ONE OF BEST IN COMMISSION

Southland Times, Issue 23389, 22 December 1937, Page 10

ONE OF BEST IN COMMISSION

Supertax’s Sprinting Claims

ARRIVAL OF AUSTRALIAN PACERS Belle Grattan finished second to Celebrity at the matinee meeting at Addington on Saturday. While Frisco Lady appears to have found her mark in the handicaps her brother, Frisco Boy, looks capable of carrying on with the business. The pair are bracketed at Ashburton on Boxing Day.

The programme for the summer meeting of the Forbury Park Club has been issued. The sum of £4250 will be distributed in stakes, the Dunedin Cup (a 4min 26sec class) carrying a prize of £7ou Nominations close on January 11, and there are several classes to suit Southlanders.

The American pacer Fremont won a division race at the matinee meeting at Addington on Saturday, and he is regarded as one likely to make it difficult for the maiden fields at Auckland next week. /

In view of his engagements at the Gore and Winton meetings it is gratifying to note that Bing Crosby gave a sober display at Addington on Saturday. His exhibition at Forbury Park left a lot to be desired, but there is a feeling that he has settled down.

On the strength of good recent form Superior Rank will be hard to beat at the Wairarapa meeting where the class is far from strong. The stylish Jack Potts horse was placed twice at For-*-bury and the Wairarapa fields look to be at his mercy. Although Supertax has proved himself one of the best sprinters in commission at the present time there was a number ready to doubt the merit of his Free-for-All success. -As to why this should have been the case there appears some doubt, as Supertax has won his way to the top flight through sheer merit and has not been heralded as a champion like a number of others who have not gone as far as the Maxegin horse. It was considered by a number that Supertax was lucky to beat Roi I’Or in the Free-for-All and the pair met again last Saturday at Addington when Supertax again won. It is reported that Roi I’Or was on the big side and would be all the better for this outing, but this does not get away from the fact that Supertax holds too many guns for the veteran at the present time. Supertax is doubtless a greater sprinter than many are prepared to give' him credit for. There are few speed merchants who can be regarded as everyday racehorses as he can. 1 He may not be a perfectlygaited horse, but he stands like a soldier at the barrier, is able to begin smartly, and will fight out a finish with the best in commission, in spite of a wind infliction. Supertax may not be able to boast a great deal on the

score of good looks, but that has proved no hindrance to him.

Making his first return visit to Epsom since he won the Otahuhu Trotting Cup with Machine Brick in 1926, the Australian trotting trainer, W. J. O’Shea, arrived on Monday from Sydney with the pacers, Lawn Derby and Speedy Boy, states an Auckland writer. “Had it not been to honour a promise to the Auckland Trotting Club, I would not have been here,” said O’Shea, who expressed concern at the marks allotted his horses. Lawn Derby, he stated, had not won at two miles, and his best record was 4min 28sec, yet off 4min 22sec, he was asked to concede a start to horses who had run better than 4min 20sec. The system of placing Australian horses on their fastest time was not consistent with the mode of handicapping of New Zealand horses. The latter, he pointed out, were allowed liberal concessions when visiting Australia. He did not want any concessions, but would appreciate a reasonable deal now that he was here. Lawn Derby would give the public his best, and while he may prove equal to winning, it would not, in his opinion, justify the marks allotted. Both horses arrived in excellent condition after a splendid trip, and will create additional interest in the track work later in the week. Lawn Derby is a fine-looking horse. His trainer has a high opinion of him. Speedy Boy, while not so attractive to look upon, is solid. He ran unplaced recently off 3min 24sec, and his best time at two miles, his trainer states, is also 4min 28sec.

At‘the matinee meeting at Addington on Saturday Parisienne showed a return to her best form when she defeated Gallant Knight and Llewellyn’s Pride over two miles in 4min 34sec in winning the chief event of the afternoon. Parisienne is a genuine stayer and at Ashburton on Boxing Day will be pitted against one of the strongest fields of pacers bordering on Cup company available. While Aide de Camp, Plutus and Big Author will come in for solid support the claims of Parisienne cannot be ignored as she is able to boast better credentials as a stayer than the majority.

A very interesting pedigree is that of the first foal of the champion race mare Mountain Dell. It is a colt by Jewel Pointer. Jewel Pointer is fiy Logan Pointer from Law Chimes, a sister to Jewel Chimes, who is the sire of Brown Pearl, the sire of Whispering Dell dam of Mountain Dell. Law Citimes and Jewel Chimes were got by Abbey Bells from Jewel’s Heiress. It will be seen that there is a doublingup of Abbey Bells blood in the Jewel

Pointer-Mountain Dell foal, and the pedigree is strong in stamina.

