FORM REVIEWED

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23491, 31 October 1939, Page 5

FORM REVIEWED

MOTUKARARA RUNNERS NIGHTCALM MAKES FRIENDS PASSAFORM DISAPPOINTING [from OUK OWN correspondent] CIIRISTCHURCH, Monday The win of Nightealm in the Le Bons Handicap at Motukarara on Saturday will tend to bring him into further favour for the Stewards' Handicap, in which lie will be" ridden by A. E. Ellis, who rode him when he won the Brabazon Handicap at the Christchurch Hunt meeting in August last, and also on Saturday. Nightealm is one of the smartest beginners in the lield, and his pace should enable him to gain a favourable positiotl from tho outset.

Toro Koura ran much better than at Trentham, but on Saturday's form Niglitcalm should hold him-safely at Riccarton.. Paper Slipper was too big to do himself justice at Motukarara. and it is not likely he will mako the necessary improvement to give him the opportunity of winning his third Stewards' Handicap. Tho biggest disappointment at Motukarara was Passaform. Ho had a track to suit him, but it was evident that his short spell from racing had allowed him again to carry surplus condition, and ho raced accordingly. His rider was busy with him over half a mile from homo, but he could not improvo his position. The raco should do Passaform a lot. of good, however, and with one or two track gallops this week ho may be much improved by Saturday next. Yet, taking his form last Saturday as a guide, ho can hardly bo recommended as a Cup possibility. Capricious Beaten Capricious was responsible for a creditable performance in tho J. F. Buchanan Memorial Handicap, and was beaten only in the last stride by Wine Card. However, she carried only soven stone, and this effort would not point to any bright prospect for her over a two-mile journey. Sword-stick ran a similar raco to Capricious, failing to see out the milo and a-quarter. Tho Wrecker and Sparlan, who are still in the Cup fiold, did not give any encouragement. Sovereign Lady had not had a raco sinco she contested tho Mid-summer Handicap at Riccarton last February until sho appeared in the J. F. Buchanan Memorial Handicap at Motukarara on Saturday, and her effort in always being "ono of the leaders and making a bold bid over tho last furlong, suggested sho should soon return to tho winning list. Her owner, Mr. G'. Murray-Aynslcy, was present to see her raco, and was very pleased with her display. Puolla, the only two-year-old seen out at Motukarara, made her first public appearance in tho Okain's Trial Stakes. Sho behaved well at the barrier, but was slow to got going. She ran up to the middle of the field early, and carried on for a good way, but, as was only to be expected, she faded out in the run home. Tho half-sister by Bulandshar to Centrepoise may not bo seen to advantage until later in tho season. Pink Lad, who ran a creditablo second in the Kaituna High-weight Handicap, is a four-year-old gelding by Pink Coat from Caretle, dam of Sarnia and Locksley. Ho was bred by his owner, Mr. T. J. Lister, of South Canterbury, and is ono of D. Cotton's team. Phenomenal Misbehaves Phenomenal acted in an unusual manner at the start of the Halswcll Hack Handicap, for which he was second fancy each way, and did everything but fall over, his rider, A. E. Ellis, having some narrow escapes from being dislodged. It was therefore no fault of tho starter that Phenomenal was left, standing on the mark. As two previous nonstayers, St. Cloud and Lord Midas, fought out the finish. Phenomenal would probably have taken a prominent part. Scold, a well-proportioned filly by Myosotis from Berate, a half-sister to Chide, can command a reasonable turn of speed, but in her races to date she has drifted early mid has lost valuable ground. In the Halswell Hack Handicap she was well back when the straight was reached, but completed her difficult task solidly and got up third. Sho should win races for Mr. G. R. Macdonald if she can master the art of beginning smartly. • '■ Lord Lynn and King's Toast, owned by Mr. J. R. McKenzie, had their first racing on Saturday, and both shaped very en : couragingly. Lord Lynn was prominent rounding the home turn in the Halswcll Hack Handicap, but weakened when tho straight was reached. King'il Toast ran a similar race in the Brackenfield Hack Handicap. He was. slow early, but ran up to the leading bunch in the middle stapes, only to fado out early in the run homo. The three-year-olds have not been hurried and both will bo more in evi(ince before the season is far advancd. Montessa and Asia, who filled first and third places respectively in the Brackenfield Hack Handicap, seven furlongs, Motukarara, are both engaged in the New Zealand Oaks, and with the not uncommon weak field likely to parade they must be seriously considered. Montessa. always _ a brilliant sprinter, appears to be developing stamina, and the manner in which she held off Flame Queen on Saturday when sho seemed likely to be overhauled pointed to her prospects in the classic, provided she can be kept in restraint in the early stages. On the other hand. Asia' did not finish as well as anticipated. but with a differently-run race next week she may provo to be a better stayer than Montessa. RIDER SUSPENDED W. S. COX PLATE INCIDENT PENALTY OF TWO MONTHS : - r (Received October 30, 7.58 p.m.) MELBOURNE; Oct. 'BO The stewards to-day concluded the innuiry into the falling of Beau Vite in the W S. Cox Plate at Moonee Valley on Saturday and suspended F. Shean. rider of Gold Salute, for two months for crossing. The suspension of Shean will necessitate another rider being secured for Gold Salute in the V.R.C. Derby and also for Catalogue in tho Melbourne Cup. , > » !

