MONDAY’S METROPOLITAN

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XVII, 1 October 1927, Page 2

MONDAY’S METROPOLITAN

Limerick’s prospect in the Sorina Stakes to-day looks as near a “racecourse certainty’’ as one can hone for. His supreme test as a racehorse will, however, come on Monday. when in a field of probably a score or more, including some of Australia’s best, he will have to carrv 81b over weight for age. while other good ones are handicapped well below that scale, and there mav be lower down the list more than one fair horse nursed for a coup. “Pilot.” of the Sydney “Referee,” discussing the race some ten days ago. wrote as follows:— Star Stranger, a four-vear-old New Zealand gelding, won last year’s Metropolitan with 8.9, and Limerick, another from the Dominion, is expected to win this time with 9.5. Since his arrival in Sydney he has done everything asked of him. but. good as he undoubtedly is. he has a big weight and there is the possibility he will have to carry it in heavy going. “What’s the use of looking beyond Limerick for the Metropolitan winner?” Queried a friend the other day. He then continued: “You saw what he did with Gothic. Amounis. and Fujisan at a mile. If they are Ep som possibilities, it looks as if he could win that race with lOst. at least, and, as he is a better stayer than a sprinter. 9.5 should not pull him up in the Metropolitan.” Limerick certainly made so light of his 9.4 in the Hill Stakes that it is not surprising many good: judges declare hm unbeatable if he avoids nad luck. It must not be forgotten, though, that handicaps are run differently from weight-for-age races, and Limerick has 81b over w.f.a. Jf the Gainsborough horse Murillo has pretensions to class an advantage of 191 b should give him an excellent chance of beating Limerick, and there is no doubt as to the former’s owner being hopeful on idiat score. The biggest double commission this week was for Aorangi and Murillo. In Sydney it totalled £20,000, and it is probable that those principally con cerned were the respective owners of those two horses. E. A. Connolly is highly pleased! with Murillo, and “He couldn’t be better” was his comment as the English gelding walked past. After running through the “possibles,” the Sydney writer winds up by saying: “Notwithstanding Limerick has so much good form on his side, I have a weakness for Murillo, and. in addition to those two. Pantheon, Valparaiso. Amounis and Bacchus are others that cannot be overlooked.” There may. of course, have lieen devolopnieuts since to ffive

him reason for additions to or substitutions in these selections. One thing is sure, and that is that, if Limerick gets through his Soring Stakes engagement successfully, he will go out one of the hottest favour ites on record for the Metropolitan. New Zealand has two other representatives still left in the race. Clarinda (7.11) and Rawhetu (7.2). HORSE SENSE (Contributed to the Auckland “Sun.”) 9 The Blue Sky gave promise of a Bright Dawn, and it was a Gala Dav for Josie Melville, who went to meet her Valentino by the old Stonewall, but the Day Guard, putting on a Bold Front ordered her to Standfast until further orders. Standing near was a War Officer, and he being an Aussie, was a Fiery Lad, so he called her Daddy’s Girl and kissed her Luxurious, Flvincr Tresses. So a Good Bov bv the name of Master Noel, from Wyoming, rescued her by shooting the officer so hard with his Catapult that he needed a Respirator until he had got his Second Wind. Then he hit the Town Guard, who so. far had got off Scot Free. During a Slump in the conversation. that Nippy chap. Lord Star, came on the scene. He made the fact known that he had just come from Kingsland and was on the Look Out for a Red Lion. He meant a yellow lion on a reddish bottle, so he started a Royal March to the nearest Restaurant, where he rewarded the Modest Boy for his Valour with a cigarette. Then in pure jov. he smashed a beautiful Chit Tea Set of Royal Doulton and took possession of an Ash Tray for Master Doon, who was living'at York Abbey. After tiffin, as he lay Tn the Shade of a Ti Tree his brother Amos, popularly called the Laughing Prince, threw a Barometer at him in Delightment but the Oration that followed rose to such a High Pitch that Nancy Lee and Prince Humphrey led him aboard his yacht the Carinthia, and so ended the EpisodeDIVOTS. (Dug by “The Delver.”) On Monday next entries haxe to be made lor Waipawa. Waikato Hunt. Waver ley. Wellington and North Canterbury Meetings. On Friday next are due entries lor the Poverty Bay Racing Club’s fixture and fur the principal events (other than the New Zealand Cup) at the Canterbury Jockey Club’s Meeting, also first day acceptances for the Dunedin Jockev Club’s gathering. Nas tori and Hipo. who claim engagements at the Auckland Racing Club’s Spring M eeting. are due to arrive at Ellerslie from New’ Plv mouth to-day. w One who saw him race at the Avon.!e Meeting suggests that, if the ' k does not improve considerably tween now and Mitchelson Cud ,v. Lord Star should beat more than ■ .it, him in that event.

