NEWS AND VIEWS

Evening Star, Issue 25956, 22 November 1946, Page 4

NEWS AND VIEWS

[By Observer.]

FIXTURES. November 23. Feilding Jockey Club. November 23. Waikato Racing Club. . . . November 23. Wairio Jockey Club. November 23, 30, December'7. — Canterbury Jockey Club. November 30. Reefton Trotting Club. November 30, December 7.—Avondale Jockey Club. - November 30, December 7.—Woodville District Jockey Club. December 14. Hororata Racing Club (at Motukarara). December 14. —Waipa Racing Club. December 14. —Otaki (Maori Racing Club. , December 14.—Tapanui Racing Club (at Gore). , December 14. Thames Trotting Chib. / Doubtful Starter. . Although Bruce is an acceptor in the Riccarton Handicap h* is reported'as being an unlikely starter, and may not race at the meeting. One of his knees has been causing trouble for the past week and L. J. Ellis has been compelled to ease him in his training. Trained on the Beach. Derene has not been seen, out at Riccarton -in the past 10 days, as she has been given a daily trip by float to New Brighton beach for exercise on the sand and salt water treatment. There is no doubt about Derene’s brilliance., but. unsoundness has always been against her. Cup Winners’ Ages. During the past 20 years four-year-olds have met with the most success in the New Zealand Cup, seven horses of this age having won. Five-years-olds have won five, six-year-olds five, and aged horses (seven and over) three. This year’s field contains two four-year-olds, 10 five-year-olds,,seven six-year-olds, and five aged horses. Piccolo. Piccolo will be ridden by ■■ ■p. McDonald in the race chosen for him to-morrow. The Inflation gelding is a bold galloper, but the Stewards’ Handicap is likely to be too short for him. If reserved for the Riccarton Handicap he will have a big following. He was an acceptor in the Cup, but was balloted out. Winner Start. Kirkella attracted attention by the easy manner in which he won a sixfurlong race at Rangiora on Labour Day at his last start. His finishing run was impressive and suggested that he would not be troubled by a longer journey. Kirkella’s recent training work has been of a pleasing nature, and he is expected to shape well inthe Apprentices’ Handicap to-morrow. Better Than Ever. Leigh. Barton has - run over a variety of distances this season, and his form has been a model of consistency. He is apparently sounder and better than ever at the "present time, and promises to be handy throughout in the Stewards’ Handicap to-morrow. His latest sprints on the tracks have been of a high order, and with L. J. Ellis in the saddle he may start favourite. Left and Then Won. After being badly left at Feilding last Saturday, Awaroa Stream put; in a. strong run to win the Fitzroy Handicap by two lengths. He was still badly, placed entering the straight, and then won easily. He did exactly the same thing at Stratford the last time he raced. He has received a rise of 131 b for a similar race to-morrow, but the increase in weight is not expected to stop him. . May Start in Apprentices’ Handicap. . Royal Tan will probably start in the Apprentices’ Handicap in preference to the Neik Zealand Derby. He will be ridden by N. Davidson'.. The Royal Chief gelding has. been working attractively and is expected to race prominently. He has not yet won a race, but was third,in a two-year-old. event last Easter when last started in the He was later taken to Australia, where he registered minor placings in middle distance races. - May Go to Perth. Turco, Sir Michael, Gold Bar, Worthy Gold, and Nyalld Scott are among the Neuf Zealand horses who may go to Perth in February to compete in the inter-Domiriion championships. The owners of these horses were interviewed by Mr J. P. Stratton, president otf the West Australian Trot-, ting Association, who was on a flying visit to Christchurch last week-end. Each of these pacers will be liberally subsidised if; their owners finally decide to go. It is practically certain that other New Zealand horses will be entered. Hurdle Prospect. Par Avion, who gave promise of developing good form a few seasons back, signalised that he is coming right again by running a good race at Feilding last Saturday. - He . took charge going,down the back and, jumping splendidly, he had Abdicate doing bis best to catch him in the run home. With Abdicate out of the way, Par Avion may return to the winning list at'Feilding to-morrow. The distance is about a furlong and a-half shorter than on the first day and should be.in his favour. Welcome Stakes.

The Welcome Stakes .will, give an idea as to the relative ability of North Island aiid South Island two-year-olds, the chief interest will be centred in the meeting of Lady Christine (Trentham), Zorro (Riccart-on), and Excellency Zorro has improved yvifh racing and is now much smarter at the barrier than when he was left hopelessly in the McLean Stakes. Lady Christine and Excellency are. two brilliant fillies who are unbeaten in two starts to date. Excellency won both her races in heavy going and she may be even better on firm ground. The Riccarton Course. The New Zealand Cup field tomorrow will be despatched from the half-mile barrier, which w r ill give them a practically straight run for over four furlongs. Except for a slight curve where the chute meets the course proper, the run to the. turn near the 11-furlong post is straight. This will allow the runners plenty of time, to settle down and take up their positions before the first turn is reached. With another good straight run up the back; the horses in the rear will, have a further opportunity of improving their positions and passing tne stragglers before the next bend is negotiated. Once the home turn is reached there is a three and a'-half furlong stretch to the postj and horses which are still well back in the field will have plenty of time to make their runs. Different riding tactics have been applied through the years, but no hard and fast rules hold water, a lot depending on the rider knowing what his mount can do. For instance, in the Melbourne Cup this year. Darby Munro • adopted unusual tactics when he sent Russia aw r ay to a four-length lead at the top

of the straight. Munro said after the race: “I suppose they would have ‘wiped’ me if I, had .been beaten because I was in such a hurry, but 1 knew my horse and knew I was doing the right thing:” L. J. Ellis took Golden* Souvenir to the front in last year’s Cup with four furlongs to run, while the race has been won from end to end on more than one occasion.