To-day’s Racing News

Greymouth Evening Star, 12 February 1936, Page 11

To-day’s Racing News

Galloping MEETINGS TO COME. Feb. 18, 15—Egmont R.C. Feb. 13, 15 —Dunedin J.C. Feb. 20—Tolaga Bay J.C. Feb. 21, 22—Woodville D.J.C. Feb. 21, 22—Winton J.C. Feb. 22—Waiapu ItC. Feb. 22, 24 —Waikato R.C. ■ Feb. 26—Opunake R.C. Then to Australia: The yearlings which. Mr G. J. »ai- . ton purchased at Trentham are. being broken in at Wingatui, by H. A. McDonald. After they have been put through their early. preparation they will probably go over to Australia, where S. G. Ware will have charge ot them. Champagne Stakes: As Wild Chase had no trouble with Custos and Pelmet over the final furlong, of the middle Park Plate, he must be highly regarded for the C.J.C. Champagne Stakes, in which he actually meets Custos on four pounds better terms. Plato In the. South: The two eight-furlong performances of Plato at Trentham will sway backers when the Stewards’ .Handicap comes round for decision at Dunedin. He ran second to Full Throttle in the Anniversary Handicap and won the January Handicap, beating subsequent good winners, such as Passion Fruit, Fracas and Tunneller. With .five pounds more than his winning weight, he should go close to winning again.

The Surgeon: . The Surgeon, winner of his last four races, has b6en accepted for in both one-mile races at Dunedin tomorrow. He was he-handicapped for the weaker Presidents’ Handicap, but not for the Stewards’ Handicap. In the latt,er race, he confronts MeHeath oh five pounds and Cottingham oh seven pounds worse terms, which iS not a serious matter when he is oh the minimum. The Surgeon is equally well-placed in the President’s Handicap. '

Peter Pah’s Last Racing: ‘ According to a Sydney report, Mr R. R. bangar has decided to reitre Peter Pan to the stud after the horse has fulfilled autumn engagements. Up to the present Peter Pan has not reached the s.tage of fast work, hut his trainer, Frank McGrath, feels confident that -his loss of form in the spring in MeltiouFhe was not to be taken as a sign that his racing days were at an end. HI& main IJlission will be tne autumn weight-for-age races, but if he is" allotted a. tempting weight in the Sydney Cup he is likely to make an attejppt to add. that race, to his splendid record. /-

Taranaki Stakes: Notium won the,,. Twenty-second Taranaki Stakes like a good colt. He was content to lie in behind Diatomous, Moquette, and Tonnerre for the first half-mile, but raced round them at the straight entrance to join issue with Tonnerre at the distance. He soon took 'his rival’s measure to score going away by a length and a half. Tonnerre.ran a good race. He ran past tire pacemakers at the turn, but could not hold off Notium. Brilliancy drifted badly in the middle stages, but put in a fine run in the straigh to finish a good third. Moquette was fourth, Windscreen fifth, and Diatomous last. He stopped to a walk after, leading for half a mile. Vote For Knockfln: Silver Streak gave Fracas six pounds and a beating in the Thorndon Handicap at Wellington, the mare finishing well up in fourth place. Fracas, improved, won the Craven Plate on Saturday, conceding Knockfin one pound and a beating. According to these estimates, there should be at least a stone between Silver Streak and Knockfin, but in the D.J.C. Publicans’ Handicap, - Silver Streak has to give the other 23 pounds, which appears to throw the scale in Knockfin’s favour. Cranford was only third in the Craven, but he is now asked to meet Knockfin two pounds worse, while the unplaced Fair Weather' comes in five pounds better than Knockfin. Invoice, also unplaced in the Craven, meets her on the same terms. From any viewpoint, therefore, Knockfin seems to be handily placed to-morrow, but Fair Weather, who has always done well at Wingatui, should run an improved race. Berwick Borderers: Tydce in his career, Concert Pitch has sprung a surprise—in his first race, and in his last, to date. The intervening period of 10 months saw him appear on five occasions, without reaching the money. He is evidently partial to easy tracks, so he will have something in his favour in the Berwick Handicap to-morrow. Silver Jest’s form on his northern tour was fair, and on the last day at Trentham, he was third in the Kelburn Handicap, run over a mile. As he is a fit horse, on latest reports, he should do well with his handy weight to-mor-row, and the seven furlongs is within his corfipass. For Top Coat, a good word also must be said. He divided Silk Paper and Viking at Wyndham, on New Year’s Day, and prior to that, he was successful at Riccarton and Ashburton. Final Bell was successful in the Fernhill Handicap, at the Christmas meeting. He is believed to be a useful sort on his day.

