TURF NEWS AND NOTES

Wairarapa Times-Age, 16 August 1939, Page 9

TURF NEWS AND NOTES

CURRENT TOPICS FROM STABLE AND COURSE

International Rivalry in Forthcoming St. Leger ENGLISH SCRIBE SAYS BLUE PETER WILL HAVE TO GET BREAK FRENCH PHARIS 11. IS A SENSATIONAL COLT (BY “CARBINE.”) The brilliant English colt Blue Peter still continues to occupy the attention of sporting scribes overseas, and although he has won the Two Thousand Guineas, Sandown Park Eclipse Stakes, not to mention the Derby, he does not satisfy everyone. He met the four-year-old, Glen Loan, at the weight-for-age, and some of the writers were of the opinion that, if a real champion, he should beaten him much easier. On the other hand, it was contended that Blue Peter was a lazy horse and could have beaten Glen Loan at the level weights if it had been required of him.

However, it must be said for Blue Peter that in turn he stalled off Scottish lUnion and Glen Loan. “Fairway*” of the London “Sunday Times,” who was greatly impressed with the manner in which Pharis II won the Grand Prix de Paris, thinks that Smith will have to ride Blue Peter all the way to beat the French colt in the St Leger.

The writer quoted says that before the Derby, Lord Rosebery said to Smith: “Now, Smith, there's only one Derby, so take no chances; go and win as far as you can.” Smith obeyed orders. Though he had the Derby safe some distance from home, Smith never let up. and. keeping Elue Peter going right to the end. won by four lengths. In the Eclipse Stakes Lord Rosebery did not repeat those orders, and Blue Peter was “lobbing along” at the head of affairs when he entered the straight. Smith was not worrying in the least, so certain was he of Blue Peter’s success.

“Just a little less than two furlongs from home,” “Fairway” goes on, “the pressing attentions of Glen Loan made it imperative for Smith to get extremely busy, and for a dozen strides the race appeared to rest in the balance, but in the last 100 yards Blue Peter gradually began to draw away, and he was drawing steadily further away when the winning post was reached. So strongly was he going at the finish

that he galloped fully three furlongs before Smith could pull him up. “When a lazy horse (and Blue Peter, unlike most sons of Fairway, is very lazy) is ‘lobbing’ along, it takes a little time for him to get into top gear; hence those few pulsating moments when Glen Loan drew up to Blue Peter’s girths." “Fairway” says Smith took a risk in not asking Blue Peter to bestir himself a little earlier, though right at the end that colt was going away, and, with the race a couple of furlongs further would have won by lengths. In “Fairway’s” opinion Smith will have to revert to his Derby tactics if he is to beat Pharis II in the St Leger. He says he has seen Pharis II run in two races, and he is certain Blue Peter’s chance of success lies in quickly getting a long lead, and defying the Frenchman to catch him. “Pharis II is a slow starter,” he continues, “but Blue Peter has given evidence that he can go along from the start. I am not suggesting that Smith should make running or run the risk of riding him into the ground, but I should like to see him set his mount alight about a furlong in the straight, as he did in the Derby, and then Pharis II will have to be all that his more fervent admirers claim him to be if he is to catch him.

“On the other hand, if both horses are racing on the bit in the straight and Pharis II is anywhere near Blue Peter, he will assuredly beat him. Pharis II can undoubtedly ’ ‘quicken’ in more sensational style than any horse I have ever seen. When Elliot, his rider, asks him a question it has the same effect as. when you put your foot on the accelerator of a high-powered car.

“We saw at Sandown that Blue Peter is not endowed with exceptional powers of acceleration. We can only hope that both horses will go to the post fit to run for their lives, and if they do we may well see the race of a lifetime.” From the foregoing it will be gathered that this year's St Leger is going to be of exceptional interest, and it is prophesied that the crowd will be the greatest ever seen at Doncaster. Although general opinion confines the issue to Blue Peter and Pharis 11, admirers of Heliopolis think he has something more than an outside chance of beating both.

ABOUT HORSES

ALL IRISH TO BE SPELLED.

All Irish has been turned out for a spell until next autumn.

The three-year-old Llandaff was operated on by Dr W. C. Ring recently and has joined the list of geldings in consequence. The son of Cambria Park was well forward prior to the operation, and it is unlikely to throw him back to any extent.

Since resuming work after a brief let-up Mon Acre is doing well under W. J. McLean’s supervision. She has thickened out and is more robust as the result of the spell.

The three-year-old Ringmaster colt. Master Hotspur, had a couple of races last week and his first outing improved him sufficiently to make him very prominent for nearly six furlong in the concluding seven on Saturday at Riccarton.

Gold Saute, who looks like developing in to a good three-year-old, is out of the Paper Money mare Frenzied 'Finance, whose stud career has been a series of misfortunes. Her first foal was Miladi, by Weathervane, and then j four successive foals died. The next two were Warden’s Gift, a filly, and Gold Salute, both by Lord Warden, and the next foal, by Nightmarch, also died. It is understood that he will be taken to Australia for the spring meetings.

Merry March, winner of the first division of the Longbeach Hack Handicap on Saturday at Riccarton. is a gelding by Nightmarch from Kilmiss, and after being raced by Mr C. Louisson. of Palmerston North, for whom he was trained at Riccarton by P. Mason, he was sold to his present owner for 90 guineas. After the sale Merry March showed promise of an early return by filling a second placing, but soreness then came against him, and he had to be turned out. He was recommissioned only a few weeks ago. and to win a race with a restricted preparation, stamps him as a very useful galloper.

RACING FIXTURES

August 19—Pakuranga Hunt. August 31 —Egmont-Wanganui Hunt. September 2 —Taranaki Hunt. September 2—Otago Hunt. September 7, 9 —Wanganui Jockey Club. September 16 —Foxton Racing Club. September 16 —Ashburton County Racing Club. September 16, 18 —Avondale Jockey Club.