NOVICES AT WOODVILLE

Chronicle (Levin), 3 December 1946, Page 6

NOVICES AT WOODVILLE

FORTUNE 'S SMILE UNLUCKY Winn'ers of their respective divisions in the Maiden Stakes at Woodville last Saturday, Rhodesia and Grand Affair, left the impression that they might develop into deeidedly useful performers. Rhodesia, who made his debut at Feilding the previous week, is a solid looking three-year-old gelding by Rliodes Scliolar from Polly Peacliuni, by Feramorz from the Australian-bred mare Tressida, who left good performers in Runnymede, My Own, Simba and Happy Landing. Altliough he still appeared to be backward at Woodville, Rhodesia stayed on very gamely underpressure over the concluding stages after he had displayed a fund of speed to reach the front inside the first furlong. He is trained at Otaki for Mr. D. W. Debreeency by W. MoEwan. Grand Affair, who is now trained by his owuer, Mr. D. W. Mansfteld, faced tlic starter on oue oecasion as a two-year-old last tcrm, aud prior to Saturday had had two outings this season. He is a neat colt with a smooth style of galloping and, as he has not been overtaxed, is sure to go on improving. Grand Affair is stoutly bred, being by Broiefleld from Royai Climax, by Tidal from Queen's SaluLe, by Chief Ruler from Scot, by All Black. The granddam Queen 's Salute was a useful performer and left wiuners in Salutation and Grey Salute. Aniong the beaten lot among the uovices none impressed more than Village Squire, who linished very solidlv from a rearward position to run Rhodesia fo a close margin. Village Squire was having his first start after an abseuce of nearly 12 mouths and he luoked in need of the outing. He is a six-year-old gelding by Nightly from llunting Lady. Fortune 's Smile was eonfldently sup•ported in the sprint at Woodville and the Mnrtou-trained gelding may have won had his effort been made sooner. X"ow that he appears to be baek to form, the Lang Bian gelding should be wortli remembering. The Awapuni-trained Ngakoti has pre-viously sliown himself to be a smart gallojier, and his effort in finishing third to sucli speedsters as Ceremonious and Tanith in the hack sprint was meritorious, especially in view of the fact that he was at tne rear of the field eommencing the final run home. It was Xgukoti's first appearanee this term and ihe outing should prove beneflcial. The Awapuni-trained Saiudos was uoticed finishing very fast into fourth in the (Dete Handicap, and this effort is not likely to be overlooked wlien he is uext produeed over a middle distauce. 1'he Salmaguudi gelding looks mucb more solid now ;iml a race like the Manawalu Cup at Christmas may hot lie beyond him. Honoui's in the maiu event, the Bolton llandicap, wero definitely with the wiuner, Merry Robin, who assisted in the pacemaking and then stayed 011 in liiie style to beat off challenges at the finish. The Robin Goodfellow four-ycar-old seems to . be f'ree of tlic soreiic'sh that troulileil him last season and more importaht .successes may be 111 line for him. Oue of the disappoint) ments was .Stony Broke, who was ex[leeted to nutke *a forward showing after his good track ti'ials during the week. The •Inflation gelding was alwavs within strikmg distauce, but he t'ailed to put iriuch dash into his finishing ell'ort. Finaneial aml Incline were otliers who raced well below their best.