ON THE TURF

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXX, 3 October 1936, Page 12

ON THE TURF

NOTES AND COMMENTS > ' 1 'J,:V’y On Gallops and Trotting 1 __ jjimiroinmiiiiiininiiroimnHiifnHfiiiinniiiiiiifiniiiiiiiiijiiiiiiiiiiiiiifiuiiiiiiiiiniiiiiniiiijiiiiiiiHjiiiiiiiiiiiiiuiiiiiiiiiiiMfJiiiiiUiLtiiJitiiiyiJiiiiiuiitP

RACING FIXTURES October 3 —Kurow J.C. October 3—Otaki-Maori R.C. October 3, s—Taumarunui R.C. October 8, 10—Dunedin J.C. October 10, 12—Auckland R.C. October 16. 17—Masterton R.C. October 17—South Canterbury J.C. TROTTING FIXTURES October 3—Methven. October 10—New Brighton. October 17 —Waikato. October 24, 26—Greymouth. October 24, 26—Auckland. October 26 —Oamaru. October 31 —Wellington. November 10, 12, 13 —N.Z. Metropolitan. November 26, 28—Forbury Park. December s—New5 —New Brighton. December s—Waikato.5 —Waikato. December 26 —Ashburton. December 26 —Gore. December 26, 28—Wairarapa. December 20, 28 —Westport. December 28. 30, 31—Auckland. December 29 —Winton. December 30 —Westland. No fewer than 23 of the 52 horses handicapped for the New Zealand Cup have been weighted on the minimum, and only seven have received above 8.0, which is definite evidence that there is a lack of proved stayers in the field. However, the position in this respect is better than in some recent years. The-race is not run until 7th November, and much may happen in that time, but the appearance of the weights has caused a quickening of interest. Many of the candidates were probably nominated in the hope that they might show improved form, and it is likely that a good many will go out when the first acceptance closes.

she will be an early winner. The Southland gelding, Fog Peak, showed speed but failed to stay, while Aggravate was unlucky at the start, but will do better. Sir Hugh ran a good race when he was second in the Penseroft Hack Handicap. The winner, Jack Ahoy, is a promising four-year-old due for even better deeds. Sir Hugh beat the rest of the field in impressive style, as he was badly placed early and had a lot of ground to make up. Double Gift will improve on his form in this race, but may never be more than useful. Pelmet disappointed in the Spring Handicap, as she faded out quickly after being prominent to the home turn. Sir Hugh ancl Trench Fight came through Ashburton, with bright prosa winner at Marton, is one of the most peculiar horses in appearance in commission. He is a real red roan, with light patches over his back and quarters, and in size he looks more like a cavalry charger than a racehorse. Nevertheless, he can muster up a lot of pace over short courses. A five-year-old, he is a son of Diacquenod, and the Hallowmas —vivandel mare Vivarini a granddaughter of Vivandiere, the grey ancestress also of Araunah and Grand Sport, so it is obvious from where he received his remarkable colour. Hamarin started only four times last season, and she was winner of a twoand three-year-old race at Stratford at the New Year. She is a four-year-old bay mare by Lord Quex from the Catmint—Symbolism mare Catalani, hence she is a full-ister to Paleta and Catalogue and a half-sister to Vandyke and Hunting Cat. She is owned by the Wanganui trainer, W. H. Dwyer, who bought her privately from her breeder, Mr R. M. Chadwick, last November, before she had raced. Her success on Saturday, at Marton, first up for the term, points to the probability of her being a useful performer this season in the class of her rela-. fives.

