REMARKABLE FIELDS

Evening Post, Volume CXXXI, Issue 11, 14 January 1941, Page 14

REMARKABLE FIELDS

TRENTHAM OPENING

CLUB'S GREAT POPULARITY

The Wellington Racing Club has every reason to be gratified with the splendid acceptances that were made for the first day of its meeting on Thursday. Considering the hard g-nng that prevailed everywhere during the Christmas and New Year holidays, which was a very severe test on the horses, the number, balance, and quality of the fields secured are remarkable. The aggregate for this day is only one less than for the opening day of the Auckland Meeting last month, and that was before the holidays commenced and in a district where there are vastly more horses in training than in any other portion of the Dominion. It is a safe assertion that at this period of the season no club in New Zealand, whatever stakes were offered, could have obtained anything like the fields that will be provided at Trentham on Thursday. A Stronger Cup Field. The Centennial Wellington Cup last year was an outstanding event, but in all-round quality this year's Wellington Cup is a still superior field. Twelve months ago the general strength of the older horses was not above average, though they were numerous enough, and it was the three-year-old division that really made it a race, as horses of the age finished second, third, and fourth. This year the older horses make a very much stronger array, among them being Royal Chief (who was having his first start for some time in last year's race and was not seen at his best), Old Bill (last year's winner), Catalogue, The Buzzer, Orelio, Gladynev, Proud Fox, Amigo, Friesland, Native Song, Serenata (New Zealand Cup winner), Little Robin, Sir Amyas, and Schoolgirl, while the three-year-olds are again strongly represented with Kindergarten (G.N. Derby). Enrich (N.Z. Derby), Belle Cane (N.Z. Oaks and Manawatu Cup), and Beau Leon (third in Auckland Cup). Record Against Three-year-olds. Except for. the last two years, the three-year-olds have not played a very prominent part in the Wellington Cup. The only winner of the race at Trentham prior to Defaulter two years ago was Rapine, under 7.12, in 1923, ano Rapine subsequently proved himself to be one of the finest stayers the Dominion has known, one of his later wins being the Auckland Cup under 9.8. Last year the three-year-olds filled all the minor placings, and it will remain a long-argued point whether Beau Vite was not a bit unlucky not to have defeated Old Bill. Take Rapine, Defaulter, and Beau Vite, however, and one will realise the class a three-year-old has to possess to win the Wellington Cup. Kindergarten will probably be the favourite this year, but, despite his recent fine form, he has still to prove himself of the highest class when matched against the best older handicappers. The same argument applies in even stronger force to Enrich, Belle Cane, and Beau Leon, though the connections of each are reasonably confident their horse will go a great race. A Similar Approach. Kindergarten approaches the Wel« lington Cup with a somewhat similar holiday record to what Defaulter had two years ago. Defaulter went north to • Ellerslie, where he won the Christmas Handicap by three lengths under 8.11 and the Great Northern Derby in 2min 33 2-ssec. This year Kindergarten also won the A.R.C. Christmas Handicap, under 8.4, and only narrowly, and the Great Northern Derby in 2min 31sec, which is a Derby record for Australia and New Zealand. Despite the Derby times, Defaulter's northern form appears to have been superior to that of Kindergarten, and Kindergarten, without suggesting that he might not do so, has a long way yet to go to satisfy racegoers that he is another Defaulter. Moreover, Defaulter struck an easy Wellington Cup, if The Sandwich Man's second and Aussie Ra's third are a criterion of standard. Enrich and Belle Cane. It might be unwise to rule out three-year-olds of the known class of Enrich and Belle Cane in the Wellington Cup because they failed at the Auckland Meeting. In the case of each it is possible to discount a deal of those Ellerslie defeats. In the first place the humid weather in the north over the holidays undoubtedly affected visiting horses who were not used to such conditions, and this was particularly noticeable on the two later days. Enrich ran a fine race not far out of the money in the Christmas Handicap after' being forced to run wide all the way, and in the Derby he did not assist his prospects by being ridden hard out in front most of the way with Don't Forget. ,In the Christmas Handicap he was required to concede Kindergarten 101b, and in the Wellington Cup he is now in receipt of 101b. Belle Cane's best holiday form was her winning effort in the Manawatu Cup, 1 \ miles, under 8.1, 61b more than her Trentham weight. The trip to Ellerslie immediately afterwards, with the weather as it was. might more than feasibly have seen her just a bit below par in her northern engagements, despite which she came from the rear to finish sixth in the Railway Handicap, a mixing of distances that also does not always help a horse. Form of Sir Amyas. Si- Amyas has not yet raced in open company, but his form prior to and at the New Zealand Cup Meeting caught the eye of good judges and many hold out a chance for him off the minimum in the Wellington Cup on Thursday. In seven starts this season this Paladin four-year-old has been four times a winner, once second, once third, and once fourth, and his two most striking efforts were in his final two starts at Riccarton in November, when he won the Otaio Plate, 1£ miles, beating Schoolgirl, Augment, and a strong hack field easily, and also the Hagle:* Handicap. 9 furlongs, under 9.1, giving weight to the whole field. In both those races he finished brilliantly from the rear. Though he has not started since, he is understood to be well forward. An offer of 1000 guineas was refused for him at Riccarton, and the price at which he has now changed hands is reported to be 1500 guineas. Commendation's Colours. An interesting acceptor for the Fitzherbert Handicap at Trentham on Thursday is Mr. W. H. Gaisford's 625----guinea purchase Nightward, a fullbrother to Russian Ballet and the New Zealand Cup winner Serenata. This Nightmarch colt is very highly regarded by his connections, and though he has not yet raced he has been in work for some time at Woqdville and was sprinted down the straight at the Woodville Meeting last month, when he attracted considerable notice. Praise, his dam, is a full-sister to Mr. Gaisford's earlier champion Commendation, and a half-sister to Homage, the dam of Heritage and Courtcraft.

