Flare Path Above The Average

Greymouth Evening Star, 15 February 1947, Page 7

Flare Path Above The Average

Flare Path experienced little difficulty in accounting lor a double at the Wanganui meeting, and judging by his convincing displays’ he is likely to add to the sequence in the near future. Each day at Wanganui he was not required to give of his best, and he simply overshadowed the hacks engaged at the meeting. Maybe he did not meet a tip-top field, but, even so, no horse can do any more than win, and this he accomplished with a minimum of effort. It is possible that Flare Path will now be reserved for the richer hack events to be contested at Trentham next month, and at the moment there is no brighter prospect in view. He®is a solidly-built colt by Kincardine from Dancing Flame and is trained by J. H. Jefferd. A New Club. An application for registration by the Geraldine County Trotting Club was approved by the New Zealand Trotting Association last evening. Deaths of Horses. The deaths of the following horses have been reported to the New Zealand Trotting Association:—Bronze Eagle, Connie Dillon, Creek Dam, Dora Dillon, Dynamic, Farina, Fortune King, General Wrack, Glen Elad, Glimpse, Lady Voisin, Manpower, Marvin Mac, Native Queen, Petty Bell, Beta Corena, Some Guy, St. Helena, Steel King. Bred in New Zealand. Reshuffle, a New Zealand-bred pacer by Grattan Loyal from Miss Deal, won the Victorian Derby Trial at the Woodend meeting recently, when Prediction, a son of Peterwah, scored in the Hillside Trotters’ Handicap. Reshuffle is owned by Messrs. H. and F. Abrahams, Victoria’s foremost trotting ■ breeders, and is trained by R. Males. Encouraging Effort. Peter Robinson was responsible for an encouraging performance in his first test as a stayer when he led into the straight in the Earle Stakes last Saturday at Wanganui, but the pleasing feature was that he behaved admirably at the barrier and caused very little trouble in a particularly big field. It is possible that recent racing has settled the Sir Crusoe horse down, which should certainly ensure his winning his share of races in the next few months. Broughton’s Record. Thirteen wins in the past month have brought W. J. Broughton’s total for the season to 51. The greatest number of wins registered by a jockey in New Zealand stands to the credit of the late K. Voitre with 123 in the 1932-33 season. Hector Gray is second on the list with 116 in the 1930-31 season. It is unlikely that Broughton will head these totals this year, as his opportunities are restricted owing to racing being confined to Saturdays and holidays.

Amazing Performance. Faithfur Pal put up an amazing performance among the hack sprinters last Saturday at Gore. He was standing sideways .when the field jumped away, and at the end of a furlong he was conceding the leaders fully 70 yards. At the end of .half a mile he had joined his field, and he did well to finish fifth, within a few lengths of the winner. Considering that Luminous Knight ran the seven furlongs in 1.26 3-5 (the Southland seven-furlong record is

[1.25), Faithful Pal must have run a [brilliant seven. 'Plans for Beau le Havre. Should the weights suit, Beau le Havre may start in the Autumn Handicap, of £3OOO, one mile and'a half, at the Wellington Racing Club's autumn meeting at Trentham. on March 8, according to his trainer. J. G. Farrell. The only other engagements planned for the three-year-old this season are the Awapuni Gold Cup and the Great Northern St. Leger at Ellerslie. Beau le Havre came through his race in the Wanganui Cup in good style. The son of Beau Repaire and Pretty Brown has won at his last six starts. His successes have bee gained at six furlongs, seven furlongs, and three times at a mile and a half.

Fleet Street Wearing Well. Fleet Street is earning the title of the “iron horse.” He is now in his thirteenth year and has raced consistently every season since he was a three-year-old. In all Fleet Street has made 111 appearances, and included in this record are 21 wins and 25 placings for a total in stakes of £3863. This hardy son of Balboa enjoyed his best seasoil as a four-year-old, when he contested 21 races for nine firsts and two thirds, which earned him £1293 in stakes. Among his victories that term was a success in the Members’ Handicap at Trentham. -He was under offer at ; that particular time for £7OO, but the option was never exercised, and the horse has remained in the same ownership throughout—that of his breeder, Mr. A. M. McKay. Treatment in America? A movement, sponsored by the Manawatu branch of the Owners, Breeders’, and Trainers’ Association, is afoot to raise funds to send W. Jenkins to America for treatment. It is understood that a well-known racing owner has undertaken to meet the expenses of the trip. Jenkins, a prominent jockey, suffered a serious spinal injury when his mount, Penwilt, crashed in the Kennels Steeplechase at the Manawatu Hunt meeting on July 20 last year, and his recovery has been very slow. Jenkins was one of the most popular jockeys in the southern part of the North Island. Before increased weight forced him to ride over obstacles. he rode with much success on the fiat, his wins including the I New Zealand Cup on’Stceton in 1934, when he stole a march on the field. He saw long service in the Middle East with the 2nd N.Z.E.F., and for a short time was a prisoner of war in 1941. Following his return to New Zealand he made a name for himself in hurdle and steeplechase events. He had also made a successful start as a trainer, winning races with Gardane, who was his first : charge. Chibs and Handicapping System “We feel that we are getting away from, the handicapping system and we would like the board to give the programme committee a ruling,” said Mr. W. M. Ollivier at the monthly meeting of the board of the New Zealand Trotting Association, which was held in Christchurch last night. The practice of certain clubs including in the conditions of races provision, for horses assessed on a slower mark than the class of the race has been causing the committee some concern, said Mr. Ollivier. After a short discussion the board decided to direct the programme committee to discourage the practice.