SPRING RACING AT HASTINGS

Dominion, Volume 38, Issue 4, 29 September 1944, Page 7

SPRING RACING AT HASTINGS

Several Fresh Horses

(BY

St. Simon.)

Excepting a disappointing field of seven for the Flying Handicap, the card to be presented by the Hawke's Bay Jockey Club at Hastings tomorrow Is a well-filled one and should be productive of keen racing. The fields contain several horses who will be making their first appearance for the new season.

In the main event the fresh horses are Bunsby, Virtuoso and Lastik. Bunsby has not raced since the Felldlng meeting at Easter, when he should have won the Fending Cup, in which he was beaten a head l>v Rink. Bunsby ran consistently last autumn, his last six starts returning two wins, a second and three thirds, his successes being in a highweight at Trentham and in the Hawke’s Bay Cup. Virtuoso, who is trained in the same stable as Bunsby, has not raced since he won the Manawatu Sires’ Produce Stakes as a two-year-old in 'March, 1913. That day he heat Screen, Wee Bun, Sudabar, and others, and ran out the seven furlongs in a manner suggesting that he possessed stamina. Virtuoso did not race at all as a three-ycsr-old. Lastik has not raced since Easter. Last summer he won two hack races, but a third and three fourths was the best he could do in subsequent starts in the open class. The pre-post favourite for the Spring Handicap at Hastings is Regal Night. In his only start since the current season opened' he finished fourth in the open seven furlongs at the Hawke’s Bay Hunt behind Indian Sport, Catterick Bridge and Glad Fox. Hastings is Regal Night’s favourite track, for It was there that he won his four races last season, the last of them in the principal handicap at the winter meeting, when at a difference of 211 b. he defeated Jlouldci Dam. If Indian Sport is capable of giving the field weight lie should prove difficult to dispose of in the Spring Handicap, for he is the most seasoned runner. He has already had five races this season for three wins, a second and a third. Yogi and Fiddler's Green 'both opened the season last weekend at Awapuni, where they contented the Foxton Cup. They looked in need ol the racing, and of the pair Yogi was doing the better at the finish. .

Koi Ragl and Gienfalloch are the fresh horses in the Flying Handicap. Koi Ragi won four races last term and was four times placed. His efforts in the best sprint company earned him a high place in the handicaps, and he starts off the present season at 6.9, giving a stone to Foutatau, who raced well against' the best class sprinters last season, and at his last start was beaten half a length with 9.1 by High Play (who received ®lb.), in the Members' Handicap at Riccarton last month.

GienfailKh was ranked among the best of the handicap, performers last season over a middle distance, though on one occasion a<, Woodville ho ran a surprisingly forward race over six furlongs, finishing fourth Among ‘lie backs at Hastings tomorrow is Tussock, whose three starts as a two-year-old last season returned a fourth (after being left several lengths) and two wins. His two successes were scored at Nnpier Park, and each time he defeated Matador. Tussock ran on well as a two-year-old and if he trains on he should do well as a hack. He comes from a family of solid gallopers, including Round Up, Bodyline, Sunola, Mangurakau, and others. Provision has been made, to run the Imperial Plate for maidens in two divisions at Hastings tomorrow. The acceptors number 20, and the safety number at tho six furlongs barrier at Hastings is 2G, so there is a good chance of the division being n'oldcd. Paganini, wno it engaged in the Hastings Stakes, is a half-brother to Koi Ragl, his sire being Lang Bian. He was bred at Karamu Stud, and though on the small side was a very racey looking yearling. Ho will be raced bv 'Mr. F. Ormond. Details of the two-year-olds in the Hastings Stakes who have not raced before are as follows:— Vassillkofi, b. c., by Gynerium—Greek Diana. F. H. and 0. D. B. Avisos.

Controller, ch. c., by Croupier—Zarisee. T. H. Coltman. Little Billy, ch. c., by Sporting Blood— Decanter. E. IJ. Fitzgerald.' Majestic, br. c., by. Ringmaster—'Submission. M. J. Moodabe, Provider, b. c., by Foxbridge—Llangollen. S. J. Newiand. Gigli, b. c., by Defoe —Haughty Toti. S. J. Newland. Paganini, b. g., by Lang Bian—Silver Strand. F. Ormond. Merciful, b. c., by Buiandshar—Clemency. _F. Ormond. Twitch, br. g., by Gynerium—Brown Hill. E. W. Symes. Castlemaine, b. f., by Autopav—Lady Waitangi. M. P. Coady and K. E. Herbert. Blue Moon, b. f., by Legatee—Astrite. T. McAvinue. Gay Senorita. br. f., by Gynerium—lmogen. A. J. Smith. Wellington Cup. The stake for the 1945 Wellington Cup, to be run at Trentham in January, will be £5OOO.

Trotting at Trentlmm. The proposal that the Wellington Trotting Club should in future hold its meetings permanently at Trentham was considered yesterday by the Wellington 'Racing Club stewards. A special committee was set up to inquire into various aspects of the question and report 'back to the committee early In the new year. Answer# to Inquiries. "Also Hopeful,” Lower Hutt: Miradale is a four-year-old mare by Hellespont (son of Pharos) from Mirambeek, by Magpie from All Mine, by All Blaek from Alexandra (imp.) by Persimmon. Last season Miradale won two races over a mile and a quarter confined to three-year-olds. She had 6.7 in the first, at Mentone, and won by three lengths in 2.6}, and 7.6 in the other, at Flemington, which she won by a length and a quarter in 2.6}. She ran third in another race over a mile carrying 6.12. She has. no form this season in two starts till the second week in September, the latest full results available from Victoria. “■Settler,” Waipukurau: £2/5/6. “Spud,” Petoue: £2/17/-. "D.W.,” Nelson: Barometer Chimes, Avondale Lase and Lady Spray comprised a triple bracket in the Geraldine Trot.

"Skid,” Levin: Phoenix was scratched at 2 p.m. and High Morale at 1.15 p.m, on the day for Foxton engagements.