THE FIRST CLASSIC.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVIII, Issue 232, 30 August 1938, Page 10

THE FIRST CLASSIC.

WANGANUI GUINEAS. HOMILY IN FIELD. The first -classic of the season for three-year-olds, the Wanganui Guineas, to be decided in a fortnight’s time, promises to be a great race if the more prominent horses fulfil their engagements. Seventeen remain in after payment of the first forfeit, but the field will thin out still further before the meeting. Wild Talk only had one race last season, and that was at the Westport meeting at Riccarton last month, when she ran unplaced. However, she quickly showed ability this season when she accounted for the Maiden Stakes at the Christchurch Hunt meeting and the Cashmere Plate at the recent Grand National fixture. She is by Winning Hit, a dual Derby winner, from Babel, a half-sister to Trench Fight. The last-named is also by Winning Flit, so that Wild Talk should slay. Rehearsal’s best performance last season was in winning the Stonyhurst Juevenile Flandicap, live furlongs and a-half, at Awapuni. lie is by Limond from Miss Thespian, and is therefore a half-brother to chief Ranger, who lias some good performances to his credit. Minga, who was placed on several occasions last season, is another of the Limonds. He is a full-brother to Variant and Legatee. Homily, by Posterity from Homage, is a sister to Honour, winner of the New Zealand Derby, and a half-sister to Courtcraft. She was a winner in Australia last season.

Taurangi won two out of his five starts last season—the Taita Handicap at Trentham and the Spring Nursery at Riccarton. He ik by Beau IPere from Barbacan, by Top Gallant from Columbia. Barbacan (a half sister to the V.R.C. Oaks winner, Barbette), when raced won at Manawatu and Wanganui. Namara, by Laekham, was placed on five out of eight occasions last season, while Russian Ballet, after winning at Wanganui and Trentham, wound up the season by annexing the Great Northern Champaigne Stakes, which was her last start. She is by Nightmarch from Praise (a sister to Commendation), who won the New Zealand Oaks. Russian Ballet should ru# out the distance all right. Sudan, a filly by Beau Pere from Sahara, was successful on two occasions last season. Her dam is by Grandcourt from Desert Gold,' so she lacks nothing on the score of breeding. Night Attack, a colt by Night Raid from Oreum, also comes from the Desert Gold family, but he failed to get into the money last season. Peerless was one of the most consistent two-year-olds that •raced last season, for in her nine starts she was only out of the money twice, her best efforts being when she won the Welcome Stakes and the Pioneer Handicap at the last New Zealand Cup meeting'. (Peerless is by Beau Pere from Prestige, by Limond from Homage. so that she comes from the same family as Homily and others mentioned above. Lord Cavendish, a son of Beau Pere and Lady Cavendish, only raced three times last season, being third in the maiden event at Otaki, which was his last outing and his best performance. He is a half-brother to Golden Hair, who won, among other races, the V.R.C. Oaks and the Thompson Handicap at Trentham. He is stated to be doing well at Ilawera. Yours Truly was placed on a couple of occasions last season. He is by Siegfried from My Own, who was a good performer in her day, winning on one occasion the Autumn Handicap, one mile and a-half, at Ellerslie. Amigo, a gelding by Beau Pere from Adorable, performed well last season, winning at Marton, Trentham (twice) and Ellerslie, while he was placed on four other occasions. Adorable is a full-sister. to Alloway and Alcides. Gay Sun, by Beau Pere from La Moderne, also raced well last season, for he won three out of five starts and was placed on another occasion. I-lis first success was when he beat Peerless at Masterton, and then he accounted for tho Wellesley Stakes at Trentham and the Nursery Handicap at Woodville, the last-named being his last start. Three unnamed three-year-olds complete the list.