ICILMA IN NEW QUARTERS

Southland Times, Issue 23768, 16 March 1939, Page 10

ICILMA IN NEW QUARTERS

Chance In Juvenile Stakes INDIANOLA’S NEXT START Loyal Sun is now being trained at Invercargill and he will make his first appearance from his new quarters at Wyndham on Saturday. Wyndham Cup Vinola is the actual favourite for the Wyndham Cup but Gay Lady, Mazaire, King Potts and Sydney Grand are all being given attention. Useful Novice Indianola did not race at the Invercargill meeting but her next appearance at Wyndham is being keenly awaited as the Gore mare is a novice much above the average. Slieve Donard The connections of the three-year-old Slieve Donard have preferred to tackle the novice race at Wyndham in preference to the Juvenile Stakes. In the racing he has done he has acted very, solidly and it will not surprise to find him showing up in Saturday’s maiden field. Icilma In Favour At one stage New Worthy appeared to dominate the Wyndham Juvenile Stakes field but there is a growing feeling that the Rey de Oro filly, Icilma will make a great race of it. Recently she joined up with E. Todd’s stable. She was in great order when this transfer was made and as she is likely to improve by the work she has in company, she can be expected to give a good account of herself on Saturday. She is a brilliant filly, and considering that she was unlucky in the Winton classic, she may turn the tables on Ned Worthy. As Arion Belle is unlikely to take her place in Saturday’s field, Icilma will be driven by E. Todd. Leading Two-year-old In winning the Timaru Nursery Stakes on Saturday, Highland Scott clearly demonstrated his claims to the position of leading two-year-old to this stage of the season. This marked his second start and second win, his former victory being recorded in the Great Northern Stakes at Epsom. As in his first outing, he had no difficulty in winning, and he finished with plenty in reserve. Highland Scott is by the brilliant American-bred U Scott from Rustic Maid, a mare from Country Belle, a champion in her day, and the dam of Countryman, Escapade, and Gold Country. Highland Scott was purchased by Mr J. R. McKenzie from his breeder, Mr W. J. Morland, some months ago at a stiff price, and he gives every indication of going on to championship class. Speedy Boy Driven by W. J. O’Shea, Speedy Boy gained an unexpected win in a sprint race at Harold Park, Sydney, recently. His time was 2min 51 4-ssec, and so there was nothing striking in the performance. Speedy Boy was at Addington for some time, on trial for Mr G. J. Barton, but he had no chance among the good horses he was assessed to meet, and he was shipped back to Sydney, after giving indifferent displays in his' few outings in Canterbury. Demonstration at Washdyke Commenting on the demonstration against the judge’s placing of the first three horses in the Wai-iti Trot at Washdyke on Saturday, The Timaru Herald says: “The judge’s placings went to Evora by a length from Loyal Avis, who beat Gay Lady (not driven out) on the wire, but after a loud and prolonged demonstration by a section of Gay Lady’s backers he was persuaded just inside the time limit to transpose the numbers of Gay Lady and Evora.” Official Silence The very meagre information supplied by the Trotting Association in connection with the finality of the Parisienne case is very far from satisfactory and not at all acceptable _to anyone anxious to uphold the best interests of light harness racing. The investigation was practically forced upon the Trotting Association, as it attracted attention from one end of New Zealand to the other. It is, in fact, one of the most extraordinary cases that has ever occurred in connection with light harness racing in New Zealand, comments “Sentinel.” Two of the very best horses in training (as proved by subsequent form on the second day of the meeting) were backed as a bracket by the public into solid favouritism and apparently on sound judgment of form. One of the bracket went only half the journey and the other finished second last. Such an extraordinary state of affairs compelled the writer tq write a paragraph referring to the official silence in regard to the matter. This silence has been continued by the Trotting Association, which has asked the public to accept the meagre information that “the association is unanimously of the opinion that the explanations and evidence adduced are satisfactory, and exonerates the parties from any suggestion of malpractice, and has decided that no further action be taken.” There was never any suggestion of malpractice in the writer’s mind when he was referring to the matter. There was, however, very strong objection taken to the fact that there was no prompt investigation which would have, or should have, resulted in the public being supplied with information as to what went wrong with Parisienne. The Lucky Jack part of the case cropped up later. The “Star Chamber” method of holding an inquiry by the Trotting Association and the meagre information supplied in connection with it cannot be tolerated in the interests of light harness racing, or, indeed, in the interests of those closely connected with Parisienne and Lucky Jack. The Trotting Association “considered that the incident warrantted a thorough investigation,” and then delivered a verdict which really does more harm than good to the reputation of those most concerned and also to those in authority. princess Onyx Princess Onyx was a brilliant juvenlile trotter when worked at Addington a few seasons ago by J. J. Kennerley, and although her racing was never up to the standard set in her private essays, it is doubtful if there has been a better 'young trotter produced in Canterbury in recent years. In 1937 she was sold to an Australian sportsman, but soon after her arrival in Sydney she met with an accident, and she had to be put aside. After her long absence from the tracks, she is booked to make her first appearance for her present owner in the near future. At the conclusion of her racing career, Princess Onyx, who is by Native King from Onyx, will be returned to her breeder, J. J. Kennerley, for stud purposes.