SAILING LADY’S IMPROVEMENT

Southland Times, Issue 23773, 22 March 1939, Page 10

SAILING LADY’S IMPROVEMENT

Prospects Of Gold

Wren

REBEL MATE’S RETURN TO FORM

Acceptances for the Otautau meeting elose tomorrow at 8 p.m.

Acceptances for the Great Easter and Autumn Handicaps close on Friday. * Acceptances for the Riverton Easter meeting close on Wednesday next.

Ineligible Ferriby’s win at Waimate makes her ineligible for the Trial Plate at Oamaru.

Double Winners Lustral, Beau Vite and Trebor each won a double at Trentham, and put , T. R. George three points ahead ot D. G. Morris on the trainers list with 2/ points. Named

The Tractor'gelding in W. E. Hazlett’s stable has been named Impel. He displayed marked promise in the hunting fields last season under the name of Actor, and in his schooling displays at Invercargill he has demonstrated that he is a jumper of great promise. Rebel Mate’s Return

Rebel Mate, who had not had a race since the New Zealand Cup meeting, last November, looked well, but slightly on the big side, when paraded tor the open sprint handicap at Waimate. Jumping out smartly, he was in iront all the way and won nicely. He ran the six furlongs in Imin 13 l-ssec, a good performance under 9.4, ana will be one of the fancied division in the Great Easter Handicap next month under 8.8. A Dual Winner

One feature of the Waimate meeting was the dual success of Master Dingle, who, when trained at Riccarton, did not show the form expected of him; but since going to Oamaru he has gradually come right, and in his present form he should win a lot more races. He is one ' of the Shambles breed, which appear to require age before getting to their best. Master Dingle was ridden in his first engagement by the hurdle and cross-country horseman, G. Salt, who is now in business in Timaru, but who intends to follow up his profession during the wmter. Salt also rode Rebel Mate to victory in the President’s Handicap. Great Western Prospect

Gold Wren was the outstanding jumper raced in Southland last winter and his first appearance this season, which will be at the Birchwood Hunt meeting at Invercargill on Saturday, is being followed with more than ordinary interest. Some weeks ago .Gold Wren was discussed as a likely winner of the Great Western Steeplechase at Easter, but when se’en at Riverton last week he gave the impression that he will require racing during the next fortnight to bring him to the top of his form. The Songbird gelding is carrying more condition than he did last season, but his trainer. J. Thistleton, is an adept in the preparation of jumpers and his judgment is not likely to be far astray. The development of a splint checked Gold Wren in his work a short time back and at this stage it may be rather serious. In most of his races last season there was a doubt about Gold Wren seeing out an extended journey under weight. In the Otago Hunt Steeplechase, run over two miles and a-half, he won from end to end with 11.7, and on the strength of this effort the Great Western journey should not prove too far for him. Gold Wren is an accomplished jumper and if at the top of his form he is entitled to be one of the favourites for this year’s Great Western, which has not drawn a particularly strong field.

Strong Field Engaged The field for the President’s Handicap at the Birchwood Hunt meeting on Saturday includes all the best handicap horses in Southland at the present time, and while some of the runners may require a race to bring them to the top of their form, the result will be of more than ordinary interest. Milford has been doing good work on the tracks, but he has to concede Sailing Lady 191 b and this may prove beyond him. The way Sailing Lady has been working suggests that she may take some beating if allowed to go to the front and make her own rules. Boswell will probably need a race as he had a let up a short time back. He, too, goes his best races in front and the same applies to Amelita, who, however, is not a good mile and a-quarter-mare, but in her present form she must be given a chance. Galleon has been working in improved style and Mona’s Song is always a possibility. Viking has yet to prove that he can run out 10 furlongs, while Foxlove will be improved by a run. Rodeur is at the top of her form and, although she has yet to win over further than seven furlongs, she gives the impression that she will later win over a middle distance. Saturday’s race should be a particularly good one and at this stage the chances of Sailing Lady, Galleon and Mona’s Song appeal most.

Alma at Waimate Alma was sent out a good second favourite for the Waimate Cup on Saturday, and ran a fair race, states The Evening Star, Dunedin. Starting from next the tails, she was cut out j over the first two furlongs, and was one of the last to make the sharp turn out of the straight. Once in the back straight she moved up very fast, and, rounding the far turn, was lying third to Swordstick and Argentic. As the field turned into the straight she was still third, with Petersham and Cape Gabo on the outside of her. Both Swordstick and Argentic came away from the rails in the run home, and at the distance it looked as if Alma might get up. She responded well for a few strides when called on by her rider, but 9.0 and the fast pace set by the leaders over the first mile proved just beyond her. The race should sharpen her up for her next engagement in the Oamaru Cup. Coronation The big Limond-Jewel of Asia colt Coronation, who cost Mr W. H. Gaisford lOOOgns as a yearling, may be gelded before the season closes. Before his unexpected win at Pahiatua, he had disappointed his connections, but that success revived hope, and he was scr.t to Te Rapa. In the Waikato Hack Cup he drifted almost out of the race and then staged a remarkable run to finish second. He finished strongly to win the Champion Hack Race at Te Aroha, but he ran a patchy race on the second day. Coronation is a handsome individual, and his form is puzzling his trainer.