COLONEL FRENCH IN FORM

Southland Times, Issue 24162, 26 June 1940, Page 9

COLONEL FRENCH IN FORM

Surcoat Has Bright Future COURTYARD OUT OF ACTION Entries for the principal events at the Grand National meeting close on Friday. Recovered M. C. McTigue, who underwent an operation some weeks ago, made a reappearance in the sulky at Ashburton on Saturday. Rebel Star

The Robespierre gelding Rebel Star is a half-brother to Cottingham, who was foaled in 1928, and Rebel Star was foaled, a year later.

Unplaced

The two Southland two-year-olds, Noko and Wild Coon, were both well supported in the novice event at the Ashburton meeting on Saturday. Wild Coon was not prominent at any stage but Noko was well up in the early running although he failed to stay on. The Vulture

The Ashburton Novice winner, The Vulture, is a fine type of three-year-old by Valkyrian from the Day Comet mare Silent Flight. He looks likely to win plenty of races on the flat, but if he does not he has a great pedigree for jumping events. Grey Silk

The Mayfield Handicap winner, Grey Silk, is a three-year-old grey gelding by Hoylake from Silk Stockings, by Solferino-Silk Gown, by Pilgrim’s Pro-gress-Portia, by Bill o’ Portland-Happy Land, by Musket. Hoylake finished third to Oratrix and Rapier in the New Zealand Cup of 1928. A Veteran

Rebel Star, who paid just on a half century in the Maronan Handicap at Ashburton, is in his tenth year. His only previous win in the last four years was in a highweight on the West Coast in which he defeated his halfsister Palmyra. Mr Standfast Sold

The imported horse Mr Standfast, who has served two seasons at the stud in New Zealand, has been sold by Mr Martin Tims, Te Awamutu, to a Queensland breeder. The price paid is reported to be very substantial, and the deal was made through the agency of Wright, Stephenson and Company, Limited. Mr Standfast, a bay horse bred in England in 1931, is by Buchan from Cinna, and a half-brother to Beau Pere, Dink and Gay Shield. A full-brother, Buckler, won the Ascot New Stakes. Out Of Action

Court Yard is unlikely to race again for a long time. After he resumed the chase in the Dromore Steeplechase at Ashburton he hit a fence and turned an almost complete somersault. The chestnut was bleeding so freely from the nostrils that it appeared that he had suffered severe injury, and there was talk of destroying him. Third On End

Surcoat’s success at Ashburton on Saturday was his third on end, while in his only other appearance this season,'at Riverton at Easter, he fell. On the latter occasion he was making his first appearance over country and he looked to have the result in safe keeping when he crashed at the second last fence at which stage he held a commanding lead. With racing he is certain to improve further and the Philamor gelding is just the type to make a name for himself over Trentham and Riccarton country.

Surprise Winner Grey Silk, who paid nearly two score in the Mayfield Handicap at Ashburton, is a three-year-old grey gelding by Hoylake. He had won on the West Coast, but in a race at the Ashburton autumn meeting he gave no indication of stamina. Grey Silk is trained by the former steeplechase rider, C. Dawson.

Riders Injured Several of the Riccarton jockeys who had falls in the jumping races were knocked about, the worst suffered being E. J. Jennings. He may have to remain in the Ashburton Hospital for a week or two, while he recovers from ■concussion, the result of his fall with Mount Vai. R. Register (Courtyard),

in addition to bruises, suffered further injury to an ankle, which had given trouble previously. M. Caddy sprained a wrist when he came off Golden Sight, while H. W. Hibbard received some severe bruises round his ribs and back when Cottingham came down.

Mount Vai’s End Mount Vai’s career ended in a regrettable manner at Ashburton. He was one of those involved in the scrimmage at the stand double, and after he got clear his rider had to get his feet back into the stirrups. After passing the mile post Mount Vai was rapidly overhauling the leaders when he fell heavily and broke a shoulder. He was going so well at the time that he looked certain to take part in the finish.

An Easy Win Cottingham provided a sensation in the Dromore Hack Steeplechase at Ashburton when he attempted to run off at the first of the stand double, and crashed into the netting separating the bird cage from the course. Courtyard, Flashlight and Culverden were also brought down. This left Surcoat and Frenchy in the lead, well clear of Mount Vai with Valens, Joy Boa and Top Rank the only other horses in the race. Surcoat gradually opened up a big lead from Frenchy, Mount Vai

falling at the brush fence near the seven-furlong post. Surcoat carried on to win easily, while Frenchy, which tired badly over the last half mile, was passed by Joy Boa and Valens once over the last fence. After a hard struggle Joy Boa beat Valens by a head. Golden Sight fell at the first fence. Colonel French Colonel French, who returned to the winning list at the Ashburton County meeting on Saturday, attracted attention as a three-year-old last season when he was placed over hurdles. He won a race as an early four-year-old this term and, after being placed on the flat later, he was put aside for some months. When he won on Saturday it was his third start after a long spell and while the field he beat may not have been' a strong one, the fact that he has returned to his best form is of some importance. As a rising two-year-old Colonel French showed great promise when he was schooled over pony hurdles and as he has been very sparingly raced since a bright future is held for him. He has demonstrated that he is capable of winning races on the flat but it is intended to keep him hurdling. By Colonel Cygnus, whose few representatives have been good winners this term, he is out of the Tractor mare Lorette, who was from Moulin Rouge. The last-named produced Latin Quarter, Louise, Parysia, Frenchy, French Raid and Colonel Rouge. Moulin Rouge was got by Kilbroney from Directoire, who produced several fine jumpers, notably Frenchman, Apache, Paris, Taramoa and others in Francaise, The Parisian and Dark Marie.