FORM AT THE NAPIER MEETING

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 164, 1 October 1927, Page 6

FORM AT THE NAPIER MEETING

TWO PROMISING YOUNGSTERS SEEN IN ACTION THERE (Special to THE SUN J WELLINGTON, Friday. Several of the horses from this end of the island who were taken to the Avondale meeting, which was held at Ellersiie, were left in the North with a view to their competing at the coming Auckland meeting. A SPEEDY TEA TRAY One who appears to be a speedy sort was produced at Napier Park ori the opening day of the spring meeting j there. This is Tea Miss, who bolted with the Prince of Wales Handicap. Tea Miss jumped out of the barrier like an old hand, but was steadied. For a moment Monetize headed her, and then Tea Miss was given her head. She shot to the front and not only was she never headed, but the farther the field went the farther she was in front. As her name indicates, she is one of the Tea Tray, tribe, from Miss Girons, a mare bred by Mr. G. F. Moore. Miss Girons was by St. Girons from the imported mare Toora, by Royal Fox. The newcomer carries the colours of Mrs. M. A. Perry, and attracted attention during the two-year-old parade at the Wanganui meeting. A BETTER ONE After the easy victory of Tea Miss on the first day it was expected that she would win again on the second day, but there was a shock in store for those who bet heavily on her. She showed almost the same dash as she did on the previous day, but met one who was much too good for her. She had every chance, but Raasay beat her as he pleased. The victory of Raasay is interesting in more ways than one. In the first place this two-year-old is the first winner that the one-time good horseman, Luke Wilson, has led in in his capacity as trainer for Mr. J. S. McLeod, and in the second place he is a son of Tressida, who produced the Derby winner Runnymede. Runnymede, as followers of the turf know, was by King John, but King John being dead, there is no chance of that particular family being increased. Mr. McLeod of late has been breeding to Lord Quex, and Raasay is one of the results. It will be very interesting to see how the half-brother to Runnymede progresses. While he was in New Zealand Runnymede was a great galloper, but since he has been in Australia he has been a complete failure At present, from what has been seen of him in public and from what one learns of his doings in private, there is every chance of Raasay being a pretty good sort. It will be a matter of much interest to students of breeding to follow his career with a view to seeing whether he improves with age, or, like ttunnymede, becomes a great and baffling disappointment. ANOTHER OF THE FAMILY Another member of the same family as Raasay raced at Napier Park, too. This is an older member of Mr. McLeod’s team, Gannymede, a brother to Raasay, but a year older. Gannj'mede had a couple of races last season, and this year made his bow at Dannevirke, where he ran a very creditable race. He was expected to be very hard to beat at Napier Park and the expectation turned out to be - correct, as he

went a great race and was beaten by a couple of noses into third place. He is a nice big three-year-old and more than likely will pay his way this season if he is properly placed. And it is safe to assume that he will be well placed if Wilson is adviser. TOUGH OLD BREED An unusual sort of hack scurrier was produced at Napier Park, a big Heather Mixture gelding called Mountain Heath. After making donkeys of tiie opposition in a scurry the first day he was brought out twice on the second day and his record for the meeting was three starts, three wins. This is most unusual in days when some writers wear their pens out contending that the thoroughbred of modern times has generated into a soft weakling, who has one race now and then and has to be nursed like an invalid in between contests. Mountain Heather comes from a tough family on his mother’s side, as he is a descendant of Mongonui. a Carbine mare; in fact, one of the last, if not the last of the Carbine mares in the country. Mongonui has transmitted some of the toughness of Old Jack to the b:ig scurrier now racing on the East Coast, for he stood up to his work well and seemed to thrive on the racing he was given. MIGHT BE GOOD HANDICAPPER Vertigern sprang a surprise at Napier Park by coming to light in the County Hack Handicap, when she was allowed to go out one of the outsiders of the field. It was generally considered that Vertigern was not forward enough to run out a strong seven furlongs, but \ this she did and squeezed home by a nose. The dividend was big and a i welcome one to supporters of the Elgar i stable, which has not been in luck i for a long while. Appearing in the open middle distance handicap on the second day of I the gathering, Vertigern again was j somewhat unsuspected and was &1- j lowed to go out at a good price. She j stepped to the front as soon as the j field was dispatched on its journey and she was still there at the finish. In each case she had to fight very hard ! for victory, but she did her part staunchly and pulled her support€*rs through. Vertigern is an Australianbred mare, by Rossendale from Pansy, and she was a fairly good two-year-old, the best of whom was not seen on the racecourses. Her form at Napier suggests that she is about to come good as a handicap performer and if she does she will pay her way, as handicaps are not really hat d to win now if one has a good on* 1 . T RES HAM’S FAILURES Tresham had bad luck on the first day at Napior Park. He was going like a winner, when the leaders slipned away from him and though he finished on well he was unable to gather them in again, and he had to be content with third place. Third was his lot again on the second- day, so it can be reckoned that the trip has been an unprofitable one. Third cut from a small stake does not pay for a trip from Wellington to Gretnmeadows. ANOTHER COLELLO JUMPER Braeman, winner of the hurdle race on the first day at Napier Park, is a member of the small team presided over by \ . H. Colello, who makes a specialty of turning anything he can lay his hands on into a jumper. Colello, hke most Irishmen, loves a lepper, and he is a really successful man with them. He might not be able to do a great deal with those be has at present, but he is hopeful. Braeman is a descendant of a jumping line, his mother being a sis'ler to Braeburn, winner of a couple of Wanganui Steeplechases and other cross-country events His sire is Garance. a well-bred horse IV h , claimed Vasco as his sire and Madder as his darn. HAS PRIVATE REPUTATION Singleton, winner of a race at Napier Park, has a private reputation as a galloper, and there is something more -han mere fancy about it. He ran twice, at the Park and showed much ° n .i he second day than he had done on the first day. PerhaDs e f per ?« nce benefited 1 him, but whatever the reason he won on the se-ond day, an d when he settled down J ln the strai Sht he never looked hke getting beaten. He is just I , ort that should win a few races, and he might be heard of again. He * property of Mr. E>. J. Barry, and is by Autumn from Bobeiia. SECOND DAY HORSE Ivxcess is. earning a reputation r s a second day performer. He has appeared at only. J.\yo raeetlnsa vliis

spring and in each case he uas paid a dividend on the second day. At Dannevirke on the first day he was wei! beaten and on the second day he won. He was beaten at Napier Park lart Saturday and ran second on the Monday. This is rather an inccnssitent history for such a well bred and high priced performer, but probably with experience he will settle down and dc better. Teri is in pretty good te rm just now and the first and second scored at Napier Park will not be the l.*rt hoard of this member of Mrs. M. A. Perry's team.