FORM AT RICCARTON.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LV, Issue 303, 20 November 1935, Page 11

FORM AT RICCARTON.

L. J. ELLIS’S SUCCESSES

(By “Binocular.”)

Southdown is stated to have shown something like a return to form* when lie ran second in the Cressy Handicap at Riccarton. . W. J. Pascoe, who was stood down for a month on the final day, had only that week returned from a trip to Australia. While Variant was just good enough to get near a place in each of her races, she should get on the winning list in the near future.

Das-ing Deed faded out in her races in the early part of the New Zealand Cup meeting, yet she led from end to end in the Hagley Handicap. Argentic ran a good race in the Metropolitan Handicap, in which he had every chance and a good run. on the rails, but ho did not prove to.be good enough. In the Hagley Handicap Latitude was by no moans favoured in the running. Last away, he ran on the outside of the field for the balance of the journey. While there may have been a doubt whether Silver Ring was ablo to stay a mile and a half, he completely dispelled it by the manner in which he strode home in the Metropolitan Handicap. The Lord Warden colt Custos put in a great run at the finish of the Pioneer Handicap and' he should win with a little more time. The Lord Warden filly Cernc Abbas also appears to be worthy of noting in the future.

The High Art five-year-old Impasto has been sold by his owners, Messrs A. J. McGovern and C. B. O’Donnell, to a Pukekohe owner, and he raced in his new colours at Waikato. Limond Lad, who was a winner in Adelaide on Saturday, is by Limond by Veil. He was purchased at the last Trentham sales by Mr E. E. Jolly, who went to 2100gns to secure him. He is a brother to Veilmond.

Although ho did not pay up in the Metropolitan Handicap, southern reports state that Vintage W 33 showing an improvement at the week-end, so he may be racing again before long. Lady Graceful, who is a half-sister to Vintage, did not beat a very high class field in the Oaks, but the manner in which she scored on the final day indicates that a good career lies ahead of her. Shy Pilot, who attended Lady Graceful home on Saturday, is by Day Comet from Swoopalong, a mare by March Along from the Oaks winner Brown Owl, by Treadmill —Glenowlct, by Clanranald —Madowla, by Trenton.

Hunting Cat had displayed a liking for the sting out of the ground and he promised to gain some stake money at Riccarton, but he failed to fulfil expectations. Possibly the going on the earlier days was just a little too heavy. The attendance on Cup day was stated to be 12,000. The official figures of the Victoria Racing Club gave the attendance at Flemington on Melbourne Cup day at 102,000. New Zealand’s premier horseman, L. J. Ellis, had a very successful meeting. He rode in 23 races on the four days, and his record was eight wins, four seconds, and three third placings, missing the money thus on eight occasions only. Inquiries have been made lately about tivo homes trained in Riccarton stables. It is stated that 1500 guineas was quoted for Land Raid and 1200 guineas for Grey Honour, so negotiations were not proceeded with. J .

Guarantee jarred a joint when running in the New Zealand Cup, and although the trouble was not serious another race might have led to a breakdown. Lord Byron, the half-brother to Guarantee, is a handsome colt' and will shortly join D. P. IVileon’s stable at Wingatui. Racing Polydora over hurdles has improved her form on the flat, as she was finishing on really well in the Metropolitan Handicap, after being last into the straight. She and Golden King both made up a lot of ground in the run up the straight. In the Epsom Handicap at Riccarton the Night Raid colt Surprise was going very resolutely at the end. This thrc&*ear-old son of Mazatuko (a daughter of a Martian mare) shapes like a genuine stayer, and he may bo set for the Dunedin Cup and Great Autumn Handicap, a programme successfully carried out by another three-year-old in Tauramai last year. While working at Matamata on Saturday morning Gay Lap slipped and broke a leg, and had to bo destroyed. Gay Lap was a very speedy gelding, and a good stakeearner, one of his best performances being when he finished second to Supremacy in the Railway Handicap at the Auckland Racing Club’s meeting in 1931. _ Owing to the death of his sire Foxlaw, the Ascot Gold Cup winner Tiberius is to be retired to the stud next season. Tiberius is only a four-year-old and it was intended to race him for another year, but Sir Abe Bailey has decided to send him to the stud and he will not race as a five-year-old Tiberius proved himself a fine stayer and he may worthily carry on the successful Son-in-Law line. * Answer to Correspondent:— “Curious,” Ashhurst. —£3 16 6d.