ARROW LAD AND PARATOO

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 73, Issue 450, 16 December 1930, Page 4

ARROW LAD AND PARATOO

SIX-YEAR-OLD AND THREE. WHAT OF THE FUTURE? By “Kestrel.” There are quite a number of people who hold a high opinion of Paratoo, the three-year-old Grandcourt Alarum gelding owned by Messrs T. J. and P. A. O’Neill and trained by W. H. Dwyer, at Wanganui. But it is not everyone who would agree with Mr J. E. Hcnrys, handicapper for the Woodville Jockey Club, that this promising chap is the equal of Arrow Lad over nine or ten furlongs. That such an opinion was held by the official in question was evident from the fact that, in framing the weights for the Gothard Memorial Handicap on the second day of the Woodville meeting, he placed Arrow Lad and Paratoo on the same mark, allotting ea»eh of them 7st 131 b. When ihe candidates paraded in the birdcage Arrow Law was ridden by the crack South Island lightweight, L. J. Ellis, while Paratoo had the services of that promising apprentice, All’. Macdonald, the allowance of 51b being claimed, and this reduced his burden to 7st 81b.

The story of the race has been told before, but it should suflice to recall that Paratoo was one of the first to break the line. Then Arrow Lad dashed into the load, and from that stage there was nothing else in the picture, for Arrow Lad won with his- ears pricked, three lengths in front of High Falutin, while there was the best part of two lengths back to Paratoo. Just what their relative positions will be when next they meet —if meet they do this season —remains to be seen, but Paratoo will have to improve considerably if he is to be considered entitled to an impost on a level with that accorded Arrow Lad. The Wan-ganui-owned Great Northern Derby candidate has run some good races this season, notable among them being his second to Cylinder in the New Zealand Derby at Ri‘ccarton last month, but just whether the majority of judges would assess that performance at such a high figure as did Mr Hcnrys is a point on which few opinions have as yet been voiced. It would be interesting, however. to give a brief review of the performances of Paratoo and Arrow Lad.

About Paratoo. As a two-year-old last season Paratoo was started on three occasions and secured a minor placing, that being when he finished third to Hunting Day and Clever in the Juvenile Handicap at the Egmont summer meeting. Unplaced at the Marton spring meeting and at Wanganui in the Guineas, Paratoo was third to Arisus and Vandyke in the Trial Handicap on the second day. Then came a runaway victory in the Puhi Maiden Plate at Otaki in company that was the reverse of good. His next appearance was at Trentham, where he was considered a “certainty,” the event being the Spring Trial Stakes. Jayson, Laconic and Paratoo Crossed the line in a blanket finish, with the verdict going to Jayson' by a nose, with Paratoo and Laconic a dead heat for second. The three met at even weights.

At the Riccarton meeting a couple of weeks later Paratoo again sported silk, his mission this time being the Spring Plate, run over a mile al special weights. Carrying 7.7 and ridden by H. Wiggens, Paratoo beat Tripping (7.2) and Salmo Salar (8-2) threequarters of a length and a neck in I. 2-5. Two days later he acted as runner-up to Cylinder in the New Zealand Derby, there being a two-length interval between the dividend payiwi.

That effort at Riccarton was Paratoo’s last until he raced at Woodville a week ago. The opening day saw him prominent in the leading division for a mile in the Bolton Handicap, only to drop out of the picture over the final stages and finish fifth. He had U. Reed in the saddle and his impost was 7.13. The following day he contested the Gothard Memorial, with the result recorded above. Arrow Lad’s Performances. Arrow Lad’s success in the Gothard Memorial Handicap at Woodville brought his total winnings to £3815. He has been a consistent stake-earner fur his owner (Mr E. W. Collins) since he began racing as a two-year-old in the early spring of 1926. ±n his first season he won x5lO, in his next £1945, in his third £llO9, in his fourth £6BO, and so far in the present season £4BO. He is right at the top of his form now, and is racing well up to a mile and aquarter, the furthest Arrowsmith's stock appears capable of going. Arrow Lad’s first race was in the Nursery Handicap at the Hawke’s Bay spring meeting, in which he ran unplaced, the winner being Mr W. R. Kemball’s Lady Urby. At his next start he was third to Ti Tree and Reckless in the Taita Handicap at the Wellington spring meeting, but he won the Rosencath Handicap on the second day, beating Merry Mint and Tom Bracken. In seven other starts as a two-year-old he won twi‘ee, the Debutante Stakes at the Woodville autumn meeting and the Juvenile Handicap at the Masterton annual meeting in April. First time out as a three-year-old he scored in the President’s Handicap, an open six furlongs, at the Dannevirke spring meeting, and in nineteen subsequent starts he won three times, in the Kawau Handicap at the Manawatu summer meeting, the Flying Handicap at the Napier Park autumn meeting, and the Mangaone Handicap at the Feilding Easter meeting. The next season was his most successful, for, although he won only two races in sixteen starts, they were notable performances. At the Wellington spring meeting he beat Reremoana and Lysander in the Nainai Handicap, and at the New Zealand Cup meeting he won the Criterion Handicap, seven furlongs, from Cimabue and Reremoana. Last season he also scored twice, with 7.6 in the St. Andrew’s Handicap, nine furlongs, on the second day of the Fciluing Jubilee meeting, and with 8.6 in the Fitzherbert Handicap on the first day of the Manawatu summer meeting. His success on Wednesday was his first since then.

A consideration of his performances shows that up to date he has contested 70 races, and his record stands at 12 wins, 20 seconds and 9 thirds.

It would be as yet rather early to venture an opinion un the respective merits of the pair, and perhaps the autumn racing campaign may be with us before Arrow Lad and Paratoo meet again. Then an opportunity will be provided for Mr Hcnrys to point out whether ho had summed up the position at Woodville more correctly than his critics.