SPANISH LAD MAY SHOW UP

Southland Times, Issue 23888, 5 August 1939, Page 10

SPANISH LAD MAY SHOW UP

Useful Southland Team

At Riccarton

A week or two ago it appeared that Southland stables would play a big part in the decision of events at the Grand National meeting, but their ranks have been depleted by the elimination of Black Banner, Burwood and Qumopal. Black Banner was seriously injured at Timaru; Quinopal broke down at Waimate, and Burwood, after showing winning form in his previous start, went amiss at the Christchurch Hunt meeting. The form of some of the other Southland representatives has not been up to expectations in recent starts and it will probably be on the flat that Southland horses are most prominent. Spanish Lad is still being discussed as a likely Winter Cup winner and his chances read best of the southern contingent. Nigger Boy, El Caballo and Fleet Street may show up in minor events.

On'Trentham running Gold Wren had to be regarded as a likely place-getter in the Grand National Steeplechase, but his form has not enhanced his prospects. His stamina over such a course as the National may have been open to question, but his jumping brilliance would have stood to him. Gold Wren was badly beaten in the Homeby Steeplechase and those to finish in front of him in that race should beat him again. In recent starts he has not shown the same dash as when he won the Otago Steeplechase, and the two hard races he had on heavy tracks at Trentham may have taken a lot out of him. Gold Wren will require to improve greatly to have any chance in the National, but if he was reserved for the Enfield Steeplechase, to be run over two miles, he would be a difficult horse to beat. Pandine, a stable-mate of Gold Wren, has also raced below form since the Dunedin meeting when he won in fine style, but he stripped a hind leg and this placed him out of action for a time. Paridine is engaged in the Enfield Steeplechase the first day and over a two-mile journey he would be a hard horse to beat when right, but his recent efforts have not been very encouraging. At both Trentham and Timaru he stopped badly, but before Trentham he had won his previous four starts. A GOOD START Mr W. E. Hazlett, who took Burwood, El Caballo, Astral Flash and Colonel French north, has made a good start as he has only raced the two steeplechasers —Burwood and El Caballo—so' far. Burwood won at Timaru and was considered a National prospect, but went amiss on Saturday. El Caballo, who won a double in good style at the Dunedin meeting, was placed at Timaru and followed this up with a win at the Hunt meeting. The Balboa gelding may not be over-endowed with stamina, but he is a splendid jumper and in the minor events must be given a great chance. Great interest will be shown in Colonel French if produced among the hurdlers. As a three-year-old last season he showed promising form, in the little racing he was given, while his schooling in private has been of a brilliant nature. The Colonel Cygnus gelding has not had a race since the South. Canterbury autumn meeting when he finished third, but he had done a good amount of work before leaving Invercargill. Astral Flash was a winner at the Dunedin meeting. Her ability to handle heavy going will assist her and if produced over middle distances she can be expected to show up, as she is a great stayer for her inches. USEFUL TRIO R. McNay’s team—Spanish Lad, Nigger Boy and Hunting Chorus—is a useful one and all three have been in the money since being taken north. Although he was beaten at the Christchurch Hunt meeting on Saturday Spanish Lad’s chance in the Winter Cup cannot be too lightly rated. He drew a bad barrier position on Saturday and had to be hard ridden in the early stages to secure a position and this left him with little reserve at the finish. The Balboa gelding compiled a fine record in Southland during the past 12 months and in 17 starts he has won five (including a dead-heat,), five seconds and two thirds. His most important success to date was in the King George Handicap at Wingatui when he won from end to end. When Spanish Lad won his first race in open company, at Gore earlier in the year, he ran the six furlongs in lmin 12 2-ssec, a Southland record for the distance. His ability to run out a solid mile, coupled with the fact that he can handle any going, must be considered when his Winter Cup chance is summed up. In a big field he has only to draw a reasonably good barrier position to jump out as smartly as anything else. NIGGER BOY’S PROMISE Nigger Boy will come into strong favour as a result of his easy win at the Christchurch Hunt meeting. A high opinion has always been held of the three-year-old and in some quarters it is expected that he will develop form as good as that already shown by Spanish Lad. In the minor events he will be in strong favour as he will improve on anything he has yet shown. Hunting Chorus finished second to

Dancing Flame at the Timaru meeting, but on a heavier track he would have been much harder to beat. He, too, may.be improved by the racing he has had, while under winter conditions he is right at home., A. M. McKay has Fleet Street and Bow Street to represent him. Bow Street did not show up at the Christchurch Hunt meeting, but he is reported to have freshened up since raced at Trentham. His form the first day of that meeting was of a particularly good standard, but he failed to reproduce it in later events. His prospects are only fair. Fleet Street showed at Trentham that he was capable of holding his own with the best sprinters in commission. He has not raced since his rather strenuous time at Wellington, but he can always be relied on to make a name for himself. He will be a definite prospect among the sprinters next week.