AUSTRALIAN TURF

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23272, 15 February 1939, Page 11

AUSTRALIAN TURF

SPEAR CHIEF IN FORM SPRINT FIELD BEATEN RIVAL HIT RUNS SECOND ESPERANTO ALSO DEFEATED Ifrom our own correspondent"! SYDNEY, Feb. 10 Usually G. Price manages to secure a first-class horse for important meetings in Sydney and Melbourne, and in Spear Chief he might have one of the best performers of the autumn. As a three-year-old, Spear Chief was the best horse in Queensland, but when brought to Sydney last spring developed a bad cold, which he did not shake off for some time, oven .though he was able to win the Hotham Handicap at the Melbourne Cup meeting. Spear Chief .reappeared at Rosehill last Saturday, carrying topweight, 9.0, in the Flying Handicap, six furlongs. He was about two classes above the opposition, and, although more of a stayer than a sprinter, won rather easily. He goes to Melbourne this week and will have his first race in the St. George Stakes at Caulfield, where Ajax will be among his opponents. It is not suggested that Spear Chief will have any chance of downing Ajax, but the raco should be a good test for him.

Ajax Working Well Ajax has been galloping in great style at Caulfield and at present is the mystery horse of the moment. He has been awarded 10.2 'in the Newmarket Handicap, but it is believed that he is more likely to run in the King's Cup, run on the same day at Flemington. In the King's Cup he cannot be handicapped at more than. 9.5, the : minimum being 7.0, and ,on his spring form he will not be troubled by a mile and a-half. Rival Hit was surprisingly well supported to beat Spear Chief in the Flying Handicap at Rosehill, but he ran a miserable race, showing no pace nor any justification for his backing. He looked well enough ia spite of an absence from racing for several months, but apparently he has not ; recovered altogether from the injury he received when he fell on the roads in the spring, just when he had developed his best form in Australia.

Quality o 1 Esperanto Esperanto, believed to be the best two-year-old in Sydney, spoiled his record in the Quality Nursery Handicap at Rosehill, in which he carried the limited topweight, 9.0. He jumped outward at the barrier, losing a little ground, but thereafter travelled very unevenly. He would have been taken to Melbourne, but Jr T. Jamieson had no option but to. cancel his trip. In addition, Esperanto was a •trifle lame after the race, and his wind infirmity also is becoming more pronounced.

El Valor, a neat El Cacique colt, was tid the winner of the Quality Nursery Handicap, and he attracted much favour- .. able comment. He carried the colours of the Randwick trainer L. Haigh, who - v has not had a horse of any standing since the retirement of Rogilla. However, Haigh has won races this season with another two-year-old, Overbold, and both should continue to do further good service for him. They might not - come up to the Rogilla standard, but they should be useful horses. ? Hall-brother to Amnion Ra Most interesting runner in the Nursery Handicap from the New Zea- u land angle was the Foxbridge —Hyades - colt John Peel. The half-brother to Ammon Ra was having his third race and has shown improvement in each. His form last Saturday suggested that he would be an eacly winner and he shaped like a colt who would run on well over a journey. He earned a trip to Melbourne by his display last Saturday. Two sons of Limond monopolised most attention from investors in the Trial Stakes at Rosehill, Aladdin, a five-year-old gelding, winning with the three-year-old Limulet third. Aladdin scored comfortably, whereas Limulet, ;i: appearing after being absents/since the spring, ran very greenly. He has been a disappointing colt, but might vet repay Dr. C. Nigel Smith for his patience. It was noted that both raced in bar plates, having the Limond char- . acteristic, shelly feet. St. Leger Prospect Respirator came to the rescue of J. T. Jamieson's stable at Rosehill in tho concluding event, the day having been costly through the failures of Baveon, of Esperanto and of improvement. Respirator is regarded as one of the best of the three-year-olds outside of Nuffield and if the Victorian colt does not train on, Respirator might be the winner of the St. Legers, both in Melbourne and Sydney. ./ Valoria, one of the hardiest ponies in Sydney of recent times, was retired after racing at Ascot this week. He is rising 13 and ha§ been a great stake earner for his owner-trainer, T. M. McGrath. Valoria was imported from New Zealand and is by Valkyrian from a Conquerer mare. He held a 14.1 cer- . tificate, but as these races have practically disappeared from programmes he has been compelled to race in Fourteen Two events. Advancing years and this disadvantage had ended his useful- '' ness and McGrath decided to pension him off.

A POPULAR VICTORY TREVACE AT ROTORUA A well-deserved and popular success went the way of Mr. C. M. Emanuel Vwhen Trevace annexed the C. A. Clarke Memorial Hack Cup at the Rotorua Racing Club's meeting on Monday. Owing to unsoundness in the _ past, Trevace has been difficult to train and credit is due to his owner-trainer for .the patience and care that was adopted in bringing him to his present win—, ning condition. If Trevace had won on tho first day, instead of being narrowly beaten by Silver Eagle, he would r - •have repeated the double success registered last year by his stable-mate Aero Queen.

TE AROHA JOCKEY CLUB ; CLOSING OF ACCEPTANCES Acceptances for the first day of the Te Aroha Jockey Club's meeting, to be held on February 25 and 27. close next Tuesday at 5 p.m. with Blomneld and Company, Shortland Street,. Auckland, and at S p.m. with the secretary. Mr. J. P. Somers, Te Aroha. INJURED JOCKEY C. G. GOULSBRO RECOVERING . The jockey C. G. Goulsb'ro, who was ; nresent at the Rotorua Racing Club s meeting, stated on Monday that he expected to be fit to ride aii Ie Aroha next Saturday week. Goulsbro h~s ... out of the saddle since last Qetobejy 3 when he suffered a broken .leg through 3 being kicked before the start' of the j. Wellesley Stakes at. the AV ellmgton Racing Club's Spring Meeting.