RACING NOTES

Evening Star, Issue 22973, 2 June 1938, Page 4

RACING NOTES

[Bv St. Claib.]

RACING. June 4,6, 11.—Dunedin J.O. June 4, 6.—Otaki Maori R.O. June 4, 6.—Napier Park B.C. June 6,9, 11. —Auckland K.O. June 11.—Hawke’s Bay J.O. June 18,—Bay of Plenty J.C. June 18.—Hawke’s Bay J.C. June 18.—Qreymouth J.O. June 25,—Waipa R.C, (at Te Rapa). June 25.—Ashburton County R.C. June 25.—Dannevirke Hunt Club, July 2. —Marten R.C. July ,2.—Oamaru J.C. July 5,7, 9.—Wellington R.O.

AT WINGATUI THIS MORNING

There was a very white frost at Wingatui this inorning, and no work was done until nearly 9 o’clock, when the going was good, but sticky, on a new piece of going on the inside grass track, next the railing of the course proper. Swiftcourse and Straightdel finished well clear of Palastyle at the end of half a mile in 53 4-ssec. _ Sheeney completed a circuit by running the same distance in 53sec. Valarth had an unnamed gelding by Lord Warden from Night Myth as a companion over seven furlongs in Imm 37 2-Ssec. , . , Our Pal and Nigger Boy sprinted over three furlongs in 37sec. Lumiere was sent two circuits at a strong pacej and ran the last six furlongs in Imm 6sec. Sunny Ccmet and Superex recorded Imin 39 3-ssec in a run over seven fur--10 Half and Half was going better than Cone Peak at the end of six furlongs in Imin 19 2-6 sec. Dissemble sprinted fast over halt a mile along the back, the last three furlongs in 39 4-ssec. Pink Robe ran seven furlongs by herself in Imin 39 2-ssec. Ardmayle was beaten a couple ox lengths by Wild Career over seven furlongs in Imin 33 l-ssec. The latter handled the holding going well., Spanish Lad beat Gold Don over five furlongs in 65 4-ssec, but the latter was holding on well. Gipsy Fair ran four furlongs from the seven-furlong post in 52 3-ssec. Norseman took Imin 35sec to_ run seven furlongs, the last half-mile in 54 4-ssee, and was going easily through--oUDelrain (A. Powell) and Darian (L. Drummond) were schooled over two hurdles along the back, the former showing to advantage. Octane (H. Powell) and Red Terror (L. Drummond) gave a good exhibition of jumping over three of the steeplechase schooling fences. Araboa. who was conceding weight to Hanlon, beat the latter over six turlongs in Imin 17 4-oseo.

THE BIRTHDAY HANDICAP

The principal flat face on Saturday s card, the Birthday Handicap, is one of tie oldest-established races on the calendar of the Dunedin Jockey Club, having been first run in 1873, when 1 Mr W. McDonald's four-year-old Merry- ' man, carrying 6.5, won. The distance of the race has been, changed many times. For the first three years it was run over a mile and a-half, then changed to a mile and three-quarters, at which it remained until 1880. For the next five years it reverted to a mile and a-half, then in 1885 the distance was altered to a milo and aquarter. In 1888, 1889, 1903,, and 1919 it was again run over a mile and ahalf, and in 1907 over a mile. In the other seasons the distance has heen a mile and a-quarter until last year, when an extra half-furlong was added. Booking dowu the list of winners one sees the names of many good horses, and Sir Modred, who won as a four-year-old in 1883, stands out as the host of them. - Others that catch the eye are Spade Guinea (1886), Fulmen iPOO), Canteen (1907), and Fast •Passage (1932), all of which afterwards won the New, Zealand Cup, while Rorke’s Drift holds the record of having won the race three times (1916, 1918, and 1921), and having carried the heaviest weight. lOst. There is one horse in Saturday’s field that may equal Rorke Drift’s record of three wins, that is Royal Gallant, who won in 1935 and 1936 for Mr W. Hosking, who will this year be represented by Mungatoon, top-weight, and one of the ante-post favourites. Generally speaking, the race has not been a good one for top-weights, and Listening Post, who carried 9.6 in the race of 1925, is the last top-weight to have scored.

