Will Prickles Be Best Southerner?

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 451, 5 September 1928, Page 10

Will Prickles Be Best Southerner?

THREE-YEAR-OLDS DISCUSSED DUNEDIN GUINEAS POSSIBILITIES j Though the field for the Dunedin i Guineas at Wingatui next month is not likely to embrace any high-class champions, the Southern three-year-old event should provide a most interesting contest, and it should help to throw some light on the New Zealand Derby, run at Riccarton in November. At present most interest is being centred on Sir George Clifford’s filly. Prickles (says the Christchurch “Sun”). Prickles was backward when slie began racing as a two-year-old. but she gradually made improvement, and in the autumn of last season she brilliantly defeated her rivals in the C.J.C. Champagne Stakes at Riccarton. In the early stages of that race she toiled along in the rear, but over the last two furlongs she unwound an unexpectedly irresistible run. and. cutting down the leaders one by one. went on to win most decisively. She was going so strongly at the end that the assumption is she would have won by a good many lengths had there been another furlong to travel. So impressive was her victory that keen racing men immediately selected her as being likely to play a prominent role in the three-year-old classics. Furnished During Winter During the winter Prickles filled out considerably. She has grown into a very commanding filly, and she certainly is in fine trim for her important engagements ahead. In her efforts on the track she has done everything required of her, and if she continues to make headway as at present she is going to he a very formidable opponent in next month’s classic race. If she beats the best of her age at Wingatui, she is bound to start one j of the favourites for the Derby, and in that case she is sure to be a source ■ of annoyance for the fillies in the New Zealand Oaks. Concerning Childsplay Childsplay has not been long in work, but in her short dashes she has displayed all her former brilliance. In j the spring of last season she out- \ classed her opponents in the McLean. Wellesley, and Welcome Stakes, but •subsequently she was affected by the hard state of the tracks, developed shin soreness, and went off. She has shown no recurrence of that trouble, but when the tracks again become hard there may be a different tale to tell. She could not look much brighter than at the present time, and if she stands up to a thorough preparation she will have to be reckoned with in next month’s classic event.

Full Feather, Impertinence, Hurly Burly, and Swoopalong are others from Chokebore Lodge who claim engagements in the Guineas, but it is probable that their connections will rely on either Prickles or Childsplay. According to reports from the South, Silver Paper is showing surprisinglv good form on the tracks, and he is standing up to his work so well that he will have to be reckoned with in his forthcoming engagements. As a two-year-old the Paper Money gelding showed that he was a youngster much above the average, but because of foot trouble he had to be thrown out of work just "when it seemed as if he would assert himself. Brilliant Enough Silver Paper is such a clean-winded gelding that he will need to be taken into serious consideration for the Dunedin Guineas, notwithstanding that his breeding does not impress as being that of a potential stayer. It is certain that his great brilliance will carry him a long way in the classic event. Nightmarch, who was recently purchased by Mr. A. Louisson, at a high figure, looks well enough, but he has not grown during the winter as well as was expected. His trainer has not yet begun to gallop him fast, but it is likely that he soon will be sent along in earnest.

Red Heckle has raced on only one occasion, but he won so impressively at his first appearance in public that his track doings since have attracted much attention. He has not been sent against the watch lately, but his trainer, F. Christmas, has given him plenty of solid work, and if appearances count for anything he has the makings of a good three-year-old. Noteworthy Improving

Noteworthy was a runner at the Grand National meeting, and the dashing style in which he disposed of his opponents in the Cashmere Plate augurs well for his future prospects. In that event he missed the jump-out, and was so far back soon after the start that his chances looked remote. But his superior speed soon carried him into a prominent position, and, finishing in great style in the straight, he got up in time to beat Starshooters by half a length. Noteworthy is a very compact gelding, and though his action suggests speed rather than stamina, there is no reason why he should not get a mile.

Goblin Market has done well since he was last seen in action, and he would need to improve but little on the form he displayed last season to have a chance in next month’s classic. Of course, the Absurd gelding cannot be recommended as a three-year-old likel)to get a distance, for his breeding is against him, but he should see out a fast-run mile among the best of his age. Last season his stablemate of that period, Eulalie (also by Absurd), suffered defeat in the Guineas (won by Ark Royal) only in the last few strides, and behind her finished Satrap (who ran second in the New Zealand Derby, and later won the Great Northern and New Zealand St. Legers), and Martarma, who subsequently won the Great Northern Derby. The Viscount, full-brother to Count Cavour, has made steady improvement since he began racing, but so far he has not shown anything, either on the tracks or in public, that would warrant support for him in such a race as the Guineas. He was very backward earlier *in his career, and the probabilities are that he will not reach his best till the summer, or even the early autumn. The Archery gelding Starshooter is by no means at his best yet, but In his few races to date he has left the impression that he will improve with age. He finished most determinedly into second place in the Cashmere Plate, at the National gathering, and since then he has trained on nicely.

Penny Foolish—Pound Wise An Australian exchange reports that the Auckland enthusiasts F. Young aDd S. M. August won first time out in Australia. They started Lord Lu (or Lo™ Cap as he has been renamed) for * small stake of £ls at Richmond (Melbourne), and caught the bookmakers napping. It might have seemed a bit silly to take a horse to Melbourne for so small a prize, and the bookmakers evidently thought it improbable that the New Zealanders would step their pacer out for the stake, and took ltt>* erties accordingly. A cleverly-placed commission went on Lord Cap, who in the end went out at a short price. With S. M. August in the saddle the Auckland pacer jumped to the front, and did not leave the issue in doubt, winning, pulling up. in 2.23. It was a cas« of a reversal of the old adage “penny wise pound foolish.” T. Grimmond is putting Master Huia through his paces once more and the half-brother to Lady Dunmore is in fine heart after Hi* holiday. Since being taken over by Grimmond the Huia Dillon gelding appears to have become more solid, as he put up an attractive performance in winning the saddle heat at Thames. Later at Epsom he ran a good race »n harness, getting second to UramlC* with Harvest Child behind Him* The same trainer is also handling a novice by Peter Moko from the dam of Master Huia.