RACING

Evening Star, Issue 26041, 4 March 1947, Page 3

RACING

NEWS AND VIEWS |By Obsehver.| Fixtures. March 7, B.—Cromwell Jockey Club. March B.—Waikato Racing Club. March B.—Timaru Trotting Club. March B.—Auckland Trotting Club. March 8, 10.—Westport Jockey Club. March 8, 10.—Taranaki Jockey Club. March 8, 15. Wellington Racing Club. March 15.—Opunake Jockey Club (at Hawera). Mare|i 15.—Reefton Jockey Club. March 15.—Wyndham Trotting Club. March 15.—Cheviot Trotting Club. March 15, 22.—Ohinemuri Jockey Club. March 22.—Otautau Racing Club. March 22, 24.—Oamaru Jockey Club. March 22. Cambridge Trotting Club. March 22.—Manawatu Racing Club. March 22.—New Zealand Metropolitan Trotting Club.

Doubtful Starter, Howe, who was a likely favourite for the North Island Challenge, and an acceptor for the Thompson Handicap at Trentham, has been showing signs of soreness after ricldng himself last week, and he is considered a doubtful starter on the first day of the meeting. Trentham Candidates.

Red Pickle has left Wingatui on his way to Trentham where he will be ridden in the Thompson Handicap by R. J. Mackie. Great Coon, a Southland candidate for the same race, has also left. He will probably bo ridden by B. J. Langford. Disappointed his Followers. . Yasda, one of the favourites for the Thompson Handicap at Trentham next Saturday, disappointed his followers when he failed to reach a place in tlie Waimana Handicap at Masterton on Saturday. He was ridden by W. J. Broughton, who secured a first and a second on him at the Wellington Cup meeting.

Sirad by Van Derby. Bandbox, the winner of the recent mter-Dominion Championships at Perth, was sired by the Tasmanian stallion, Van Derby. The latter is well known in New Zealand, for while he’was in this country under the care of F. J. Smith, he paced a mile against time in 2.0 2-5, and a mile and a-half in 3.9 3-5. Both the above times were registered from a Hying start. Van Derby’s time for a mile and a-half still stands as a Dominion record. Finished Brilliantly. Joygiver added to the excitement of the finish in the March Handicap by putting in a brilliant run from the rear to reach fourth place, a head away He was, outpaced over the early stages, but at the finish he was going. better than anything.- The Man’s Pal gelding is well just now, and the first time he is produced in a slightly longer race he will make his presence felt. As on the first dar of the meeting at Wingatui his weight was redneed by a 71b 'apprentice allowance, N. L. White having the mount.

Did Not Jump Well. Forage did not jump nearly so well in the AHaiiton Hurdles as on the first day, and after hitting the hurdle at the mile post he was always in difficulties. At that stage Filibeg and Kassai were setting a solid pace clear of the field l , but the latter gave ground when he jumped badly at the fivefurlong post. Filibeg weakened half a mile from home, and Forage, continuing to rap each obstacle, was under a hard ride, and struggling well back in the field. False Favourite.

The fact that H. A. Anderton scratched Robert for the hurdles and : started Phil Boa in preference, with R. Heasley in the saddle, no doubt induced the public to send Phil Boa out a pronounced favourite at Wingatui on Saturday. Phil Boa did not flatter his supporters at any stage of the journey, and with the distance half covered, he was well out of his ground. Nevertheless, Phi] Boa is in good order for forthcoming steeplechases—a role in which he is much better suited. The fast pace early probably brought about his defeat. Costly Yearling.

Night' Ods, who finished third in the Waipoua Handicap at Masterton on Saturday, is a sister to the good performers, Representative, Regal Praise, Serenta. and Russian Ballet. At her only other start she ran greenly in the Woodville Sappling Stakes. * bht was running on nicely at the finish. Night Ops was bought for 3,500 gs at the 1946 yearling sales, and will make her next appearance ill the Plunket Nursery at Trentham on Saturday. She is trained for her Indian owner, His Highness the Maharajah of Kashmir, by P. Spratt, at Trentham. Clear-out Win.

Gamble’s win in the Allanton Hurdiles on Saturday was clear-cut. He was handled patiently for the first mile, and jumping well, he soon reached a handy position. When the half-mile was reached, the son of Croupier and Cuddle dashed to the front- A brilliant jump at the second last obstacle placed him well clear of the field, and from that stage nothing had a chance with him. Bred as he is, Gamble should reach the best classes over hurdles. His dam, Cuddle, •was one of the best mares ever raced in New Zealand, and among her suc-

cesses are the New Zealand Cup, Auckland Cup (twice), and the Canterbury Cup Improved Showing. Improved by his race' in the Trial Handicap, in which he finished close behind the placed horses, Bren Gun finished well under pressure to beat his stablemate, Vanity Queen, by a neck in the Novice Handicap on Saturday. Being by Siegfried from Enwood, a half-sister to Jedburgh, the dam of a promising stayer in Eriskay, Bren Gun should be well suited by longer distances later in the season. T. P. Wilson has another highly-promising young horse in Vanity King. He was the unlucky runner in the race, as lie was one of the last to leave the barrier, and did not become prominent until the straight was well in sight. In the run to the post he was hard ridden by L. W. Hare, but that 'horseman’s younger brother, K. J. Hare, kept Bren Gun in the lead to beat Vanity King by a neck.

Wingatui Handicap. When the field had covered a furlong in the Wingatui Handicap it was obvious that no one wanted the lead, and each of the four runners was under a strong hold. Siegform was in the lead at that stage, and his rider, A. N. Didham, then decided to let his mount bowl along at a sound pace. He did not get far in front, and, after covering the first half-mile in 51 4-5, Pride of Mossburn was in close attendance./ The latter took charge with half a mile to

run, but was,quickly disposed of in the straight by -Aurora Australis, who appeared to have the race won, when Eriskay came from the rear with a determined run to draw level on the post. Eriskay was finishing much the better over' the final stages, and stamped herself ,as a stayer above the average. . The last seven furlongs were covered in 1.26 2-5. and the full journey in the record time of 2.18 1-5.

Thrilling Finish. Desert Girl and John Gay, who were separated by a head for second money in the Autumn Handicap on the fiist day of the Dunedin meeting, ran true to form , in the March Handicap ,to share first money. Of the pair, John Gay showed the most improvement. Through the apprentice allowance of 51b being claimed on Desert Girl, the grey met her on SJlh worse terms. Different riding tactics were adopted on John Gay, and, while Desert Girl was out making the pace with Air Lord, closely followed by Money Bird, lie was kept waiting in fourth place three lengths from the leaders. Desert Girl soon shook off Air Lord, but she had to be hard ridden to keep Money Bird at bay. Just when Desert Girl appeared to have the result in safe keeping John Gay challenged with a <• liant burst of speed, and in another stride lie would have been a clear winner. The finish was one of the best seen at Wingatui for a long time, as Joygiver and Air Lord were also practically in line with the first three horses.