I'he same writer says Kingfield is :i northern sprinter of undoubted iiiality. who is coming down in the weights. He was practically unbacked in each of his races at Ellerslie, yet finished up in fiifth place on the >econd day His turn cannot be far away.

Alloway’s owner, though a little disappointed with the showing of the Limond gelding at Ellerslie, where he contested the two big handicaps on the Avondale programme without success left his representative in the north as he intends to run him at the Auckland Meeting.

Tinokoa ran two really good races at the Avondale Meeting, when he finished fourth in the principal sprint event each day. He was stopped when making his run on the fence on the first day. otherwise he might have been very much closer at the finish.

Scoff the winner of the Trial Plate at Ashburton, may never stay, savs a Christchurch exchange, but his speed will help him to win more races over sprint distances. He is bv Paladin, while his dam. Disdainful, by Bonny Glen from Lady Disdain, is a half-sister to Bee and Snub, two godo performers by Martian. Episode, the Limond—Homage two-year-old filly, has a rather extra vagant action similar to that of her stablemate, the three-yearold Damans, writes “Vedette.” Both of these fillies should be much better racing propositions on a dry track, and also on big. roomy courses. Episode had her first public run at Ellerslie, and shaped very well, all things considered. < A number of horses taken to Ellerslie to race at the Avondale Meeting w r ere not produced on account of the state _of the going. Among these were Knightlike. Star God, Itfsander. Bold Front, Ti Tree, and High Finance. It looks as if the course is gointr to be heavy for the Auckland Meeting, too. Laughing Prince had two hard races in very heavy going at the Avondale Meeting, and had been hav ing an easy time since then, doing nothing beyond walking exercise around the roads. He was expected to commence work again on the track yesterday, in view of his engagements at the Auckland Spring “STwo three-year olds who should not be long in winning a handicap on a dry track are Co vent Garden and In the Shade, says a Wellington writer. They are well down in the weights, but there is up doubt about their walloping ability. Tn hoth cases it is only a case of their going on the right way and a dry track to be very tough propositions in any open sprint company. # A. Goodman, the Trentham ownertr?>ner. experienced a slice of very bad hick on Thursday, when his brood mare Rene, due to foal to Black Ron

aid, got out on the roads and was run over by a train and killed. Rene, who was foaled in 1909. was a good mare herself when racing, and at the stud she gave her owner Printemus. Rimutaka, Miss Rene. Rene Mavis. Mountain Lady. Arpent. and Cerf—all good gallopers.

Several of George New’s Awapuni team have been entered for the Manawatu Hunt and Otaki Meetings, and one of. the best of them will be seen in action. This is Crown Area, who created a big impression last season as a fine sprinter. Crown Area is probably the best sprinter Acre has yet left, and if he is as good this season as he was last, he is in for a profitable time.

Rigmarole and Goblin Market, the two-year-olds in P. V. Mason’s stable, have attracted a lot of atten tion lately by their doings on the tracks at headquarters. Rigmarole is on the small side, while on the other hand her stabiemate is a very big youngster, who may require a lot of time. Both show undoubted speed in their work.

The Christchurch “Star” says that it is very unlikely that Beau Geste will be persevered with any further as a New Zealand Cup candidate. The Boniform gelding is doing well, but his programme, in the meantime, will be of a more modest nature. He is still eligible for hack events, and if he goes on all right he should pay his way this season without haring to meet the best horses.

