TOPICS of the TURF

Te Awamutu Courier, Volume 66, Issue 5599, 31 March 1943, Page 3

TOPICS of the TURF

(By

“PILOT”)

LORD CHANCELLOR A RISING STAR The majority of the racecourses in the Auckland Province being right-handed, visitors from the north repeatedly find the change to the opposite way of racing a direct handicap when brought to Trentham meetings. So Lord Chancellor found it in the Autumn Handicap, and his tendency to bore out undoubtedly cost him the honours. It was most unfortunate for the army of supporters of the favourite. Although beaten into second place in the Autumn Handicap at Trentham it was plainly evident that Lord Chancellor is a great horse in the making. Bought at the National Yearling Sales of 1941 for 525 guineas, his debut under silk was deferred until the current season. He was accorded his first start as a three-year-old in the Sylvia Park Handicap at the Pakuranga Hunt Meeting early in the term, and he signalled his debut by winning at his first essay. The general public were not prepared for the performance and the son of Mr Standfast and Administration ranked 18-20 in the betting on that occasion, but he has been at short odds in all his engagements since.

Bred as he is, it is not surprising to find Lord Chancellor making good on the Turf for the stock of Mr Standfast have all shown staying ability. Consequently, it is all the more unfortunate that this half-brother to Beau Pere should have been sold to Australia before his stock had had time to prove themselves here. Although bred by Mr A. H. Storey, of Te Awamutu, who owns the dam, Administration was herself bred in the Wairarapa, and she claims relationship with several high-class performers who did their racing at this end of the North Island. The foundation • member of the family was imported Steppe, who gave us Russley, Stepniak, Stepfeldt, etc. Of her daughters, Stepfeldt proved particularly fruitful at the stud, and among her progeny were Stepka (dam of the Wellington Cup winner, Pavlova, and of Anitea, dam of Rapier), Culmination, Elevation, Reputation, Provocation, etc. These early members of the family all proved themselves on the racecourse, Elevation being a winner of the New Zealand Derby, Canterbury Cup, Palmerston North and Feilding stakes, and Reputation’s successes included the Great Northern Derby and ■ A.J.C. Plate.

Although she did not climb so far •as certain members of her family, Culmination was a winner of six races, but her real value came as a producer, for among her progeny wbre Imagination, Devotion, Termination, Prostration, Cessation, etc. This latter generation was also rich in winners of high-class races, Devotion being a winner of the New Zealand Oaks, C.J-C. Metropolitan Handicap, Woodville Cup, and Prostration won both the Foxton Cup and Wairarapa County Cup during his activities on the Turf. The first foal of Culmination was Imagination, a good winner in the parly stages of her career, although she later dropped out of the picture somewhat. On the other hand, her seventh foal, Termination, had but one season on the Turf and she failed to win in her three starts.

On going to the stud Imagination, who was by Birkenhead, produced four living foals in a period of 12 years. The first of her living foals was Suggestion, winner of the C.J.C. Stewards’, Jockey Club, and Members’ Handicaps, Wellington R.C. Handicap, and Anniversary Handicap, Wairarapa Cup, etc., and her third was Administration. Like Termination, Administration had a very restricted period on the Turf, yet these two mares were represented by two class performers in the ; Autumn Handicap at Trentham, Happy Ending (by Beau Pere from Termination) and Lord Chancellor (by Mr Standfast from When offered at the National Sales in 1941 the juvenile by Mr Standfast from Administration attracted a good deal of notice, but his sire had not then really proved himself, and the figure of 525 guineas he brought was considered to be highly satisfactory. However, the fact that he has won I £2635 in first season’s racing makes it apparent that Lord Chancellor, as that youngster later became known, was a cheap buy, and were a younger full-brother to come into the market to-day there would be many prepared to go to a much higher figure. After winning‘-twice at his three attempts over sprint courses, Lord Chancellor was promoted to the open class in the Members’ Handicap, one mile, at Avondale in November, but he was beaten into fifth place. Back among those of his own age in the Queen’s Plate at Ellerslie on Box-

ing Day he took the honours, and he then appeared to hold bright prospects of winning the Great Northern Derby. Unfortunately, he lost a lot of ground at the start and was beaten into fourth. He was adjudged to have been “a good thing beaten” that day, but his reward came in the Nathans Memorial, li miles, on the final day, when he established a track record of 2.3 2-5. But what was more attractive was his determination in fighting off Volifox after the latter had headed him in the straight. A still richer stake was to come the way of his owner, Mr A. J. Court, of Auckland, when Lord Chancellor beat' the majority of the best northern handicappers over a mile and a half in the Takapuna Cup, the winner’s portion in this instance being £lOOO. It was a rapid climb for a three-year-old to make his way to such heights in his first season on the Turf, and there appeared to be sound reasoning for his elevation to the position of favourite in the Autumn Handicap at Trentham. Unfortunately, he raced with a selfimposed handicap by covering considerably extra ground as a result of his tendency to bore outwards. This was solely attributable to his inexperience' of left-handed going, and that doughty veteran Rakanui, who had taken the shortest route all the way, beat him for the “thick end” of the stake. There was plenty of merit about Rakanui’s success, for the six-year-old carried 11b over weight-for-age, whereas Lord Chancellor was 31b under. Nevertheless, the majority of the onlookers at Trentham that afternoon were of the opinion that the runner-up was definitely unlucky. No doubt Lord Chancellor will return to Trentham at some future date, but it is to be hoped that full opportunity will be given him prior to the day to accustom himself with the order of going that operates down this way. TROTTING The South Auckland Trotting Clubs’ (amalgamated) summer meeting will be held at Te Rapa on Saturday next. The fields are good. Numba and Jisette are nicely placed on the limit of the R. T. Reid Memorial Handicap. Numba has twice defeated Josette this season off the same mark, but there is very little between them. Both have won well at two miles. Kewpie’s Queen seldom runs a poor race and True Guide is in good order. Peter’s Find is regaining form and Bronze Queen has been racing consistently. Philario has useful form at two miles. Since going south Belfast Jack has been prominent and his latest efforts suggest that he has improved. April Direct is a useful pacer who has been raced lightly this season, but his second to Battle Colours at Ashburton in 3.14 4-5* was good. The. main fancies may be April Direct, Numba, Belfast Jack and Josette.

Pacing Power and Joan Conquest appear well placed in the Farewell Handicap. They were winners at Te Rapa in December and both have raced well since. Another southerner is Integrity, who has reached the 2.48 class »with several smart performances. Worthy Need, now trained at Epsom by P. Rogers, is a speedy pacer when fit. Of the local horses in the field Parshall, Parrish Lad, Davey Day, Double Peter, Our Peggy and Kenworthy represent good class and should be capable of fully extending the visitors. Parshall has performed well at all distances and may be hard to beat. Parrish Lad has won well at middle distances and is likely to be very dangerous. Davey Day may not appeal greatly as a sprinter, but cannot be overlooked, especially if back to his best form.

Our Peggy may have lost a little of her brilliance, but Kenworthy is solid. Double Peter has made improvement this season and may perform well. The favourites may be Integrity, Parshall, Pacing Power and Parrish Lad. Sumana, Gfr-eat Travis and Free Machine, all on the 12yds, should be included among the acceptors for the Frankton Handicap. Kaitake Boy should be deleted from the Frankton Handicap and Claudelands Handicap. Selections will be published in this column on Friday.