A SOUTHERN PRELUDE

Evening Post, Volume CXL, Issue 118, 15 November 1945, Page 10

A SOUTHERN PRELUDE

TO C.J.C. CARNIVAL

SIGNAL OFFICER ABSENT

Unlike the Levin and Banks Peninsula Meetings the array of N.Z. Cup and Stewards talent at the Southland fixture is not particularly formidable, and one of the favoured candidates for the distance event at Riccarton, Signal Officer, does not claim an engagement at his home meeting. The Salmagundi gelding surprised northerners who had not considered him in the light of a sprinter by winning the Stewards' JPurse Handicap, 6 furlongs, at Winton on November 3, and that performance made it plainly evident that he is very well. Sing Sing, who won the Soldiers' Memorial Handicap, I] miles, that same afternoon, is a candidate for the Southland Cup. and despite the rise of 71b this Salmagundi ' mare should go very close to taking the honours. However, should she do so she will be open to rehandicap for Riccarton by reason of having won stakemoney of over £500 since the declaration of the handicaps. First Outing. Winner of the N.Z. Cup in 1942, Royal Lancer is to have his first outing for the current term in the Southland Cup on Saturday. Now a nine-year-old, he has a magnificent record and only unsoundness prevented him carrying it much further. Strangely enough, the Southland Cup is one event that does not figure among his triumphs. Prior to coming on to Riccarton to win the Cup 'the Irish Lancer gelding was beaten by Boloyna in the Southland Cup, and last year he was third to Atreus and Alpine when carrying 9.11. He had 9.5 at Riccarton that year, but failed. Two Representatives. Whereas Honest Sal is down to race at Banks Peninsula as a lead-up to the New Zealand Cup, her younger halfbrother. Pride of Mossbuia (by Siegfried), is to contest the Southland Cup on Saturday. In the big race at Riccarton he is on the minimum, but will have an additional 131b to carry at Invercargill. His form has not been particularly impressive to date, but he has shown possibilities as a stayer, and a two-mile journey might be within his compass. Unfortunately, none of the other members has proved the equal of Macedoine, the second foal of the Paladin mare Honest Maid. An Unexpected Move. Bonny Flight, who ran a very creditable race on the second day of the Wellington Spring Meeting last month and who had been favoured in some quarters in the south for the Stewards' at Riccarton, has an engagement in the Southland Cup on Saturday. Her elder sister, Royal Flight, has proved herself up to a mile and a quarter, but it seems strange tactics to put Bonny Flight to such a test at her final outing prior to the big sprint at the C.J.C. Meeting. Incidentally, Royal Flight is not returning to the Dominion immediately, but is to remain in Victoria, where she is being trained by S. F. Piper. Not Engaged. One good southern s-printer who is missing from the Stewards' at Riccarton this year is John Gay, who is now trained by R. McLennan at Invercargill. The grey gelding is topweight in the Flying Handicap at the Southland Meeting on Saturday, having the steadier of 9.1. Figuring in the field are Powys, Lisheen, and Bonnie Chela, who are engaged in the Stewards' at Riccarton. At Invercargill, Powys is required to give 41b to Lisheen and 71b to Bonnie Chela, but all three are on the minimum at Riccarton. Club Benefited. As a result of the disqualification of Rakanui and Catterick Bridge at Napier Park last Saturday, the Napier Park Racing Club did not have to pay out the £35 in stake-money that would otherwise have gone to the owner of the third place-getter. The rule governing the point reads: —"If two or more horses are weighed out, but no horse is placed second or in any lower place, the money or prize provided by the conditions of the race for the second or lower placed horse shall be retained by the club." Australia-bound. Messrs. Wright, Stephenson, and Co., Ltd., shipped a number of horses to Australia by the Wahine on Tuesday. They included Robin Bon (Robin Goodfellow —Kilcannon), who goes to Mr. W. P. Watson, New South Wales; the three-year-olds Dishonour (Defaulter—Note Issue), Hammerhead (Battle Song—Taraheke), Regal Son (Foxbridge—Mittie), and Joyful Song (Battle Song—Joyous), all being the property of Mr. A. Higgins; and a brace of two-year-olds, the one being a chestnut filly by Nizami from Astarth, wh<- was sold at the National Sales last January for 950gs, and the other a grey filly by the same sire from Flying Vixen, who brought 600gs. Both these juveniles are the property of Mr. F. W. Hughes, a wellknown Sydney owner. Also on the boat were two trotters bound for Sydney, both being by the imported horse Dillon Hall (2.0), the one being from Smile Again (2.4) and the other from Merry Rose. Giving Trouble. It is reported from the south that one of Kevin's joints has been giving trouble. It has been a source of worry for some considerable time, but his showing at Trentham in the Pearce Handicap was a good one, and it will be most unfortunate if the trouble prevents him fulfilling his Cup engagement. Golden Souvenir has also had a slight filling of a hind leg. An Opportunity. Thornbridge, a candidate for the N.Z. Derby, has given the suggestion that he will stay later on. He is engaged in the Kaituna Highweight at Banks Peninsula on Saturday, and a sound effort over nine furlongs with 9.0 on his back will bring him into favour for the Riccarton classic.