A HARDY SPRINTER.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVIII, Issue 9, 8 December 1937, Page 14

A HARDY SPRINTER.

SLIPPERY’S LONG RECORD. STARTED MANY TIMES. , (By “Spectator ”) Slippery, after being a winner at Levin, ran badly at Otaki. He has had seven starts this season for a firet, a second, and a third. The veteran sprinter has now started 145 times and won £2672 10s in stakes. Slippery has been one of the hardest raced horses in the Dominion of recent years. Over a period of four reasons he raced 129 times. By facing the barrier on 41 occasions as a 6ix-year-old he had a larger number of outtings than any other horse in New Zealand in the 1935-36 season.

Slippery struck winning form as a three-year-old and for the next four seasons was a model of consistency. Although ho failed to reach the first flight of metropolitan sprint company he was an exceptionally useful sort at the minor meetings and rarely went to a fixture without at least paying his expenses. The last couple of years have found him troubled by unsoundness and on several occasions it was thought that his racing career was at an end, but he has always come back again. ‘ ■ Winsome Lu Recovers.

Though Winsome Lu developed lameness at Feilding, it is not serious, and she will bo ready for the holiday racing. Mating for Palantua. Palantua, who has produced a filly foal to Nightmarch, will be mated with Te Monanui, to whom Knocklong has a fine filly foal. Icing in Work. Icing is in active work again at Wanganui and may race at Awapuni. She is a bit on the big side at present, but should be in good shape in another three weeks Minga Being Spelled. Minga is not to fulfil her engagements at Auckland, and will probably not race again until the Wellington meeting. She was beaten by Raratonga at Feilding. King Musk’s Respite.

Owing to the hard tracks King Musk has developed soreness and is having a respite from work at To Aroha, Ho will probably not bo raced again until the tracks become softer.

Unlikely To Race. Cardsharper is still showing signs ol soreness and 11. Gray entertains little hope that the Paper Money hack will bo able to race at Christmas. It is possible that he will be gelded and turned out for a spell. Friesland For Cup. Friesland will probably take his place in the Auckland Cup field. He has not yet raced on right-hande tracks, but may be given a run at the Waipa meeting, this month. He showed good form at Riccarton.

Middle Distance Possibility. Lone Raider finished with great dash in his race at Otaki and may score over a middle distance during the holidays, as few horses run on with such dash as the Nightraid ten-year-old does at the end of their races.

Prospect as Hurdler. Top Hat, who woo the hurdles at Otaki, was not put to jumping until a year ago, but should develop into a good performer over the fences if he remains sound. He is a big chestnut golding by Tractor from the California—Sanguino mare Molong. First Open Win. Dancing Lady’s success at Otaki was her first in open class. A- seven-year-old bay mare, she is a daughter- of Spear Dance and the Valkyrian—Lady Gladstone mare Lady Boverley, a half-sister to Manly, once a useful sort of horse. She is now owned by Mr W. Iff. Franks, of New Plymouth, who bought her last season from Mr F. Ehrhorn.

Plato Reappears. Plato, fresh from a light season at the stud, has made his reappearance on the tracks at Hawcra. He appears quite sound again, and if ho stands another preparation the five-ycar-old horse will bo a decided acquisition to the ranks of open company candidates in the Taranaki district. His trainer, J. Duggan, holds high hopes of having him ready to race during the holidays. Royal Dance Eased. Royal Dance was cut about while running in the paddock at Matamata and has been eased up. It will be at least two months before he will race again. Mr J. Clothier has two others working, the four-year-old Good March, by Spear Dance from Lady March, and the .three-year-old Broadway Bill, by Spear Dance from Sweet Colleen (dam of Lord Val).

On the Improve. Looking all the bettor for his racing at the Waikato meeting, High Sea put up his best showing to date when ho finished second to Marie’s Acre in the Pupukc Plato at Ellcrslie. This throe-year-old is usually a bit slow to get going ini his races, but his finishing effort on Monday was very encouraging. As High Sea is likely to derive further benefit from his outings at. Ellcrslie it should not be long before the son of Heroic is seen to better advantage. *