SLAYER’S USEFUL FORM

Southland Times, Issue 23826, 25 May 1939, Page 10

SLAYER’S USEFUL FORM

Quinopal To Reappear At Wingatui DISBAND BETTER AS A SPRINTER Handicaps for the Dunedin winter meeting are due tomorrow. Wardress If Wardress carries out her engagements in the Duke of Gloucester Cup she will be ridden by her trainer, Mr R. D. Westenra. On the Flat The three-year-old Colonel French is to race on the flat at Wingatui. A patient policy is to be adopted with the juvenile hurdler. An Offer Made

It is reported from Dunedin that a good offer has been made for Pandine and there is a likelihood of the Panmure gelding changing hands. At Wingatui

Merry Simon and Triple Cone have arrived at Wingatui from Washdyke under the care of E. Baker, while Corban has also put in an appearance at Wingatui. Incorrect

The report from Timaru that Mr D. U. Crosbie had purchased Disband is incorrect. Mr Crosbie purchased the pacer, Equerry, who raced in ms colours last week. A Better Sprinter Disband has failed rather badly in recent starts and judging by his etforts at Washdyke he may be expected to shape better over sprint distances. In both his races over a mile and a distance he had every chance but did not finish on. A Veteran Quinopal, who has been retired from racing more often than most horses, has come through a sound preparation and is to contest the minor steeplechase events at Wingatui. Quinopal was a winner at this meeting 12 months ago when he displayed surprisingly good form for a veteran. Duke of Gloucester Cup A field of 22 has been nominated for the Duke of Gloucester Cup on the second day of the Dunedin winter meeting. There is every indication of a big number of starters as the secretary of the Dunedin Jockey Club, Mr L G. Hill, has received inquiries from all over. New Zealand from riders for mounts in this , event. Promising ’Chaser

Slayer has been freely entered in the steeplechase events at the. Dunedin meeting and there are few with better prospects of winning a race than the Valkyrian gelding. In his first appearance over the big timber, at Riverton at Easter, he gave an outstanding display to outjump and outpace a useful field. Slayer may never be capable of carrying big weights but a repetition of his Riverton form would find turn winning again at short notice. Not Good Class

The field for the Otago Steeplechase is not a good class one, and confirms the opinion expressed earlier in the year that there is a dearth of good jumpers about. Black Banner and Gold Wren are the only two with any worth-while form to their credit and this pair are likely to be pronounced early favourites. Black Banner won this race last year with 10.8 but he is certain to have a much greater impost in this year’s race, as he won m his last appearance at Riverton with 12.9. Gold Wren, who was third on this occasion, carried 10.13, but he has been a winner since. Fassaform

The idea that Fassaform was unable to act on firm going was disproved at Washdyke when the Balboa colt put up a great performance to beat all but Mungatoon the first day. Like most of Balboa’s stock Passaform is a much better horse with the sting out of the ground, however, and his dislike of a firm track is usually shown by the manner in which he goes down in his preliminary. According to his trainer Passaform can be relied on to run one sound race on firm going, but it would be almost impossible to produce him the second day of a meeting under similar conditions. Expensive Jumper

Redolent’s trip to the Otaki and Manawatu meetings has not been very satisfactory. He fell at Otaki, failed to finish the course at Awapuni on the first day because of a bad jump sending him to a rear position, and lost his rider on Saturday. In his first three attempts over the big fences, therefore, he has failed to complete his tasks.

Sky Pilot Amiss The northern trip of the jumper Sky Pilot is to be discontinued and instead of going to Ellerslie he will return to Riccarton at once. Sky Pilot, one of the early favourites for the Great Northern Steeplechase, pulled up very lame after contesting the Te Rapa Steeplechase on Saturday, and it was deemed inadvisable to take him to Ellerslie. The trouble is believed to be in a tendon in one of his forelegs. Bryce Street, another prominent candidate for the Great Northern Steeplechase, is reported to be feeling the effects of his fall in the Te Rapa Steeplechase, and he was allowed to miss his engagement at the Waikato meeting on Monday.

On Riverton Tracks With the autumn meetings concluded, trainers at Riverton are concentrating chiefly on handling and schooling youngsters, and some promising material is to be found in the various stables, writes our Riverton correspondent. A. McKay has a two-year-old filly by Iliad from Set Sail, the dam of Sailing Lady and Sea Lady and two yearlings, one by Philamor from Paigle and the other by Sporting Blood from Last May. A. M. McKay has broken in a rising five-year-old gelding by Gold Street from Ramanuwhiri while he has also kept Fleet Street going with the Dunedin meeting in view. Nigger Boy, a three-year-old by Nigger Minstrel from Spearmaid (the dam of Spanish Lad) is now back in R. McNay’s stable. He raced once last season but contracted a cold and had to be put aside. A high opinion is held of this youngster. Besides Poniard, who is being qualified at the various hunts, A. J. Peart has Platform, a yearling colt by Night Raid from Fairform; a two-year-old filly by Gustavo out of Tractora and a two-year-old filly by Pink Coat from Fairform. All have done well in their tasks. J. Bulman has three horses in work at present. The two-year-old

Dark Flight came in from a spell looking particularly well and the Nigger Minstrel gelding has furnished into a fine type. Gold Flight, a yearling sister to Dark Flight, has just been broken in and it is intended to prepare her for two-year-old events. Viking has been kept going for the winter meeting at Wingatui. Peony Rose and Boaform are both on the easy list and will not appear again this season. Spanish Lad continues to do good work on the tracks and during the week he worked a mile in lmin 51sec, being joined by Hunting Chorus at the seven, the last six taking lmin 23sec.