STEWARDS’ HANDICAP

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23955, 2 November 1939, Page 2

STEWARDS’ HANDICAP

THE FIELD REVIEWED

Paper Slipper won twice last season and was once second in 15 starts. Ho won the Stewards’ Handicap with 8.73 in Imin 11 l-ssec, was second with 9.2 to Gay Son 8.2 in the Members’ Handicap, two lengths away in Imin llsec; and won the Templeton Handicap with 9.2 from Nightcalm 7.4 by two lengths in Imin 11 2-ssec. Density 7.8 was unplaced. Nightcalm afterwards improved, but now meets Paper Slipper on 181 b worse terms, and at the weights the Chokebore Lodge candidate should beat Nightcalm and Density. Nightcalm went on after his second to Paper Slipper to put up five wins, a second and a third in eight starts. He dead-heated in the Flying Handicap at Timaru with Petersham when carrying 3.6 in imin 11 4-ssec. Density 8.5 was a head away. On this form Density should beat Nightcalm on 171 b better terms. Lord Nuffield 7.0 beat Density 8.6 and Nightcalm 8.11 over six furlongs in Imin 11 l-ssec, two lengths separating Nightcalm and Nightcalm. At Ashburton Nightcalm was second with 8.1 to Roy Bun 7.0 in Imin 25 l-ssec.' Paper Slipper 9.10 was fourth. At Timaru Nightcalm 8.1 won in Imin 11 4-ssec and with 8.3 in Imin 11 l-ssec, beating Flagman 7.0. At Wingatui Nightcalm won with 9.7 in Imin 14 3-ssec. He was unplaced over a mile in the King George Handicap and finished the season by winning the Brabazon Handicap with 8.13, beating Haughty Winner 9.0 and Alma 8.13 and a big field in Imin 29sec. This season Nightcalm was unplaced In the Winter Cup and finished fourth in the Selwyn Handicap. He showed a return to winning form at Banks Peninsula by scoring with 9.1 in imin 28 3-ssec. Paper Slipper 9.9 was finishing on in fourth place. Both horses drop 41b in the Stewards’ Handicap. Beaulivre should be a thoroughly fit colt on the day. He has won six times on end, and the stir-up he received in the Harcourt Stakes should bring him up to concert pitch. As a two-year-old Beaulivre won six times, was four times second and once third in 11 starts, showing remarkable consistency. He suffered an unlucky defeat in the Welcome Stakes, and another second was recorded when High Caste beat him by % neck in the Great Northern ’•’oal Stakes, run in Imin 13 3-ssec. Another, good effort came when the Royal Stakes- was won by High Caste 7.13 from Te Hero 9.3 and Beaulivre 7.9, a head and half a head between them in Imin 12sec—a race record and time only broken once in the Railway Handicap. One of Beaulivre’s subsequent wins was In the Nursery Handicap at Trentham with 9.7 in Imin lllsec. Beau Vite beat him over seven furlongs in the Challenge Stakes, run in Imin 26sec. but he reversed the positions in the Manawatu Sires’ Produce Stakes, when they finished second and third behind Submission. Beaulivre won the Champagne Stakes with 8.10 in Imin- llsec. and concluded the season by winning the Challenge Stakes with 7.11 in Imin 26sec by three lengths from Beau Vite 7.11.

Gay Chou ran a good race over a mile on the final day at the Wellington spring meeting. He won over seven furlongs at Otaki, and was second over a mile at Masterton. He was unplaced behind Blonde Princess, Brunhild and Rakahanga on the middle day at Trentham, and, meeting again on the same terms, Rakahanga should beat him once more. He should be more at home over more ground. Disdain’s chance depends on whether she has been improved by racing. Globe Trotter and Sleeveless should both beat her on recent form. Globe Trotter meets Disdain on lib worse, and Sleeveless comes in on 111 b better terms with her at Riccarton. Sleeveless meets Globe Trotter on 121 b better terms for three parts of a length beating, but Globe Trotter beat Sleeveless in very convincing fashion. Toro Koura would require to repeat his Timaru form to have a chance. He won there with 8.8 in Imin 11 3-ssec, but failed badly at Trentham, and again on Saturday last.

Strip won at Ashburton, and last season he won over seven furlongs, over six furlongs at Oamaru with 8.9 in Imin 13 2-ssec, at Riverton with 9,3 in Imin 13sec, and at the same meeting with 7.8 in Imin 13 3-ssec. At the Dunedin winter meeting Strip 8.7 was third to Fleet Street 8.6 and Rebel Mate 9.10 over six furlongs in Imin 13 3-ssec. The track record is Imin 13 l-ssec, and Strip was over four lengths away from the winner. The race record for the Stewards’ Handicap is Imin 10 2-ssec. held by Glentruin 7.103, Grand Sport 7.0, and Comic Song 7.9. Strip holds an outside chance, and may, in fact, be hard to beat.

Density comes into the same category as Disdain, with no chance on recent form, but extremely dangerous if able to tack more stamina to her speed. Rakahanga won at Rlccarton last spring with 7.4 In Imln 12sec, at Wellington with 7.3 in Imin and in addition put up some good form in a place. This season Rakahanga was unplaced at Hawke’s Bay. and was third at Wellington with 7.11 to Blonde Princess 7.6 and Brunhild 7.10 J, a head and two lengths away in Imin msec. Rakahanga should be improved by the time she reaches the post at Riccarton. Globe Trotter and Sleeveless are two of the most dangerous members of the field. Globe Trotter impressed by his recent win at Trentham, and through him Sleeveless must be granted a chance. Still, Rakahanga meets Globe Trotter on Gib better terms than when she beat him on the second day at Trentham, and hence it appears as if the Safari gelding was not entitled to a rehandicap on his form although a winner. Last season Globe Tjrotter won three times over five furlongs, and the Autumn Nursery at Hiccarton with 8.13 in Imin 12scc, and did not run again until this season. Paper Note won at the Grand National meeting with 8.1 in Imin 13 3-ssec from Skyrena 8.0, and Gay Chou 9.7 and Strip 8.4 were unplaced, but he was unplaced in four subsequent races. Dark Flight has a good turn of speed. He has won twice this season, although probably not quitp at his best. He was a fairly brilliant two-year-old, but went off after winning at the Dunedin summer meeting. Dark Flight may develop into quite a good three-year-old, as ho inherits plenty of speed. A quartet from which the favourite may come is comprised by Beaullvre. Globe Trotter, Rakahanga, and Sleeveless. as suggested by the above reference to form.