TURF NEWS & NOTES

Wairarapa Times-Age, 12 January 1939, Page 11

TURF NEWS & NOTES

CURRENT TOPICS FROM STABLE & COURSE

Views on Racing Facts and Fancies

WELLINGTON CUP ASSESSMENTS

(By

“The Cynic.”)

As was anticipated Handicapper H. Coyle has made every endeavour to keep the good class horses in the Wellington Cup. and the 9.7 apportioned Royal Chief means that the handicap is framed on a fairly low scale. Royal Chief carried 9.3 in the Melbourne Cup and was backed down to favouritism, eventually finishing fifth after anything but a' good run. It was inevitable, following his Metropolitan Handicap success and the good race he ran .in the Melbourne Stakes behind Ajax, that he would have to be given something in advance of his Melbourne Cup assessment. He . has 71b over weight-for-age. and that should not frighten him out of the field if he is anywhere right. The Melbourne Cup winner. Catalogue. has gone up 111 b for his success, and he. therefore, does not appear to be weighted out. He was unlucky to lose this race last year, when he carried 8.3, and his form since then has improved out of all knowledge. Wild Chase is really nicely in with 9.1, only lib more than he carried to a very easy victory in the Manawatu Cup, and on that form he should again beat Peerless (who later ran third in the Derby). He meets the Beau Pere filly on only IJlb worse carried weights compared with their last meeting. Defaulter’s 8.11 may give rise to some controversy, despite the fact that the Defoe colt is outstanding among the three-year-olds this season. It represents 111 b over the standard scale. When it is remembered that Wild Chase swept the board last season at that age and showed high-class form in handicaps and at weight-for-age in Australia in the spring, Defaulter has 41b the worse of the deal.

No three-year-old has yet won the race with 8.11, though the Ormond colt Renown scored with 8.10 in 1902. Mazir.

Although he failed in the Auckland Cup. Mazir’s good second with 8.12 in the A.R.C. Handicap on New Year’s Day assured him of a high position in the handicap. However, he has quite sufficient in this class in being awarded the same weight as he carried at Ellerslie.

Arctic King's 8.9 is 81b above what he carried to victory in the New Zealand Cup and a pound less than that under which he failed dismally at Auckland, but Mr Coyle treats Queen of Song as a has-been, despite her winning the Southland Handicap last week with 9.0. She won this race three years ago and later raced well in the Mel-

bourne Cup and other races, so she may stage a come-back under her 8.0. Quadroon and Argentic,- on the 8.5 mark, have had no respite after their poor form during the holidays, but :t must not be overlooked that both these horses have a good record at Trentham. Peerless has her full share of weight when compared with Wild Chase, but she is undoubtedly the best staying filly seen out this season.

Highly Regarded. Royal Star II evidently impressed the handicapper at Tauherenikau tor, in this infinitely stronger company, the English horse has only lib less to carry. He did not win by much at the Wairarapa meeting, but Mr Coyle must regard him as an improver. Dictate ran badly under 7.11 in the A.R.C. Handicap, and so he has plenty with his 7.8 here, but Homily, whose form has been very consistent, if not one of great success, is nicely placed on the 7.5 mark.

Old Hunting Cat has his full share with 7.5, and Aussie Ra would appeal to most as being a better proposition than The Bigot at 7.2.

The eight on the minimum will not cut much ice, though Happy Landing carried 7.3 and ran Quadroon (8.4) to half a head in the Wellington Handicap in October. Taken all round, however, the handicap is one which should give satisfaction. and it is to be earnestly hoped that Defaulter will be given a chance to make history.

Promising Hack. One of the most improved hacks in the Manawatu district is Ruling Spi, a four-year-old mare raced by Messrs Harper and Cornfoot,president and steward of the Feilding Jockey Club. Ruling Spi, who has not done much racing, won two small events last season, and began to show form this term when she finished third at Otaki. She got back again on to the winning list at Awapuni at Christmas when she beat that good Fordell mare Red Cat over seven furlongs and she showed Stamina on the concluding day when she came from the rear to run Royt\ Choice to half a head over nine furlongs.

A half sister to two winners in Night Spi and Money Spi, Ruling Spi is by the defunct Chief Ruler from the imported and unraced mare Spionetta, a daughter of Spearmint’s Irish Derby winning son Spion Kop and Flash of Steel, by Royal Realm from Flaming Vixen, by Flying Fox. This family is well known in New Zealand, as Flaming Vixen’s dam, Amphora, is the ancestress of Catalogue, and the Derby winner Cylinder. Ruling Spi is engaged in the Douro Hack Cup next week.

Bulawayo. Some good bargains have been secured at the annual sales of the Elderslie Stud yearlings, and one of them was secured when the hammer fell on Bulawayo at 30gns. Bulawayo had a rather remarkable career, as he won amongst the ponies and also in good handicap company during the same season. As a four-year-old Bulawayo won the Tim-, aru Handicap, of one mile and a-quar-ter, and. going up north, won the Pony Cup and Pony Handicap at Ellerslie and a Pony Cup run at the Auckland Trotting Club's meeting. He came south again and won the Naseby Cup, the Dunedin Cup, of £5OO, and the Great Autumn Handicap, of £750, and later he won the Ashburton Cup. altogether proving him a great bargain and one of the best of his inches that ever raced in New Zealand. Last of the Beau Peres. Seven of the present season’s crop of two-year-olds by Beau Pere have already scored, three in New Zealand, Beaulivre, Beau Repairs, and Tableau, and four in Australia. Beaucaire, Good Morning, Beau Mari and Bel Oiseau. It will be interesting to note how buyers will view the third crop of yearlings by this sire, as these will be the last of his stock to be bred in the Dominion in the meantime. A Great Family. In the racing results for the Christmas and New Year meetings, a noticeable feature is apparent, and that is the success of the progeny of Equitas. Oratory won two races, Royal Choice two, Hinerawe two, and Pen ran first and third. Comparisons have been made as to New Zealand's best mares, but a correspondent claims that there is no mare in New Zealand that can claim so many from her progeny at Equitas, and here they are: —Oratress, Murihaupo, Wheritas, Equitant, Equitable, Interlocutor. Bank Note, Oral.

Oratory. Oratorian. Dialogist. Windbag. Concentrate, Oratrix, Hinerawe, Martian Chief. Royal Choice, Hunting Bag, Hunting Lodge, Pen. and Martianette (who never raced).

Oratory. Oratory is said to have been somewhat backward in condition when raced at the Manawatu meeting. If that is so, she should represent danger at the Wellington Cup meeting.

RACING FIXTURES

January 13, 14 —Vincent. January 14 —Clifden. January 19, 21, 23 —Wellington. January 21 —Wairio. January 21, 23 —Thames. January 23 —Ashhurst-Pohangina. January 27. 28 —Pahiatua.