO BEST IN SPRINTS. Disdain, after winning the A.R.C. Railway Handicap, was taken to Australia, but her form was not up to expectations, and she scored on only one occasion. Her connections! are firmly of the opinion that she was not seen at her best, and next season she may redeem her reputation, for there was no doubt about the manner in which she annexed the big Ellerslie sprint. However, it is possible that she will always be seen to best advantage over short distances. Toro-Koura is another who may favour sprint journeys. A colt from whom more may be heard in the future is Royevrus, a splendidly-moulded chestnut son of Surveyor. He graduated out of hack ranks with victories in Plates in the north, and when pitted, against good middle-distance class in the Summer Cup at Christmas he proved equal to leading all the way and registering a mild surprise. He has by no means been over raced, and he should be all the better for the patient policy adopted. Owing to an over^ sight he did not. have the chance of measuring strides with the best of his age in classic races, and one will have to wait for the future to assess his standard of rating. Old Bill is another of whom more should be heard in distance races next season. He j took some time to open his winning i account, but he was by no means dis- | graced to be fourth in the Great' Northern Derby, and there is every ' reason to look foward to the forth-1 coming term with optimism. j

The remainder who won over £1000 during the current season were Taurangi, Jayola, and Passaform. The first-named proved equal to winning the Thompson Handicap with over weight-for-age, and she should be all the better for the experience, while Jayola's consistency has to be fully recognised. He has not been out of a place in any of his last 13 starts, and even though the opposition has been I comparatively weak on occasions he still has to be given every credit for his efforts. Passaform was successful in three middle-distance races in the far south, but owing to the hard state of the tracks he was not unduly overtaxed. However, enough was seen of him to form the opinion that he will be a welcome addition to the ranks of handieappers. The following is a list of three-year-old winners of over £ 1000 in the current term:— Stakes. Starts. Ist. 2nd. 3rd. £ Defaulter ... 13 11 1 — 7155 1 Beaupartir ... 12 5 6 — 2895 Peerless 17 4 3 ' 3 2130 Gay Son 24 3 2 6 1620 Disdain 8 3 0 1 1520 Royevrus .... 11 4 2 0 1460 Jayola 20 5 5 4 1290' Toro-Koura .. 25 7 6 2 1255 Taurangi .... 10 3 2 1 1100 Old Bill 12 3 3 1 1033 Passaform .... 16 4 1 3 1030