RANGITIKEI CUP

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 83, Issue 51, 2 March 1939, Page 4

RANGITIKEI CUP

AT BULLS ON SATURDAY RACES ALSO AT FRANKLIN. BANKS PENINSULA AND NAPIER NOTES AM) COMMENTS Racing enthusiasts will have plenty to think about during the coming week-end for on Saturday there will be racing at Bulls, Napier Park, Pukekohe and Banks Peninsula. Wotan added another failure to his growing list in the Wanganui Cup and it is reported that his connections contemplate retiring him to the stud. Riotous is to have his first outing for some time when he races at Bulls on Saturday. He did well last winter, and the race will help to tune him up for his Taranaki engagement.

Although he was not favoured by the journeys, the veteran gelding Taitoru demonstrated at Wanganui that he is well past his prime, and he will require careful placing to make pay his way. Mataroa is apparently as good as his recent highweight form has made him appear. He should improve a good deal by next season when he is expected to do good service for his new owner, Mr. A. H. Burt.

Finishing with a fine run from the rear. Inquisitor got up to score narrowly in the Morrinsville Hack Handicay at Te Aroha, from Royal Abb. Inquisitor only came on the scene in the straight, and it was easily his best performance to date. In spite of the fact that he did not jump some of his fences well. Electric Spear registered a solid performance to win the hurdles on the second day at Te Aroha. It was only his second start over hurdles and it looks as if he will prove a very useful jumper. Silver-Stick accounted for the Electric Handicap at Te Aroha in solid fashion. He did not run about as much as in previous races, and is improving with racing. Silver-Stick was ridden by C. G. Goulsbro, who gained his first success since returning to the saddle. Judging by the dash she has been infusing into her work recently Oratory is right back to her best and the Bailey Memorial at Bulls will give a line on her Thompson Handicap prospects. She is also to race at New Plymouth. Pearl of Asia, who won the juvenile event on the second day at Wanganui, is a full sister to Icing. She was hopelessly left on the first day when, drawn on the extreme outside at the barrier, she was blocked by Al’ez. who swung across in front of her as the

field was despatched. • * • * Sporting Gift was sore on the first day of the Wanganui meeting, and consequently was withdrawn on the second day. Th? trouble was due to a slight injury he received in the horse float when proceeding to the meeting; he knocked a leg where he was galloped on when racing at Pahiatua. The two-year-old Classic is entered for the Tuakau Stakes at Pukekohe on Saturday, this being a snecial race for two and three-year-olds with a limited stakes clause, and it would have suited this smart galloper to a nicety. However, reports from Te Rapa suggest that all is not well with him. and he may have to miss immediate engagements. The Kiosk mare Pretty Lass was far from disgraced at Wanganui, where the turning course does not favour long-striding gallopers. She ran two honest races and she will not be long off the winning list. She is engaged in the seven furlong County Hack Handicap at New Plymouth next week, a distance which should suit her very admirably. Le Marquis scored an overdue success on Saturday, but it is doubtful whether he will rise to great heights on the racetrack. He defeated a very mediocre lot and had nothing to spare from Little Dorrit at the close. Although he does not lack speed, he is a shade on the small side. He may be a useful proposition for the small meetings. Bryce Street, in the eight jumping races he has contested this season, has been twice over the big fences and has won twice, earning also two seconds, three thirds and a fourth placing. His earnings have totalled £725, of which the largest sharp, £3OO, came from his second placing in the Grand National Steeplechase. These are consistent performances, and the jumper is very well at present. Red Witch registered a good performance on Thursday to dead-heat with Morning Flight in her ' initial effort beyond a sprint course and her future seems assured. She proved rather a handful for her apprentice rider, but nevertheless, she stuck to her task in a game manner. Red Witch is a four-year-old half-sister by Nigger Minstrel to Sternchase, and she is also being raced by her breeder, Mr. G. D. Beatson.

