THE TURF.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 59, Issue 39, 25 November 1938, Page 2

THE TURF.

ASHBURTON FIXTURE. TO-MORROW’S PROGRAMME. COMMENTS AND SELECTIONS. (By Torpedo.”) Tho summer meeting of the Ashburton Racing Club will be held to-monow when a splendid day’s sport may be looked forward to. Tho events have filled very well, and although the two main galloping fields are on the small side, what they lack in quantity they make up in quality. An inspection of the course earlier in the week showed that the track carries a splendid sole of grass, and the lawns of the enclosure looked particularly line. Special trains will bring patrons from the North and South, and again the Club draws attention to the fact that the machine will bo closed promptly on time, making early investment impel ntive. The first race is set down for 12.20 p.m., and the betting will be upon the win and place principle. There follows a. review of the fields with the form horses selected for their various engagements.

Apprentices Hack. A race of this type is always a gamble as so much depends upon the skill or otherwise of the lad on top. Spurs and whips ar taboo in this race, and it is always entertaining to see the budding Tod Sloans kicking their Phar Laps along to victory. Dividend has been running consistently, while Elmarch had good performances last season. llithyia’s jockey will have to carry a lot of lead to make nine stone, and for this reason may not. be favoured by the public. Maroha. has been a quiet tip lately, and is handily placed in this held. Happy Memory and La Plata may also be considered with the actual labourites being— Dividend Elmarch La Plata Lagmhor Plate. There are a number of unknown quantities in this five furlong skurry, and quick beginners will lie sought after. In this category fall Great Baby, Chanteur and Nigeila. The latter lias a penchant for running; off at the turn, but if drawn near the rails should be one of the hardest to head off. Leaderette has been in the firing line at one or two country meetings lately, and may show up here. Keen Sight will have a host of friends, and the form horses certainly are —

Nigeila Great Baby Keen Sight Melrose Trot. Lady Vasclyn© appeals strongly here and Peter Bee is no sluggard. Wninoni Girl, from 12 yards, will be handy at the finish. Form points to — ’Lady Vasclyn© Wainoni. Girl MacGregor Tinwald Handicap. There are six form horses in the Tinvvald Handicap in which only two dividends will be paid on the place machine. Argentic heads the list, and is bound to run a staunch mile and a quarter. Dictate is a. class above everything else in the race, and must be one of the hardest to beat. Gironde appears to be up against too stiff opposition, but The Sandwichman is improving with every race. It is turf truism that the smaller the field the harder the selection and this event is no exception. Popular fancies may be— Dictate The Sandwichman Winohimore Hack. Fresh from his sensational win at Riccarton, Toro Koura heads the list in the Winehmore Hack, and nine stone is not likely to stop him. Miss Bluff won here last meeting, and The Dueßhas a good place performance to his credit. Elmarch may be reserved for this event, in which case it would find added favour. Phalanx performed creditably at the Cup, meeting and Passenger is capable of bringing off a surprise. The elect of backers may be

Toro Koura Phalanx Miss Bluff H'igh-weight. On the strength of his great race into second place the last day at Riccarton, Dracula will no doubt he favourite for this event. Jockey A. Stove will have the mount and he knows the horse’s every mood. Manetho will like the turning course, while Teak also gained friends on Riccarton running. The pace may be too sharp for Flashlight, .hut Bit o’ Blue is a likely sort. The form selections are: —

Dracula Bit o’ Blue Manetho Wakanui Handicap. This is the second leg of the double in which six horses will face the starter, reducing the dividends on the place machine again to two. ( ocksure is the form horse in the event and may share honours with Lady Leigh. Du form, it is hard to go past those two: Cocksure Lady Leigh Mayfield Trot. There is a good field lor the concluding event, the Mayfield trot. I*oim in the first trot will* be closely watched and it would not be surprising to see the place fillers identical in each race.

Tonioro is highly regarded, while Kilrea and Llewellyn’s Pet read the best of the others. With a clean get-away Devotion would be hard. Form indicates : Tonioro » Kilrea Llewellyn’s Pet The Fields. 12.20 p.m.— Apprentices Hack Handicap of £125; seven furlongs.—llithyia 0.0. Hold Bo\ 8.7, LI march 8.4, Dropped Catch 8.1. Maroha 5.3, Sheeny 7.13, Dividend 7.10, Happy Memory 7.0, Amoretta 7.9, Bastille 7.9, Bouillon 7.9, La Plata 7.0.

