Gold Song A Strong Candidate For Styx Hurdles

Greymouth Evening Star, 18 August 1949, Page 7

Gold Song A Strong Candidate For Styx Hurdles

[■SPECIAL TO STAR] CHRISTCHURCH, This Day. —The Wingatui trainer, W. E. Hancock, accepted with his IvVo horses, Gold Song and String Band in two races each on Saturday, and their programme will not be decided upon until the arrival of their respective owners on Friday. In all probability, however, Gold Song will contest the Styx Hurdles, in which other speedy jumpers in Relampago, Money Lender, Il Corona and Tribute, are also engaged. Gold Song’s prospects will depend to an extent on the state of the track. He likes firm going. Gold Song has not been started since he won the hack hurdles at the South Canterbury meeting last month from Siegform and Thomas and on a reasonable track he would be a strong prospect in the Styx Hurdles. Previous to his win, he had raced prominently in hurdle events at Trenthan. His • stablemate, StringBand, was a useful hack last season. . Homespun was pulled up in tne Grand National Hurdle Race because of hitting a nerve behind, giving his rider the impression he had broken down badly. He did not suffer any effects, and is to be schooled over the inside country tomorrow in view of contesting the Beaufort Steeplechase on Saturday. . The two-year-old filly Floral Flight by Airway from Moorflower, and a sister to Heather Flight is now in R. Register’s, stable at Riccarton. She was sold, with Heather Flight, to Mr E. E. McCullough, at the Addington thoroughbred sale last week, and was yesterday resold to Mr C. Christie of Wellington, who also has the hurdler Sailor Girl in Register’s team. Difficult To Train Irish Peach, who has been a difficult proposition because of her wayward habits both on the track and on race days, has been sent to F. Trilford at Washdyke to train. It is probable she will be given a course of schooling. Her place .in A. J. McLachlan’s stable at Riccarton has been filled by Riverbank, a four-year-old gelding by Tiderace from Newsreel, booked to have his first race in the opening event next Saturday. Conclusion entered upon a few week’s respite following his race last Saturday, and will not reappear until probably the spring meeting at Trentham in October. Of other horses with, dual engagements, Snow Saint will probably start in the Longbeach Handicap and Military Chief in the Redclift's Handicap. Julius Caesar was accepted for in both the Heathcote and Selwyn Handicaps but was eliminated from the former with the right of re-entry ■in the event of two scratchings so that in the meantime his programme is uncertain. Two of the most impressive youngsters taking part in the two-year-old parade at Riccarton last Saturday were Brutus and Dunkirk. The former is a handsome chestnut colt by Ruthless from Ozel, by Broiefort from the Limond mare Pnrosa, purchased at Trentham in January oy Mr G. J. Barton of Dunedin for 1150 guineas and trained by J. W. Pankhurst. He is Yvell-grown and is a ismooth mover and although he only ran second in his division on Saturday he indicated that he will develop into a high class galloper. Dunkirk’s Sale

Dunkirk is also a chestnut colt, resembling Brutus to a marked extent, and is by Admiral’s Luck, a winner in England, and by the Hurry On horse Precipitation, the outstanding stayer in England of his time, while his dam, Army Girl, is by die Chief Ruler horse Rulanut from Joy Box by Potoa. The youngster did not evoke much bidding at Trentham, and was sold at under 200 guineas to the Riccarton trainer, W. Barr, who had several inquirers for him after his attractive win in the second division of the parade, and sold huii for 1000 guineas. Dunkirk is inclined to be highly strung, and much will depend on how he carries on in this regard as to whether he makes good as an early two-year-old. Copperplate, winner of the first division is a chestnut colt by Gold Nib from Luscious by Coronach from Radiant Spi from Night Raid, and is

trained by J. S. Shaw for his Auckland owner, Mr M. J. Moodabe. Shaw also trains Royalcille, third placegetter in the division. He is a chestnut gelding by Columcille _ from Royal Mistake by Royal Divorce from Bradamante, aged winner, and cost 475 guineas as a yearling. The youngster, who is owned by Sir Ernest Davis and his daughter, also shows promise, but it is unfortunate that more attention was not paid to the task of naming him. Popular Colours Quarry, third in the second division was purchased privately after the Trentham sales by Mr M. O’Brien of Christchurch, who races in the colours so long associated with horses owned by- his late father. Quarry is a smallish bay gelding by Treasure Hunt from HuntingPrincess by Hunting Song from Princess Bede by Catmint. Treasure Hunt was the first son of the triple crown winner Bahram to come to this part of the world, and is now standing at Riccarton. An unnamed brown colt by Royal Arch from Love Lady, purchased as a yearling by Mr D. Grant, and trained at Riccarton by R. Register, filled second place to Dunkirk. Love Lady is by Hagrat from Lovecourt by Gainscourt and Royal Arch, who has yet to be represented in New Zealand racing, is by Colorado Kid, and was a high class winner in England. Auckland Scratching AUCKLAND, This Day (P.A.) Pvrexia was scratched at 12.25 p.m. today lor the Remount Steeples at the Fa'kuranga meeting at Ellerslie tomorrow.