ON THE TURF

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXX, 25 March 1936, Page 4

ON THE TURF

NOTES AND COMMENTS The favourites proved costly to investors in the opening event, the Karere Hurdles Handicap at the Manawatu meeting for the warm selection Diamond, though jumping well, was not quite ready to carry 10.9 out with the leaders, and Kaola, the next choice, ran ingloriously at or • near the back all the way. Diamond is certain to have benefitted with the race, but Kaola will require to make much improvement to command attention in immediate engagements. The winner turned up in the middle-fancy Gaswyn, who has been racing consistently since lie resumed in tho spring after a lengthy absence, though his only win in the period had been at Ashburton in January. After lying third in the early stages, he dashed quickly to the front after the third hurdle at the commencement of the last round, and though he was hot pressed by Invictus at the last fence he hung on bettor than his challenger to score well by three parts of a length. Gaswyn is one of the offspring of Gasbag, a good horse himself but a disappointing sire, and his dam is Lady Oldwyn, a mare by Marshal Soult who did a lot of racing about 20 years ago without any better return than minor placings. He did bis earlier racing, over three years ago, in the colours first of J. Proctor, then of J. J. Waller, both under loase, but he is now owned by Mr J. Taylor, of Te Horo, who has leased him to his father, Mr A. 11. N. Taylor,'for whom he is trained at Feilding and ridden by W. N. Taylor. Invictus, one of the outsiders of the field, went his best race for a long time, and had he not been in quite such a hurry to get to Gaswyn on the home turn he might have been much harder to hold off.

Diamond, improved with his firstday’s race, as it was reasonable to expect he would be, led throughout the contest for the Kaivanga Hurdles, and he won very easily by four lengths from the favourite Widden. His jumping, except that he rapped the last fence, was superb, with great leaps from a long way off. reminiscent of the style of Beau Cavalier and Prince Lu, but moro accurately measured than the latter used to do. He did not seem to be going fast, but the figures, 3min I3sec, gave the lie to appearances. Diamond, who incidently was at, a very good price for such a field, is one of T. R. George’s Trentham team, and last winter lie won over, both, hurdles and the country, being particularly impressive as a very promising steeplechaser in the makings. Now six years old, he is a' big chestnut gelding by Diacquenod from that good Limond— Bronze mare Lady Desmond, a close relative to Veilmond, Rational, etc., and he is owned by his breeder. Mr T. Newman, of Nelson, who enjoyed many successes on the flat with the dam. It is high-class breeding for a jumper, and as Diamond was educated in the show ring before being put into race training only a little over a year ago he may go a long way in the role during the coming winter. There was some confident support for the Marion-trained Whyte Melville in the Woodhey Hack Handicap at Maria’ watu despite lack of recent racing, but after looking all over the winner at the distance ho succumbed to a persistent challenge by the Trentham-owned Sansfoy, whose only previous success had been in a maiden race at Woodville. Sansfoy made a fast beginning and he was soon running third behind Whyte Melville and Brown Pearl. When entering the straight Brown Pearl carried; him out, but ho was quickly clearvp| tho threatened "trouble and his resolute finish carried him on to a short-head-victory. Custos, very confidently ridden by L. J. Ellis, proved tco classy for liis opposition in tho Maim watu Sires’ Pro* duce Stakes. Ellis allowed him to be pocketed before -die straight- entrance, nub lie had him moving free as they ware squaring cut for the post, and once he was out lie quickly reached Mandamus and went to to \tin easily by a length ancj, a Half. Ellis gave him a few strokes of the whip as he was ranging alongside Mandamus below the distance, and that was all that was necessary to secure indisputable mastery. ‘Custos was naturally a very short-priced favourite, and he completely justified the confidence reposed m him. On bis recent deeds, and despite his possibly unlucky defeat by Wild Chase at Trentham, he appeals as probably the likqliest staying youngster seen out this season. The fact that he hails from the same stable as Limerick, a former winner of the event, is good augury for his future, which may bo in Australia next spring. He is proving a very fine advertisement for his sire, the Hurry On horse Lord Warden; and is also turning out a very profitable purchase at the *2OO guineas Mr C. N. Draper of Dunedin, paid for him at last year’s Trentham sales as he has already won £IO4O in stakes ior four wins and three seconds in nine starts to date. Silver Ring’s performances at six years old this season- have been invested with such a fine dash of brilliancy as to entitle him to an attractive place with the. Dominion-bred-horses.. Having won several important races under heavy imposts, lie was the most fancied contestant for the _ lhompson Handicap run at Trentham, in which lie was weighted at 10.6, and lie got home first by a head from Friesland, to whom lie was conceding 471 b. That Silver Ring is a better horse at. this period than at any previous stage of his career is an opinion widely expressed, and it comes as no great surprise that his owner has decided on giving the brilliant chestnut an opportunity to again distinguish himself in Australia, where he won the Epsom Handicap, one mile, under 9.6, in the fast time of 1.36|, m the spring of 1934. Silver Ring’s leading performances this season are as follows: Second Sir Herbert Maitland Stakes, seven furlongs, 9.0, won by Young Idea-, 7 12 W T on C.J.C. Metropolitan Handicap, U miles, 9.5, time 2.35 2-5. Second Wellington Cup, 1A miles, 9.9, won by Queen of Song, 7.6. Won Wellington Racing Club Handicap, 1 mile 3 fur., 9.13, time 2.18|. Won Dunedin Cup, 1£ miles, 10.4, time 2.39 1-5. Won James Hazletfc Oup, one mile, 9.11, time 1.38 2-5. Won Thompson Handicap, one mile, 10.6, time 1.39. To date Silver Ring has contested 51 races for 19 wins, 8 seconds, and 2 thirds. „ . ~ The principal winning sires at. the Wellington Racing Club's meeting at Trentham were Paper. Money £12425, Hunting Song £685, Limond £665, Silverado £655. Arausio £535, Gainscourt £515, Iliad £4lO, Posterity £4OO, Colossus £375, Friarsdalc £340 and Lord Warden £3lO. Paper Money’s winners were Silver Streak, Wild Chase, After Money and Rereatu, while Pakanui scored a- double for Hunting Song. Clarion Call and Hunting Mars collected the balance to his credit. Limond s winners were Do Grand, Chile and Spiral, and Silver Ring was responsible for the major portion of Silverado’s total. Arausio was represented by Karl and Maine, Gainscourt by the double winner Entheos and Birthday Parly, Iliad by Greek Shepherd, Posterity by

