SILVER RIVER’S FORM.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVIII, Issue 48, 25 January 1938, Page 10

SILVER RIVER’S FORM.

AN IMPROVED GELDING. BRED TO STAY. (By “Spectator.”) Silver River, trained by G. W, New at Awapuni, and owned by the Wellington sportsman, Mr J. T. Spears, can be accounted i a little unlucky not to have won the Douro Cup at Trcntham after leading nearly all the way. Now four years old, the brown gelding is a much improved horse, and had convincing wins both at Manawatu and Marton during the holidays. . Silver River was the first winner eired by imported Roydon when he won the Juvenile Handicap at Pahiatua nearly two years ago. Since then he had won one more race and been placed seven times in seventeen starts before winning the Gillies' Handicap on the first day of the Manawatu meeting, the Rangitikei Hack Cup on the second day at Marton, and being second in the Douro Cup at Trcntham. Silver River is by Roydon from the New Zealand Oaks winner Starmist, a very smart mare who was bred and raced by Mr C. G. Dalgety. This is a very successful branch of the No. 5 family founded by The Giggler, a mare imported about 1840. Most of her winning descendants came through her daughter Vanity, who was brought to New Zealand in 1853. The greatest of these was the wonderful mare Warstep, but another who won almost every weight-for-age in New Zealand was the brilliant .‘Menschikoff, who was rarely beaten excepting by his stable companion Cruciform. Starmist is a half-sister to Starland, Paperchase and Limelight, and to Spotlight, dam of Argentic and Radiant Star _ She is by Autumnus from Warstep’s sister Stardanccr by Martian from Menschikoff's sister Stepdancer by Stepniak. Return to Form. Son and Heir, after a series of disappointments, showed his best form for <=omo time at Ashhurst, finishing on well in both hiis races, and it appears that the Siegfried colt is coming right again. He showed quite good form last autumn. Red Cat Lame. Red Cat, who has only started three times, but has won on the last two occasions, did not race at Ashhurst because she was found to bo lame when taken off the float. She would probably have been a warm favourite for the Komako Handicap.

Erebus Stops Quickly. Erebus appeared to bo in first-class condition prior to racing at Ashhurst, and was made an odds-on favourite in tho Komako Handicap but, after appearing to bo an easy winner at the foot of the straight, stopped very quickly. He was under the whip at the distance to finish second. Note Quite There. Slam, who had two starts at Ashhurst for a second and a third placing, inst failed to finish on strongly enough. The Pacroa-owncd gelding raced in Taranaki during tho holidays, being third in tho Tikorangi Hack Stakes at New Plymouth, and second at Stratford to Pekoe, who subsequently won at Trcntham.

Haughty Winner Sold, Haughty Winner was sold by Sir Charles Clifford at Trcntham on Saturday to a patron *of C. C. McCarthy’s stable, so he will still be trained at Riccarton. Tt was reported on Saturday that Ton Row had changed hands at lOOOgns, 'and also that Mr F. Kcttlevvell had turned down a substantial four-figure offer for Siegmund. A Promising Apprentice. Tho Awapuni apprentice, J. Chaplin, who piloted Wildflowcr to success both in tho Aldsworth Stakes at Marton and in the Ashhurst Cup, and who handled Noisy Night so capably when he won at Marton, should not want for rides after ‘his recent exhibitions of horsemanship. He has shown unerring judgment, and is quick to seize an opening. Chaplin, where opportunities have so far.been limited, shows great promise as a rider. Mishna Not Over-Raced. Mishna, winner of tho Douro Cup, has had only seventeen races., At his third start, he ran third to Rival Hit and Old Surrey at Trcntham in July, at his next outing ho was fourth in the C.J.C. Cashmere Plato, and at his next he beat everything except Mittie in the C.J.C. Woolston Handicap, seven furlongs. After the Grand National meeting ho was not raced again till Trcntham in October, so ho was taking tho difficult course to his first success, which came in a welter handicap at Awapuni on Boxing Day. Ho next ran fourth each day at the Wairarapa meeting in tho principal ovenis. He is a likely performer in open middle distance races during the next few months. Aureus Racing Well. Aureus, who scored nicely in the Kaitokc Handicap at Trcntham, has been racing very well since she resumed. this season, and the Gascony filly is proving herself a smart sort. Owned by Mr M. Millar, and trained by A. E. Neale at Bulls, she was beaten by a nose in her only start at tho Manawatu mooting, won twice at Marton, and, prior to winning the. Kaitokc Handicap on the concluding day, ran very creditably on tho second day at Trcntham. She is developing into a very smart sprinter, hut has shown her ability to win at seven furlongs, and should go on to many more successes, being a stoutly-bred filly. Youngsters for Awapuni.

Three of the youngsters bought by Aua tralian owners at the national yearling sales were sent to Mrs A. W. McDonald, who will continue their education at Awapuni in • preparation for their dispatch across the Tasman in the spring. The trio entrusted to her care are the Limond—Miss Thespian- bay colt, for whom G. Price went to 700 guineas before securing him on behalf of one of his patrons, Sir James Murdoch; the brown colt by Foxbridge from Eager Rose, who was purchased by Mr W. Longwortli, of Sydney, for 525 guineas, and the bay filly by Night Rail from Coronillu, bought for 325 guineas by Mr E. J. Wait, of Sydney. Twelve months ago Mrs McDonald undertook the preparation of the Beau Pere —Helen colt, who brought the top price at the sales. In due course lie was sent across to Sydney, and racing as The Squire, won at his first appearance in public with tHo colours up.