TRINIDAD’S WIN AT WINGATUI

Press, Volume LXXXVII, Issue 26357, 27 February 1951, Page 4

TRINIDAD’S WIN AT WINGATUI

IMPROVEMENT WITH RACING

Trinidaa has had a heavy programme this season, but he is thriving on it. He was making his twenty-first appearance for the season when he decisively if narrowly won the Otago Handicap on the first day of the Dunedin Jockey Club's autumn meeting at Wingatul on Saturday. Trinidad seemed to have little chance of running down the iavourite, Salmon Spear, wnen tnat good galloper ran into a clear lead near the jurlong, but he changed the whole complexion ol the race over the last 100 yards, his powerful finishing run carrying him up to the top-weight and on to a neck victory. His success was more decisive than nis winning margin would suggest, as he was going away from Salmon Spear at the finish. Trinidad can be seen in the light of a possible Great Autumn Handicap winner after his two most recent successes, his previous one being the Midsum .er Handicap, one mile and a quarter, at Riccarton on February 3. Each time his performance was marked by his strong challenge over the final stages. A mile and a half should be weii within his compass. Now in his third season of racing, Trinidad has won £31)25 in stakes lor Drs. E. M. and R. S. J. Fitzgerald, for w hom he is trained at Riccarton by J. S Shaw. Trinidad is the first living produce of Calypso, which is by Iliad from Lady Burleigh, by Paladin from Tormentor, by Martian from the imported Torquato. a daughter of Sir Archibald. Calypso raced only at two and three years and she won two races. Solidly Supported Salmon bpears preparation for the race was slightly interrupted when it was found necessary to remove a corn from his foot. Apparently that wa* not expected to prejudice his chances, as he was sohd.y supported. The Salmagundi seven-year-old had the run of the race close behind the leaders •nd his prospects looked bright when he Worked through to the front early in the run home. Then Trinidad challenged, and, gamely as he battled on under his tig weight of 9-7, Salmon Spear could not stall off the Riccarton galloper Salmon Spear was showing signs of soreness after the race, and plans made for his trip to Trentham next month may have to be revised. Detract ran one of the best races nf his career to finish third, the position he was relegated to after he won the Hornby High-Weight Handicap at the Canterbury Jockey Club’s summer meeting on February 3. Detract followed the pacemaker, Dunkirk, into the straight, but he could not match Trinidad and Salmon Spear for finishing speed, and he just kept clear of Spice, which finished strongly for fourth. Being capable of handling winter tracks well. Detract should extend his winning record for Mr E. R. Curtis before the season ends. It was announced a few days before the race that Spice was a doubtful Starter, and the La Zingaro mare was lightly supported when she took her place hi the field. She had eight horses in front of her with three furlongs to run, and there was merit in her effort to finish fourth. To Race at Trentham Spice looks a much better mare than she d.d at the summer meeting at Ricca it on and it is intended to race her at Trentham next month. Unfortunately, she has not travelled well on her earlier tr.ps to Trentham. Langham, having his first race since he jomed L. H. Pratt's Orari team, was r- prominent in the early rush far positions, buc he raced from the seven tur.ong* to the straight tn the middle of the field. He made slight improvement in the run some to finish fifth. Langham finished just in front of Robin’s Song, which made up ground over the final stages. Robin’s Song has run two fair races • nee he joined C. G. Humphries’s Riccarton team and it should be possible to ...ace him to advantage. Dunkirk did buwTof the pacemaMng v but he was beaten-early ta the run home. Th s consistent three-year-old has Ind a r fairly full programme, Mid he may have i.ac. enough racing in the meantime. Gcod Training Average few if any South Island trainers have a better percentage ‘of winners to runners than M. Corkery, of Riverton. Corkery owns most of the horses in his stable, and he has had several successes with the progeny of the Balboa mare Perboa, and her daughter Feather Boa. 7, . Corkery raced two horses at Wingatul On Saturday, and with King Gundi he wou the open sprint, the Autumn Handicap. This Salmagundi gelding's success was most decisive, and it comoensated for his unlutky second at Gore the week before when his light-weight rider. was 'uacble to get the best out of him. Ridden on Saturday by W. F. Ellis, King Gundi raced to. the straight close behind the pacemakers, Jamell and Winning Gem, and he soon reached the front, galloping on strongly to win by a length and a half from the fast-finishing Billy Mac. King Gundi’s task was eased by Jamell's lapse from form. The brilliant Nightly gelding has. had a mixed programme qf racing under big weights and he will probably have to be freshened up before he will return to his best. The efforts of the other sprinters were not outstanding, but encouraging was the periormance of Prawns to finish fourth • little over four lengths behind the winner. The joint Wellington Cup winner has little to recommend him as a sprinter, but he showed that he is in good order for future distance races by running past several of his opponents in the straight That was more in keeping with his ability than was his effort on the flrat day at Gore when he was last to finish. Promising Youngster Although Scandalise’s winning performance was attractive, the feature of the Dunedin Handicap, the race.for two-year-olds, was the performance of Melody King to finish second. Melody King, which was making his second public appearance, was caught fist-footed at the start, losing several lengths. He slightly improved his position racing to the home turn, but Was still several lengths behind the paogr makers. Dashing and Raukawk. > Galloping greenly, but showing greet finishing speed, he got up to beat Dashing by a head for second, and he Was only three-quarters of a length behind Scandalise at the post. Melody King is a bay gelding by Wild Chase from Latest Song, which has left • winner in Autocrat. Latest Song is by Song Bird from Pax, by Ail Red from Soberside, a granddaughter of imported Powder. Powder was the dam of Arsenal, which, won the Melbourne Cup, and of Crossfire, whieh had the distinction of winning the AJ.C. Doncaster Handicap ss a two-year-old. The greatest member of the family was Artilleryman, undoubtedly one of the best three-year-olds ever raced in Australia. Another very brilliant member of the family was Valicare, one of the best of Australian race mares. The family has produced other highelass stayers and Melody King may eventually be successful in that role. In the meantime he is capable of winning two-year-old races. He will probably be brought to Riccarton for the Canterbury Jockey Club’s Easter meeting.