WINTER MEETING AT WINGATUI

Press, Volume LXXXVI, Issue 26128, 2 June 1950, Page 4

WINTER MEETING AT WINGATUI

RACING

DETENTION APPEALS MONEY LENDER MAY WIN OTAGO HURDLES Detention, winner of his last four races, has excellent prospects of extending his record in the Birthday Handicap, one mile and a half, on the first day of the Dunedin Jockey Club’s winter meetifig at Wingatui to-morrow. The Defaulter three-year-old has thrived since he won the main handicap in course record time on the first day of the Ashburton meeting, that being his first race in open company. Detention’s ability to win races on heavy as well as firm tracks heightens his chance in this field. He has not yet won beyond a mile and a quarter, but he has run out his races without suggestion of weakening. He is well up to weight, as he showed on the third day of the Easter meeting at Riccarton. when he won the Merivale Hack Handicap with 9-10 on a heavy track. Orthodox is a Washdyke candidate with a solid form background. At his last start he decisively won the Elloughton Handicap at Washdyke, that effort following some good performances at Riccarton and Ashburton. Orthodox finished third, four lengths behind the winner. Detention, in the Ashburton County Handicap. To-mor-row he meets Detention on 11b worse terms. Detention appears capable of finishing ahead of Orthodox again,’ but Mr C. G. Mountney’s Sir Galloway gelding has good prospects of finishing in a place. Personality, the top-weight, with 8-10, never held a winning position at Washdyke. He had that race after a slight setback in his training and he is capable of better performances. A heavy track should heighten his chance, his best recent form being his second to Salmon Spear in the Sockburn Handicap at Riccarton. when the going was deep. Western Front has run some of his best races at Wingatui. He was having his first race after a let-up when he appeared in the Elloughton Handicap, at Washdyke. That race, and his recent training, should have brought him into race-winning condition. Conclusion has not shown his true form so far this season, but he will advance in favour if the track is heavy. Jimmy the One has been racing consistently on the southern circuit, and. as he has been running on well in his races. I the mile and a half journey may suit him. Terminate, Valley Gold, Great Bid, and Lecturer appeal most of the light-weights. Terminate was a good second to Orthodox at Washdyke, after being forced to cover extra ground when challenging. He is a sound stayer, with some promising form over a mile and a half. Valley Gold has no recent placed form of merit, but earlier in the season he raced well in stronger fields. He has proved his ability to run out a mile and a half solidly and his chance must be respected. He worked keenly at Riccarton on Tuesday in company with Detention and Personality. ■ Lecturer, an impressive graduate from the hack ranks, will be one of the best supported Southland candidates. A five-year-old son of Foxbridge and Homily, he is trained by R. E. McLellan, whose stable is also represented ;n the field by Jimmy the One and Great Bid. Great Bid is also engaged in the Winter Handicap. Otago Steeples The Otago Steeplechase has not drawn a strong field. St. Simper was one of the outstanding young jumpers produced in the South Island last season, but he has not raced since last September, and if the track is heavy he may lack race-winning condition. He will be bracketed with Irish Pal. a good jumper, but a horse of moods. Sphere, winner of the steeplechase at Washdyke, may be capable of a good showing over the stiffer Wingatui country. The best of the Riccarton candidates may be Bravura, the runner-up to Roman Son in the Homeby Steeplechase at the Christchurch Hunt Club’s meeting last July, and to Hazsoult in the Beaufort Steeplechase at the Grand National meeting. Knight Crusader and Night Fighter were winners over lighter country at Invercargill, but their ability to handle the Wingatui fences is not yet known.

