SPORTING

Press, Volume LXXIX, Issue 23941, 7 May 1943, Page 7

SPORTING

ASHBURTON RACES PROSPECTS FOR TO-MORROW The Ashburton County Racing Club should have a most successful autumn fixture to-morrow. The fields are all of handy size, and contain material likely to ensure some close contests. The bulk of the horses engaged were raced over the Easter period, and form has been well exposed. The track will be fast unless rain falls in the meantime, and under the win and place system, the following horses can be expected to race prominently:— Longbeach Hurdles; Valantua, Midgard, Thoraide.

Eiffelton Hack Handicap: Ranji, Banco, Papette. Selma Trot: Lady Bligh, Terry O’Shea, Volusta.

Ashburton Handicap: Dominate, Eulogist, Military Maid. Trial Stakes; Waltzing Matilda, Greek Idol, Perseverance.

Fairfield Hack Handicap; Donnybrook Fair, Sascha, Last Effort.

Flying Handicap; Rawhamal, Mauretania, Dinah Dhu.

Rakaia Trot: My Lady Luck, Volterra, Trikkala.

TURF GOSSIP

Corrected Distance The distance of the Ashburton Handicap to-morloW is a mile and a quarter, not a mi;e and a half as appeared in the list of acceptances. Substantial Increase

The committee of the Canterbury Jockey Club has arranged the programme for the Grand National Steeplechase meeting in August. The stakes for the two days’ racing have been increased by £BOO. The Winter Cup has been raised from £6OO to £IOOO, the Islington Handicap from £SOO to £6OO, and the August Handicap from £4OO to £SOO. The slakes for eight of the minor races, all hack events, have been raised from £3OO to £350 in each case, these being the Trial Hurdles, Enfield Steeplechase, Cashmere Plate, and Avonhead Handicap on the first day, and the Sumner and Woolston Handicaps, the Hunt Cup Steeplechase, and the Sprcydon Hurdles on the second day. the distance of the Avonhead Hack Handicap has been increased from seven furlongs to one mile. The club has also decided to increase the stakes for the Champagne and Challenge Stakes, tor which entries are to be taken next month, from £SOO to £6OO each, and that for the New Zealand Oaks from £6OO to £750. Track Work at Rlccarton

As most of the horses to race at Ashburton to-morrow were raced at Easter, there was not a great deal of serious galloping at Riccarton yesterday. The NO. 6 grass was open for fast work, hut all of this was cohfined to the plough. Dominate and Banco Were given strong work over a circuit with a smart sprint hotne.

Donnybrook Fair was kept in restraint in covering six furlongs in Imin 20sec. Straight Bat showed her usual track ability by reeling off six furlongs in Imui 15 2-ssec, the first three in 36 2-ssec. Ranjl, who is likely to be in keen demand at Ashburton, strode over five furlongs in Imin 3sec. Renarde indicated that the racing she had at Easter had benefited her by galloping six furlongs in Imin 15 4-ssec, the first three in 38sec. Strathisle and Lincoln ran five furlongs in Imin 3 4-ssec, the last three in 38 4-5 sec.

Trapeze and Greek Idol sprinted half a mile well in 50 4-ssec. Dinah Dim, w.m was not raced last Saturday owing ;o slight soreness, went over the same ground in 52sec. Usflful Tasks

Magglore, Military Maid, and Saldowa were companions over six furlongs in Imin 17 3-ssec, the last three irt 40sec. The last-named was brought to Riccarton with Macedoine, but the acceptance for her list Saturday arrived too late. She and Macedoine will remain at Riccarton to be prepared for the oamaru meeting next week. Rawhamai and Mauretania ran six furlongs in Imin IBsec. the first three in 38 3-ssec, the former finishing in front. Kevin and Night Believer were given strong work over a mile in Imin 46 2-ssec. Full of Promise

Vfhe four-year-old gelding Edward, by blghtmarch from Battle Queen, was schooled over throe of the brush steeplechase fences twice, and Jumped exceptionally well. He is to have his first race at Oamaru, and will probably go on to Wingatui.

