NOT HIGH CLASS

Dominion, Volume 28, Issue 86, 5 January 1935, Page 15

NOT HIGH CLASS

The Three-Year-Old Form NOTES AND COMMENTS A Southern Improver (By ‘'The Watcher.") Some of the three-year-old form this season has,not been very consistent, but that of Gay Blonde has been better in this respect than any other. Sporting Blood beat Synagogue at Riccarton, but the Derby winner was well trounced at Trentham by both Synagogue and Lady Kyra. Synagogue beat Gay Blonde over a mile in the King’s Cup concerning which her rider A. Tinker came in for some trenchant criticism, and over the extra half in the Great Northern Derby the filly proved superior, while the form of Sporting Blood at the meeting slumped very considerably. On the other hand Kelly rose from hack form to run second in the Great Northern Derby. Sporting Blood was equal to weight for age in the spring, but on the whole the form of our three-year-olds is not impressive.

Her Dam was Great. Warvane, a winner at ffawke's Bay, raced unsuedessfiil’y at the Manawatu meeting where she was well backed the first day. Warvane is a sister to Vanestep a useful winner on the East Coast and is by Weathervane from the great Martian mare Warstep.

Blay do Better. Neither Aga Khan nor Diagano was suited by the track conditions at Stratford on New Year’® Day and if the going to-day is better they may show up. Out for Good.

The southern mare Kerbside, who has done some racing at Trentham in the past, is reported to have broken down so badly last week that a permanent retirement is probable. Good Winners.

The prize-list at the Auckland Racing Club’s summer meeting, aggregating £15,175, -was headed by Mr. G. Courtney, of Ngatea, with £ll4O, of which Gay Blonde won £lO7O and Gay Sheik £7O. Mr. D. M. Douglas, of Hastings, won £lO5O, including the gold cup valued at £5O attached to the Auckland Cup stake, with Gold Trail. The only other owners whose winners ran into four figures were Mr. O. Nicholson and the Hon. E. R. Davis, of Auckland, who won £1045, King March earning £995 and Gay Marigold £5O.

First for New Owner. The black Hunting Song gelding Haere Tonu, scored his first success for his new owner when he won at Oamaru this week. It is reported that he “outclassed his field.” Mr. A. Louisson paid a big price for Haere Tonu, but most of his form was disappointing. Ho won at Trentham in the spring of last year. The chances are that he will improve with age, and he c'an certainly muster up plenty of pace. On the Up Grade. 'Bun. Fight was started in three races at the Auckland meeting and her record, a second, followed by two wins, shotted that she was a very smart two-year-old. She was not quite ready at Riccarton in November, but she has improved out of eight since then. Her sister, Fracas, had a similar record two seasons ago and she went on to be in the front rank in the autumn, so Bun Fight must be kept in mind as a'filly likely to go on much further.

Success at Ellerslie. The Riccarton horseman, L. J. Ellis, and the Te Awamutu apprentice, G. Cameron, shared the riding honours at the Auckland meeting, with five wins each. W. J. Broughton had three wing and K. Vqitre, who had only four rides before being suspended, scored two wins and a dead-heat. R. Reed, A. Tinker and A. E. Ellis each had two successes. Likes a Distance.

Hunting Go has been showing marked improvement recently, and his form at Invercargill was a substantial advance on any previous effort. His connections have always held the op’nion that he requires a journey to do his best, and his form has proved their contention. Hunting Go has reached his sixth year, but owing to unsoundness he did no racing until last July. He started this season in modest hack company but he has kept on improving steadily. He is by Hunting Song from The Hook, by Finland from The Hague, by Stepniak from Peace, whose progeny also included Chakwana. twice winner of the Members’ Handicap at Riccarton. Most of this family have been noted for speed, but Hunting Go only needs to train on to make a big name over a distance.

Sale of Capris. Mr. C. M. Emanuel has disposed of his three-year-old filly Capris, by Captain Bunsby from Charis, to the Australian sportsman. Mr. A. Cooper, at a substantial figure. Capris has been in G. Price’s stable at Randwick for some months past and has won twice this season. She won the New Year’s Gift at Randwiek on Wednesday and it was after that victory that negotiations for her purchase we_re opened by Mr. Cooper.

A Promising Colt. A young horse that attracted notice at Oamaru was Rebel Lad. a three-year-old colt by Robespierre from Keel Row by Gay Lad from Bonne Bouehe. He has plenty of size, and although in the green stage, he was in the leading division of th Trial Stakes nearing the straight. He is owned by his breeder, Mr. D. Grant, of Timaru, and is trained by E. J. Ellis.

Bred in N.Z. , _ The Haka, a four-year-old New Zea-land-bred horse, was among the winners at the big meeting at Capetown (South Africa) in November. He won a mile and a half race, The Tops, after being badly

placed approaching the straight. The Haka is by Lord Quex from Dominant, by Martian.

Well-known Owner Dies. The death occurred just before Christmas of Mr. 11. L. Spry, well-known as a racecourse owner and business man in Melbourne. Mr. Spry collapsed in the city and was admitted to the Melbourne IHospital suffering from cerebral hemorrhage. An operation was performed and though his condition showed a slight improvement he suffered a relapse and died. For many years Mr. Spry had taken an active interest in racing and in partnership with his brother, Mr. H. E. Spry, usually had a horse or two in training. He raced Flail with fair success, winning two Williamstown Cups with him, and other horses to carry his colours were, Glideaway, Count Orloff and Treasury Bond. Mr. Spry visited New Zealand fw or three years ago with his trainer, Yin O’Neill.

Tlie Right Breeding. In commenting on the success in New Zealand of the two-year-old Legatee. “Audax” in the “Horse and Hound,” said that his sire, Posterity, was a smart horse when in England. Bred by the American sportsman. Mr. John Sanford, and foaled in 1926, lit is by Son-in-Law out of Hemlock, by Spearmint (Derby winner) from Keystone II (Oaks winner). Mrs. Corlette Glorney gave 1550gns for Posterity as a yearling, and sold him privately in 1931 to the Irish Bloodstock Agency, acting on behalf of Mr. G. M. Currie.

Answer to Correspondent. “Greyspear," Otaki, £2/16/0,