MUDLARKS NOW IN DEMAND

Dominion, Volume 38, Issue 22, 20 October 1944, Page 7

MUDLARKS NOW IN DEMAND

Drenching Rain For Final Trials

(By

St. Simon.)

A recasting of opinions on Saturday s racing at Trenthain has been necessitated by an untimely change in the weather. Wellington city and the Hutt Valley was drenched 'by an unceasing rainstorm throughout Wednesday night and all day yesterday, and the tracks at Trentham for the final gallops yesterday morning were waterlogged and sloppy. more than two inches of rain fell at the racecourse for the 24 hours to 9 a.m. yesterday, and a further half an luch fell up to last evening. Even if the weather clears today the going for the opening day o, the 'Wellington spring meeting tomorrowwill be soft and horses who have proved themselves In heavy ground will come strongly into favour. . , , , , The 'break In the weather is bad luck for the Wellington Racing Club for the track, following a spell of line weather, was in perfect spring condition and would have provided the 'best of going. In spite of the foul conditions there was a fair amount of galloping yesterday though most of it was confined to sprinting, not always at full pace. Anything better than 55 for half a mile was good time, which gives an indication of the state of the going. The early workers had the 'better of the conditions. Hormuz, with an advantage in weight, shaded his stablemate, Tuls, over half a mile in 54. Desert Ace, who handled the going with ease, was travelling well alongside Dark Morning at the end of six furlongs, the last half-mile taking 55. Bridge Acre ran six furlongs, being assisted over the last four by Hine Bel in 55. Bridge Acre was slowing up aLthe finish and may not be quite at her best for tomorrow's Guineas. Ramlcourt was given an easy seven furlongs and handled the conditions well. His stablemate, Yogi, followed in a similar task which took him 1.39. He finished strongly and looks Improved with the race he had at Masterton. Ann Bank beat Moutoa Lad over half a mile, and just broke 53. She handled the track fairly well for such a long strider. Siglow, a hurdle candidate, did a working gallop over seven furlongs in 1.40 1-3, breaking 45 for the last three. Tara King gave Transmitter several lengths’ start at the five furlongs peg, jollied him on the home turn, and had his measure at the post. They ran the last half-mile in 53 4-5.

Capronella and Joseph Conrad were clear of the maiden Daniel 'Haigh at the end of six furlongs in 1.23 2-5, the first two furlongs in 284. Joseph Conrad and Capronella, who are stablemates, are in the October Handicap tomorrow. It is not intended to run both of them.

Silver Coin was doing better than Singing Hills at the end of six furlongs in 1.25 1-5, the first three furlongs in 45.

Flahuluk (Vaughan). Voltaite (Johnson) and Buns'by (Wiggins) ran a mile. They went at an easy pace for the first half and came home the last half in SG, finishing together. Whackie worked a round, increasing the pace nearing home and finishing solidly. He appreciated the going, and will come into strong favour for the Shorts Handicap. as he is a proven mudlark, specially at Trentham. The Guineas candidates Da Vinci and Alright set out to run six furlongs, but Alright, who had displayed waywardness when being taken on the track, dislodged his rider. Da Vinci went on alone and ran an easy half-mile in 38 2-5. Poutatau, who relishes the Trentham going when it is heavy, broke 54 for half a mile alone. Typhoon “ran four furlongs in 59, and Casilda ran the last three furlongs of half a mile in 43 4-5. Golden Souvenir, handling the going better than Matador, shaded the halfbrother' to- Battledress in their trial, tlie last half-mile of which occupied 58. Golden Souvenir hit out well, and appears to have recovered from the soreness which affected him at Masterton. Most of the -South Island visitors were worked after the breakfast interval, by which time the track had become slushy. Among those to gallop fast Was Gulf Stream, who covered the last half-mile of his work in 57.

Conspicuous, who will not race till the second day, showed his usual ability in wet going when returning 53 4-5 for half a mile.

Kindergarten and Lord Chancellor were both restricted to pace work. Kindergarten was walking with more freedom than on Wednesday. Lord Chancellor will be ridden in the Harcourt Stakes by T. Green.

