TRAINER’S MISFORTUNES

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 610, 12 March 1929, Page 10

TRAINER’S MISFORTUNES

EXASPERATING LUCK When the Riccarton trainer, W. Stone, first commenced training this season he had a great run of success. From virtual obscurity he quickly came into the limelight, and for a

time his name was on most racegoers’ lips. The first four horses he saddled up were successful, and included among their wins were the valuable McLean Stakes and Dunedin Guineas. But since the Dunedin spring meeting the former Invercargill trainer has been dogged by persistent ill-luck.

Early in the spring, when W. Stone won the McLean Stakes with Aspiring (who equalled Childsplay’s record for the classic event), it certainly seemed as if lie had a champion in the making, and so easily did the Some Boy 11. filly outstrip her rivals that she was selected as unbeatable in the Welcome Stakes, in which she suffered defeat at the hands of Honour. But subsequently she suffered acute muscle soreness, and so bad was her complaint that at length her trainer found it necessary to turn her out for the remainder of the season.

It was after Silver Paper’s easy win over Childsplay in the Dunedin Guineas in October last that critics picked him out as a likely Derby candidate. He had proved conclusively at Wingatui that he could at least run out a solid mile, and to most minds it seemed merely a matter of his staying the 12 furlongs in the Riccarton classic to win. But llis previous allconquering run was stopped when he was beaten out of a place in the Stewards’, and the best he could do was to run a poor fourth in the Derby. Temporary Lapse

The great brilliance he had shown in his previous races was lacking in his outings at Riccarton, and it soon became evident that he was suffering a temporary lapse. But he soon picked up again after the November carnival, and at the Manawatu meeting, over six furlongs, he ran away from Arrow Lad and Nightmarch, who subsequently lifted the Marton Cup. It was after his great race in the Telegraph Handicap at Trentham in January that his owner decided to give him a run in the James Hazlett Gold Cup. He had not shown any form that entitled him to be ranked as a weight-for-age performer, apart from his Dunedin Guineas success, but his connections held the belief that if a slow pace were set in the early stages he would be able to hold his own in a sprint races home. Once again, however, Stone’s plans were upset, for just prior to Silver Paper’s departure for Wingatui the gelding became cast in his box, and his hind leg filled to such an extent that for a while it was feared he might have to be thrown out of work and sent to Central Otago for a lengthy spell. However, he made a quick recovery. When the swelling on his hind leg subsided, it was found that his injuries were not so bad as first thought, but the enforced let-up at such a critical stage of his training for the Hazlett Cup put him right out of court so far as the weiglit-for-age race was concerned. On his arrival at Dunedin he did not work extra well, but Stone decided to give him a run in the open sprint the second day, in which he was well beaten by Meadow Lark. Valuable Colt Destroyed Stone’s misfortunes did not stop here. At the conclusion of the Wingatui meeting he travelled to Cromwell to bring in the yearling eolt by Paper Money from Silver Peak, thus a fullbrother to silver Paper. The colt, who was considered by breeding authorities to be one of the best colts ever bred in the South, became frightened at the approach of the train which was to bring him on to Riccarton, and he attempted to jump a ’7ft railing,which resulted in his meeting with frightful injuries that finally necessitated his destruction.

Undismayed by his ill-luck, Stone came on to Riccarton with Silver Paper and Tommy Dodd. He was no sooner back in his old quarters when he received word that the filly foal by imported Woodend from Silver Peak, who was born the day Aspiring won the McLean Stakes, had injured her spine severely while running in a paddock in Central Otago, and now only feeble hopes are held for her recovery. When the filly first saw light substantial offers were made for her and her dam, but nothing resulted.

Stone had great faith in the yearling colt full-brother to Silver Paper. It was his intention to bring him to Riccarton and put him through his early facings, and the loss of such a promising youngster is a keen disappointment to the Riccarton trainer.

Stone has still Silver Paper in work, with a view to racing the three-year-old at Trentham this month. He is engaged in the Thompson Handicap, and is likely to be one of the favourites for the big Trentham miler, but even success in that important event would not compensate Stone for his recent losses.

THE SYDNEY CUP AND DONCASTER WEIGHTS ARE OUT

(United P.A.—By Telegraph — Copyright) SYDNEY, Monday. The weights for the two leading handicap events to be run at the Australian Jockey Club’s autumn meeting were declared to-day. The following are the handicaps of the principal Australian candidates, and also of the New Zealand horses: For the Doncaster Handicap, of £3,000, one mile.—Gothic 10.3, Amounis 9.13, Greenline 9.11, Fourth Hand 9.9, Aussie 9.9, Vaals 9.8, Reonui 9.2, Black Duchess 8.13, Crown Area 'B.ll, Sion 8.11, Beckwith 8.10, The Hawk 8.7, Raasay 8.5, Don Moon 8.4, Figure 8.4, Karuma 8.4, Ciraabue 8.3, Gilt Edge 8.3, White Fang 8.2, Loquacious 8.0, Awarere 7.12, Cimbrian 7.12, Garrulla 7.12, Gesto 7.11, Greengrocer 7.8, Tea Miss 7.7, Catkin 7.5, Boston 7.5, Gold Tray 7.5. For the Sydney Cup, of £6,000, two miles.—Gothic 9.13, Winalot 9.8, Amounis 9.5, Fernkloff 9.5, Vaals 9.0, Jocelyn 9.0, Maple 8.13, Vertigern 5.13, Strephon 8.13, Murrilo S.ll, Ruffler S.ll, Rionscup 8.11, Reonui B.S, Mondiago 8.7, Night March 8.7, The Banker 8.6, Oratrix 8.5, Don Moon 8.0, Merry Mint 8.0, Resource 8.0, The Hawk 7.13, White Fang 7.9, Greengrocer 7.8, Cimbrian 7.7, Western Lass 7.7, Concentrate 7.7, Catkin 7.5, Gesto 7.5, Dernost 7.5, Kidsides 7.5, Patadawn 7.2. Immediately on the appearance of the handicaps, Amounis and Tibbie were scratched for both the above events.