RACING

Evening Star, Issue 25895, 12 September 1946, Page 3

RACING

NEWS AIM VIEWS [By Observrb.] FIXTURES. September 14.—Avondale Jockey Club. September 14.—Wanganui Jockey Club. September 14.—Ashburton County Racing Club. ■ . September 14.—Carterton Racing Club. . . September 21.—Geraldine Racing Club. September 21.—Marton Jockey Club. September 21. Thames Jockey Club. ' ■ .* September 21.—Auckland /Trotting Club. September 21, 23.—Nelson Trotting Club. September 28.—Ohinemuri Jockey Club. September 28.—Hawke’s Bay Jockey Club. September 28. Dunedin Jockey Club. September 28. —New Brighton Trotting Club. Answer to Correspondent. “ Visitor.”—The New Zealand Cup •will be run on November 23 and the New Zealand Trotting Cup on November 2. Two-year-old Race. The Southland Racing Club intends putting on a two-year-old race at its November meeting, with a stake of £l5O. The totalisator will not open on this event.

Early, Favourites. Bridge Acre and Joy Rosa are linked as favourites for the Ashburton Handicap, while Desert .Victory, Detain, Peculate,/; and Tomahawk occupy a similar position for the Penscroft Handicap. "Sister to Highland Fling. Mr A. T. Kemble, the owner of Highland Fling, has purchased a yearling sister. The price is reported to be £4OO and two contigencies of £SO. Last season, as a three-year-old, Highland Fling won twice and gained several minor placings. Hurdle Prospect. Greek Dancer, who is due to make his next appearance in the hack hurdle race at Wanganui on Saturday, finished a good third to Glad Fox and Olga’s Choice at Riccarton at his last start. As he had not raced for some time prior to coming south for the National meeting the . outing should have improved him. Difference in Weights. Lexia ran such solid races at'the National meeting that she must be considered a possibility in the, Ashburton Handicap. In the Sehvyn Handicap Bridge Acre won with 9.1, while Lexia was about two lengths away third with 8.4. On Saturday Lexia will come in on 71b better terms, and she is sure to trouble the Foxbridge mare.

Australian Winner. Anstey, who was winner in. Mel--bourne last Saturday, cost 2,oQogs at the Trentham yearling sales of 1944. Anstey was purchased by Mr J. Wren, and was got by tion* by Day Comet—lmagination, by Birkenhead Culmination, by San Francisco—Stepfeldt, a sister to Stepniafe, Anstey is a half-brother to Lord Chancellor. ...... Tworyear^old'Winneri ’ 4 ' • j. Lady Christine, an easy winner in the Wanganui Debutante Stakes last Saturday, was purchased at ■ the last yearling sales by Mr C. Pateman for 400 gs. _ Lady Christine is a chestnut by Christopher Robin from > Lady Oratress, who was by Laughing Prince from one of the Dominion’s best race .mares. Oratress, whose successes included the New Zealand Cup and Wellington Cup. ! Useful Effort. ' Robert paved the way to success in the Sea View Hurdles with some useful place performances early last season. At his last four starts he had been second on three occasions, but was allowed to go out at long odds on Saturday. Although he appeared lucky to beat Taxpayer, his effort was a useful one, and he should win, further hurdle races over a mile and a-half. English Bloodstock. A number of English thoroughbred horses arrived in Auckland on Monday by'the Fordsdale, the shipment including the stallion Sun King, by Hyperion from Tdrnadie, by Hurry On, and the three-year-old Subterfuge, by Fairway. A Colorado Kid mare, Toll’s Kiddie, with a filly foal, by His Highness, and two fillies by The Satrap and ,Coup de Lyon respectively, were among the consignment. Chung Chong. The success of Chung Chong in the Avondale Cup was his first in open company and his first since he won

two hack races at Ellerslie in June, 1945. His forward showing on Saturday was expected, following a second to Golden Pay in the Jellicoe Handicap last month, and he, wassent out second favourite. _ Although Chung Chong failed to win last season, he ran sound races in important handicaps, and his placings included seconds in the Avondale and New Zealand Cups. He generally races best when the tracks are not too hard. Covered Extra Ground. Shadow Chimes was a little unlucky to be beaten by a head by Special Effort at Wingatui as he was forced to cover extra ground on the outside of the field. Although the extra ground covered was not a considerable amount, it was .sufficient to bring about defeat by a narrow margin. Shadow Chimes is due to make his next appearance in the Selma Trot at Ashburton on Saturday, and he should again go close to winning. The jaged Red Shadow gelding is trained by R. Townley at Tinwald. Eight Times Second. Since winning at Greymounth on January 1, Olga’s Choice has met with more than his share of bad luck, and in 16 subsequent starts be has finished second on no fewer than eight occasions, while he has been third and fourth six times. The Irish Lancer gelding was sold during the Grand National fixture, but his luck did not change and he carried on to register further minor iplacings, He is engaged in the County Hurdles at Ashburton on Saturday, andl if he can beat Amorlad he may break his unlucky run. Spring Handicap. The Spring Handicap at Ashburton has only drawn seven acceptors, but it should, nevertheless, provide an interesting race. The star performer in the field is Golden Souvenir, who was the largest stake-earner in New Zealand last season. This distance will probably prove too, short for him with a big weight on his back, but the race should serve to sharpen him up for future engagements. Al-Sirat. will be making his first appearance since being added to the list and his showing will be watched with interest. Whitley is a very smart galloper, who raced prominently in goodl company at the National, while Grand Forest is also capable of . making a good showing when in a galloping mood. The strongest opposition, however, is likely to come from the three light-weights, Sanskrit, Derene and Graeme. Three. Brilliant Gallopers.

Sanskrit, a four-year-old mare by Defaulter from Cyrillian, showed great promise last season, and) at her last appearance easily accounted for a field of sprinters at Washdyke on July 6. In her last five starts she won three . times and was twice second,while her latest track work suggests that she may do even better this season. Derene, also a four-year-old Defaulter mare, is a brilliant sprinter who has been troubled! with unsoundness. At her last start she finished fourth, three > lengths away, in the Templeton Handicap, won by Wantwood, at Riccarton last Easter. Graeme, a two-year-old winner near the end of the last season, should not have any difficulty in holding his own in open company. After gaining minor placings, the Salmagundi gelding won the Autumn Nursery Handicap, and at his final appearance finished second to Julius Caesar over six furlongs in 1.12 1-5.