1938-02-04 — Page 18

THE CHINA MAIL, FEBRUARY 4, 1938.

"RAPIER" REVIEWS DERBY PROSPECTS

Eleven In Running For Honours HARMONY EVE MAIN CONTENDER FROM SASSOON STABLE?

Desert Chief And Viber Offer Challenge

A "DARK HORSE” TRAINED IN S'HAI

(By "RAPIER")

Club, has in Pinfarthings a fast moving animal which will win many races for him over short dis- tances, but I cannot recommend it for anything beyond a mile. It is frightened of the starting barrier, at the moment.

Lancashire Lass, belonging to Mr. A. Bower, has been talked about for some time past as being capable of doing great things, if not actually creating a surprise in the Derby. It was not quite fit a short while ago, but is rapidly

that it has the makings of a great making good progress, and I expect racer. It resembles Bear Claw in that by the time racing comes type, and it should have a good round, it will be in condition to don deal to say in some of the other colours for its genial owner.

How good Lancashire Lasa ac- tually is remains to be seen.

I consider it among the

top- notchers.

events.

DUNBAR STABLE

Since winning the Derby with Liberty Bay, Mr. L. Dunbar has not met with any success in this

-

THREE NEWCOMERS Sir V. M. Grayburn will be re- ther this honour will come to him presented by either Elizabeth

fusion Bay, which appears to

me

or

them later: Kong Bros. have three

IT has been my privilege for the past two years to event, and I very much doubt whe-

furnish notes on local racing for "China Mail" this year. The best in his string Fowey. Both of them have not readers, and I am happy to be able to resume my of new griffins is undoubtedly Con- taken an active part in much hard task. Having been in close attendance during to be somewhat delicately built for early morning gallops, the time is opportune to dis-such a gruelling race. cuss prospects among the various classes of ponies Here again, it has not been fully extended in training, and probably now being prepared for the forthcoming annual after two remaining weeks of hard race week.

work it will mature into a serious contender for the Derby.

Mrs. Dunbar has Nokomis, which

quite impressive, but

are

training, and more will be known of

new ponies, A Star, Forgotten, Star I have no idea and Lovely Star. which one will go out in the Derby, but I doubt whether they capable of causing an upset.

Mrs. Kwok Hin Wang has a new. griffin which she has named "], IC." She has pinned her faith this pony in the great race,

Preparations are well advanced; programmes will shortly be available, and all that remains is the arrival of the customary con-seems tingent of Jockeys from Shanghai. Some of them are already here, rather suspect that it will go out others will follow soon, and in due course I hope to be able to give in less important events. full information as to how. owners will fare with regard to jockeys.

have

on but

I think we need waste no energy in speculating on its chances. Mr. Li Po Chun has three new ponies in training, the most outstanding of which are. Just in Time and Ad- vancing Time.

MRS. PEARCE'S CHANCES The Dynasty Stable last won the Trentbridge, which It is generally conceded that the Hong Kong Derby, the Blue Derby with Riband of the local Turf, is the one event of paramount importance was, in fact, entered by Mrs. T. E. in which owners set their hearts on winning. It will be contested Pearce, and since then they

TRAINED IN SHANGHAI by griffins, China ponies that have never faced the starter before, not been within reach of the elusive and I now propose to start a tentative discussion on the prospects

The former is reputed to have Blue Riband. for the Derby, leaving information of a more definite nature for a

Mrs. Pearce has Hyndford Brid-been well trained in Shanghai, and later article.

ge this year, and King's Prejudice its late arrival seems to lend colour has been entered by "Dynasty."to the story. Encouraged by his This stable will have the

services success with Expansion Time, of Mr. Needa as jockey, and under which came in second in last year's his control developments may be ex-Derby, Mr. Li hopes to be able to be in the limelight again, this time probably represented by Just In Time.

The Derby for the past threej. years has been won by the Hem & Sassoon Stables, î.e. Herod, Honeymoon Eve and Happy Eve. Having done so well, they are naturally keen on making a great effort to continue with the seq- uence of wins and a "Hat-Trick"

for the Sassoon Stable. As evid-tered for the Derby, but I feel con- ence of their determination to do fident that it will figure prominent so, it must be noted that their ly in the sprint events. This pony stable jockey, Mr. F. "Peanut” is worth bearing in mind for the Marshall, came down quite early Maiden Stakes. this year, and has since been actively engaged in getting his charges into fighting condition.

off

pected.