Arctic Star: With five pounds more than he carried so confidently in the Hrtrnby Brush Hurdles last Saturday, Arctic Star Wlil> claim attention for the Warrington Hurdles, with which the D.J.C/ meeting opens to-morfow. Blhck Duke will be ridden by a lad who goes’ to scale at well under 8.0, so he will have' about three and-a-half stone of death, weight to carry. This is a bigger disadvantage to a jumper than to a flat racer, but the old black gelding is very well and it is impossible to discount his preference for the Wingfatui course. Chrysology beat Black Duke on the first day of the Christmas meeting there, by two lengths, and on the second day, Arctic Star beat the Duke, with Chrysology fourth. Compared with the weights carried on the latter occasion, Arctic Star meets Chrysology 15 pounds and Black Duke 12 pounds worse. However, Arctic Star probably is the fittest horse in the field at present, and with D. O’Connor in the saddle, backers would be prepared to go a long way with him.

Another Cup Contest: There were 18 pounds and nearly two lengths between Silver Ring and Kinnoull in the Wellington Cup, but

Mn the Dunedin Cup, to-morrow, there is a margin of 26 pounds in the three-year-old’s favour, and 28 pounds between the top-weight and the other considered juvenile, Greek Shepherd. With a chance of freshening up after his two hard races at Trentham, and with only one pound more than he had in-the Wellington Cup, Kinnoull must be considered. Rona Bay is regarded as having her full share of weight ’at 7.12, after winning the W.R.C. Summer Handicap under 7.4. She failed in the C.J.C. Midsummer Handicap, but that form, owing to the conditions, is not 'reliable. Apart from that, she is meeting Sunee and Senior, whom she beat at Trentham, respectively 13 pounds and 11 pounds worse over a mile-and-a-half. The more one looks at the handicap, the more one is inclined to favour Kinnoull against Silver Ring and Greek Shepherd. The form of the remainder is not really great enough to justify optimism.

Record in Every Race: It is rather common for race records to be established at the midweek clubs’ meetings says the “Sydney Morning Herald,” but at Victoria Park on January 30, there was a remarkable succession of records; each event on tlie original programme having new times established. In all, six race records were made, but it must be admitted that in four of the races in which new times were set, a following wind in the straight was, perhaps, responsible. In the Hurdle Race and the Victoria Park Handicap, however, all honours were with the winners, for, while they also ran with the wind over the concluding two furlongs, they had to contend with a head wind while they ran along the three furlongs at the back of the course. Nevertheless it is, perhaps, a performance that has seldom been equalled. Fingra improved most on the previous best time, his in the Brush Hurdle Race being 0.2 J better than that which stood to the credit of Rosendo, and was recorded in September, 1933. In the first division of the Flying Handicap, Bim Boy beat jhis opponents comfortably by three lengths, and ran the six furlongs and a-half in 1.18, which beat Bulldozer’s time by half a second. r Three other divisions of the same race were run in smart times. Then came the first division of the Encourage Handicap, for which Mananui was favourite. He was always prominent, but had to be ridden hard over the last furlong to score by a head from Fair Diana, with Contrast a similar distance away, third, Mananul’s time was 1.39, which compared with 1.391, recorded by College Lass,,in August, last year. The first division of the Maiden Nursery Handicap was of four furlongs and a-half, and the close finish was anticipated by the wagering on the race. Urangaline got up in almost the last stride to beat the unlucky Leilagilla by half a neck, but she also had to run a record. She beat the previous best time which was held jointly by Lolorua, Rummage and Money Spi, at 0.56, by half a second. The pony race, restricted to 14.1 horses, was the next event, and, once again, a new time record was made. Jutalee 'ran the distance in 0.54 J, which beat that of the brilliant Scooter by threequarters of a second. Then, in the last race of the day, Sally ran away from the opposition over the last two furlongs, to score by a length from Miss Nottava, in 2.12 against Forestry’s 2.12 J, recorded in August, last year.

DUNEDIN JOCKEY »CLUB. CUP MEETING REVIEW. Wingatui’s Cup meeting opens tomorrow. There has been rain there recently, but only sufficient to take the sting out of the ground. The following horses in form will be supported for the races named: — Warrington Hurdles: Arctic Star, Chrysblogy, Black Duke. Trial Handicap: Sunny Jean, Drink Up, Rival Shot. Berwick Handicap: Silver Jest, Top Coat, Concert Pitch. Publicans’ Handicap: Knockfin, Invoice, Fair Weather. Dunedin Cup: Kinnoull, Greek Shepherd, Silver Ring or Sunee. ■ Champagne Stakes: Wild Chase, Custos —Cerne Abbas bracket, Pelmet.' Stewards’ Handicap: Plato, The Surgeon, McHeath. President’s Handicap: The Surgeon, Mary Pratt, Latitude. Following are the aacceptances: — Warrington Hurdles Handicap, li miles—Black Duke 11.2, Arctic Star 11.0, The Smuggler 10.0, Chrysology 9.9, Sunward 9.3, Royal Pal, Linoleum 9.0.

