Prize Ring Will Be Fresh Horse On Saturday

Greymouth Evening Star, 14 August 1947, Page 5

Prize Ring Will Be Fresh Horse On Saturday

[SPECIAL TO STAB] CHRISTCHURCH, This Day. Fresh hurdlers in Prize Ring, Amorlad, Battle Chief, Glad Fox and The Dude will add interest to the Sydenham Hurdles on Saturday. Prize Ring has been set a severe task with 11.7 and all will depend on the state of the track as to his ability to carry it out. The track yesterday was quite firm after being harrowed several times since last Saturday’s racing and if the present fine weather continues the going will be faster than last Saturday. Amorlad has not appeared since the Wellington meeting. He was schooled over two hurdles on Tuesday and jumped them in a very slovenly manner. He has never schooled well but has usually jumped well with the colours up. He will encounter stiffer opposition than was the case when he won the Trentham Hurdles last month, but on ground made to order for him he will have to be kept in mind.

Battle Chief has raced consistently as a hurdler and although the distance may find him out he can be depended upon to make a bold showing'. Glad Fox has not been placed since he won the Styx Hack Hurdles at the Grand National meeting last year. He races well on the firmer going at Riccarton, but the distance may trouble him.

The Dude has been troubled by soreness since he arrived at Ricoarton and his chances do not appear bright. He has not shown any form for two seasons.

The former Greymouth trainer, V. A. Lee, has Graeme looking in firstclass order after his creditable third placing on Saturday, and if the Salmagundi gelding will race up to his

track form he will have a successful season. There is no doubt about his speed and he has shown ability to run out middle distances soundly.. He was; raced in a hood last week and this may have the effect of assisting him to race more kindly.

TRAINER GF HAROLD LOGAN DIES Al' CHRISTCHURCH

R. J. Humphreys, who died suddenly at his home at Templeton yesterday, was a well-known, trainer, who has been associated with the trotting sport for more than 30 years. Humphreys commenced training in partnership with A. Hendriksen, and later set up as a public trainer on his own

account. Humphreys was a capable trainer and he enjoyed his fair share of success. The best horse he trained was undoubtedly Harold Logan, which joined his stable in 1928 after being acquired at a modest price by Miss E. Hinds, who purchased him although he had failed, because of unsoundness, to pass an examination by a veterinary surgeon. A sore-footed ho.rse for a long time, Harold Logan was fired and turned out for a long spell. Under Humphreys’ patient care, Harold Logan responded to treatment and, after being put into work, he quickly developed into a fine performer, his remarkable record including the 1-931 and 1932 New Zealand Trotting Cups. Although Humphreys entrusted most of the driving of his team to free-lance reinsmen, he elected to drive Harold Logan in tire 1931 Cup, land the gelding’s magnificent effort to win was a fitting reward for the trouble his trainer had taken with nim.