SPORTING

Press, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 23744, 16 September 1942, Page 7

SPORTING

TURF GOSSIP Track Work at Riccarton There was a good deal of work at Riccarton yesterday. Most horses engaged at Ashburton having had their final gallops last Thursday and Friday, serious tasks were not sought. The trial grass was open, and after a heavy shower overnight the surface was cut up after a few gallops, and times were not nearly as fast as was the case last week. Atreus, with Tutere as a mate for five furlongs, covered seven furlongs In Imin 34sec, the first three in 39 3-3 sec. Ga.> Parade followed over the same grouno and recorded identical figures. Foxhaven ran the distance m Imtn 35sec, and Don't Forget registered Imin 34 2-Ssec, the last four in 54sec. Lord Advocate and Royal Writ were given a working gallop over seven furlongs in Imin 38sec, and King Herod and Junior ran six furlongs under restraint in Imin 25sec Half Mile Sprints Straight Bat recorded ' the best time, 51 2-ssec, for the home half mile, others being Bramble 52 2-ssec, Ranjl 52 3-ssec. Pallid 52 4-ssec, Aquitane and Lincoln 54 l-s&ec, Arabian Night 55 2-ssec. and John Gay and Warfield 56sec. St. Cloud, Stabilise, and Hurry Girl finished in line after covering five furlongs in Imin 6sec, and Hlnepo ran the same distance in Imin 6 2-ssec. Warrlgal and Nightglass took Imin 10 2-ssec. Wardress beat Good Scout over six furlongs in Imin 22sec, neither being ridden out An Unusual Position The issuing of the handicaps for the Geraldine meeting yesterday morning, the due date, will no .doubt cause some little discussion amongst owners and trainers. The weights were due to be framed aftei the Ashburton fixture, but the* postponement of the latter makes the position somewhat unusual. It is probably proposed that winners at Ashburton next Saturday will be penalised tor Geraldine in the ordinary way, but there will be no opportunity to disturb the weights of the minor place-getters. For instance, if a horse should win by a very narrow margin he or she will be duly penalised, but the weight of the horse in second place will remain In fact, all placegetters will escape getting any extra poundage for their efforts. The Geraldine Club was placed in an awkward position following the postponement, but it would have been still possible to have Issued the weights next Monday morning, and to extend the closing of acceptances from Monday to Tuesday. From Southland Though there will be only one day’s racing at the Geraldine meeting this year. Otago and Southland stables arc well represented In the list of nominations. Gold Flight, Royal Lancer, Southern Sail, Marquee, and Desert Maid are Southland-owned horses due for the trip New Zealand-bred Shining Night, a winner In Sydney last Saturday, is a four-year-old gelding by Foxlight from Speedmint by Catmint from Serita Thurnham and was purchased as a yearling at Trentham by J. T. Jamieson for 750 guineas. On Jamieson’s retirement he was handed over to M. McCarten, who has won three good races with him. Shining Night is now labelled as a 1 likely light-weight • for the Melbourne Cup. Aga Khan’s Purchase At the Newmarket bloodstock sale last week H.H. the Aga Khan paid the record war-time price of 8200 guineas foi a bay colt by Hyperion from Eclair by Ethnarch. Sales reached the remarkable total of 80,518 guineas for two days' selling. Valuable Blood Although Martian fillies and mares were somewhat uncertain racing propositions, as brood mares they have been of immense value to the Dominion. Few of his daughters were good jumpers, yet they have produced Callamart (Great Northern Steeples and Grand National Hurdles), Carinthia (Grand National Hurdles), and Foxiana (Wellington and Grand National Steeples). A Helpful Prize The winning owners' list in Australia last season was headed by Mrs J. J. Kitson, the owner of Skipton, whose five successes were worth £10,292 10s. It is interesting to note the Influence that success in the Melbourne Cup has on this list. Twenty-four owners of the last 43 Melbourne Cup winners have now headed the list of winning owners In the Commonwealth. A Big Field The acceptors for the Trial Plate at the Avondale meeting last Saturday were so numerous that every horse in the race had to be coupled with another runner, and in six instances there jvqre three horses in a bracket. Though dividends in divided races are confined to the winners and horses placed second in each division the unusual happening of divi (lends being paid out to the backers ol 10 horses in one race occurred in this race. Charivari and Skydonna, winners of the divisions, were each bracketed with two other starters, and Hunting King and Sir Reynard, who finished second in each race, were each bracketed with another starter.