SPORTING

Press, Volume LXXIX, Issue 24022, 10 August 1943, Page 7

SPORTING

TURF GOSSIP Grand National Meeting Acceptances for all events second day close at 5 p.m. to-day, . —1 Life Member The committee of the South Canterbury Jockey Club last week elected Mr C. E. Hassall a life member of the club. Mr Hassall has been handicapper to the club for some years past, and on the motion of the president, Mr D. Grant, the committee decided to place on record its appreciation of the services given to the club by Mr Hassall in many ways over a long period. Riders Escape In spite of several falls at Riccarton on Saturday, all the Jockeys, with the exception of D. Redstone, escaped injury. Redstone, who rode Khurja in the Sydenham Hurdles, suffered some bruising and a shaking, and although he rode Fiddler’s Green in the next event, the Winter Cup, he was not able to fulfil his engagement on Kllcato in the Avonhead Hack Handicap. P. Spratt was substituted for Redstone on Kilcato at the last minute, and rode 111b over-weight. Kilcato ran a most promising race, and after being fourth into the straight finished in eighth place. On Winter Tracks It was made evident by Saturday’s racing that the progeny of Foxbrldge are partial to soft going. Foxhaven has run his best races on a holding track, winning two races at Riccarton and narrowly missing a win at Trentham in such conditions. Foxleap also revelled in Saturday’s going, while Donnybrook Fair put up a creditable performance against a proved winter galloper in Bashful Lady. Another from Chokebore, In Desert Strife, also indicated that she can act in soft ground. She is by Bulandshar, whose stock have generally shaped well on winter tracks. This stable saddled up three horses during the afternoon and had one win and two second placings. A Poor Spectacle The contest for the Grand National Steeplechase could not be said to be up to the standard of that of recent years, but easily the most disappointing race of the day was the Sydenham Hurdles. This event was expected to be in the nature of a dress rehearsal for the Grand National Hurdles, but it provided the poorest open hurdle contest staged on the course for a long time. With the exception of Town Survey, all of the best fancied National candidates took part, but none had a chance on the day with the first and second horses, Nightcalm and Rockery, who closely disputed the two bottom units on the betting list. Kanul te Pal was always well back, and finished down the course. Colibri was fairly close up turning into the straight, but weakened badly and finished a good way back in fifth place. Colonel Rouge was one of the early leaders, but was near the rear of the field at the half mile. Talenta was well enough placed during the middle stages to have a chance, but when she tried to make a forward move rounding the far turn, she could not Improve her position to any extent, and retired .to the rear. Renascor was always struggling In or near the rear with Hasten. Black Musk certainly showed a bold front while he lasted, but his failure to see out two miles did not recommend his prospects over the longer journey. Young Charles was also disappointing, especially as he raced well In soft going at Trentham. Khurja was perhaps the best of those outside the placed horses. He was certainly round about the middle of the field throughout, and was a good way from the two leaders at the last fence when he fell, but his ability to finish on might have found him in at least third place at the finish. Rich Blood showed his usual early dash, but such a tearaway jumper does not appeal as a National possibility The soft conditions may be advanced as some excuse for the failures of those mentioned, but there is every reason to expect similar going pext Saturday, so that in the meantime, it is difficult to go past Nightcalm and Rockery again. Both completed their work solidly, and at least gave more Indications of seeing out the extra journey than any of their more aristocratic opponents. Not Encouraging Town Survey’s wins In the Great Northern and Winter Hurdles entitle him to be first choice, but he had no schooling before the meeting, and shaped very poorly in the Winter Cup. He was probably not expected to show up in such a field, but his placing at the finish, in the rear, did not suggest that he is as well as he was in the North Island. He was sent out to jump on his own yesterday, but after clearing the first hurdle, he ran off at the fi'ext ahd was brought in. Town Survey is to be schooled in company this morning. A Night Out Black Musk spent part of the weekend in the country. He got out of his paddock at Riccarton on Sunday, and in spite of a widespread search, he was not found until yesterday morning. Fortunately he was rugged, and did not appear to have suffered any ill-effects from the night's exposure. In Strong Favour The five-year-old gelding Manakore, trained at Wingatui for Mrs V. G. Holloway, of Christchurch, has been highly rated since he commenced serious galloping, but did not command much public notice until Saturday, when he was supported down to third favouritism for the Cashmere Plate. He, however, was slow early, and was always well back. He Is by Te Monanul from Friendly, by Nightmarch from Moiselle by Solferfno from Mademoiselle Ixe by Stepniak, and onlv commenced to race late last season when he had four unplaced performances. High-priced Yearlings Great March, who was defeated only in the last few strides of the concluding event on Saturday, is a foitr-year-old gelding by Nightmarch from the Llmond mare Variant, and was sold as a yearling at Trentham by Mr A. Louisson for 525 guineas. He is a younger brother to Borak, second in the Trial Hurdles, whq realised the. same figure as a yearling. A Successful Sire Prize Ring, who finished close up to the placed horses in the Cashmere Plate on Saturday, is a three-year-old gelding by Ringmaster from Kerbside, and so is closely related to the winner of the race. Big Top, who is by Ringmaster from Trivet, a daughter of Kerbside. Prize Ring carried lOjlb overweight. Auckland R.C. Operating on-nine days’ racing for the season just closed, tbe Auckland Racing Club paid in taxes £131,502, in addition to which provision was made for £70,000 for income tax and social and national security. The president of the club, Mr Oliver Nicholson, announced this at the annual meeting yesterday. He said that the club's profits, £3839, had ,been all handed over for patriotic purposes.—(P.A.)

TROTTING NOTES

Metropolitan T.C. Nominations for all events, Including the Metropolitan Maiden Race, at the New Zealand 'Metropolitan Trotting Club’s meetings on August 21 and 28, will close to-day. at 5 p.m. —6 Good Prospects Aussie Boy, who was a place-getter in the Wyndham Juvenile Stakes last season, should race prominently on southern tracks this season. He is by Jack Potts from Polka Dot, and is in J. Cosgrove’s stable at Invercargill. Scotch Music The Grattan Loyal gelding Scotch Music, showed smart form during the last season, and gives every indication of stepping his way into some of the tighter classes. He is a bold type of pacer. At the Stud Smile Again, who is to be mated with Dillon Hall, was one of the best saddle pacers raced in the Dominion. For a time she held the saddle record of 2min 4sec. and Gold Bar, 2min 3 3-ssec, is the only one to have bettered it.