RACING NOTES

Evening Star, Issue 23499, 13 February 1940, Page 2

RACING NOTES

[By Sr. Ci.Ain.]

, RACING. February 16, 17.-\Vmion Jockey Club. February 17.—Tolaga Bay Jockey Club. February I—Opunakel—Opunake Racing Club. February 17. 19 - Waikato Racing Club. February 22, 24. —Dunedin Jockey Club. February 24. Waiau Racing Club. February 24, 26. Westland Racing Club. February 24, 26.—Te Aroha Jockey Club. February 24, 26.—Woodville D. Jockey Club. March 2.—Franklin Racing Club. March 2.—Banks Peninsula Racing Club. March 2.—Rangitikei 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 Pulled up Sore. Bay Duke was one of the smartest to jump out of the barrier in the Borough Handicap yesterday, but quickly drifted and finished last. He appeared to be sore on returning to tho enclosure. Remembo It was reported during the Gore meeting that Remembo has been leased by a patron of A. E. Didham’s stable and has been transferred from R. E. M'Lellan’s stable to Didham’s care. Gate Receipts at Gore. Last year the summer meeting of the Gore Racing Club was tho jubilee fixture and held in fine weather. The gate receipts amounted to £202 16s yesterday, making £542 16s for the meeting, as compared with £642 17s in 1939. Improved. Fidelis was evidently much improved by the race he had on the first day, as he was well in the picture for nearly a mile. This brother to Catalogue looks the part of a good horse, and promises to be a stake winner before the autumn meetings are finished. Ran a Fair Race. Milford had a real horse’s weight in the High-weight Handicap at Gore yesterday, 11.11. He was up handy to the leaders for about five furlongs, and then the big impost told in the going, which was very heavy for the opening event. Good Care of Course. Tho heavy rain overnight made the course very sodden when tho racing commenced at Gore yesterday, and horses were getting into it fairly deeply. Tho caretaker rolled it after each race, and towards the end of the day’s racing it had greatly improved 1 . Her First Start. The grey filly Cross Rose was given her first run in public when she started in the Trial Handicap yesterday, and was running on well at the finish. She is not engaged at Winton on Friday, hut has been weighted at 8.7 in the Trial Handicap on the first day of the Dunedin Cup meeting.

Quick Change of Seasons. The seasons of the year evidently change quickly in the Gore district, judging by the programme of tho Goro Racing Club. On the opening day there was the Summer Handicap, and yesterday the Autumn Handicap, but in the climate in which these two races were decided both would have been more appropriately named .Winter Handicaps. Winton Acceptances.

The Winton Jockey Club has received excellent acceptances for the first day of its meeting, to he held on Friday and Saturday, excepting in the open sprint event. Most of the horses engaged were racing at Gore over the week-end, but in nearly every race there are one or two newcomers which will add to tho interest of the meeting.

Chopped Out At Start. Though there were only five starters in tho Autumn Handicap last evening, Islay Downs, who was in the centre of the field, got chopped out at the start and lost about three lengths. Once in the back stretch he made up this lost oround quickly, but he had nothing to spare at the finish from Black Bard, who ran his best race to date. Bred By Owner.

Craiglea gave her owner, Mr J. Morrison, of Timaru, his first success for some seasons when she won the Trial Handicap yesterday. Craiglea has been placed on several occasions, and has improved since going into E. J. Ellis’s stable at Washdyke. Her dam, Madge s Tray, is by Tea Tray from the imported mare. Aunt Madge. Craiglea, who is a first faol, was bred by her owner.

Starting at Gore. Mr Gieseler’s work with the starting barrier at the Gore meeting, with very few exceptions, was well up to his best standard, but he was placed at a disadvantage in not having a platform to work from. When big fields are lined up a starter cannot get the comprehensive view of all the horses when standing on the ground. Unlucky at Start.

Though Blissful Lady won the Apprentices’ Handicap fairly easily, her task Would have been made more difficult had Mosgiel not dwelt at the barrier. He started from the extreme outside of the lino, and lost three or four lengths. When ho turned into the straight he was again unlucky in being carried out very wide. Mosgiel is not engaged at Winton on Friday. Unlucky.