1 p.m.— Lagmhor Plate, of £100; five furlongs; special weights.—Sportsman 8./, Polroger 8.7, Bora Hiko 8./, Beal Lady 8.7, Chateau Briand 8.7, -Chanteur 8.7, Spartan 8.4, Alcatraz 8.4, Improvident 8.4, Miss 'Pasta 8.4, Great Baby 8.4, Blazealong 8.4, Keen Sight 8.4, Nigella 8.1, Escort 8.4, Neptune 8.4, Shanghai Lily 8.4, Leaderette 8.4, Avenal 8.4, Shepherd 7.7, King Gustavo 7.7.

1.40 p.m.— Alelrose Trot Handicap of £120; class 3.43; li miles.—Acuity ser, Draw Lass scr, Charles Russell scr, Diamond Cluster scr, Girl Pat scr, Lady Vasclyne scr, Marque scr, Mirage scr, Palomar scr, Peter Bee scr, Poker Face scr, Queen’s County scr, Sure Potts scr, True Glow ser, William Potts scr, Wraquill scr, Wainoni Girl 12, MacGregor 24.

2.20 p.m.— Tinwald Handicap, of £200; li miles. —Argentic 9.1, Dictate 8.10, Last Refrain 8.9, Roy Bun 7.4, Gironde 7.0, The Sandwicliman 7.0. 3.0 p.m.— Winchmore Hack Handicap, of £120; six furlongs.—Toro Koura 9.0, Gay Parade 8.11, Phalanx 8.7, llithyia 8.7, Elmarch 7.10, Passenger 7.8, Scuffle 7.7, Miss Bluff 7.7, The Duel 7.7, Avenal 7.7, Roro Hika 7.7.

3.40 p.m. — Highweight Hack Handicap, of £130; one mile.—Dracula 10.2, Manetho 10.0, Miracle 9.8, Lofty 9.7, Gold Boy 9.7, Superex 9.7, Teak 9.5, Flashlight 9.4, Aggravate 9.3, Bahama Maid 9.0, Bit o’ Blue 9.0.

4.20 p.m.— Wakanui Handicap, of £l5O, seven furlongs.—Polity 9.0, Rabble 8.7, Cocksure 8.5, Rebel Chief 8.5, Lady Leigh 8.0, Golden Chest 7.G.

5.0 p.m.—< Mayfield Trot Handicap, of £130; class 3.1; 1£ miles—Amywin scr, Chieftainess scr, Devotion scr, Four Square scr, Kilrea scr, Lady Slipper scr, MacGregor ser, Palomar scr, Silk King scr. Sustenance scr, Tonioro scr, Waikari Jack scr, Gentleman Joe 12, Nelson Eddy 12. Llewellyn’s Pet 24.

SCRATCHINGS AT AUCKLAND. AUCKLAND, November 24. Scratchings for the Auckland Racing Club’s meeting are:

Cheltenham Handicap Lornaere 3 p. m., Wednesday.

Alison Cup—Mon Acre, 3 p.m. Wednesday ; Grateful 10.10 a.m. to-day; De Friend 10.35 a.m. to-day. Melrose Maiden—Bronze Moth. All engagements: Armacourt.

FORBURY PARK TROTTING CLUB. FINE ART SUCCEEDS. DUNEDIN, Nov. 24. Tile Forbury Park Trotting Club’s spring meeting opened to-day in fine weather. The track was in good, last order, and there was a large attendance. The totalisattor handled £1.8,573 10s, compared with £16,442 10s on the first day of the spring meeting last year.

Concluding results :—• Caversham Handicap, of £225; >3.25 class; one mile and a half.—l Fine Art 36 (M. C. McTigue) 1, 4 Nell Grattan 12 2, 5 Morewa 12 3. Won by a neck, half a length between second and third. Times, 3.14 4.-5, 3.17, 3.17 1-s—a track record.

