TURF NEWS & NOTES

Wairarapa Times-Age, 24 May 1939, Page 9

TURF NEWS & NOTES

CURRENT TOPICS FROM STABLE & COURSE Views on Racing Facts and Fancies CAREER OF WILD CHASE ENDED

(By

“THE CYNIC.”)

The racing career of Wild Chase came to an end with his unsuccessful effort in the Ashburton Cup, which was run at Riccarton this month. He is having a rest from track work and will be retired shortly to Stonyhurst, where he was bred, to take up stud life in the spring. Wild Chase is a five-year-old by Paper Money from Wild Hind, by Autumnus from Kirriemuir, by Clanranald from Madowra, so that he comes from the most successful of all the Stonyhurst Stud families. For more than 30 years Stonyhurst. has never been without a sire of St Simon descent. Winning Hit and his son, Cricket Bat, are there now. The sequence was started with Treadmill (son of Bill of Portland), and was carried on by Treadmill’s son, Autumnnus, the sire of Winning Hit. In addition, the stud had for a few seasons the imported horse, San Francisco. The introduction of Wild Chase will bring in St Simon again, through a new branch, his sire, Paper Money, being by Greenback, son of St Frusquin, a brother to San Francisco. Stake Winnings, During four seasons in which he faced, Wild Chase started 51 times, for 16 wins, seven seconds, and seven thirds, while he was unplaced in 21 races, his total earnings in stakes being £6760. He was tried successfully as an early two-year-old, winning the John Grigg Stakes at Ashburton in September. After failing at Trentham, he won the Welcome Stakes at Riccarton, where later in the season he took the Middle Park Plate and Champagne Stakes, also running second in the Challenge Stakes. At Auckland he won the Criterion Handicap and was second in the Royal Stakes, while he won the North Island Challenge Stakes at Trentham in the autumn. His stake earnings that season, were £1865. His three-year-old season was his best. He was only once out of the money in 12 starts, in which he earned £3210, as a result of eight wins and three places. His successes came in the. Wainui Handicap and St Leger at Trentham, Riccarton Handicap, Derby, and Canterbury Cup at Riccarton, Dunedin Cup and Jabes Hazlett Cup at Wingatui, and the Awapuni Cup. At four years, after being third in a sprint at Ashburton and twice unplaced at Trentnam, he ran second to Cerne Abbas in the New Zealand Cup and a few days later third in the Canterbury Cup, while at Auckland he was third in the Racing Club Handicap. " Those were his only money-ear-ning efforts that season, in which he was unplaced eight times. His prize money for the season was £5BO. This season he failed in three races before he won the Otaio Handicap at Riccarton, followed by' third Canterbury Cup. On Boxing Day he" Won the Manawatu Cup, while a third at Trentham in January and second in the Dunedin Cup completed his stake earnings, which this season were £llO5.

Wild Chase was a game racehorse with winning form in the best company from four furlongs to a mile and three-quarters, also a second at two miles. He won on all classes of tracks, but he hit out best when the going Was not hard.

Apart from his racing deeds, which stamp him as one of the best horses to race in the Dominion in recent years he has size and a full share of good looks to recommend him. With the chances he will receive at the Stonyhurst Stud, Wild Chase should make a successful sire.

A Solid Mare. Wardress, an easy winner of two races at Washdyke last week was purchased by Mr D. W. Westenra, of Dunsandel, as a yearling at Trentham for 65 gns, and was put aside for a year. She was then broken in, and as a three-year-old was hunted by one of Mr Westenra’s sons, following the hounds on several occasions, and giving excellent displays. During part of that season she suffered from a mouth injury, and it was not possible to use a bit on her. A hunt was scheduled for the Dunsandel district at the time, and her rider, being anxious that he should ride her, had to resort to an open halter. With this he created somewhat of a sensation by following the hounds throughout the run, the filly jumping perfectly. Wardress will win many more good fiat races, but there is no doubt that she will eventually be put to hurdling. She has undoubted stamina, and this is not surprising when her blood lines are considered. She is by Lord Warden (by Hurry On) from Clink, by Clarenceux from Wink, by Winkie from Judith, by Martian. Clink was bred by Mr George Gould, who sold her to the late Mr H. M. Reeves, and she later passed on to Mr G. A. Kain, breeder of Wardress. She is a half-sister to Palestrina, who is also now owned by Mr Kain, and who produced The Cardinal to Night Raid, a recent winner in the North Island. Making a Break. Since winning a double at Timaru last season, Mungatoon had started in 21 races, without scoring a win. His wins last week make four Wins in 23 starts. Te Rapa Winner. Riotous, winner of the Te Rapa Steeplechase, is not engaged in the Great Northern Steeplechase. The notable failures in the race were Sky Pilot, Black Marlin, and Mio Lume, and the former, who was made a good favourite, showed signs of lameness at the finish. RACING FIXTURES May 27—Foxton. June 3, s—Wanganui.5—Wanganui. June 3, s—Napier5—Napier Park. June 3, 5/7—Auckland. June 3,5, 10 —Dunedin./ • Mune iO—Hawke’S"Ba'y; ' T' ’ June 17—Bay of Plenty. June 17 —Hawke’s Bay. June 17 —Greymouth. June 24 —Otaki Maori. June 24—Ashburton. June 24 —Waipa. July I—Dannevirke.1 —Dannevirke. July I—Oamaru.1 —Oamaru. July 4,6, B—Wellington.8—Wellington.