Entail, Colossus by Big Dook and Earl Colossus, Friarsdalc by Friesland and Lord Warden by Custos. Paper Money’s excellent showing brings liis total tc within £7OO of that of the leading sire, Hunting Song, and the position with regard to the sire premiership has now become A'er} interesting The win of Clarion Call in the Trial Plate at Trentham completed a very interesting record for ibis Hunting Song gelding. He has had only six races and ho has had three wins, one each as a steeplechaser, a hurdler and a fiat racer. It is not by any means unique to sec horses with winning records in each of these departments. One avlio showed his versatility in a similar direction was Bon Revo, from the same mare as Formless, who produced Saxon Saint, the dam of Clarion Call. The late Mr G. G. Stead bred Formless and she Avas sold at the dispersal sale of his horses for 325gns to R-. O’Donnell. It. is in the manner of his Avins that Clarion Call has an unusual record. In his case the usual order was reversed, as he won his first race as a steeplechaser and his second as a hurdler before he took on fiat race company. He has the reputation of being a great jumper, so it will be no surprise, now that he has demonstrated his speed, if he develops into a good-class performer over hurdles or country. It has been suggested that lie may be in the discussions on the Grand Nationals later in the year.

King’s Guide, avlio recently joined F. J. Smith’s stable, is getting through plenty of serviceable Avork. with a view Io racing at the Auckland Trotting Club’s winter meeting. At the Auckland February fixture King’s Guide, af. ter a couple of disappointing displays, showed In’s best form to run a good second to Nervie’s Last in the Railway Handicap, in the particularly fast time of 3.18. Oil the second day ho Avas installed a strong favourite for the Rangitofo Handicap. He Avas always in a handy position in the running, and Avhen askecl for an effort at the home turn ran away from the opposition, to win easily by three lengths and a- half. It was an impressive effort and augurs Avell for his future. King’s Guide is a five-year-old gelding by Blue Mountain King from Guiding Star, and in all his races lias given the impression that he will not be troubled by long-distance events. The trip to the Wellington meeting evidently improved Precious Metal’s barrier manners. and the gelding got on the journey smartly in the Trial Handicap at Timaru. He made the pace for four furlongs, hut at that stage of the race his driver elected to make him trail, and thus alloAved Nativo Son and Colleen Wrack to act as ■ a windshield until Peter Silk joined Native Son in the lead at the ten-furlong post. Precious Metal then folloAved Peter Silk and Native Son into the straight, and when it came to business he soon got the lead and won nicely by three-quar-ters of a length from Native Son, whose improved showing should gain him support for Oamaru. Precious Metal is a five-year-old gelding by Rey de Oro from Lady Dillon, and is trained for Mrs.P. A. Watson b> r Mr C. McTigue.

Graham Direct’s failure to Aviri the Washdykc Handicap decided oyer a mile and a quarter at Timaru was a shock to .a- big section of speculators, who accorded tlie gelding substantial support (states the Christchurch “Star”). He was driven by F. 'Holmes,'who has been very successful with the gelding this season. When the barriers were released Graham Direct -got on the journey safely and Avas alongside the leader when the last round Avas entered upon. His driver nursed him in that position until the straight was reached, Ayhere he rlr.ew to the front. And in. the lead feAV anticipated he would -be headed,, hut when the pressure was applied he did not respond in his best style, and Avas beaten out of a place. His performance showed-that he was not forward cnoqgh for a hard race and better things .can •he expected from him at -Easter.i.. \