No. 1 saddle cloth will be carried this year by Mungatoon, 8.13, and his record in soft going is so good that he is entitled to first consideration. Last season was not a good one for him, as out of 18 starts the best he could do was to score a second and two thirds. His second was gained in the Goldfields Cup (Thames), when under 8.10 he was beaten a head by Sinking Fund in 2min 6 3-ssec. This season his record stands at 19 starts, five wins, a second, and a third, and out of his last six starts he has won four titties and been third once. Early in the season, carrying 7.1, he beat a good field in the Taumarunui Cup, 11 furlongs, and since coming to the South Island he has done well this autumn. He won the Irving Memorial Handicap, one mile, at Reeffen in April, and followed this success up by winning the Amberlev Handicap under 7.9, beating Davolo 9.6 and two others. At Wasbdytke last month be carried 7.5 in the Timaru Cup, beating -Last Refrain 7.8, Davolo B.li. and seven others, including Studley Royal 8.0, Wild Career 7.13, and Royal Gallant 7.5. Over the same distance on the second day he had 8.0, and finished three lengths in front of Last Refrain t .12, Willie Win 8.13. and eight others including Studley Royal 7.13, Wild Career 7.5, and Royal Gallant 7.0. Both, races were run on holding going, and in each he was going right away from the others at the finish. 1 Last Refrain, 8.5, did a fair amount of, racing last season, starting a dozen times for two wins, two seconds, and two thirds. His wins were scored in the Riverton Cup and the Gardiner Memorial Handicap at Oamam, and in each race he beat good fields. In the first five months of the present season lie was started, 18 times, then spelled until Easter time. During that period he won the President’s Handicap at Geral- ! dine and the Buchanan Memorial Handicap at the Banks Peninsula meeting, beating a high-class field in each race. Then he was spelled, and at Washdyke last month finished second to Munga- ! toon each day. He will meet that horse 1 on ]olb better terms on Saturday, and I as he also handies soft going well must be given a good chance. k

July 9. —Westland R.C. (at Riccarton). July 16.—Hawke’s Bay Hunt Club. July 16.—Waimate District Hunt Club. July 23.—South Canterbury Hunt Club. July 23.—Matamata R.C. July 28, 30.—Poverty Bay Turf Club. July 30.—Christchurch Hunt Club. July 30. —Taranaki Jockey Club. TROTTING. June 4.—Wanganui T.C, June 6, 8. —Auckland T.O. June 6.—Ashburton T.C.

Stuclley Royal, 8.4, will be best remembered by Dunedin racegoers as having won the last Dunedin Cup from a good field, but since then his form has been so in and out that he cannot be considered reliable. After running several bad races, he won the Sockburn Handicap, nine furlongs, on the first day of the Riccarton Easter meeting, and next day, under 7.4 L beat all but Arctic King, 7.13 i, in the Great Autumn Handicap. Were he to run up to that form on Saturday he would be the hardest to beat, but he raced badly on the first day of the recent meeting at Washdyke, and fell over Davolo on the second day. Wild Career, 8.3, is a consistent and game little horse that has done a lot of racing. Last season, out of 23 starts, he won twice, was tliree times second, and four times third. This season he has started in 18 races for four wins, two seconds, and a third, and his most important success was in the Riverton Cup. Under 7.10 he heat Double Gift, 7.4, Amelita, 8.1, High Glee, 7.12, and five others. Since then he finished close up fifth in the Great Autumn Handicap, and won over a mile and a-quarter at Invercargill last month. Ho did not show up on either day at Washdyke a fortnight ago, but on Saturday will meet Mungatoon on only 11b better terms, and Last Refrain on 51b worse terras. . High Glee, 8.1, is the most generously treated horse in the handicap, and has been a warm ante-post favourite ever since the weights appeared. Out of a dozen starts last season High Glee won once, was second five times, and third twice, but his record this season is a much more impressive one. Out of a dozen starts he has won four races, been second once, and third twice, yet comes in on only 81b above the minimum. _ At the December meeting at Wingatui he won each day, the Milburn Handicap under 9.2 and the Farewell Handicap under 9.11. The following week he won the Waikouaiti Cup under 7.12 from Dictate, 9.0. and Queen Dorothy, 9.0, and then, with 8.7, was unlucky to be beaten by Dictate, 9.0, in the President’s Handicap next day at Oamaru. After finishing close up fourth, with 7.12, to Wild Career, 7.10, Double Gift, 7.4, and Amelita, 8.1, in the Riverton Cup, he won the Easter Handicap, run over the same distance, with 7.12, beating Waitaka, 8.7, and Arnelita, 8.3, and established a track record of 2min 6sec. In Saturday’s race he meets Amelita on 9lb worse terms for a four lengths’ beating. On paper High Glee looks'to be easily the hardest horse to heat. Amelita, 7.11, raced 18 times last season for five seconds and as many thirds, and this season out of 19 starts won two small races at the 'Clifden meeting, and the Winton Cup under 7.3, beating Paladino 8.6, Trivet 8.2, and one other. She has also finished four times second and as many times third. For these placings she appears to have been heavily penalised. Monipere, 7.10, did a lot of racing last season, starting 19 times for five wins, six seconds, and two thirds, and in a dozen starts tin’s season has won three times, been second once, and third twice. With 7.7 he won at Kumara over a mile and a-quarter on Easter Monday, and in the same week over the same distance at Greymouth. The following week he carried 8.6 in the Lewis Pass Handicap, 10 furlongs, beating Silver Ring 10.6, Mungatoon 8.13, and Roy Bun 7.8. Excepting in this race the fields he beat were not good class, and certainly not up to the class he is set to meet on Saturday.

