RACING NEWS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22213, 16 March 1934, Page 6

RACING NEWS

By Sentinel. Acceptances for the first day of the Oama'ru meeting are due to-day. , The new owner of Tunneller is Mr J. D. Simpson, who made a fortunate _purciiase some time ago when he bought i inal Shot from Sir Charles Clifford. The price paid for'Tunneller was 150 guineas. The English Grand National Steeplechase is to be run on March 23, the last dajr ofl the season under National Hunt lU Coiossian, a three-year-old from the North?lsland, will probably be seen out in Southland during the Easter holidays. The] top class sprinters are missing 1 from the ■Railway Handicap at Trentham.. h Autopajy and Cadland _ are to run in the Thompfeon, Golden Wings is in Australia, and Silver Ring is dodging a penalty for the Great Easter. ] ,; Arachne, who is mentioned in the cable news as a worthy opponent for Sir John, has a pedigree as well as performances to recommend her. Her sire, imported Gorban, is by The Tetrarch, from Scotch Mist, and consequently a brother to the flying Tetratema. Arachne’s dam is Welkin Queen (a sister to the dam of Winooka) by The Welkin, who was responsible for the wonder horse _ Gloaming There is nothing in this breeding to prevent Arachne from reaching top class. Earl Porter, who is the riding sensation of 1934 in America, just as J. Westrope was last year, received a check in his all-conquering career on February 3. On! that day he incurred the displeasure of 'the starter at Hialeah Park. Miami, and, as a result, was suspended for three days for disobedience at the post. Up till then, Porter had ridden 47 winners since the beginning of the year. The Thompson Handicap should be a good betting race, as most of the field represent form that entitles them to a chance. Autopay has proved himself under weight, and can run out a first-class mile. Sometimes he is a bit risky at the barrier, and this tends to weaken support for him, but once on the way at fair terms he takes a power of beating. Cadland is apparently pleasing somebody as he is one of the favourites. Last season he_ gave Autopay 3lb and a decisive beating in the Stewards’ Handicap, and now meets, him on 91b better terms. Golden Hair is a particularly brilliant filly, and her Australian form adds stamina to brilliancy. Cricket Bat at his best can run out a first-class mile, and the distance will suit Red Manfred, although he does not appear to fight too well when tackled. True Shaft is up against a better class than usual, but cannot be ignored. Argentic has nob been seen to the best advantage this season, but is a good horse, and recent track work brings him into the picture. If he, goes up to the writers opinion what beats him will have to run a really good race. Irish Lancer on his best behaviour could be relied upon to make a particularly bold show, and the best of the lightweights may be Davolo and Lordly Knight. Golden Hair may start favourite with Argentic selected as next best. . ~ , . Amongst the light-weights engaged in the Thompson Handicap is Lordly Knight, who should help to make the race interesting and probably make the topweights feel every ounce of their burdens at the finish. Lordly Knight has some smart form over six furlongs, and in the A.R.C. Easter Handicap run last season was third to Golden Wings 9.9 and Manawhenua 8.13, with a length and aquarter and half a length separating the placed horses in Imin 37 2-ssec-—a recoin for the race. This shows that Lordly Knight can run a good mile. The unplaced lot numbered 10 others representing good handicap form. At the Auckland summer meeting Lordly Knight 9.1 was third to Aga Khan 7.11 and Delrain 8.5 over a mile in Imin 38sec, and was less than 1 two lengths away. He won over six furlongs at the same meeting, and at the Wellington Cup meeting won the City Handicap with 7.6 in Imin ll'Jscc, beating Pomp 7.7, Cricket Bat 8.8, Golden Wings 9.4, and six others. He was second to Kerbside 7.3 with 7.11 in the Railway Handicap, beat a head in Imin Usee, and Bayaere 8.5 beat him a neck when carrying* 8.6 in the Suburban Handicap won in Imin lOJsec. Then came his third in the Easter Handicap. He was unplaced on the first day of the Wellington Cup and finished close to % placed lot in the Metropolitan Handicap, and he occupied a similar position on the third day. Lordly Knight won over five furlongs at Poverty Bay last month, and the fact suggests that he is in good racing shape. In the absence of Golden Hair from the Railway Handicap. Diatomous may start favourite. Kerbside is preferred to Cranford on their latest form, and, with Copvist, may be fancied as likely to trouble the favourite. Silver Sight may prove the best ot the South Islanders in the Silverstream Hack Handicap, in which Cleaner, Importance, Drumfire, Sibella, Scarlet Runner, and Scarlet Rambler will also represent the south. ' , Royal Amphora, Cherry Queen, and Tizzy should make a good show in the Tinakori Handicap. A field of 20 is engaged, and the draw for position may help or discount a horse’s chance. Imperial Spear has been doing well on the track, and, with Grampian, should put up a good show for the South Island in the Trial Plate to be run at TrentGrakle, who won the Grand National Steeplechase at Aintree, Liverpool, three years ago, has been pensioned off owing to heart trouble. Grakle contested six successive Grand Nationals, from 1927 to 1932 inclusive, and was successful in the race in 1931 in the fastest time recorded to that date. This record did not stand for long, as Kcllsboro’ Jack reduced it by nearly osec a year ago. Grakle was the victim of bad luck in some of his Grand National attempts. In 1927 and 1928 he was brought down by interference from other competitors, in 1929 he finished sixth, in 1930 he fell, and m 1932 he was stopped by a loose horse. He was one of the favourites for last years Grand Naional until he suddenly fell lame while being exercised on the roads, and had to be scratched. There was a romance attached to the purchase of Grakle by Sir C. R. Taylor. Grakle at that time was owned by Mr T. K. Laidlaw, as was an- ‘ other promising steeplechaser, Gregalacn. Air Taylor commissioned T. Coulthwaite to buy one or the other of them with the special idea of winning the Grand National. Coulthwaite decided that Grakle was the more likely of the two, and on behalf of Mr Taylor bought him for 4000 guineas. Gregalagh was sold to Mrs Gemmell. an American owner, for 5000 guineas. When Gregalach won the Grand National in 1929 it appeared that Coulthwaite had made the wrong choice, but Grakle’s success came two years later, when Gregalach finished second to him. Gregalach, who is the same age as Grakle, is still going strong. He won a steeplechase at the Newbury December meeting, and, ia spite of the 12.7 he is set to earry in the coming Grand ISational on March 23, many good judges consider that he has an excellent chance of winning for a second time. Mrs J. Campbell’s stable looks like being well represented in the principal handicaps at Riccarton. Vintage is due

