VETERAN TRAINER’S RECORD IN GREYMOUTH CUP

Greymouth Evening Star, 23 June 1950, Page 1 (Supplement)

VETERAN TRAINER’S RECORD IN GREYMOUTH CUP

The veteran Riccarton trainer F. Christmas, who has announced his retirement, claims a wonderful record in connection with the Greymouth Cup. He trained seven winners of the race —-The Cornet (1915), Slogan (1916), Minerval (1932), Jolly Beggar (1936), Glenogil (1938), Grey Night (1942), and Good Friend (1946). While the Greymouth Cup does not carry a big stake Christmas admits that he got just as much of a “kick” out of winning the race as he had done when leading in winners of more important events. For many years Christmas trained for the late Mr D. H. Roberts, of Greymouth, and The Cornet, Slogan, Jolly Beggar, and Glenogil flarried his colours. Before his winning effort The Cornet was runner-up in 1914 to Jeannot, while Minerval had a similar experience, Black Duke, a hardy campaigner for many seasons, beating him in 1931. The year following the Greymouth' Cup win Minerval, owned by Mr E. Gates, won the Auckland Cup, a race Christmas had won for Mr Roberts with Fiery Cross in 1917. Jolly Beggar, 'who established a Greymouth Cup record of 2.8 for a mile and a quarter, was a hurdler of class and took the Grand National Hurdles in 1935 and 1936.

i Christmas has had other good horses through his hands, including Red .Heckle (Great Northern Derby),

Martarma (Great Northern Derby), and Glendower (Great Autumn Handicap). Cambridge Prospect A highly successful family is represented by the promising three-year-old novice pacer, Yankiwi. By Josedale Grattan, this colt is from Free Again, a mare by Jack Potts from Free Advice, a champion race mare who .reached New Zealand Cup company. Yankiwi has done comparatively little racing to elate and his latest showings have suggested that he will not be.long in leaving the maiden ranks. His turn niay come at the Cambridge meeting tomorrow.