NEWS AND VIEWS

Evening Star, Issue 25495, 28 May 1945, Page 3

NEWS AND VIEWS

[By Watcher.] Acceptances for-the Dunedin meeting will close at 5 p.m. to-morrow. The going will be different at Wingatui from Washdyke, and form at Timaru might not prove a reliable guide. Gay Fort won so well on Saturday that he would have offered strong opposition in the steeplechases at the Dunedin meeting, but he is not included. Boolamskee, winner of the Levels Hurdles on Saturday, was once trained by H. Anderton, who provided the rnnner-up in Arabian Night. The Invercargill apprentice W. Hillis won on Silver Mask and Royal Flight at Timaru. Jacksonville ran in the ownership of Mr J. Lindsay at the South Canterbury meeting. Prince, Flaneur was one of the last of the jumpers raced by this owner. Amorlad is likely to be improved by his race at Timaru, and will probably again be well supported when saddled up at Wingatui. In his last eight starts Silver Mask has missed a place only twice. He has won twice, and been second and third a similar number of times respectively. Strip was closer to the leaders in the early stages of the Pareora Steeplechase than in a similar race at Oamaru. and with the going to suit him at Wingatui may be found running on better.

After nearly a week of good drying weather the wet week-end has been most _ unwelcome, but the remainder of this week may bring stin and wind to exert their influence on the tracks at Wingatui. W. J. Broughton, who has a substantial lead in the list of winning riders for the current season, has been the ohnmpion jockey on six previous occasions. He first headed the list in the 1936-37 season with 63 wins, and has since ridden 44S winners, an average of 56 in eight seasons. His best totals have been 80 in 1936-39 and 79 in 194041.

The biggest two-year-old race of the "light harness season, the New Zealand Sapling Stakes, of £I,OOO, to be run next Monday at the Asliburton Trottine Club's Winter Meeting, has drawn a field of 13, and most of those remaining in the event are likely to go to the post. The winners in the field are Doctor Ted, Sprayman, and Globe Direct Nelsonova, First Globe, Special Merit. Local Gold, and Stirling Castle have had some racing experience. As there was little prospect of Colonel Rouge standing up to another preparation, Mr T. Coltman has retired him from racing, and he will spend the remainder of his days as a hack on Mr J. Corcoran's farm at Hawera. Colonel Rouge won two races and was four times placed since Mr Coltman bought him in the winter of 1943. The champion sire Foxbridge has established a new record this season. Statistics compiled up to May 5 reveal that his progeny have won 71 races and have been placed on 89 occasions for stakes to the value of £38,589. With almost three'months' racing to be added the total is certain to be extended bv the close of the season on July 31. The previous best total for any season in the Dominion was £36,498, credited to Absurd in the 1921-22 season.