FIRST DAY AT WINGATUI

Press, Volume LXXXVI, Issue 26129, 3 June 1950, Page 4

FIRST DAY AT WINGATUI

RACING

DETENTION FAVOURED FOR HANDICAP

WINTER CONDITIONS LIKELY Horses able to handle heavy going will be in their element on the first day of the Dunedin Jockey Club's winter meeting at Wingatui to-day. Rain fell in Dunedin yesterday, and further showers are forecast. The Riccarton-trained Detention holds his place as favourite for the Birthday Handicap, the principal flat race on the programme. If he is successful he will be the first three-year-old winner since 1930, when Fast Passage won for the late Sir Charles Clifford. He has proved at Riccarton his ability to handle heavy going, and the track conditions should not trouble the Defaulter gelding. His strongest « opponents are likely to be Orthodox, Personality, Western Front, Terminate, Valley Gold, and the recentlypromoted hack Lecturer. The Winter Handicap, seven furlohgs, is the second leg of the totalisator double, and betting may take a wide range on the big field. Hopes for a Riccarton vic-. tory may rest mainly with Prince Defaulter, a place-getter at Washdyke, and the Nizami grey, Cipher, winner of the Marlborough Cup. Great Bid has an earlier engagement in the Birthday Handicap, but if reserved for this race he will form a useful bracket with Beaugard, a recent winner. The Invercargilltrained High Quest may be in the finish if she is on her best behaviour at the barrier. Hack Steeples Gunther, a useful winner for Mr W. E. Hazlett on the flat and over hurdles, schooled attractively at Wingatui on Thursday, and he should run well in the Tahuna Steeplechase Handicap. He will be bracketed with Turora, which showed fair form over hurdles. The favourite may ! be Libellula, a winner over the stiff Riverton country at Easter. Another reliable jumper in the field is San Quentin, a place-getter at Riccarton at the last Grand National meeting. The Trial Stakes will be run in two divisions. Gold Mine may open his winning record in the first division. The Man's Pal gelding has raced consistently during the last two seasons for several worthwhile placings. His strongest opponent may be the Christopher Robin three-year-old, Roving Robin, which showed speed to finish fifth in the Christchurch Maiden Handicap at Riccarton after being slow Away. The Washdyke candidate, Great Art, may win the second division. In the Trial Stakes at the recent Ashburton meeting, he showed speed to finish fourth after being one of the last away. Other promising gallopers in this field are Kindergarten’s half-sister Sharman, Chasemint, and Concealment. Saxonia, an impressive winner at Washdyke a fortnight ago. appears to have bright prospects of winning the Brighton Handicap. The Probation gelding does not ease his task by drifting early in his races, but he is a bold finisher. Good showings can also be expected from Reprimand. a recent winner at Invercargill, Gay Prince, a consistent place-getter, Diablo, and Subtraction.

Sylvan’s Prospects Sylvan, a winner at her last two starts, will be making her first appearance in Mr D. McFarlane's colours in the St. Clair Handicap. The Royal Chief mare has completed her preparation satisfactorily, and she may be the favourite. Dinnyhazer had a win at Washdyke and his prospects may be improved by a heavy track. The Mosgiel owner-trainer. D. P. Wilson, has a useful pair in Home Circle and Scuttle. Home Circle was placed at Ashburton. Scuttle, a brother to The Grate, and a promising stayer in the making, ran second to Boost on the third day at Riccarton. Riccarton and Ashburton form points to the chances of Zarcon, whose solid finishing run may carry her into the finish. Finance and Open Range may fare best of the Riccarton candidates. Brackets are:— Tahuna Steeplechase: Gunther and Turora. Trial Stakes: Culton and Gold Mine, Myme, Nadir Shah, and Way Home, Humdinger and Richard the Great, Miss Kaweku and Navourneen, Royal Windsor and Roving Robin, Concealment and Chatswin, Designation and Floresta, Fine Art and Master Galloway, Miss Chase and Pyramus, Summer Chase and Teviot Night. Brighton Handicap: Lady Hotspur and Pcnze, Weldrest and Solman, Vain Lad and Friar Philip, Good Form and Melva, Nadir Shah and Reggie, Red Winner and Silver Clioper. Otago Steeplechase: St. Simper and Irish Pal. Winter Handicap: Beaugard and Great Bid, High Quest and Indiana, Musselman and Winning Cheer. St. Clair Handicap: Home Circle and Scuttle. Selections are:— Tahuna Steeplechase.—Libellula, San Quentin, Gunther-Turora bracket. Trial Stakes.—First division: Gold Mine, Roving Robin, Humdinger. Second division: Great Art, Chasemint, Sharman. Otago Hurdles.—Money Lender, Winger. Brockie. Birthday Handicap.—Detention, Orthodox. Valley Gold. Brighton Handicap.—Saxonia, Gay Prince, Diablo. Ctago Steeplechase.—St. Simper-Irish Pal bracket. Bravura, First Out. Winter Handicap.—Beaugard-Great Bid bracket, High Quest, Prince Defaulter. St. Clair Handicap.—Sylvan, Home Circle-Scuttle bracket, Zarcon. The fields are: — HACK AND HUNTERS’ STEEPLECHASE, of £350: two miles and a half.—Gunther (2) 10-12; Light Tea (1), Pencarrow (10) 10-4; Turora (6) 10-1; Libellula (16) 10-0: Ara Chief (15) 9-12; San Quentin (17) 9-10; Tin Hat (7) 9-3; Anas (11), Blanket (3), Boy Friend (5), Eve Acre (4). Feola (8), Kildare Lad (9), On Broadway (13), Phantom Night (14) 911.30 a.m.— TRIAL STAKES, of £300; six furlongs.— First Division: Carrick Range (11), Gold Mine (10). Enforce (4), Gay Paree (15), Myme (16). Barry (12), Humdinger (9). Teal (13). Man o’ Kent (14), Mavourneen (17) Roving Robin (5) 8-11; Way Home (18) Floresta (6), Master Galloway (1) Pyramus (3), Teviot Night (7) 8-0. Second Division.—Culton (8). Chasemint (27). Golden Mirage (3). Kukuiti (11), Nadir Shah (14), Paprika (1) 8-13; Air Maid (2). Great Art’ (10), Sharman (15) Miss Kaweku (16), Royal Windsor (12) 8-11; Concealment (13), Designation (4) Fine Art (5), Miss Chase (7), Summer Chase (6) 8-0. 12.15 p.m.— OTAGO HURDLES, of £1000; one mile and three-quarters.—Wee Mac (8) 11-0; Money Lender (1) 10-8; Bridgehead (3) 10- Desert Trek (7), Relampago (12) 10-5; Winger (13), Rhine Lord (6) 10-0; Sea Power (5) 9-12; Theocritus (9) 9-8; Lord Dundonald (4) 9-7; Brockie (10) 9-3; Bon Chale (14). Mandeville (15). Tweed-

