SPORTING

Grey River Argus, 7 August 1937, Page 7

SPORTING

Metropolitan Trots GALLANT KNIGHT FANCIED. The Metropolitan T.C. meeting will open to-day and splendid fields are engaged. The win and place totalisator will operate. Gallant Knight is the,, early favourite for the August Handicap and may find most opposition likely to come from Reporter and King’s' Warrior. The fields prospects and starting times are as follows :— 11.30 a.m.: INTRODUCTORY HANDICAP, 3.34 class, 11 miles.— Guy Hugo, Kuini, Mabel Chimes, Reward, Sister Mary, Parrish Chimes scr.; Lady Sonoma, Little Reta 12; Franz Derby, Golden Eagle, Lament, Mataunga 24; Polly Pan 36; Sandy N. 48; Waikato Prince 60; Great Admiral 72. Franz Derby Golden Eagle Kuini 12.10 ADVANCE HANDICAP, 2.52 class, I', miles. —Air Flow (T.), Belle Grattan, Credit Funds, Full Hand, Ginger Jack, Grand Finale, Repeal, Sage King/Sky Wink scr.; Aide-de-Camp, Esplendor, Harlequin, Social Pest 12; Aircraft Casanova 24; William Tell 48. Ginger Jack Credit Funds Aide-de-Camp 12.50: AUGUST HANDICAP, 4.29 class, 2 miles.—Gunfire scr., Gallant Knight, Grace McElwyn, Llewellyn’s Pride, Lucky Jack, Pot Luck, Rocks Ahead 12; Reporter 24; Bingen Palm. Glenrossie, King’s Warrior, Tempest 36; Graham Direct, Rollo, War Buoy 48; Red Shadow 84. Gallant Knight Reporter King’s Warrior 1.35: QUEEN MARY HANDICAP, 4.34 class, 2 miles.—Encounter, Ironside, Parisienne, U Scott scr.; Happy Knight, Navy Blue, Red Flush 12; King’s Play 36; Sea Gift (T.) 48. King’s Play Parisienne Happy Knight 2.15: ' STEWARDS’ HANDICAP, 3.29 class, li miles.—Bittersweet, Fifa, Flotsam, Garner, Golden Eagle, Lough Guy, Norman Fox, Waikato Prince, Radaim scr.; Amonos 12, King’s Guard 24; Discord, Nicoya, Wahnooka 36. Bittersweet Golden Eagle Flotsam t 2.55: TRIAL HANDICAP, 4.40 class, 2 miles. —’Frisco Boy, Full Hand, Ginger Jack, Great Jewel, Play On, Sage King scr.; Kibo, Real Burton 24; Golden Cross 36; Blair Athol, Mystery Yet, Renown’s Best 48. Frisco Boy Blair Athol Mystery Yet 3.35 SELWYN HANDICAP, 2.47 class, 1.1 miles. —Aristotle, Chenwood, Elvo, Encounter, Frisco Lady, Iraq, Logan’s Pride, Noble Prince, Parisienne, Rongomai, Sterling Lady, U Scott, Worthy King scr.; Francis Lincoln, Isabel 'Derby, King’s Play, Southern Smile, Wrackler 12; Rocks Ahead 24. Frisco Lady U Scott Rocks Ahead 4.15: INTERNATIONAL HANDICAP, 2.44 class, 11 miles.—Gamble, Gold Tinge, Guy Junior, Nervie’s Last, Queen Author, Rollo, Smooger, Village Guy scr; Bingen Palm, Glenrossie, New Derby, Rev Spec, Supertax, Willow Wave 12, Blue - Mountain, De Soto, Worthy Light 24; Cloudy Range, Grand Mogul 36. Nervie’s Last Gamble Willow Wave Poverty Bay Hunt TO-DAY’S FIELDS AND PROSPECTS. The single pool system of betting will operate at the Poverty Bay Hunt Club’s meeting to-day for which the fields and prospects are:—

