WOODVILLE FORM.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVII, Issue 72, 24 February 1937, Page 14

WOODVILLE FORM.

TWO-YEAR-OLDS IMPRESSIVE. NOVICE WINNER A LIKELY SORT. (By “Moturoa.”) The outstanding success achieved by the Woodvilic Jockey Club at its autumn meeting last week-end must bo very heartening to the officials of other clubs holding meetings in the district in the next few weeks. The attendance at Woodville was reminiscent of the most prosperous years, and the increased spending power of the public was shown in the increase of over 100 per cent, in the totalisator turnover. The result of the meeting will certainly encourage the club to launch out in a much bigger way next season and' greatly increased stakes can confidently be expectedinteresting Racing. The Woodville Club is singularly fortunate in having one of the finest country courses in the Dominion, and excellent appointments. Never before has the course been in better order than was the case on Saturday and Monday, and that was a factor which contributed very largely towards the interesting racing that marked both days of the meeting. Close finishes were generally provided. Brother to Honour. Considerable interest wan taken in the initial appearance of Courteraft, who showed brilliance and courage in winning the Sapling Stakes. By Limond, this youngster is a brother to the A.J.C. Sires’ Produce Slakes and N.Z. Derby winner Honour, and to Episode, the best, two-year-old of her year. Courteraft is green yet, but that racing experience will work a vast difference in him and he should add interest to the Eastor meetings. Anothor Limond Youngster. No less impressive was the effort of Smoke Screen in winning the Debutant Stakes on Monday, for the speedy Geira secured a big early lead from a lucky flying start, but she stood no chance with the Eordell-trained gelding in the last furlong. Sinokc Screen’s debut at Fcilding in November was a smart winning effort, and his good fourth in the Foal Stakes in his only other start prior to Monday indicated his class. He is a full-brother to Gladswood, Loud Applause and Pelmet, being bred from the Thespian mare Curtain, a threequarter sister to Rational and Veil, the dam of Veihnond. He shows definite signs of stamina and may be a Derby .proposition next season. Maiden Status Lost. The very decisive win of Taro in the Novice Plate draws attention to the immediate prospects of this Cockpit (our-year-okl. Solidly put together, and possessing an attractive galloping action, Taro impressed as a sprinter who is likely to make considerable advancement in the next few months, as ho had raced only twice previously. Taro is a half-brother to Weroliia and Geira, and is bred from Toxeuma’s half-sister Huiarau, a daughter of King Mark and Tc Aupaki, and bred in 1926. Te Aupaki is by Merry Moment from Tirnua, by Birkenhead from the Vasco di Gama mare Hincwhata, who traces back to the Theorem mare Woodstock, whose sneeeesful descendants include Sinking Fund (18721, Rowi, Mata, Wolverine, Heiress, and, and a host of good winners in recent years. Had a Bitter Run. Race Call was hopelessly squeezed back at the start on the first dav at Woodvilic, and thereafter had no chance, but with young Tattcrsall in tho saddle on Monday he was always in a fairly good position. Race Call flattered his supporters at tho distance, but this little gelding, who is by an unknown sire, could not go on with it against Taro. His second, however, was quite a creditable effort, and his chance may come on one of the smaller courses ill the next few weeks. Unlucky. The maiden winner on the opening day, tho Cascony gelding Gironde, was unlucky in the running on Monday. He was badly drawn at the barrier and then was hanging when rounding the turn about four horses out. This full-brother to Ben Braggio is capable of better deeds, and he is one to watch closely in the future. Hurdling Prospect. Last season the Lord Quox gelding Spender gave distinct promise as a hurdler and his form over the battens was very consistent. His owner-trainer 6cems to have made an all-round better horse of Spender this season, and it is certain that he has never looked better than at present. Spender ran a great race into second place the first day and won at the right end on Monday. Ho is a half-brother to those useful highweight class horses Tintoretto and Imitation, being bred from the Flaxmere stud marc Gold Painting, who was by Boniform from tho imported Orjno mare Ormolu. Spender should not be hard to place in hurdle races this season. Looks Improved.