Thoiigh Benzora, along with Vivo, did not stay at Ellerslie for the A.R.C. Melting, he is coming on nicely, with racing, and is almost certain to be on the winning list again shortly. He had done some work at Hawera and was produced at Ellerslie looking excedingly well, though a hit big for him. He does not seem to he one of the sort who comes to hand really quickly, and though he can handle bad going well, he was not sufficiently advanced in eondition to be supported with any confidence. When the crack sprinters are engaged at the big meetings Benzora should be handv to rake in a few of the second class stakes. « « « The half-brother to Valicare and Lausanne in Dwyer’s stable, Cyrille. by Humbug from Courante, has been operated on, and when next he faces tne starter will race a.s a gelding. In the Debutante Stakes at. Wanganui the Australinii-bred juvenile showed that with a bit more age and experience he may turn out a profitable proposition if his dicky joint stands up to racing.

An extra stone, bringing his weight up to 11.10. in yesterday’s hurdle race at Geraldine did not stop Tarleton from winning again, thus further confirming good hopes formed of him as a jumper. The Nassau gelding was expected to turn out a topnotcher at three years old. but he failed to live up to early expectations. After a price variously stated at 3000 and 5000 guineas had been refused for him by his breeder, Mr. Gerald Stead, he was sent out favourite for the A.J.C. Derby, won by Ballymena, iust four years ago to-day. The best he could do was to run fifth, and on his return to the Dominion he seemed to lose all form. However, he appears to hold bright prospects as a jumper, and in his new sphere the Nassau gelding has plenty of time to make a name for himself.

Ranith (Rangitiro—Gwenith), foaled in 1920. whose pedigree on the dam’s side runs back to Elflock in the Karamu (Hastings) paddocks, and still further to the great matron Sylvia at Wellington Park (Auckland). was a double winner at the Canning Park (Westralia) meeting last week, two 7-furlong races falling to her.

A cable message, which for some reason did not reach us here, stated that on Thursday morning Merry Mint was two lengths ahead of Saoedon and Ragazzo, two other A.J.C. Derby candidates, at the end of 10 furlongs run in 2.9 j. As the gallop was on the course proper with the flags 30 feet out, this was a firstrate go, and promised well for the Catmint gelding’s chance in to-day’s big classic, with its 8000 sovs—s6oo to first horse. 1600 to second, and 800 to third—added to a sweepstake of 30 sovs each. <

Results of to-day’s racing at Randwick will he repeated to us here as soon ns received in Wellington and will, as usual, be posted on the “Tribune’’ bulletin board. Main interest will, of course, centre in Merry Mint's running for the Derby, which is the third race on the programme. but Limerick is also almost sure to be seen out. his race being the Spring Stakes, fifth on the programme, ru n over 11 miles, w.f.a. without any penalties or allowances, for which Piutliair was also engaged. Other New Zealand entries for the day were:—Asleep for the Hurdle Race; Arikiwai for the Trial Stakes; White Fang for the Epsom Handicap : The Hawk, Stretton. Penman and Arikiwai for the Kensington Handi. cap for which the expatriated Maorilander Fool’s Paradise was also a nomination * ♦ #

Discussing chances in the Epsom Handicap run at Randwiek to-day. the Sydney Herald says: "Horses of four years and five years predominate in the Epsom Handicap. Of the 34 who remain in, 15 are five-vear-olds. and nine four-year-olds. Horses of the particular ages mentioned hold a good record in the race, for in the 57 handicaps decided, allowing for two dead-heats, first prize money has been shared by 45 of them, tl# four-year-olds having a majority of one.