As everyone anticipated, Silver Ring is top-weight, and his 9.12 represents 61b over weight-for-age. Only once in its long history has the race been won by a horse carrying over 9.0. That was when Nightmarch scored with 9.6 in 1930. It will therefore be readily recognised that Silver Ring is set a formidable task. As a winner at two miles and two and a-quarter miles at weight-for-age at Randwick last season, Silver Ring proved himself a stayer, and there is no doubt about his class. However, he is absent in Australia at present, and if his form at Randwick reaches expectations, the chances are that he will be at Flemington in November and not at Riccarton. Silver Ring is a prime fancy lor the Metropolitan, in which he has 9.9, at Randv ick next week, and in the Melbourne Cup he has 9.4. Four-year-olds have easily the best record of any age in the race, having notched 17 victories. Two have been successful in the past three years, and at one perjod they were almost invincible, winning in six successive years in the contests from 1907 to 1912 inclusive. This year the four-year-old candidates comprise Greek Shepherd, Velocipede, Lowenberg, Dungarvan, Boomerang, Happy Landing, Dark Shadow and Entheos. Of these, Greek Shepherd has the best credentials and he stays fairly, although it remains to be seen whether he is a genuine two-miler. Some doubt may exist on this score because of the fact that he is out of a daughter of Tea Tray, but other good staying blood in his pedigree may offset this. With 8.5, he has 91b under weight-for-age, but whether he will run is at present very doubtful. As one of the proved stayers in the field, Master Brierly would not be over-burdened with 8.11 if only he could, regain the dash that enabled him to win at weight-for-age at Randwick in 1935. He has suffered a lapse of form since then, and has been off the winning list for a long period. Even so, he is doing well in his preparation. and his running at Paeroa and Ellerslie may give a line on his present form. Vintage does not appeal, and Queen of Song is absent in Australia, although she has plenty of time to return. Her form last season was good. Tauramai is a fine performer when well, and Royal Appellant is handily placed. Although he has not won beyond a mile and a-quarter, Royal Appellant appeals as a likely stayer. There is some stout blood on each side of his pedigree, and he may stay better than many. The appearance of the first acceptances may clear the air a good deal and a better idea of owners’ intentions may then be obtained. Discussion on the prospects is not likely to be very animated until they appear, although horses who may be included among the early favourites are Royal Appellant, Forsen, Master Brierly, Velocipede, Aussie Ra, Argentic and Happy Landing. Brazen King, a winner at Marton, is an Australian-bred colt by Brazen (sire also of the Derby winner Bronze Eagle), and he hails from a stout female line, his dam, Booralie, who was If Roseworthy, being no other than a full-sister to the Auckland Cup winner Tanadees, Burletta, his grandam, was sister to Class, the dam of Son Ton, The Toff, First Class, etc., and half-sister to La Notte, the dam of Noctuiform, Midnight Sun, and Nightfall. He carries the same colours as Grand Jury, those of Mr D. Lourie, of Turakina, who secured him at the Sydney sales as a yearling for 110 guineas. He won one of his five races last season, and was an unlucky runner in the Wanganui Guineas in which he was flying in fourth place at the post. Following his surprisingly good race among the hacks at Foxton a week previous, Export proved too tough a proposition for the novices in the Maiden Plate at Marton. Export though now seven years old, has made only a few appearances in public. I-Ie is a chestnut gleding by Lackham from the Signor-Carissima mare Spain, one of Mr G. F. Moore’s breeding and a winner in the early war years, and he is a half-brother to Alvarez, the dam of Gibraltar, who was also by Lackham.

Greenwich, who won the juvenile race at Marton, and who was finishing on in the Debutant Stakes at Wanganui, is a bay daughter of Chief Ruler and the Grandcourt mare Summertime,' hence being a full-sister to t.'ie Trentham-trained Cricket, and she was acquired by Mr M. Millar, of Palmerston North, at the January sales for 325 guineas, being trained by A. E. Neale, who has had charge of Mr Millar’s horses at Bulls for several years. Francis Drake, who ran second, like the winner, is by Chief Ruler, and he is not unlike his redoubtable full-brother (Admiral Drake) in appearance.

Real Pal, who raced consistently last season for S.M. August and showed fine speed in winning at Palmerston North in 2.48 besides recording 2.13 1-5 at Nelson when second to Allworthy, did not do quite as well when tried in saddle at Claudelancls. He did not display the barrier alertness that marked his harness efforts, and, although confidently supported, could finish only third, going 2.16. While his unsteadiness is making it very difficult for Great Sonoma to win, he is proving a source of revenue as a place proposition, as in five starts this season he has gained three seconds and two thirds. He is a long-striding trotter and appears to touch his knees on the turns, which accounts for ms lapses. If he can be cured of the trouble, Great Sonoma should win races, as he has speed and stays on well.

Silver Black has a consistent record, as in her last six starts she has had two firsts and three seconds. She is a \ery speedy pacer, but is not too reliable at the barrier, although L. Laver got her away well in saddle at Hamilton. With the winner, Tryment, Silver Black was the only other starter who had won with the weight on top and she displayed ability that will be very useful when she strikes a similar class event again. By her two unplaced efforts at Hamilton Aerial Bell spoilt her fine sequence of placed performances, and it was evident that she felt the lack of racing, as she has been off the scene since 'February, when she finished second to Lynworthy and Royal Jewel respectively. She had previously filled similar places behind King Guide, Parochial and Ranfurly Lass, and as some of her victors were winners subsequently, there was a good deal of merit in .Aerial Bell’s performances. She should derive benefit from her recent outings.

The two sound displays of Norrie Rock at Cambridge, where he was narrowly beaten by Tollgate and Kewpie’s Crest, gave the impression that he was on the upgrade, but in three starts since he has not reproduced the same form. A slow beginning in the Introductory Handicap at Hamilton from 60 yards ruined any chance he possessed, but he ran a very fair race in saddle, finishing fourth.

A number of three-year-olds raced at Ashburton and the form may have a bearing on the Dunedin Guineas (says the Star-Sun). In the Novice Stakes, Thermidor was the first to run Coiotte down, after this speedy four-year-old had led to the straight. Thermidor looked a winner when she ran to the front, but her stablemate, Trench Fight, then came on the scene with a telling run, which soon settled the issue. The winner is a well-grown Winning Hit colt, a brother to Fracas. He was having his first start, and if he remains sound he may prove quite up to the class of his well-performed relative. Thermidor, a half-sister to the Auckland Cup winner, Minerval, had run only once previously, and