Trial Handicap, 7 furlongs.—Wynwood 8.4, Sunny Jean 8.12, Wild Career, Stratosphere 8.10, Countervane 8.9, Rival Shot, Fireguard 8.7, Wyn 8.6, Penny Wise, Primo 8.5, Great Pal, Last Refrain, Converse, Simon Peter 8.4, Drinkup 8.3, Cape Gabo 8.0. Berwick Handicap, 7 furlongs. —Top Coat 9.6, Final Bell 8.8, Surge 8.7, Silver Jest 8.1, Violenta, Concert Pitch Pitch 8.0, Silver Lark 7.10, Linquist 7.9, Vantoon, Nightgem 7.8, Rival Shot 7.7. Publicans’ Handicap, 6 furlongs. — Silver Streak 10.6, Knockfin 8.11, Invoice 8.7, Davolo 8.4, Fair Weather 8.2, Rebel Chief 8.0, Great Star 7.10, Cranford 7.9, Cherry Queen 7.7, Capital 7.3, Lochlaggan 7.2, Valarth, Beam, Song Boy, Cheap Money, Penelope, Arden’s Beauty 7.0/

Dunedin Cup Handicap, li miles.— Silver Ring 10.4, Osculate 8.8, Kinnoull 8.6, Greek Shepherd 8.4, Rona Bay 7.12, Golden King 7.6, Tout le Monde 7.5, Sunee, Senior 7.4, Trivet 7.2, Amy Johnson, Superex, Tizzy, Honest Maid, Horn’s Reef, Blazon 7.0. Champagne Stakes, 6 furlongs. — Wild Chase 9.6, Custos 8.10, Epic 8.10, Pelmet 8.10, Cerne Abbas 8.7, Double Gift 8.7.

Stewards’ Handicap, 1 mile. —Grand Finale 9.2, Plato 9.1, McHeath 8.6, Rin Tin Tin 8,5, All Humbug 8.2, Salmo Salar 8.2, Toreador, Daring Deed 8.1, Enwood, Cottingham, The Surgeon, Knocklong 7.13. President’s Handicap, 1 mile. —The Surgeon 9.0, Mary Pratt 8.11, Mount Vai 8.3, Golden Lap, Queen Dorothy 8.1, Ocean Singer, Latitude 7.10, Aro Arc, Sisterina 7.9, Paia Melba, Te Ahurangi 7.7. D.J.C. SCRATCHINGS DUNEDIN, February 12. Rona Bay was scratched for all engagements at the Dunedin races at 10.35 this morning. Rebel Chief was scratched at 11.55 a.m. for the Publican’s Handicap.

V.R.C. ACCEPTANCES. MELBOURNE, February 11. Final acceptors for the Oakleigh Plate are:— Closing Time, Arachne, Heros, Ogwell, Valiant Chief, Multudo, Short Wave, Great Legend, Grand Mogul, Gay Lover, Cluniac, Barak, Studio, Quasimodo, Heritor, Belle Eilhouette. Final acceptors for the Futurity Stakes are:—Arachne, Cosing Time, Cuddle, Great Legend, Valiant Chief, Short Wave, Cardinal, Regular Bachelor, Silver Jubilee, Press Gang, Grand Mogul, Gay Pop, Cry Havoc, Whernside, Prince Sion, Pauanias. Trotting Greatest Year: . x , . Statistics recently printed in tne United States show 1936 as the greatest year for two-minute performers, there being nine. Pacers predominate two to one, says the “Horseman. Whether that is creditable to the present racing system or to the result oi breeding over the years in extreme speed lines is a matter for debate.

U.S.A. Exports: Ninety-six trotters and two pacers were exported from U.S.A, during the last two months in 1935. Of that number 43 were shipped to Sweden, 32 to Belgium, 19 to Norway, two to New Zealand, one to Holland 1 , and one to Italy. The New Zealand selections were the two-year-old pacers Bill 8., by Single G., and Starwyn (2min lOJsec), by Daystar.

Back With Prairie King: Place bettors selected the right horses in the Au Revoir Handicap at the Wellington meeting, but the big win operators lost their money, the straight-out favourite Supertax being defeated by the third choice Prairie King, who is well-known as a mudlark. Prairie King is F. G. Holmes’s first winner since that trainer had his license restored.

Patched Up: Isabel Patch, who is in her ninth year, has taken a new lease of life this season, and must be rated one of the most improved trotters in Canterbury. ‘ Her 3min 42 2-ssec over a mile and five furlongs at Forbury Park set a new track record for trotters.

Bingen Sun: One of the most discussed 1 of the maiden trotters in work at Epsom is Bingen Sun, who is confidently expected by Auckland writers to leave the novice ranks within the next few weeks. He has become very solid, and his last display 'showed that he continues to improve.

Nimbus Injured!: ' Nimbus, who was not accepted for the first day of the Auckland Trotting Club’s meeting, was kicked by another- horse in. training and has not been able to do any solid work for about two weeks. It is believed that the trouble will wear off in a short time.

Dual Got Good, Run: Dual, who was interfered with in his first race at Wellington, was on Monday, more fortunate in the Suburban Handicap, getting a run through on the rails at the'home turn. Dual slipped up on the outside and went on to win easily ftom Celebrity, who came with a late run. Aide de Camp, who began badly, finished wkll and beat Epilogue for third 1 , and returned a double-figure place dividend.