GORE MEETING

Evening Star, Issue 25619, 20 October 1945, Page 5

GORE MEETING

SIGNAL OFFICER A FIRM FAV3URITE ST. NATTAR IN SPRINT (Special.) JNVERCARGILL. Oct. 19. The Gore Racing Club's Spring Meeting on iMouday will open the 194546 racing season in the Southland district. The fields throughout are of excellent strength, and in both the open and hack races a good class of horse has been entered. Signal Officer, Pride of Mossburu, and Lance Wing promise to be the favourites for the President's Handicap, with St. Nattar, Aurora Australis, and Powys the likely favourites for the Stewards' Handicap. The Gore track will provide excellent going providing no further rain falls over the weeik-end, while the club's grounds and appointments are a picture of neatness and attention. The first race will start at 12.15 p.m., and the win and place system of betting will operate. Signal Officer and Pride of Mossburn are the form horses for the President's Handicap. At their last meeting, at Wingatui, earlier in the month. Pride of Mossburn, in receipt of 171 b, won by three lengths. On Monday, Signal Officer comes in on 61b better terms, but the fact that an allowance will be claimed for Pride of Mossburn (B. Langford) and not for Signal Officer (J. W. Dooley) will result in Signal Officer actually coming in lib worse than when he was beaten at the Dunedin If figures count for anything, Pride of Mossburn should again maike a race of it. He has it in his favour that he is a confirmed stayer, and, unlike most in this category, he can be kept up with his field from barrier rise. Signal Officer will not be suited by the turning track, as he is inclined to get too far out of it in the early running. There is no reason, however, why he should, and with Dooley riding him, he is likely to be kept handy to his field. When Dooley won the Easter Handicap at Riverton on the Salmagundi gelding, he had him in a leading position throughout. Sing Sing is one which may cause a surprise. She is in great condition at the moment, and while she has yet to win over 10 furlongs, she would be capable of unwinding a brilliant finishing run in a race run to suit her. Amorlad's best recent form was in the Islington Handicap at the National meeting, when he finished second to Sphere. He was unplaced in a sprint field at the Dunedin meeting, but over this journey he will be entitled to consideration.' Lance Wing was also raced over a sprint distance at Wingatui, when he did not show up. His work has indicated that he will not be long returning to his best form, which has been of a useful character over middle distances. A fast track will find 'him well suited Boulder Dam and Eastern Coin have no recent form, but both Royal Writ and Good Cast may be improved by the recent racing tliey have had. Justitia was responsible' for a bold showing for nine furlongs when she forced the pace in the Ranfurly Handicap at Wingatui, and if she has improved at all she will not be out of it. Signal Officer, Pride of Mossburn. and Lance Wing may be the favourites.

John Gay, top-weight in the Stewards' Handicap, with 9.1.. will be having his first race for the season. He is a high clas sprinter at his.best, and 12 months ago he carried 9.4 and deadheated with High Play, 8.8, in the Telegraph Handicap at Wingatui. He was a winner in his last start, and a horse of his class is always a decided prospect in a field of this kind. Lance Wing, Sing Sing, and Boulder Dam are all engaged in the President's Handicap earlier in the day. Aurora Australis is to reappear after an absence of some months. She has done a good amount of work, and as she has always shown her best form when fresh, it would create no surprise to see her showing up. Green Note is another which has not raced for some time. Great Coon has shown his best form over further' ground, but St. Nattar appears capable of holding: the majority of this field. He finish*! fourth behind Joygiver, Sing Sing, and Powys at Wingatui, and he now meets both Sing Sing and Powys on 3lb better terms, Ring Chief can be relied on to carry this field along at a fast clip for a. while, and the turning tradk will suit him. Of those near the tail of the handicap. Powys and Crinkle have the best credentials. Powys was placed in a good-class field at Wingatui, and is entitled to consideration. In the absence of Sing Sing, the favourites may be St. Nattar. Powys, and Aurora Australia. Horses in form are:— Novice Handicap: Te Anau Lady, Victory Flight, Salad. Pukeran High-weight Handicap: Red Prize, Brockie, Robert. Balfour Trot: Master Mariner, Darrington Hall. Doonholme. President's Handicap: Signal Officer, Pride of CVlossburn, Lance Wing. AVaimea Hack Handicap: Girl Friend. Sunny Course, Royal Coon. Stewards' "Handicap: St. Nattar. Powys, Aurora Australis. Otama Trot: Mandrake, Radiant Scott, Leonin. Farewell Handicap: Loyal Lady, Sea PowerJßed Prize bracket, Girl Friend.

