CLASSIC CANDIDATE.

Star (Christchurch), Volume XLIV, Issue 197, 20 August 1931, Page 12

CLASSIC CANDIDATE.

Gay Court is Good Trentham Prospect. (Special to the ” Star.”) WELLINGTON, August 20. No three-year-old at Trentham looks better at present than Gay Court, who has grown into a commanding individual during the winter, and has recently been galloping very attractively over distances up to five furlongs. His owner, Mrs H. Marshall, contemplated sending him across to Sydney for the Australian Jockey Club’s Derby, but as a result of the increase *in Australian taxation she has foregone this plan for his spring racing. It is uncertain now where Gay Court, tvho is the best of the stock of imported Gainscourt (a son of Gainsborough) yet to race, will open his three-year-old career. When questioned this week, his trainer, H. Benge, stated that it was not likely that the horse would be entered at Wanganui, because the stakes were so small and even a win would not much more than pay expenses. Without a race or two in him, he would probably be at a disadvantage if taken to Avondale and Ellerslie, but that may eventually be where he will first step out this term. Benge is not the only person optimistic about Gay Court’s future prospects, for the Dominion’s leading horseman, 11. Gray, made a special trip to Trentham cn Sunday morning immediately after his arrival from Christchurch to ride him in a gallop, and he expressed himself thoroughly satisfied about his potential ability. Gray did not have time to change into riding gear, but worked the horse in the clothes in which he was travelling. The gallop was at five furlongs, and the track was wet, but Gay Court reeled the distance off in lmin ssee, the last half-mile in 50 2-ssec, an excellent trial under such conditions. Gray stated afterwards that the horse, Ivhom he had ridden once as a two-year-old, had improved vastly between the seasons. It would be interesting to know how he thought he compared with Bronze Eagle, whom his son (J. L. Gray) trains at Takanini. Both horses are in both Derbies.