In the past 15 years the race has been won on eight occasions by four-year-oids. As far as the three-year-olds are concerned, however, it must be remembered that the Derby is usually the mission of those showing class. This narticulariy is noticeable this year. The withdrawals of Royal Feast and Agrion make the classic very much more open, and it is natural that the three-year-olds of pretentions entered for the Epsom Handicap have been withdrawn, their owners preferring to give them an opportunity in the longer and richer race. Horses witli above weight for age have not been singularly successful in the race. Wolaroi. Greenstead. and Beauford were successful in 1919 1920. and 1921 vesneetivei”. Imt they are the onlv ones since 1909. and what gallopers they were. Amour.is last year carried weight for age. Gothic, the favourite for this yeai’ race, has 61b above the scale

That some of the hacks running at the Rvondale meeting were not of the best can be gathered from the forward running of Sovena. Sore-vi might have won a race on the .irst day had she been brought on the scene a little earlier. When she appeared in the last furlong the race was almost over, hut even then she was not beaten by much. Sovena has not been running well in her own end of the country and the deduction is that the lot she met were either unready or are not very good. ... Joy King has not raced for a long time, but there is no doubt that when he is properly right he is a good one. Last season he started on seven occasions for three wins and two seconds. He won the Flying Handicap at the Napier Park autumn meeting, the Manawatu Stakes, beating Gascony, Reremoana and Tukia, and the J. D. Ormond Memorial Cup. one mile. He has not started since he won the last-named event, but at Ellerslie on Thursday morning he went nicely in a gallop over four furlongs on No. 1 grass track.

Gascony contracted an ailment some months ago, and it was thought that he would not recover. However, his trainer, F. Davies, managed to get him through all right, but he lost a lot of condition. He was taken to Ellerslie for the A.R.C. spring meeting, and on Thursday morning was given his first fast gallop since he raced as a two-year-old. He jumped off at the four-furlong post on No. 1 grass track, and ran home in 52 2-ssecs. He is a fine galloper, as his performances last year show, and when he gets into thorough racing trim he will take some heating.

Speaking of Guineas prospects another Auckland writer says: “Laughing Prince promises to be al) that his admirers predicted, when racing on soft tracks, but one or two of the other three-year-olds may bother him considerably under normal conditions. One of these is Great Charter, who is a big, rangy fellow and a December foal. He should improve a good deal yet, while although Laughing Prince is all quality he has not developed as much as one rjould 1 wish. Then there is Gascony to he considered. F. Davis stated at Ellerslie that Gascony would represent Mr. Lowry in the Great Northern Guineas. Gascony has made a good recovery from the trouble which affected him early in the season, and his trainer expects

him to do well. Great Charter may be kept for the £6OO Takapuna Plate for hacks, for which he is eligible as yet.” » * * From the Wellington “Post” : “F. Davis has two smart youngsters in Marion’s birthday and Second Wind. The latter, who is a half-brother to Gascony, would have won the Nursery Handicap at Ellerslie on Monday by any given margin on a dry track. It was owing only to his inexperience that he lost as it was. When he took the lead a furlong from home he looked about him, and was much more interested in the onlookers and strange sights than in the business in hand. The result was that he floundered about on the sloppy track, leaving Orewa to head him. When he had company Second Wind settled to his work again, and was going the better of the pair at the end.” * * * W, Rayner, says the Auckland “Sun.” did not want to run his horses on the second: day of the Avondale meeting, and perhaps his line of action would have been the best, as he has a good team in forward condition and there was no need to race them on a track that was thoroughly Waterlogged. Thaw, one of the team, started and gave a shocking exhibition, finishing absolutely last in the Avondale Guineas. Damans was not brought out of her box, nnd this seemed the wise course to take, as Damaris is quite good enougli to look after, and it cannot be said that running her on a sodden track would have been good policy.

A promising sort of hack in Yaqui, was seen out at the Avondale meeting, says the same exchange, and on his two showings at Ellerslie ho will not be long in getting on the winning list. On tne first day, in the first division of the Maiden Plate, he drew the extreme outside of the field, hut inside a furlong he was lying second to a smart beginner in Whaka King, and trailed hint all the way to tlie straight, where lie passed him. only to succumb in his turn to Levenside. On the ■ second day Yaqui went another good race, stoping over tlie last bit. Yaqui i# one of tlie Quin Abbey tribe, anil they can go in the mud. being got by that sire from Ngnriki by M niriki -Miss Rose.