TRACK AND STABLE

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 19994, 20 July 1939, Page 9

TRACK AND STABLE

PROMISING HURDLER PETER BECKFORD’S FORM I'.RED FOR •) UMPING WINTER CUP FANCY Hv “Trenton" Pe'er Becktord. formortv trained in Gisborne, has proved himself to be one of the most promising, hurdlers seen out this term. He is engaged in the Grand National Hurdles with 9.12. or lib. less than Cottingnam. He was formerly a sprinter approaching the best-class, and, as he is undefeated in two hurdle races to date, it looks as if he is going to make a name for himself in his new role. He hails from the same stable as Charade, the Grand National top-weight, but it is quite possible that H. S. Greene will be sending his two candidates to the post next month.

At the Poverty Bay meeting in May Peter Beckford beat Small Bov b.v a head in the Park Hurdles, but failed to make any impression among open sprinters on the second day. Started next in the Hawke’s Bay Hurdles, he took the lead at the start and after an excellent exhibition of hurdling held a consistent horse in Curie oil by four lengths. Curie went on R win the Winter Hurdles, Peter Beckford not making the trip to Trentham. where he was engaged in hack hurdle events.

A six-year-old chestnut gelding, Peter Beckford is by Hunting Song from Sarty, by Sarto (son of St Simon) from Love Token (imp.), by Santry. Love Token was imported foMr. G. Fulton as a yearling in 1915, and won one race before being retired to the stud. Mated twice with Sarto, she produced Sartist and Sarty, both winners of minor races. Pledge, Love Token's next foal, was by Boniform or Kilbroney and became the dam o* Swordstick. Pakanui, a smart sprinter by Hunting Song, was Love Token's last foal.

Sarty’s first three foals, all bv Hunting Song, have been winners They are Miss Sarty, Good Hunting, and Peter Beckford. Good Hunting has also been successful ever fences.

Sarto, who was foaled in 1992, was imported by the Hon. G. McLean in 1908. He won races on the flat and over hurdles and country in England. Sarto sired Art. a winner of the Grand National and Hawke’s Bay Hurdler,, John Barleycorn, and Cartoon, among others, and he lias also been very successful as a sire of brood mares.

Hunting Song’s stock have thoroughly proved themselves on the flat, placing their sire at the head r-i the list for six seasons in succession until the present season, and. with horses of calibre of Iluntique (Grand National Hurdles) and Clarion Call (Grand National Steeples), also Aladdin, he has already shown his worth as a sire of jumpers. Joe Louis Leased The Psychology gelding Joe Louis was leased last month by Mr. J. F. Walker, whose colours he carried at Trentham, from Mr. F. Nicol Knight of Australia Two disappointments ai the back,d of the current season in Knight of Aus'ralia and Bonnyibelle have reported back for -duty at Ellerske. F as j bought that the former would be ■ U in line for -a hurdle success, and perhaps he will.make amends- during - m.-'ii''. Bonnyibelle has yet to win a race, but her second in a hack at the Great Northern meet nd’cT'ed that, she has more hnmina than earlier outings suggested and she mav pick no a maiden stake in the early spring. Majority Fancied. Catalogue won his first Winter Cup under, fi.l3 and last year under 9.10, so that he cannot complain of 10.3 this year. He has not had the same amount of racing as in previous years, hut he appeared in -good order in his only start at Wellington. Majority will bo one of the favourites despite his 10.2, which is lib. more than lie won with over six furlongs at Trentham. He is a good weight-carrier Haughty Winner is in a -few pounds better than he was at Wellington, and his forward showing in the Whyte Handicap places him well up in the list of possibilities. He will meet Ned Cuttle 131 b. (better, and the latter will no* have his great advantage of being able to run in mud as when lie won at Trentham. National Top-weight Erination, who has been accorded the honour of top-weight in the Grand National Steeplechase, failed last year under 11.0, falling early, but on the third day he won the Lincoln S‘eeplechasc with 11.3. In his only race over country since then he ran off, but ho has been carrying big wo lights with distinction over hurdles, and finished fourth in tile Winter

Hurdle Race at Trentham under 11.5. Equation has conclusively proved *hat it takes a lot ot weight to step him, and as he has won over Riccarhon country, his chance cannot be lightly regarded. Big Victorian Cups With the exception of Ajax, the bookmakers with charts on the Melbourne and Caulfield Cups double are looking outside Victoria for the winners of these big races this year. The order of favouritism following the appearance of the weights was:— CaultleUl Cup, U miles; run October 21. —Ajax; Feminist, Malagigi, Mildura, Millie’s Hope, Mosaic, Spear Chief, and St. Constant; and Bonin’ Loch. F.arly Bird, El Golea. Footmark, Gilltown, Marauder, Night guard, Ortellc’s Star, Pagean*, Read ing. Son of Aurous, Tet Asur, Tempest, The Trump. Wilson, Zonda. Melbourne Cup 2 miles; run No .mb or 7. —Defaulter, Spear Chic:. Ajax, Aurahia, Bonny Loch, . HighCaste, Malagigi, Mosaic, Pageant, Wilson, Zonda; and Aspire. Catalogue, Cooranga, Feminist, Footmark, L’Aiglon, Marauder, Millie's Hope, Ortelle s Star, Pure Gold, Son of Aurous, St. Constant, Tel Asur.