RACING NOTES

Evening Star, Issue 23498, 12 February 1940, Page 2

RACING NOTES

racing. February 16, 17.-Wint,on Jockey Club, February'l7.—Tolaga Hay Jockey Club. February 17. -Opuuake Racing Club. February 17, 19. Waikato Racing Club. February 22, 24.-Dunedin Jockey Club. February 24, -Wamu Racing Club. February 24, 26. Westland Racing Club. February 24, 26.—Te Aroba Jockey Club. February 24, 26.—Woodville D. Jockey Club. March 2.—Franklin Racing Club. March 2.—Banks Peninsula Racing Club; March 2.—Rangilifcei Racing Club. March 7, B.—Taranaki Jockey Club. March 8, 9. —Cromwell Jockey Club. March 9, 11.—Bay of Plenty Racing Club. March 9.—Birchwood Hunt Club. JOTTINGS Dunedin Cup Candidates. Eight Dunedin Cup candidates were seen in action at Gore on Saturday— Mona’s Song,-Night Pal, Norseman, Peony Rose, Sailing Lady, Sparkle, Valantua, and Wild Career. Sharp Spurs. L. Hare was fined £2 for using too sharp spurs when riding Aspire in the Croydon Handicap on Saturday. Atua Here. ‘ 'Atua Rere is reported to have contracted a chill at the Tapanui meeting, and was not able to fulfil his engagements at Gore on Saturday. Dunedin Cup Meeting. Handicaps for the first day of ' the Dunedin Cup meeting; are due to-mor-row morning, and their appearance will stimulate interest in the fixture. Miltiades. Miltiades ran his worst race this season when he contested the Croydon Handicap on Saturday, and was never able to get near the leaders at any stage of the race. Evidently Miltiades prefers a sound track. Appreciated. Mr W. P. Russell, handicapper to the Dunedin and Cromwell Clubs, came down from Palmerston North to witness the racing at Gore. This action will be appreciated by the owners who have horses racing at Gore and engaged at Wingatui this month.

Half Sisters. Both Silkwood and Boaform, winners at Gore on Saturday afternoon, are daughters of the Some Boy 11. mare Someform. and were bred by Mr F Moore, of Winton, in whoso colours Boaform raced. The latter was making her debut in open company, and, like many of Balboa’s progeny, showed a liking for the yielding going. Could Not Handle Going. The Washdyke trainer E. J. Ellis had a big team racing at Gore,'but none of the horses he started were at . home in the soft going. After racing at Gore- to-day they will go. on .to .the Winton ■ meeting nest Friday and Saturday, and. then return to Wingatui for the Cup meeting. Has Taken Time. Now a four-year-old, the Nigger Minstrel —Queen Balboa gelding. King’s Chorus, has become solid, and during the past six weeks has won four races. ‘On Saturday ho put up quite an attractive performance, and as he appeared to being going very easily at the finish it is difficult to estimate just how much he had in hand. Won All the Way. It is not usual to see so many, winners lead all the way in their races as was seen at Gore on Saturday. King’s Chorus, Kentucky Sun. Peony Rose, Southern Sail, and Bankstock led from start to finish, and Blissful Lady, winner of the concluding event, was always disputing the lead with Islay Downs. Visiting Southland. A. E. Ellis was at Gore on Saturday, and intends spending a week in Southland looking up his old friends. Ho will be riding at Winton this week, and then return to Wingatui for the Cup meeting. Some owners showed poor judgment on Saturday in not availing themselves of his services when the weights suited. Going Against Top-weights. The going at Gore on Saturday, though very much better than expected, was all against the top-weights, and only one, Southern Sail, was returned a winner. Opposed to a weak field in the Novice Handicap, she led all the way and won fairly comfortably. Southern Sail will now not be eligible for the Novice Stakes at Winton. Returning to Form. Islay Downs attempted, to win the Summer Hack Handicap all the way on Saturday, but over the last three furlongs Blissful Lady kept him doing his best, and she wore bun down in the last few strides. This was easily Islay Downs best performance since he won at Wingatui early in the season, and now he has returned to form it should not be long before he is returned a winner. Likes Firmer Going. Wild Career has run all of his best races on firm tracks,, and many were surprised to see him put in such a good finishing run in the open sprint at Gore to secure third money. The little Balboa gelding is very well just now, and as he has shown he can see out "the journey, is likely to be one of the light-weight fancies for the Dunedin Cup

[By St. Claiu.]

