Sprint Classic is Full Of Possibilities

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 630, 5 April 1929, Page 12

Sprint Classic is Full Of Possibilities

Last Saturday backers were very cocksure that Supremacy was unbeatable in the Champagne Stakes. In like manner do they regard Aussie in the AM Aged Stakes at Avondale to-morrow—and they may fall again! But before backing their opinion it would be well for them to pause and consider the possibilities in this classic, and they are many even if the field be small. Aussie should win. Of that there is not the slightest doubt. On the other hand Gay Ballerina seems to be a filly of more than average ability,

and the records of this race show that a really good two-year-old should hold its own with a really good older horse. With this difference. Aussie is a near-champion, and as such should be capable of winning to-morrow, unless the. filly, too, is a champion. Will He Repeat It? Carrying the full penalty, Aussie won the All Aged Stakes last year from Prince Humphrey, Joy King, Paganelli and others, and if memory serves one aright that race was little more than a jog for him. And then Joy King was in good form, but Paganelli had not yet reached the zenith of his galloping powers. Prince Humphrey, too, was not actually brilliant, although he was a very solid two-year-old. And he defeated the others perhaps as easily as he himself went under to George Paul’s great galloper. Aussie may be a better horse now than he was 12 months ago. The point is—is the opposition he will encounter to-morrow better than that he disposed of 12 months ago ? Stronger Opposition In answering this question in the affirmative, there will be many who will not agree with the writer. Incidentally in passing it is worthy of mention that six of the seven engaged this season are two-year-olds. In support of the contention that tomorrow's field is better than last year’s, it is considered that Gay Ballerina is a much superior two-year-old to Prince Humphrey, and yet the Prince was a fair second last 3 r ear. The manner in which Gay Ballerina spreadeagled Reremoana and Gascony in the North Island Challenge Stakes last month at Trentham, over seven furlongs, was a revelation, and served to. show us something unexpected in the way of real speed. Improved Out of Sight At her first start, at Rand wick in the spring, Gay Ballerina finished third in the Gimcrack Stakes, the fillies’ classic. Then she won two handicaps at Ellerslie at New Year, and won again at Trentham with a good weight up, battling it out gamely. Even at this time, the end of January, it did not look as if the filly was anything but a good handicapper, and perhaps realisation did not come until that rare good gallop at Greenmeadows, after the last race there.

won by Toxeuma. That was the sprint, and a few minutes after Gay Ballerina came out with a good weight in the saddle and cut nearly a second off Toxeuma's time, and that in a lone gallop! The Puzzle t The following week she defeated l Reremoana and Gascony with the . greatest ease. That was what led 1 one to think that Gay Ballerina was tho goods, for she finishes so well, i Then of course she duly won again i at Awapuni. and last Saturday really ' had little difficulty in winning the , Champagne Stakes, the expected tough

I opposition from Supremacy fizzling out j surprisingly. That is the puzzling part about it. What happened to Supremacy that he should close up like a book over the last furlong? Obviously it was not his form. Possibly his trainer had been a bit light with him. However, we all have the greatest respect for the speed possessed by the Chief Ruler gelding, and it may be wise to overlook his latest failure. With Supremacy in a position to do his best, more unlikely things may happen than that he should down both Aussie and Gay Ballerina. Going on last week’s form, however, one must prefer Aussie and Gay Ballerina. In any case, Supremacy will be missing. The Others The Jamieson stable has a nice pair in Polyxena and Eaglet, both speedy Chief Ruler fillies. The former finished in front of Eaglet in the Champagne Stakes last Saturday, but it will be interesting to see if this is repeated to-morrow. Probably on this occasion Eaglet will head her stablemate. Dalston. a lialf-brother to Stormy, is a most promising colt, and he is such a bold galloper that it is probable he will show up even in this select company. His owner holds a high opinion of the chestnut, and rightly so, for he has refused big offers from across the Tasman. The field is completed by Motere, who has yet to win. He, too. is a promising sort, but this race appears to be a bit too rich for him. He is in the same stable as Supremacy The seven remaining in are all likely performers, with Aussie, of course, the proved horse. Named in order of merit, they may be selected on the totalisator to finish in this order: Aussie or Gay Ballerina, Eaglet, Dalston, Polyxena and Motere. No matter how they finish, the race is going to be a stirring one, worth travelling a long way to sec. The following are the starters, with their riders, in the ALL AGED STAKES Of £750: 0 fur. Aussie (A. Tinker) 9 10 Gay Ballerina (R. Reed) 7 12 Eaglet (H. Goldfinch) 7 9 Dalston ( ) 7 7 Polyxena (H. Wiggins) 7 5 Motere (R. Horne) 6 11