DESPATCH IN GOOD FORM FOR NEW BRIGHTON

Greymouth Evening Star, 23 September 1949, Page 1 (Supplement)

DESPATCH IN GOOD FORM FOR NEW BRIGHTON

Jack Peterson Fancied For Sprint Event

After having nowhere to go in the straight in the main event on he opening day of the New Brighton meeting, Despatch finished “like x train” in third place. Given a better run tomorrow, he should .urn the tables on Proprietor and should beat Gay Piper. East season le proved that he is above most of his class, winning at Hutt Park from Seacraft, Systematic, and Fillmore, in 3.34 2-5 for the mile and five furlongs. Tomorrow Despatch will be opposed by two proved pacers in Proprietor and Gay Piper. Nevertheless,-on the roomy New Brighton course, Despatch should stay'on. too solidly for his rivals. Jack Peterson, a fine three-year-old last season, will no doubt be favourite for the final event, but he will encounter a good pacer in Gay Note.

Last season Despatch had some fast times against his name. Staying is his forte, and, although he is matched against such good horses as Gay Piper, Proprietor and Fantom tomorrow he appeals as the hardest to beat in this field. Gay Piper showed something like his best form on the first day of the meeting, fading slightly into fourth place after being in the picture throughout. Proprietor, a good performer last season, ran a sound race on the opening day, this being his first start for some time, while Fantom’s disappointing race could be discounted as he was reasonably well placed when he met with interference.

The Farewell Handicap will mark the return to racing of the fine three-year-old Jack Peterson. Trained by F, G. Holmes, the Jack Potts gelding had five wins and a second placing in his last six starts last season. He can be expected to be a staunch favourite, but nevertheless will meet some good sprinters, Gay Note being a smart performer on his day.

Concord has a chance to improve on his second placing on the first day in the Shirley Handicap. Here, Casameter and Rowan McCoy are two solid trotters who will test Concord. In the other event for straight-out trotters most support will probably be accorded Congressional, Bessie Grattan (an impressive winner at her last start) and Lady Inchcape, who in hex- last outing ruined her prospects by breaking badly at the start.

Winner of the Metropolitan Stakes earlier in the month,. Black Diamond will make his first appearance for the meeting in the Bowhill Handicap. His clash with Star Rosa and other promising pacers will be one of the features of the day’s racing. Horses in favour may include the following:— I introductory Handicaps—Chance, Peggydale, Affectation. Shirley Handicap.—Concord, Casameter, Rowan McCoy. Seaview Handicap. — Perpetua, Daisy Bar, Joygiver.

Henry Mace Handicap.—Despatch, Gay Piper, Fantom. H. F. Nicoll Handicap.—Lady Inchcape, Bessie Grattan, Congressional. Bowhill Handicap.—Black Diamond, Star Rosa, Mobile Globe. Pacific Handicap.—Flinder’s Bar, Awadale, Great Wonder. Farewell Handicap.—Jack Peterson, Gay Note, Fillmore. Sin Peterson x , Sir Peterson, who won the principal double at Epsom, was driven by young G-. Holmes, but he is trained by E. Rinaldi. Dominion-Bred Sires Progeny of Dominion-bred sires were well to the fore at the Marton meeting on Saturday, winning no fewer than five races. The Marton Handicap winner, Bright Side, is a son of The Bigot, who was sired in Australia, while the minor place-getters in the main event, Beau-Or and Beau Bijou, are by Sir Beau and Beau Repaire respectively. Faultina,. winner of the open sprint, is by Defaulter, while Haughty Rival and Beau Vite were respectively represented by the two-year-old winners Bonnie King and Billie Girl. In winning her division of the Spring Hack Handicap, Sly Gold (by Sly Fox), credited Dominion-bred sires with another success.

N.Z. Cup Programme Two changes have been made in the Canterbury Jockey Club’s New Zealand Cup programme. The two hurdle races have been, replaced by highweight handicaps, o.ne of a mile and a quarter and the other a mile and a half. The stakes for each race have been reduced by £lOO. Total prize money for the three days will be £32,680. The chief events are: The New Zealand Cup £5lOO, Derby £3OOO, Metropolitan Handicap £2500, Stewards’ Handicap and Welcome Stakes £2OOO, Fendalton Handicap £1750, Oaks, Churchill Stakes, Canterbury Cup, Jockey Club, and Members’ Handicaps £l5OO. Nominations for the New Zealand Cup and -Stewards’ Handicap will close on October 14, a fortnight before the general entries. The conditions for the reinstatement of horses deleted by ballot will apply, as at the Grand National meeting.