Childsplay is Outstanding

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 210, 24 November 1927, Page 6

Childsplay is Outstanding

A BEAUTIFUL FILLY TWO-YEAR-OLD FORM REVIEWED (Special to THE SUN,') CHRISTCHURCH, Wed. After Childs play won the McLean Stakes at Wingatui and the Wellesley Stakes at Trentham, incidentally loweiring the previous records for both races, the daughter of Autumnus looked, a certainty for the Welcome Stakes at Riccarton, and so it proved. At no stage of the classic race did she appear to be in danger of defeat, and a furlong from home she was going so easily five lengths clear of her nearest attendant that she was eased up over the last hundred yards to win in a canter.

As she registered 59 2-5 for the journey it would be a difficult matter to compute by how much she could have bettered her time had she been pressed at all over the concluding stages, but it would be safe to say she would have smashed the existing record for the race had she been ridden out.. WILL BE EASY

All going well, Childsplay will contest the Great Northern Foal Stakes at Ellerslie next month, and though she will meet strong opposition in the northern classic, she defeated the best of the northerners so easily at Trentham that slie should again have little difficulty of disposing of her opponents. Of course a good many of her rivals are likely to improve all the time, but it would be difficult on the form shown so far tliis season to suggest a. formidable opponent for the flying daughter of Autumnus.

Childsplay is a beautiful filly, well put together, and though her style of galloping does not suggest she will ever be a stayer, she has finished so wen in all her races after showing great speed, that it is certain she will make a high-class sprinter, who will prove a great advertisement for her sire. A USEFUL YOUNGSTER

The Australian-bred colt, High Disdain, ran a really good race into second place to Silver Rule in the Pioneer Handicap at Riccarton on the concluding day of the meeting, and several prominent judges were heard to remark that the son of in\ported Claro is almost sure to turn out a good colt later on. When he first arrived at headquarters he had a good private reputation, and his running at Riccarton bore, out the good things said about him. It was only over the last furlong that High Disdain gave way to the more seasoned Silver Rule, and, as he finished particularly well, defeating among others the promising Goblin Market, he can certainly* be expected to improve at an early date. High Disdain’s sire, the English-bred horse, Claro, was a really first-class horse, and his deeds in Sydney, where he placed some high-class performances to his credit, made him out one of the best milers in the Commonwealth. As well as winning the Cantala Stakes in- the same season, Claro also won the A.J.C. Epsom in hollow fashion.

If High Disdain continues to progress as at present, he should develop into a more than useful youngster, and by the autumn he may have to be reckoned with even among the best of his age. IN THE USEFUL CLASS

Prior to the running of tlie Welcome Stakes at Riccarton “there were a bOod : many who wefe -of opinion that Goblin Market was a good youngster, and on the strength of a gallop on the Sunday before the meeting purporter to have been a course record, he was given a good chance of making a race with Childsplay. However, after showing plenty of speed for three furlongs *he soon dropped out, and over the concluding two furlongs ran like a very green youngster. However, in the handicap. events later on at the meeting, he gradually improve*!, and his third to Silver Rule and High Disdain on the last day was an encouraging effort. However, even on that occasion he ran all over the course, but with experience the two-year-old son cf Absurd will improve. He is a big youngster, who is not likely to be at his best till late. in the autumn, but when lie dobs settle down in earnest he will win good races. A PROMISING SORT

The Australian-bred colt, Staghunter, who was successful at the Wellington meeting, won the Irwell Handicap on the second day of the C.J.C. meeting most decisively. He was handy to the leaders all the way, but once his rider loosened off his hold on him at the false rail, he shot away from his opponents without an effort and ran home an easy winner. Staghunter did not beat anything of account, but he won with comparative ease, and was a class above his rivals. It was smooth performance on the part of the North Island youngster, and, as he has won at his last two starts, he will be a, very hard horse to beat the next time he faces the barrier. A fine big gelding, Staghunter stands over plenty of ground, and he is likely to be a much better youngster in the autumn than is the case just now. One of the disappointments at the Riccarton carnival were the poor efforts of Noteworthy, who had run second to Childsplay in the McLean Stakes. Noteworthy has either gone off a lot since he competed at the "Wingatui meeting, or else he is not as good as was generally supposed. However, there is little doubt that he possesses any amount of speed, and perhaps he will do better later on. WILL COME LATER The opinion has been expressed before that Silver Paper is likely to be at his best in the autumn, but his victory at Riccarton was fully anticipated. He ran quite a creditable second to Childsplay in the Welcome Stakes, # without ever having any chance of defeating the Autumnus filly, while on the third day of the meeting he defeated Silver Rule, conceding the daughter of Chief Ruler 81b., who subsequently won the Pioneer Handicap on the concluding day of the meeting. Silver Paper is a commanding youngster, who will be a greatly improved

two-year-old at the back end of th'present season. WILL COMPETE AT ELLERSLIE Prince Humphrey, who finished an second place to Childsplay in the Wellesley Stakes at Trentham, will again meet the Riccarton filly in the Great Northern Foal Stakes at Ellerslie. His finishing run at Trentham suggested he would be better suited by six than five furlongs, and, as he is susceptible to a great deal of improvement he should thoroughly test Childsplay in the classic race next month. However, as has already been written, Childsplay is the outstanding youngster at present’ and if she is to be beaten in her future engagements, then it is going to take an exceptionally brilliant two-year-old to bring about her defeat.