whom Mr, Gaisford also owned. Courtcraft won his only two races as a juvenile, including one at Trentham. Heritage won on the final day at Trentham in January after having made his debut when sent out favourite in the Fitzherbert on the first day. Commendation also scored second time out after having been sent out a hot favourite in his first race and been hopelessly left at the post, and he then went on to win his next three races, including the W.R.C. Wellesley Stakes. Turf News in Brief. Ashhurst acceptances are due at 9 o'clock tomorrow evening. . Pahiatua first-day acceptances are not due till next Tuesday. i W. Hawthorne returned to the Dominion last week after a seven years' 1 sojourn in Melbourne as one of Mr. 3 W. R. Kemball's trainers, and he .intends to set up again at Trentham. « There will be no luncheons at the, Wellington Racing Club's Meeting,' owing to the rooms being converted 1 into an emergency camp hospital. .

Night Shift, who had his first win at Reefton last week, was bought by the Riccarton trainer F. Christmas last November for 20 guineas. He is a Nightly four-year-old gelding. The Australian-bred Silverburn gelding Coronado, who is on the salei list, has not done a great deal of racing and he is usually finishing on well. He is by the- same sire as the big Marton; surprise winner, Goldburn. The two-year-old Dungloe, the full-1 sister to Duncannon, is suffering from shin-soreness and she is to be turned out till next season.

The Bulandshar—Western Maid filly Forsake, owned by Mr. S. J. Newland, suffered injuries in the paddoc 1. • some time back and she has now been destroyed. The Trentham trainer B. V. Carruth ers, owner in partnership with his father of the unlucky Royal Vision, has entered camp at Waiouru, but the grey will be kept in work and will race at the Wellington Meeting. A two-year-old who will attract attention at Trentham is Mindo, a filly by Bulandshar from. Gaily's dam Just So. : She is one of W. H. Dwyer's team, and is one of the biggest youngsters, of her age. She has ndt had a race yet, but will make her debut in the Fitzherbert Handicap on Thursday. Just So, her dam is full-sister to Sir Beau's dam. Rose Ray. Sports Flash, due to make her. debut in the Fitzherbert Handicap at Trentham on Thursday, is a bay filly by Siegfried out of the Hunting Song— Hathor mare Hest, the dam also of Isis. She is owned in Wellington by Mrs. G. A. Edmonds, who bought her from the estate of the late Mr. J. McCartin, and she is a member of T. R. George's Team.