First Out followed Colonel Smart home in the Otago Steeplechase last year, and won the steeples on the third day of the meeting. He schooled brilliantly at Winga- 1 tui on Wednesday. Master Play and Roman Son are two of the most reliable jumpers in the field, and their ability in that respect will gain them support. Eleanor Star is another safe jumper in the field, and he was a winner at the Riverton Easter meeting. Otago Hurdles The Riccarton-trained Money Lender will probably be a solid favourite for the Otago Hurdles. The Winmore gelding has not raced over hurdles since the Grand National meeting, ■ where he was a winner as well as being placed twice, but he is in good order as a result of a programme i of flat racing, which has produced a win I and two seconds. His recent schooling at Riccarton has been good, and he is well i up to his weight of 10-8. The consistent Siegfried gelding, Winger, is a strong Southland candidate. He has made rapid progress since put to hurdling earlier in the season to overcome his waywardness. He has the other necessary qualifications of speed and stamina. Rhine Lord has also done well since put to hurdling. He outstayed his opponents in the hurdles at Washdyke and he appears to be improving with racing. Desert Trek was the surprise winner of this race last year and, if the track is heavy, he may again get into the finish. He has been working keenly and schooling well at Wingatui. Of the others Relampago and. Brockie appeal most. Winter Handicap Betting will be well spread on the Winter Handicap, which will complete the tctalisator double, the first leg being the Birthday Handicap. Chances of a Riccarton victory will rest mainly with Prince Defaulter and Cipher, but in the big field luck in the running will be most important. Prince Defaulter finished strongly from the ruck to fill third place behind Whitlev and Bayfort over six furlongs at Washdyke, and the longer journey may help him overcome the disadvantage of a : rather wide barrier position. Cipher returns to sprinting after a successful campaign over middle distances. The Nizami gelding is a quick beginner, but the task of making a winning run from No. 27 at the barrier may be beyond him. Southland stables are strongly represented, those from that province with the ; best performances being King Gundi, I Beaugard, Salma Royal, Alsvider, and i High Quest. I Alsvider and High Quest are recent ■ graduates from hack class. Alsvider won | two races without difficulty at Riverton, and he may measure up to this class if ! the track is heavy. , High Quest, which is closely related to , the Stewards’ Handicap winner, Full Play, is one of the most brilliant gallopers in i training at Invercargill, but she is way- ; ward. In the Apprentices’ Hack Handicap, seven furlongs, at the recent Southi land meeting, she was left 50 yards at I barrier rise, but with a phenomenal run | she went round the field and won comfortably by three-quarters of a length. If I the Finis mare starts quickly from No. 7 barrier position she may have too much speed for her opponents. Riding Engagements Riding engagements include:— L. J. Ellis: Personality, Sharman, Saxonia; C. McDonald: Detention, Open Range, Cipher, All Hurry; N. A. Crombie: Elofa, Silver Clipper, Penny Pie, Crease; . A. J. Stokes: Valley Gold. Salmarie, Dark • Chief, Skyzami; C. T. Wilson: Conclusion, Golden Amber, Designation, Moonsail; R. Drinkwater: Bravura, Theocritus; L. H. Barr: Light Tea, Master Play, Deep Harmony; B. S. Finlayson: Finance, Jolly Sailor, Helio; K. J. Thomson: Money Lender; F. H. Skelton: Miss Chase; H. J. Ford: Feola; J. T. Anderson: Prefect; J. A. Bremner: Prince Defaulter; M. J. McClintock: Periwig, On Broadway. M. R. Jones: Orthodox; L. R. Murray: Cricket Field, TevioL Night; K. J. Hollamby: Winning Gem; D. Dawson: Pages Raid, Gay Paree, Phantom Night, Winger; R. P. Langford: Eve Acre. My me, Tweedside, Knight Crusader; M R. Soper: Friar Philip; W. R. Mitchell: Bridgehead: L. C. Coutts: Royal Windsor; E. E. Hunt: Raineri; B. R. Thomson: Kiltie, San Quentin. Richard the Great; A. I. Powell: Social News, Fine Art. Royal Venture; C. C. Stokes: Dinnyhazer; G. Thomas: Royal Chance, Humdinger; Mr P. O’Connell: Royal Swing; P. J. Boyle: Desert Trek; B. J. Langford: Gold Mine, Zarcon, Tin Hat. First Out, Faites vos Jeux, Loch Lennox, Rhine Lord: J. W. Dooley: Navourneen, Philip Laing Great Victory; A. N. Didham: Roving Robin; W. F. Ellis: Concealment, Slick: A E. Didham: Teal, Sylvan; A. J. McDonald: Grand Pal; K. J. Hollamby: Kukuiti, Tamerlane, Vain Lad; B. J. Mears: Eleanor Star. Selections are:— 10.45 a.m. —Tahuna Steeplechase: Libellula, San Quentin, Gunther-Turora bracket. 11.30 a.m.—Trial Stakes: first division, Gold Mine, Roving Robin, Humdinger; second division, Great Art, Chasemint, Sharinan. 12.15 p.m.—Otago Hurdles: Money Len- , der, Winger, Brockie. 1 p.m.—Birthday Handicap: Detention, i Orthodox, Valley Gold. 1.45 p.m.—Brighton Handicap: Saxonia, ’ Gay Prince, Diablo. 2.30 p.m.—Otago Steeplechase: St. Sim-per-Irish Pal bracket. Bravura, First Out. 3.20 p.m.—Winter Handicap: BeaugardGreat Bid bracket, High Quest, Prince Defaulter. 4.10 p.m.—St. Clair Handicap: Sylvan,' Home Circle-Scuttle bracket. Zarcon.