Several two-year-olds were sprinted down the course proper, but no serious galloping was attempted. Majestic, the brother to Subdued, who has won at his only start to date, did the lightest of exercise.

Unlucky Representative. ißopresentatlve injured himself on the train trip from Auckland. He has two badly capped hocks and abrasions on his hind legs, but did not appear to be sore when jogged in the centre of the course. His trainer, F. .Smith, is doubtful whether Representative will be able to run In the Wellington Handicap. Yesterday’s Scratchings.

Scratchings posted yesterday for the Wellington spring meeting were as follows:— '

Yours and Mine (Guineas), 2.40 p.m. Gulf “Stream (Walnui Handicap), 2.30 p.m. Colonel Vaals (all engagements), 2.10 p.m. Broleform (Rimutaka Handicap), 11.45 a.m.

Dunbra (all engagements), 11.45 a.m. Midshipman (all engagements), 11 a.m. High Play (Shorts Handicap), 10.30 a.m. The scratchings notified yesterday as Daniel Haigh should have, been Douglas Haig. Daniel Haigh is engaged in the Rimutaka Handicap. Form Variations.

It Is unfortunate that the Wellington spring meeting is threatened with a heavy track because of this week’s untimely break in the weather. Heavy going is a great leveller of class and facing on a track affected by rain is never so informative or interestring as form shown on top of the ground. Races such as the Wellington, Walnui and Shorts Handicaps, the Guineas and the Wellesley Stakes, run wifliin a few weeks of the New Zealand Cup, Stewards’ Handicap, and Derby Stakes, usually furnish a fairly trustworthy guide to the Canterbury events which are recognised as the climax of the spring racing season. Heavy going gives inferior animals with special ability to handle bad ground a big advantage, and assists them to bridge the gap in class to better horses. That, of course, is the luck of the sport and no doubt there are many owners with such animals engaged at Wellington who are at present feeling on good terms with themselves because of this week’s change of weather. Have tlie Ability.

Among the horses who have proved themselves in heavy going engaged in the main handicaps tomorrow arc Indian Sport. Boulder Dam, Foxhaven. Tara King. Sir Standfast. and'Kaltoa, in the Walnui Handicap: Macedoine. Kevin. Classform, Langue d’Or. Lowry Bay, Foxlenp, Voltaire. Flahuiiik, and Path Po In the Wellington Handicap: and Whacklo, Sir Bradbury, Gulf Stream. Alethea, Poutatau, Park Light, Royal ITeir and Cramond Bay in the Shorts Handicap. Only Ono to Run. H. S. Greene’s stable has two form horses engaged in the October Handicap tomorrow, Capronella and Joseph Conrad, both of whom ran close seconds last week at Masterton. Tlie trainer stated yesterday that only one of them will run and wliich-

ever one is selected will be ridden by A. Jenkins. Left at Home. ~ , . Sweet Biscuit's three-year-old sister, Broieform, a member of F. Smith’s team, was not brought to the Wellington meeting as she contracted a slight cold a few days ago.

Not to Run. ~ , Big Money, a brother to Lotto, and Montosorrie, a half-sister to Gladyney, trained by P. Burgess, will not fulfil their engagements in the Wellington Guineas. Both are maidens and claim engagements In the Trial Stakes on the second day.

Looks a Picture. Kevin, who is owned by Mr. R. J. Murphy, a steward of the Wellington Racing Club, and trained by R. Wilson, at Rlccarton, has never looked in better order than at present. He is a candidate for the Wellington Handicap and would only need to repeat his Islington Handicap run to be given a chance tomorrow, specially as he is quite at home in soft ground.

Answers to Inquiries. “Soldier,” Featherston: (1) £4/10/6 and £2/0/6. (2) £l/16/6. (3) £2/7/-. W 5/-. (5) £4/4/- and £l/10/6. “F.R.,” Oliau: £2/16/6. “Barney,” Pllmmerton: (1) Cheval de Volee won his first Auckland Cup in 1938. (2) H. Long rode him In both wins.