Favourites Occupy the Places

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 22571, 26 February 1948, Page 8

Favourites Occupy the Places

The favourites occupied the first three places in the two-year-old Sapling Stakes, but not in the order they were backed in as the third favourite was first, the first second and the second third. The ‘blues” were first and second, with Blue Seal first and Blue Spec second. The winner, enjoying his first success, had been in the money twice previously, but hardly came up to the form predicted after his first race or two. He is a brown colt by Bulandshar, whose stock enjoyed two wins at Woodville from Baby Blue, was bred by Sir James and All. J. C. Fletcher at their Alton Lodge Stud, and at the 1947 National sales was purchased by his present owncis, Mr. V. Bernao, Australia, and Mr. Di Mattina, for 600 gns. His dam, Baby Blue, was by Garter Blue from Miocene, by Merry Moment from Eocene, a useful second-rater just before the 1314-18 war, by Gold Reef from Fona, a brilliant two-year-old winner of the Hastings Stakes, W.R.C. Wellesley Stakes and C.J.C. Welcome Stakes in succession, by Birkenhead from Eon, by Medallion, sire of the champion Achilles. This is a branch of the No. 17 family which does not seem to be too successful of late.

Blue Spec, by Nizami from Patria, by Siegfred-Princess Pat, by All Black from Martian Princess, by Martian, seems unable to do better than to run into the money. Maybe he will do better next season as most of his relatives did better later and over middle distances. A member of this branch of the family, Sirius, won the Melbourne Cup three years ago. More Than He Could Cope With Vadoz, as expected, found his 9.10 just a little more than he could cope with, but ran an honest race, being only beaten for second money by half a head. Fourth place went to Choppy, who showed a big improvement. He is a stable mate of Lady Delight, being by Tiderace from Lady Gustavo, by Count Cavour’s full-brother Gustavo from Pink Terrace tracing back to the unnumbered Moth tap-root. Bolivar ran nowhere and was never a possibility, but no one is losing any sleep over that. The Langley-owned Felons colt Olympia showed an improvement, being in the call for the greater part of the short journey to finish up just in behind the placed horses. It is rumoured that trainer Wyn Evans is relinquishing the position of private trainer to Mr. E. Langley and that Keith Couper has been offered the position. Glad Fox Surprises Glad Fox surprised in the Highweight, winning narrowly from the win favourite, Master Gary, who ran one of his occasional good races. The winner had not won for some time, but at Wanganui recently ran well enough to suggest him being a possibility last Saturday. He has never been a genuine galloper with a likeness for soft going; the track last week-end was firm and fast. He was ridden a capable race by Jack Dooley, who, like George Tattcrsall, rider of Petre Mar in the Flying, was a prisoner of war. Interesting' Study An interesting sluoy to race followers is Langspicl. This Lang Bian-Nora Gregor threc-year-old filly is as fast, perhaps, over naif a mile us any "hack" in the Dominion' today, but stamina has been absent in practically all her races. Last season as a two-year-old she won the four-furlong Hastings Stakes, but when raced over five furlongs could not manage the extra 220 yds. Twelve months ago at Woodvillc she won fine and a half furlongs. This season she has raced from five to six furlongs and could not see either distance out, but now at Woodvillc she wins soundly a three-quarters of a mile race and that on what could be termed a slayer's track. At Wanganui, a turn-

ing trade more suitable for a nonstayer, she was unplaced twice, failing over the last two furlongs. This filly has the speed to win firstclass oocn sprints and possibly will develop a litte more staying power with age. However, her dam did not do so,