Although he was somewhat disappointing early in his career, the Day Comet — Owl’s Choice gelding Taillight has improved all round since he raced at Riecarton in August. He lias built up behind and thickoned out generally, so it would not surprise if he lived up to his early promise. Taillight’s third to Spender on Monday was a very encouraging effort and as that race will improve him considerably he should bear keeping in mind for the Rangitikei meeting at Bulls. Still Improving.

The Awapuni gelding Old Surrey created a good impression when he won in runaway fashion at Marton at the New Year, and that improvement in form was borne out by his good third to Lady Ina and Alnnga at Trentham. In downing Blue Garter and Sansfoy on Saturday, Old. Surrey ran his best race to -date and the game manner in which lie battled out the finish was really impressive. Old Surrey, who is a half-brother to the useful hurdler Battleground, is by Hunting Song from Martulla, by Martian from Tortulla, who carried 823 in the New Zealand Cup in 1901 and scored by two lengths from the lightly-weighted Melwood and Sirius, and the hot favourite Palaver. This is a very successful branch of the Sharkio family. Old Surrey, who is a good-legged gelding, should make a smart hurdler when required. Consistent.

The is no more consistent a galloper than Blue Carter, who ran fourth in the last Wanganui Cup, a good elfort considering the subsequent useful form of the winner, Master Cyklon. It took a good one in Old Surrey, at a difference of nearly a stone in the weights, to beat her on the first day at Woodville, but on Monday she came around the bunch and wore down the favourite Sansfoy in the last few strides. .Blue Garter, who has never looked better than at present, is a four-year-old mare by Garter Blue from Putorino, a No. 27 family mare by Kilboy from Genee, by Birkenhead from Glissade, by Soult from Lissadurn, a Bill of Portland mare who traced back to Radiance, by Fireworks. This is a great winning family in the colonies, having produced St. Hippo, Pin Money, Gold Tinge, Bunting, Mantua Palantua, Roscday, llosella, Red Pennant, Solfanello, Waving Corn, Tenterden, Richborough, Cavalcade, and a host of high class winners of all distances. Blue Garter should not be difficult to place over a distance up to ten furlongs were the company is not of the best class. Cup Winning Family. Although obviously nowhere near his best on Monday, the big black Arausio gelding Flamniarion demonstrated his class by outpointing the more seasoned hack sprinters in the final event at Woodville. Beginning well, ho was soon in the lead and thereafter was not seriously threatened. Flammarion was carrying much condition and was very heavily bandaged in front, but if he has not gone sore again that race should improve him out of all knowledge. Although ho has shone mainly as a sprinter, there are few more stoutly bred homes than Flammarion, whoso dam, Lucinettc, is by the Martagon horse Martian, from Lady Lucy, by Seaton Delvaval

from Hilda, by Musket from Ouida, by Yattendon. Though an unnumbered family, the descendants of Cutty _ Sark include some of the finest slayers in the colonies. Archer won tho first two Melbourne Cups and The Barb was also successful in that race and in two Sydney Cups, tho second time with 10.8. Later class winners were Hanlettc (V.R.C. Oaks), Sweet Nell (V.R.C. Oaks and Caulfield Cup), Barjolle (Sydney Cup), Strathmore (V.R.C. Derby, St. Legcr and Champion Stakes), A n tares (Auckland Cup), Fulnicn (Now Zealand Cup), Artillery (Canterbury Cup), Mahutonga (Auckland Cup), Hilda (Wellington Cup), Ropa (Wellington Cup), Lady Lucy (New Zealand Cup), Star Lady (G.N. Oaks), Naos (second in .Melbourne and Australian Cups), Star God, Lucid, and that great modern stayer Star Stranger. Flammarion lias only to remain sound to win races in the best company this season.