A BRIGHT FUTURE

Evening Post, Volume CXXVIII, Issue 108, 3 November 1939, Page 11

A BRIGHT FUTURE

SOUTHERN CHIEF'S FORM

(By "Ariki Toa.")

One pacer certain to see a short price on the first day of the New Zealand Metropolitan Trotting. Club's Spring Meeting, which opens on Tuesday next, is Southern Chief/who figures off the front of the Canterbury Handicap, an intermediate event rim over two miles: The Wrack horse has won with ridiculous ease at his last two appearances over twomiles, and at Oamaru on Labour Day created a track record when winning the President's Handicap in 4min 20 l-ssec. ~ The Yaldhurst trainer, R. B. Berry;is now in the happy position of.having two candidates eligible for the Auckland Trotting Cup at Christmas., for. besides Southern Chief, Great Jewel is. also handicapped on a 4.31 mark, which class has h&en framed for the big Epsom event.; It is probable that both) horses will reduce their assessniehts during the Addington carnival, but «at this stage it would be difficult to sort out anything to beat them; There has always been an air of cot* fidehee expressed in the ability of Southern Chief to make the grade, but after exhibiting early promise he lost caste by developing erratic barrier manners. He was one of the leading two-year-olds of the 1935-36 .season, winning the Timaru Nursery-Stakes and subsequently being placed,on three occasions m five starts. brr '

As a three-year-old he commenced to develop a tendency to dwell on-the mark, and his record naturally vsuffered. ; He was. successful in the^ittle River Handicap at the Banks sula Meeting, and later filled the ttiinor money behind Parisienne and Frisco Boy in the New Zealand Derby, in which event he would have taken ,a lot more beating butfor a bad begihnmg. ■■ - , ,'•■■'• With another year on his age the son of Wrack had ten starts for three firsts, a second, and two thirds. He was successful at Greymouth, Forbury Park, and Canterbury Park, on the , last-named occasion registering 3miaI6sec for a mile and a half. His form then showed a decided lapse, ahd after Securing only a third -placing in ten starts he was transferred to Ri B. Berry's stable., Produced over two miles at Methven in June he won easily, and followed it up with a similon Victory at Achburton^ . •',, ■■ x-i Three starts at Addington in August followed, and a minor placing was hi» only return. However it Is worth mentioning that he <Md hot leave tha mark on time on any of three occasions, and there was a deal of' merit In the displays. His subsequent two starts have resulted in victories ai Methven and 4 Oamaru. *i .;" Southern Chief is a six-year-old wellfurnished horse by Wrack from Regina Eogan, a full-sister to the speedy but •; erratic Native Chief, 2.41-5, *>y Logaa Pointer from Regina de Oro, by Cop* de Oro (sire of Rey de Oro) from.-.; Regina Belle, a Bellman mare whose;•:, progeny included Logan Chief, a winner of over £ 12,000 in stakes.