NEWS AND VIEWS

Evening Star, Issue 25034, 29 November 1943, Page 5

NEWS AND VIEWS

[By St. Clair.]

Answer to Correspondent

" Battery."—The John Clare Cold Cup was valued (and cost) about £225 when it. was made about 12 years ago. Since l.ben the price of gold has doubled, and the actual value of the trophy 10-day is round about £450.

Jottings. Silver Lily had every chance in the Stewards' Handicap, but she cried enough when half a mile had been covered. Royal Flight was troubled with a seasonal complaint on Saturday, and this no doubt accounted for her poor showing in the Stewards' Handicap, Kindergarten was given a run over about five furlongs between the races on Saturday, and from the half-mile post ran home in 48 4-5 without being extended. North Island horses showed thensuperiority at Riccarton on Saturday by winning seven of the nine races, Invincible and Irish Note being the only two South Islanders to win. Just as Scottish Dale turned to do her preliminary prior to the New Zealand Cup she' unseated her rider, an apprentice named C. McDonald, who sustained concussion, and his place was taken by K. Ford. , Macedoine was not a starter on Saturday, but was taken north to contest tho Metropolitan Handicap next Saturday. In this race she appears to be harshly treated 111 being called on to give 61b to Classform. It is questionable whether Battledress will be a starter next Saturday, as he appeared to be sore on returning to the enclosure after the New Zealand Cup. It was reported that he had twisted one of his plates during the running of the race. Caithness, who is a full sister to Yours Truly, winner of the 1939 New Zealand Cup, scored a very impressive win in the second division of the Apprentices' Handicap, and on that, performance is likely to start favourite for the Oaks Stakes next Saturday. . . Irish Note, winner of the first, division of the Apprentices' Handicap, was bred by the Wingatui trainer, D. J. McDonald, and is bv Irish Lancer from Half Note. Tara King, winner of the Derby, is by Beau Pere from Zarena. Messrs O Neill sent this mare over to Australia to be mated with Beau Pere, and the result has been well justified. Tara King is a very handsome colt, and though the early stages of the race were run at a slow pace, his winning time (2.32 4-5) has only boon bettered once, by Enrich, who won in 1940 in 2.31 3-5.

Rink, winner of the concluding event on Saturday, is a four-year-old gelding by Ringmaster from Impetuous, and won the New Zealand Derby last year. He was ridden a patient race, and over tho last 50yds was going away from Foxcatcher, who had the run of the race. Tho folly of backing doubles through the illegal channels was well demonstrated in this year's Cup and Stewards' Handicap. One pound invested on the winner of the Cup and an all-up bet on the wmnor of the Stewards* Handicap would have netted £768. An all-up bet on the second Jiorse in the Stewards' with Classform s dividend would have returned £4BO, and on the third horse £122.. ~.,,. As Tara King turned into the straight for the run home in the Derby he appeared to interfere with Youtig Bob. At an inquiry held after the race the evidence showed that Tara King crossed over when not the required two, lengths clear, and nearly caused Young Bob to fall. Th* stewards decided to lake no action, but had Young Bob finished second to Tara King it is doubtful if he would have been •handled so leniently. A lot of good Dunedin money went west when First In missed in the first division of the Apprentices' Handicap. She missed the jump-out, and when the field settled down was conceding the leaders almost a dozen lengths. Then she raced round tho big field, and had taken charge before the home turn was reached, but the effort le,ft her with nothing in reserve, ■ and she was beaten nearly a furlong from home. Theolateral scored a clear-cut victory in the Stewards' Handicap, and there was a roar of disapproval from the huge crowd when the judce hoisted John Gay's number as the winner. The error was quickly corrected. There' was no similarity in the colours carried, but John Gay, who, like Theolateral, is by Theio, was one of the leaders into the straight, but dropped right out over the last furlong. There was a lot of merit in Invincible's win in tho High-weight Handicap on Saturday, as he was not well placed at the distance, and had to . thread his way through half a dozen horses. Ho finished very strongly, and just got through to win. The race was run at a very solid pace all the way, and Invincible, who will have to race in open country in future, looks as if he will be able to hold his own- in middle-distance races.

Classform, winner of this year's New Zealand Cup, was one of the six seven-year-olds engaged in the race, and was placed fifth in last year's race. She is by Inflation (a son of Paper Money) from Spear-; form by Greyspear (sire of a Cup winner in Rapier) from Merriform, who was one of twins. She was by Boniform from Merrivonia, by Merriwee from Livonia, by Stepniak from Georvina by Apremont, and traces back to that good Traducer mare Becky Sharp. Neither Rakanui nor Gladynev was ever travelling like a winner of the Cup, the latter tailing the field for nearly a mile and a-half. Don Quex set a solid pace all the way, running the first half-mile in 53 4-5, six furlongs in 1.14, mile in 1.44, mile and a-half in 2.34 2-5, and the last half-milo in 48 3-5. Contrary to expectations and the weight of betting three of the four places were filled by light-weights, and the winner was second outsider of the field. The dividend she returned for a win was the largest since Star Rose won in 1906.

The finish for the New Zealand Cup was easily the most thrilling since Warstep and Indigo dead-heated 29 years ago, and until the judge hoisted his numbers only those in direct line could tell whether Classform, Representative, Don Quex, or Palfrey, who was on the outside, had won. At the distance it looked odds on that Representative would win, as at that stage ho. appeared to, be going more easily than any of the others, and it is doubtful whether Wiggins made as much use of him over the next lQOyds as he might have done. Representative was the first horse to beat Don Quex, who led all the way, and it was only in the last few strides that Classform forced her way in between them to secure a half-head victory from Representative, with Don Quex (next the rails) only a similar margin away. Palfrey, who was un the outside of the trio, and almost in line at the post, would have won had he made his run earlier, as he was travelling faster than any of the placed horses. Classform returned a win dividend of nearly half a century.