SPORTING QUITE GAME HAS BEEN USEFUL WINNER

Greymouth Evening Star, 3 December 1946, Page 5

SPORTING QUITE GAME HAS BEEN USEFUL WINNER

Two Victories in 12 Starts

Fine Effort in Reefton Cup

Since being purchased last season by Messrs T. Dunn and G, Kirk of Greymouth, Quite Game, has won two races, and has been.placed four times (including one fourth) in 12 starts. He was formerly owned by Mrs. G. Morris, of Canterbury and was trained by T. Gleeson, who is best known for his association with Indian Clipper in the earlier stages of his career. On the manner in which he won the Reefton Cup on Saturday Quite Game will continue to be a profitable investment for his connections. The Quite Sure-Queen Author gelding was turned out in excellent condition by his young trainer, G. Kirk, and when asked for his effort in the straight he came away like a good horse. He was admirably handled by J. Carmichael, who last year drove Margaret Hall to victory in the corresponding race for Mr. H. Drewery. Won First Start. Quite Game won his first race for Messrs Dunn and Kirk .at his first start. in their colours. This was in the Waimangaroa Handicap at Westport in February this year, among the beaten horses being Scottish Actress (second), Pointsman (third), Nelsonova and News Agent. He had six more starts last season for a second to Scottish Actress on the second day of the Westport meeting, and a fourth. He was considered rather unlucky to be beaten .by Scottish Actress in that race for he finished over everything in the straight after starting from 36 yards behind and failed by only half a head to reach the winner at the post. Improved by Racing.

At the recent meeting at Victoria Park Quite Game was started four times in the two days. On the first day he was third behind Aspinall and Cue in the principal event, the Kitchingham Memorial, and third again to Carisbrook and Horatio Nelson. He was unplaced twice on the second day, but those races apparently had a beneficial effect.

There were three other Greymouth candidates in the Reefton Cup on Saturday, Drury Lane, Prince Lytton and Wee Jack. Prince Lytton was well placed throughout and had every chance. Wee Jack was never in a winning position. Drury Lane put up a fine performance, and might have troubled the winner if he had not lost so much ground by breaking. He was slow to strike his hopples, and was then raced up round the field only to break and lose a lot of ground. He settled down again and was then taken round the field to the front, and it was not .surprising that he compounded soon after leading the. field into the straight. He made some amends when he again showed a lot of speed to dead heat with Nelsonova in the final event of the day.

Surprise Favourite. A surprise favourite in the President’s Handicap for unhoppled trotters at the Reefton meeting on Saturday was Laureate, who was having her first start in a race. She is an aged mare by Lusty Volo from a mare by El Carbine, so she is bred to trot. She had apparently shown speed above the average to warrant such confident support, but in both her races she failed to settle down and was never a possibility. Laureate is owned by Messrs J. D. Litten and R. A. Hamilton, and is trained by Hamilton, who has recently raced Chinook with success. Laureate is one worth keeping in mind if the totalisator support accorded her is any indication of her ability.

Impoved. A maiden trotter which showed considerable promise at Reefton was Minz, who was having his first races. He ran second in the Lewis Pass Handicap to Sure Note, and might have given the winner some trouble if he had not broken during the race. Minz is a big gelding by Gaillard from Bell Again, and is a sfix-year-old. He is trained by M. Holmes, and is owned by Mr. M. Holmes junior. Minz looked in need of racing and he can be expected to show improvement next time out.

Poor Showings. . Fairy Wings was well supported in both her races at Reefton, but broke badly at the start of both, and was never in a likely position. This daughter of Quite Sure and Resound has speed enough to win several races in a row, but until she becomes a more reliable beginner she is hardly a betting proposition. Another well supported candidate among the unhoppled trotters was Marion Davis, a six-year-old mare by Lusty Volo Annapolis, now trained by W. R. L. Pascoe at Westport. Pascoe is a good, hand with the square gaiteis, but he will need patience with Marion Davis judging by her behaviour at Reefton, where she failed to hit her both starts. Apparently she had been showing speed on her home tiack foi she was solidly supported.

Disappointed. . „ Julie had the services of one of New Zealand’s leading reinsmen, J. B. Pringle at Reefton, but she failed i both starts, breaking at critical stages. She looked a possible winner when she was second into the straight President’s Handicap, but she broke under pressure in the straight and was beaten into fourth place. Julie is an aged mare by Quite Sure—Bonny Rptfv and is owned and trained by T. W Lalo? at Greymouth. Lalor drove the mare himself when she won at Victoria Park in Octobei.

R Xai%fflce e r Ol S d teen rehan'dicanned 41b in the Auckland Cup, Sfkhi his weight 8.10 .In the Railway Handicap, Sleepy Fox has been rehandicapped 61b, making his weight 11.2.

Now at Omoto. . The Solicitor General gelding, Chellow Dene, is now being trained nt nmoto Chellow Dene, now a six-year-old,'did. not start last season, hiit in the 1944-45 season won six Sep "nd was once second in 17 Starts All the wins and the placing Sere recorded in the course of nine successive starts. Chellow Dene’s dam is Folk Lore, so he comes from a family of good wiraers and. Walsh should not vc cinj' difficulty in placing him for further successes.