SPORTING Detention May He w inter Cup Prospect

Greymouth Evening Star, 13 June 1950, Page 7

SPORTING Detention May He w inter Cup Prospect

DUNEDIN, This Day (0.C.).— -The decisive win of Detention in the King George Handicap at Wingatui on Saturday lias brought him into early discussions for the Winter Cup, He won without any pressure on Saturday, and this performance added strength to Hie opinion that lie was very unlucky 1o be defeated by Western Front (who was beaten off on Saturday) on the first day. Detention’s next race will probably be at the Christchurch Hunt Club’s meeting in July, and he will then be set lor the Winter C up, in which his prospects just now look very encouraging.

Orothodox would no doubt have made Saturday’s race more interesting but for breaking down in the last furlong just when making an attempt to follow Detention. He returned in a very lame condition, and his performance in holding on to second place was full of merit. Pleasing Return Conclusion, for the first time for a long period, showed something of his last season’s form when he put in a characteristic finishing run to gain third money. He was one of the rear division over the early stages, and had a lot of ground to make up over the second half-mile. His improved showing made it evident that he is favoured by heavier going than he had encountered in his previous races, and another trip to Trentham may now be undertaken. Concealment, winner of the maiden event at Wingatui on Saturday, is a two-year-old black gelding by Booby Trap from Genean, by Gynerium, and was purchased by his present owner, Mr J. P. O’Brien, of Dunedin, for 625 guineas as a yearling, and is trained at Wingatui by W. E. Hancock. He was sent out first choice following a promising effort into fourth place on the first day and he had Saturday’s race won a furlong from the post. Full Quota The Orari trainer L. H. Pratt made his first appearance at the Dunedin meeting on Saturday when he produced Exchange and Night Ruler, who each won a race by wide margins. The former carried top weight in the Tainui Hack Handicap and because of his poor form since he won a race at Rangiora in October last he had little public support. Finance gave his owner-trainer, C. C. McCarthy, some return of his purchase money, about 500 guineas, when he won the concluding event at Wingatui. Previously he had failed to show his real ability and a change from his usual apprentice rider to a strong hurdle horseman was made on Saturday. The Finis colt was one of the first to show out, but later drifted in behind the leaders, and it was not until the last furlong that he again became prominent. Ridden vigorously from the top of the straight, he got up. near 4 the post to gain a narrow verdict. McCarthy had a successful trip With his team of three. Trench Fray won the main event last Monday and Jolly Sailor filled third nlace in his only race after losing a good deal of ground early. Neither horse was started on Saturday because of the changed track conditions. Two Horses Injured An unusual mishap, with unfortunate consequences, occurred at the finish of the fourth race at Wingatui

on Saturday. As was the case on the previous day, High Quest refused to leave the barrier and was not persuaded to move until the race was well on its way. She passed the winning post just as the others were being pulled up and her lightweight and exhausted ridei’ was unable to miss colliding side-on with Extra Flight, who was being turned round. High Quest suffered concussion and probably internal injuries and was sledged from the course some time later, with the hope that she might be saved for stud purposes, but was later destroyed. She raced in the same colours as her relative Full Play, and, like him, _ had always shown a dislike for lining up at a barrier. Extra Flight was later found to have sustained two broken ribs.

Cup Conditions This year’s £lO,OOO New Zealand Cup has been discussed by the committee of the Canterbury Jockey Club. In reviewing the conditions of the race the committee decided that there should be no restrictions, any horse of three years or over being eligible for nomination. The position is different at the Wellington Racing Clubs winter meeting, which will be held at Trentham next month, a restrictive clause being attached to the three main flat races. The races are the Whyte, Parliamentary and Winter Oats Handicaps, and the clause states that the events are “for horses which at the time of entry have won an open race of the value of £5OO or over to the winner.” .

Good Winner ■ _ . Pierre scored his sixth win of tne season when he won the York Handicap at Ellerslie on Saturday. Beginning better than when he drew an outside position at the post m the Cornwall Handicap on the first day, Pierre was always well placed and won decisively, although he had to be hard ridden at the finish.

Improving ’ , _ ~ ~ Lucky Ducrow attracted attention to her prospects when she gave two solid displays in the trotting events at the Geraldine Trotting Clubs meeting on Saturday. A five-year-old mare, Lucky Ducrow, which has seven minor placings to her credit this season, should soon gain her first win for C. G. Cross, who trains her. By Lucky Jack, Lucky Ducrow is out of Sunny Ducrow (-2.14 3-5), which is also the dam of All Ginger and Betty Ducrow (3.37). Geraldine Meetings ‘ The Geraldine Club has decided to make an amended application for September 23 and September 25 (Dominion Day) as the dates for its meetings next season. The club had previously applied for September 30,

but that is the date sought also by the Methven Trotting Club. , Poor .EJfort 1 Hillsborough, which finished well back when sent out favourite for the 'Bay of Plenty Trotting Cup on Saturday, was scratched for the Whaka- * tane Handicap at the request of the stipendiary stewards. .