OAMARU CLUB’S MEETING

Press, Volume LXXXIX, Issue 27064, 12 June 1953, Page 4

OAMARU CLUB’S MEETING

RACING

ARGUMENT SELECTED TO WIN CUP

TIPPERARY FAVOURED FOR FIRST LEG . Argument, decisive winner of the mile Queen Elizabeth Handicap at Wingatui last Saturday, may improve his promising record in the Oamaru Winter Cup, the principal event at the Oamaru Jockey Club’s winter meeting tomorrow. The Southlandowned and trained Royal Commission colt is the only three-year-old in the field of 10, which includes Taj, winner of this race last year. Argument had his first race in open company in the Birthday Handicap on the first day of the Dunedin winter meeting. He fared worse than most of his opponents in the running, and there was merit in his fifth. Two days later, he ran fourth in the Provincial Handicap, a good trial for his success in the Queen Elizabeth Handicap. He is probably improving with racing, and his older opponents will not find him easy to beat tomorrow. The Oamaru track usually provides good going, and some improvement can be expected in the form of horses which were at a disadvantage in the bad ground at Wingatui. Royal Tower will possibly appreciate the improvement in track conditions more than any of the other cup candidates. The Wingatui-trained Nightly gelding finished well back in the Birthday Handicap after pacemaking to the half mile, but was a fair sixth in the Queen Elizabeth Handicap, a race run under slightly improved conditions. Royal Tower’s best performance leading up to the Dunedin meeting was a third in the Timaru Cup on a light preparation. If he is at his best for tomorrow’s race, he will take beating. Dreenagh and Vitalogy Dreenagh and Vitalogy both ran sound races at Wingatui. Dreenagh was never in a winning position in the Birthday Handicap, and finished tenth; but she showed something of her real' ability two days later when she ran Addition close in the Provincial Handicap. Vitalogy, winner of the Waimate Cup at his previous start, made his only appearance at Wingatui in the Queen Elizabeth Handicap. He was not well placed on the home turn, but finished boldly for fourth. Over more ground, he might have troubled Argument. Vitalogy best on soft and heavy tracks, and conditions at Oamaru may not altogether suit him. However, in his present form his chance of filling one of the places looks bright. Redlo did not show much dash in his races at Wingatui. and he may have lost the form that brought him two successes at the Southland meeting early in May. Formation showed something of nis real ability, in his third in the Provincial Handicap, but he had a track to suit him that day. This Invercargill-trained galloper has never distinguished himself on anything but heavy tracks. Ash has raced well in weaker fields than this one. He is hardy and consistent. but it is doubtful whether he will be a match for Arugment at the weights. Modem Times, the only Riccarton candidate, has not raced since the Amberley meeting, where he ran second to Danger Point in the high-weight. He has possibly improved since then, and at his best he may take beating at his place in the weights. First Leg of Double Export, a minor olace-getter in two of his three races at Wingatui, is one of the form horses for the Burnside Hack Handicap, the first leg of the double. This Gore-trained Lo Zingaro gelding was unlucky to meet a galloper of the ability of Peony Royal in the Brighton Handicap on the first day. Peony Royal beat him decisively. but there was merit in his strong finishing run into second place after being awkardly placed with the race half over.

Export and Peony Royal met again in the Domain Handicap last Saturday, and again the Wingatui-trained Royal Chief mare was his master. Peony Royal again won easily. Exodus was second. That performance by Exodus attracts attention to the changes of Tipperary in this field. Exodus and Tipperary last met at the Waimate meeting last month in the Farewell Hack Handicap, one mile and 150 yards. They had a hard struggle for supremacy, and Exodus beat the Wash-dyke-trained mare by a head. Tipperary has raced well on the Oamaru course. She won easily there in the autumn, over a mile and a quarter. Third in that race was Export, which will meet Tipperary on 61b better terms tomorrow. Judged solely on that result, Tipperary would probably beat the Southland hack again. It may be in Tipperary’s favour, too, that she nas not had the hard racing Export has had recently. Maritea will have many supporters on the strength of her clear-cut win over a mile and three furlongs in the race for amateur riders on the second day of the Dunedin meeting. She was not up to the class of the best hack stayers at the meeting, but they were a very good lot. Sarada. the only Riccarton candidate, and Soumai may do best of the others. What Next for Sprint What Next is the early favourite for the Grange Handicap, the second leg of the double. This Oamaru-trained Nizami mare has shown easily her best form on her home course, mainly because she is a poor traveller. She decisively won this race last year when making her first appearance in open company. Six furlongs nas been her favourite distance, though she has been running on better over longer distances in her recent races, Wingatui form points to sound showings from Current and The Tongs, which were both minor place-getters. ’ Current has raced very consistently, and a win for this Tiderace gelding is overdue.

The Tongs showed marked promise earlier in his career, but he then lost form. Something better was seen of him, though, in the Empire Handicap at Wingatui last Saturday, when he finished strongly for third after beginning slowly. Deploy and Ned Kelly, both winners at Wingatui, will have many supporters, but tfack conditions may not suit them as well on the Oamaru course.

Firmer going will suit Lord Lothian better than most of the others. This smart Washdyke galloper has had three races since he was spelled, and he should now be ready to show his best form.

Top weight of 10-11 should not stop Cogitation from winning the Hack Hurdles. He made his first public appearance as a hurdler at Wingatui last Saturday and won unextended. He beat some experienced and well-performed jumpers. Cogitation built un a good record on the flat and. providing he jumps safely again, his ability on the flat should keep him clear of the others at the finish. Apart from Full Tilt, few of the others have done much hurdling. On fonn Irish Saint may be the best of them. H<s fastfinishing third at Waimate, when he was making his first appearance as a jumper, was encouraging. Selections:— 11 a.m.—Hack Hurdles: Cogitation, Irish Saint, Full Tilt. 11.45 a.m—Trial Handicap: Karanda, Private Angelo My Friend. 12.25 p.m.—Oamaru Trotting Handicap: Sergeant Nelson, Gift, Misty Grattan. 1.10 p.m.—Burnside Hack Handicap: Tipperary, Export, Maritea. 1.55 p.m.—Oamaru Winter Cup: Argument, Royal Tower, Vitalogy. 2.40 p.m.—Grange Handicap: What Next, Current, Lord Lothian. 3.20 p.m.—Waikaura Trot Handicap: Misty Grattan, Marathon, Sergeant Nelson. 4.5 p.m.—Farewell Hack Handicap: Tiles, Cheerio, Deodar. North Canterbury Racing Club (Incorporated) Nominations for the North Canterbury Racing Club’s Meeting at Rangiora on Saturday, 4th July, 1953. close at 5 p.m. on Monday, 15th June, 1953, with the Secretary, P. J. Byrne, 193 Cashel street, Christchurch. Advt.