Riders at Ashburton Some riding engagements made for tomorrow’s programme at Ashburton aie as follow*A. E. Ellis; Ann Mle; C. Wilson: Ranjl, Straight Bat. Donnvbronk Fair, Dominate; I, WAlther:- Thbraide; A. Messervy: LinColp, Kevin, Mauretania: P. Spratt: Banco, Lynden Lea, Dinah Dhii; R. T62Ar: Trapeze: K. Wilson; Eulogist. OfASk Idol; 6. Brbdlfe: Star Wink, Rothan S6n; K, Thomsdrt: Vaiantua. Retiardo, Night PAt: L. J. Ellis: Rawhamai, Waltzing Matilda, SAscha.

New Horses Langue d’Or, now In F. Christmas’s stable, was hot raced at Riccarton owing to slight soreness, and is to be given an easy time for a while. Christmas has broken in a yearling filly by Foxbridge front AfdWa Rose, purchased at Trehtham, and is shortly receiving a yearling by Solicitor General. Leading Horsemen

The contest for the Jockeys’ premiership continues interesting. With a win at Riccarton on Saturday W. F. Ellis again drew level with W. Broughton. J. Williamson Continues to overhaul the two leaders, and will probably go on doing so. ns be is not limited to fiat races only. However, he is probably too far behind to win. The respective totals now are: Broughton and Ellis 35 each, Williamson 27.,

A Rare Necessity Should ail 28 acceptors go to the post in the Tongahoe Hurdles at Hawera tomorrow a division race will be necessary. Two of the number. Student Prince and Henry of Huntingdon, also figure in the steeplechase, but otherwise the majority will probably fulfil the engagement. It is interesting to note that Dozie Boy will race as a hurdler instead of attempting to win the steeplechase, an event in which he ran third in 1941 and second last year.

TROTTING NOTES

Forbury Park Meeting A big number of Canterbury horses, reinforced by a strong contingent from Southland, shows that there is plenty of material available for a high-class meeting at Forbury Park to-morrow. The fields are of good class and evenly balanced, and most of the horses entered have had recent racing to fit them for their tasks. The Forbury Park track is five furlongs in circumference. It is not especially suited to big fields, jancl the advantage is with the limit horses. The Ritchie Memorial Handicap, the principal event of the day, has 10 horses engaged, six of them being on the limit, Burt Scott is set, to give away 84 yards, and he would need to be at the top of his form to beat some of those more favourably handicapped. Joan Conquest is regarded as a doubtful starter and Special Edition. 36 yards, and Single Star, 12 yards, are the only other horses handicapped behind scratch. Worthy Cross, earlier in the season, showed promise of developing high class, and he should be one of the favourites. Kid Wolf, Erinack, and Golden River have all shown good form in recent racing, and Kid Wolf's running in Auckland and Hawera shows him to be a greatly improved pacer. In P. Gallagher's hands he will have every advantage. The favourites may •be Kid Wolf, Worthy Cross, and Single Star. Unhoppled Trotters The fields in the Bayfield and Victory Handicaps are the same, and the distances are one mile and a halt and two miles respectively. There is every prospect of good, keen contests in both races, and the horses appear to be of very even quality. Prospects in both races include Danny Malone, Parrish Gipsy, and Ordnance. In other, events the following horses should race prominently Domain Handicap: Dinghy, Larissa, Knave of Diamonds: Beach Handicap: In the Mood, Dianus, Knave of Diamonds. St. Clair Handicap; Dinghy, Lucky Gem, Qvend, Renown Handicap: Premier Roval, Loyal King, Goldfinder. Flying Handicap: Busted Flush, Crucible, Burt Ecott. Bracketed

The following horses will be bracketed on the tdtalisator at Forbury Park tomorrow.—Bayfield Handicap; Cleeve Hill and Ordnance: Domain Handicap, Ovend and Semper Fidelis, Sir Thomas and Scotch Music; Beach Handicap, Semper Fidelis and Sports Guide; Ritchie Memorial, Erinack and Worthy Cross; Victory Handicap, Cleeve Hill and Ordnance; St. Clair Handicap, Ovend and Semper Fidelis, Sir Thomas and Scotch Music; Flying Handicap, Erinack and Worthy Cross, Busted Flush and Special Edition.

Chimney Fire.— The Central Fire Brigade received a call at 5.42 p.m. ves, terday to a chimney fire in a house at 60 Richardson terrace. Woolston, occupied by Mr Stanley Walton. The fire Was extinguished without difficulty.