SPORTING TROTTING NOTES

Press, Volume LXXXI, Issue 24581, 1 June 1945, Page 7

SPORTING

TROTTING NOTES

•—— DUNEDIN J.C. PROSPECTS FOB TO-MORROW The Dunedin Jockey Club's three-day winter meeting will be opened at Wingatui to-morrow. The fields, are of handy size without being cumbersome, and contain horses from all racing centres in the south Island. The going will be heavy. Noko and True Range will be bracketed in the Ctago Steeple-, chase, but the former, with 12-6 to carry, is an unlikely starter. The only other bracket on the card will be, St. Nattar and Justltla in the Winter Handicap. The win and place system will be in use. and the following horses are likely to be well supported:— 11 a.m.—Tahuna Hack and Hunters’ Steeplechase: Double Light. Pink Clover. Forage. 11.45 a.m.—Trial Stakes: Smock, Plutocrat, Great Divide. 12.30 p.m.—Otago Hurdles:« Arabian Night, Boolamskee, Inscrutable. 1.15 p.m.—Brighton Handicap: Night Fighter. Bowmore, Sumra. 2 p.m.—Otago Steeplechase: True Range, Phil Boa. Safe Light 2.45 p.m.—Birthday Handicap: Platform. Amorlad, Sir Saladin. 3.30 p.m.—St. Clair Handicap: Hurry Home, Sphere. 4.15 p.m.—Winter Handicap: Great Coon, Dearo, Air Ace. TURF GOSSIP At Wlngatol A Press Association message from Dunedin stated that unfavourable conditions under foot • restricted work at Wlngatui yesterday morning, and there was no fast work. The going to-morrow will be heavy. Boloyna is an unlikely starter because of leg trouble. Bright Prospects The interest of South Island racegoers in the Cornwall Handicap at Ellerslie to-morrow will be concentrated on the Washdyke-trained Immediate, which will no doubt be one of the totalisator favourites. He is reported to have gone on the right way since going to Ellerslie, Immediate 'can handle winter conditions well, and the going at Ellerslie should be in his favour. L. J. Ellis journeyed by air yesterday to ride Immediate, and will return on Wednesday. In Winning Form , Hippodrome, trained by D. Cotton, has two engagements at Wanganui to-morrow, the River Hack Handicap with 9-10 and the open event, the Empire Handicap, with 7-11 (Peter’s Choice top-weight with 8-10), both races being won by Hippodrome easily over a mile and a quarter at Te Rapa last month. Three Engagements ’ Spanish Main has been accepted for in three events at the Auckland Racing Club's winter meeting, opening to-morrow. These are the Grecnlane Steeplechase, with 9-12, the Great Northern Steeplechase with 9-0, and the Hunt Club Hurdles with 9-8. He was left in the big event in case, anything happened to Sir Percy, and it is not likely . that he will carry out this engagement. Indications point to Spanish Main contesting the Hunt Club Hurdles, and this should have him ready to race over country in the Tamakl Hack Steeplechase on Monday. In Good Hands The Hastings-owned Epplng has come into favour for the Great Northern Steeplechase by his schooling since going to. Ellerslie. He has been trained for the last few weeks by A. McDonald, who rode the winner of the big event on three occasions. His first winner was Master Lupin in 1919. and he rode Sir Roseberry in 1923 and Aurora Borealis in 1930. A Strong Quartet The South Island will be strongly represented in the Great Northern Steeplechase by Sir Percy, Albino. Valantua. and Rockery, and all are likely to carry strong support. Sir Percy did well in Southland for a young steeplechaser, and his third in the recent Te Rapa Steeplechase was an encouraging effort. He has Impressed -by his schooling since going to Ellerslie, and the fences there should not trouble him. Albino was in front in the Te Rapa Steeplechase when he* fell and was reported to be going like a winner. He gave a dashing display at ElleVslle last Saturday, and immediately became one ol the top-liners for to-morrow’s race. Valantua ran second in last year s Great Northern Steeplechase with 9-8, and won the Winter Steeplechase on the second day with 9-12, later running second in the four-horse Wellington Steeplechase, in which Khurja beat him by a furlong after the other two runners had fallen, on these performances Valantua would appear to be handily placed with 9-10. Rockery attracted notice by his solid but unlucky effort In the Te Rapa Steeplechase, In which he was brought down by Albino when In a promising position two fences from home. Rockery has plenty of stamina, and can be depended upon to make a bold showing. Not Racing Noko will accompany True Range to Wingatui, says the "Southland Times, but it is unlikely that he will be produced at" the meeting. He is to be kept for the Wellington Steeplechase. Noko’s presence in the Otago Steplechaae field was no doubt responsible for True Range coming in’ At a lighter scale of weights* as had Noko not been included True Range would have ben at the top of the handicap with a higher impost than the 11-2 he *l a « be |g given. He won last season with 9-13. in the event of True Range going amiss Noko would no duobt represent the stable. Both have trained on in style, and last week they were responsible for an impressive schooling bout over the Invercargill steeplechase course.

Jottings Direct Bingen may go well on the grass track at Ashburton. . Wee Peg is a useful type, and In her right class she should pay her way. lady Dawn is being discussed for the sprint at Ashburton. She is one of the most improved pacers, and can handle any ty feal°Derby, g a gelding by Gambiefrom Wharepiana, showed some ability Canterbury Park Handicap, and this three-year-old looks a likely improver. y Cockney's connexions appear to be optimise in asking the Wrack trotter to concede 192 yards to the maidens in the Longbeach Handicap. Frank Scott did not start at Addington last week, but is an acceptor at Ashburton. This U. Scott trotter is in H. J. Smith’s team at Addington. Double-galted , Max Baer, a double-gaitod son of Maxeeln is an acceptor in the Tmwald Hanfe and the P Mayfield Handicap on Monday. At his last appearance Max Baer started y in the Temuka Handicap Trot at the Timaru Trotting Club's meeting, where he was fifth into the straight after breaking in the running. Little Jean, which raced as a trotter at the matinee meeting. is in the Trial Handicap for pacers, and the U. Scbtt mare, which is trained by H. M. Allan at Addington, has evidently shown some ability at that gait. In Luck The Humphreys' stable is having 8 ! rpssful run at present, and Dinghy is nicely placed off the fJ° nt °* Handicap to carry-on the good work. The Jack Potts mare has been second in five of her eight starts this term, and such consistency should soon earn its reward. Busy Season Noble Reta has had a busy sea*bn, and in 28 starts she has secured a win and eight minor placings. She has “5 to racing well, and ran a creditable third to Leontn and Anazah in the Wildwood Handicao. This mare now races in the interests 6i J. Slack and D. Moreland, and is trained by the former at Addington. Interesting Registrations Confirmed, which is owned by A. J. Wilson, of Rakaia, is a brother to Quite L °Dony Dale, a mare by Sandydale from Great Treasure, is owned by S. A. Orr, who races Accord. . „ Exaltance. by Winthrop from Nyallo. was bred by Mr J. R. McKenzie, and is owned by Mr W. F. Wooley, of Lyttelton. Nyallo is the dam of Nyallo Silk. Lady Chenault, Taxpayer, Spey Royal, Passport,