Dominion Handicap, of £200; 3.56 class; one mile and five furlongs.— 2 Gyrate 48 (D. C. Watts) 1, 1 Swift Guy 24 2, 5 Golden Bingen scr 3. Won by a length, same distance between second and third. Times, 3.41 2-5, 3.43 4-5, 3.46.

Dash Handicap, of £350; 2.44 class; one mile and a quarter.—7 Satin King scr (D. C. Watts) 1,2 Glenrossie scr 2, 5 Graham Direct scr 3. Won by a length, half a length between second and third. Times, 2.44 2-5, 2.44 4-5. 2.45. t Acceptances for Saturday. Suburban Handicap, of £175; 3.43 class; one mile and a half —Escalade, Syntax, T'raveltone scr. Bon 'Chance, 36yds bhd. Tommy Guy 48, Esther 60, Parrish Chimes 06.

Empire Handicap, of £200; 2.18 class; one mile —Bill 8.. Credit Funds, Gallinford, Guncase, Mankind. Royai Travis, Silver Laddie, Token, Wnitemata. sor. loevus 12yds blul.

Advance Handicap, of £175; 3.39 class; one mile and a hall —Anna Wong, Easter Rush, King Potts, 'Sinbad scr. Attain, Dancing Pirate, Glenholme, Golden Miller, Marfax, alazaire, Seascape 12yds bhd, All Kings 24.

■Forbury Handicap, of £450; 4.29 class; two miles —Agile, Sea Gift, Southern Smile scr, Big Author 24yds b’lid, Renown’s Best, Rocks Ahead 36, Logan Derby, Morello 60. Brighton Handicap, of £200; 3.13 class (3.34 for one mile and a halt); one mile and three furlongs—Glenastle, .Jesse Owens, Jovial, Mazaire, Sentiment, Stalwart. Xtamboul, linker, Tritonia scr. Colonel Axworthy, Diversion, Gav Avon, Quest 12yds hint. Privateer, Silver Laddie 48.

Tainui Handicap, of 0225; 3.2 > class; one mile and a ball'—Golden Cross, Roan Duke, Wee Wrack, Wyman scr, Fremont, Harlequin, Marlene, Morewa, Nell Grattan 12yds blul.

Victoria Handicap, of £200; 3.56 class; one mile and five furlongs—

Bosun, Esther, Golden Bingen, Parachute, Tommy Guy scr, Parrish Chimes 24yds hlul. Manna’s Son, Swift Guv 30.

Recovery Handicap, of £350; 2.44 class; one mile and a quarter —Big Author, Glenrossie, Graham Direct scr, Frisco Lady, Morello, Renown’s Best, Satin King 12yds blul, Logan Derby. Rocks Ahead 24.

GREYHOUND’S VISIT.

NOT IN FAVOUR IN AUCKLAND

AUCKLAND, November 24

The committee o! Christchurch sportsmen which is endeavouring to secure the appearance ot tin' champion American trotter. Greyhound, in * a series of match races in New Zealand next year approached the president of the Auckland Trotting Club, Air E. G. Bridgens, regarding the project. A sum of £IOOO was suggested as a contribution to the £12,500 guarantee which is stated to have been demanded on behalf of Greyhound’s owner.

Commenting on the scheme, Air Bridgons said that, although the appearance of Greyhound would give trotting enthusiasts great pleasure, they did not think the expense apparently involved would be justified, and for that reason the proposal for a guarantee was not favoured by the committee of the Auckland Club. Many American horses had been brought to the Dominion, but they had never been at their* best after the trip. Greyhound was unlikely to prove an exception. The Auckland Trotting Club was offered a match race with Lawn Derby in April, but the American horse would first appear in Christchurch, and if he failed to race up to expectations, which Air Bridgens thought was quite likely, enthusiasm would have waned by the time he arrived in Auckland.

Similar sentiments were expressed by the secretary of the club, Mr A. G. Mabee, who explained that American tracks were much faster than those in New Zealand, so the possibility of Greyhound reproducing his record speed or anything like it was remote. Personally, said Air Alabee, he would rather see an offer made for a speed exhibition by Lawn Derby. Trotting in Auckland had been built up by exhibitions by th,e best Christchurch horses, and if the best-class Australian horses could also be secured, that policy was more likely to be fruitful than a highly-speculative and costly American venture.