to start in the Great Easter and Great Autumn, with good prospects m both races, while Gaysome is another promising candidate for the Great Easter. Early in his career Cadland put up some very good performances, but be was looked on as no more than a six-furlon* sprinter. The sharp edge of his speed seems to have left him, but he is staying on better, and even if he fails in the Thompson Handicap, the big mile event at Trentham, he will look a bright pros pect, over seven furlongs, in the Great Easter Handicap. , , .. Cranford carried. 7.3 when he won the Craven Plate last month, -and with only 7,4 in the Great Easter Handicap he appears to have been given a great chance to score again. A study of the weights, however, shows that lie is not quite so favourably treated as those figures would suggest. Kerbside, second in the Craven Plate, has been dropped from 7.12 to 7.0. Guarantee is down from 7.1 tor being third; while of the unplaced lot. Copyist has been dropped 81b, Miladi 121 b, and The Masquerader 41b. On these figures Copyist seems well treated, but it looks as if Mr Henrys was prepared for improved form very soon from the Masquerader. All the same, Cranford cannot be dropped out of the caleula- * °The following riding engagements have been made for the Wellington Racing Club’s meeting:—A. H. Eastwood—Copyist, Silly Owl, Scarlet Rambler. Pomp, and Cherry Queen; A. Russell—lmperial Spear, Cranford, Tizzy, Irish Lancer, Final Shot, and Cleaner, also Custodian in the Challenge Stakes; H. Mackinnou— Sibella and Miladi; W. J. Pascoe— Heather Glow, H. Turner—lmperial Spear (second day); G. H. Humphries Grampian and Silver Ring; A. Messervey —Drum Fire; L. J. Ellis—Argentic and Royal Amphora: D. O’Connor—Autopay, Sam Smith; S. Wilson—Sunny Maid and Quebec; P. Burgess—Walton Park, Bay Area and Normandy; W. J. Brough ton— Enigram and Calydon: K. Voitre—Red Manfred; A. Jenkins—Te.Ua; G. Duncan —Red Sun:. L. G. Morns —Cadland; R. Reed—Golden Hair, Variant, Diatomous, Lone Raider; H. N. Wiggins—True Shaft Tycoon, and Gold Ruler.