FIRST DAY AT WINGATUI

Press, Volume LXXXIX, Issue 26971, 21 February 1953, Page 4

FIRST DAY AT WINGATUI

RACING

Dreenagh Selected In Main Event

DELAYED MAY WIN SECOND LEG Dreenagh, Master Key, and Jamell are expected to be prominent in the finish of the Otago Handicap, the principal event and first leg of the double on the first day of the Dunedin Jockey Club’s autumn meeting at Wingatui today. Dreenagh is one of the veterans of the field, but she has raced solidly in strong company this season. She has had time to freshen up since she ran fourth in the Summer Handicap at Trentham last month. Mester Key, the only son of the New Zealand Derby winner, St. Bruno, made a bold bid to win over a mile and a half at Gore last week, after leading most of the way. The Otago Handicap is a furlong shorter, and that should suit this promising lightweight. After rain earlier in the week, it was doubtful whether .Jamell would run. but there has been good drying weather at Wingatui, and conditions should suit Mr A. Winder’s good galloper. Jamell’s weight of lOst 131 b makes his task a formidable one, but he is a mighty galloper in handicap class.

Jamell will be ridden by his new trainer, L. J. Clutterbuck, and also his jockey when he won a double under big weights at the Southland New Year meeting.

The Second Leg Delayed is “The Press” selection for the Autumn Handicap, the second leg of the double. The Christchurch-owned Defaulter gelding has failed to win a race this season, but he has useful placed form. He is nicely placed in the weights, and one of his best efforts could carry him to success.

Silence, the top weight with 9-10, is one of the best sprinters in the South Island, and he will have a large band of supporters. He may have the measure of those weighted above 8-0, but one or more of the light-weights should test him. Apart from Delayed, Social News is another strong light-weight possibility. She raced well in much stronger class at the New Zealand Cup meeting, and ran fourth in the Stewards’ Handicap and second in the Jockey Club Handicap. The Southland pair, Test Flight and Regardless, may do best of the others. The Riccarton-trained Valescure has been practically in a class of his own among the South Island two-year-olds this season, but he will not find it easy to concede Fulgent 101 b in the Dunedin Handicap. Fulgent, a recent arrival from the North Island, impressively won two races in the North Island earlier in the season. He beat fields possibly stronger than the one he is in today. Fulgent and Kingship are expected to dominate the finish. Of the others, Return Flight and Super Duper appeal most. Infatuate may give Riccarton a successfill start for the day by winning the Taieri Hurdles, in which Boniface Is a doubtful starter. Shadamai and Glenlivet may test Infatuate most.

Trial Handicap Our Doreen, a three-year-old sister to the good race mare Frances, is expected to improve on her recent performances to win the Trial Handicap. The Riccar-ton-trained Denominate and the Goretrained Desolate, a place-getter in his last two starts, should also be prominent in the finish.

The field for the Maungatua Hack Handicap lacks an outstanding form candidate, and for that reason a surprise is possible. Sarada and Royal Invader, both winners in Canterbury earlier in the season, should represent Riccarton with credit. Sir Miladieux, a winner at Gore, may be the favourite, with the light-weight, Maritea, one of the most likely improvers. Betting will probably be well spread on the mile welter, the St. Andrews Handi-

cap. This race may mark Spectral’s return to winning form. He has not been successful since he won the Canterbury Jockey Club Stewards’ Handicap in 1951, but with better luck he might have won earlier in the season. He has lost some of his former early brilliance, and a mile may now be his best distance. Dissenter, a place-getter at Riccarton, and the top-weight, Goldstrike, winner of the Kurow Cup, are the best prospects among the others.

Lochlisten, an impressive winner at Gore after being a good second at Riccarton, may master top weight in the Tradesmen’s Hack Handicap. This Wingatuitrained Balloch mare is right at the top of her form, and she may enter open company with a winning background. Defame, another winner at Gore, will be another well-supported runner, but Tipperary, which is lower In the weights, may beat her. Tipperary ran two sound races at Trentham last month—she was placed once—and she galloped attractively at Wingatui on Thursday. Square Dance, another place-getter at Trentham, should also be well up to this class. Selections are:— 11 a.m.—Taieri Hurdles: Infatuate, Shadamai, Glenlivet. 11.45 a.m.—Trial Handicap: Denominate, Our Doreen, Desolate. 12.25 p.m.—Dunedin Handicap: Fulgent, Kingship, Super Duper. 1.10 p.m.—Otago Handicap: Dreenagh, Master Key, Jamell. 1.50 p.m.—Maungatua Hack Handicap: Sarada, Sir Miladieux, Maritea. 2.35 p.m.—Autumn Handicap: Delayed, Social News, Silence. 3.20 p.m.—St. Andrews Handicap: Spectral, Dissenter, Goldstrike. 4.5 p.m.—Tradesmen’s Hack Handicap: Lochlisten, Tipperary, Square Dance. The fields are:— TAIERI HURDLES, of £400; one mile and three-quarters.—Glenlivet (9) 11-4; Infatuate (8) 10-13; Gfeat Bid (3) 10-12; Shadamai (7) 10-5; Emperor (4) 10-4; Boniface (5) 10-1; Bush Robin (6) 9-6; Fendalton (1), Royal Saleve (10), Salmon King (2) 9-0. TRIAL HANDICAP, of £250; seven furlongs.—Desolate (3) 8-11; Export (1) 8-9; Gipsy Boy (9) 8-7; Bailadiera (11), Chatamald (5), Denominate (6), Green Island (4), Locherbie (2), La Carina (7), Massador (8), Our Doreen (15), Relax (14), Silver Span (13), Stormtide (12), Wee Jim (10) 8-6.

