Red Manfired.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 77, Issue 82, 7 April 1934, Page 6

Red Manfired.

On the strength of his victory in the New Zealand St. Leger at Trentham, Spiral was favourite for the Great Northern St. Leger Stakes at Ellerslie last Monday, but he had to lower his colours to the more brilliant Red Manfred. It was generally anticipated that Red Manfred would affect his chances Joy pulling hard in the early stages, but Atkins was able to get him steadied in behind quickly and he was much too speedy for the others when it came to sprinting home. Spiral registered a good effort and he may have made it much more difficult for the winner if he had had something to make a solid pace and make it a better test of stamina. Spiral is probably a better stayer than Red Manfred, but. the latter is considerably superior in the matter of speed. With the Great Northern Derby, the Great Northern St. Leger, and the King’s Plate to his credit, Red Manfred has dono better than most of the three-year-olds and the only one who has proved his superior over a middle distance is Nightly, who beat him in the New Zealand Derby, the Canterbury Cup and the Clifford Plate. A Yearling Bargain. Winner of the Easter Plato, a sevenfurlong race for two-year-olds decided at Randwick last Monday, Queen Helen promises to turn out a bargain of the sale ring. In the event in question Queen Helen beat the best Australian youngster of her age in Arachne and one which was regarded as the equal of the best colt of the season. Arachne was saddled with a 71b. penalty, but this does not. detract from the merit of Queen Helen’s performance. Queen Helen is owned by Mr. W. R. Kemball and is one of the team trained at Caulfield by G. Jones. She is a bay filly by Chief Ruler from Helen, and was bred by Mr. G. F. Moore, being purchased at the Trenthain sales by Mr. Kemball for the modest, sum of 55 guineas. She belongs to the well-known and successful family established by Helen Portland. Helen being by Limond from Bonny Portland, and a half-sister to Reremoana and Lady Cavendish. On A.J.C. Committee. JVTr. E. J. Watt was elected last week to fill the vacancy on the committee of the Australian Jockey Club caused by the retirement of Mr. F. A. Moses. There were three candidates, and the voting was: E. J. Watt, 554; T. L. F. Rutledge, 397; W. J. Smith, 122. Mr. Watt is an owner on a very large scale. He has horses racing in Sydney and in the western districts of New South Wales, in Queensland, and in New Zealand he has Bay Tree under J. H. Jefferd. He formerly raced in New Zealand on an extensive scale, and his colours were carried to victory in most of our important races, when T. F. Quinlivan was his private trainer. The Masquerader. In the spring The Masquerader won the Dunedin Guineas, but had not since done any good until he beat Silver Ring in the Great Easter last Saturday. The Masquerader is another of the legion of winners from the Koatanui Stud. He is brown gelding by Limond from the King Rufus mare Cowl, and ho thus comes from one of the oldest lines in the Koatanui Stud, for Mr. Currie was breeding from Cowl’s dam (Our Lady, a daughter of the imported South Australian, mare Lady Agnes, by Ncckersgat) back in .1905. His exceptional brilliance has been concealed behind a nervous temperament. When the Limond —Cowl colt to become known as The Masquerader went into the sale ring two years ago there was spirited bidding for him, and Dr. M. G. Louisson, owner of Gay Crest, Tout le Monde. Desert Song, and numerous other go-il horses in recent years, had to carry t*r call to 31.0 guineas to obtain possession of him. With his winnings to date from The Masquerader’s successes, Dr. Louisson would nearly have recouped his outlay and expenses, and he has a good horse besides who may well continue on in the footsteps of Gay Crest. Third on End. Shatter completed an unusual feat at Riccarton last Monday, when he won the Sockburn Handicap for the third year in succession. It was the only unusual thing about it, however,, as it was his twenty-sixth start for the season and his first win. He has been second five times and third once. In the Great Autumn on Tuesday he had every opportunity of accomplishing what he had already twice failed to do, but he quit when the serious business began and his effort was his worst in three attempts on the race, his s&cord being a retrogression of second, then third, and then fourth.