SPORTING YOUNG CHARLES TO MEET STRONG STAKES FIELD

Greymouth Evening Star, 25 August 1949, Page 8

SPORTING YOUNG CHARLES TO MEET STRONG STAKES FIELD

The chief focus of interest in the Canterbury Three-year-old Stakes, one of the feature events on the first day of the New Zealand Metropolitan Trotting Club’s meeting at Addington next Saturday, will be the further clash between Young Charles and Farlena. The distance is a mile and five furlongs, and the race provides a stern test for youngsters of this age so early in the season. Since the Canterbury Three-year-old .Stakes was ■ first instituted in 1943, M. Holmes,' of Upper Riccarton, has been the most successful trainerdriver, and he has piloted, home three winners—Slavonik; in 1944, and Free Fight and Gay Knight in 1946 and 1947 respectively. Last year C. R. Berkett was successful with Spring Fashion, and this, was the first occasion on which the race was run over a mile and five furlongs. Previously the distance had been a mile and a half. 1

Next Saturday Berkett will be. represented by the U. Scott—Aurie’s Star colt Young Charles, one of last season’s outstanding two-year-olds, who begins this term on the tightest assessment ever accredited to a three-year-old to race in the Domin10Actually, on a handicap basis, Young Charles appears to have the field at his mercy. The conditions o! the race state that a winner of one or more races will start from the 24yd mark, while a horse placed second in one or more classic or semi-classic races will be penalised 12yds. This means that Young Charles, Farlena, and Morano will be off the back mark, Casacando off 12yds, and the remainder oi the field will begin from the limit. Young Charles’s Mark However, if the race were run under handicap conditions, Young Charles (on a 3.40 mark) would be required to o-ive Farlena and Morano (both on 3.52), a start of 144yds, and the remaining contestants a margin of 19yards. Young Charles has, therefore, an undeniabe opportunity to further his record but it is understood that during his spell he put on a considerable amount of condition, and he may not be at his best next week. Farlena appears on paper to be Young Charles’s stoutest opponent and her performance in winning the New Zealand Sapling Stakes at Ashburton in the Australasian record two-year-old time of 3.19 1-5, stamps her as being one of the best juveniles in the country today. The distance of the race on Saturday will suit her, and should give her ample time to become settled in her gait, as on occasions she had displayed an inability to begin correctly. In her only previous appearance at Addington she lost a good deal of ground at the start, but finally finished ninth over a mile and a quarter in a field of 17 horses. Farlena is bred to stay as she is by Kingcobra from Quite Evident. Kingcobra is by Raider, whose grandsire was the great American stallion Peter the Great, credited as being the trotting horse of the century. Quite Evident, the dam of Farlena was by Quite Sure from Marie Logan, by Logan Fraser from Eiffelton Lass, who was by the dual New Zealand Cup winner, Wildwood Junior. Morano, who will be a co-marker with Farlena, was unlucky in several of his races last season and met interference on two occasions through no fault of his own. After his impressive win in the Timaru Nursery Stakes, he was hailed as a coming champion, and in two subsequent appearances he endorsed this view by displaying exceptional speed to run third and fourth after losing a lot of ground in the early stages of each race. Morano Disappoints His next start was in the Juvenile Handicap of a mile and a quarter at Addington on May 28 and he was confidently expected to test Young Charles (who ultimately won). On this occasion, however, his performance was exceedingly disappointing. He made a brilliant beginning to be handily placed throughout the race, and appeared likely to dispute the finish at the straight entrance, but when asked for an effort he failed to respond and was sixth passing the post. However, he- may be a better horse this year, and it would be wise, perhaps, not to condemn him oh one poor display. He is a black colt by U. Scott, from a good race mare in Coquette. The balance of the field apart from Casacando will begin from the limit mark, and the best of these, on past performances, appear to be Van Dieman, Preston, Anitra, and Chief Eagle. Soangetaha is the only other with a placing to its credit, but it is debatable whether a horse of that name could ever hope to win a race. Van Dieman’s first three starts as a two-year-old were uninspiring, but in the Sapling Stakes at Ashburton, he showed promise by finishing on courageously to be third behind Farlena and Young Charles. He is a well-pro-portioned black colt by U. Scott from Reno, and he may be capable of further improvement this term. Preston, a bay colt by Gamble from Grecian Gold, was unplaced in this same race, but earlier he had shown fair abilitv by running two fourths and a third, his third placing being to Young Charles and Burns Night in the

Oamaru Juvenile Stakes, of a mile and a quarter.

