SMART EFFORT

New Zealand Herald, Volume 82, Issue 25289, 24 August 1945, Page 3

SMART EFFORT

FOUR FUBLONGS IN 4<9S

BRIDGE ACRE AND AL-SIRAT (0.C.) WELLINGTON, Thursday Al-Sirnt, the three-year-old brollier to Bridge Acre and to Marwon, the recordpriced cult at the .January sales, will have his lirst race of the new season in the Wanganui Guineas, in which lie will be ridden by \V. J. Broughlon. It was originally intended to" reserve him for his three-year-old debut until the Wellington Guineas in October, but be has wintered so well that he will be started oil' a month earlier. Al-Sirat was in light exercise and a regular visitor l<i the tracks throughout the winter, although all lie did was jogging and the lightest of work. He was given his first fast work since he last raced at Easter when he ran half a mile with Bridge Acre on the No. •J grass today, and finished a short length behind in t'.te. Al-Sirat has developed into a splendid colt, being sturdy and muscular. It will not take intit'li fast work to bring him to a high pitch of condition. Bridge Acre, who is well forward for the spring campaign, will contest the main sprint races at Wanganui. Master Robin ha.-, done only routine work since* his return from the Grand National Meeting. It is probable that his first classic engagement of the season will be the Avondale Guineas on September 8. Caithness has not been to the tracks since she returned from Clirislchurch. She is picking up again and is being given exercise on the roads. Macedoine, who is to resume racing at the Wanganui meeting, was given a round of solid pace work today, and she speeded up to run the final half-mile in 51s. Macedoine has not raced since the Wellington October meeting. She has been in light work throughout the winter, and is carrying plenty of condition. She will be accompanied to Wanganui by Tut err, who is being trained on a light preparation. Lord Darnley has been having an easy time since he relumed from the Grand National Meeting. Although he has been running well in open company. Lord Darnley is still a hack, and he requires a further win before lie is eligible for nomination in any of the open races at the Wellington October meeting. No opportunity will lie lost of qualifying Lord Darnley for entry at Trenthani. and he will race next at Wanganui. Immediate and High Play were out working this morning High Play was given a round of easy pace work, and Immediate was jogged in the middle of the course. Immediate is a mass of condition. Typhoon has done so well since being nut into work under C. J. Stowe at Hastings that he may be raced in the open sprint on the second day of the Wanganui meeting on September 15. It is possible also that he will have another race at the Foxton meeting at Awapuni on September ".''J. He is booked to leave for Melbourne in the last week in September. The Wellington Racing Club recently obtained expert advice regarding the grassing of the tracks at Trenthani. and a comprehensive programme of reconditioning has been put in baud. The work commenced today, and the first circuit which is being treated Is the course proper H. A. Telford, who is in hospital in Christchurch, is making good progress, but it. Is unlikely that he will be able to return home for two or three weeks. HIGH TURNOVER TOTALISATOR IN SYDNEY Sydney racegoers bet £5,:M.">,009 on the tolalisator during the 101-1-15 season which ended at Moorefield on Julv 2S. The investments were an increase of more than £1.0004)00 on Ihe season 1043-44. when A' 4.333.340 went through the machine Five more meetings were run in the 1914-45 season, but Ihe average total rose from i's.s.tUH a raceda.v to /.MM). 11'2. Complete totalisator fiirures for each Sydney course were: 1013-11 1044-1.5 Randwick .. £.'S, 1 17,450 £3,<i53,07" Rosehill .. 71 1.452 R2o.fi.V> Canterbury .. '210.710 .Wj.'ili; Moorefield .. 254,710 275.343 £4.333,340 A-o.ai.vioo In 1044-45. Randwick had one more meeting. Canterbury five more. Rosehill one less mid Moorefield the same number as in 1 013-

