TURF NEWS & NOTES

Wairarapa Times-Age, 20 April 1939, Page 11

TURF NEWS & NOTES

CURRENT TOPICS FROM STABLE & COURSE

Views on Racing Facts and Fancies

TWO-YEAR-OLD SUPREMACY

(By

“The Cynic.")

As happens frequently, it has taken till Easter to sort out finally two-year-olds for the season. Even now there will be arguments as to which is the best of the juveniles. Many racing men were satisfied that the problem was solved at Trentham last month, in the North Island Challenge Stakes. Beaulivre was a pronounced favourite but though he led for six furlongs, Beau Vite ran him down over the seventh furlong in decisive fashion. That form looked definite enough to give Beau Vite first place. In the following week, however, again over seven furlongs, the posi- ' tions of the pair were reversed in the Manawatu Sires’ Produce Stakes, while Mr G. M. Currie’s Limond filly, Submission, a sister to Honour. Courtcraft and Homily, beat both the Beau Pere colts. Submission went on to Auckland at Easter, to win the Champagne Stakes, and with this form to her credit, she has strong claims to first place among the Dominion’s two-year-old performers in .the autumn. While Submission was at Auckland, there was much interest in the racing at iSiccarton, where Beau Vite and Beaulivre had two opportunities to resume hostilities. Backers seemed to pay little attention to the Sires’ Produce form at Awapuni, as they made Beau Vite a strong favourite, apparently content to accept the running in the Challenge Stakes at Trentham as a more reliable test.

Honours to Beaulivre. It proved false reasoning, as Beaulivre, brilliant as ever, ran out six furlongs solidly, never allowing his rival to get near him. Next day, in the Challenge Stakes, the result was repeated at seven furlongs, in most decisive fashion. With three successive victories over his rival to finish the season, Beaulivre must be /awarded the honours. It looks as if he was not at his-best at Trentham last month. Possibly his trainer underrated the opposition. While Beaulivre must be given all credit, Beau Vite is good also and it is apparent that New Zealand lo'st a great young sire when Beau Pere was allowed to go out of the Dominion. Beaulivre and Beau Vite outclassed the opposition at Riccarton. A long Way behind this pair, there was not much to choose between Aranui and Moorsotis, with the former claiming a narrow advantage each day. These two should win races next season but they have a gap to bridge before they can be expected to beat the Beau Pere colts. Master Hotspur failed badly in the Champagne Stakes but next day provided a demonstration that the handicap form was not nearly so good, as it was only in the last stride that he missed first place an The Autumn Nursery Handicap. This Ringmaster colt has speed but his stamina is not the best. i Grey Night won the handicap on the first day in attractive style and next day was prominent all the way, though narrowly missing a place.' He looks like being a better horse than his half brother, Grey Honour, and he is the first winner to be sired by the Night Raid horse, Nightly, a good stud prospect. Consistent. Globe Trotter was very consistent, for after being second to Grey Night, he stayed on to beat Master Hotspur next day. He had shown smart form earlier in the season and should do a lot more winning next season. Serenata was third each day and should be a good three-year-old. She is by Nightmarch from the Oaks winner, Praise, so she should stay. Not Out ran well each day and this good-looking colt will have his turn next season. Prudent Prince is another to keep in mind and he should run out a journey. Montessa, on the other hand, will be no more than a sprinter. Benevolent showed up and is certain to improve, as he has not been hurried. North Island stables have had all the best two-year-olds of the autumn. It is not often that Riccarton is so completely outclassed. The position might have been modified had Winning Rival and Great Swoop trained on, but they may be on hand again for some of the good prizes in the spring. Treble Success. The achievement of Black Banner in winning the Great Western, Riverton, and Autumn Steeplechases on successive days of the recent Riverton meeting is a record that has few parallels in this country, but two can be cited of other jumping trebles, although neither was on all fours with Black Banner’s efforts. Black Banner carried 11.6 to victory in the Great Western; an additional 71b did not trouble him on the middle day, and he secured the honours in the Autumn Steeplechase under 12.9. Winning stakes amounted to over £BOO, and his rider, T. J. Boyle, would collect over £7O. At the Great Northern meeting at Ellerslie in 1928, Glendowie won the Hunt Club Hurdles, Great Northern Steeplechase, and Winter Steeplechase, his total winning stakes being £2600. S. Henderson was his rider throughout the meeting. French Fleet, another Southland horse, won the three hack steeplechases at the Dunedin winter meeting in 1932. He was ridden by E. Mackie, and carried 9.13 on the first occasion, and 11.12 on the last. The fields were small, and French Fleet’s reward for this feat was a mere £225. Derby Winner May Be Destroyed. Windsor Lad, winner of the St Leger and Derby in 1934, may have to be destroyed. It is feared that he has a tumour on the brain. A delicate operation performed recently failed to reveal the seat of the trouble. The illness developed last September. After treatment he appeared to be making a good recovery, but he had a relapse toward the end of the year. Windsor Lad was purchased from the Maharajah of Rajpipla for £50,000 by Mr Martin Benson. Sky Pilot. All going well. Sky Pilot may make a tour of the North Island during the winter months, with the Great Northern meeting, one of the principal ob* jects of the campaign.

Consistent Performer. Iddo performed most consistently during the winter and spring and was one of the most successful of the ’Bay hurdlers last year. The Tractor gelding has come back from his spell looking more robust than formerly and it would appear likely that he will go on to hold his own against stronger company than that he met last year. Iddo schooled well when tried over the tall timber on several occasions last year and it would not surprise if he won a good steeplechase before the winter was over. Salon. Salon has been out on the farm since he showed his brilliant form in the spring, when he won the Taranaki and Waikato Hunt Cups and the Hunters’ Steeplechase at Ellerslie. This Leighton gelding has more pace on the flat than the majority of steeplechasers and his win with 11.0 over three miles in the Waikato Hunt Club Cup was really an impressive performance. Brilliant Mare. Lady Stella is the most promising of this season’s novices. She is a brilliant jumper, who takes her fences fast and clean. While she will do better at hurdling arid steeplechasing when she settles down, she leaves the impression that she is fast improving. This sister to the smart Gisborne ’chaser Skerryvore is in good hands and it is understood that she will race at Egmont, Manawatu and Wanganui. The experience she gains on that circuit should bring her up to her best form and it would not surprise to find her ranking among the best in the district over the big fences later on. RACING FIXTURES April 21, 22 —Whangarei. April 22-—Clifden. April 22—-Reefton. April 22—Waverley. April 27, 29 —South Canterbury. April 28, 29—Dannevirke (at Woodville). April 29, May I—Nelson.