NEW PLYMOUTH HORSES

NED CUTTLE GOES SOUTH INJURY TO AUSSIE RA [by telegraph—OWN correspondent] s NEW PLYMOUTH, Monday The New Zealand Cup candidate Neil Cuttle, in charge of his trainer, R Johnson, left for Riccarton this morning Since his return from Ellcrslie Ned Cuttle lias done well, and he worked soundly over a mile and a-quarter on Saturday morning. He ran tho last seven furlongs in 1.37 and was going strongly at the finish. Horses with engagements at Stratford performed well on the New Plymouth track on Saturday. Nereus beat High Test by two lengths over seven furlongs in 1.30 1-6. after running the first half-mile in 50 2-os. He finished splendidly and has evidently benefited by his race at Waverley. Booklaw worked freely over a mile, the last seven furlongs taking 1.30. Bay Dawn and Mo.vmell were not extended to covei three furlongs in 80s. These maidens are making good progress. Leighon Rei. having her first gallop since Joining T. H. Fryer's team, ran half a mile in 525. Aussie Ra suffered severe injuries to a leg when ji horse jumped on him at the first hurdle on the opening day at Trentham. He was unable to race again at the meeting and may require a good spell. RACING FIXTURES November 3, <l—Whangarei Racing. Club November 4—Napier Park Racing Club November 4—Stratford Racing Club. November 4, 0, 8, U—Canterbury Jockey Club November 11 —Napier Park Racing Club. November 11, 13 —Avondale Jockey Club. November 18 —Levin Racing Club. November 18 —Southland Racing Club. November 18, 20—Waikato Racing Club. November 25—Ashburton County Racing Club November 25—Otaki Maori Racing Club. November 25, 27—Auckland Racing Club. December 2—Kurow Jockey Club. December o—Hororata0 —Hororata Racing Club. December O, 11—Woodville District Jocltey Club. December 10—Waipa Racing Club. December 23, 20, 27 —Manawatu Racing Club. December 20—Waipukurau Jockey Club. December 2G—Westland Racing Club, December 2(5, 27 —Dunedin Jor.key Club. Doccmber 20, 27—Taranaki Jockey Club. December 20, 28, January 1. 2—Auckland Racing Club. December*. 30. January I—Wairarapa Racing Club. December 30, January 1— Gre.vmouth Jockey Club December 30, January X —Hawke's Bay Jockey Club January I—Waikouaiti Racing Club. January I—Wyndham Racing Club. January 1, 2—Stratford Racing Club. January 1. 2—Marton Jockey Club. January 2. a—Southland Racing Club.