SHOULD CARRY ON

Otago Daily Times, Issue 27390, 16 May 1950, Page 7

SHOULD CARRY ON

Master Arthur's Good Win At Te Rapa Master Arthur caused a minor surprise when he got up to beat the pacemaker, Morocco, in the Waikato Hurdles at Te Rapa, the first of the major hurdle events to be decided this winter. A five-year-old gelding by Defaulter from Asia, he has been improving with every race, and he has now entered discussions for the Great Northern Hurdles, which will be run on June 3 at Ellerslie. The previous Saturday Master Arthur had won the Rosebank Hack Hurdles at Avondale after Paul had been disqualified, and the Waikato Hurdles were his first attempt in open hurdle company. He has been a consistent performer in hurdle and high-weight company this season, and his 14 starts have resulted in four wins and six placinee for £2287 10s in stakes. Master Arthur is raced by Mr L. Colebourne, for whom he is trained at Takanini by F. Hall. His dam Asia, is by Limond from the imported mare, Jewel of Asia. If he holds his form he should develop high-class winning form, and he should plav an important part in the decision of some of -the other major hurdle events. For WasJidyke Entrancing was made a strong pre-post favourite for the Seadown Hack Handicap at Amberley, but she did not start. It is expected that she will race at the South Canterbury meeting this week, before coming on to the Dunedin winter meeting. If she could be kept sound, she would have a bright future, as there are few in her class with more speed. Stourbridge Gelding Fortement, who surprised when he accounted for the Glasnevin Stakes, field at Amberley* on Saturday, is a four-year-old gelding by Stourbridge from Forte, by Valkyrian from Blare. Fortement was having only his second start in a race, and he appeared to relish the heavy track. He may continue to pay his way at some of the smaller meetings in the next few weeks. Arabian Night’s Half-brother Morocco, runner-up to Master Arthur in the Waikato Hurdles after making all the pace on Saturday, is a half-brother by Theio to Arabian Night, a high-class steeplechaser trained at Wingatui. Morocco has more than average speed, and he held his own in strong sprint company earlier in the season. He should have a good winter. Promising Display Trident was having her first run since she ran unplaced in the Spring Handicap at Ashburton last September when she finished third to Disturbance and Whitley in the Amberley Handicap on Saturday. Trident showed a fair measure of ability in her races as a two-year-old, and she is likely to prove more than useful. She is a four-year-old mare by Neptune from Merial. Not Out of Turn Disturbance did not win out of turn when she .accounted for the field in the Amberley Handicap on Saturday. It was her first success since 'she won her way from hack company at the Banks Peninsula meeting on March 5. 1949. Her best performance in seven starts earlier this season was a fourth in the Waltham Handicap, won by Pierre, at Riccarton on April 15. Now that she has struck form, she should carry on. She is a four-year-old mare by Defaulter from Fracas, tracing back to the imported mare Azalea, founder of a grand winning family. She is raced by Mr J. B. Douglas-Clifford, for whom she is trained by A. Cutts. Duccio Impresses The Italian-bred stallion Duccio lived up to the good impression he created in his two earlier sprint races when he strode right away from the rest of the field in the Hamilton Handicap, the main flat event at the Waikato Racing Club’s meeting. He has now had three races in a fortnight for two wins and a third. His placing was recorded at his first appearance, when he stopped badly when assured of at least second money. It was later found that he had got his tongue over the bit and had almost choked. Saturday's race was a solid effort and he is the early favourite foi the Cornwall Handicap at Ellerslie on June 3, when he will be required to carry 9.9. After a good race career in Italy, Duccio was purchased by an English owner, but he failed to live up to his early promise. He was twice placed on the flat, but he was later tried as a hurdler, winning over two miles in this department. Duccio will probably be retired to the stud at the end of this season. He should have a good innings in the next few weeks, and his performances at Ellerslie will be watched with interest.