. AWAPUNI HURDLES HANDICAP, \ li miles.4-Hunt.ing Star 10.1, Bothwell r J 9.0, Mahala 9.0, Grantham 9.0. c Hunting Star c WHATATUTU HACK HANDICAP, 1 mile.—Haile Boy 9.2, Skyward 9.1, ‘ Quaint 8.10, Ua la, Mailman 8.0. y Quaint .. Haile Boy k / HEXTON HANDICAP, 11 miles.— De Friend 9.2, Small Boy 9.1, Gay E Hunter 8.6, Blue Needle 8.1, Hunting j Mars 8.0, Lordly Knight 7.7. x De Friend ] Small Boy t HUNT CLUB CUP STEEPLE- | CHASE, 21 miles.—Kahunoke 13.3, Puccini 10.11, Royal Toast 10.9, Grant- < I ham, Mangatai, Vestry, Mitzi 10.7. ; Kahunoke 1 Puccini ’ i SWARTHMOOR SCURRY, 5 fur- j longs.— Emblazon, Legion Queen, ( Mailman, Raana, Quilp, Defend, Kit - i chenette, Singing Gold, Gay Mimic, Sweet Pal, Hunting Crop, Firelock 8.0. Hunting Crop Defend Singing Gold HUNTERS’ BRACELET HANDICAP, 1 mile for gentlemen riders. — Skyward 12.7, Puccini 11.0, De Bretts 10.12, Vesty 10.7, Mahala 10.5. De Bretts Skyward RAPANUI HACK HANDICAP FLAT, 7 furlongs.—Haile Boy 9.2, Brown Lap 9.1, Ruinette 8.13, Bonnie Song 8.5, Ihu, Perfect Lady, Fine ' Stitch, Pirima, Paul Robeson 8.2, Holme Fell 8.0. Ruinette Paul Robeson Brown Lap t Racing Notes - Moonraker: Moonraker, who was second to Rockingham at Riccarton on Satur- , day, is an Australian-bred filly by 1 Rionscup from Voleuse, and on Sat-

urday she made her first appearance on a New Zealand racecourse in the colours of Mr. H. D. Greenwood. She had a couple of starts early in the season in New South Wales. Consistent: Consistency has marked Small Boy’s running throughout the season. He has won six races and gained a like number of seconds. 1 For Sale: Differential, the dam of Queen of Song, will be offered at auction during National week. She is believed to be in foal to Night Raid. John Charles Goes South: The hurdler John Charles has left Hastings for Riccarton to compete at the National meeting. Since his dual success at Wellington he has done very well and is in great order. Prospects of Collision: By his victory in the Longbeach Handicap at Riccarton last Saturday the improving Collision demonstrated that he is in fine form and he has a strong following for the Grand National Hurdles. Collision has a good record in his first season as a hurdler and besides having more brilliance than many of the jumpers, he also stays solidly, as was shown by his good second to John Charles in the Winter Hurdles at Trentham' last month. His prospects in the Grand National Hurdles will be enhanced if the going happens to be soft. Dictate's Strong Position: Dictate, who cost Mr. M. O’Brien 50 guineas as a yearling, has now won over £5OO. He will meet Concertpitch only one lb worse in the Winter Cup than in the Brabazon Handicap, and the extra furlong should not tell against him, according to his previous showings. His victory of Saturday, and Trench Fight's misadventure have made Dictate nominal favourite for the Cup, in which he will have the services of M. H. Morris. Sir Hugh: Sir Hugh, who ran a good race for second in the Kennels Hack Handicap at Riccarton last Saturday, looks near due again. This Philamor four-year-old has failed to add to his successes since he scored attractively in last year's Cashmere Plate on Grand National Day, but he has not had a great deal of racing. The Steeples: Since 1915, when order of favouritism was first published in official records, seven first selections have won the Grand National Steeplechase, these being Lochella, Coalition (second time), Oakleigh (second time), Beau Cavalier, Wiltshire (second time), Aurora Borealis, and Valpeen (second time). In the same period the only favourites to win the Grand National Hurdles have been Sleight of Hand, Kauri King, and Wharncliffe. The biggest outsider to win the Steeplechase since 1915 has been Peter Maxwell, who was eleventh favourite in a field of 16 in 1926. A Division: There is just a chance that a division will be required in the Avonhead Handicap at Riccarton next Tuesday, as 41 horses still remain in the field. Such a division was required three years ago, when the safety margin was given as 28. Bay Duke: Bay Duke has disappointed his connections on more than one occasion, recently, but his chance may come at the Grand National meeting next week. Trench Fight: Trench Fight looks certain to start one of the best-backed of the Winter Cup field. Early Fancy: Clarion Call is a clear-cut favourite for the Grand National Hurdles. Nocturnus: Nocturnus, of the Grand National Steeplechase fancies, will probably be ridden by F. E. Baker, who was seen to advantage on Sunny Comet at Washdyke.

Accomplished: One of the most accomplished jumpers in the north, Irish Comet, is to take his place in the Grand National Steeplechase field. The bigger the obstacles, the better he likes them.

Clarion Cali's Rider: A. Jenkins, who was injured at the Wanganui winter meeting in May, has recovered, and will ride Clarion Call in his Grand National engagement.

