SPORTING

Grey River Argus, 22 November 1939, Page 3

SPORTING

Racing Notes Foxlove The Gallant. Fox gelding Foxlove showed better speed at Invercargill, and should be in better racing shape at the coming holiday meetings. Spanish Lad The opposition to Spanish Lad could not extend him at the finish of the Flying Handicap, and the style in which he won suggests further success in the not far distant future. Heidelberg Heidelberg scored his first win after reaching five years old, and owed success to Voight’s ability to ride and train a horse. Ortyx also shows that Voight knows how to handle a horse that requires a cure for early defects. Balboa Posthumous honours continue to grow for the defunct Balboa. He had three winners at Invercargill in Boswell, Boaform and Spanish Lad.

S^hen tiCk produced at Invercargill. Swordstick showed that his racing a Riccarton had not troubled him, but had really improved his a PP eara k n< g He was, however, set a hard tas concede Sailing Lady 71b. in heav. going. D Th?Balboa gelding Doubleack was made a good favourite for the Stewart Island Handicap, and appeared unlucky to miss a win. He was in a hopeless position four furlongs from home, but managed to get amongst the money as the result of a long and well-sustained run. B Present plans for Beaulivre after the Auckland summer meeting are to send him to Melbourne to run in the Caulfield Futurity Stakes, a sevenfurlong race, in February, ~ weight-for-age with penalties and allowances. After this meeting Beaulivre will go to Sydney for the aut umn racing. appears to be standing up to a fair amount of work, otherwise he would not have reached a place at Invercargill. The reward attached to the position was lost owing to the rider neglecting to return to the scales. Boswell The Tradesmen's Handicap was generally regarded as a certainty for Boswell/ and resulted in a comparatively small pool on the race. Boswell is now a five-year-old, and, like most of his tribe, should improve with age. Sailing Lady . , The Southland Cup was won in good style by Sailing Lady and as if extra ground would not trouble her. It was, however, a slow’ run race in the early stages, and she rushed to the front three furlongs from home after being under a good hold up to that stage of the journey.

Scratchings Some of the originally small fields engaged at Invercargill were further reduced by scratchings. Two of the seven originally engaged in the Flying Handicap were struck out, and the scratching pen caused the Tradesmen’s Handicap to be generally regarded as the best of good things for Boswell, and the odds laid on him never looked in jeopardy. Appreciation: An expression of appreciation in a tangible way has been made by the Foxton Racing Club in presenting the Manawatu Racing Club with a £5O gold cup for the main event at their meeting at Christmas. The Manawatu body very kindly loaned their course to Foxton on two occasions since the Foxton grandstand was burned down, but this sporting ges ture of the minor club will meet with wide approval.

At Ellerslie: Alterations to the official stand at Ellerslie are being made by the Auckland Racing Club in order to provide more accommodation for members. The room at the rear of the stand formerly used by Pressmen will be converted into a lounge for members. Pressmen will be accommodated in a room that will be constructed on the site that was used for the totalisator selling boxes on the first floor. The selling boxes will be moved toward the door, which gives access to the balcony in front of the members stand. The room occupied by the police on the ground floor will be incorporated in the jockey’s room and the police will be provided with a room on the western side. The alterations will not be completed in time tor the mid-spring meeting, which opens this week, but they will be ready for the summer carnival, which commences on Boxing Day, December 26. Sir Musket: Sir Musket is the four-year-old chestnut half-brother, by Musketoon. to Meamea and Sir Crusoe. Not Successful: Formerly trained at Avondale. Bronze Emerald and Orient Dawn are now under the care of J. D. Kemp at Ellerslie. High hopes were entertained earlier about Bronze Emerald, but he has been a disappointment in his races this season. Orient Dawn, a five-year-old gelding by Lackham from the Kilbroney mare Tallulah, has not bee n a success, but is to be given a chance as a jumper. Short Priced:

Mr. H. J. Judge, of Maitland ,who has taken over the string of horses raced by his father, Mr. A. J. Judge, who died recently, had his first win as .owner-trainer with Interview in the Flying Handicap at Newcastle last week. The win was in circumstances that gave no opportunity for a betting plunge, as Zibib was the only other starter, and Interview started at the “Ajax quotation” ol 7—l on —the shortest price in Newcastle memory. The. time, Imin. 7 sec., equalled Huntsman’s course record for five and a-half furlongs. The only totalisator investors on the race took tickets on Interview and received in return a little less than the sum; invested. After inquiring into the handling of Shunteh, who finished a poor third in the Maiden Handicap, the stewards accepted the explanation of the parties, but censured L. Hayes, the apprentice rider, for his showing; and warned him that a similar performance in future would re-

suit in a recommendation for the withdrawal of his permit. An inquiry was also held into the running of Montague in the Welter Handicap. The stewards decided to take no action as far as the owner was concerned, but to give a severe reprimand to the jockey, J. Jewell, for his indifferent handling of his mount. Trotting Notes Should Improve Oasis, who finished third in the New Rfyer Handicap at Invercargill, is now’ trained at Wyndham by J. McLennan. He has not been in work long, and the race should improve him for holiday meetings. In Excellent Order The Forbury Park track is in excellent condition, and if the weather remains fine the winners will step well inside their handicap marks. Broke Up Badly Overproof was whispered about as the prospective winner of the New River Trot at Invercargill, but the Sungod gelding broke up badly just after the start. Smart Southern Pacer Mendel did not move very smartly in the New River Trot, and was fairly w’ell back from the leaders when the field settled down. The Adioo Guy pacer has improved considerably and with a little smartening up at the barrier he should win good races. The Favourites Icevus. Jackaranda and Fremont are the ruling favourites for the President’s Handicap. Winning Form Battlevale has gone on the right way since winning at Invercargill, and gives every promise of adding to her record this week. Smart Improvers The biggest field of the day will contest the St. Hilda Handicap, and there will be a clash of form between several smart improvers. Among those likely to claim attention are Accountant, Battlevale, Coquette and Special Edition. Racing Fixtures: lovember 25—Ashburton Count? R.C. November 22—Ashhurst-Pohangina R.C. November 25—Otaki Maori R.C. November 25, 27—Auckland R.C. November 30, December 2—Feilding

J.C. Jecember 2—Kurow J.C. December 9—Hororata R.C. Jecember 9 11 —Woodville Distric J.C. December 16—Waipa R.C. .jucember 23. 26, 27 —Manawatu R.C Jecember 26—Waipukurau J.C. .December 26—Westland R.C. December 23, 26, 27—Dunedin R.C. jecember 26, 27 —Taranaki J.C. December 26, 28, January 1, 2—Auck land R.C. December 30 January I—Wairarapa R.C. December 30, January I—Greymouth J.C. December 30, January I—Hawke’j Bay J'.C. 1940. January I—Waikouaiti R.C. January I—Wyndham R.C. January 1, 2—Stratford R.C. anuary 1. 2—Marton J.C. January 2, 3—Southland RC. In Australia. November 22—Rosebery R.C. November 22 23—Bendigo J.C. .November 25'—Rosehill R.C. November 25—V.A.T.C. T rotting. lovember 23. 25—Forbury Park T.c Jecember 2—New Brighton T.C. December 2—Wairio T.C. 1 December 9—Waikato T.C. December 16—Timaru T.C.