DESCENDANT OF EULOGY

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 89, Issue 268, 13 November 1945, Page 7

DESCENDANT OF EULOGY

JONATHAN JO’S VICTORY AT NAPIER PARK

Jonathan Jo winner of the Waiohiki Stakes at Napier Park on Saturday, is an Australian-bred six-year-old gelding by Christopher Robin (now in New Zealand) from the Koatanui-bred mare Futurity, a daughter of Posterity and Motley. He is thus another of the famous Eulogy line, as Motley’s dam, Pennon, was a daughter of Eulogy, being sired in England by Coriander. Jonathan Jo was imported in 1942 by Mr. L. R. Nelson, but he has had several changes of ownership and he is now trained in Gisborne by J. C. Woods for Messrs. C. Ferguson and W. Whitfield. j Jonathan Jo has had only three • starts this season but he has been in the money each time. In his first essay he ran third to Theolateral and ! Lord Theio over seven furlongs at the Hawke’s Bay Hunt Club meeting in August. At his next start, at Napier Park the previous week, he failed by .a head to beat Catterick Bridge in the Park Stakes. Thus his success on Saturday was the reward of consistency. He was well back entering the straight but finished with determination to win narrowly in a desperate finish. Now that he has struck form, Jonathan Jo should add to his record, as descendants of Eulogy (and their name is legion) appear to be solid enough to stand plenty of racing.

Capronella covered extra ground in the Park Stakes at Napier Park, but on Saturday, in the Waiohiki Stakes, the Kincardine mare assumed the lead with a round to go. She was joined a furlong from home by Rakanui and then Jonathan Jo challenged to get a narrow victory, heads separating him from Capronella and Rakanui respectively. However, Rakanui’s rider, A. Midwood, failed by lilb. to draw the weight, and A. C. Messervy, who piloted the fourth horse, Catterick Bridge, failed to weigh in. There was thus no third horse and the place pool was divided equally between the first two place-getters. Rakanui’s supporters missed a dividend (he was fourth favourite), as did backers of Catterick Bridge (third favourite). Messervy was fined £5, but the honorary official who should have seen that Catterick Bridge’s rider weighed in should also have been penalised.

Sorrel won in hack company on the opening day of the Napier Park meeting and went one better on Saturday to score at his first start in open company. Royal Heir and Tribal Night were preferred to Sorrel in the betting but after being last to leave the barrier the promoted hack fought out a great finish with Tribal Night, whom he beat by a neck. Sorrel is by Gynerium from Brown Hill and is owned by Mr. E. W. Symes, Hastings, for whom he is trained by J. M. Cameron.

“The Gaekwar of Baroda” is a great enthusiast and it would be a gesture on his part if he were to give Dante’s brother a European name. With so many Eastern potentates owning racehorses and giving them Oriental names, the Stud Book may one day have to be written in Hindustani,” wrote Quentin Gilbey in the “Sunday Empire News.” Dante's brother was the record-priced purchase at the September yearling sales.

Catterick Bridge claimed an engagement in the chief event at Levin meeting next Saturday, having been awarded 8.3 in the Levin Handicap. It may be assumed that if the Foxbridge gelding again runs satisfactorily ho will then go on to Riccarton for the New Zealand Cup, in which Catterick Bridge figures on the minimum.

The spreading of the New Zealand Cup meeting over three weeks is likely to affect the patronage of the fixture by North Island < ‘-.iers. The time and the expense invoh ed will deter owners and trainers of a number of horses, who will prefer to reserve their charges for meetings nearer home.

The Wellington Racing Club is making provision for an extra weight-for-age race by putting an eleven furlong event of the kind on its summer programme in place of one of the hack races. This will be much in favour with owners of good horses. The Wellington Cup this year will be worth £5OOO plus a £lOO gold cup, and during the three days £28,550 will be given in stake money.