CREDITABLE TIME

Mr. Li Lan Sang has entered two new griffins, Sunlight View and

The Why Stable's ponies have Moonlight View. The former does been left in the capable hands of not appeal to me, but the latter has Mr. H. C. Pih, and I think National fans as a potential Derby winner in tional Defence, close behind. I can- captivated the imagination of rail Pride is about the best, with Na- view of its recent performance over not, however, place much reliance the full distance in the creditable on either of them. time of 3.18.

I have seen this pony in ac- tion, and cannot visualise it

against some of the better look- providing any serious challenge

ing contenders.

.

The Giant Panda, belonging to Messrs. Tester and Abraham, is not bad, but it has not the stamp of a classy animal.

MR. EU'S HOPES After the lamentable failure of Rosemary last year, Mr. Eu Tong Out of a formidable string of Sen does not appear to be in the new ponies, they have only entered least disappointed, as he has again

AN OLD CONNECTION - three for the Derby, i.e. Harmony entered the battle with

It is no doubt within the recol- apparently Eve, Half Moon Eve and Handicap greater determination to carry

The pony should be borne

inlection

of race-goers that some Eve. The first named was brought this major event for the first time be ridden by Mr. T. L Wong.

mind, however, especially as it will years ago Mr. Moller used to ride down to Hong Kong before then his racing career.

in Hong Kong, and it will come "HARBRAD" STABLE NO MORE 1937. Meeting; and has accordingly

as good news to know that his son, There is no denying the fact that- In 1936, Mr. B. W. Bradbury en- Mr. R. B Moller, will be making been given every opportunity of he has a good chance, especially tered into partnership with careful training.

Mr. his initial appearance on our local with Desert Chief, whose training Gilbert Harriman, and the "Har-track. has been kept a close secret. In brad" stable came into being, It addition, Cameronian and Lucky are will be recalled that Royal also entered, but I expect Desert created-a-good deal of Chief to carry his colours to post.

I believe that Harmony Eve will be the Sassoon's nomina- tion for the Derby. It is stur- dily built and has the appear- ance of a pony with the re- quisite stamina to last the dis- tance.

Half Moon Eve is the next best, but. it is probably not sufficiently well advanced to carry the Sassoon colours in this important event.

It

thea Derby prospect that 4891on 38 appearance it gives a good impres-

The stable trainer has not provided tall fans with any real opportunity of judging the merits of Desert Chief, and it has accordingly been regarded as a “dark horse.”

He has entered Silkylight, which Scot is reputed to be a "smasher." In

and its sion, but what it is capable of do- and ing I cannot yet say. I recommend dis-keeping this pony in mind.

defeat by Honeymoon, Eve King's Lead was a source of appointment.

This partnership has been dis- solved, and this year Mr. Bradbury has entered the arena entirely on his own.

VIBER FOR. DERBY-

are

I have given a fairly comprehen- sive review of ponies that are like- ly to figure prominently in races confined to griffins, China ponies is definitely good, and should ac-

this season. In In my estimation, should there be

summarising, I count for some of the races of minor any element of surprise in the Der-

would say that the following importance. Handicap Eve has the by, it will come from Desert, Chief, and Viber, and I expect the last

His new griffins are named Jober about the best:- appearance of a great racer, but I so watch out for it. Cameronian's named to be his nomination for the am not too impressed with its move easy movement gives me the im-Derby. Viber is the better of the ment at the moment, though if it pression that it is more suitably two, and it will have to be reckoned shows further improvement in train-equipped over short distances, and with as a possible candidate for ing it will demand more attention if sent out I expect to see it giving honours in the Derby Mr. B. L. later

Humdrum Eve a great fight in Tao has been booked to ride Viber. There is another pony belonging the Maidens Stakes.

FEAR OF STARTING GATE Mr. C. B. Brown, the genial conclusion Secretary of the Hong Kong - Jockey

to the Sassoon connection, Hum- Regarding Lucky, any one looking drum Eve, which has not been en-'at it would reach the

HARMONY EVE DESERT CHIEF MOONLIGHT VIEW VIBER

LANCASHIRE LASS CONFUSION BAY HALF MOON EVE HUMDRUM EVE CAMERONIAN BILKYLIGHT. JUST IN ÷TIME