CONE PEAK IN NEW QUARTERS

Southland Times, Issue 23497, 2 May 1938, Page 10

CONE PEAK IN NEW QUARTERS

Amelita’s Consistent Record STRONG TEAMS OF ’CHASERS Handicaps for the Southland Racing Club’s winter meeting will appear on Wednesday. Team of ’Chasers The Riverton trainer, J. Thistleton, who won the Great Western Steeplechase with Possum, will have four steeplechasers for a winter campaign Vitaphone, Smoko, Possum and a recent addition in Sir Admiral. Vitaphone broke down at the Otautau meeting but has evidently recovered as he is engaged to reappear at the Southland Racing Club’s winter meeting. A Consistent Mare In her last 10 starts Amelita has finished outside the money in only one start, and her record for the season is three firsts, four seconds, and four thirds in 15 races. She came through her strenuous racing at Riverton without any ill-effects and is probably a better mare now than ever before. After Long Absence The Masquerader made a pleasing return to winning form at Reefton, and gave his part-owner and trainer, J. Tomkinson, his first success for some months. The Masquerader figured as a winner of the Great Easter Handicap in 1934, but had to be put aside shortly afterwards because of unsoundness, and he was out of commission for more than two years.

First Appearance Last Post will make his first appearance as a hurdler at the Southland Racing Club’s meeting. When he linked up with P. Boyle’s team a jumping career was intended for him, but he displayed marked ability on the flat and he was tried at this game for a time. He has schooled well in private and gave a good display over the big country at Riverton during the week. Black Banner, who went amiss on the eve of the Riverton meeting, is to be taken up again by Boyle. Delium Found Dead

Delium suffered an inward haemorrhage after sprinting half a mile at Reefton on Wednesday, and died during the night. A six-year-old gelding by Diacquenod from Degage, he always commanded speed, and won several short distance races, mostly on the West Coast, where his owner, Mr E. V. Jones, resides. Recovered

Royston pulled up lame when he finished second to Burwood the first day at Riverton, but is reported to have made a good recovery and has been nominated for the Southland Racing Club’s meeting this month. The Riverton ’chaser has never been in better order and has only to remain sound to win a race. ,

In New Quarters Cone Peak has been transferred to A. E. Didham’s team at Wingatui. The Weathervane mare has shown fair form in the little racing she has done this season, by far her best effort being a second to Peony Rose the final day at Riverton when she was unlucky in the early stages of the running.

Hurdling Aspirants Rather a feature of the candidates for the Southland Hurdle Handicap at the winter meeting of the Southland Racing Club is the number of newcomers to the hurdling ranks. Last Post, Surge, Western Song, Grand Finale, Corban and Poniard have all been winners on the flat this season. Now at Riccarton

After the useful form displayed by Tangled at Riverton, it has been decided to leave him in the South Island until after the Grand National meeting, and he will be trained by S. Barr at Riccarton. This is being done to avoid a clash between Tangled and numerous other jumpers in L. Knapp’s strong team. Sister to Wotan

An addition to the team of the New Plymouth trainer, H. Dulieu, is a yearling filly by Seigfried from Left, who is thus a full sister to Wotan, and a half sister to Gaine Carrington and Peter Jackson. The filly will be raced by her breeders, Messrs Smith Brothers, of Mangaweka. In view of the remarkable success of Left’s only foals yet to have raced, considerable interest will be attached to the. progress of this youngster.

English Parentage Though bred in the Dominion, Francis Drake has a wholly English pedigree, his sire, Chief Ruler, and his dam, Tame Duck, being imported horses. Tame Duck was bred by Captain Greer, and as a yearling was sold for 70gns at the Newmarket sales. She von a T.Y.O. selling plate at Newmarket in 1915, and was sold afterwards for 280gns. As she was almost immediately sent out to Mr Armstrong in New Zealand, the purchase was apparently made on his behalf. She did not race here, but went to the stud in 1918. Her first foal was bom dead, but at intervals since have come Coot, Duck’s Egg (dam of Round Score), Admiral Drake, Duckling, Miss Lorraine, Quacker, Bumble, and Francis Drake. Duckling is the dam of the Beau Pere filly for whom Mr E. Riddiford paid lOOOgns in January. Seven On End

If there were any market on next season’s Derbies in New Zealand Defaulter would justifiably be a pronounced favourite, states The Timaru Herald. He has won seven races in a row, has defeated evety horse of his own age that he has met within recent months, and is the only two-year-old winner over seven furlongs. It is his record over the longer distance that is his strongest recommendation for classic honours. It is by no means quite certain, however, that he will stay, as he has one weak link in his pedigree. Defoe, his sire, is a son of Hurry On, and on this side Defaulter is strongly equipped for a journey. His dam, Expense, is by Paper Money, a progenitor of speed, and while her dam is Jean H., who produced a New Zealand and Auckland Cups winner in Scion, this gelding was by Boniform, and Jean 11. did not leave anything else of real class. Defaulter looks a really good prospect for Guineas races next season, and these should give an indication of how he is likely to fare over longer journeys.

Riccarton ’Chasers

A year ago Riccarton stables could boast a strong team of steeplechasers, but for the coming winter campaign they are definitely weak in crosscountry candidates. Sky Pilot, a highly promising young horse, went wrong at Trentham last July and will require a

rest for another year before he can be fit to train again, states The Christchurch Star-Sun. Burglar broke down in the Grand National Steeplechase and probably his racing career is at an end. Streamline also failed to stand up to preparation and had to miss important engagements at the end of the winter. He and his stable mate, Wexford Bridge, have been fired and will not be trained again till next year. Royal Limond, an interesting candidate for a couple of winters, has been sent to the North Island to be trained and has joined an Awapuni stable. Nocturnus, just a useful hack at this time last year, made such wonderful improvement that he scored an impressive win in the Grand National Steeplechase in August. Unfortunately, he developed trouble in one of his legs recently and can definitely be written off as far as this winter is concerned. It remains to be seen, in fact, whether he will even stand another severe preparation. Bonnie Rollox, bought from Australia just over a year ago, was transferred to Riccarton recently. At his best he is a good horse, but he labours under the disability that he did not stand training in the North Island last winter. Arctic Star shaped well in three races at Riverton, and he may be a much improved horse this winter. Polydora is in work again and is a possibility if she trains on. A few others, including Nightbound, Kaipear and Bright Red, may be useful steeplechasers later on, but as far as this winter is concerned they are not likely to be tested beyond modest company.