Daisy Chain, now owned and trained in Wanganui, is engaged in the hack six at Bulls on Saturday. Most successful among New Zealand jockeys this season up to the end of last week was the Awapuni horseman. W. J. Broughton, who had piloted 41 winners. Next came H. N. Wiggins with 38. B. H. Morris with 36 (including three at Wanganui on Saturday). G. R. Tattersall with 31 and R. McTavish with 25 (including three at Te Aroha on Saturday).

Nothing comparable with her runaway victory in the Great Northern Champagne Stakes had been done by Golden Sheila in the last three years, and her victory in the Vercoe Handicap at Te Rapa was her first success beyond six furlongs. The fact that she followed this up by running Llangollei to a head in the Herries Memorial Cup at Te Aroha shows that a good middle-distance race in the near future is well within her pros-

Deficit ran ms nest race at Wanganui on Saturday since being purchased by L. Butler 18 months ago, to defeat all but Sternchase, and it was only in the last 10 yards that he succumbed. The Lackham gelding possesses a fine turn of speed and he may be worth keeping in mind at the forthcoming Taranaki fixtures. He appears more solid now than formerly. » » ♦ • Coronation was an odds on favourite in the Champion Hack Handicap at Te Aroha and the support was justified, as he won impressively. The son of Limond was unlucky in a similar event at Te Rapa, and the win was deserved. There is no doubt now that this well-bred colt is at last coming right, for since he won a similar event at Pahiatua he has been second at Te Rapa and a winner at Te Aroha at each start.

The Bigot was an expensive failure at Wanganui and his two mediocre displays confirmed earlier impressions that he will never make a stayer. He pulled himself to pieces in the early stages of both races and in addition he hung out badly, in fact for nearly half the journey his head was drawn across almost at right angles to the line of going. He looked a winner entering the straight in the Earle Stakes, but as on the first day, he compounded badly in the run to the judge. It appears doubtful .whether he will ever win beyond a mile.

Ecstatic is one of the most promising hack sprinters in the southerr portion of the North Island and she may be leaving her mark in the oper ranks before many months have elapsed. She scored in her only star! at Wanganui in convincing style. Ecstatic broke her maiden status or the course last September and she subsequently also notched a double al the Marton New Year fixture. She ii a three-year-old filly by Laughing

Prince from the Panmure mare Enthusiasm, winner of both Derbies and Oaks in her year, and she promises to turn out the best yet of her dam’s offspring. Te Huia, who won a double at the Wanganui meeting, comes from the same stable as Fiancee. These were the first successes that this six-year-old full-brother to Silk Sox has had in the last two seasons, but he has been placed on occasions, including over hurdles, in a gentleman riders’ event, and in the Waverley Cup. He is now owned by Mr. J. F. Kiley, who formerly raced One W hetu, and who purchased him a little over a month ago from his breeders. By the manner in which he won, fie Huia is now ( right again, but he has previously shown a liking for the Wanganui course. Silk Sox, who raced over hurdles last winter, has been nominated for sprint events at the approaching Taranaki meeting, and Te Huia is nominated for the Greatford Hack Handicap at Bulls on Saturday. Lady Stella, who won the hurdles race on the first day at Wanganui, when she was making her debut, and was beaten by a head only on the seclond day. is a chestnut mare by Cockpit from the Cynic—Te Puia mare Sinella, a Mermaid descendant, and is an older full-sister to Skerryvore, who won the Hawke’s Bay Steeples last winter. She is being raced by Mrs. L. G. Connop. of Hastings, who some time ago had a partnership interest in Mercian Prince, and she is under the charge of V. H. Colello. Her rider. I. Rohloff, was enjoying his eighth win this term, which places him among the leading jumping horsemen in the Dominion at present. Lady Stella has had a good deal of show ring experience, but. prior to the Wanganui meeting, had started only four times previously this season, winning a highweight event at Hastings last month. She figures in the hurdles field at Bulls.