Randwick figures indicate the rapid growth of totalisator betting in Sydney. From only .£ 12.0-K) in 1011-42. the totalisator average rose to £81,042 the following season and £ I 10,002 in the 101.3-44 season. The average for 27 meetings from August 1. 1914, to July 31. 1945, was £ 130,443. The totalisator is workine under serious handicaps. Buildings are obsolete, facilities often are insufficient to meet the public demand and restrictions prevent the installation of new inventions. PLANS FOR WATCHETT AVONDALE CUP NEXT RUN Watchett gave no true line on his form when he failed to cet further than the first jump in tlie I'akuranga Hunt Cup at Kllerslie on Saturday He stood off rather far at the water jump, and came to grief on landing. He was sent out an each-way favourite as a result of two seconds in hack steeplechase events at the Auckland winter meeting in June. It is probable that Watchett will contest the Avondale Cup on September 8. after which he may be spelled until it is time to prepare him for Jumping events next winter. PROMISING 'CHASER SUCCESS OF BROOKBY SONG The five-year-old Brooby Song gave an impressive display for a novice steeplechaser when lie scored a convincing win in the Greeniiiount Hunters' Steeplechase at the Pakuranira Hunt Meeting at Kllerslie on Saturday. It was a weak field lie defeated but Hie easy manner in which he accounted for the opposition was pleasing, lie had started only once previously, that being lo run unplaced in a division of a hack event at Kllerslie in June. Brook by Song is a chestnut gelding by Hunting Song from Hulomee, by Black Ronald, winner of Hie New Zealand Derby in 1023, from Celmisia, by Hyiiiellus from By By. by Birkenhead, whose stock included many good jumpers. B.v By produced among others Marqueteur and Mark Time, who were successful handicap horses just over 20 years ago. One of Manjueteur's wins was the Metropolitan Handicap, I'/, miles, at. Riccarton, with 8.10. Among Mark Time's victories were the Wellington Handicap and the Manawatu Clip. There is jumping blood on both sides of Brookb.v Song's pedlirree. He is a dashing fencer and all going well he should not have much difficulty In achieving further success. EPSOM ACTIVITIES MAIDEN HORSES AT WORK BY ABAVDOS There was a good deal of activity at Epsom on Tuesday, when many novice pacers and trotters with engagements at the Auckland Trolling Club's Matinee Meeting on September 1 were allotted useful work. The dirt track was in very fair order. Baby Grand, a four-year-old by Lusty Volo from Mountain Jewel, gave a pleasing display while accompanying Heliopolis, Kewpiefl I'ride, and Nancy Lyn over two rounds at a 2.25 rate. Baby Grand, a member of .A. Bryce's team, appears to ho well forward. Nancy Lyn, a four-year-old by Lusty Volo from Ranganui, also showed improvement. A three-year-old by Lucky Jack attracted attention while pacing a mile and a-hnlf with King's Colours. Going comfortably he ran the last round at a 2.30 rate. Neybel, who is improving, went nicely alongside Bill Ova for three circuits. Neybel, by Sand.vdule from Charteris Vale, is in McMahon's stable. Olympian, a four-year-old b.v Lucky Jack, made no mistakes in a similar la.sk. She is promising. The maiden pacer. Amazing Jack, shaped creditably while working a mile and a-half alongside Anne Wrack. Ho is a full-brother to the useful Sonja llenie. Glen l'arrish, by Quite Sure from Lou l'arrish. gave a sound display. Modern Auto, by Auto Machine from Modern Light, did not do quite as well as Indian Quest at the finish of Ihcir work, but she is no! as forward. Certify, who bears a very healthy appearance, covered three rounds at a solid pace. Modern Auto and Certify were driven by the jockey, B. Mark wick. A three-year-old by Indianapolis from the darn of Bedford paced smoothly over a couple of circuits with Alhlone Direct. Tumble, who has been taken in hand again by D. Cook, did useful work. Vindictive Lady, now in F,. R. Crcssey's stable, trolled a mile and a-half without mislake, ilie last half-mile In 1.15. Pcler Abbey, who has not raced for some time, also trotted steadily. Cockle Bay, a novice in It. T. Kemble's care, paced resolutely over a mile and a-half. She is not very big. but has a good style. Crv Baby, in the same stable, worked usefully. Il'llcresl. who is in good heart, displayed dash in running two furlongs along 'lie back in 32 4-ss. Sabre, by Swordsman from Trustworthy., did strong work over two miles and trolled in faultless style. Worthy Surnrise paced smoothly for a couple of rounds. Bridget Mac. who won last season, and is in nice condition, acted as pacemaker for the young maiden Irnlter by Swordsman from the champion trotting mare Worthy Queen. The three-year-old Reclamation, by Bill B from Bingen's Best, gave an even display of trotting over a couple of circuits. He has not been hurried by D. O. Jones, who Is also educating a it hree-.veaw>ld pacer by Peter Bingen from the dam of Indian Star. RACING FIXTURES September 1— Egrnont-Wanganui arm l'ara nnk ; Hunt Clubs Combined (New Plv mouth) September B—Avondalo8 —Avondalo Jockey Club September B—Wanganul Jockey Clnh September 15 —Waneranui Jockey Club September L*i—Asliburton Rncing Club September 22—Geraldine Racing Clnh September 22 —Thames Jockey Club (al Paeroa). September 22 —Foxton Racing Club (at Awnpnni). September 29—Hawke's Bay Jockey Club September 29—Otago Hnnt Club. September 29—Ohinernuri Jockey CIUD.