DUNEDIN HANDICAP, of £375; five furlongs.—Kingship (8) 9-10; Fulgent (6> 9-0; Return Flight (15) 8-2; Super Duper (4) 7-12; Super Maru (17) 7-10; Super Loch (3) 7-9; Red Tinge (2) 7-6; Master Penfold (1), Ducal (13), Gazette (5), Halt-a-crown (19) 7-5; Naval Treaty (7), Regal Robe (18) 7-4; Royal Charm (12), Seadune (11) 7-2; Booty (19), Suncrest (10), Set Fair (16) 7-1; Aranga (14) 7-0. Brackets: Kingship and Booty, Set Fair and Aranga. OTAGO HANDICAP, of £1000; one mile and three furlongs.—Jamell (1) 10-13; Re-' formed (4) 8-9; Cogitation (8) 8-7; Royal Tan (12), Dreenagh (13) 8-3; Valescure (14) 7-12; Purple Sage (5) 7-9; Addition (6) 7-8; Uist (7) 7-7; Master Key (2) 7-2; Admiral’s Keep (15), Gay John (3), Kosher (11) Lady Wanaka (9), Scuttle (10) 7-0. Bracket: Reformed and Lady Wanaka. MAUNGATUA HANDICAP, of £350; seven furlongs.—Sir Miladieux (11) 8-12; Owl’s Way (18) 8-11; Citator (14) 8-10; Sarada (17) 8-8; Beaumont (7) 8-6; Corona Fox (10) 8-5; Royal Invader (18) 8-4; Crossed Keys (19) 8-2; Royal Swing (3) 7- Homeward Bound (16), Teviot Night (12) 7-9; Irish Wings (14), Infidel (5), Saranac (6), Vocalize (15). Maritea (1) 7-8; Abbot’s Choice (13), Chief Light (2), AUTUMN HANDICAP, of £500; seven furlongs.—Silence (4) 9-10; Goldstrike (3) 8- Royal Tower (9), The Lum (10) 8-8; Persian Gulf (14) 8-4; Test Flight (7), Regardless (5) 7-13; Social News (8). Balmoral (12) 7-10; King Gundi (13) 7-8; Black Briar (11), Dissenter (6) 7-7; Delayed (2) 7-6; Tane (1) 7-0.

ST. ANDREWS HANDICAP, of £450; one mile.—Goldstrike (3) 9-8; Spectral (10) 9-5: Brutus (5) 9-1; Waicoe (2) 8-10; Balmoral (7) 8-9; Dissenter (12) 8-6; Gold Token (1) 8-4; Command (6) 8-3; Royal Mail (4) 8-2; Penze (18). Taj (11) 8-0; Algiers (9). Gay Revel (13) 7-13.

HANDICAP, of £450; one-, mile and three furlongs.—Lochlisten. (4) 9-8; Defame (9) 8-13; King Simper (12), Lumphanan (11) 8-8; Evening Shoes (10) 8-7; Countenance (8) 8-4; Square Dance (5) 8-3; Wilden (2) 8-0; Irish Saint (1), Tipperary (13) 7-12; Ben Cruachan (7) 7-8; Lady Milling (3), Robin’s Choice (6) 7-7.

BRUTUS SPRINTS - WELL

TRIALS AT WINGATUI “The Press” Special Service ' DUNEDIN, February 20. Brutus derived benefit from his gallop yesterday, and recorded the best sprint trial at Wingatui this morning when he dashed over three furlongs on the plough in 38 3-ssec. The Ruthless five-year-old would be favoured by an easy track in his engagement In the St. Andrew’s Handicap. There has been no further rain and, although overcast, the weather looks much brighter. The track should be in good order, with the sting out of it. J. D. Pankhurst has been engaged to ride Balmoral in the Autumh Handicap. Dissenter will probably contest the St. Andrew’s Handicap. No decision has yet

been made about Goldstrike, which is a dual acceptor in these two events. Boniface was not included in F. Trilford’s team, which has arrived at Wingatui, and Algiers is a doubtful starter in the St. Andrew’s Handicap. Jamell, which is likely to take his place in the field for the Otago Handicap, provided the track does not deteriorate, worked two rounds on the plotigh and was not ridden out to run the last three furlongs in 39 2-ssec. Owl’s Way worked freely on the same track and covered five furlongs in Imin 8 l-ssec, the concluding three In 42 4-ssec. The Finis gelding, Relax, which is engaged in the Trial Handicap, ran half a mile in 55 2-ssec, the last three furlongs in 43sec. Persian Gulf was keen to work, but was restricted to six furlongs in Imin 25sec and ran the last three in 43 2-ssec. On the grass Dissenter, which covered extra ground, dashed over the last three furlongs in 40 2-ssec. Royal Invader and the Royal Chief two-year-old Half a Crown were also wide out over half a mile in 58sec, the last three in 43 2-ssec. The Dunedin Handicap candidate. Super Duper, was finishing on to shade Wilden at the end of half a mile in 52 3-ssec, after taking 13 3-ssec for the opening furlong. Lady Milling covered the same ground In 54 l-ssec, the last three furlongs in 41 l-ssec.