RACING.

Grey River Argus, 15 December 1928, Page 3 (Supplement)

RACING.

FIXTURES. 1) eeem b e r 15.—0 aina r u. December 15.—Waipa. December 26.—Waipukurau. December 26, 27.Westland. December 26, 27.—Dunedin. December 26. 27.—Taranaki. December 26, 27, 29. —Manawatu. December 26 28. January 1,2. — Auckland. December 29, January 1, 2.—Grey mouth. 1929. Janu a r y I. —W aikou a i t i. Ja nua ry I. —Wy n d ham. January 1,2. —Wairarapa. anuary 1, 2.—Hawke’s Bay January 1, 2.—Stratford. January 1. 2.—Marton. January 2. 3.—Southland. January 5, 7.—Vincent. January 7, B.—Reef ton. HANDICAPS. December 17.—Dunedin. ACCEPTANCES. December 21.—Dunedin. Rapine is in work again. He wafoaled in 1919. If Staghunter is kept to sprinting h e will pay his way. He is not bred Io stay. Reports from the south state that Rin Tin Tin has been sold, but will remain in A. McKay’s stable. Handicaps for the Dunedin spring meeting are due on the 17th inst., and acceptances on the 21st inst. Money Peer showed improvement at Ashburton, where he was. however .unning under a light weight.

Hynanna had a fruitless trip to Australia, but is now said to be coming back to form.

There is a possibility that R. Reed will have the mount on Oratrix in the Auckland Cup.

Star Stranger II was lucky to beat Bon Rose at Ashburton. The formei bent out in the run home, and they finished close to the judge’s box, with the filly getting the worst of the deal.

Court Jester has been so disappointing that his owner did not support the Comedy King gelding whep he won at Ashburton.

Arrowy lost another chance of success through stopping at the barrier. He proved at Timaru that ke can jump out with assistance.

Historic is doing well in his work, and booked to race at the Manawatu meeting. It is doubtful if the track will suit such a big horse.

Mask is shaping well in his preparation of the Auckland Cup. in which he reads one of the best handicapped horses in the field.

The smart galloper Miss Ransom is now going well again. Sh e trained off a few months ago. and hence was not taken to Australia.

Nominations for the Southland Racing Club’s meetings are due on Wednesday. December 19. The principal event will be th e Invercargill Cup of 1000 sovs.

Agrion is again in work. As he won the Derby when not at his best it is tc be hoped that he will train on to show his real worth on the turf.

Great Charter would be worthy of note if back to the form he displayed when winning the Jockey Club Handicap. He did much better at the Hawke’s Bay Jockey Club meeting, where he finished in line with Joy King and Crowm Area in the Hawke’s Bay Stakes, and also ran a close third to Hynanna and The Haw’k in the Ormond Gold Cup.

Sta r Baid, who won at Ashburton is a good-sized, strongly-built throe-year-old brother to Stealth, and has always displayed a good turn of speed, but generally stopped in his races. That apparent lack of stamina was probably due to bulky condition, as he generally looks short of some good rousing w’ork. Star Raid is racing himself into an improved horse, and may be found doing better as the season advances.

When the Railway Handicap at Ellerslie is being discussed, it is a rare thing to hear anyone mention Consent’s name. His tw’o poor showings at Ricearton have caused nearly everybody t 0 wipe him off their list of possible winners. This is a mistake, as there is no doubt that he was not himself while at Ricearton. Though no outward signs showed that he had hurt himself when he fell over the fence out of his yard, there is no doubt that he did do himself sufficient damage to prevent him showing his best form.

Red Heckle is considered to be well handicapped in the Railway Handicap at Ellerslie. His mission is the Great Northern Derby., and that is what he is being worked for. Long work is not looked upon as the right thing to give horses that are engaged in short races; but there are many instances of Derby and Cup candidates having w r on sprint races in brilliant company. If Red Hheckle is a really good gelding, he should run a great race in the Railway. He has yet to prove himself, of course; but his record to date of three starts for two wins and a second, reads as if he is likely to make good. Cruciform won the Railway at Ellerslie in a jog with 9.0 up as a three-year-old; so Red Heckle, at the same age, must be looked upon with respect, at least. Prince, on his form at

Ricearton, is just about on his right mark in th e Cup at Ellerslie with 8.12. He has yet to show that he can stay out two miles; but he will beat more than will beat him if he goes to the post fit and well.

Silvermine is sure to carry a heap of money in the Railway, in which he has 8.12.

Honour is still on th e big side, but has fined down a lot since he w’on the Welcome Stakes. He is a nice mover, and is a colt that will attract attention wherever he goes, for he puts such a lot of energy into his work.