When the field first lined up to the barrier for the Borough Handicap Phalanx, who drew the outside position broke through, but was promptly called back. The next time lie was not quite in line and missed the jump-out, losing several lengths. Only Bay Duke was behind him when the field turned into the straight, and he put in a great run to get within a length of Spendthrift at the post. Phalanx is engaged at Winton on Friday, but will have to concede 231 bto Ortyx. On yesterday’s form ho should account for all the others.

March 9.—CaiTciton Racing Club. March 14, 16.--Wellington Racing Club. TROTTING. February 14.—Auckland T.C. February 17, 19.—Manawalu T.C. February 17 —New Brighton T.C. February 24. —Patriotic meeting, Adding' ton. March 2. —lnvercargill T.C. March 9.—'Timaru T.C. March 16.—Taranaki T.C. March 16.—Cheviot T.C. March 16. —Wyndham T.C. March 23, 27. 28,-New Zealand Metropolitan T.C. *

Won Well. Spendthrift won the open sprint race at Gore yesterday well, and over the final stages did not receive any help from his apprentice rider, who was rolling about in the tight finish. It is reported that this Paper Money—Fleet Lady four-year-old is a clever, natural jumper. With his speed he will be dangerous when put to the jumping game. Finished on Strongly, Valantua was runner-up to _ the placed horses in the principal handicaps each day at Gore, and after being a long way back at the home turn yesterday, finished with a very fast run to get within a head of Sparkle. Had he been better placed as the field turned into the straight, Valantua would have beaten both Boaform and Sparkle. He should do better at Winton on Friday. Disappointing. With the going to suit her each day. Night Wings was expected to run well at the Gore meeting, but she failed badly each day, her form yesterday, when she was always nearer the tail than the lead, being particularly bad. Night Wings nas built up into a solid looking mare, and is now carrying much more condition than when she was winning races last season. Royal Money. The Novice Stakes, to be run at Winton on Friday, should give Royal Money a good chance of breaking his maiden status, as the conditions provide all starters shall carry 8.0. Since joining T. E. Pankhurst’s stable Royal Money has had three starts, and_nnished second to Sir Denis at Wairio, and Southern Sail and Craiglea at Gore. He carried 9.0 in yesterday’s race, and with a stone off his back at Winton, should be hard to beat. Ridden Into the Ground. Both Sparkle and Boaform were ridden into the ground in the President’s Handicap at Gore yesterday, and Wild Oareer, who had been trailing them, had no trouble in cutting both of them down over the last furlong. Wild carried 7.9 in yesterday’s race, and was conceding Sparkle 41b;>' In the Dunedin Cup Wild Career has been handicajiped to give Sparkle 21b, and should account for the Colonel Cygnus mare again.

Form Worked Out Well. First day’s form at Gore worked out well yesterday. Merry Simon, winner of tho High-weight Handicap, ran second in the similar race tho first day; Blissful Lady, winner of the second race, was a winner on Saturday; Icilma, winner of the Tolegraph Trot, was run-ner-up in a similar class the first day; Wild Career, Boaform, and Sparkle, the placed horses in the big handicap, were in the money on Saturday; Royal Money, second in the Trial Handicap, filled a similar position in the Novice Handicap ott the first day; and Islay Downs, winner of the concluding event, was second in the Summer Handicap on Saturday.

The Dunedin Cup Meeting. The appearance of the weights for the Dunedin Cup will stimulate interest in this loug-established race. Mr Russell has had a “ mixed bag ” to bring together, and as Sovereign Lady won the Otago Handicap six weeks ago under 9.0 she has not been unduly burdened at 9.2. On paper some of those at tho bottom of the handicap will have, no chance with this good mare at a difference of 301 b, but as it is very questionable if some of them have any right to be included in a race like the Dunedin Cup it is right that the good horses should not be loaded so that they may be given a chance. Though recent winners such as Sailing Lady, Peony Rose, Wild Career, and Sparkle appear to be nicelv treated, it must be remembered that they have not been tried out over a mile and a-half, and the proved stayers which head the handicap have a great pull over them in this respect. The handicap is a good one, and the top weights are likely to he the early favourites. Acceptances for tho first day’s handicaps close on Thursday, at 5 p.m.