Racing on a greasy track

Press, Volume CXI, Issue 32539, 24 February 1971, Page 10

Racing on a greasy track

(From Our Own Reporter) DUNEDIN. The Dunedin Jockey Club faced the possibility of a cancellation of yesterday’s meeting because of the condition of the track after overnight rain.

A, party of jockeys inspected the track three-quarters of an hour before the first race, for hurdlers, but all went well in the jumping event, and the pro gramme was continued.

AU the jockeys who rode in the hurdles, won by Golden Silver, were asked by the Stipendiary Steward (Mr J. McCulloch) for their opinions about the footing. Five of them said they were quite satisfied, but D. A. Adams said Near Go had slipped twice on turns, and had almost fallen at the half-mile.

After the first race, Mr R. J. Gilbert, chairman of the judicial committee, told flat jockeys that a novice jumper had been schooled safely over the brushes on the course proper that morning. “We feel this track wUI be quite safe today as long as

you use reasonable caution,” Mr Gilbert said.

NOVICE STAKES Twenty minutes later, Menado tell on the turn near the halfmile in the Novice Stakes. His rider, 1. R. Dowling, lost some skin over an eye but was otherwise unhurt He joined a party of officials and the jockey. E. J. Dldham, to examine the section of the course where he fell. Dowling said that Menado had been having his first start, and was a long strlder. The Mellay gelding had simply slipped on the turn and had come down. Dldham rode Re-Enter, the third place-geter in the Novice Stakes. "The ground was shifting but my fellow was always going well and I never had a moment's worry," Dldham said. “It might have been different if we had been ‘fiat’ from the G. W. Mein, rider of the Rlccarton-owned and trained Glrate, said his mount had been well behind from early In the race, but had still handled the track well. The only time he was worried was on the home turn, when horses inside him drifted out from the rails. The Novice Stakes was won Impressively by Three Sevens, a Bellborough filly from the Ashburton stable of J. Lalor. Three Sevens swooped from the ruck late, just when it appeared that the unlucky Buzz would break through for a well-earned win. The third race on the card, the February Improvers’ Handicap, was uneventful. This was a race for apprentice riders and the field was of a handy size and there was nothing to distinguish the race from the usual run of races except that most of the horses in the leading group took fairly wide courses around the hpme turn. DISTANCE INCREASED The fourth race, the Dominion Handicap for two-year-olds, gave the officials most concern beforehand. because the distance of five furlongs gave the contestants only about a furlong before the first turn. It was finally decided to Increase the distance of the race by 100 yards. Had the race been run over Its carded distance, Tourie might have won with a bit to spare. As it was, he went under by a nose to Solar Flight, a South-land-owned and trained Summertime colt. The Riccarton jockey, M. Skelton, gambled on covering lots of ground to get the best results in the conditions. He realised, after riding in the maiden race earlier In the day, that the horses being forced three and more wide were handling the ground better than those against the fence. "He was always about five wide but he was going only half-pace coming to the home turn,” Skelton said. "He might have looked as if he was hanging off the course, but in fact I was doing my best o stop him from hanging in.” Tourie, which had disputed the lead to the two furlongs, then went nicely clear after taking the shortest course around the home turn, was unchallenged for second. Smart Mellay, the lesser fancied of two runners for B.

J. Anderton’s stable—his stablemate, Attentive, was the favourite —was a creditable third, but had her chance. Attenlve finished ninth.