Peggotty, who won the Para Rubber Handicap at Addington on Saturday, is a useful type of trotter, and his owner, Mr W. R. Butterick, of Ashburton, evidently appreciated the opportunity of giving his horse a run with the colours up offered by the Canterbury Owners’ and Breeders’ Association, states The Press, Christchurch. Peggotty is seven years old and is by Wrack from a Nelson Bingen mare, and so claims the breeding that goes to make champion trotters. Wrack is the sire of Sea Gift, possibly the finest unhoppled trotter produced in New Zealand, and Wrackler, the best all-rounder the Dominion has known, while Nelson Bingen’s name is prominent at every meeting as the sire of winners of unhoppled trotters’ events. Peggotty will make her next appearance at Ashburton on Monday in the Mitcham Handicap, and in such a race her steadiness of gait may gain her victory. She will be driven by J. Behrns, who made the trip from Ashburton to drive her on Saturday.

REGISTRATION OF YOUNGSTERS SOUTHLAND HORSES NAMED (By SIR MODRED) During recent weeks several South-land-bred or owned thoroughbred horses have been registered and named as recruits to the racing game and particulars as to the identity of these novices will be found of general interest. To select a few from a long list the following may be mentioned:— Balperina, 6yr, mare by Balboa-Joan Perkins, by Valkyrian (imp.)-Rangi-tanuku, by Potoa (son of Monoform, by Hotchkiss)-Polly Perkins, by Freedom, and on to Lyra (imp.) in the maternal line.

Bilbao, ch g 3yr, by Balboa-Winsome Sister, by Some Boy 11-Sister Regis, by Charlemagne II (son of St. Simon) from St. Regis, by Hotchkiss (son of Musket) -St. Evelyn, by St. Leger-Lady Evelyn, by Perkin Warbeck-Pulchra (imp.) This is a juvenile of high degree. Blissful Lady, lyr br f, by Paper Money-Lady Blissful, by Elysian (son of Soult)-Lady Wayward II (imp.), by Ladas (a successful representative of the maternal line of Illuminata-Paraffin). The filly is bred on lines that should lead to- racing success. Bun Hat, 3yr b.g. by Weathervane (imp.)-Queen Ruth, by Rokeby (imp. and son of Rock Sand)-Pretty Face, by

Clanranald (a valued sire)-Delusive, by Trenton-Eleusis (imp.), by Barcaldine. Bred in the purple Bun Hat is an aristocrat

Colonel Rouge, 2yr b.g. by Colonel Cygnus (imp.)-Moulin Rouge (dam of Latin Quarter) by Kilbroney-Directoire, by Wairiki (son of Soult, by St. Simon) -Queen Anne, by St. Leger (imp.)Anna, by Musket. The Chelandry Stud gelding may make his initial appearance at the Dunedin J.C. summer meeting.

Del vane, 3yr b.g. by Weathervane (imp.)-Lady Blissful. A well-grown and perfectly behaved gelding who may gallop well. Dinty, 3yr b.g. by Balboa-Orderdown, by Glenculloch-Order. Patiently hand reared to the extent of being fed at least eight times a day by Mrs Cosgrove, wife of the Winton J.C.’s wellknown caretaker, Dinty represents attention of the closest application to raise him for Mr F. Moore, of Winton. He is a sweet mover, but may require time to come to his best. Fleet Street, 3yr b.g. by Balboa-Easy Street, by Solferino (imp.)-Greenstreet, by lan-Vicella (imp.), by Veles. As a half-brother to Wall Street (son of Night Raid) and Gold Street (by Polazel, imp.) it is on the cards that Fleet Street will prove worthy of careful preparation. Gaylord, 2yr br g by Philamor imp.) -Degage, by Kilbroney-Miss de Vai, by All Red (son of Stepniak)-Northern Rose, by Finland-Rose Shield, by Hotchkiss-Rose of Wellington, by St. Leger-Fleurette, by Robinson CrusoeRose of Denmark (imp.). From first to last this gelding comes of noted galloping families. Glenore, Byr ch g by Tractor (imp.)Red Gift, by AU Red-Vagrance, by Gipsy Grand-Aspenleaf, by Larpent. The aged gelding recently registered has been schooled as a jumper and it s more than likely that he will join up with the team of the InvercargiU trainer C. Low in the near future. Half and Half, 4yr ch g by BalboaInsolence, iby Solferino-Comment, by Provocation (son of Birkenhead from a Musket maternal strain of the best)Wailethe, by Lethe-Waiora, by King Cole. The gelding bred by Mr M. J. Forde, of Winton, comes from jumping strains in the back lines of his dam’s pedigree. Hutuwai, 2yr b g by Balboa-Sabor (imp. and dam of Crubenmore, Enwood, Linwood, and Corban), by Fowlingpiece (son of Carbine and a good performer in England)-Melba H, by Bendigo (a brilliant galloper). In the event of Hutuwai following in the footsteps of several of his dam's progeny it is more than likely that he wiU furnish into a desirable stake winner.