RACING Josudi May Improve On Wingatui Placing

Press, Volume XCI, Issue 27592, 24 February 1955, Page 4

RACING Josudi May Improve On Wingatui Placing

Josudi and Naval Treaty have the form brand on them, and may be the principals in the finish of the Dominion Handicap, the first leg of the double on the second day of the Dunedid Jockey Club’s autumn meeting on Saturday. They were third and fourth respectively in the corresponding race last week and their performances were those of improving horses. Josudi’s first win in open company did not look far distant when he ran fourth in the New Zealand Cup last November, but so far success has dodged him, though he has creditable placings on his record. Last week, he was having his first race since he was just beaten by Dusty Miller and Redlo on a soft track in the Invercargill Gold Cup, one mile and five furlongs, on January 3. Two days earlier, he beat all but Clinker in the Wyndham Cup, and was jmlucky to meet that Mosgiel galloper at his brilliant best. Josudi has 7-8. Naval Treaty is on the 7-0 minimum. So it will not be surprising if the finish is dominated by lightweights. Naval Treaty’s form fell away after his. hard race tofinish third behind King’s Fair and Desperado in the Winter Cup at the last Grand National meeting. There was not much sign of a return to form until the Canterbury Jockey Club’s summer meeting, where he was a creditable fifth in the Midsummer Handicap. He was beaten home that day by Americus. Declare. The Hob, and Fulgent. He will meet The Hob again on Saturday, and from his place in the handicap he may be the Mosgiel galloper’s master. Bosky shares position of top weight with The Hob. He won over this distance at the Dunedin Cup meeting, but his performance last week did nothing to raise hopes for him. Field Chiefs forn? has slumped over the last few weeks, and even at his best he would probably find the distance troublesome under 9-0. Sound Stayer

Dinner Chat Is a newcomer at the meeting, and is reported to have thrived since she soundly won over a mile and a half at Gore on February 5. Dinner Chat stays well, and in her present form she may win again soon, so long as the tracks are firm. Her stablemate, Lumphanan, won the main race at long odds last week, after being third in the race won by Dinner Chat at Gore.

This time, Lumphanan has 7-10, and at the weights his stablemate may be too good for him. Portree and Royal Voyage, fifth and sixth last week, are again engaged. These two shared pacemaking in last week’s race, and though .headed well out by Lumphanan, they were fairly close at the finish.

Ballast toiled hard to justify his position as. favourite last week, but was safely held by Lumphanan. There was a length and a half between these two at the finish, Ballast running on for hip placing. This was by far Ballast’s best race since he beat all but Pleasure Bent and Bosky over 11 furlongs at, Wingatui in the spring, and it gives hope lor early success—success that has dodged him since he won against the hacks at Trentham last July.

Next to Ballast, Solstice will probably be the strongest Ricearton representative. He had his chance last week, but his finish lacked race-win-ing dash. If he is judged on his good fourth in the Metropolitan. Handicap at the last New Zealand Cup meeting, improvement in his form can be expected. Any immediate improvement should carry him into the picture this week.

Good Abbot, one of New Zealand’s best staying three-year-olds two seasons ago, may do best of the others. He is now owned and trained in Southland, and is returning to middle distance racing after two appearances as a sprinter.

Early prospects are: Josudi, Naval Treaty, and Dinner Chat.

The Second Leg Fast sprinters trained by D. P. Wilson and his nephew; J. A. Wilson, will probably be in the thick of the battle for March Handicap honours. This is the second leg of the double. D. P. Wilson is the owner-trainer of My Friend, a five-year-old Massowa mare, with three victories from four starts to her credit this season. This will b'e My Friend’s debut in open company, and it gives her a chance to gain her third successive win. She had her last race as a hack at Gore on February 5, when she carried 8-13 to a comfortable win over six furlongs. Twelve days earlier she beat a stronger field over seven furlongs at Trentham. She carried 8-7, and had to be good to hold on for a neck victory after getting to the front inside the first two furlongs. A successful debut in open company has eluded many good gallopers, but My Friend has the ability to accomplish it.

J. A. Wilson’s stable will be represented by Sure Swift, a consistent five-year-old Newton Pippin gelding with a sharp turn of speed for six furlongs. Sure Swift’s record from 12 starts this season is three wins, three seconds, two thirds, and one fourth. It is a record to be respected with a sprinter racing on his home track.

Strato must be regarded as a strong possibility to fill one of the places. He dropped out of the corresponding race on the first day of the meeting because of a bruised heel, but galloped in race-wihning style at Wingatui on Tuesday.

Strato has previously done good service for Mr R. C. Idiens at Wingatui. He was the outstanding sprinter at the Dunedin Cup meeting in December, when he won the Publicans’ and Flying Handicaps. Sure Swift made him work hardest for.victory in the Publicans’ Handicap (six furlongs), a neck separating them at the finish. This time Sure will meet Strato on 91b better terms, but top weight of 8-12 will by no means end Strato’s chance.

Irish Wings has speed, but has not carried it far. Corona Fox runs her races out more strongly when she gives of her best, but six furlongs is short of her favourite distance. Royal Symbol has the brilliance to be m or near the front from the start, but My Friend is a better light-weight prospect.

The chances of My Friend, Sure Swift, and Strato are favoured.