Whispers Say Nightmarch Has Slipped

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 940, 5 April 1930, Page 12

Whispers Say Nightmarch Has Slipped

Easy Races Picked SYDNEY COMMENT When the Melbourne Cup winner, Niahtmarch, was beaten at Moorefield recently, a quiet wjiisper went round that he was not as good as at his previous visit to Australia, J nor would he again attain the same form. In tli© spring: he won tlio Epsom and Melbourne Cup, the Eandwiek Plate weight-for-age. the C. 1C Cox Plate, and Tatt’s Spring Handicap. Shrewd heads believed after his beating the other day that his standard of form had been lost to him. When he was subsequently scratched for the Doncaster Handicap and Sydney Cup. the £3,000 and £6,000 stakes constituting the best prizes for old horses at the A.J.C. Eatser carnival at Randwick next month, it lent colour to the assertion. Easy Stake for Him But on the same day he was engaged for the weight-for-age races at the meeting, and the entry showed that connections of Niglitmarcir are playing cunning in formulating this campaign during the carnival. On the first day he is in the mile and a half Autumn Stakes, and as only half Australia’s talent is likely to meet him on that day. a stake easier than usual might be picked up. For on that same afternoon Phar Lap will be busily engaged winning the Leger, and Amounis, if it is fine, might be tackling the Doncaster, despite his 10.4. That leaves Chide to beat, and the Nightmarch connections no doubt believe their champion capable of defeating this New Zealand rival. Still Dubious In later events at the meeting Phar Lap awaits Nightmarch in the longer weight-for-age races, and Amounis will tackle him if he starts in the mile AllAged Stakes. So some shrewd heads still believe that there is something in the deterioration story because of this wily picking of the easy race for the start of the Randwick carnival. Anyhow, they say that if he had been the old Nightmarch of last November, there would have been no question about victory instead of a moderate third in the Moorfield race. GRAY’S LICENCE REFUSED DECISION OF A.J.C. United P.A.—By Telegraph—-Copyright SYDNEY, Friday. The Australian Jockey Club advises having received Hector Gray’s application for a jockey’s licence, and that it was not granted. No reasons are given. NEW PLYMOUTH ARRIVALS LADY QUEX AND TE ATIAWA Three horses with engagements at the Waikato Racing Club’s meeting and the Easter fixture at Ellerslie, were arrivals by the Ngapuhi which put in at Onehunga this morning from New Plymouth. E. George brought Lady Quex aod Royal Finance, and J. O’Neill’s only charge is the sprinter, Te Atiawa. Lady Quex and Te Atiawa both claim an engagement in the President’s Handicap, six furlongs, on the first day at Te Rapa, but the two-year-old Royal Finance is apparently being kept for later races, for he does not appear in the acceptances. PHAR LAP HAS IMPROVED When a young horse shows form above the average, it is not unusual for it to be discovered that he has greatly improved in looks. This was said of Phar Lap after his recent Melbourne wins. In this case the statement was warranted. Always a tall horse, he presents a much more seasoned appearance than when racing here in the spring, comments a Sydney writer. He is also heavier-quartered and bigger in the barrel. M. McCarten rode him in his work, but though it has been suggested be will be on him in some of his races at Randwick, Pike and Elliott will share the riding on him at that course.

Pike will, of course, be on him in the St. Leger, and Elliott in his other races. As the latter may be ucable to visit Sydney before the A.J.C. meeting, McCarten’s opportunity for a mount on the chestnut will be anything in which he may run prior to the Randwick fixture.

No exception could be taken to the way Chide moved a few mornings ago. There was certainly no suggestion of lameness, and he is a much bigger horse than when he first came across. According to some of the New Zealand division he is better when carrying little flesh, but a change from one pace to another occasionally causes a horse to alter in every way. Chide may do better here than \n New Zealand when on the big side.

RICCARTON FIELDS

FIRST ACCEPTANCES OUT FOR HANDICAPS FORFEITS IN CLASSICS Press Association CHRISTCHURCH, Friday. The following are the first acceptances for the Great Easter and Great Autumn Handicaps, to be run at the Canterbury Jockey Club’s meeting:

FIRST FORFEITS CHAMPAGNE STAKES Of £600; 6 furlongs Ozone Jayson | Lineage Winsome Hind Sir Limond Sieipner Autopay Sea Scout Gesture Psychology—D’Oro Chrysology filly Spoon Adelphi Charmaine CHALLENGE STAKES Of £600; 7 furlongs Leader Merry Peel Jaleux Duellona Greenaway < lold Well Royal Duke Commentor Stealth Sieipner Lineage Taunton Sir Limond Psychology—D Ore Chrysology filly Spoon Panderilla Charmaine Adelphi 100 TO 1 CHANCE WINS DOWNFALL OF FIGURE Wtih everything in her favour, Figure, who started at odds on, was outpaced in the straight and defeated by Harry Gavin (at a three-figure price), and Spanish Galleon in the Quality Handicap at Moonee Valley recently. Figure led in :o the straight, but soon after Harry Ga.vin, who has not raced for many monts, callenged and passed her. The three-year-old filly Spanish Galleon was the unlucky horse in the race. From fourth position at the turn* she ran up to third on the rails in the straight, but then could not get through and did not appear to clap on full pace until about 50 yards from the post. Harry Gavin defeated Spanish Galleon by’ half a bead. Figure, who was ridden by W. Cook, was half a head iway third.

GREAT EASTER HANDICAP Of £1,000; 7 furlongs Meadow Lark 9 0 Royal Saxon 7 9 Red Heckle . 8 13 Rin Tin Tin 7 6 Great Greenaway . 7 Charter . . 8 2 Royal Duke 7 Great Star , . 8 2 Arikiwai ... 7 0 Panther . . 8 0 Leader . . . 7 0 Full Feather 7 12 Te Awhina . 0 First Sight . . 7 12 Topere . . , 7 0 Money Mine . . 7 11 Gay Crest . . 7 0 GREAT AUTUMN HANDICAP Of £1,000; ; 1£ miles Historic . . . 9 6 Waterline . . 8 ft Paquito . . , . 8 12 Arikiwai . . 6 Red Heckle . 8 11 Dolomite . . 7 4 Merry Damon 8 8 Jaleux .... 7 4 Seatown . . 8 4 Mountain Money Mine 8 2 Heath . . . *7 2 Hoy lake . . . 8 2 Gay Crest . . 7 0 Latin Don Jose . . 7 0 Quarter . . 8 0