NEWS AND VIEWS

Evening Star, Issue 26042, 5 March 1947, Page 4

NEWS AND VIEWS

[By Observer. J

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. - Maroh 15.—Opunake Jockey Club (at Hawera). , , , March 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 Chib.

Cromwell Mounts. The light-weight horseman, N. A. Orombie, is now attached to W. E. Hazlett’s stable at Invercargill. He will ride Kassai, Soft Light, and Welcome Light in their engagements at the Cromwell meeting. Jockeys Injured.

J. W. Jenkins, who returned to the North Island last week to ride at Hawera on Saturday, suffered a nasty fall on El Tiger in.the Nolan Cup. He was admitted to hospital with concussion and a broken jaw.' P. Brennan, who also fell in the same race, is suffering from concussion.

Antibes. When she finished third in the Burnside Handicap at Wingatui on Saturday, Antibes showed her first flash of form since she won at the New Zealand Cup meeting. In the interim Antibes had started five times. She is raced on lease by her'trainer, 1 G. Paterson, of Oamaru. Good Performance.

Diarma was responsible for a particularly good performance in winning the Mosgiel Handicap in 1.25 4-5, time which has never been equalled in a hack race at Wingatui. The Ring Master gelding was in the leading division all the way, and ran on strongly, suggesting that longer journeys will not trouble him. Always Well Back.

Artful Maid, a good favourite, and King’s Victory, also well supported in the Trial Handicap last Saturday, lost their chances in the first furlong. Artful Maid appeared .to miss the jump-out ' and aid not emerge from the' ruck, while King’s Victory lost his position soon after the start, and was not sighted over the concluding stages of the race.

Difficult Task. Patmos was Bet a .difficult task' in being asked to force the pace on the Outside of the light-weighted Diarma all the way in the Mosgiel' Handicap on Saturday, and under the circumstances, her second placing was full of merit. Patmos is right at the; top of her form, and should do well' in open sprint races in the immediate future. Withdrawn From Engagements. Margaret Hall’s legs haVe been causing her trainer, W. R. Butt, some anxiety, and she was withdrawn from her engagements at the Wellington Trotting Club’s meeting on Saturday. The Dillon Hall mare showed patches of form this season to register nine minor placings in 19 starts, and after a spell she should he ready'to produce her best again. ' ' Ran Wide.

Our Maureen, a four-year-old mare by Nightly from Rose Ileana, the dam of Faites Vos Jeux, showed .a. good turn of speed to take the lead at the end of two fiirlongs in the Trial Handicap, at Wingatui, on Saturday. She was still showing the way when the straight was reached, but ran wide and lost her position. She should be improved by the race experience. Driver Fine'S.

The stipendiary stewards held an inquiry into the breaking of Gamble King with just oyer two and a-half furlongs to go in the Summer Handicap at the Wellington Trotting Club’s meeting on Saturday, and, after hearing evidence, they decided to fine F. Smith, jun., the driver of Double Peter, £lO, for crowding Gamble King. Novice Hurdler.

Although a long way from the winner Aldis Lamp’s showing in the Allattton Hurdles last Saturday was full of promise. It was only his seocnd start pver hurdles—he fell over Grand Forest at his first attempt—and in a fast-run race he made up a lot of ground over the last half-mile to reach third place. Now only four years old, he has a big future as a jumper. Began Better. Vella Lee began better than she had at her last two appearances when the field was sent on its way in the Trial Handicap at Wingatui last Saturday, but after being m the van to the straight, she faded into sixth position. Solid support has been forthcoming for the Robin Goodfellow filly each time she has started, and evidently she is much better than her race form might suggest. ' Pulled Himself Out.

Making his first appearance from G. A. McKay’s stable, Whakawhatea ruined whatever chance he had in the Farewell Handicap at Wingatui on Saturday by pulling very hard for the first half of the journey, while in the lead. He was well beaten a long way from home and finished in the middle of the field. The Siegfried gelding is a useful horse in high-weight events, and he should soon make amends. Good Stayer.

Ever Ready may not be a first-class handicapper, but she stays well and will continue to win her share of distance races, when the company is not too strong. Being by Battle Song from Monoxide she is a half-sister to Cerne Abbas, who won the New Zea-> land Cup (1937) from Wild Chase and Silverstreak. Ever Ready is trained for her breeder, Miss J. Edgar Jones, by J. Mitchell at Waimate. Far From Disgraced. Although beaten by Salmon Spear, Botany was far from disgraced when he finished a neck away second in the Burnside Handicap at Wingatui on Saturday. Carrying 9.0, he was in front most of the way setting a cracking pace, and Salmon Spear had to go within l-ssec of'the track record to head him. Botany hung on iri a tight finish in a manner which suggested that longer distances would not trouble him. Should Sharpen Him Up.

Page’s Raid did not show up in the hurdle races on either day of the meeting at Wingatui. He has got through a lot of strong work on the tracks, and the two • should sharpened him up for steeplechasing, a role in which he distinguished himself last August at the National meeting, where he won three times. Page’s Raid will he one of the early favourites for the Great Western Steeplechase at Riverton at Easter.

Now Trained at Wingatui. ' Detain will maike his first appsarance from J. A. Wilson’s stable at the Cromwell meeting on Friday. Formerly trained at Riccarton by L. J. Ellis, Detain was started six times at the beginning of the season without gaining a place. The Defaulter gelding won twice last Season in 10 starts, but his form has been very erratic, and he has let his connections down on a number of occasions. He now bears a bright appearance, although he may not be ready to produce his best yet. Surprise Favourite. Duvaals, a brown gelding by Vaals from Edwina, was a surprise favourite for the Dominion Handicap at Wingatui on Saturday. His only other start was in the Dunedin Handicap, a week earlier, when he was sent out 3*3 m the betting and failed to show up after being slow away. Duvaals is a good type. of two-year-old, and a particularly good, mover, who should improve with experience. He is owned by the former jockey, Mr E. E. Mackie,, of Gore, a newcomer to the ranks of owners, and a brother to the jockey, R.. J. Mackie.