WATCHER'S SELECTION, Novice Handicap.—Victory Flight, Te Anan Lady, Royal Chance. Pukerau High-weight.—Prize Ring, Brockie, Fuzzy Wuzzy. Balfour Trot.—Sterling Castle, Doonhdhne, Limerick Pride. President's Handicap.—Pride of Mossburn, Signal Officer, Lance Wing. Waimea Hack.—Girl Friend or Gold Spur, Sunny Course, Bath Slipper. Stewards' Handicap.—St. Nattar. Powys, Ring Chief. Otama trot.—Radiant Scott, Lou Hall, Lauder Girl. Farewell Hack.—Loyal Lady, Girl Friend or Te Anan Lady. Siegform. THE FIELDS. 12.15: Novice Handicap, £2OO. 6f.— Te Anan Lady 8.12, A la Mode, Bayreuth, Ellon, Fairy's Special, Lance Art, Luminous Knight, Norse Lass, Pencarrow, Plaintiff, Robot, Royal Chance, Salad, San Quentin, Starlee, Tuapeka. Victory Flight, Wantwood 8.6.

1 p.m.: High-weight Handicap, £250 B.J f.—Maharajah 10.9, Siglow 10.8. Lisheen 10.6. Banco. Kohaia 9.12, Red Prize 9.10, Fuzzv Wu/.zy. Prize Rinc 9.8, Robert 9 1. Brockie, Minorn. Rhine Lord 9.0. 1.45: Balfour Trot, £250. Class 3.37 ]i m .—Arion Thorpe. Avon's Pride. Caudray. Darrinstton Hall, Desert Calumet, Donneholme, Grattan Star. Limerick Pride, Locksley Hall. Master Mariner, Merton, Musquis. Notus. Stirling Castle, Superlative, Tolan scr, Money mate 24yds, Brent Hall 36, Red-

cliffe Direct 48. More Expense, Sovereign Queen, Stimulant, Tell Us, and Victory Boy were eliminated. 2.30: President's Handicap, £505. lim. —Amorlad 9.2, Lance Wing 9.1, Signal Officer 8.11, Sing Sing 8.1, Pride o' Mossburn 8.0, Boulder Dam 7.10, Eastern Coin, Good Cast 7.5, Royal Writ 7.3, Justitia 7.0.

3.15: Wainiea Hack Handicap, £285. Of.—Girl Friend 5.9, Linloch 8.6, Sunny Course 8.1, Bonnie Chela 7.13. Roval Coon 7.12. Gold Spur 7.10* Bath Slipper, Salabond 7.9, Black Light, Silverstream 7.7.

4 p.m.: Stewards' Handicap, £320. 6f.—John Gay 9.1, Lance Wing 8.9, Sing Sing 8.5, Aurora Australis 7.13. Green Note, Boulder Dam, Great Coon 7.9. Fleet Street 7.7, St. Nattar 7.6. Ring Chief 7.5: Night Robe, Crinkle, Powvs 7.4, Lvndall 7.3.

4.4s:'Otama Trot. £320. Class 3.33. 1-Jm. —Aussie Boy, Brent Hall. Candy Girl, Leonin, Lou- Hall, Loyal Chum, Loyal Nelson, Mandrake, Nellie Eraser, Radiant Scott scr, Deeside 24yds, Copper Trail 36. Lauder Girl. Trevathan, Unclerstudv 4S, Sir Thomas 60. 7f.—Lisheen, Sea Power 9.1, Loval Lady 9.0, Girl Friend 8.8. Red Prize 8.4. Sunnv Course 8.0. Kai Pai. Sumra 7.11, Siegform 7.10. Grill 7.9. Bath Slipper 7.8, Te Anau Lady. Royal Chance 7.7.