side (16), Deep Harmony (2), Thomas (11) 9-0. 1 p.m.— BIRTHDAY HANDICAP, of £1000; one mile and a half.—Personality (3) 8-10; Detention (14), Orthodox (7) 8-5; Baygundi (13) 8-3; Western Front (19) 8-2; Conclusion (9) 8-1; Jimmy the One (18) 7- Elofa (5) 7-12; Defendant (12) 7-11; Nullah (16) 7-10; Valley Gold (17), Terminate (11), Arabian Night (1), Bonny Royal (6), Grand Pal (10). Great Bid (4), Lecturer (15), Pageant (8), Shere Khan (2) 7-7. HACK HANDICAP, of £400: seven furlongs—Reprimand (24) 9-7; Gay Prince (6) 9-5: Jolly Sailor (29) 9- Skyzami (8). Dinnyhazer (16), 9-2; Cricket Field (3) 8-12; Great Victory (30) 8- Saxonia (9) 8-10; Diablo (26) 8-9; Fille d’Honneur (12). Lights On (1) 8-7; Loch Lennox (2) 8-6; Social News (27). Subtraction (28) 8-5; Royal Swing (13 8-4; Lilli Marlene (7), Vermeer Lad (11) 8- All Hurry (18) 8-2; Lady Hotspur (17), Penze (14), Weldrest (22). Solman (20), Vain Lad (15). Friar Phillip (23), Good Form (19), Melva (5), Nadir Shah (10) Reggie (4), Red Winner (21), Silver Clipper (25) 8-0. 2.30 p.m.— OTAGO STEEPLECHASE, of £1500; two miles and a half.—Pages Raid (1) 11-4; Eleanor Star (5) 10-10; Sphere (7) 10- St. Simper (13) 10-4; Night Fighter (2) 10-3; Kiltie (6), Bravura (8) 9-9; msh Pal (4), First Out (3), Periwig (11) 9 ; -7; Knight Crusader (10), Roman Son (12) 9- Master Play (9) 9-3; Nor-wester (14) 9-1; Tamerlane (15) 9-0. 3.20 p.m.— WINTER HANDICAP, of £500; seven furlongs.—Lord Dundonald (2) 9-3; Extra Flight (19) 9-6; Cipher (27) 9-2; King GUnoi (12) 8-13; Salma Royal (9) 8-11; Faites vos Jeux (4) B*-10; Beaugard <6). Gold King (13), Philip Laing (1) 8-8; Winning Gem (8), Golden Amber (3) 8- Crease (22) 8-4; Bright News (11), Billy Mac (21) 8-3; Royal Chance (10), Great Bid (16). Prince Defaulter (23) 8-1; Slick (26), Alsvider (18), Balmoral (14), Dark Chief ?(15), Flying Fort (20), High Quest (7), Indiana (17), Musselman (24), Winning Cheer (5) 8-0. 4.10 p.m.— ST CLAIR HACK HANDICAP, of £450; one mile and three furlongs.—Raineri (5) 9- Sylvan (15) 9-1; Dinnyhazer (13) 9-0; Finance (16) 8-10; Open Range (19) 8-7; Zarcon (17) 8-6; The Turk (6), Show Day (11) 8-5; Cogitation (3) 8-4; Winning Thorn (4) 8-3; Don’t Listen (8) 8-2; Home Circle (20), Salmarie (2) 8-1; Prefect (14), Robingay (18), Scuttle (7), Gay Fenian (10) Penny Pie (9), Rosal Venture (1), Moonsail (12) 8-0.