Duel Between Childsplay and Prince Humphrey

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 236, 24 December 1927, Page 7

Duel Between Childsplay and Prince Humphrey

QXE of the most interesting events to come up for decision on Boxing Day at Ellerslie is the juvenile classic, the Great Northern Foal Stakes, run over six furlongs. Eleven were left in after the final payment had been made, and all the best two-year-olds in the Dominion were included. Three of them claim an engagement in the Nursery Handicap later in the day, and so by starting time there is every prospect of the field being reduced to eight, which is the ideal number, making as it does for a more truly run race. There are seven winners among those left in, these being Prince Humphrey, Raasay, Ridgemount (in Australia), Stagliunter, Childsplay, Episode an.d Prodice. YET TO BE BEATEN Only one, however, has an unbeaten certificate, and that is the flying filly, Childsplay, who has won her three races, all classics —the McLean Stakes at Wingatui, Wellesley Stakes at Trentham, and the Welcome Stakes at Riccarton. On each occasion she was never extended, while in two events she could have won by the proverbial street and then some. The only occasion upon which Sir George Clifford’s filly has been asked to run it out was at Trentham, when Prince Humphrey got to within a good length of her.

UNLUCKY PRINCE HUMPHREY In the Trentham contest Prince Humphrey, who a short time before won the A.R.C. Welcome i*l,kes in easy Something went wrong, fnanks to interference received at the hands of one or two other youngsters he was asked

to stand between and the result was that he lost several lengths at the start. Granted that Childsplay was not the first out—it was Endorse—she was soon up with the leader, and when she hit the front at the bottom of the straight she soon put daylight between herself and her opponents. Into the straight Prince Humphrey fashion, was unlucky at the barrier, was on the outside of four horses, and was consequently well out. Once straightened up, Childsplay was clear of Prince Humphrey to the ex-

tent of from six to ten lengths (opinions differ on this point) and with only two and a half furlongs to go it looked a hopeless chase. It was a real stern chase if ever there was such a thing, and at the judge the northerner had got to within a length of the winner, finishing very gamely under the whip. Emerson was taking it easy a hundred yards from home,

and he had to remind the filly of her task, and she responded. not appear as if she was weakening, for she really won very easily. At Riccarton a fortnight later, with Prince Humphrey out of the way, she spreadeagled her field. AN INTERESTING DUEL If Prince Humphrey has taken no harm from that gruelling struggle—and a glance at him in his box in trainer Jamieson’s stable as recently as Monday last showed the colt to be the well satisfied horse one likes

to see so close to such a hard race as appears to be in prospect next Monday—then it will be one of the titbits of the meeting to see the duel between he and Childsplay. For the reasons given above the race on Monday is .regarded by the writer as a duel between Prince Humphrey and Childsplay, although one recollects some big upsets in the Foal Stakes, in which good youngsters have failed to maintain a record almost without blemish up to this stage of their career. THE REAL TEST On Monday the youngsters will be running over six furlongs for the first time in their sweet young lives. Southern critics have little hesitation in saying that the filly will see out the journey, and the writer is with them. The real test, however, rests in the fact that when the field goes a furlong they commence a shorty and sharp ascent of the hill, and this naturally makes the journey something more than six furlongs. Once surmounted, the reverse side of the hill has a downward trend, of about two furlongs to the turn for home, and this is where Childsplay will be able to show a clean pair of heels if she is not hindered by the climb already mentioned. WHAT OF THE OTHERS? Freehold is going to be a fine sprinter, and perhaps a bit more solid than his relative, Absurdum. He finished second in both the Avondale and Welcome Stakes at Ellerslie, and as he has improved a good \ deal since then he may be the best of the remainder. Raasay may not be quite good enough, although if at his best he would be a possibility. Ridgemount and Amplifiier will be. bracketed if both are started. The former won a race at Randwick in impressive fashion, and if all the reports of his speed are correct he is the winner. But there is the doubt. Staghunter is a game finisher, and, if he is at all handy to the leaders at the turn he will extend them. At both Trentham and Riccarton he won like a good horse. EPISODE WILL BE GOOD Episode was galloping freely here in the spring but she is a very different filly now, as a glance at her shows that she is a real aristocrat She ran green at Feilding and yet won easily and she should be a stone better as the result of that outing. Much interest will be taken in her showing, and the least that 'can be expected of her is that she will win a race before returning home. Marion’s Birthday may not run, but if allowed to take her chance she will be running on when the others, or some of them, are crying enough. Prodice won the Avondale Stakes in the mud, and if she meets similar conditions on Monday may repeat that effort. However she does not appear to be the class of Childsplay and Prince Humphrey. White Wings completes the field, and if she runs up to her track form will be a prominent figure. At present she appears- to be a bit erratic. One cannot get away from the thought that the Foal Stakes this year will be a duel between Childsplay and Prince Plumphrey, and that on this occasion the favourite should not fail. The final summing up appears with the final suggestions for all the races.