BALKIS HAS FIRST SUCCESS OF SEASON

Otago Daily Times, Issue 27039, 25 March 1949, Page 8

BALKIS HAS FIRST SUCCESS OF SEASON

Balkis recorded her first win of the season when she ted the Oahiaru Cup field home on Wednesday. Site had been seven times placed in 12 earlier starts. Her best form had been shown over sprint distances, but she had shown that she was likely to develop into a useful stayer. She has gone up 91b to 8.6 in the Gardiner Memorial at Oamaru to-morrow, and she can be expected to race well again. Last season she had nine starts for two wins and three placings. Her first success was in the Spring Nursery Handicap at the New Zealand Cup meeting, when .-he defeated Finigin and Robin Redbreast. Among those who finished behind her in that race was Idle Jest, winner of the New Zealand Oaks this season. She upset calculations again in the Hopeful Handicap, on the third day of the Wellington Cup meeting, when she defeated Irresistible and Jolly Lass, covering the six furlongs in lmin 12sec. Balkis is a three-year-old filly by Sir Beau from Ninia, by Kiosk—Lugano, by Sunny Lake —St. Sophia. Airway Two-year-old Valid, winner of the Electric Stakes at the Timaru meeting last Saturday, is a two-year-old gelding by Airway from Valris. He was having only his third start when he won at Washdykc, having run third to Beaumaris ■' and Lady Melville at the Banks Peninsula meeting. He is trained at Riccarton by R. Register for Mr D. Grant. Wild Note Consistent Wild Note will have a chance to come into his own in the J. M. Johnston Memorial at the Manavvatu meeting tomorrow. when he will carry 9.0 against a capable field of sprinters. The Wild Chase gelding has been lightly raced this season for one win and five placings in eight starts. He is due for a winning turn, and if the track is easy his chances will be improved. Naseby Gymkhana

A popular annual event at Naseby is the gymkhana which this season will be held on April 9. The programme includes several galloping and trotting events, including the Naseby Cup, of one mile, with a stake of 12sovs and a cup valued at £5 ss, and the Mount Ida Trotting Cup, of a mile and a-quarter. which carries a similar stake and cup. Nominations are due on March 31. High-priced Colt Firelight, a three-year-old chestnut colt by Salmagundi from Sparkle, whom Mr W. E. Hazlett purchased at the Chelandry dispersal sale last year, will make his first appearance on a Southland racecourse in the first _division of the Birchwood Novice Handicap to-morrow. When trained by J. Shaw at Riccarton, he had one start, in the Novice Stakes at the Banks Peninsula spring meeting, and he was well back throughout. His appearance tomorrow will be followed with interest. Death of St. Boswells The death occurred at the Te Mahanga Stud, Hawke's Bay, of the stallion St. Boswells. Foaled in England in 1929, St. Boswells was imported in 1938 by Messrs A. Robson. J. M. Cameron and D. M. Douglas, and he stood throughout his career at Te Mahangp, where he sired winners in Da Vinci. Lenardo, Tahli. The Paean, Omahina, Carnforth. St. Nattar and others. Si. Boswells was a chestnut horse by Solario from Mopsa, by Valens from Motor, by Nabot. and descended from Pilgrimage, ancestress of Swynf.ord, Chaucer, Jeddah and Pilgrim’s Progress. He won five races in England and was placed in 10 other races.