JOHN GRIGG STAKES

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23598, 7 September 1938, Page 15

JOHN GRIGG STAKES

A FIELD OF TEN The field remaining in the John Grigg Stakes does not run to any numerical strength, and the fact strongly suggests that the majority of owners are not in favour of producing two-year-olds so early in the season The results so far obtained by the introduction of the race cannot be considered satisfactory. Wild Chase won in 1935, and subsequently trained on to win good races, but some of those that finished behind either showed patchy form and could not be considered reliable. Guinea Fowl won in 1936, and never again troubled the judge except for a placed performance in her second season, and no cause exists to enthuse over the subsequent form of the rest of the field. Last year Ortyx won her only success, Dun>stan, who finished third, afterwards won the Dunedin Champagne Stakes. Pink Bond, one of the unplaced lot, subsequently won at the Dunedin spring meeting. Quite possibly aftei a mild winter and favourable spring two-year-olds may not suffer damage by racing in September, but early speed generally means early departure from the turf. There is no doubt that Ortyx was one of the fastest two-year-olds seen out last season, but only scored one win. This year ten youngsters figure in the field for a stake worth £3OO, minus place money, and already it seems a certainty that Master Hotspur will start favourite. Master Hotspur, who is a keen galloper and shows early speed, was got by Ringmaster from Impetuous, by Limqnd from Pennon, and so belongs to a tribe famed for the development of early speed. Pennon produced Motley and Lysander, amongst others, and is a daughter of Eulogy, the dam of Humbug, Fulsome, Epitaph,_ Homage, Commendation. Eulalie, Praise, and others.