"RAPIER" REVIEWS NEW SUB-GRIFFINS
ONLY
MODERATE:
LATE ARRIVAL THE
PROBABLE
REASON
VALLEY STA KES WILL BE
HOTLY CONTESTED
FEI YING, ARABIAN CAT AND PLANCHET THE PICK
(By "RAPIER”)
AFTER having watched the new subscription griffins, China ponies, in training for a lengthy period, I have reached the conclusion that on the whole they can be regarded as a moderate lot. This may possibly be accounted for by the fact that, due to their late arrival in the Colony, their training has not been too well advanced...
As to be expected, there are quite a few which can be discard- ed, but there are also several which have made good progress.
I am of the opinion, nevertheless, that there is not one pony which comes up to the same standard of either Gordito or Racing Boy. This opinion, of course, is liable to be falsified, as was the case last year, when Gordito confounded its critics by its brilliant performances after having been practically neglected in the Valley Stakes.
Gordito's training was kept a secret, and it is quite possible that among the new ponies there is one whose training has also been conducted on the same basis. I feel confident, however, that the ponies I am about to name are among the best, and they should be borne in mind accordingly.
The Valley Stakes has for the; past two years provided very keen competition, and the finish in both instances was most excit- ing. It was won in 1936 by Wild
Cat (Mr. T. L. Wong) and in appearance of Salvage Master. 1937 by Pagan Love
Marshall).
It will be recalled that
(Mr.
F.
AN UPSETTING HABIT”
Sir Victor Sassoon, Bt., leading in Happy Eve (Mr. V. V. Needa up) after its remarkably easy win in the 1937 Hong Kong Derby.
AUSTRALIAN PONIES FOR
ROOTY HILL DERBY
··(Continued from Page 18) I cannot say very much about Macquire River beyond the fact that it has the stamp of a classy animal. I have not had much of an opportunity of watching its train- ing, but the last time I saw it I was impressed.
but if it should appear, on the first day in a sprint event back it by all means, as Annabella is undoubted- ly a speedy merchant, resembling Lancashire Chips in appearance, I can recommend it for short to me- dium distance races, but beyond a mile I should leave it alone.
MR. WILLIAMSON'S STRING Mr. S. T. Williamson has three new Australian ponies-Sea Imp, Sea Spray and Sea Urchin. The last SYDNEY MAIDENS WINNER?
When the new Australian ponies named appeals to me as being the be Mr. first arrived in the Colony, there best, and it will probably was one which created a good deal Don. Black's mount in the Rooty- of discussion as a possible winner. Hill Derby, It was numbered No. H45, and sub- In training, Sea Urchin has near- sequently named Annabella, byly always finished well against its Messrs. Li & Edgar. This pony has stable companions, and whilst I since more than justified expecta- cannot say that it is of the same tions, and I had practically made class as the ones I have named up my mind to suggest it as a win-above, I believe that this pony will ner of one of the two Sydney win a race or two.
Mr. Seth's See Maidens.
That is a nice appearance, and, Messrs. Li & Edgar were certain looking pony in all
ly lucky in this respect, their first although at the moment I cannot venture into active participation in recommend it for any event, I feel local racing, but their dismay can that this animal will develop into only be left to your imagination a good pony.
In Louis XIV we have a pony which has not been in the limelight at last year whilst in training, but all the same I Pagan Love was tipped as a likely win-think it should be noted as a good ner, and I nominate a probable winner pony. It will probably be taken out
by this year in Fei Ying, which will also in the Valley Stakes
Mr. S. W. Tang, who has the habit of creating be ridden by Mr. Marshall.
upsets when least expected.
This pony is certainly a fast mover over short distances, and its gallop last Sunday morning had the desired effect of making it a favourite for the Valley
Stakes.
GOOD CHALLENGER
Although I am mentioning it some- what late, I recommend a careful note being taken of Smiling Thru, which is undoubtedly the best among Mr. Eu Tong-Sen's new subscription griffins.
This stable had a good pony in Rose In Arabian Cat, Mr, Li Lan Sang has Evelyn, in 1936, and in Smiling Thru a pony which is quite. capable of ex-they have another pony which will fol- tending Fei Ying. It will be ridden by low very closely in the footsteps of Mr. T. L. Wong, and if it does not win Rose Evelyn. the Valley Stakes, I have no doubt that
It will definitely be taken out in the
is
it will be in at the finish. At one Valley Stakes by Mr. Encarnacao, stage I was rather keen on Planchet, whose knowledge of China ponies belonging to Mr. F. C. Hall, but I am rated very high. afraid it will not be fast enough yet over six furlongs.
,
PIET HEIN
There is no doubt, however, that At the early stage of training, Piet Planchet is good, and as it will prob-Hein war-talked-about-as-one of the ably be ridden by Mr. V. Needa its best among this year's new subscrip- chances of winning-the-Valley Stakestion griffins, and some even went should not be ignored. This far as to nominate it as the likely win- pony is definitely a menace over long ner of The Valley Stakes. distance events, and it should be fol- It will be ridden by Mr. Chao, who lowed accordingly.
came down last year from Shanghai, and I can substantiate the good things said about Piet Hein.
Mr. John Peel has a good pony in Merrick, and it is likely that Mr. Needa will take it out in the Valley Stakes I cannot feel too confident about it instead of Planchet, in which event I recommend bearing Merrick in mind as a strong contender in this
Braca:
THE LEOPARD
winning the Valley Stakes, however, but it should prove useful to its own- ers in some other less important events.
In past years, Messrs. Tester & The ponies I have named above are Abraham were rather fortunate in the [about the best, and I recommend keep- draw for subscription griffins. They ing them in mind. There
are also had The Panther and The Gorilla, and other less prominent ponies, and for this year they have The Leopard. short distance events, ie, the Wong Nei Chung Stakes, I suggest the fol- lowing:-
This pony is impressive looking, and it will be taken out in the Valley Stakes by Mr. William Wu, who has had considerable experience in, racing in North China, p
Whether The Leopard can win this important event is difficult to forecast, but it will certainly be worth following, and an upset here is not altogether out of the reckoning.
Mr. Wong Sui-Ngau'a Salvage _Mas- ter has also been whispered about as a potential winner of the Valley Stakes, and it will be Mr. Don. Black's mount. In training, Salvage Master has inva- riably beaten its. stable companion, Shipmaster, and this alone should jus- tify a certain amount of confidence be-, ing placed on it. I rather like the
I
Final Triumph Astrik Ferrybridge The Scholar · Sunshine Susie Charybdis
Jack High
National Force
Mac's Second Venture Ali Baba
Borrachito.
“RAPIER” DISCUSSES JOC- JEYS PROSPECTS FOR THE FORTHCOMING ANNUAL MEETING ON PAGE 21/
when it is
realised that Annabella
has been found to be a little stiff, Mr. & Mrs. Stanton own Maya, thus impeding its further training, which is quite sturdily built, but With less than a week to go, I am after watching its gallop last Tues- afraid it will be well nigh impos-day morning I am not too enthusias- sible to get it into condition again, tic about it.
ALLSOPP'S
BEER
We regret having to announce that
owing to a further heavy demand, our
stocks of Allsopp's British Pilsener Beer
in Pint bottles are temporarily exhausted.
Quarts will, however, be obtainable till our
next shipment of Pints arrives from
England next week.
CALDBECK, MACGREGOR
CO., LTD.