RICCARTON NOTES

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLVIII, Issue 21817, 21 November 1940, Page 6

RICCARTON NOTES

WELCOME RAIN (Special to “The Timaru Herald:’) CHRISTCHURCH, November 19. Following a long spell of dry conditions, there was a great change in the weather yesterday. Heavy rain fell last night and it continued in frequent showers this morning. The rain was particularly welcome at Riccarton, where the tracks were very hard. There was very little doing at the course this morning. Some of the trainers did not have their horses out, and with the plough track out of action for a few days, as a result of the rain, there was little doing except light tasks on the sand, which was soft. All the interest during the next week will be provided by horses that are to race at Ashburton, but most of the trainers will soon be sharpening their teams up again, with an eye to Christmas and New Year meetings. Density did not show her best form in the Stewards’ Handicap, and she was not produced again at the meeting. D. Cotton will not have any horses racing at the Christmas holiday period, but Density will be kept going quietly, with a view to making her next appearance at Trentham in January. Three two-year-olds are doing useful work. They are colts by Hunting Song from, Charmaline, Pink Coat from White Doe, and Man’s Pal from Mother Hubbard. They look like being a useful trio and it is expected they will be ready to race about February. Princess Minerva is the only one of D. Cotton’s team engaged at Ashburton, where she figures in the mile highweight event. She finished solidly in a six furlong race at Riccarton and on that showing she looks like staying. This would not surprise, as she is by Nightmarch from Red Queen (dam of Studley Royal), so she comes from the Lady Zetland family, which has provided a number of stout performers. Royal Chief looks bright and well after his three races at Riccarton. F. D. Jones will keep him in work and probably he will go north for the Auckland Cup. Beau Vite is also ?n the field and some interest attaches to how the handicapper will rate this pair. It is expected that this will be the last racing season of Royal Chief, who has won £18,297 in stakes, as a result of 23 wins and 24 places. No definite plans have been made for him in the autumn, but I should say he is not likely to go back to Sydney, where he has already earned a lot of money. Nearer home the Wellington Cup, Dunedin Cup and Great Autumn Handicap provide three races of a mile and a half and they should give a suitable choice of events. The Lord Warden-Jael two-year-old, a half-brother to Rabble, was gelded after he joined F. D. Jones’s stable. He has just gone into work again, after a spell, and he should be a good racehorse later on. C. Emerson may take Don’t Forget to Auckland at Christmas. This useful three-year-old should get some more money as the season advances. The two-year-old filly, Blue Bouquet, has resumed work, after a short rest. She may be racing again in February, but she will not be hurried, as she is growing and time will help her. Benevolent has just come in. after having a spell for several months. Prudent Prince and Whiphand are to be turned out for a couple of months, and the two-year-old As Required, has gone home for a similar period. Another two-year-old, Arabian Night, will also have a rest before he is trained seriously. This is the Lord Quex-Arab Song youngster, owned by Mr A. N. Smith, of Dunedin.