FROM TRACK AND STABLE

Taranaki Daily News, 11 March 1933, Page 8

FROM TRACK AND STABLE

TWO FEATS OF RIDING CRUACHAN’S GOOD FORM. HARD PROBLEM SET BACKERS. (By “Hurry On.”) As a result of his three winning rides at Napier Park on Saturday, K. Voitre now needs only 27 more winners to reach the century this season. L. J. Ellis, who is second on the winning jockeys’ list, had his fortieth success for the season on Metal Bird at Motukarara on Saturday. In-bred to Martian.

Racefield, who won at Te Rapa on Thursday, is a three-year-old by raceful from Steinheil. An interesting feature about his breeding is that he is in-bred to Martian, his sire and dam both having been sired by that successful stallion. Ste'inheil has not been a great success at the stud, but She has had one winner, Bosh, and probably inRacefield has another with prospects. The family to which Racefield belongs i? a good one, Steinheil being by Martian from Class, who produced three fine performers to Boniform—Bon Ton, The Toff and Eligible. Class was a daughter of Wallace and La Tosca, and inherited some fine staying blood.

Golden Slipper’s Grandson. The /two-year-old Coonba'nd, who recently'brought off a sensational surprise in the Juvenile Handicap at Williamstown,’ Victoria, is a ■ grandson of the New Zealand-bred mare Golden Slipper, the bay daughter of Multiform and Aura. At the dispersal-sale of the late Mr. G. G. Stead’s horses 'in the spring of 1908 Golden Slipper was bought on account of Mr. W. E. White, Sydney, .for 4500 guineas. She managed to win. only a couple of minor races and was relegated to the stud at an early age. . A Trying Task.

Agua Galiente, Mexico, has been, placed well in the limelight for some time by reason of the extensive character of the race meetings held there. Now comes a little story about totalisator betting called the “seven straight” The aim of the backer will be te pick seven straight winners in one afternoon, the club guaranteeing £lOOO. Should no one he, lucky enough to pick the seven, the accumulated pool becomes the prize oh the following day. If one week before the meeting closes the prize has eluded investors, the money will be returned to backers by dividing the pool among those who select the most winners and placed horses. Derby Candidate.

Manitoba, a son of Manna and Bery-/ stede (by Son-in-law), is expected to prove the best three-year-old colt in England this year. The history of his Ham is interesting. Bred and raced by Lord Derby, Berystede eventually passed into the possession of Fred Darling at 1550 guineas. When she ( was in foal to Coronach the Beckhampton trainer sold her to Lord Dewar for £7OOO, but the foal was of such a disappointing character that Darling straightaway offered to take the mare’ back at the price which had been paid for her. This arrange-, ment was agreed'to, and some timq later Berystede was sold to Lyrd Woolavington, with the happy result that he now ranks as’ the breeder of possibly the best colt of his year.

Sydney Cup Candidate. The Riccarton' owner-trainer J.; H. Prosser is still contemplating a trip to Sydney in the near future with Great Star, and is awaiting the declaration of weights for the Sydney Cup and the Doncaster Handicap, which are due early next week. Though Great Star lias yet to win over a longer distance than a mite and a quarter- there is a general idea that he has yet to play liis best r-arrf, and Prosser is firmly'’of the opinion that he is a real stayer. As he has run some of his best races at Ellerslie he should be quite at home with the reverse going at Randwick. • -If he makes the trip. Grand Review, and probably two maiden, performers will also be taken. An Improved Hurdler.

Cruachan’s wins at Te Aroha and Te Rapa.with big weights on his Back on each occasion would suggest that he is a much improved horse this season. Last autumn he won at Hawera and at Te Rapa in easy style, but unfortunately for his owner he had not been nominated for the Great Northern Hurdles. However, he did not seem to be able to produce his best form at the Ellerslie gathering, where he competed unsuccessfully .in the minor events. However, he has struck form earlier this season and it would only seem to be a question of keeping him right to win good mopey during the winter as he always does better , with the sting out of the ground. As Good as Ever.

What a wonder old Paganelli is! He seems almost as -good now in his eighth year as he ever was. On Thursday at Te Rapa he went very close to winning the double, for. after winning the big mile he came out again three races later anil .beat all but B’ambury in the sprint when he was conceding that. speetiy three-year-old over two and a half stone. This marked his seventh vin for-the season. It has, been stated that he has carefully avoided the crack sprinters by not competing at Ellerslie, out that, is not really correct. This fine son of Lord Quex is not fiartial to the» righthanded going and has never shown his true form the reverse way round, and his trainer has very-wisely avoided such courses. Three Years in Succession.

Hector Gray rode the winner of the Thompson Handicap at Trentham tnree years in succession commencing in 1919. In that year he rode that great gelding Sasanof. The Spanner, fresh from a row of victories up north, had Ben Deely on board and, hopping out' smartly, soon opened out a big break on the field and was so far in front entering the straight that the race appeared all over, but shortly afterwards Gray with Sasanof emeiged from the ruck and went after him.. There was a thrilling chase up the straight in wlych both horsemen were seen at their best, but over the last 50 yards the great courage of the son of Martian told and Gray landed him Rome by a short neck. Tlie next year he rode Arrowsmith to victory without a great deal of effort, but in 1921 he had to ride one of the most desperate finishes of his whole czreer to get Rouen home by a head. Askari was well clear a furlong from home when Gray went after him, and the crack horseman has seldom been seen to greater advantage than he was that day, and seldom has he used his whip more vigorous’*’. He fairly lifted Rouen, over the last 50 yards to snatch a head victory. It was an effort that will -ive for a tong time in the memories of those who witnessed it.