Epris: It is reported that A. E. Didham will ride Epris in the Winter Cup. That might entail two or three pounds overweight.

Sentinel’s Opinion: According to the veteran southern critic, “Sentinel,” Irish Comet’s size should not be considered against him when viewing his Grand National prospects. A Genuine Mudlark:

Another useful handicap performer still in active work at Ellerslie is Valmint, and he is a genuine mudlark who seems destined to be a hard horse to beat in the handicap event at Ellerslie this month.

Lord Vai: Lord Vai is to be given a brief respite from hurdling in the meantime, and his next engagement is going to be on the flat at the Pakuranga meeting. He will find the conditions to his liking, and, judged by the way he is hitting out at Ellerslie, his several hard races over the battens have not impaired his pace.

Bachelor King: 1 The early classic races will attract i the Takanini three-year-old Bachelor , King, for he is now undergoing a solid preparation for what is going to prove another strenuous season. Last term this then two-year-old had a hard time of it, being asked to carry welter weights, and in the more moderate company he was just about equal to , holding his own. However, he fell a bit short .when the classic candidates opposed him, even if he was not dis graced, but, at the same time, it indicated just what a tremendous gap there was separating the first and second grades last season, an opinion that was conlirmed by the form of Airam. Bachelor King may be a very good three-year-old, although he will need to improve to cope with Royal Chief and Smoke Screen in the Avondale and Great Northern Guineas in the next few weeks. Trotting Notes I Glenrossie: , Glenrossie, that, good friend to the Wellington sportsman "Jim” McDon-

aid, showed enough form in his later starts of the expiring season to suggest that there is a race or two concealed about the old fellow yet. Still, it will be hard to concede starts to improving two-milers like Reporter, Gallant Knight, and Pot Luck, and there is a possibility, too, that Lucky Jack might mend his waywardness. U Scott: U. Scott at Hawera showed he was a horse of great possibilities. He claims two engagements at Addington, being on the limit of the Queen Mary Handicap and the Selwyn Handicap. If reserved for the shorter race he will have a big following. Gaiuint Knight: Gallant Knight is the ruling favourite for the August Handicap. Working Well: One of the best propositions among the jtrotters is Bittersweet, who has been working well. Frisco Lady: r Frisco Lady, who gave a taste cf her quality at the Auckland February meeting, is nicely placed on the limit of the 2 min. 47 sec. Selwyn Handicap at Addington. Nervie’s Last: Recognised as a high-class sprinter, Nervie’s Last has demonstrated some ability at two miles and the only time he struck a reasonably good track he won in 4 min. 26 4-5 sec. Should Addington conditions be favourable, the free-legged pacer will be given opportunities to test his staying powers. Nervie’s Last has reached a 2 min. 44 sec. mark and is how meeting tne best sprinters in the land. Indianapolis: Although Indianapolis was not nominated for the National meeting, the champion is reported to be in good order to start on a preparation for the New Zealand Cup. Can he make it his fourth? ANSWER TO CORRESPONDENT. “Wager”, Waiuta:—Yes, L. J. Ellis rode Snowfall in the G.N. Steeplechase at Riccarton in 1932, when the placed horses were Billy Boy, Pans and Royal Visitor. Snowfall, ridden by A. E. Ellis won the G.N. Steeplechase at Riccarton the previous year, 1931. Your second question “What race meeting was held at Riccarton on the Saturday that the last English League team played New Zealand. is rather vague, as both Tests were played in Auckland, the first on August 10th, 1936, when the Metropolitan 7' C meeting was held at Addington and tl” second on August 17th 1936 at Auckland, when the C.J.C., Grand National meeting was concluded at Riccarton. The English League team, however, played the South Island at Christchurch on August Ist, 1936 but the only race meeting on that' day was the Poverty Bay meeting.

GREY DISTRICT COMMITTEE. At the monthly meeting of the District Committee of the Greymouth Jockey Club, there were present. Messrs T. E. Coates, W. Greenhill, C. U Kettle, W. H. Parfitt and A. BebaThe New Zealand Racing Conference advised that , the application of C J. Walsh for a jockey s license had been recommended, also that trainers licenses had been granted to the following: J. Johnston (prov ) E. Kingan J. Stewart, C. J. Walsh, A. G. Wood; V. A. Lee was granted a jockey's license conditionally on his securing permanent employment. It was decided to advise the Wellington Racing Club that no objection was offered to the granting of a trainer’s licence to A. J. Griffen, and the Canterbury Jockey Club that there was no objection to the granting of a trainer’s license to A. MeMullan.