ONE OF THE BEST

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 76, 16 April 1937, Page 8

ONE OF THE BEST

Smoke Screen's Record Smoke Screen was a decisive winner of the Manawatu Sires' Produce Stakes, the final juvenile classic of the season, and oii his performance in this race he must be accounted near, if not, best two-year-old of the term (says the Wellington Post). He has taken the baton iiom Francib Drake am mg the North JslarderSj and the only rival left to disputc the scason's supremacy with him is the Riccarton colt Royal Chiel. It must now, however, remain for next season to show which is the better and also whether Courtcraft .migfht not be better than either. Smoke Screen was third in most of Saturday' s running to the straight, first to Francis Drake and Relative, then to Kelative and Francis Drake, and then to Relative and The Crooner approaching the stretch. From that point the Limond, gelding asserted clear superiority, and he went on to score by a couple of lengths from The Crooner. Smoke Screen is one of the biggest and heaviest two-year-olds that have raced during the season, and it is because of his size that he was gelded before being trained. He is not typical of his sire's gets, as he is built on more lumbering, Jines, but he possesses the galloping ability of 'tbe breed and he has been improving all the time since he first raced (and incidentall.v won) at Feilding in D^cember. His season 's record closes with five wins in seven outings and exactly £1200 in stakes, a good return already for the £600gns. Mr Russell Graee, of Wanga^ , nui) paid for him at the yearling saies