SPORTING

Alexandra Herald and Central Otago Gazette, 27 February 1946, Page 8

SPORTING

The £>/unedin Jockey Club was favoured with a beautiful day for the opening of the Autumn meeting. The large attendance present witnessed some interesting racing and nder ideal conditions. The state of the course can be gauged from the fact that Royal Chase broke the existing track record for 11 furlongs by no less than 4 1-5 sees, time which he could probably improve on if fully extended.

Spiqra was much too good for the opposition in the Dunedin Hep. She began smartly from the extreme outside and was in front all the way. Spiora should keep the two-year-olds at Trentham busy to hold her off next week.

Wantwood ran out of hack company when he won the Maungatua Hep. He was always well placed and put the issue beyond doubt in the last furlong.

Petty Cash was surprisingly well backed in the Trial Hep. and although unplaced he ran a fine race He was one of the last to leave the barrier and did well to finish almost in line with the third horse. Petty .Cash is a six-year-old gelding by Te Monanui from Half Note and is owned by Mr A. Kane, of Becks.

Supreme, third in the Trial Hep. was another who made up a lot of ground in the straight. A four-year-old mare by Broiefort—Fairfax, Supreme looks like doing good services for Mr J. Dwyer in the near future.

Sea Power's performance in winning the distance hack race with 9st. 31bs. was a meritorious one. He had a hard tussle half way down the straight to head off Ruling Moment and then had to withstand a determined challenge from Irish Pal. Sea Power looks like developing into a high class performer and is the best of Set Sail's progeny yet to race.

The veteran Fleet Street, was disputing the lead with Joygiver and Great Coon 100 yards jrom the post on Saturday arid will be favoured by the shorter journey on the second day.

Bonny Flight (a hot favourite) Lyndall and Sterling Lad were badlv left at the start of the Autumn ftcp. and the efforts of the first two to get up at the finish were particularly good.

Gold Song failed badly in the last furlong and evidently is better suited by a six furlong journey at present.

In winning the Otago Hep. in record time Royal Chance was respon-

sible for an outstanding performance. He went to the front early and although the field closed on him at the entrance to the straight he went away again to win without effort He was actually eased short of the winning post and his was one of the most convincing wins ever recorded in an important distances event at Wingatui.