A Likely Improver Casacando, Chief Eagle,’ and Anitra finished in that order behind. Young Charles in the Juvenile Handicap at Addington on May 28, and, of the three, Casacando impressed most. He raced in the middle of the field most of the way. •,(Chief Eagle and Anitra being the co-pacemakers), but finished strongly to be only a length and a half behind Young Charles at the, finish. However, all three started again in the Ashburton classic, but were not sighted at the finish. Casacando is a bay colt by Casanova from Canda Nell; Chief Eagle is by Springfield Globe from Erin’s Empress; and Anitra is a bay filly by U. Scott from Seal Globe. , . ■ , Of the remainder of the field in the Canterbury Three-year-old Stakes there are several unknown quantities who will be appearing in public for the first time, and among these is Talua, a filly bv Gold Bar. from Pitcairn, who is reputed to be a promising youngster. However, at the time of writing, those that apoeal include Young Charles, Farlena, Morano, and perhaps Van Dieman. And even if Young Charles is at his best, the Kingcobra filly Farlena is selected as being the most difficult horse to beat.

Morning Wings One of the most impressive of the younger trotters racing last season was Morning Wings, owned and trained by S. T. Webster, at Tinwald. The six-year-old son of Logan Fraser was the winner of several races and this season he is sure to reach a tighter mark. Mornings Wings is bred from the Wrack mare Correct, who also produced that good pacer Jack’s Son to Lucky Jack. Daughters of Wrack have been building up a fine record at the stud as far as straight-out trotters are concerned, among their progeny being Betty Maxegin, Acclamation, Fairy Wings, Frank Scott and Lucky Bill.

Improved Mare Lady Averill took some _ time to reach her best, but the Dillon Hah mare’s form last season was a reward for past failures. Her dam Winning Wave was from a New Zealand Cup winner in Win Soon, who was the only winner sired by King Child. Lady Averil comes from the same family as Sea Born, Pierre, Caudray, Mount Mellick, Willowbank and others. She is engaged in the Louisson Handicap at Addington on Saturday. Last season she won £6445 in stakes, this placing her fourth among the season’s winners.

A Winning Family Trustee, who will contest the August Handicap at Addington on Saturday, has a wealth of winning blood behind him. He is raced by the Southland sportsman, Mr W. McDonald, who raced such good-class winners as Satin King and' King Pointer. He was purchased as a three-year-old by Mr McDonald and he has since compiled a great record for consistency. Like many of Quite Sure’s stock he has improved with racing. On his distaff side he can claim relationship to such winners as Rocks Ahead (2.39), Navigate, Ned Worthy (Auckland Cup), Indemnity, Dillondale, Nell Grattan (3.12), Aqua Bond and others. Related To Smart Pacers'

Morano, who will race in the Threc-ycar-old Stakes at Addington on Saturday, is a black colt by U. Scott from Coquette, the dam of a good juvenile winner in Vigilant. He is owned and trained by F. G. Holmes. Coquette was a smart pony pacer, taking a twomile record of 4.18 1-5. She was got by Grattan Loyal from Bonpy Logan (2.7 4-5), a Logan Pointer-mare who left others in Gaillard, Bayard (4.13 2-5), Safety Pin. Captain Morant, Bonny Bridge (New Zealand Derby) and Admiration. Detract’s Form Detract’s performance when he won tlie Sumner Handicap with 10.0 was impressive. He carried 10.7 and was ridden by his owner in the Redcliffs Handicap on Saturday and would have been hard to beat again had he not lost his position when among the leading bunch near the home turn. Detract won £1740 in the hack class. £1340 of it for his present owner. Mr Curtis bought him with a jumping career in view and as the services of Boolaniskee were lost this ‘winter, Detract may be put to hurdling earlier than was originally intended. He is one of the biggest horses in training and animals of his size do not always make the best hurdlers though they frequently excel over the bigger fences. Not Finished Many people have sung a requiem for Master Meruit, but they have been premature. W. D. Young says the crack ’chaser is little worse than usual, and he expects to produce him again next season. It will be a pity if this grand jumper is not on hand next winter. There have been more dashing jumpers, such as Clarion Call, but few more correct and faster away from their fences than Master Meruit.