CHAMPAGNE STAKES.

Star (Christchurch), Volume LXVI, Issue 20538, 13 February 1935, Page 12

CHAMPAGNE STAKES.

Six Furlong Test for Two-year-olds. Ten two-year-olds remain eligible to run in the Champagne Stakes, but Bun Fight will be an absentee. Silver Coat in his five starts has recorded two wins, a second and a third. He was conceding a stone and a half to Penelope when that filly beat him by a neck in the Lyttelton Plate, five furlongs, last Saturday. Alma created a favourable impression when she won the Dunedin and Juvenile Handicaps, both five furlongs, at Wingatui at Christmas time. Greek Shepherd, who has only started twice, came home strongly to run second in the six furlong Middle Park Plate on Saturday and that race was run in lmin 12 2-ssec. Hanlon ran last in that event. Hanlon and Sunny Jean filled the minor places when Alma won the Juvenile Handicap at Wingatui.

Viking, who ran third to Silver Coat and Silver Sail in the Dominion Handicap at Wingatui on October 6, has had one start since. That was in the Trial Stakes at Tapanui last Wednesday. He started at odds on and won by five lengths. Silver Sail was twice unplaced at the Dunedin Christmas meeting. Conceding 41b, Kinnoull won the C.J.C. Spring Nursery, five furlongs, from Penelope on November 7, but he was unplaced in the Pioneer Handicap two days later. Greek Shepherd, Alma and Silver Coat will attract the attention of investors.

ANOTHER NEW SIRE

Gainsborough Horse for Waikanae Stud. (Special to the “ Star.”) WELLINGTON, This Day. For some months past inquiries have been made in England on behalf of Mr T. J. M’Grath, of Wellington, regarding a new stallion for the C-urragh Stud, Waikanae, and negotiations were completed last week when last year’s Liverpool Spring Cup winner Leighon, a six-vear-old bay stallion by Gainsborough from Leighon Tor, was purchased from the executors of the late Mr Washington Singer, a prominent English owner who died some eighteen months ago. Leighon was shipped from England last Wednesday, and he is due to arrive in Wellington on March 14.

Leighon proved himself a good performer on the English Turf, winning nearly £4OOO for his owner, who ran him only in first-class races, including the St Leger and a number of important w.f.a. events. As a three-year-old he won the Esther Cup at Sandown Park, and as a four-year-old he succeeded in the Great Cheshire Handicap, one mile and a quarter, and ran second in the Liverpool Autumn Cup. His wins last year were in the Liverpool Spring Cup, one mile and a quarter and 170yds, and in the Rosebery Stakes, one mile and a quarter, deadheating in the latter with Diamante, to whom he was conceding 121 b. He thus goes to the stud as a horse leaving -the racing track at the top of his form with his vitality unimpaired by over-racing.

Gainsborough, the sire of Leighon, is one of the most notable stallions at present at the stud in England, Solario being his most famous son, and the Derby winner, Hyperion, who starts stud duties this year, being another. Leighon Tor, the dam of Leighon, won fame both on the race track and at the stud. Several of her other progeny brought big prices at the recent dispersal sale of Mr Singer’s horses. Fur Tor (Appelle—Leighon Tor) selling for 5600g5, and Miss Tor (Sansovino—Leighon Tor) for 2600g5. Leighon Tor is by Torloisk out of Laomedia, by St Serf out of Great Dams, by Hermit out of Lady Paramount, by Toxophilite out of Thrift, by Stock well, and she is a member of the No. 10 family, which in Australia and New Zealand has been responsible for such noted horses as Poseidon. Windbag. Bobrikoff, Finmark, Estland, Tete-a-Tete and Second Wind.

MELBOURNE RACING.

Acceptors for Big Sprint Events. United Press Assn.—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright. MELBOURNE, February 12. The following are the final acceptors for the principal events at the Victoria Amateur Turf Club’s meeting:— OAKLEIGH PLATE, of 1500 sovs; five furlongs and a half—Winooka 10.5, Heros 0.10, Araunah 8.13, Silver King S.l 2, Arac-hne 8.11. Melason 8.10, Titanium 8.8. Vista 5.7, Calulu King 8.6, Sir John 8.6, The Marne 8.5, Double Bard 8.2, Croden Dad 8.0, Sculpin S.O, Sun Clad 7.12, Geyser 7.11, First Money 7.10, Veilantif 7.10, Spartan 7.3, Heritor 7.2. CAULFIELD FUTURITY STAKES, of 2600 sovs; seven furlongs—Winooka, Waltzing Lily, Heros, Press Gang, Break Up, Arachne, Dark Sky, Titanium, Silver King, Spartan, Verberry, Radiant Star, Synagogue, Araunah, Sun Clad, Inveresk, The Khedive, Inflation, Beau Gall-ante, Moa Lady.