RACING AND TROTTING

Press, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23323, 8 May 1941, Page 11

RACING AND TROTTING

TURF GOSSIP

An Open .Contest The field for the Ashburton Handicap on Saturday is probably the strongest in the history of the race. The list is headed by Willie Win, whose form of late has shown some improvement. and with better fortune than at Washdyke. when he was a victim of circumstances at the start of the Timaru Cup, he' will have to be seriously considered. Trench Fight has not had a race for some weeks, but has been in steady work, and appears quite fit. Not Out is handily placed, and has only to improve a little on his Timaru Cup performance again to be troublesome. Don’t Forget is an interesting candidate, as since his second in the Derby he has not been asked to tackle any distance races. King’s Toast seems to be the likely favourite. There was no doubt about the merit attached to his win at Washdyke, and he has gone on the right way since, Knight Commander is a difficult horse to follow He invariably drifts badly during the middle stages of his races, and sets himself an almost impossible task in the run home. Prudent Prince makes strong appeal under his impost of 7-6, especially with* a strong horseman' in command. Cherokee is liable to be in the picture for a good portion of the journey, and the same suggestion applies to Shikari and Fernby, but in each case the last quarter may reveal weaknesses in them. A Quick Rise Hornpipe, winner of the Waverley Steeplechase on Monday, is one of L. Knapp’s representatives, and is a hunter who was making his first appearance as a steeplechaser at a total--isator meeting. He had recently shown more than average promise in a few starts over hurdles, always finishing on. and though he is rising 10 years old he promises to win more good races over country. He was not nominated for the Great Northern Steeplechase. Success fot* Gold Salute The King’s Plate, at the Queensland Turf Club’s meeting on Saturday last, was won by Gold Salute, who covered the distance, a mile and a quarter, in 2min 3Jsec. The “Sydney Sun” received in Auckland by air mail on Monday states that the race was just a gift for Gold Salute, and he won With the greatest of ease, his rider, F. Shean. sitting still. Even then, the time, 2min 31sec, was only half a second outside the course record. Gold Salute started at substantial odds on. His share of the prize was about £350, but Mr Alan Cooper is believed to have cleaned up a bigger amount in bets. India’s Leading Rider Australian jockey, Edgar Britt, has headed the winning jockeys’ list in India for the fourth season running. Britt usually returns to Sydney for the winter, but this year has gone to Bangalore, where he Will ride for the Maharaja of Baroda. Britt has the biggest retainer of any jockey in India, but, although he does a tremendous amount of riding, still finds time for military training with the auxiliary army. Jockeys in India help the war effort financially. They give 25 per cent, of their winnings to war funds and pay' heavy income tax. For the first half of the season just ended, Britt rode for the Maharaja of Kashmir, but, by mutual agreement, the contract was ended and Britt signed with the Maharaja of Baroda.

Appeal Dismissed The appeal made by Mr W, D. McLeod, owner of Islay Downs, against the action of the Rivertc.i Racing Club’s judicial committee in disqualifying the horse for interference in the Wallace Handicap on the second day of the Easter meeting, was heard by the Southland District Racing Commit, tee on Friday. After reviewing the evidence, it was decided that the action of the judicial committee be confirmed, and that the appeal be dismissed. the appeal fee of £5 to be refunded to the appellant. Abandoned Permits The Clifden and Amberley race meetings have been abandoned, and there is some doubt whether the Oamaru Jockey Club will be able to fit in its fourth day. The Marlborough and Cheviot trotting fixtures also have been abandoned, so that there is a probability of five permits being lost in the South Island this season. Applications continue to be made for these, by other clubs, but a definite policy was agreed upon by the authorities early in the season, and there is not the slightest possibility of any permit being transferred or of a change of venue. Breeding Prospects A feature of the yearling sales at Randwick was the strong demand for fillies, which made comparatively better prices than the colts, when measured by the figures of previous years. Apparently buyers were taking a long view, and had decided that breeding prospects just now are as important as those for racing. Leading Sires Foxbridge, whose oldest stock are four-year-olds, is assured of the position of leading sire in New Zealand this season, according to thg "Official Calendar.” Up to April 21 his stock had won 68 races, and had been placed on 122 occasions, for £20,820 in stakes, compared with last year’s winning sire, Beau Pere, whose stock won 61 races and £24,490. Foxbridge winners this season have been Ascot Bloom, Cornish, Duvach, Ever England, Foxette, Foxsen, Foxola, Foxmond, Foxwood, Forest Bridge, Gay Fox, Greek Queen, Justina. Katesbridge, Karatoki, Lady Vixen, Lou Rosa, Minority, Miss Bridge, Mountain Fox, Noble Fox, Opuatia, Phyto, Regal Fox, Volifox, and Wild Fox. Of these, Lou Rosa, a three-year-old from the Lucullus mare Lucy Rose, has been the best winner, his total being £2725. Duvach, from Sunny Song, by Hunting Song, won £1777 10s. and Cornish, from Miss Egypt, £ 1595. The six leading sires on the list, showing number of winners, placefillers and amount of stakes won by progeny, up to and including April 21, are:— Win. Place. £ Foxbridge .. 68 122 20,820 Beau Pere .. 41 58 15,950 Hunting Song 81 139 15,463 Vaals .. .. 48 115 12,233 Iliad '.. ..45 73 8,708 Nightmarch .. 36 71 8,543 Others well up in the list include Paper Money, £6893; Bulandshar, £6888; Balboa. £5647; Siegfried, £5024; and Night Raid, £4624.