Wanganui Guineas Issue On Saturday Dominated By Two Classy Neptune Colts

Wanganui Chronicle, 7 September 1950, Page 3

Wanganui Guineas Issue On Saturday Dominated By Two Classy Neptune Colts

(By “Kestrel”) Davey Jones appears assured of being installed a warm favourite for the Wanganui Guineas on Saturday, judging by his effortless win in the Flying Handicap last Saturday, and all the indications are that he will give his breeder-owner, Mr. J. G. Alexander, his first win in the Wanganui elassie.

(By

As Mr. Alexander has the Hyperion horse Neptune, sire of Davey Jones, at his Maxwell stud,

it is of interest to note that the most dangerous opponent to the Flying Handicap winner is another Neptune colt in Felicitious. Twelve months ago two three-year-olds came away from the rest of the field in the Wanganui Guineas and fought out a gruelling finish. Hit or Miss getting the better of Golden Spa by a nose. Golden Spa got his revenge a fortnight later when he galloped away from the opposition in the Hawke s Bay Guineas, with Hit or Miss among the unplaced division. Golden Spa went on to win further honours in the best company, but that gruelling finish put finis to the career of Hit or Miss. Still another sterling finish to the Guineas was provided in 1948, when Rumba got up between Festal and Deseado to gain a narrow decision, noses separating the trio. Rumba ran half a dozen more races before meeting an early fate, but Deseado went on to make a name for himself as a high-class sprinter last season, unlil a road accident terminated his racing career. Festal won a race at Otaki a few weeks after her Wanganui effort but has since failed to earn a winning bracket. The names of many high-class three year-olds appear on the list of Wanganui Guineas winners. Since Gloaming won in 1919, when the race was run at the autumn meeting, winners have included Duo, Tamatete, Highland, Razzle Dazzle. Lysander, Croupier, Red Manfred, Royal Chief, Beaulivre, Sir Beau and Howe, all in the top flight. Davey Jones will be having his third race of the current season and thus will have an advantage over Felicitous, who has not raced since last April and may not be as forward as trainer L. Dulieu would wish him to be. Britovite, Beau Chief, Boleigh. Coralline, Robin Glen and Huia's Guest have also raced, but some ot them are still eligible for hack company, and both Huia’s Guest and Robin Glen claim other engagements.

Last season Davey Jones had four races only, winning three of them and being beaten in his last, the Manawatu Sires’ Produce Stakes, by The Unicorn. On that occasion Davey Jones was suffering from the effects of a burst foot and excuses could be made for him. He won his first race at Marton at the New Year meeting and went on to Trentham to win two races there, Felicitous being among those beaten on both occasions. Felicitous had registered a win and a dead-heat in his four previous starts, and at the Easter meeting at Riccarton he won the Champagne Stakes and the Challenge Stakes, in the latter event beating Ballochmyle, one of the Dominion’s best milers. These feats drew pointed attention to (he class of Davey Jones, and with the improvement he has displayed lit his last two races hr looks like again finishing in front of his rival of last season. Davey Jones is bred in the purple. His sire is the Hyperion horse Neptune, who has proved a most valuable importation. Celebrity, dam of Davey Jones, is a half-sister by Nothing Venture to Beau Pere, Balloch, Dink and Mr Steadfast, sires who have made their mark in the New Zealand breeding industry. Celebrity herself has already given the turf those speedy gallopers Champagne, Celebration and Illustrious, all winners and all by Neptune. Davey Jones is the first colt Celebrity has thrown, and he looks like going a long way. Cheney, dam of Felicitous, is also at Mr Alexander’s stud. She is an imported mare by Limelight from Tirade, by Golden Myth from Meteoris, by Cyllene from Gas, by Ayrshire. Thus the Maxwell stud appears to dominate the issue in the Wanganui Guineas on Saturday.