RACING NEWS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21837, 27 December 1932, Page 5

RACING NEWS

By Sentinel.

It is interesting to note that the hacks ” in the Milburn Handicap put up a faster race than the time hung up for the Federal Handicap. The bard going at Wingatui yesterday seemed to trouble several horses, who did not run up to their chance on paper. Niggerhead has not been regarded as too sound a horse, but he managed to score on the hard going at Wingatui yesterday, and won by staying on. Gold Paper just faded in the last couple of strides in the Milburn Handicap, and may be improved by the race. Favourites did not get too good a spin at Wingatui yesterday. Some of them were very near, but yet so far as to miss the judge as winners. The Night Raid—Miss Muriel colt Nightly was a strong paddock tip for the Dunedin Handicap. He ran green and slow in the early part, but was running on at the finish.

Mr R, M. Greenslade’s colours scored two popular wins with Blazon and Hula Belle, and Tippling would not have required a great deal in his favour to have completed a treble.

June the Third was beaten off the mark in the Dunedin Handicap, and at the end of a furlong was fully four or five lengths behind Counterplay. She reduced the distance to a couple of lengths at the finish, but could not give a start to the winner in a fast run race. Silver Sight started favourite for the Maiden Stakes. He went down a bit short in his preliminary and did not seem able to get going on the hard track. Ihe favourite was badly placed for the first part of the journey, but commenced to make up ground at the finish, but the effort came too late.

Chief Light became a paddock tip for the Maiden Stakes and shortened considerably in price towards the close of the betting. She was prominent all the way and outstayed a strong challenge from Amelita, after the latter looked a winner 100 yards from home. Palermo was nicely treated in the Federal Handicap, and in addition received the benefit of a 51b allowance. He was always with the leaders, but Last March outstayed him in the last 50 yards. When Palermo strikes a soft track his handicap will make him dangerous. Royal Sceptre has always possessed a good tu£p of brilliancy and now is a iairly well seasoned horse. He bowled along in front of the field in the Federal Handicap, and gave evidence that his sire Rosenor is worthy of better opportunities at the stud.

Some Toff ran some solid races at the New Zealand Cup meeting, and a retention of form saw him outstay Tippling in the Otago Handicap. Some Toff had, however, the advantage of a stronger rider than Tippling. Red Sea faded at the distance just when appearing to justify the confidence that made her favourite.

Counterplay, the winner of the Dunedin Handicap, did not behave when at the barrier during the New Zealand Cup meeting. He made no mistake at Wingatui yesterday, and the smart manner in whichhe nipped away at the rise of the barrier materially assisted his success. Couterplay was got by Winning Hit from Counterecarpe, by Antagonist —Countermine, by Quarryman. He represents a not too strong branch of the Mermaid taproot. Fast Passage has added her name to the select band that captured both the New Zealand Cup and Auckland Cup in the same season. St. Hippo won the double in 1892, Warstep dead-heated with Indigo in the New Zealand Cup of 1914 and won the Auckland Cup, Scion won both races in 1922, Rapier in 1927, and Fast Passage has now joined the select list. Lochiel won both races, but not in the same season.

The two-year-old by Grand Knight' from Rachael recently despatched to Sydney has joined H. Lorigan’s stable, and will run in the interests of his trainer. It wag recently stated that Lorigan was leaving Sydney to set up in Melbourne, but he will remain in Sydney for the present. What would you do if you won the Irish sweep? One of the early winners before each drawing was divided into a number of sweeps with £30,000 apiece as first prize was Emilio Scala, then a cafe proprietor in London. He won first prize of over £250,000, but he had to go through a big lawsuit with some of his own countrymen, and the verdict went against him. However, he cleared about £IOO,OOO, but he had to pay for the publicity. To escape importunate appeals he fled from London to his native town of Isola-del-Lira, in Italy, where he is building a castle. Even in that out-of-the-way refuge Emilio is still pestered with begging letters. The late Mr Malcolm Allan’s death severs one of the few remaining links with the old ‘ Forbury Park racecourse. He was a prominent figure with his late brother, J. Allan, at Forbury Park, and they formed two of the most notable riders who mixed racing and trotting with success. They both kept stables of trottora and gallopers when such a mixture was somewhat rare. Malcolm Allan won the Great Autumn Handicap on Lady Emma in 1881 when riding the feather-weight of 5.13, and he also won the Dunedin Cup of 1882 on the same mare. He won the Birthday Handicap of 1881 on Adamant, and also scored some other notable wins, but he gradually drifted out of riding on the flat, and although he continued to own and train a galloper or two, in more recent years he concentrated on the trotter. He trained and rode Fichu when he put up a saddle record of 3.37 for a mile and a-half at Timaru in 1904, and another good horse he trained at the same time was Bolderwood. The Allans in the Forbury Park days were well and favourably known, and many good winners were housed in their stables before our racing headquarters became transferred to W i n ga tub