REVIEW OF TRENTHAM FORM

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25798, 20 March 1945, Page 9

REVIEW OF TRENTHAM FORM

TYPHOON'S BRILLIANCE (Special) WELLINGTON, Mar. 19. The main events at the Wellington autumn meeting provided high-class racing, with thrilling finishes. The feature off the day was Typhoon’s success in the Tforth Island Challenge Stakes. He had proved himself one of the best, class handicap horses in the Dominion, but his class under weight-for-age conditions had never been measured. To succeed with the full penalty of 141 b, which raised his weight to 10.0, left ho doubt about Typhoon's ability and class. The margin of his win was narrow, but it appeared lhat his rider was unaware until the last few strides of the danger from Beau Cheval who was very wide out on Ihe track. Typhoon’s next engagement will be at the Canterbury Easter meeting, where he is engaged in the Great Easter Handicap with 8.9 and in the Great Autumn Handicap with 8.10. He is not liable to a rehandicap for Saturday s win, as the Challenge Stakes is a weight-for-age race. The C.J.C. Easter double is seldom achieved, but as Typhoon has proved his ability to sprint and stay and has the physique to carry weight his chances of winning it this year can be highly regarded. A. Midwood, who rode him at Trentham, has been retained to ride him at. Riccarton. Beau Cheval went close to winning the Challenge Stakes and spoiled his chance jof doing so bv hanging out. lie started io bore awav from the field before he turned into ‘the straight and when he crossed the finishing line he was nearer tile outside fence than the middle of the track. Beau Cheval carried a 101 b penally, so that the performance ranked him fairly high among those of his age. Under handicap conditions in the Great Easter he meets Typhoon on 111 b worse terms than when they met at. Trentham over the same distance, so the chances of Beau Cheval reversing the Trentham placings with Typhoon at Riccarton arc not bright. Al-Sirat Disappointing The two-year-olds who contested the Challenge Stakes were not up to standard and the Defaulter gelding Deprive was the best of them. Al-Sirat, who was outstanding in the spring, has temporarily gone off, and he is to be spelled for the remainder of the season. He lasted only half a mile, and then weakened. Deprive. Gigli, and Behave were together at the home turn on terms with Beau Cheval, and when the pressure was applied Deprive fought on better than the others of his age, and was third, only a length and a-haif behind two good horses. Deprive will leave to-morrow for

Auckland, accompanied by his stablemate, Rivcrview, to compete at tile Auckland Easter meeting. Deprive was not entered for the Champagne Stakes, in which me stable will be represented by Riverview. The last-named was favourite in the Plunket Nursery on Saturday, but he was never prominent. He was off colour for about two weeks prior to the meeting, and probably was a little short of seasoned condition. He should be a fitter horse at Ellerslie. Tile performance of First In, who should have won the Autumn Handicap comfortably, instead of having to halve it with Tara King, entitles her to share with Te Hinemoa the distinction of being one of the two best race mares of the season. She did not enjoy the best of runs for the first mile, but she overcame this handicap brilliantly, and moved through the field to take charge at the last furlong It was unfortunate for everyone concerned that her rider allowed her to slacken speed nearing home and present - Tara King with a fortuitous dead-heat. Mackie had wasted hard to ride First In at 8.6, and in suspending him for one month the judicial stewards took a compassionate view of his error of judgment. Vafort’s Form While he was not equal to filling a place, Vafort ran a solid race to finish fifth in the Autumn Handicap. This was his first attempt in open company. He was handily placed in the hunch which followed the leaders throughout. He was slightly hampered for room for about two furlongs going along the back straight, but this did not affect a winning chance. Vafort was running on satisfactorily at the finish, showing that he does not lack stamina, and it should be possible to place him where he can win a handicap in open company. Another Autumn Handicap runner to perform creditably was Signal Officer. He was never further back than seventh, and finished just out of a place. Signal Officer is a three-year-old, and should improve as he ages. He is one of the useful Salmagundi breed, and his trainer, R. E, McLellan, who did well with Macedoine, believes he will develop into one of the best of that sire’s progeny. Signal Officer suffered a mild attack of kidney trouble while travelling to Trentham, and may have been a little below his best on ihe day.