SPORTING

Grey River Argus, 19 November 1942, Page 3

SPORTING

Racing Notes STEWARDS’ HANDICAP. When Scottish Dale won the Great Easter with 7.1, she beat the Champ 7.4,’ and Lord Nuffield 8.8, with a neck and a head between them, in lmin 25sec. Lord Nuffield was considered unlucky, as he had an interrupted run. Lord Nuffield 9.13, afterwards beat Scottish Dale 8.1, over six furlongs at Oamaru in lmin 13 2-ssec, but on this occasion the luck wr-s against the filly, as she appeared to suffer defeat through overconfidence on the pant of her rider.' This season Scottish Dale was easily defeated by All Night at Geraldine, but she won in good style at Timaru. The Champ has won this season over seven furlongs with 7.13 in lmin 26sec but the going was considered against him at Trentham, and also against Scottish Dale. According to the weights for the Stewards’ Handicap, no great alteration has taken place in racmg merit since the Great Easter, so far as the placed lot ,on that occasion are concerned.’ Scottish Dale meets The Champ on lib and Lord Nuffield on 1 41b worse terms than when the trio met at Riccarton. Lord Nuffield was foaled in 1934 and consequently both The Champ and Scottish Dale are- likely to improve much more than the Straightcourse gelding who h'as none the best of it in the Stewards’ Handicap on that account. Bashful Lady won the Brabazon Handicap and the Winter Cup in impressive style, but will have to face speedier .opposition in the Stewards’ Handicap. On form at the Grand National .meeting she me'ets The Champ on 51b worse terms than in the Brabazon Handicap and Poutatau on 61b worse terms than in the WinterCup. She should beat them again. At Geraldine All Night was much superior to Scottish Dale. In the Brabazon Handicap Bashful Lady had no difficulty in giving All Night 131 b and she confirmed the form by giving 141 b in the Winter Cup. -Assuming that All Night represents better form than Scottish Dale, then Bashful Lady should have no difficulty in giving the Foxbridge filly 161 b. Last season Hearth was mixing it between sprinting and staying. She won over 11 furlongs at Trentham, and her last performance in good company over a shorter course was a second with 9.3, to Doria in the Cravan Plate. Her last performance was a fourth at Wellington, with 8.9 to Black Robe 7.7, The Champ 7.1, and Cheerful Lady 7.7 over six furlongs in lmin 12?isec. Poutatau 7.9 won at the- Wellington spring meeting from Belle Fox 7.2, and The Champ 8.4 and the unplaced lot included Scottish Dale 8.2 and Pa.lora 7.5?.. The race was run on a slow track and at Riccarton Poutatau meets The Champ and Scottish Bale on 51b worse terms. After Poutatau the field contains several horses that were particularly smart over a short course last season. These include three-year-olds who showed good form In their first season, bind if they have trained on they must represent an element of danger. Three-year-olds have won more frequently than -older horses. Sixteen three-vear-olds, 12 four-yearolds, and ±4 five-year-olds have won since 1891). Only’ six winners have been six-year-olds and three have been older horses. The figures suggest a de,(erioration in speed after five years. In recent years Paper Slipper 8.5, Beaulivre 8.10, and Enrich 7.13, have been winners, and hence Dominate and Nizam, rated as the best of their age, are not harshly treated.