March 9.—Carterton Racing Club. March 14, 16.—Wellington Racing Club, TROTTING, February 14. —Auckland T.C. February -17, 19.—Manawatu T.C; February 17. —New Brighton T.C. February 24.—Patriotic meeting, Adding ton. - March 2.—lnvercargill T.C. March 9.—Timsru T.C. March 16.—Taranaki T.C. March 18.-r Cheviot T.C. March 16.—Wyndhatn T.C. March 23, 27, 28.—New Zealand Metro politan T.C. First Appearance in South. Fidchs, a lour-year-old full brother to Catalogue, who was recently purchased by Messrs Ross and Price, two stewards of the Gore Club, and placed in T. G. Pollock’s care, had his first start in Southland in the open sprint event at Gore on Saturday. Ho looked on the big side and was sent out nearly the outsider of the field. He ran as ho was backed, but both on breeding and looks is likely to do much beter when ready to race. Southern Stables Successful. Invercargill stables turned out four winners and a dead-heat, and Riverton two winners and a dead-beat at Gore* The Riverton trainer A. M‘Kay very nearly performed the “hat trick” as Peony Rose dead-heated for first place in the principal handicap, and he won the next two races on the card with . Southern Sail and Boafdfm, These were the only horses ho had engaged, Heidelberg. It was announced last week that Heidelberg, after racing at Gore, would be given a light let-iip and then undergo a special preparation' for the Riverton Cup or Champion Hack Handicap at Easter time, Tii the Longford Hack Handicap on he had 9.12, and ridden by his trainer missed the jump-out and trailed the field all the way. This was not Heidelberg’s true form, and he should not be discarded on his Gore running fop future events. An indifferent Start. Ortyx and Islay Downs were responsible for some delay at the barrier'in the Summer Hack Handicap at Gore, and the former, whose rider drew No. 3 position at the barrier; was eventually. ordered to the outside, but Islay Downs, who was equally troublesome, continued to “ back and fill ” and was eventually allowed to start from No. 5 instead of No. 7 position. When the tapes were released Vanity Queen. Exult, and Cherokea were chopped out. Failed to Stay On. There was a lot of money for the Iliad—Countersign filly Counter!unch in the Longford Hack Handicap on Saturday, and when her rider drew No. 1 position -at the barrier her 1 chance looked good, but 5 unfortunately^for her owner and' backers '-she missed the jumpout when the barriers were released.’ She quickly made hp the lost ground, and at the home turn looked to hold a good winning ; chance, but failed to stay on over the last furicing. Could Not Act in Going. Though well fancied by his. ownertrainer, Norseman failed badly in the Racing Club Handicap at Gore. Always a slow beginner, Norseman was last as the field ran through the straight, and, though the field was not a big one and he appeared to obtain a clear run throughout, he was never able to get near the leaders, and could, not get nearer than sixth at the finish. Nino stone and the going was evidently just 1 beyond him. A Popular Win. The most popular win recorded at Gore was that scored by Kentucky Sun, driven by her owner-trainer, ■’ Alex. M’Lellan, who has had a lean time of it this season with his big team. M'Lellan is a good ipatron of the trotting and racing clubs which include light harness events in their .programmes, and it is not often that any of his horses returns as big a dividend as Kentucky Sun did. Ran Badly. With a 51h license Night Wings only carried 7.7 in the Racing Club Handicap at Gore, and her owner thought she had a royal chance of winning. She was well placed throughout the race, in fourth place alongside of Mona’s Song. She began to close up tq the leaders after rounding the far turn, and as they raced across the top she held a good enough position, but once hi the straight failed badly, and, though ridden out, could not get nearer thaa fifth. Bay Duke. Both Bay Duke and Rodeur, wh« were well fancied in the Croydon Handicap at Gore, are trained by ll, : M‘Nay at Riverton. Bay Duke showed a re- 1 turn to his old form at the holiday meetings, but last season one of Southland’s best sprinters,' has so far shown no return to form. Bay Duke was out in front for over three furlongs, setting a very fast pace, but then be stopped’ badly. He had a good horse’s weight 8.13, and was not able to sustain the pace he set.

Made Use of Her Handicap. When Peony Rose dead-heated with Sparkle in the Racing Club Handicap on Saturday she-carried only 7.ligand directly the barrier was; released-her apprentice-rider, L, J.■' Clutterbuck, rushed her to the front, and made the top-weights fedl the effect of thcir imposts. At one stage of the race PeonyRose was at least five lengths clear of Sparkle, and it did not look as if she would be caught. The apprentice on Sparkle moved up closer at the far turn, and was within striking distance as they turned into the straight. Then these two light-weights cleared right away from the rest of the field. Both of these lads showed good judgment in making use of their light weights. It is interesting to note that the first five horses t« finish in this race were ridden by apprentices. Winton Rehandicaps. Winton Cup.—Peony Rose 8.2, Sparkle 7.13, Boaforin 7.6. Tradesmen’s Handicap.—Sparkle 8.12, Boaform 8.5. . _' Barkly Handicap.—. King's Chorus 9.1, Blissful Lady 8.5. : •Ofapiri Trot.—Kentucky Sun 48. Hokouui Trot.—Baukstosk 48.