RACING & TROTTING

Greymouth Evening Star, 18 November 1943, Page 7

RACING & TROTTING

MEETINGS TO COME November 20: Southland November 20: Waikato. November 27: Canterbury • TROTTING November 27: Forbury Park. December 4: Waikato. December 27: Gore. December 27 & 28: Westport. Southerners: A Southern report states that Invulnerable, the halfbrother to Royal Lancer, and Royal Flight are training on satisfactorily for their engagements at Riccarton. Should do Well: Justitia ran fourth in the second division of the hack sprint, in the trials at Riccarton on Tuesday, and the race should fit her for more serious tasks ahead. She should do well at the meeting.

Change of Stables: Southland, who showed great promise in his early racing but then lost all form, is now in L. A. Maidens’s stable at New Brighton, and will race at the Forbury Park meeting from that stable.

A Good One: Findon made a rapid improvement in the week between the Napier Park meetings, and he outclassed the maidens on Saturday. He was well placed all the way and left his field at the straight entrance. Though he was eased right up at the finish he still won by four lengths.

Finished Gamely: The Gynerium three-year-old, Magnus Lux, finished gamely from eight places back at the straight entrance to win the Taradale Handicap at the Napier Park meeting. This three-year-old, while perhaps not in the best class, is winning his share of races.

Showed Promise: Though Crispin had no chance with Epping in the hurdles at the Napier Park meeting on Saturday last he showed a good deal of promise for a horse making his first appearance. in the role of hurdler. He spoiled his chance by one faulty jump but his good second was a pointer to early success. Crispin is a five-year-old gelding by Master Colossus.

Impressive: Rakanui s victory at Hastings on Saturday with 10.4 on his back was an impressive trial for the New Zealand Cup and he made many more friends. Rakanui was third behind Porripit and Travancore turning for home, and in an interesting finish he won decisively from Pompit and Travancore, to both of whom he was giving three stone in weight.

Pacing Power Appeal: The appeal lodged by the owner of Pacing Power against the decision of the committee of the New Zealand Metropolitan Trotting Club in reversing the judge’s placings in the Oliivier Handicap at Addington last Saturday, will be heard at a meeting of the Board of the- New Zealand Trotting Association on December 3.

The Joker to Return: A Melbourne cablegram states that The Joker will return to New Zealand as soon as transport can be arranged. He may have his last race in Australia at Flemington next week. His trip has been a financial failure. After a rough passage across the Tasman Sea, the horse failed to find his New Zealand form.

Good Trial: In the trials held at Riccarton on Tuesday there were only six starters in the open six furlong sprint. John Gay led on to the course proper from Tutere, Lord Advocate, and Mauretania, and appeared likely to stay in front; but Lord Advocate, responding to a final call, got in the deciding stride to beat him by a head. Tutere and Mauretania were close up to this pair, and the time was 1.12 1-5.

To Remain: Sports Guide, whose record for consistency in the last 16 months has been equalled by few horses and who was. reported as likely to join F. J. Smith’s Auckland stable, will remain in the care of G. Cameron, at New Brighton. Cameron has had Sports Guide under his care all through the gelding’s racing career. Sports Guide is owned by Messrs J. Thompson and J. Moore, and is held on lease until August, 1946, by Messrs W. Rogers and C. Falconer.

Brilliant Gallop: A feature of the work at Invercargill, on Saturday was a brilliant mile and a-quarter gallop by the cup candidate, Royal Lancer, who, in recording 2.12, was responsible for the most impressive effort seen at Invercagiil for a long time. The gallop was done on the course proper with trestles 18 feet out. Assisting him were Gnohill and Marquee. The last mile was left behind in 1.46 3-5, the last six in 1.18 4-5, and the last four in 52 4-5. Marquee* came home particularly well and is improving fast.

Rehandicap Possible: If a Stewards' Handicap candidate wins the Flying Handicap at the Southland meeting on Saturday, a rehandicap may follow. The conditions allow for a rehandicap for the Stewards’ where a horse wins a race to the value of A 200 to the winner. The Flying Handicap is worth £2OO. Royal Lancer will not be rehandicapped if he wins the Southland Cup as the N.Z. Cup conditions provide that no horse can be rehandicapped to carry over weightier age. in Favour: A Christchurch report states that Tutere’s chance in the Stewards’ Handicap, is highly assessed in some quarters, and his performance in the trials on Tuesday indicated that he is approaching the peak of his form. It will be recalled that in the last Great Easter, Lord Advocate (7.1) received seven pounds from Tutere (7.8) and beat him by three lengths, "while in the Stewards’ Lord Advocate (8.8) has to concede six pounds to Tutere, so that Tutere comes in on 13 pounds better terms as compared with the Great Easter. Awapuni Reps: There will be a big team of Awapuni horses at Riccarton, and Sir Bradbury and Conspicuous will leave on Saturday. Conspicuous’s mission will be the Derby, in which he will be ridden by W. J. Broughton. L. J. Ellis will pilot Sir Bradbury in the Steward’s Handicap. The others are to leave on November 24. G. W. New is taking Gladynev, Don Quex, Rink, Subdued, Intense, and Tavern Light, L. Knapp will have Park Light, Our Pat, and Poutu C. Thomson Te Kawiti, and C. W. Boyd Classform. CUP AND STEWARDS. [SPECIAL TO “STAR.”] CHRISTCHURCH? November 18. The most notable item in connection with the New Zealand Cup during the past week or so was the success of Rakanui over nine furlongs at Napier Park, and this has served to bring him into further favour for the big race. Royal Lancer and Representative have, however, disputed pre-race favouritism since the weights appeared, and the latter will probably finish up as first choice. He has been restricted to easy work since arriving at Riccarton, and his mate, Expanse, has also been given . a quiet time. I There were probably some surprise ’ acceptors for the Cup. including All Night, Scottish Dale, Silver Sox and Patria. The first-named has done little fast work, and it is problematical if such a doubtful-legged horse will be asked to tackle the ordeal in the circumstances. Scottish Dale has repeatedly failed as a stayer, and can hardly be recommended for a

two mile journey unless the race resolves itself into 'a sprint home. Silver Sox and Patria can be classed as fair average hacks only. There were no surprise defections from the Stewards’ Handicap and although the field left cannot be considered as up to the usual standard attracted by this event, a close contest is likely. The early favourites have been Royal Flight, Lord Advocate and Sir Bradbury, while the prospects of Tutere, Monetary and Compeer have also been seriously considered. Lord Advocate has clone well since his trip to Trentham, where he was produced only once owing to the heavy track, and his gallop in the trials held at Riccarton this week helped to bring him into further prominence. The Wei com e_ Stakes will also have a well-balanced field, including the North Islanders Subdued, Killarney Boy, Sylvio and Blue Bonny, who have all shown some form. The winner of the Dunedin McLean Stakes, Lyndal, is not engaged, but southern districts will be well represented by Bonny Flight, who is considered the fastest juvenile in Southland, but did not start at Winganui due to a There should, be a bigger field than usual for the New Zealand Derby, including the North Islanders Expanse, Conspicuous, Mr. Valiant and Tara King. Should these take part, the southern representation will be'put to a severe test, tire best of the latter probably being Gulf Stream, John o’ London, High Play and Invulnerable. . The Oaks field will not contain any outstanding filly, in fact the class appears to be below standard. Royal Flight has shown her ability to stay on„ and no doubt she will be in most demand.