DENSITY DOING WELL

Southland Times, Issue 24233, 17 September 1940, Page 9

DENSITY DOING WELL

RICCARTON TRACKS IN GOOD ORDER ARCTIC DAWN* RESUMES WORK (Special to The Times) CHRISTCHURCH, September 16. Fine weather has been experienced during the past week or so at Riccarton. The recent rain has done an immense amount of good to the Riccarton racecourse, which is probably in better order at present than for many years past. The course proper was topdressed in the autumn, and the favourable early spring weather will ensure a solid sole of grass to carry through the whole season. The Geraldine Racing Club’s annual meeting will engage the attention of all concerned on Thursday and Saturday of this week. Lady Leigh, who would have had a good record as a stake-earner but for persistent knee trouble, which caused her retirement in the autumn, will hold the distinction of being one of the first mares to visit the Derby winner Coronach. She was sent to Wanganui this week.

Density had her first sprint for some time last week, and under restraint, covered half a mile in good time. She has furnished into a massive mare in contrast to her light make-up previously, and as she can be expected also to have developed stamina, she should win some of the best sprint races this season. She is already spoken of as an early Stewards’ Handicap favourite. Mr J. H. Grigg has sent back to Riccarton to G. Ridgway his three-year-old gelding Arctic Dawn, by Day Comet from Aurora Borealis. The youngster was in work for a while last season. He has certainly grown, and he can boast of being the biggest of his age seen out here for some time. Much interest will be attached to this young horse, 'but it is likely that he may be a difficult horse to train because of his weighty body. A younger half-brother by The Greek to Arctic Dawn is due shortly to enter Ridgway’s stable, and another two-year-old to be put into work by Mr Grigg is Love Bird by Defoe from Chance Bird, a sister to Flashlight. She is also well grown, and is not likely to race thi- year. Chance Bird is the only one left of the well-known First Glance family, and Love Bird will no doubt eventually be one of the Longbeach matrons. Aurora Borealis, by the way missed to Theio last season, and has been sent to Defaulter. PLEASING RESPONSE The Kurow Jockey Club has reason to be pleased with the support accorded the annual race meeting at Oamaru by Riccarton stables, the list of nominations from here including Rora Hiko, My Ship, Gold Nugget, Portadawn, Verlagia, Gay Rebel, Entail, Dranoel, Flame Queen, Night Hawk, Cymric, Captain Bruce, Haughty Winner, The Vulture, Lord Midas and Papernilla. An interesting entrant is Haughty Winner, who is booked to race at Trentham next month. Verlagia is a two-year-old filly by Vermeer, being trained by J. W. Pankhurst. She is well forward, but unfortunately is inclined to be highly strung, and will require some racing and travelling to settle her down. Dr M. G, Louisson’s two-year-old filly, by Myosotis from Royal Baby, will race as Blue Bouquet. She is a big but neatly made youngster, and has shown marked ability in her sprinting to date, and in some recent barrier practice displayed smartness in finding her feet. She is a very likely proposition for the McLean Stakes at Wingatui next month. Her trainer, C. Emerson, ias another juvenile by Tiderace from Kotou by Night Raid from Courtesy, a descendant of Eulogy. He will race under the name of As Required in the colours of Mr M. J. Meehan, of Timaru, who paid 190 guineas for him at Trentham. Another two-year-old to be named recently is Hammall, a good-looking bay colt by Myosotis from Palanquin from Paladin in H. Nurse’s stable, while a two-year-old filly by Solicitor General from Helen Gold, held on lease by Miss Wilson of Reefton and trained by C. McCarthy, will race as Helenora. The veteran trainer J. J. Lewis, whose application for another licence after he had been off the scene for several years caused some surprise last week, figured on the Ashburton race-book as the trainer of Star Wink, a four-year-old gelding by Day Comet from Ferino. Lewis must now take rank as the oldest trainer in New Zealand.