Island Linnet, 7.7, raced, 19 times last season for three wins, three seconds, and two thirds, but this season out of 12 starts has scored only two seconds and as many thirds. Her chief recommendation is that she can handle soft going. Royal Gallant, 7.7, has two wins in this race to his credit, but recent form does not favour his chance of equalling llorke’s Drift’s record. Last season out of 29 starts he won five times, was second in four, and third in four races, but this season he has only a second and a third to his credit out of seven starts. At Washdyke a fortnight ago ho was prominent in the running for a while each day, but one of the last to finish. High Glee will probably start favourite, but the hardest horses ho has to beat should bo Last Refrain and Mungatoon. JOTTINGS Scratched For All Engagements. Alma was scratched for all engagements at the meeting immediately after the appearance of the handicaps for the Birthday Handicap. Last Night’s Arrivals. P. T. Hogan, in- charge of vShceney and Suporex, F. Tridford, with Donadea, Royal Ransom, Lazybones, Sunward, and Scrap, and T. Silva, with Sunny Comet, arrived last evening. The remainder of the visiting horses are due to arrive to-day. Will Be Fancied. As a result of his win at the Canterbury Park Meeting on Saturday, Aidershot will come into strong favouritism for bis Sapling Stakes engagement at Ashburton on Saturday. Now in J. Bryce's Stable. Embark is now a member of J. Brvce’s team. The Happy Voyage pacer has been one of the most solid and consistent performers in Southland during the last season or two, and as he is still assessed on a comparatively loose mark he should be capable of winning a race or two for bis new trainer. Track Sound. Two horses were galloped on the course proper, next the rails before sunrise this morning, when the light was not good enough to either pick up their identity or the posts on the course. The most pleasing feature of the gallop was that they left only slight traces of having galloped on the track, which shows how much firmer the going is than many trainers thought. Given fine weather" until Saturday, the course should be in splendid order.

Further Improvements at Gore. The Gore Racing Club is making good progress with its comprehensive scheme of improvements at the course. The levelling of the existing motor paddock is going to supply the club with a fine parking place, which should supply the needs of patrons > for many years to come. It is also intended to mark the entire length of the front boundary of the property with a handsome cyclone fence, which will- add considerably to the appearance of the property. Riccarton Riders at Wingatui. Riccarton jockeys’ engagements made for Saturday’s programme at Wingatui are as follow's:—G. Humphries, Mungatoon, Silver, Slipper; A. Messervy, Astaire, Sheeny: R. (Register, Punchestown; H. Hibherd, Palmyra, Gillie, Wild Career, IRodeur; J. Jennings, Greek Gold, Second Innings, Monipere; 0. Wilson, Settlement, Last Refrain, Shamfight, Mount Val; A. Parsons, Flame Queen, Golden Chest, Volo Dale;, M. Caddy, Donadea. Royal Ransom, Scrap; L. J. Ellis, Foxlove, Amelita, Therrnidor, Linguist; A. E. Ellis, Balmenter, Lord Nuffield; W. Jenkins, Nightwings, Alby; D. (R. Mackie, Clubman. The Sapling Stakes. The first Sapling Stakes, run in 11)19, was won by Doraldiua, who was held on lease by Mr F. E. Jones. The winners since then have been Childe Pointer, Latona, Ahuriri, Taurekareka, Kobara, Nantwicb, Richore, Enawah, Sonoma Child, John Jinks, Arethusa, Silver de Ore, Taxpayer, War Buoy, Moana Tama, Frisco Lady, Parisienne, and Two’s Loose. Mr J. Westerman, who bred Doraldina, the first winner, will be represented in Saturday’s race by Special Edition and Taiki. The record for the race is held by War (Buoy, who did 3min 21 2-ssec in 1933. Brother Apprentices. M. Caddy, who lately has been well in the limelight in riding winners, will complete his apprenticeship with A. S. Ellis late in August, but intends to sign on for another term before launching out as a free lance rider. His younger brother, Ronald, is also apprenticed to Ellis, and has been granted a riding license for apprentice races only. He shapes very well in the saddle, and as he is not likely to he troubled with weight, a bright future should also be in front of him. He may have his first ride in public in the Silverstream Handicap, for apprentice riders, on the second day of the Dunedin Meeting. A Sound Suggestion. Commenting on the report that Tasmania has decided to find the money for the Interdominion Championships, the 1 Trotting Record ’ said,: “ In order to obviate future unpleasantness and to cultivate a true Australian and New Zealand spirit, a fund could be established to indemnify future carnivals against loss. As the three carnivals have already proved financial successes, a percentage of the profits from same could be earmarked for this purpose. Special efforts should be made to make trotting a national sport, and to do this every State should take its turn if at all possible. Western Australia lias had the honour of reviving the championship, and.- though far away from New Zealand, two of its horses competed in the Dominion. As Tasmania is so much nearer the Western Australian officials will undoubtedly again urge owners to send representatives to compete in the 1939 series.”