TURF TOPICS

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 1, Issue 87, 13 November 1939, Page 7

TURF TOPICS

WHAT CONSTITUTES A STAYER? (By Zetland) In summing up the clumces last week of the Now Zealand Cup Candida Lcs the opinion was expressed by certain leading -writers ot the Dominion that the representatives of Hunting Song had not proved to be stayers. It is perhaps difficult in this country to state definitely which horses are stayers and doubtless it would be more easy to enumerate

quite a few that are not stayers in the true sense of the word, because so many utterly fail to rim out even six or seven furlongs with the pace

The difficulty in selecting stayers arises from the fact that in New Zealand there are only two events of note, viz the Auckland and New Zealand Gups, that arc run over two miles therefore it stands to reason that many winners over a mile and a half might prove quite capable of traversing the extra four furlongs. The question, however, of what constitutes a stayer is a wide one, and and open to much in the way of argument. The late Mr G. G. Stead, whose knowledge of the noble thoroughbred, and pedigree lines generally, was deemed to be sccond to none in this country gave the opinion that the supreme test of a stayer

was winning over a mile and a quarter, for in the principal events of this distance, cspecialv those at Metropolitan fixtures, the pace was on all the way. The late R. J. Mason, New Zealand's premier trainer, coincided in this opinion. On looking up turf records it is found that at least a few of this Hurry On line, through Hunting Song, have earned fame in important events that would substantiate their claims as stayers of more than ordinary capability, for they have had to gallop distances up to a mile and a half in the best company and in times that proved their undoubted excellence. Space will not permit a full list of Hunting Song's best performers, but reference can here be made to Pink Coat (C.J.C. Champagne Stakes, D.J.C. Champagne Stakes, Middle Park Plate and Harcourt Cup) Hunt ing Cry (G.N. Derby, A.R.C. Railway, twice, King's Plate, H.R. Stakes and H.B. Guoneas), Stretto (Royal and Welcome Slakes, Herries' Memorial Cup and Auckland Railway), Gaine Carrington (V.R.C. Lloyd Stakes, Chelmsford Stakes, Herries' Memorial Cup and Caul-field Cup), Sporting Blood (N.Z. Derby, N.Z. St Leger and Canterbury Cup), View Halloo (Avondale Guineas, Cornwall Handicap), and Sunny Sky (Cornwall Handicap). Some of these events were run over sprint distances but in other eases they were of a mile and a half, while the St Lcger distance is a mile and three-quarters, and the calibre of the performers was such that distances of two miles wouid by no means have been beyond their

capability,

ANOTHER RECORD REGISTERED

Another New Zealand Cup race lias come and gone, and despite the fact that the field was not considered to be of the calibre of those in recent years, the two miles v.;as traversed in 3.22 2-o sees, which con stituted a record for the event. The whole of the acceptors, 22, competed, and practically every contestant can now be ranked as a stayer, when the time recorded is taken into consideration, The early running Avas made by Peerless, Lady Furst, Spartan, Parquet, Lowenberg and Second Innings, and- the pace was well on even in the first six furlongs. At the mile post Mishna ran up behind Second Innings, this pair being closely followed by Lady Furst, while Royal Chief was in the middle of the field. Seven furlongs from home Yours Truly moved ui> and at the six furlongs post was racing third behind Second Innings and Wagner. Nearing the home turn he took the lead, and finishing on in great style Avon by over two lengths from Capricious, seventh in order of totalisator backing, AA'ith Dictate the . tenth favourite in third position. Royal Chief, the top weight, was a meritorious fourth, and consid ering that he Avas conceding the victor 331bs in Aveight, ran one of the very best races of his cai-eer. Yours Truly A\ T as bred by his OAvner, Mr J. S. McLeod, of Hastings, chairman of the NevA r Zealand Racing Conference, and is by Siegfried by Son-in-LaAV from My Oavii, by Lord Quex. He is trained by the Trentham veteran mentor, J. W. Loavc.

(Continued at foot of next column)

At the 1939 Trcntham thoroughbred I sales a half brother to Yours Truly by Tiderace, realised ,the top price of the yearlings, 1450 guineas, being purchased for a patron by the Randwick trainer; J>. J 4 sJamieson, who | this season has done 30.W611 with the New Zealand bred High Caste. ''